First Partner Illustration Collection: Series 1, 2 & 3 Complete Guide
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The First Partner Illustration Collection is one of the neatest 30th anniversary products because it does not try to be complicated. Three small releases. Nine regions. Twenty-seven starter Pokemon. One continuous promo run.
Each box gives you one special promo pack containing three of nine illustration rare-style first partner promo cards, plus two regular Pokemon TCG booster packs and a sticker sheet. The cards are the point. The boosters are useful, but the collection lives or dies by the starter promos.
Quick reference
| Series | Official UK launch | Regions | Promo numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series 1 | 20 March 2026 | Kanto, Sinnoh, Alola | MEP 037-045 |
| Series 2 | 19 June 2026 | Johto, Unova, Galar | MEP 046-054 |
| Series 3 | 7 August 2026 | Hoenn, Kalos, Paldea | MEP 055-063 |
Some collector databases list Series 1 as 30 March 2026, but Pokemon's UK product page gives the launch date as 20 March 2026.
What comes in each box
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Promo pack | 3 of 9 first partner illustration rare-style promo cards |
| Booster packs | 2 regular Pokemon TCG booster packs |
| Sticker sheet | First partner Pokemon from that series |
| Main chase | Completing each regional trio, then the full 27-card run |
One box does not complete a series. Each series has nine promos, and each box gives three. Even if the promo pack gives cards from one regional trio, duplicates are part of the chase. Set-builders will either open multiple boxes or move into singles and trades.
Full card checklist
| Series | Region | Cards |
|---|---|---|
| Series 1 | Kanto | MEP 037 Bulbasaur, MEP 038 Charmander, MEP 039 Squirtle |
| Series 1 | Sinnoh | MEP 040 Turtwig, MEP 041 Chimchar, MEP 042 Piplup |
| Series 1 | Alola | MEP 043 Rowlet, MEP 044 Litten, MEP 045 Popplio |
| Series 2 | Johto | MEP 046 Chikorita, MEP 047 Cyndaquil, MEP 048 Totodile |
| Series 2 | Unova | MEP 049 Snivy, MEP 050 Tepig, MEP 051 Oshawott |
| Series 2 | Galar | MEP 052 Grookey, MEP 053 Scorbunny, MEP 054 Sobble |
| Series 3 | Hoenn | MEP 055 Treecko, MEP 056 Torchic, MEP 057 Mudkip |
| Series 3 | Kalos | MEP 058 Chespin, MEP 059 Fennekin, MEP 060 Froakie |
| Series 3 | Paldea | MEP 061 Sprigatito, MEP 062 Fuecoco, MEP 063 Quaxly |
What makes the run work
Each regional trio is packed cohesively into each booster. Rather than 27 loose starter promos, each region reads as a small set. This means that the strongest way to collect them is by trio: Kanto together, Johto together, Hoenn together, and so on.
The numbering is clean. MEP 037 through MEP 063 gives the whole run a simple binder logic. That helps the product feel more deliberate than a normal promo scatter.
The appeal is split between favourite Pokemon and complete scenes. Charmander, Squirtle, Totodile, Mudkip, Froakie and Sprigatito will naturally pull attention, but the product is built to reward completion rather than only chase-card thinking.
Be wary of the conditions of the cards as ever. Promo-pack cards can pick up small corner and edge issues before they ever reach a binder. Raw copies may look plentiful, while truly clean grading candidates are thinner.
Series 1: Kanto, Sinnoh, Alola
Series 1 has the obvious front line: Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle. Kanto still does Kanto things. It also gives the run its first binder anchor, because MEP 037 starts with Bulbasaur and immediately tells collectors this is meant to be followed in order.
Sinnoh and Alola take a back stage, but they are useful for set-builders. Piplup and Rowlet have their own collector pull, while Turtwig, Chimchar, Litten and Popplio often sit closer to the accessible side of the market.
Series 2: Johto, Unova, Galar
The run becomes weaker with Series 2. Johto brings Chikorita, Cyndaquil and Totodile, and that trio has done the most work for early attention. Totodile and Cyndaquil in particular give Series 2 its sharper edge.
Unova and Galar are more compressed. Oshawott, Snivy, Grookey and Scorbunny are worth watching, but this wave feels more like a collector's set than a single-card sprint. Scorbunny and Grookey will be a hit with the younger generation when the Paldea Evolved generation grows up.
Series 3: Hoenn, Kalos, Paldea
Series 3 brings the release to a close. Hoenn brings in familar favourites like Treecko, Torchic and Mudkip, a strong trio by any generation's standards. Kalos brings Froakie, which benefits from the wider Greninja pull. Paldea gives the product its newest first partners, with Sprigatito, Fuecoco and Quaxly acting as the modern endpoint of the 27-card run.
Sprigatito and Liko are current anime run favourites, providing a more modern feel to the cartoons that emphasise human agency, unlike the media of the early 2000s where main characters were caricatures of reality.
For collectors starting late, Series 3 is also the point where the whole anniversary structure is complete.
How to collect it
| Goal | Best route |
|---|---|
| One favourite starter | Buy the single in the condition you want |
| One regional trio | Buy singles or trade duplicates after opening one or two boxes |
| One full series | Expect duplicates if opening sealed; singles are cleaner |
| Full 27-card run | Build by region, then fill gaps by number |
| Grading candidates | Prioritise clean corners, surface, and centering before popularity |
Opening sealed is more fun. Buying singles is more efficient. That is the usual split, but it is especially true here because every box only gives part of the series.
Peko note
Peko is tracking the First Partner Illustration Collection as part of the modern illustration promo run. Selected examples can be viewed through the gallery when available, including sealed First Partner product and individual starter promos.
For adjacent collecting, browse the Graded Collection and Ungraded Collection. We will add more when the card, condition, and price all make sense.
Closing
The First Partner Illustration Collection works because it is tidy. It gives every generation the same space, numbers the cards cleanly, and leaves collectors with a simple question: favourite starter, favourite region, or the whole run.