‘Celebrations’ is Our 25th Anniversary Set: Remakes of Base Set Charizard and Past Card Mechanics!
The 25th anniversary set we’ve been covering since last year has officially been revealed!
Celebrations products will include promo cards that combine newer Pokemon with popular game mechanics from the past 25 years, such as Dark and Light Pokemon, Delta Species (δ) Pokemon, and Pokemon Star. Some examples include Dark Sylveon V, Light Toxtricity, Greninja ☆, Mimikyu δ, Dragapult Prime, and Zacian LV.X.
The main set will contain over 45 cards, including four Pokemon V and two Pokemon VMAX. It will feature Legendary, Mythical, and other beloved Pokemon. This includes Mew, Ho-Oh, Zamazenta, Flying Pikachu, and Surfing Pikachu. Professor Oak will also make an appearance. The main set will be Standard legal according to Pokemon.com.
Even more exciting, Celebrations will feature a special subset of 25 cards containing “close remakes” of iconic cards from the past. It will be called “Classic Collections” and include Base Set Charizard, Umbreon ☆, Tapu Lele-GX, and more. Base Set Pikachu is also mentioned. Unlike Evolutions these cards will probably be exact reprints of the original cards but with a 25th anniversary stamp and modified copyright information, like the Starter Pokemon in our First Partner Packs.
As posted before, each booster pack will contain four holo cards. Each card will feature a 25th anniversary stamp. These Celebrations booster packs can only be found within special Celebrations products, which will begin to release in October.
The set will be based on Japan’s 25th Anniversary Collection and its associated products.
Card Images
Official product images from Brazil have revealed the promos of Dragapult Prime, Mimikyu δ, Light Toxtricity, Hydreigon C, and Zacian LV.X.
They use the same card templates and art style as their eras, as if the cards were created back then.
We can also see the holofoil paper the set will use on Zacian LV.X. Pokemon will probably print all the cards on the same holofoil paper.
These cards probably won’t be legal for tournament play. They don’t have legality markers. Below the copyrights there’s some kind of note that’s hard to read — it might say something like “Not legal for tournament play.” Zacian LV.X also has the old Poke-Body mechanic, which would be incompatible with today’s cards.
Thanks goes to Zeeman and Leo for the translations!
Dragapult – Psychic – HP150
Stage 2 – Evolves from Drakloak[P] Supersonic Return: 60 damage. You may switch this Pokemon with 1 of your Benched Pokemon.
[P][P][C] Sneaky Dive: 150 damage. Discard 1 random card from your opponent’s hand.
Weakness: Darkness (x2)
Resistance: Fighting (-30)
Retreat: 0(Pokemon Prime are from the HeartGold & SoulSilver era. In terms of gameplay they were no different from other Pokemon of the time. It’s purely aesthetic — they had spikes around their card image and all Pokemon Prime had “close-up” artwork of the Pokemon’s face.)
Mimikyu δ – Water – HP70
Basic Pokemon (Delta Species)[W] Steal: Draw 2 cards.
[W][C] Wet Claw: 40 damage. Return 1 Energy attached to your opponent’s Active Pokemon to their hand.
Weakness: Lightning (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1(Delta Species Pokemon are from late in Generation III. They featured each Pokemon as an unusual type due to a mutation. There were also cards that supported them, like with the current Single Strike and Rapid Strike Pokemon.)
Light Toxtricity – Lightning – HP120
Stage 1 (Light Pokemon) – Evolves from Toxel[C] Slow Ballad: Heal 30 damage from both Active Pokemon.
[L][L][C] Smashing Spanking: 160 damage. During your next turn, this Pokemon can’t use Smashing Spanking.
Weakness: Fighting (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2(Light Pokemon were from the Neo Destiny. They’re obviously the reverse of Dark Pokemon. Their card templates are a bit different. In terms of gameplay they were known for healing and greater HP.)
Hydreigon C – Darkness – HP110
Basic Pokemon (Pokemon SP)[C][C] Bite: 30 damage.
[D][D][C] Possessed Blade: 100 damage. This attack does 20 damage to 2 of your opponent’s Benched Pokemon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokemon.)
Weakness: Grass (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2(Pokemon SP were another “label mechanic” like Delta Species Pokemon, Rapid Strike Pokemon, Plasma Pokemon, etc. They were each owned by someone. In this case the “C” stands for Champion, which is why Champion Iris is depicted on this card. Of course neither Iris or Hydriegon existed back then, but these cards are pretending as if they were made then!)
Zacian LV.X – Metal – HP160
Level-Up – Put onto ZacianPoke-Body: Blade Armor
Damage from this Pokemon’s attacks isn’t affected by any effects on your opponent’s Active Pokemon.[M][M][C] Brave Blade: 240 damage. During your next turn, this Pokemon can’t attack.
Put this card onto your Active Zacian. Zacian LV.X can use any attack, Poke-Power, or Poke-Body from its previous Level.
Weakness: Fire (x2)
Resistance: Grass (-30)
Retreat: 2(Pokemon LV.X are from Generation IV. You play them on top of an existing Pokemon to upgrade them with additional attacks as well as Poke-Powers and Poke-Bodies, which were the precursor to Abilities.)
Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Collection—Dragapult Prime
Product Contents: One foil promo card and one foil oversize card featuring Dragapult Prime, two Celebrations four–card booster packs, one additional Pokemon TCG booster pack, a four–pocket binder to hold your cards, and one anniversary–themed coin
Release Date: Oct. 8, 2021
Price: $14.99 USD
Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Collections—Lance’s Charizard V and Dark Sylveon V
Product Contents: One foil promo card and one foil oversize card featuring Lance’s Charizard V or Dark Sylveon V, four Celebrations four–card booster packs, and two additional Pokémon TCG booster packs.
