Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration — the Japanese MEGA expansion pack officially named 30th CELEBRATION, set code M6a — is now fully confirmed, and the official card list was published on September 9, 2026. It releases September 16, 2026 as the first worldwide simultaneous release in the Pokémon Trading Card Game’s 30-year history. Every card in every pack is foil, a brand new rarity called FUR (Futuristic Rare) debuts, and packs are priced at ¥360 with a guaranteed Pikachu card in every one.
The Pokemon Trading Card Game launched in October 1996 in Japan. Thirty years later, The Pokémon Company is marking the milestone with a set that bridges every generation — from a Base Set Charizard reprint to a Team Up-era Pikachu & Zekrom-GX reprint. For international collectors, the simultaneous worldwide release eliminates the usual 2–3 month wait between Japanese and English availability for the first time.
This guide reflects everything officially confirmed about 30th Celebration as of September 10, 2026 — the official card list published September 9, the FUR rarity, the confirmed Classic Collection reprints, the full JP and EN product lineups, and how to buy through the JP lottery system or through Samurai Sword INC in Tokyo. USD conversions in this article use ¥154/USD (editorial rate as of September 10, 2026).
The official card list went live on September 9; here’s what changed:
- Official card list published (Sept 9): 165 numbered cards = 103 main-set cards + 32 secret rares (AR 20 / SAR 10 / FUR 2, no SR tier) + 30 Classic Collection reprints, plus 8 Basic Energy (173 in all; PokeBeach’s headline figure is 176)
- Classic Collection: all 30 reprints now confirmed in the official database, numbered 136–165
- Secret rares: AR block is 104–123 and SAR block is 124–133; 27 of the 32 secret rares have been shown, 5 are still extrapolated (not officially shown yet)
- FUTURISTIC BOX / Card Set additional lottery: Pokémon Center Online applications September 11, 16:00 – September 16, 16:59 JST; results September 30 (per SNKRDUNK’s lottery roundup, September 9, 2026)
- Our M6a Booster Box pre-order is listed again — Sealed ¥25,000 (~$162) / No Shrink ¥23,000 (~$149), shipping from Tokyo after the September 16 release; FUTURISTIC BOX and the Card Set bundle are sold out at the time of this update
- Market: the lowest SNKRDUNK asking price for a sealed M6a box fell from ¥47,200 on September 1 to ¥28,200 on September 10, 2026 — both seller asks, not sold prices
30th Celebration (JP: M6a) launches worldwide on September 16, 2026 — the first simultaneous global release in Pokémon TCG history. The official card list, published September 9, 2026, puts the set at 165 numbered cards plus 8 Basic Energy (173 in all; PokeBeach’s headline figure is 176): 103 main-set cards, 32 secret rares (AR 20 / SAR 10 / FUR 2, no SR tier) and 30 Classic Collection reprints. Every card in every pack is foil. Packs are ¥360 (6 cards: 5 foil cards plus 1 YOSHIROTTEN-designed foil Basic Energy, with one of the cards always one of 30 different Pikachu cards). Boxes are ¥7,200 for 20 packs. A brand new rarity — FUR (Futuristic Rare) — debuts with opalescent full-art Mew ex and Mewtwo ex. All 30 Classic Collection reprints are now confirmed, numbered 136–165.
Set Overview: What Is 30th Celebration?
30th Celebration is a special commemorative MEGA expansion pack marking the 30th anniversary of the Pokemon Trading Card Game. It’s a standalone celebration product with a unique structure designed for both collectors and nostalgic fans across every generation. The official card list, published September 9, 2026, confirms a total of 165 numbered cards plus 8 Basic Energy (173 in all; PokeBeach’s headline figure is 176): 103 main-set cards, 32 secret rares split into AR ×20, SAR ×10 and FUR ×2 (there is no SR tier in this set), and 30 Classic Collection reprints.
| Spec | 30th Celebration (M6a) | Mainline MEGA sets, e.g. M6 Storm Emeralda (for comparison) |
|---|---|---|
| Confirmed Date (Worldwide) | September 16, 2026 | Varies |
| Worldwide Release | Simultaneous (series first) | JPN first, EN 2–3 months later |
| Cards per Pack | 6 (all foil) | 5 |
| MSRP (Pack) | ¥360 | ¥200 |
| Packs per Box | 20 | 30 |
| MSRP (Box) | ¥7,200 | ¥6,000 |
| Card Treatment | All foil | Standard (foil for rares only) |
| New Rarity | FUR (Futuristic Rare) — debuts this set | Standard rarity structure |
| Theme | 30 years of Pokemon TCG history | Set-specific theme |
| Secret-Rare Structure | AR ×20 (104–123), SAR ×10 (124–133), FUR ×2 (134–135) — no SR tier | Set-specific |
The 25th Anniversary Comparison
The closest precedent is 2021’s Celebrations (25th Anniversary Collection in Japan). That release generated some of the highest secondary-market demand of its era for a commemorative Pokémon TCG product. 30th Celebration follows a similar concept at a larger scale — a full all-foil booster set rather than a single collection box, plus the added milestone of a worldwide simultaneous launch.
