Sold and Shipped by Amazon
Pokémon TCG: First Partner Illustration Collection—Series 3
4
Considering Series 1 and 2 were easily going for $50+ not long after release, this is a pretty good offering in my honest opinion.
Pokémon TCG’s First Partner Illustration Collection Series 3 is here as part of Pokémon’s 30th anniversary celebrations, and it also marks the final entry in the First Partner Illustration Collection series.
Series 1 kicked things off by celebrating the classic Kanto (Gen 1), Sinnoh (Gen 4), and Alola (Gen 7) regions, while Series 2 moved on to Johto (Gen 2), Unova (Gen 5), and Galar (Gen 8).
Now, Series 3 rounds out the collection with first partner Pokémon from Hoenn (Gen 3), Kalos (Gen 6), and Paldea (Gen 9), giving collectors the chance to complete the full set of 27 starter Pokémon.
First Partner Pokémon from Gen 3 (Treecko, Torchic, Mudkip)
The current market price is hovering around $30-$35 before delivery, which makes Amazon one of the better places to pick these up, particularly if you’re buying two or three at once. That’s even more appealing if you’re an Amazon Prime member and can take advantage of free, speedy delivery.
Just like the first two entries, each Series 3 box includes:
- 1 Pokémon TCG pack: Contains 3 of 9 illustration rare-style promo cards featuring the First Partner Pokémon from Gen 3 (Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip), Gen 6 (Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie), and Gen 9 (Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly).
- 2 Pokémon TCG booster packs: Pulled from the Pitch Black and Chaos Rising expansions.
- 1 exclusive sticker sheet: Featuring the starter Pokémon from across the collection.
First Partner Pokémon from Gen 9 (Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly)
But is it worth it? That’s ultimately up to you. The “market price” is simply what people are currently willing to pay, and that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good value. At around $34, this is arguably the best price we’ve seen for any of the First Partner Illustration Collection sets, but it’s still more than double the original $14.99 MSRP.
Unfortunately, finding Pokémon TCG products at MSRP has become increasingly difficult, and market prices are often what collectors are forced to pay, even when buying from major retailers like Amazon.
If you’re hunting for more Pokémon TCG restocks, be sure to check out our custom Amazon search tracker. It’s a useful way to make sure you’re picking up sealed products that are actually “sold and shipped” directly by Amazon, rather than a third-party seller.
As I mentioned, there are a few other notable Pokémon TCG restocks at Amazon right now, including the First Partner Illustration Collection Series 3 sets, Destined Rivals ETBs for $125, and Prismatic Evolutions Super Premium Collections for $275.
They’re certainly not cheap, but both the Destined Rivals ETBs and Prismatic Evolutions Super Premium Collections are roughly in line with current market prices, so you’re not paying a huge premium to pick them up from Amazon right now.
What’s Coming Next for the Pokémon TCG?
2026 is a huge year for Pokémon TCG. The biggest expansion on the horizon is the monumental Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration expansion, launching globally on September 16, 2026.
This is a historic set featuring a simultaneous worldwide release, where every single card is foil, every pack guarantees one of 30 unique Pikachu cards, and we see the debut of the brand-new opalescent “Futuristic Rare” tier featuring Mew and Mewtwo by artist YOSHIROTTEN.
IGN is the best place to find TCG deals
IGN’s resident deals experts like Robert Anderson have over seven years of experience writing about gaming and TCG deals. In an era where finding advice from a real person is more important than ever, Robert’s expertise helps you cut through the digital noise to find genuine, money-saving offers. He pairs his experience and love of games with data-driven analysis and price-tracking tools to ensure he’s only ever recommending something that’s actually worthwhile.
If you’re looking some no-nonsense help on saving money in a time where gaming and TCG hobbies have never been more expensive, then we’d highly recommend following him @robertliam21 on Bluesky and setting IGN as a preferred source in Google to make sure you’re getting the latest updates, from him, and the rest of the IGN Shopping team.
Robert Anderson
Robert Anderson is a Senior Commerce Editor for IGN. Based in London, UK, he is a qualified journalist with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism (First Class Degree) and over seven years of professional writing and editing experience.
You can usually find Robert lost in open-world RPG games like Elden Ring and Cyberpunk 2077. Outside of gaming, his passions include reading comics (especially Superman, Batman, and Spider-Man), taking photos, and keeping up with the latest in film and TV.
His primary coverage focuses on tracking down the best gaming deals and diving into the fast-paced world of Trading Card Games (TCGs). He regularly covers everything from the latest releases in Pokémon TCG and the most expensive cards to comprehensive Magic: The Gathering buying guides. As a massive Doctor Who fan, he also keeps a close eye on physical media deals like Doctor Who Blu-ray preorders, and occasionally steps away from commerce to contribute reviews for the site, such as his review of Doctor Who’s latest season.