The Pokémon TCG First Partner Illustration Collection Series 3 is back in stock, and it is now on sale for $39.99. The item’s return comes just before Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days event, which starts October 6. For collectors following this set, this is the final chance to secure the concluding instalment in the collector-focused series.
The Return of the Boxes
The trio of boxes is rounded out by the First Partner Illustration Collection Series 3, which is the final entry in the collection. It brings together nine Hoenn, Kalos, and Paldea starters: Treecko, Torchic, Mudkip, Chespin, Fennekin, Froakie, Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly. This completes the full 27-Pokémon starter set across all three series.
What’s Inside the Box
At $39.99, this is a reasonable price for a box that was regularly selling for $50 or more after launch. The current market price has been hovering around the mid-$30 range before shipping. So this is at least competitive with what you will find elsewhere, and it comes from Amazon itself rather than a third-party seller.
A Series 3 set comes with a Pokémon TCG promo pack containing three of nine possible illustration rare-style cards, two booster packs from the Pitch Black and Chaos Rising expansions, and an exclusive sticker sheet. The draw of the collection comes from completing it.
The Full Series Timeline
The three releases that make up Series 3 complete the loop by bringing Hoenn, Kalos, and Paldea back. After Series 1, which looked at Kanto, Sinnoh, and Alola, and Series 2, which skipped over Johto, Unova, and Galar, this final set gives collectors a chance to get every one of the 27 First Partner Pokémon across the three series.
The starting price was only $14.99, yet at $39.99 this box remains considerably above the original cost. This is not unusual, though, because Pokémon TCG goods have become notoriously hard to find at their listed price, and these First Partner collections are exactly the same.
What to Watch Out For
When you shop on Amazon, it is especially important to verify that the item is sold and shipped by Amazon itself, rather than snagging a cheaper third-party listing. This is particularly true with Pokémon TCG products, where sealed stock can sometimes fetch some pretty wild prices depending on the set.
The Bottom Line
This installment, known as the First Partner Illustration Collection Series 3, serves as the concluding entry in a series that has been building towards this point. It rounds out the starter Pokémon lineup with nine more entries, completing the full 27-Pokémon starter lineup across all three collections.
At $39.99, it is a reasonable price for a box that was regularly selling for $50 or more after launch. The box is available now, and Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days event kicks off October 6. If you have been waiting on this series, the moment to act is now.
The $39.99 price is at least competitive with the mid-$30 range before shipping that the current market price has been hovering at.
| Box | Price After Launch | Current Market Price | Series 3 Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series 1 | $50 or more | Not specified | Not applicable |
| Series 2 | $50 or more | Not specified | Not applicable |
| Series 3 | $50 or more | Mid-$30s before shipping | $39.99 |
The contrast demonstrates the direction the market has taken. Two earlier sales boxes represented standard sales of $50 or more after launch, while the present market price for Series 3 sits close to the mid-$30 range before shipping.
Source material: “Pokémon TCG First Partner Illustration Collection Series 3 Is Back at Amazon Ahead of Prime Big Deal Days,” IGN.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.