Major Pokemon TCG anniversary products have historically generated strong collector demand in the sealed market. 30th Celebration is the first anniversary product to combine an all-foil pack structure with a worldwide simultaneous release — there is no comparable precedent for how the secondary market will respond after launch. For a pre-release reference point: on SNKRDUNK the lowest asking price for a sealed M6a box fell from ¥47,200 on September 1 to ¥28,200 on September 10, 2026 — still about 3.9× the ¥7,200 MSRP. Both figures are seller asks, not sold prices, and pre-release premiums are volatile; we won’t guess where it settles after release.
What Makes This Set Historic
First Worldwide Simultaneous Release
In the Pokemon TCG’s entire 30-year history, Japanese sets have always released first, with English and other language versions following 2–3 months later. 30th Celebration breaks this pattern entirely — it is officially confirmed to release worldwide on September 16, 2026, with no separate JPN-first window. This means:
- No early-access window — Japanese and English versions drop on the same date
- Global hype concentrated into a single date — no staggered demand
- Unified collector excitement — the entire global community opens together
Whether the usual JPN-vs-EN pricing gap changes as a result is something we’ll only know once both markets have live sealed data after release — we won’t speculate on numbers here.
All-Foil Cards, 30 Pikachu Guarantee
Every single card in 30th Celebration is foil — there are no standard non-foil prints. Each 6-card pack guarantees one of 30 different Pikachu cards, illustrated by 30 different artists (including OKACHEKE, Yuu Nishida, and Atsuko Nishida), plus one YOSHIROTTEN-designed foil Basic Energy card (8 types exist). Pikachu ex appears in two versions as part of the lineup.
Unique Pack Structure
At ¥360 per pack (6 cards, all foil), the per-card cost is ¥60 — compared to ¥40 per card in mainline MEGA packs such as Storm Emeralda (¥200 / 5 cards). The premium reflects the all-foil treatment, and boxes at ¥7,200 (20 packs) cost ¥1,200 more than mainline MEGA boxes such as Storm Emeralda (¥6,000 MSRP). The pack-to-box ratio is also lower: 20 packs vs. 30, meaning fewer total pulls per box but a guaranteed foil-only pull rate.
The Classic Collection
Following the successful formula from 2021’s Celebrations, 30th Celebration includes a 30-card Classic Collection of reprints of iconic cards from across the game’s history, each carrying a “30” Pikachu stamp and special foil treatment. These reprints are not Standard-format legal — they’re a collector-focused nostalgia subset. Full details are in the section below.
FUR: The New Rarity Type
30th Celebration introduces a brand new card rarity: FUR (Futuristic Rare). It features an opalescent, full-art design by illustrator YOSHIROTTEN. The first two confirmed FUR cards are Mew ex and Mewtwo ex.
What’s Confirmed
- New rarity name: FUR (Futuristic Rare) — opalescent, full-art treatment by YOSHIROTTEN
- First confirmed FUR cards: Mew ex and Mewtwo ex
- Separately, every pack guarantees 1 of 30 different Pikachu cards — this is a per-pack pull guarantee, not the FUR rarity itself
- Pull rates for FUR have not been officially disclosed — we won’t estimate them
PokeBeach reported, from an official box opening shown ahead of release, that one 20-pack box contained 20 of the 30 Pikachu cards (each unique, no duplicates), 2 Classic Collection cards, 4 Art Rares, 1 Special Art Rare and 1 Futuristic Rare (Mew ex or Mewtwo ex). The Pokémon Company has not published official pull rates, and one reported opening is not a rate — treat this as a single data point, not a guarantee.
Other New ex Cards Revealed
Beyond the FUR debut, The Pokémon Company has revealed several new ex Pokémon for this set: Greninja ex, Sylveon ex, Espeon ex, and Umbreon ex.
