McDonald's Pokémon Cards 2002-2023 (Complete Guide)

As a collector, you know that McDonald’s has released some pretty awesome promotional items over the years. Well, their Pokémon card series is no exception! If you’re looking to add these coveted cards to your collection, read on for all the details.

The history of McDonald’s Pokémon cards

2002- McDonald’s Original Minimum Pack

McDonald’s first stepped into the world of Pokémon over 20 years ago, in 2002. For only one month, a set of 18 (+6 Energy cards) Pokémon TCG promotional cards were available exclusively at Japanese McDonald’s restaurants. Included in each Happy Meal was a booster pack containing 6 cards. Each pack guaranteed a holofoil Pokémon and a holofoil energy card of its respective type. 

Set List

• 01/18 Bulbasaur
• 02/18 Oddish
• 03/18 Chikorita
• 04/18 Charmander
• 05/18 Vulpix
• 06/18 Cyndaquil
• 07/18 Squirtle
• 08/18 Totodile
• 09/18 Maril
• 10/18 Pikachu
• 11/18 Chinchou
• 12/18 Mareep
• 13/18 Abra
• 14/18 Slowpoke
• 15/18 Natu
• 16/18 Sandshrew
• 17/18 Phanpy
• 18/18 Larvitar 

One would expect the contents of each booster pack to be random, and to some degree they are, but there are actually 6 different outcomes available.

Chikorita Pack

• Chikorita (holo)
• Grass Energy (holo)
• Abra
• Phanpy
• Fighting Energy
• Psychic Energy

Charmander Pack

• Charmander (holo)
• Fire Energy (holo)
• Oddish
• Mareep
• Grass Energy
• Lightning Energy

Squirtle Pack

• Squirtle (holo)
• Water Energy (holo)
• Vulpix
• Chinchou
• Fire Energy
• Lightning Energy

Pikachu Pack

• Pikachu (holo)
• Lightning Energy (holo)
• Bulbasaur
• Sandshrew
• Grass Energy
• Fighting Energy

Slowpoke Pack

• Slowpoke (holo)
• Psychic Energy (holo)
• Cyndaquil
• Marill
• Fire Energy
• Water Energy

Larvitar Pack

• Larvitar (holo)
• Fighting Energy (holo)
• Totodile
• Natu
• Water Energy
• Psychic Energy

2002- McDonald’s The Town on No Map Pack

Another set of cards was also available during the McDondald’s campaign that ran between January 26 and February 24, 2002. This booster pack contained only a single card and was included with the purchase of a Happy meal. 

The 5 cards included in this set belong to the larger P promotional set of 47 cards total. The entire set is non-holo.

Set list

• 021/P Pikachu
• 022/P Wooper
• 023/P Tyrogue
• 024/P Zapdos
• 025/P Umbreon

2002- McDonald’s Wind From The Sea Pack

Yet another special set was available during the same campaign. Much like the previous set, the Wind From the Sea packs each included one of 9 available cards. These 9 cards belong to the larger P promotional set. The entire set is non-holo.

Set list

• 029/P Hoppip
• 030/P Growlithe
• 031/P Lanturn
• 032/P Pichu
• 033/P Mew
• 034/P Donphan
• 035/P Togepi
• 036/P Sneasel
• 037/P Scizor

2003- ADV-P Promo Cards

McDonald’s Pokémon cards were back at it again in 2003, but this time only 5 cards were made, and one random card was included with each Happy Meal. Instead of being its own 5 card set, these cards were part of the Japanese ADV-P Promotional Cards but reserved the McDonald’s set symbol at the bottom left of the card, in Japan only. However, these 5 cards were released in North America, as Black Star Promos.

Set List

• 003/ADV-P Treeko
• 004/ADV-P Torchic
• 005/ADV-P Mudkip
• 006/ADV-P Latias
• 007/ADV-P Latios

2004- ADV-P Promo Cards

In 2004, another 5 cards from the ADV-P Promo set were available in McDonald’s Happy Meals. Once again, one card was received at random with the purchase of a Happy Meal. These 5 cards weren’t released as Black Star Promos in North America but instead included in Nintendo’s Pop Series 1 set.

Set List

• 046/ADV-P Sceptile
• 047/ADV-P Blaziken
• 048/ADV-P Swampert
• 049/ADV-P Plusle
• 050/ADV-P Minun

2005- PCG-P Promo Cards

McDonald’s double-dipped this year, releasing cards in both January and July, only in Japanese restaurants. These cards were later released in North America in the Pop Series 4 or 5 sets with the exception of Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile, Pichu, Deoxys, Larvitar, who were printed in the EX Emerald expansion, Togepi in the Ex Hidden Legends, and Rota’s Mime Jr., Rota’s Bonsley, Rota’s Munchlax, Rota’s Weavile, and Aura’s Lucario not receiving English counterparts.

