First Partner Illustration Collection Series 3 sells as three separate region-specific collections rather than one bundled release, and the Hoenn collection is the one built around Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip. Each of the three starters gets its own Illustration Rare promo in the collection's special booster.
Since the August 7, 2026 release, early demand has leaned toward Hoenn more than either of the other two regions in Series 3, according to secondary market chatter and pull-rate discussion among collectors.
Here's a closer look at what's actually in the Hoenn collection and why it's drawing extra attention.
For collectors weighing multiple regions at once, Hoenn's combination of strong demand and broad, easy-to-source availability makes it a low-risk starting point for anyone building toward the full Series 3 trio.
Hoenn's starter trio has a well-established fanbase going back to Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire, and that nostalgia carries real weight in illustration-focused collecting. Early secondary market activity has reflected that, with Hoenn promos moving briskly relative to the other two Series 3 regions.
Mudkip specifically has long carried an outsized meme-driven popularity in the broader Pokemon fan community, which appears to be translating into real collector demand for this release.
Kalos benefits from the Froakie-to-Greninja pipeline's competitive relevance in the games, while Paldea is the newest and most recently introduced region. Hoenn's advantage is pure, broad nostalgia rather than any single standout card.
That makes Hoenn a reasonably safe pick for a collector who wants strong demand without betting on one specific card carrying the whole collection.
The special booster guarantees exactly 3 Illustration Rare promos, one for each Hoenn starter, alongside two additional standard boosters from the current set rotation. The sticker sheet is a smaller inclusion but has developed its own small collector following.
Because the Illustration Rares are the headline pull, most collectors treat the two standard boosters as a bonus rather than the main draw of the purchase.
An Illustration Rare promo deserves rigid protection the moment it's out of the pack. EVORETRO's Magnetic One Touch Card Holder 25-Pack gives each of the three Hoenn promos secure, display-ready protection.
For the sealed boosters themselves, EVORETRO's Single Pack Booster Envelope Protector keeps them presentable if you're holding before opening.
For a collector chasing all three Series 3 regions, buying Hoenn first is a reasonable sequencing choice given its early demand advantage. Prices on lagging regions historically stay more stable and easier to catch later.
For a collector focused purely on personal favorites rather than resale demand, region choice should come down to which starters you actually want on your shelf.
Mudkip's long-running internet meme popularity, stretching back well over a decade, has proven to be more than just a passing joke when it comes to real secondary market behavior. Collectors who grew up with that meme culture are showing up as genuine buyers for this specific promo.
That crossover between meme recognition and actual purchasing power is a genuinely interesting wrinkle in Hoenn's overall demand story, separate from the region's broader Ruby and Sapphire nostalgia.
Once all three Hoenn promos are in hand, the trio reads as a small but complete regional set on its own, distinct from the rest of the Series 3 trilogy. Many collectors display Hoenn's three cards together even before finishing Kalos or Paldea, since the region stands well on its own.
That standalone appeal is part of why starting with Hoenn, rather than treating it purely as one piece of a larger project, works well for collectors who want an early sense of completion.
August 7, 2026, at $14.99 USD as part of First Partner Series 3.
Three Illustration Rare promos featuring Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip.
Broad nostalgia for the Ruby and Sapphire starter trio, including Mudkip's meme-driven popularity.
Yes, all three regions in Series 3 are sold as individual collections.
Whether Hoenn is your first Series 3 pickup or your last, the Illustration Rares deserve real protection the moment they're pulled. Pick up EVORETRO's Magnetic One Touch Card Holder 25-Pack to get started.
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