Is the First Partner Illustration Collection Series 1 Worth Buying?
Is the First Partner Illustration Collection Series 1 Worth Buying?
The Short Answer
Yes — and this one is a little different from the rest of the Ascended Heroes product lineup in all the right ways. The First Partner Illustration Collection Series 1 is priced at £42.99 at CardDeckr, dropping to £40.84 with your free 5% signup discount. It is currently in stock and celebrates something genuinely significant — 30 years of first partner Pokémon. Inside you get three illustration rare style promo cards featuring beloved starter Pokémon from Kanto, Sinnoh, or Alola, two standard Pokémon TCG booster packs, and a colourful sticker sheet with nine individual first partner Pokémon stickers. This is the kind of product that appeals far beyond the usual TCG buyer and has genuine long term collector appeal built into every element of it.
What Is Inside the First Partner Illustration Collection Series 1?
The collection contains one special promo booster pack with three of nine possible illustration rare style promo cards, two standard Pokémon TCG booster packs each containing 10 game cards, one Basic Energy, and a Pokémon TCG Live code card, plus a colourful sticker sheet featuring nine individual first partner Pokémon stickers.
The promo booster is the centrepiece. It contains three cards drawn from a pool of nine illustration rare style promos spanning beloved first partner Pokémon from the Kanto, Sinnoh, and Alola regions. Which three you receive is randomised, which means every collection has an element of discovery to it — and if you are aiming to collect all nine promos across the full set, picking up multiple collections becomes a natural and genuinely enjoyable pursuit.
The 30th Anniversary Hook — Why This Collection Is Special
The First Partner Illustration Collection Series 1 is not just another sealed product. It is a deliberate celebration of 30 years of Pokémon starter Pokémon — the Pokémon that players have been choosing as their first companions since 1996. Kanto, Sinnoh, and Alola represent three of the most beloved generations in the franchise, and the illustration rare style artwork on the promos reflects that weight. These are not standard card illustrations given a foil treatment. They are dedicated artwork pieces created specifically for this collection to honour the anniversary.
Anniversary products in the Pokémon TCG have a strong track record of appreciating over time. The Pokémon 151 set, the 25th Anniversary Celebrations collection, and various other milestone releases consistently trade above their retail price years after the original window closes. The First Partner Illustration Collection Series 1 sits in exactly that category — a themed, limited release tied to a meaningful milestone that will only become more historically significant as time passes.
Is £42.99 Good Value?
The value case here is less about pack count and more about the exclusivity and quality of the promo cards. Three illustration rare style promos from a pool of nine, all featuring first partner Pokémon in dedicated anniversary artwork, is a strong content proposition at £42.99. These promos cannot be pulled from standard booster packs anywhere — they exist only in this collection. Once retail availability ends, the only way to get them is through the secondary market.
The two standard booster packs on top add further value, giving you a genuine shot at pulls from whichever set they are drawn from alongside the promo content. And the nine sticker sheet is a proper bonus rather than an afterthought — nine individual first partner stickers covering three beloved generations is something fans of any age will get genuine use from.
At £42.99 this sits just above the First Partners Deluxe Pin Collection at £39.99, which gives you five Ascended Heroes packs and three starter promos. The Illustration Collection trades pack count for the premium illustration rare style promo treatment and the anniversary context — a different value proposition that makes sense for collectors who prioritise the quality and exclusivity of the promo cards over raw pack volume.
Three of Nine — The Collection Mechanic
The nine illustration rare style promos in this collection span Kanto, Sinnoh, and Alola starters, meaning the full roster includes some of the most iconic and beloved Pokémon in the franchise across three generations. Receiving three per collection means that to assemble all nine you would need to pick up multiple copies — but because the selection is randomised, each purchase feels like a genuine discovery rather than a mechanical checklist exercise.
For collectors who want all nine promos, buying three collections at £42.99 each — or £40.84 each with your signup discount — gives a total outlay of £128.97 (£122.52 with discount) for a realistic shot at completing the full set. That is a compelling proposition for anyone who takes their starter Pokémon collection seriously, and the remaining two booster packs per collection make each purchase worthwhile even before you see which promos you receive.
Who Is This Collection For?
The First Partner Illustration Collection Series 1 has a broader appeal than almost anything else at CardDeckr right now. Long term Pokémon fans who remember choosing their first partner in the original games will feel the weight of the anniversary immediately. Collectors who focus on promo cards and exclusive artwork will appreciate the illustration rare style treatment on all nine designs. Players who want additional booster packs alongside a collectible extra will find the two standard packs a welcome addition.
It is also one of the finest gift options in the entire lineup. Starter Pokémon carry deep personal meaning for almost every Pokémon fan — the three starters you grow up with become part of your Pokémon identity in a way few other aspects of the franchise can match. A collection that celebrates that across three beloved generations, at a price point under £45, is a gift that lands well regardless of how deeply the recipient follows the TCG.
A Note on Series 1
The Series 1 designation is significant. Where there is a Series 1, there will almost certainly be a Series 2 covering additional generations of starter Pokémon. Collecting Series 1 now while it is in stock at retail price gives you the foundation of what could become a meaningful multi series collection over time. Getting in at the beginning of a series at retail is always preferable to chasing it on the secondary market once subsequent releases have renewed demand for the original.
Ready to Pick One Up?
The First Partner Illustration Collection Series 1 is in stock now at CardDeckr at £42.99 — or £40.84 with your free 5% signup discount. Fast UK shipping, secure checkout, and factory sealed product guaranteed. Thirty years of first partner Pokémon, three exclusive illustration rare style promos, and two booster packs. Grab yours today.
All prices are correct at time of publishing and are subject to change. Pokémon and all related names are trademarks of Nintendo, Creatures Inc., GAME FREAK inc., and The Pokémon Company. CardDeckr is not affiliated with The Pokémon Company International.
