Quick answer: On July 13, 2026, scans of the booklet tucked inside the Pokémon 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box leaked on Reddit, showing card artworks not yet officially revealed. The Pokémon Company confirmed nothing, but most visuals match promotional material already published, which makes the leak credible. Here is what it reveals, and what to actually believe.
The 30th anniversary set is shaping up as the card event of the year, so the slightest image spreads fast. On July 13, an ETB booklet obtained early lit the fuse. Let us sort out what is official, what comes from the leak, and what still deserves caution.
What does the Pokémon 30th anniversary leak show?
The July 13 leak comes from scans of the card-list booklet found in the Elite Trainer Box. Someone clearly got a box before the official September 16 release and photographed the internal insert. The images, shared on Reddit then spread widely on X, are middling quality but reveal previously unseen artworks.
Three moments are often confused. On June 1, The Pokémon Company officially revealed the set. On June 2, a datamine pulled the 30 reprinted classic cards straight from the official Japanese site. This July 13 leak is the third layer: it does not just show already-known names, but above all card artworks whose illustration had not yet been seen.
The ETB booklet scans shared on Reddit. © Reddit / The Pokémon Company
Is the leak reliable?
Caution: nothing is confirmed by The Pokémon Company. The scans are low resolution, and in an era of AI-generated fakes, skepticism is healthy. That said, the vast majority of the cards shown match trailers and promotional material that are already official. The community therefore considers the leak credible, without it being a certified source.
One case sums up the confusion: Jirachi ex circulated in the same news flow, but it was officially revealed on July 7 by The Pokémon Company, for the Japanese Tanabata festival. So it is not a leak, even though it appears among the leaked cards. The rule to remember: an image going around is not a confirmation.
Which cards are people talking about after the leak?
Mewtwo and Mew, at the heart of the anniversary set. © 2026 Pokémon / Nintendo / Creatures / GAME FREAK
The stars remain the two Futuristic Rare cards, the set's new rarity signed by Japanese artist YOSHIROTTEN: Mewtwo ex numbered 157 of 128 and Mew ex numbered 158 of 128, with an opalescent finish and deliberately shifted colors. Officially confirmed, they are the most coveted cards, and the leak gave a fresh look at them.
On the Pokémon-ex side, three cards became instant community favorites after the leak: Sylveon ex, Gengar ex and Jirachi ex. Greninja ex, Espeon ex and Umbreon ex also feature. Finally, the leak overlaps the 30 reprinted classic cards known since June, such as Base Set Charizard, Base Set Pikachu, Shining Celebi from Neo Destiny and Crystal Lugia from Aquapolis, reprinted with a Pikachu "30" stamp.
What about the 30 artist Pikachu cards?
The set guarantees one foil Pikachu per booster, chosen from 30 artworks, each signed by a different artist. Three names are officially confirmed by Pokémon: OKACHEKE, Yuu Nishida and Atsuko Nishida, the latter being one of the historic creators of Pikachu. It is the set's real collecting challenge.
Be careful, though, about one point relayed by the press: other artist names are circulating, taken from the leak and not confirmed by Pokémon. Until The Pokémon Company makes them official, they remain conditional. This is exactly the kind of information a leak spreads too fast, and that is better verified before taking it at face value.
What the community is saying
Reactions are split. On one side, hype: many see it as the best preview of the set before release, with Sylveon, Gengar and Jirachi topping the favorites, and the Mew and Mewtwo Futuristic Rares crystallizing the anticipation. On the other, skepticism about authenticity, with the reminder heard everywhere: take it with a grain of salt.
Part of the community is also worried. Alarmist headlines are piling up over fears of speculation and stock shortages on a hugely anticipated anniversary set, and over the all-foil choice. The fact that every card is foil, including basic Energy cards, blurs the usual rarity hierarchy for some. The debate stays open until release.
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| ETB booklet scans (July 13) | Unofficial leak, deemed credible |
| Futuristic Rare Mewtwo ex and Mew ex | Officially confirmed |
| Jirachi ex | Officially revealed on July 7 |
| 30 reprinted classic cards | Known via the June 2 datamine |
| Pikachu artist names beyond the 3 official | Leak, unconfirmed |
| Global release | September 16, 2026, simultaneous |
Reminder: what the Pokémon 30th Celebration expansion is
To place the leak in context, a reminder helps. The 30th Celebration expansion marks 30 years of the Pokémon Trading Card Game and releases on September 16, 2026, in the first simultaneous global release in the game's history. All its cards are foil, including basic Energy cards, which had never happened before.
The set introduces the Futuristic Rare rarity signed by YOSHIROTTEN, guarantees one foil Pikachu per booster among 30 artworks, and reprints 30 landmark classic cards from 1996 onward. For the full breakdown of contents, rarities and products, our dedicated article on the Pokémon 30th Celebration expansion covers it all, and the products and pre-orders guide details every box.
FAQ: the Pokémon 30th anniversary card leak
Is the Pokémon 30th anniversary leak real?
It is not confirmed by The Pokémon Company, but it is considered credible. The ETB booklet scans leaked on July 13, 2026 largely match official promotional material already published. The images are low resolution, so caution remains warranted on the details.
Where does the 30th anniversary leak come from?
It comes from scans of the card-list booklet included in the Elite Trainer Box. Someone got a box before the official release and photographed the insert, first shared on Reddit then spread on X and by specialist press.
Which new cards does the leak show?
Mostly unseen artworks of cards already known by name: the Futuristic Rare Mewtwo ex and Mew ex, Pokémon-ex such as Sylveon ex, Gengar ex and Jirachi ex, and several illustration rares. The leak also overlaps the 30 reprinted classic cards already spotted in June.
Is Jirachi ex part of the leak?
Not really. Jirachi ex was officially revealed by The Pokémon Company on July 7, 2026, before the booklet leak. It circulates in the same news flow, but it is an official reveal, not a leak.
When does the Pokémon 30th Celebration expansion release?
The set releases on September 16, 2026 worldwide, in the first simultaneous global release in Pokémon TCG history. Japan, Europe and America open their boosters on the same day, within a few hours depending on time zone.
Key takeaways on the July 13 leak
The ETB booklet leak gives the best preview yet of the 30th anniversary set, with the Mew and Mewtwo Futuristic Rares as headliners and a strong lineup of Pokémon-ex. But nothing is official: low-resolution scans, an anonymous source, and some information, such as the extra Pikachu artists, still needs confirmation. See you on September 16 for the validated version.
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