First Partner Illustration Collection Series 3, Ranked

Pick your starter. It’s the oldest decision in Pokémon, and on August 7, 2026, it comes back to bite your wallet one last time. The First Partner Illustration Collection Series 3 closes out a year-long, 27-card anniversary run with the starters from Hoenn, Kalos and Paldea: nine illustration-rare-style promos, one nostalgic gut-punch per card, all for $14.99 a box.

But there’s a catch that’s already got collectors sweating. Each box holds three promos from one randomly assigned region, allocation is thin, and Series 1 sold out same-day at most stores.

So which of these nine actually deserve your money, and which can you leave for the bargain bin? I’ve ranked all nine, and this time I’m backing the ranking with what Series 1’s prices actually did. Let’s settle it.

What Exactly Is Series 3, and Why Does It Matter?

Series 3 is the final wave of a three-part 30th-anniversary promo run, and it completes the full set of 27 starter Pokémon across every region. Series 1 launched March 30, 2026 with Kanto, Sinnoh and Alola; Series 2 followed on June 19 with Johto, Unova and Galar; Series 3 finishes the job with Hoenn, Kalos and Paldea.

That “final wave” status matters more than it sounds. Once these nine land, the entire 27-card run is complete and closed, there’s no Series 4 to fill gaps later. For anyone building the full anniversary binder, this is the last piece of the puzzle, which tends to concentrate demand rather than spread it out.

What’s Actually in a $14.99 Box?

Each box contains one special promo pack holding three of the nine promos from a single region, plus two standard booster packs and a sticker sheet. It’s a small, focused product built for nostalgia rather than big-money hits, the promos are the whole point. The contents:

• 1 special promo pack: three illustration-rare-style promos, all from one region (Hoenn, Kalos *or* Paldea).
• 2 standard booster packs: current Mega Evolution-era packs; reports point to sets like Chaos Rising, though the exact packs can vary, so check the box.
• 1 sticker sheet: first-partner artwork, pure decoration.

All nine promos are illustrated by Saboteri, the artist behind all 27 cards in the run, and they’re numbered MEP 055–063, the closing block of an unbroken MEP 037–063 sequence spanning the whole series. That continuity is part of the appeal for set builders.

The Full Series 3 Checklist

Here’s every card in the wave, by region and number, so you know exactly what you’re hunting:

The nine Series 3 promos, numbered MEP 055–063. Card numbers per Bulbapedia and checklist trackers.

The Detail Most Collectors Miss: These Are Panoramas

Each region’s three cards form one continuous illustration, the full scene only reveals itself when you lay all three side by side. That’s a genuinely lovely design choice, and it quietly changes how you should collect this set.

It means a lone Froakie is only a third of a picture. If you want the complete artwork, you need the whole regional trio, which is exactly why partial sets feel unfinished and why collectors chase all three rather than cherry-picking one. The art also carries region-specific color coding: the Hoenn cards lean on ruby, sapphire and emerald tones nodding to the Gen III games, while the Paldea trio runs on scarlet and violet.

Kalos, fittingly, goes full European, Chespin racing down a stone avenue, Fennekin above a Paris-inspired skyline, Froakie against a prismatic backdrop of crystals and Kalos landmarks.

Which Series 3 Starters Should You Chase? (The Tier List)

Straight to the verdict: Froakie and Sprigatito lead, because both evolve into genuine superstars and Series 1 showed that evolution pedigree is what drives these promos. Here’s how all nine shake out, our opinion, weighted by fan demand and evolution star power, not confirmed prices:

Our ranking, based on character popularity and evolution demand – not a price guide. Artwork reveals and early sales move these things fast.

What Series 1 Prices Tell Us About Series 3

Series 1’s secondary market is the single best predictor we have, and it delivered one clear lesson: the marquee-nostalgia starters ran well past the box price, while the rest settled far lower. Reported Series 1 prices looked roughly like this:

Indicative reported Series 1 singles prices against a $14.99 box price. Figures move constantly – treat as historical context, not current quotes.

Two honest takeaways. First, a handful of headline cards carried Series 1 well above the $14.99 box price, which is why targeting singles can beat buying boxes blind. Second, and this is the caveat, Series 3 has no Kanto. Charmander-level demand isn’t on this checklist, so it’s reasonable to expect a flatter, more moderate market here. Froakie and Sprigatito are the closest analogues thanks to Greninja and Meowscarada, but nobody should assume $36 cards.