Illustration Rares: Now Compiled
The compiled card list published September 9, 2026 shows the AR (Art Rare) block running 104–123 (20 cards) and the SAR (Special Art Rare) block running 124–133 (10 cards), alongside FUR 134–135. Illustration rares shown so far include Lapras, Drifloon, Hisuian Zorua, and Lycanroc, plus Umbreon and Espeon in a day/night illustration pairing. Additional Pokémon shown on the official JP set page include Ho-Oh, Lugia, Groudon, Kyogre, Reshiram, Zekrom, Zacian, Zamazenta, and Hisuian Zoroark. The main set (001–103), the 30 Classic Collection reprints, and the 8 Basic Energy are all listed in the official card database; the AR/SAR/FUR block is compiled from official promotional images rather than the database, and 5 of the 32 secret rares (Kommo-o AR, Ditto AR, Mewtwo ex SAR, Mew ex SAR, Gengar ex SAR) are still not yet shown anywhere.
The Classic Collection Reprints
30th Celebration’s Classic Collection is a confirmed subset of 30 reprints of iconic cards, each marked with a “30” Pikachu stamp and a special foil treatment. These reprints are not Standard-format legal — they exist purely as a collector nostalgia subset, similar in spirit to the 25th Anniversary Celebrations reprints.
All 30 Confirmed Reprints (Numbers 136–165)
The official card database lists all 30 Classic Collection cards as of September 9, 2026. Original-printing attributions below are reported (PokeBeach / Bill’s Archive) rather than official, except for 137 Charizard (official caption) and 160 Pikachu & Zekrom-GX (named in official EN news). See our full Classic Collection reprints list for illustrators and the complete breakdown.
| No. | Card | Original Printing (reported unless noted) |
|---|---|---|
| 136 | Pikachu | Base Set era |
| 137 | Charizard | 1996 first Expansion Pack — official caption |
| 138 | Misty | Gym Heroes |
| 139 | Erika’s Jigglypuff | Gym Heroes |
| 140 | Sneasel | Neo Genesis |
| 141 | Shining Celebi | Neo Destiny |
| 142 | Lugia (“Crystal” Lugia) | Aquapolis |
| 143 | Delcatty | EX era |
| 144 | Dark Tyranitar | Team Rocket Returns |
| 145 | Scizor ex | EX era |
| 146 | Metagross δ | Delta Species era |
| 147 | Palkia LV.X | Diamond & Pearl era |
| 148 | Uxie | DP era |
| 149 | Crobat G | Platinum era |
| 150 | Gengar (Prime) | HGSS era |
| 151 | Darkrai & Cresselia LEGEND (top half) | HGSS era |
| 152 | Darkrai & Cresselia LEGEND (bottom half) | HGSS era |
| 153 | N | Black & White era |
| 154 | Rayquaza EX | BW era |
| 155 | Genesect EX | BW era |
| 156 | Mega Gardevoir EX | XY era |
| 157 | Greninja BREAK | XY BREAKpoint |
| 158 | Solgaleo GX | Sun & Moon |
| 159 | Buzzwole GX | Sun & Moon era |
| 160 | Pikachu & Zekrom GX | Team Up 33/181 — named in official EN news |
| 161 | Zacian V | Sword & Shield |
| 162 | Raikou | Vivid Voltage era |
| 163 | Mew VMAX | Fusion Strike era |
| 164 | Arceus VSTAR | Brilliant Stars era |
| 165 | Magikarp | Paldea Evolved illustration rare |
151 and 152 share the same official database entry — they’re the top and bottom halves of the two-part Darkrai & Cresselia LEGEND card, not two separate cards.
Full Product Lineup (JP + EN)
30th Celebration launches with a focused, premium product lineup on both sides of the Pacific. Japan’s lineup has official prices; the English lineup’s contents are confirmed but MSRPs have not yet been published.
Japanese Lineup (Official Prices)
| Product | Price (JPY) | Price (USD, ¥154/USD) | Release | Contents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Booster Box | ¥7,200 | ~$47 | Sep 16 | 20 packs × 6 all-foil cards |
| Booster Pack | ¥360 | ~$2.34 | Sep 16 | 6 all-foil cards, incl. 1 of 30 Pikachu |
| Premium Deck Set: Espeon & Umbreon | ¥6,200 | ~$40 | Sep 16 | Two 60-card pre-built decks |
| FUTURISTIC BOX | ¥27,500 | ~$179 | Sep 16 | Pokémon Center exclusive, incl. 2 promo Pikachu ex + accessories |
| Card Set (×9 variants) | ¥1,200 each | ~$8 | Oct 16 | 3 promo cards + 2 booster packs |
The Card Set’s lineup is now official: 9 region-based sets (Kanto through Paldea), each with 3 promo cards plus 2 booster packs, numbered M-P 101–127 per compiled checklists. The FUTURISTIC BOX and Card Set both have a Pokémon Center Online additional lottery window running September 11, 16:00 – September 16, 16:59 JST, with results September 30, per SNKRDUNK’s lottery roundup (September 9, 2026). At Samurai Sword, the Booster Box and the Premium Deck Set are currently listed as pre-orders; the FUTURISTIC BOX and Card Set bundle are sold out at the time of this update, with restock requests going through Quick Order.
