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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
سەرچاوەی فەرمی بە زمانی ئینگلیزی: https://www.ign.com/articles/best-first-partner-pokemon-tcg-cards
