The upcoming Pokémon Trading Card Game: 30th Celebration set is clearly designed more for collectors than players, with many of the cards being pretty weak as far as gameplay standards go. However, there are still some good cards that would be excellent to have in your deck, and even more that are simply gorgeous chase cards that anyone would want to have if you’re lucky enough to pull them.
Celebrating 30 years of Pokémon is a pretty big deal. This 30th Celebration set will launch in a worldwide simultaneous release on September 16, 2026. It features 30 special Pikachu cards among its 128-card base list, as well as several reprints. The new cards are what really attract players’ attention, however. Here are ten of the cards that are worth adding to your deck when this set launches.
At the time of writing, not all cards in this set have been revealed yet.
Sylveon ex Card 071/128
Sylveon ex is a strong card with 270 HP to protect it, but its one attack must be used strategically to be very effective. Colorful Harmony requires players to have several types of Basic Energy attached to Pokémon in order to do a lot of damage. Colorful Harmony states that, “This attack does 50 damage for each type of Basic Energy attached to all of your Pokémon.”
As you obviously would have some Psychic Energy in play, it will at least have base damage of 50. If you plan the use of this card for when there are multiple types applied to cards, it could do upwards of 400 damage.
Lugia Card 121/128
Legendary Pokémon, Lugia, has always been known as a powerful creature. This card proves that point. Though it surprisingly only has 120 HP of its own, using a Fire, Water, and Electric Energy, Lugia can perform the Elemental Blast attack for a whopping 250 damage.
While it does require the three different Energy types, this is also useful when paired with Sylveon ex, who needs multiple types of Basic Energy applied to Pokémon in order to do its max damage.
Fuecoco ex Card 015/128
Fuecoco ex naturally has the fiery breath needed to provide the Singe skill, which makes the Active Pokémon of your opponent be Burned. However, it’s the other attack that puts it on this list.
Using the Cheerful Flame attack at the right time can make this card incredibly strong. Its base damage strength is only 70, but another 70 damage is added to the attack for each Prize card you’ve taken. So, while it needs to be used strategically, this simple little attack can be a heavy hitter.
Jirachi ex Card 102/128
Tackling the ever-looming problem of having enough cards in your hand in the Pokémon TCG, Jirachi ex brings players the Wish Granter skill. For just one Colorless Energy, Jirachi allows you to draw until you have seven cards in hand. Its other attack, Swift, is also a handy one. For three Colorless Energy, you can attack for 150 Damage, and it isn’t affected by Resistance.
Of course, given that it is an ex card, when Jirachi ex gets knocked out, your opponent will get to take two Prize cards. Thankfully, with 160 HP, it isn’t going to go down extremely quickly.
Espeon Card 069/128
Another Eevee evolution for this list, Espeon’s card 069/128, gives players the Miraculous Shine attack. While this attack skill doesn’t do any damage, it has the potential to really mess up the opponent’s strategy. Miraculous Shine allows you to Devolve each evolved Pokémon that your opponent has, while putting the highest Stage Evolution card back in your opponent’s hand.
Then, Espeon can also use the Super Psy Bolt attack for 90 Damage. That may not be all that spectacular, but is nice to keep the card useful even when the Devolving has been completed.
Greninja ex Card 021/128
Greninja ex gives us the Stealthy Slash attack, which does 30 damage to one opposing Pokémon for each damage counter that Pokémon has. While, at face value, it may not be that impressive, when used strategically, this could be a very powerful card. When paired with other cards, particularly Mega Greninja ex from the Chaos Rising set, which has an ability that allows you to place six damage counters on an opposing Pokémon, damage adds up quickly.
Even by itself, with 300 HP and an Aqua Edge attack that does 160 damage, it’s still a good card. Yet, with the right strategy and luck of the draw, this could be one of the best cards.
Umbreon Card 091/128
Umbreon’s secret power truly comes in the Retaliate attack that this card has. Card 091/128, this evolution of Eevee is perfect to have out when any of your Pokémon get Knocked Out, even if it’s a low HP baby Pokémon. As long as one of your Pokémon was Knocked Out during your opponent’s previous turn, then Retaliate can do 130 damage at the cost of just one Dark Energy.
If you don’t get a chance to use Retaliate, even the Darkness Fang attack can do a solid 100 damage, although it costs a lot more Energy to use.
Unown Card 072/128
Unown brings the Mysterious Signal attack to the game, which states that “If your opponent’s Pokémon is Knocked Out by damage from this attack, take 1 more Prize card.” Although it only does 40 damage, there are still many Pokémon cards that only have 30 HP, particularly among the lower evolutions.
Unown’s own health is at 80 HP, which gives it a better chance of sticking around a little bit as it wipes the opponent’s baby Pokémon off the board while giving its owner extra Prize cards.
Pikachu ex Card 053
Despite this set having 30 specially numbered Pikachu cards, both the Pikachu ex cards are not included in that special distinction. However, despite this, Pikachu ex card 053/128 could still hold the title of being the best Pikachu to bring to the table from this Pokémon TCG set.
The Pika-Pika Parade skill on this card allows you to spend one Colorless in order to search your deck for any number of Basic Pokémon and put them onto your Bench. That can be huge for quickly building, and then the Thunderbolt attack does a strong 200 damage, enough to effectively knock out some pretty big competition.
Mew ex Card 158/128 And It’s Base Card
Of course, the special Futuristic Rare version of Mew ex’s card 158/128 is not one you’ll want to bring to the table. This is most likely going to be one of the most valuable cards in the set, and if you pull it you will want to keep it protected and not used in gameplay.
However, although the base list version of the card has not officially been revealed yet, leaks have shown that the standard Mew ex card could be 066/128 and is much more suitable for playing with. This card’s Memory Helix ability gives you the power to copy the attacks of any Benched Pokémon, no matter how powerful they may be, including Mega Evolutions, without the drawbacks those cards may have.
This could give players a strong advantage in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
- Released
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April 10, 2000
- ESRB
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e
- Developer(s)
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Hudson Soft
- Multiplayer
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Local Multiplayer