Pokémon TCG Pocket First Partners is the special pack collection that runs from 31 October to 26 December 2026. It celebrates the first partner Pokémon from all nine regions, with a different opening system from normal booster packs: you use special pack stamina, which recovers once a week. Each pack contains one card with at least ★ rarity.
You can still open ordinary Dual Fusion boosters through their normal system, but they do not share the First Partners stamina meter. If you’re collecting the starter Pokémon cards, here’s how the special packs work, when to check for another opening and which regional first partners the collection celebrates.
How to open Pokémon TCG Pocket First Partners special packs
Open Pokémon TCG Pocket and find Special Pack: First Partners among the current collection packs. Select it to view its special stamina indicator and start an opening when you have enough of the dedicated resource. The pack is separate from the regular Dual Fusion booster selection.
A First Partners pack gives you one card per opening, guaranteed to be ★ rarity. This is different from a standard booster pack and also different from the anniversary gift that guarantees a ★★ card. Read the special pack’s own details when deciding which reward you are using.
How Pokémon TCG Pocket First Partners weekly stamina works
The Pokémon Company says special pack stamina recovers once a week. That separate meter determines when you can open another First Partners pack. Opening normal boosters, or having their usual pack stamina ready, does not mean the special pack is ready as well.
When you’ve used the available special stamina, return to the First Partners screen and check its recovery indicator. It is the place to see your next opening opportunity. Pokémon also discussed special pack hourglasses as a future addition, so use only the items and options actually displayed in the game rather than assuming ordinary Pack Hourglasses refill this meter.
The weekly recovery is what makes Pokémon TCG Pocket First Partners different from the normal four-to-six-week booster release cycle. You can keep collecting regular C-series cards while treating First Partners as a separate, longer-term collection.
What cards are in the First Partners collection?
The special pack focuses on the first partner Pokémon from Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos, Alola, Galar and Paldea. The following is a region-by-region reference for the 27 starter species associated with those games. Use the in-game card catalogue for the specific special-pack illustrations and collection entries.
| Region | First partner Pokémon |
|---|---|
| Kanto | Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle |
| Johto | Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile |
| Hoenn | Treecko, Torchic, Mudkip |
| Sinnoh | Turtwig, Chimchar, Piplup |
| Unova | Snivy, Tepig, Oshawott |
| Kalos | Chespin, Fennekin, Froakie |
| Alola | Rowlet, Litten, Popplio |
| Galar | Grookey, Scorbunny, Sobble |
| Paldea | Sprigatito, Fuecoco, Quaxly |
These are the first partner species across the nine regions, not a substitute for the live card list. Pokémon TCG Pocket First Partners uses special artwork, and you should use the pack’s card catalogue to track the individual prints you collect. The pack has its own collection goal, rather than being another source of Mega Mewtwo X ex or Mega Greninja ex booster cards.
Is a ★ card guaranteed in every Pokémon TCG Pocket First Partners pack?
Yes. The Pokémon Company confirms that each opening contains one card and guarantees ★ rarity. A ★ card is the single-star rarity; it is not the same promise as a ★★ card. You get the First Partners guarantee by opening the special pack with its weekly recovering resource.
The second-anniversary celebration has a separate ticket for a guaranteed ★★ booster pack. That ticket is collected and exchanged through its own event, so do not confuse it with the weekly pack. Our anniversary ticket guide explains the other reward.
Why can’t I open another Pokémon TCG Pocket First Partners pack?
First, check the special pack stamina meter. If you have already used this week’s available resource, the next opening depends on the weekly recovery. The normal booster countdown is unrelated, even when you have a regular pack ready to open.
Also make sure you’re looking at the First Partners special pack, not a Dual Fusion booster or an anniversary exchange screen. If the special pack screen isn’t loading, install the latest version of Pokémon TCG Pocket and reopen the game before checking the collection menu again.
When does Pokémon TCG Pocket First Partners end?
The officially announced availability runs through 26 December 2026, after beginning on 31 October. The final opening should be planned around the countdown shown inside the game, not an assumed UK midnight cut-off. Stamina recovers weekly, so it is worth checking the special pack regularly while the collection is running.
For more on the normal expansion, see our Dual Fusion guide. The rental decks system and Mega Rayquaza ex gift are separate battle features. Pokémon TCG Pocket First Partners is about collecting its distinctive special-pack cards over the event period.
Dual Fusion Expansion · Dual Fusion Rental Decks · Rental Decks Explained · Mega Rayquaza ex Elite Deck · Second Anniversary Rewards · Anniversary Ticket · PROMO Reissue Event · Pika Pika Missions
Official source: The Pokémon Company’s First Partners announcement.