English Lineup (No MSRPs Published Yet)
The Pokémon Company has confirmed the English 30th Celebration product lineup and its release waves through November 2026, though English MSRPs have not been announced:
- September 16: Tech Sticker Collection, 2-Pack Blister, Knock Out Collection, Poster Collection (legendary birds promos), Sylveon ex & Greninja ex Box, Elite Trainer Box (9 packs, Nidorina full-art promo), Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box (11 packs)
- October 2: Booster Bundle (6 packs), Mini Tins
- October 30: Battle Deck Espeon ex & Umbreon ex (all-foil 60-card deck)
- November 6: Ditto Premium Collection, Ultra-Premium Collection “Day & Night” (29 packs + 1 Classic Collection pack), Figure Collection Mew & Mewtwo
- December 4: Binder Collection
Should You Buy This Set?
30th Celebration is a unique product in the Pokemon TCG landscape — it’s not a standard expansion and not a typical MEGA set. It’s a milestone anniversary release with characteristics that set it apart from anything else releasing in 2026.
For Collectors (Experience-First Buyers)
This is almost certainly a must-open set for collectors. The all-foil treatment means every pack delivers a visually premium pull. The Classic Collection creates a nostalgic journey through 30 years of the game, and FUR debuting on Mew ex and Mewtwo ex gives the set a clear, confirmed chase pair. If you collect for the joy of it, 30th Celebration is built specifically for you.
For Sealed Collectors
Anniversary sealed product has historically generated strong secondary-market interest in Japan. At ¥7,200 per box, the entry point is higher than a standard MEGA set, but the 30th anniversary — and its worldwide simultaneous release — only happens once. The set still hasn’t released, so there is no post-launch sealed-market data yet; the clearest pre-release signal is the marketplace: on SNKRDUNK, the lowest asking price for a sealed M6a box fell from ¥47,200 on September 1, 2026 to ¥28,200 on September 10, 2026 — still about 3.9× the ¥7,200 MSRP. Both are seller asks on pre-release stock, not sold prices, and pre-release premiums are volatile in both directions; we won’t forecast where the market lands after release.
Buy at Launch
- Secure boxes at MSRP before any markup
- Anniversary products historically sell through fast in Japan
- Worldwide launch means concentrated global demand on one date
- Risk: JP retail allocation is lottery-based, not guaranteed
Wait for Market Data
- See actual pull rates and sealed pricing after release
- Simultaneous release means no JPN early-access rush to chase
- Risk: if supply is limited, restocks may be slow
JPN vs. English: A Different Equation
Unlike every other set we cover, 30th Celebration’s confirmed worldwide simultaneous release means the usual JPN-first advantage doesn’t apply — both versions launch September 16, 2026. English MSRPs haven’t been published yet, so we can’t compare pricing directly. Japanese print quality and card texture have historically commanded a collector premium regardless of timing, but this is the first anniversary set where release-date timing itself won’t be a factor.
How to Buy 30th Celebration
Even with a worldwide simultaneous release, Japanese 30th Celebration products are distributed through Japan’s lottery-based retail system, which means allocation — not just demand — determines who can buy at retail.
Want the FUTURISTIC BOX or the Card Set bundle instead? Both are sold out at the time of this update — submit a Quick Order request to put a restock request on record. Quick Order requests are the first thing our Tokyo team works through if more supply arrives.