Set List

(January)

• 028/PCG-P Chikorita 
• 029/PCG-P Cyndaquil
• 030/PCG-P Totodile
• 031/PCG-P Pichu
• 032/PCG-P Deoxys Speed Forme
• 033/PCG-P Larvitar
• 034/PCG-P Togepi

(July)

• 081/PCG-P Grovyle
• 082/PCG-P Combusken
• 083/PCG-P Mudkip
• 084/PCG-P Pikachu
• 085/PCG-P Mew
• 086/PCG-P Rota’s Mime Jr.
• 087/PCG-P Rota’s Bonsley
• 088/PCG-P Rota’s Munchlax
• 089/PCG-P Rota’s Weavile
• 090/PCG-P Aura’s Lucario

2006- PCG-P Promos Cards

In February 2006, McDonald’s Pokémon cards continued the PCG-P Promo card set by adding another 10 cards only available when purchasing a McDonald’s Happy Meal. Latias, Latios, and Pikachu were reprinted in North America in the EX Holon Phantoms set, while the others were reprinted in the Pop Series sets.

Set List

• 119/PCG-P Sceptile
• 120/PCG-P Latias
• 121/PCG-P Squirtle
• 122/PCG-P Latios
• 123/PCG-P Pikachu
• 124/PCG-P Wobbuffet
• 125/PCG-P Flygon
• 126/PCG-P Pidgey
• 127/PCG-P Meowth
• 128/PCG-P Chimecho

2011- McDonald’s Collection 2011

McDonald’s introduced 12 new cards in 2011, featuring Pokémon from the Black and White era. The promotional set from 2011 marks the first set to be released in restaurants outside of Japan. This is the first set that featured a unique set symbol instead of the McDonald’s symbol in the bottom left. These cards featured the confetti holo pattern that would return in following McDonald’s promo cards.

These are all holo.

Set List

• 01/12 Snivy
• 02/12 Maractus
• 03/12 Tepig
• 04/12 Oshawott
• 05/12 Alomomola
• 06/12 Blitzle
• 07/12 Munna
• 08/12 Sandile
• 09/12 Zorua
• 10/12 Klink
• 11/12 Pidove
• 12/12 Audino

2012- McDonald’s Collection 2012

McDonald’s followed the 2011 promotional set with another 12 cards set, also featuring Black and White era Pokémon.

Set List

• 01/12 Servine
• 02/12 Pansage
• 03/12 Dwebble
• 04/12 Pignite
• 05/12 Dewott
• 06/12 Emolga
• 07/12 Woobat
• 08/12 Drilbur
• 09/12 Purrloin
• 10/12 Scraggy
• 11/12 Klang
• 12/12 Axew

2013- McDonald’s Collection 2013

In 2013, McDonald’s ran a promotional campaign in France only, due to popular demand. As a result, this set of 12 cards can be quite rare. However, all cards were printed in the Dark Explorers, Next Destinies, or Emerging Powers sets.

This was the first but not the last time that McDonald’s Pokémon cards were exclusive to French McDonald’s restaurants. 

Set List

• 01/12 Phyllali (Leafeon)
• 02/12 Pyroli (Flareon)
• 03/12 Aquali (Vaporeon)
• 04/12 Givrali (Glaceon)
• 05/12 Pikachu 
• 06/12 Voltali (Jolteon)
• 07/12 Mentali (Espeon)
• 08/12 Charpenti (Timburr)
• 09/12 Noctali (Umbreon)
• 10/12 Baggiguane (Scraggy)
• 11/12 Zorua
• 12/12 Evoli (Eevee)

2014- McDonald’s Collection 2014

Once again, a set of 12 Pokémon cards were available to collect through McDonald’s promo campaign in 2014. This set featured Pokémon from the X and Y era.

It’s worth noting that these cards do have a 2013 Copyright at the bottom, but they were released in 2014.

Set List

• 01/12 Weedle
• 02/12 Chespin
• 03/12 Fennekin
• 04/12 Froakie
• 05/12 Pikachu
• 06/12 Inkay
• 07/12 Honedge
• 08/12 Snubbull
• 09/12 Swirlix
• 10/12 Bunnelby
• 11/12 Fletchling
• 12/12 Furfou

2015- McDonald’s Collection 2015

The toys and advertising for the McDonald’s promo campaign in 2015 were centered around the new movie Hoopa and the Clash of Ages. However, none of the 12 promo cards that came with the toys featured Hoopa. 

Set List

• 01/12 Treeko
• 02/12 Lotad
• 03/12 Torchic
• 04/12 Staryu
• 05/12 Mudkip
• 06/12 Pikachu
• 07/12 Electrike
• 08/12 Rhyhorn
• 09/12 Meditite
• 10/12 Marill
• 11/12 Zigzagoon
• 12/12 Skitty

2016- McDonald’s Collection 2016

This set was released a year earlier (2015) in Europe but was released in North American McDonald’s in 2016. However, this is always referred to as the 2016 McDonald’s collection, since the cards are identical regardless of where they released.

• 01/12 Vulpix
• 02/12 Torchic
• 03/12 Fennekin
• 04/12 Magikarp
• 05/12 Totodile
• 06/12 Pikachu
• 07/12 Scraggy
• 08/12 Jigglypuff
• 09/12 Togepi
• 10/12 Dedenne
• 11/12 Meowth
• 12/12 Eevee

2017- McDonald’s Collection 2017

The United Kingdom’s set from the previous year made its way overseas to North America, Australia, and other countries. Once again, 12 cards were available, with one being chosen at random and included with a toy in every Happy Meal.

