With 2026 marking Pokémon’s milestone 30th Anniversary, what better way to celebrate than by taking a nostalgic stroll down memory lane with the ones who started our journeys?
Between the First Partner collection flying off the shelves quicker than a Regieleki and the simultaneous global drop of the 30th Anniversary expansion, our original First Partner Pokémon are dominating tabletop conversations like never before.
No matter who your First Partner was, there’s a gorgeous card out there for you – here’s my list of the top 10 First Partner Pokémon cards of all time, ranked by artwork, affordability, and impact they’ve had.
Before we jump in, for those after 30th Celebration boosters, our best suggestion right now is to request an invite from Amazon for the ETB, at least, priced much more reasonably compared to other retailers. Invites will be sent out soon!
30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box
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10. Primarina — ME05: Pitch Black #088/084
This is genuinely one of my favorite cards of all time, let alone First Partner Pokémon! While first-stage First Partner Pokémon usually get the Pyroar’s share of cute Illustration Rares, satoma’s work on this final stage Primarina from Pitch Black is class.
Primarina – 088/084
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I love the golden sun, and its glittering beachy vibe that give Alola’s siren starter a spotlight worthy of a stage-performer. You can pick this up on TCGplayer for $4.49, making it a shockingly affordable piece of art.
9. Mudkip — ME: Mega Evolution Promo #057
This promo card from the First Partner lineup captures this water-type looking completely adorable. The artwork by Saboteri is crammed with subtle Gen 3 lore details in the background.
Mudkip – 057 – ME: Mega Evolution Promo
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My first-ever Pokémon game was Pokémon Ruby, but my partner got me a 3DS for my 21st birthday where I finally completed my starter trio with Mudkip in Omega Ruby, so picking up this promo was a non-negotiable personal mission for me. Right now, it’s holding steady at around $20.56 on TCGplayer.
8. Charizard (Classic Collection #4/102)
It had to be in here! The holy grail that arguably started this hobby all those years ago, Mitsuhiro Arita’s Base Set Charizard is the card that launched a million binder collections. The iconic Shadowless variant—lacking the dark drop shadow along the right border of the art box—remains the undisputed King of Nostalgia. Now, with the 30th Anniversary reprints, this card takes the crown as my favorite Charizard card because it gives more people a chance to own a slice of history.
Charizard (Classic Collection #4/102)
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A special shoutout goes to the 151 Charizard ex Special Illustration Rare as well, but I couldn’t bring myself to put two Charizards on the list when there’s so many other First Partner Pokémon and art to celebrate! Unsurprisingly, market values on TCGplayer for the OG sit around $1,160 for raw copies, depending heavily on condition, but now more Trainers can get their hands on it thanks to the 30th Anniversary reprints, who knows what will happen. Have you managed to get your hands on one yet?
7. Piplup (Secret) – SM – Cosmic Eclipse (SM12)
Piplup (Secret) – SM – Cosmic Eclipse
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Before Trainer Gallery cards became a main-set staple, Cosmic Eclipse gave us Dawn and Piplup in this adorable SIR. Tomomi Kaneko’s artwork highlights Sinnoh’s Dawn alongside her stubborn Piplup at the Canalave City docks. Because of its legendary status among Gen 4 fans, you’re looking at around $88.24 on TCGPlayer.
6. Venusaur & Snivy-GX — SM Promos #SM229
Yes, I know this card has two First Partners in it, but I’m strictly counting it as one entry! I have a lot of time for artist Yuka Morii, who hand-sculpts every featured Pokémon out of physical clay before photographing them in real-world outdoor dioramas.
Venusaur & Snivy GX – SM229 – SM Promos (SMP)
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When I went to EUIC in 2025, they had her original physical clay sculptures on display at the venue, and seeing the real-world scale and tactile craftsmanship behind the card in person was so unbelievably cool. If you want to add this gorgeous clay tag team to your collection, it’s currently running around $146.63 on TCGPlayer.
5. Scorbunny — ME: Ascended Heroes #225/217
Veteran illustrator Yuu Nishida hit an absolute home run (wrong sport, but close enough) with this Galar First Partner. The artwork catches Scorbunny chilling out on a fresh bed of leaves.
Scorbunny — ME: Ascended Heroes #225/217
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Thankfully, this Fire-type doesn’t have any flames while resting. Best of all, it’s super easy on the wallet, hovering at just $9.26 on TCGplayer.
4. Tepig — SV: White Flare #096/086
When it comes to cozy charm, it doesn’t get much better than Tepig from Unova. Orca’s warm and golden lighting shows Tepig warming its belly, rolling around in a heap of crisp autumn leaves.
Tepig – 096/086 – SV: White Flare
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This calm, simple illustration makes you smile the moment you open the binder, and you can get a copy on TCGplayer for around $52.50.
3. Torchic Star — EX Team Rocket Returns #108/109
Generation 3 holds a massive place in my heart, and while the whole Gen 3 TCG era produced absolute bangers, this is easily my favorite piece in the entire collection.
Torchic Star — EX Team Rocket Returns #108/109
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Illustrated by Masakazu Fukuda, Gold Star cards had artwork that broke out of the frame. Sorry if your First Partner was Torchic though, copies of this card are ultra-rare and currently average around a wild $4,500.00 on LimitlessTCG.
2. Pikachu ex — ME: Ascended Heroes #276/217
Look, I know Pikachu is a bit of a rogue choice for a “First Partner” list compared to the standard Grass/Fire/Water trios, but let’s not forget Pokémon Yellow (and Let’s Go, Pikachu!)! Pikachu was, arguably, our very first First Partner, so it absolutely earns a spot here.
Pikachu ex — ME: Ascended Heroes #276/217
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USUMON’s ultra-high-contrast, electric-charged art style makes the iconic mascot practically leap off the foil, though pulling off that high-voltage style means it commands a heavy $935.99 market price on TCGplayer.
1. Greninja ex – 148/128 – ME: 30th Celebration
This card is just awesome. Everyone loves Greninja, but artist GIDORA completely stole the 30th Anniversary show with this one. Did you spot the Eevee and Lucario in the background?
Greninja ex – 148/128
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Between the playful street-style vibe and the hype surrounding the set, this could easily be one of the most fun chase cards modern Pokémon has seen in a long time. Because it’s so new, the market is pretty volatile, currently sitting around $70.99 on TCGPlayer.
Sara Heritage
Freelance Writer
Sara Heritage is a freelance journalist for IGN, specialising in Pokémon TCG. When she’s not gaming, you’ll probably find her building yet another LEGO set she absolutely did not need, or chaining ranked matches in Pokémon Champions.