30th Anniversary Pokémon Card List: 10 Amazing Chase Cards

Looking for the 30th Anniversary Pokémon card list? The anniversary set, officially named 30th Celebration, is one of the most layered sets the Pokémon TCG has released, with 30 Pikachu cards, a brand-new rarity and a gold-border Classic Collection of reprints.

This guide breaks down the full 30th Anniversary Pokémon card list: how the set is numbered, every rarity, the cards in the Classic Collection, the biggest chase cards and what collectors are seeing for pull rates. For product and release information, see our Pokémon 30th Anniversary guide.

How big is the 30th Anniversary Pokémon card list?

The 30th Anniversary Pokémon card list is built around a 128-card main set. Above that sit 30 secret rares, numbered 129 to 158, and a separate 30-card Classic Collection. Three ultra-rare Mew cards sit outside the numbered list, which is why some trackers count 191 cards in total.

• Main set (1 to 128): includes the 30 Pikachu Rares and 12 Pokémon ex.
• Illustration Rares (129 to 146): 18 full-art cards.
• Special Illustration Rares (147 to 156): 10 premium full-art cards.
• Futuristic Rares (157 and 158): Mewtwo ex and Mew ex.
• Classic Collection: 30 gold-border reprints of famous cards.

Different databases count variants and promos in different ways, so you may see slightly different totals. The structure above is the clearest way to plan a binder.

Every rarity in the 30th Anniversary Pokémon card list

Pikachu Rares

Cards 23 to 52 are 30 Pikachu, each illustrated by a different artist. Legendary names such as Ken Sugimori and Atsuko Nishida appear alongside modern illustrators, and every booster pack is guaranteed to contain one of them.

Pokémon ex

The main set includes 12 Pokémon ex at Double Rare. They are the most common hits and the cards most players will build decks around.

Illustration Rares

Eighteen Illustration Rares show Pokémon in full-art scenes. Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres are fan favourites, and Maushold at number 146 has become a popular pull.

Special Illustration Rares

Ten Special Illustration Rares are the premium tier of the main set. They include Pikachu ex in Day (149) and Night (150) versions, a Mew ex (152) and special versions of Jirachi ex, Sylveon ex and Gengar ex.

Futuristic Rares

Futuristic Rare is a brand-new rarity created for this set. Mewtwo ex (157) and Mew ex (158) feature striking artwork by YOSHIROTTEN and are the rarest numbered cards in the set.

The Classic Collection

The Classic Collection reprints 30 iconic cards with a gold border. Highlights include the Base Set Charizard, Misty, Shining Celebi, Crystal Lugia, Rayquaza-EX, M Gardevoir-EX, Solgaleo-GX, Pikachu & Zekrom-GX, Zacian V, Mew VMAX, Arceus VSTAR and Magikarp.

In English, Classic Collection cards turn up in regular packs, and each Ultra-Premium Collection includes one dedicated Classic Collection pack.

Top 10 chase cards in the 30th Anniversary Pokémon card list

These are the cards collectors most want to pull. Values move after every release, so treat this as a guide to demand rather than a price list.

1. Crystal Lugia (Classic Collection): widely seen as the most valuable card in the set.
2. Mew ex Special Illustration Rare (152): the top card of the main set.
3. Mewtwo ex Futuristic Rare (157): one of the two debut Futuristic Rares.
4. Mew ex Futuristic Rare (158): the partner card to Mewtwo.
5. Gengar ex Special Illustration Rare: a breakout favourite since launch.
6. Pikachu ex Special Illustration Rare, Day (149).
7. Pikachu ex Special Illustration Rare, Night (150).
8. Jirachi ex Special Illustration Rare.
9. Base Set Charizard (Classic Collection): a nostalgic reprint of the most famous card in the hobby.
10. Maushold Illustration Rare (146).

30th Celebration pull rates

The Pokémon Company does not publish official odds. Based on community tracking of opened packs, collectors are reporting roughly these rates in English packs:

• Pokémon ex: about 1 in 4 packs
• Illustration Rare: about 1 in 5 packs
• Classic Collection: about 1 in 10 packs
• Special Illustration Rare: about 1 in 20 packs
• Futuristic Rare: about 1 in 117 packs

Every English pack contains five foil cards and a guaranteed Pikachu Rare, so even a pack without a big hit adds to your Pikachu collection.