Release Date: Oct. 8, 2021
Price: $19.99 USD
Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Deluxe Pin Collection
Product Contents: One foil promo card featuring Zacian LV.X, an enamel pin featuring Flying and Surfing Pikachu, four Celebrations four–card booster packs, and two additional Pokémon TCG booster packs.
Release Date: Oct. 8, 2021
Price: $19.99 USD
Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Elite Trainer Box
Product Contents: 10 Celebrations four–card booster packs, five additional Pokémon TCG booster packs, one special foil card featuring Greninja ☆, 65 anniversary–themed card sleeves, 45 Energy cards, a player’s guide to the Celebrations expansion, a Pokémon TCG rulebook, six damage–counter dice, one competition–legal coin–flip die, and two acrylic condition markers.
Release Date: Oct. 8, 2021
Price: $49.99 USD
Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Elite Trainer Box (Pokemon Center Version)
No product details revealed yet.
Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Mini Tins
Product Contents: Two Celebrations four–card booster packs, one additional Pokémon TCG booster pack, one anniversary–themed coin, and one Pokémon art card showing the art from the Mini Tin (collect and combine all eight versions)
Release Date: Oct. 8, 2021
Price: $8.99 USD
Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Special Collection—Pikachu V–UNION
Product Contents: Four foil promo cards that make up a single Pikachu V–UNION, one oversize card featuring Pikachu V–UNION, one Supporter card featuring Professor Burnet, four Celebrations four–card boosters, and two additional Pokémon TCG boosters.
Release Date: Oct. 8, 2021
Price: $29.99 USD
Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Premium Figure Collection—Pikachu VMAX
Product Contents: One etched foil promo card featuring Pikachu VMAX, one foil promo card featuring Pikachu V, a supersize figure of Gigantamax Pikachu, eight Celebrations four–card booster packs, and three additional Pokémon TCG booster packs.
Release Date: Oct. 22, 2021
Price: $49.99 USD
Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Ultra–Premium Collection
Product Contents: Two commemorative metal cards featuring Base Set Pikachu and Base Set Charizard, one special gold version of Pikachu V, one special gold version of Poké Ball, a Charizard and Pikachu enamel pin, one anniversary–themed metal coin, 17 Celebrations four–card booster packs, eight additional Pokémon TCG booster packs, and player’s guide.
Release Date: Oct. 22, 2021
Price: $119.99 USD
Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Collector Chest
Product Contents: Six Celebrations four–card booster packs, two additional Pokémon TCG booster packs, three foil promo cards featuring Mimikyu δ (Delta Species), Light Toxtricity, and Hydreigon C; four colorful sticker sheets, a mini portfolio to store cards, a Pokémon coin, and a Pokémon notepad.
Release Date: October 2021
Price: $24.99 USD
Press Release
The Pokémon Company International Unveils the Pokémon Trading Card Game: Celebrations Collection Commemorating 25 Years of the Brand
New Expansion to Deliver Diverse Product Lineup Featuring Fan-Favorite Pokémon and Remakes of Classic Pokémon TCG Cards
Bellevue, Wash.—June 24, 2021 – In celebration of Pokémon’s 25th anniversary, The Pokémon Company International announced the highly-anticipated Pokémon Trading Card Game: Celebrations collection, which will showcase beloved characters from the Pokémon franchise, as well as popular card artwork and gameplay mechanics spanning the history of the Pokémon TCG. With nine different products, Celebrations will have something for everyone when the expansion launches starting on Oct. 8, 2021, at participating retailers around the world.
“The Pokémon Trading Card Game has always been an iconic pillar of the Pokémon brand, and it’s been a joy to see the community continue to grow while bonding with family and friends over a common love of the Pokémon TCG,” said Barry Sams, vice president of the Pokémon Trading Card Game at The Pokémon Company International. “We look forward to commemorating this milestone with a new collection of products that Trainers of all types and ages will enjoy as they celebrate 25 years of Pokémon.”
Each Celebrations booster pack will contain four uniquely designed cards—all with foil treatments and a 25th anniversary logo—that feature characters from all regions of the Pokémon universe, from Pikachu to Zamazenta plus familiar faces like Professor Oak. In addition, Celebrations will introduce a special subset of 25 cards that are close remakes of iconic cards from the history of the Pokémon TCG, including Base Set Charizard, Umbreon ☆, and Tapu Lele-GX.
The full Celebrations lineup will include the following, with many of these products including promo cards that combine recently-discovered Pokémon with popular forms from previous Pokémon TCG sets, such as Light Pokémon, Delta Species (δ) Pokémon, and Pokémon Star.
- Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Collection—Dragapult Prime (available on Oct. 8, 2021)
- Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Collections—Lance’s Charizard V and Dark Sylveon V (available on Oct. 8, 2021)
- Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Deluxe Pin Collection (available on Oct. 8, 2021)
- Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Elite Trainer Box (available on Oct. 8, 2021)
- Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Mini Tins (available on Oct. 8, 2021)
- Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Special Collection—Pikachu V-UNION (available on Oct. 8, 2021)
- Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Premium Figure Collection—Pikachu VMAX (available on Oct. 22, 2021)
- Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Ultra-Premium Collection (available on Oct. 22, 2021)
- Pokémon TCG: Celebrations Collector Chest (available in October 2021)