Thirty different Pikachu cards, returning designs from multiple generations, unusually frequent premium pulls, and three mysterious RGB Mew cards give this anniversary set an enormous amount to chase. The opening captures that abundance immediately, using the Elite Trainer Box guide to establish the major categories before tearing into packs. Special illustration rares, illustration rares, Classic Collection cards, futuristic Mew and Mewtwo variants, and the Pikachu subset make the set feel appropriately ambitious for a 30th-anniversary release.
The historical component is particularly effective because the host regularly identifies the eras represented rather than treating every returning card as generic nostalgia. Greninja BREAK brings back an XY-era mechanic, Gengar Prime recalls HeartGold & SoulSilver, Palkia Lv.X represents Diamond & Pearl, and later pulls include Erika’s Jigglypuff, Zacian V, and a Delta Species Metagross. Reactions sometimes outrun precise recollection of individual cards or sets, but the larger point comes through clearly: the Classic Collection is designed as a tour through Pokémon TCG history rather than a recreation of one specific period.
Pull rates become the opening’s other major story. Five special illustration rares appear during the session, including Mewtwo and Sylveon, while illustration rares and Classic Collection hits arrive frequently enough that ordinary packs rarely feel empty. The host repeatedly estimates that SIRs may fall around one per 20 packs and later wonders whether the rate could be even better, but he appropriately frames this as an impression based on what he has heard and his own opening rather than a confirmed rate. His sample also exposes an important complication, as multiple Jirachi SIRs and other repeated cards demonstrate that frequent hits do not necessarily mean easy set completion.
The RGB Mew cards provide the most intriguing mystery, largely because the presentation says they are absent from the official set guide and poster. The host connects that secrecy to childhood rumors surrounding Mew in the games, which gives the gimmick a fitting anniversary context beyond simple rarity. Claims about a possible sale near $20,000 and speculative pull rates ranging into the thousands of packs are much shakier, however; he openly acknowledges that nobody seems to know the true odds, but those dramatic numbers still receive more attention than their uncertain basis warrants.
Opening every newly released product gives viewers a useful look at what comes with each format. The Elite Trainer Box includes nine packs, anniversary sleeves, a Pikachu coin, holo energies, and a Nidorina promo, while the poster collection brings the Legendary Birds, the knockout boxes offer two packs and an Eevee card, and the tech sticker products include three packs and Black Star promos. That breadth makes the presentation more useful than a straightforward booster opening, although repeated pack sequences eventually become less informative once the major mechanics and product differences have already been demonstrated.
Pacing is the main weakness. Excitement over Pikachu appearances, SIR odds, duplicates, and the strength of the set is repeated constantly, and an extended mid-video promotion for the host’s own Red Pack Mega Rips substantially interrupts the anniversary opening. The enthusiasm is genuine and well matched to a celebratory product, but trimming the sales pitch and some of the later repetitive openings would produce a tighter showcase without sacrificing the satisfying highlights. Even so, the combination of historical cards, unusual rarity structure, product variety, and genuinely strong pulls keeps the lengthy session entertaining.
Pros
- Broad coverage of the newly released product formats shows both their pack contents and included promos or accessories.
- Classic Collection pulls from numerous Pokémon TCG eras give the anniversary concept meaningful historical variety.
- Specific pulls such as Gengar Prime, Palkia Lv.X, Delta Species Metagross, Mewtwo SIR, and Sylveon SIR keep the opening eventful.
- The host distinguishes uncertain pull-rate speculation from what his own opening actually demonstrates.
- Duplicate premium cards provide useful evidence that generous-looking hit rates do not automatically make completing the set easy.
Cons
- Repeated comments about the unusually strong pull rates and abundance of Pikachu become redundant during the longer opening.
- The lengthy promotion for the host’s separate mystery-pack product significantly disrupts the focus and momentum.
- Speculation about RGB Mew pull rates and a reported high-value sale lacks enough supporting information to establish either figure confidently.
- Frequent duplicates make portions of the later pack opening less varied despite the large overall set.
A huge assortment of Pikachu, premium artwork, and callbacks spanning multiple Pokémon TCG generations makes the 30th Celebration set come across as a genuinely substantial anniversary release. The opening runs longer than necessary and leans heavily on uncertain rarity speculation, but its product coverage, historical enthusiasm, and unusually eventful run of pulls make it an engaging introduction to what collectors can expect.