Greninja’s pull is well established across the modern game, we covered it recently in our Mega Greninja ex Premium Collection breakdown, and this whole run sits inside the wider Pokémon TCG 30th anniversary celebration.

How Many Boxes to Complete the Set?

Realistically three to four boxes, and that’s assuming reasonable luck, because each box gives you three of nine cards from a single random region. With perfect luck, three boxes covering three different regions would do it. In practice, duplicate regions are common, so most collectors need a few extra boxes or fill the gaps by trading.

The good news for set builders is that the regional trios are reportedly printed on the same sheet, so distribution between regions appears roughly even, you’re not fighting a rigged deck. The bad news is allocation: Series 1 hit shelves and sold through the same day at many stores, and if the region you pull isn’t the one you wanted, trading is awkward because everyone else wants their own region too.

Scalping pressure is a real factor on limited Pokémon products right now, it’s gotten serious enough that Japan has started requiring ID to buy Pokémon cards. Expect the usual launch-day scramble here.

Is Series 3 Worth Buying?

If you grew up choosing any of these starters, or you’re finishing the 27-card anniversary run, yes, it’s an affordable, nostalgia-packed box that’s easy to love at $14.99. My honest take is that this is a fan product first: the joy is in reliving your starter pick and completing a panorama, and the buy-in is friendly enough that you don’t need to overthink it.

The catch is the randomness. Because you get one region’s trio per box and allocation is tight, landing a specific starter, that dream Froakie or Sprigatito, is a genuine gamble. If you want one card in particular, buying the single after release is usually the smarter, cheaper move than chasing sealed boxes and hoping the region gods smile on you. Buy sealed for the surprise and the panorama; buy singles for precision.

If you do land a keeper in great condition, our 2026 Pokémon PSA grading guide covers when a slab genuinely adds value, and when it just adds cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does First Partner Illustration Collection Series 3 release?

It releases August 7, 2026, at Pokémon Center and participating retailers, priced at $14.99 per box. It’s the third and final wave of the 30th-anniversary promo run.

Which starters are in Series 3?

Hoenn (Treecko, Torchic, Mudkip), Kalos (Chespin, Fennekin, Froakie) and Paldea (Sprigatito, Fuecoco, Quaxly), nine promos numbered MEP 055 through MEP 063, all illustrated by Saboteri.

Can you choose which region you get?

No. Each box’s promo pack contains three cards from a single region, assigned at random, so the region is effectively a blind pull. Combined with tight allocation, that’s the main frustration collectors report with this line.

How many boxes do I need for all nine cards?

Typically three to four. Three boxes would do it with perfect luck across three different regions, but duplicate regions are common, so most people need extras or trade to fill gaps.

Which card is the best to chase?

By demand, Froakie leads thanks to Greninja, with Sprigatito close behind and Mudkip riding pure nostalgia. That said, the best card is genuinely the starter you love, these are fan pieces first, and the panoramic art rewards collecting a full trio anyway.

Will these hold value like the Kanto cards did?

Probably not to the same degree. Series 1’s top prices were driven by Kanto starters, and Series 3 has no Kanto, so expect a flatter market. Froakie and Sprigatito are the likeliest standouts, but no English prices are established yet, watch actual sold listings rather than asking prices.

Should I buy sealed boxes or singles?

Singles if you want a specific starter, since the region is random. Sealed if you enjoy the surprise, want the sticker sheet and boosters, or are chasing a complete regional panorama.

Final Thoughts

My honest take: Series 3 is a lovely closing chapter to one of the most charming anniversary ideas Pokémon has run in years. Twenty-seven starters, nine regions, one artist tying it all together, and artwork that only completes when you lay the trio out, that’s a genuine love letter to the very first choice we all made as kids.

Rank the cards however you like, but don’t overthink the tier list. Chase the starter that made you smile, protect it, and let the rankings be a bit of fun rather than gospel. Froakie and Sprigatito may top the charts, but if your heart belongs to Chespin, that’s the S-tier that actually counts, and with this being the last wave, there’s a nice finality to picking your partner one more time. Now go choose.