Japanese Retail (Lottery System)
JP retail for 30th Celebration is lottery-based (抽選) rather than first-come-first-served. Here’s the state of play as of September 10, 2026:
- Pokémon Center Online lottery (Booster Box / Premium Deck Set) — the box and Premium Deck Set are sold by lottery only. The additional lottery round closed August 31 at 16:59 JST; results went out from September 4 (box from 13:00, deck set from 17:00), payment ran September 4–8, and lottery-won boxes ship November 11–20 (deck sets November 1–15) — well after the September 16 release date
- Pokémon Center Online additional lottery (FUTURISTIC BOX / Card Set) — applications September 11, 16:00 – September 16, 16:59 JST; results September 30 (per SNKRDUNK’s lottery roundup, September 9, 2026)
- Pokémon Center in-store pre-lottery — applied for via the Pokémon Center LINE app through September 8, with a 10-pack limit per applicant
- My Number ID verification — the priority lottery tier requires My Number card identity verification (Japan’s national ID), with a separate phone-verified tier; past buyers of the same product are excluded as a resale countermeasure
Currently Listed: M6 Storm Emeralda
While the M6a lottery and pre-order process play out, Samurai Sword INC also has the previous mainline set, M6 Storm Emeralda, currently listed and ready to ship from Tokyo:
For more on the current M6 set, see our Storm Emeralda full card list. Also related: our Delta Reign card list, Terastal Festival ex (SV8a) card list, and most valuable Japanese Pokémon cards of 2026.
Key Dates to Watch
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| August 28 – 31, 2026 | Pokémon Center Online additional lottery application window (now closed) |
| September 4, 2026 | Additional-lottery results (box from 13:00, deck set from 17:00); payment window runs to September 8 |
| September 8, 2026 | Pokémon Center in-store pre-lottery window closes (LINE app, 10-pack limit) |
| September 9, 2026 | Official card list published for M6a and the Premium Deck Set (165 numbered + 8 energy; 173 cards, PokeBeach’s headline figure is 176) |
| September 11 (16:00) – September 16 (16:59), 2026 | Pokémon Center Online additional lottery for FUTURISTIC BOX and Card Set; results September 30 (per SNKRDUNK) |
| September 16, 2026 | Worldwide simultaneous release — Booster Box, Booster Pack, Premium Deck Set, FUTURISTIC BOX |
| October 16, 2026 | 30th Celebration Card Sets (×9 variants) release |
| November 11 – 20, 2026 | Pokémon Center Online additional-lottery boxes ship (deck sets November 1–15) |
Frequently Asked Questions
When does 30th Celebration (M6a) release?
30th Celebration — officially “Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration” (EN) / M6a (JP) — releases September 16, 2026, worldwide simultaneously. This is the first time in Pokemon TCG history that Japanese and English versions release on the same date, eliminating the usual 2–3 month gap.
How much does a 30th Celebration booster box or pack cost?
The Japanese booster box MSRP is ¥7,200 (~$47 at ¥154/USD) for 20 packs of 6 all-foil cards each. Individual packs are ¥360 (~$2.34). English MSRPs have not yet been announced.
What is FUR (Futuristic Rare), the new rarity in this set?
FUR is a brand new card rarity debuting in 30th Celebration — an opalescent, full-art treatment designed by illustrator YOSHIROTTEN. The confirmed FUR cards are Mew ex (135) and Mewtwo ex (134). The Pokémon Company has not published official pull rates; PokeBeach reported one FUR per box from a single official box opening, which is not a guarantee.
What classic cards are in the Classic Collection reprints?
The Classic Collection is a confirmed 30-card reprint subset (numbers 136–165), each marked with a “30” Pikachu stamp and special foil, and not Standard-format legal. All 30 are now listed in the official card database as of September 9, 2026, from Base Set Charizard (137) to Pikachu & Zekrom-GX (160) and Magikarp (165).
How does the guaranteed Pikachu pull work?
Every 6-card pack guarantees one of all 30 Pikachu cards, each illustrated by a different artist (including OKACHEKE, Yuu Nishida, and Atsuko Nishida), plus one YOSHIROTTEN-designed foil Basic Energy card (8 types exist). Pikachu ex appears in two versions in the set.
Can I buy 30th Celebration from Samurai Sword right now?
Our 30th Celebration Booster Box is currently listed as a pre-order — Sealed ¥25,000 / No Shrink ¥23,000 — shipping from Tokyo after the September 16 release. The FUTURISTIC BOX and Card Set bundle are sold out at the time of this update; restock requests go through Quick Order. In the meantime, our current M6 Storm Emeralda Booster Box is currently listed at ¥11,040.
Samurai Sword Tokyo 1st Anniversary Sale
- Every in-stock Pokémon product is on sale
- Pre-orders are not included
- Ends when stock sells out
In-stock Pokémon products only · Pre-orders are not included · While stock lasts · Import duties, taxes and customs charges are not included in the price and are collected on delivery, except for destinations we ship duty-paid.
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