Set List

• 01/12 Rowlet
• 02/12 Grubbin
• 03/12 Litten
• 04/12 Popplio
• 05/12 Pikachu
• 06/12 Cosmog
• 07/12 Crabrawler
• 08/12 Alolan Meowth
• 09/12 Alolan Diglett
• 10/12 Cutiefly
• 11/12 Pikipek
• 12/12 Yungoos

2018- McDonald’s Collection 2018

In line with previous years, 12 cards were available with the purchase of a Happy Meal, with each meal receiving one card at random.

• 01/12 Growlithe
• 02/12 Psyduck
• 03/12 Horsea
• 04/12 Pikachu
• 05/12 Slowpoke
• 06/12 Machop
• 07/12 Cubone
• 08/12 Magnemite
• 09/12 Dratini
• 10/12 Chansey
• 11/12 Eevee
• 12/12 Porygon

2019- McDonald’s Collection 2019

In 2019, McDonald’s returned with a unique set of 12 cards for all participating McDonald’s restaurants across the globe. This set featured first-generation Pokémon, with the exception of some of them being Alolan variants.

• 01/12 Caterpie
• 02/12 Alolan Exeggutor
• 03/12 Magmar
• 04/12 Alolan Sandshrew
• 05/12 Lapras
• 06/12 Pikachu
• 07/12 Gastly
• 08/12 Mankey
• 09/12 Onix
• 10/12 Alolan Meowth
• 11/12 Alolan Dugtrio
• 12/12 Eevee

2021- McDonald’s Collection 2021 (25th Anniversary Celebration)

In 2021, McDonald’s introduced, for the first time, exclusive booster packs outside of Japan. One booster pack was included with each purchase of a Happy Meal and contained 4 cards, one being a holofoil.

The set is made up of 25 cards, 50 if you count holo and non-holo variants. The set featured starter Pokémon from every generation thus far, plus Pikachu as number 25. Each card had a Pokémon 25th anniversary logo printed at the bottom right of the illustration box, making them part of the overall 25th-anniversary master set.

This promotion campaign came at the height of the biggest boom the Pokémon TCG had ever seen. This resulted in supply and demand issues for most McDonald’s restaurants and eBay and other second-hand markets being flooded with scalpers. To make matters worse, the booster packs were paper instead of the usual foil that The Pokémon Company used in the past. If a flashlight was held up against the pack, one could see which holofoil was inside. This led to scalpers opening packs with the holo Pikachu (the only valuable card in the set) to sell individually, and selling the remaining packs unopened. 

• 1/25 Bulbasaur
• 2/25 Chikorita
• 3/25 Treecko 
• 4/25 Turtwig
• 5/25 Snivy
• 6/25 Chespin
• 7/25 Rowlet
• 8/25 Grookey
• 9/25 Charmander
• 10/25 Cyndaquil
• 11/25 Torchic
• 12/25 Chimchar
• 13/25 Tepig
• 14/25 Fennekin
• 15/25 Litten
• 16/25 Scorbunny
• 17/25 Squirtle
• 18/25 Totodile
• 19/25 Mudkip
• 20/25 Piplup
• 21/25 Oshawott
• 22/25 Froakie
• 23/25 Popplio
• 24/25 Sobble
• 25/25 Pikachu

2022- McDonald’s Collection 2022

The 2022 McDonald’s Pokémon cards were released on August 9th in the UK and Canada and August 16 in the US. This was the second time ever that we got booster packs outside of Japan. This set was less intensive this time around, with only 15 cards, 6 of which are holo. 

Just like the previous year, each booster pack contained 4 cards, including one holo. 

• Ledyba- 1/15
• Rowlet- 2/15 (holo)
• Gossifleur- 3/15 (holo)
• Growlithe- 4/15 (holo)
• Victini- 5/15 (holo)
• Lapras- 6/15
• Pikachu- 7/15 (holo)
• Chinchou- 8/15
• Flaffy- 9/15
• Tynamo- 10/15
• Cutiefly- 11/15
• Bewear- 12/15
• Pangoro- 13/15
• Drampa- 14/15
• Smeargle- 15/15 (holo)

2023- McDonald’s Collection 2023

The 2023 McDonald’s Collection has recently been announced!

• Click here to see the price guide

Once again we will be getting 4-card booster packs in the Happy Meals, and the set will be a total of 15 cards, of which 6 are holo. We have confirmed that this year the holo cards will have holo borders that also feature the McDonald’s Confetti pattern! Here is the setlist:

• Sprigatito (holo)
• Fuecoco (holo)
• Quaxly (holo)
• Cetoddle
• Cetitan (holo)
• Pikachu (holo)
• Pawmi
• Kilowattrel
• Flittle
• Sandaconda
• Klawf (holo)
• Blissey
• Tandemaus
• Cyclizar
• Kirlia

This year the cards are from the Scarlet & Violet era of the Pokémon TCG, and will likely be released close to the DLC for the Switch games.

The release date for the US is September 12th.