Target Begins Pokémon TCG 30th Anniversary Pre-orders, but There's a Catch

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Published Aug 13, 2026, 2:09 PM EDT

TCG fans will be able to purchase an Eevee product ahead of Pokémon's 30th anniversary release

Target is about to begin Pokémon TCG 30th anniversary pre-orders

The Pikachu cards in the Pokemon Trading Card Game's 30th anniversary set, which features 30 Pikachu cards with different artists.

The Pokémon Trading Card Game's 30th anniversary set releases in about a month, but securing pre-orders has been a headache. If you want to get any of the commemorative products close to the manufacturer's suggested retail price, your options are fairly limited. But if you're willing to wake up early, Target might be a great option to ensure you have the fancy new Pikachu cards come Sept. 16, 2026.

What Pokémon 30th anniversary product is Target selling on Aug. 14?

Back-end changes to Target's website indicate that the retailer will soon begin to sell the Celebration Knock Out Collection, which comes with two booster packs, a foil Eevee card, and a golden coin. Unlike standard Pokémon boosters that contain ten cards, the 30th anniversary packs only have seven cards. MSRP for this product is $9.99, but there's a good chance that Target's price will be slightly higher than that.

In the past, Target's online drops limited users to two unique Pokémon products per checkout, and a total of two separate checkouts. Theoretically, Pokémon fans can score up to a total of four Knock Out Collection boxes via two separate transactions. Realistically, due to the prevalence of bots and server issues, most people would be lucky to purchase even a single box.

One of 30 cards in the upcoming Pokemon 30th anniversary TCG set, which depicts series mascot Pikachu gorging on berries.

What time is Target dropping Pokémon's 30th anniversary TCG product?

This online drop is expected to start at 3 a.m. EST. Target drops one item at a time, with no indication of what is coming next. This means that users may have to wait a while before this specific 30th anniversary product is available for purchase. Other Pokémon products expected to drop tonight are First Partner Series 2, Prismatic SPC, and Chaos Rising Elite Trainer Boxes. Drop windows can last for hours, so expect to stay up late if you're going to try it.

How should I prepare for Target's Pokémon release?

If you want to have a real shot at purchasing this product, you should make a Target account ahead of time with a saved credit card profile. Ideally, you want to use something that isn't Apple Card — which is notorious for failing to complete Target purchases. I also suggest logging in to both the Target app and via a separate browser. You'll want to add the product to your cart via mobile, and then load the other window directly to Target.com/checkout. This way, you don't have to load your cart and then check out — lessening the chances of page errors.

What errors can I expect while checking out at Target online?

Don't be surprised if Target struggles to allow you to add the product to your cart. Most users have to mash "Add To Cart" many times before the platform actually completes the action.

You'll know you're successful if Target gives you a new error that says you have a high-demand product in your cart. From there, you'll want to go to your cart and reload as many times as necessary for the Pokémon box to actually appear. You may get a blank page, or a warning that too many people are trying to purchase the same item.

Will I be able to buy anything?

You'll have better odds here than Walmart, but lower than The Pokémon Center. Product stock Discord severs indicate that Target's initial 30th anniversary drop will have a low stock, and scalpers will be all over it. If you're a night owl or don't have somewhere to be early in the morning, it's worth a shot. Just go in knowing you need patience and are ready to reload pages many times.

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