Pokémon TCG fans have something to get excited about as the beloved cards make a comeback at McDonald’s outlets. This time around, collectors and fans can get ready to catch an array of Pokémon, with an unexpected but delightful emphasis on Dragon-types.
McDonald’s and Pokémon share quite a history, having teamed up over the years for various promotions that have thrilled fans worldwide. From cards and toys to the iconic Pikachu Happy Meal boxes, this collaboration has been a recurring delight. In days gone by, players even had a chance to snag exclusive Pokémon in-game by visiting their local McDonald’s and connecting to its Wi-Fi. While such opportunities have become scarce, the excitement for Pokémon-themed promos at the golden arches remains as strong as ever.
Recently highlighted by PokeBeach, the latest Pokémon TCG promotion is hitting McDonald’s restaurants in France, scheduled to run from December 4 to January 21. During this time, each participating restaurant will offer booster packs containing four collectible cards, selected from a total of 15 possibilities. Importantly, each pack guarantees one holographic card, featuring the unique McDonald’s confetti holofoil design. Among the Pokémon featured in these packs, fans can expect to see:
– Charizard
– Dragapult
– Dragonite
– Drampa
– Eevee
– Hatenna
– Hydreigon
– Jigglypuff
– Koraidon
– Miraidon
– Pikachu
– Quagsire
– Rayquaza
– Roaring Moon
– Umbreon
It’s common for these promotions to launch at different times across various regions, rather than globally all at once. Currently, it looks like U.S. McDonald’s locations aren’t carrying these Pokémon cards because they’re occupied with other major promotions, like the return of the fan-favorite McRib sandwich. With the McRib comeback including a novel offering of McRib BBQ sauce in half-gallons, the timing isn’t quite right to add Pokémon mania into the mix. Thus, it seems likely these cards will debut stateside either just before the year winds down or early in 2025.
Interestingly, the rollout of the Pokémon cards this time seems to break from McDonald’s typical pattern. Usually, these cards make their first appearance in the U.S. before migrating to France. Initial expectations had the cards landing in U.S. outlets by October this year, but that month came and went without Pokémon cards due to promotions like the Chicken Big Mac taking precedence. Given that hosting two big promotions simultaneously could overwhelm both resources and customer experience, Pokémon cards may have been temporarily sidelined in McDonald’s home market.
For those unfamiliar, the Pokémon TCG, or Trading Card Game, is a celebrated collectible and strategic card game born from Nintendo’s Pokémon universe. In the game, two players vie against each other, battling with Pokémon and aiming to knock out their opponent’s Pokémon to claim prize cards. Besides their gaming value, these cards also hold a significant place in pop culture collecting circles, with some fetching thousands of dollars in the market. Since its inception on October 20, 1996, the Pokémon TCG has remained a beloved pastime and a cherished collector’s item.