Promo cards to add to your 30th Anniversary Pokémon card list

A master set goes beyond the booster pack 30th Anniversary Pokémon card list. Many sealed products include promo cards you can only get by buying that product, so add these to your checklist if you want everything.

• Nidorina full-art promo from the Elite Trainer Box, with a second Pokémon Center version.
• Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres foil promos from the Poster Collection.
• Eevee foil promo from the Knock Out Collection and the 2-pack blister.
• Sylveon ex and Greninja ex promos from the Pokémon ex Boxes.
• Victini and Zeraora Illustration Rare promos from the Battle Decks.
• Pikachu ex, Espeon ex and Umbreon ex promos from the Ultra-Premium Collections.
• Ditto, Mew and Mewtwo promos from the Ditto Premium Collection and Figure Collections.

Which products give you the most chances at chase cards?

Every pack has the same odds, so the simplest way to improve your chances at the top of the 30th Anniversary Pokémon card list is to open more packs. The Ultra-Premium Collections lead the way with 30 packs, including a Classic Collection pack. The Elite Trainer Box has 9 packs and the Booster Bundle has 6.

Japanese packs hold six cards rather than five, which some collectors prefer when chasing Pikachu Rares and Illustration Rares. Remember that Japanese and English cards are separate checklists.

Tracking all 30 Pikachu

The Pikachu section is the part of the 30th Anniversary Pokémon card list most collectors try to finish first. The artists include Ken Sugimori, Atsuko Nishida, sowsow, OKACHEKE and Shinji Kanda, so each card has a very different style.

A dedicated nine-pocket binder works well: 30 cards fill just over three pages, and leaving placeholders for the ones you still need makes trading easier.

Looking after an all-foil set

Because every card in the 30th Anniversary Pokémon card list is foil, condition matters more than usual. Foil cards can curl in humid weather and show scratches more easily than non-foil cards.

• Sleeve hits straight away, before they touch a table or playmat.
• Store binders upright and out of direct sunlight.
• Keep sealed product and binders away from bathrooms, garages and other humid spaces.
• Use top loaders or card savers for anything you might send for grading.

How the 30th Anniversary Pokémon card list compares with Celebrations

The 25th anniversary set, Celebrations, released in 2021 with a 25-card main set and a 25-card Classic Collection. It was a small special set designed mainly for collectors.

The 30th Anniversary Pokémon card list is far bigger. With a 128-card main set, 30 secret rares and 30 Classic Collection reprints, it works as a full expansion for players as well as collectors. The guaranteed Pikachu in every pack and the new Futuristic Rare rarity also give it features Celebrations never had, which is why finishing this set is a longer and more rewarding project.

Japanese and Chinese card lists

The Japanese set, coded M6a, uses its own numbering and six-card packs, and the Chinese versions follow their own lists too. If you collect more than one language, our Japanese 30th Anniversary Pokémon guide explains how the versions differ.

How to use the 30th Anniversary Pokémon card list

• Print or save a checklist and tick off each card as you pull it. The 30 Pikachu are easiest to track in a nine-pocket binder.
• Sleeve every Illustration Rare, Special Illustration Rare and Futuristic Rare straight from the pack.
• Consider grading your best cards. You can see examples of graded cards in our shop.
• Check the official Pokémon TCG website for card details and rulings.

30th Anniversary Pokémon card list FAQ

How many cards are in the 30th Anniversary Pokémon card list?

There are 128 cards in the main set, 30 numbered secret rares and a 30-card Classic Collection, plus three ultra-rare Mew cards.

How many Pikachu cards are there?

There are 30 Pikachu Rares, numbered 23 to 52, and one appears in every booster pack.

Is Charizard in the 30th Anniversary set?

Yes. The Classic Collection includes a gold-border reprint of the Base Set Charizard.

What is the rarest card?

Among numbered cards, the Mew ex and Mewtwo ex Futuristic Rares are the hardest to pull. The three Mew cards outside the numbered list are rarer still.

Want to start collecting? Open packs from the Elite Trainer Box or Booster Bundle, or check our Pokémon 30th Anniversary pre-order guide for products still to come.