If you felt a sudden disturbance in the binder force this morning… that was collectors everywhere collectively whisper-screaming with joy.
The First Partner Illustration Collection – Wave 1 promos have officially been revealed, and honestly? Pokémon has gone straight for the emotional jugular. According to PokéBeach, we’re getting a gorgeous set of illustration promos celebrating the original starter trios from the first four generations — and yes, they look exactly as good as you’re hoping.
Starters, but make it art
This isn’t your standard “pose + attack name” situation. These promos lean fully into the illustration rare energy — scenic, soft, and packed with nostalgia.
Each card shows the starters interacting in natural environments, giving big “storybook Pokémon world” vibes. The kind of cards that make you stop mid-sleeve and go, “…okay wow.”
Wave 1 includes:
- Gen 1 – Bulbasaur, Charmander & Squirtle
- Gen 2 – Chikorita, Cyndaquil & Totodile
- Gen 3 – Treecko, Torchic & Mudkip
- Gen 4 – Turtwig, Chimchar & Piplup
Four generations. Twelve starters. Zero weak links.
The nostalgia is doing laps
Let’s be real — Pokémon knows exactly what it’s doing here.
These aren’t cards aimed at competitive play or meta relevance. These are:
- Binder centrepieces
- Desk display cards
- “I started with that one” conversation starters
If you grew up arguing over fire vs water vs grass on the playground, these promos are basically a targeted attack.
Promo today, grail tomorrow?
Historically, First Partner promos age very well. They’re:
- Limited to specific collection boxes
- Massively popular with casual fans and hardcore collectors
- Often revisited years later with a sudden spike in demand
Will these explode overnight? Probably not.
Will future-you be annoyed if you skipped them? Extremely possible.
What this means for collectors
If you’re the type who:
- Collects starters
- Loves illustration-style cards
- Or just enjoys Pokémon when it leans wholesome instead of chaotic
…Wave 1 is an easy win.
And if this is only Wave 1? Yeah. Start clearing binder space now. Pokémon clearly isn’t done emotionally manipulating us just yet.
If you want to stay ahead of releases like this — promos, special collections, and the stuff that disappears before you’ve even finished your coffee — you know where to find us. 😉
More waves will come. Wallets will cry. Binders will thrive.
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