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Pok\u00e9mon Happy Meals have officially returned, and if the swarm of teenagers in my generally quiet local McDonald\u2019s is anything to go by, they\u2019re bigger than ever. <\/p>\n
The Pok\u00e9mon Company first announced the return of its McDonald’s promotion several weeks back, causing some confusion by accidentally spoiling next year\u2019s promo card list. Good times. <\/p>\n
Now that I\u2019ve gotten my hands on the 30th Anniversary Happy Meal, I can confirm the previously leaked card set is in fact the accurate one, along with new details about the promotion\u2019s roll-out. <\/p>\n
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30th Anniversary Pok\u00e9mon Happy Meal – Images<\/h3>\n<\/span><\/output><\/p>\n
The Pok\u00e9mon Happy Meal is available in all of McDonald\u2019s traditional Happy Meal variants: hamburger, cheeseburger, or 4 and 6-piece nugget combos. Prices vary based on your meal selection, but every option comes with the same packaging and blind-boxed toys. <\/p>\n
I was surprised to find how little my local McDonald\u2019s was seemingly marketing the collab, which presumably varies across locations. My McDonald\u2019s only had one poster, and otherwise sporadically flashed the Pok\u00e9mon Happy Meal teaser on its digital ordering screens. <\/p>\n
For reference, when I went to Target\u2019s Pok\u00e9mon launch, the whole store was covered in Pok\u00e9mon materials. Many of these posters and stands ended up on eBay, so it\u2019s possible TPC is now limiting its ‘physical’ marketing footprint to help stores avoid any tussles or, you know, crime. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\nAll the marketing you get.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/output><\/p>\n
While some social media users are claiming their local McDonald\u2019s is approaching the collab as a progressive roll-out, my local D.C. McDonald\u2019s had all three boxes and 15 promo cards ready to go. A staff member, however, did acknowledge that other stores may be receiving the promotional materials “in batches.” <\/p>\n
Given the swarms of kids and teenagers who had seemingly abandoned school for Pok\u00e9mon, I was only willing to pick up two Happy Meals. (A six-nugget and a cheeseburger, in case you were curious.) The working manager was kind enough to ensure I got two different Pok\u00e9mon boxes, which ended up being Torchic and Pikachu. <\/p>\n
I quickly realized that was a strategic choice \u2014 almost every other customer was specifically requesting (and getting) the Umbreon box, so the staff was trying to manage its stock. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\nThe full Pok\u00e9mon Happy Meal (I already ate the nuggets).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/output><\/p>\n
Of course, one of the main draws of the collaboration is new promo cards, which often end up reselling at the same price as the Happy Meal itself. While rumors had already been circulating online, I was still shocked to discover they really do give you the two promo cards without any packaging. They\u2019re slipped into a box right next to a hard plastic toy that, for whatever reason, does get delicate tissue paper wrapping. The box, at least, is definitely serviceable for storing decks. <\/p>\n
I\u2019ll admit the lack of packaging does make the card reveal less climactic, and I can imagine there\u2019s already someone complaining out there about getting a damaged card. Still, I don\u2019t mind Pokemon treating its promo cards a little more casually in the interest of promoting the TCG as a game to be played as opposed to a collector\u2019s racket. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\nEach ‘deck box’ comes with two loose cards and one toy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/output><\/p>\n
I anti-climactically slid out Eevee and Tyranitaur from my first box, then found Zoroark and Chandelure in my second one. Each card is a reprint marked with the M26 label and its own numbering system, and some have holo foil. You can see the (real) full list of 2026 promo cards here. <\/p>\n
The other toy you get is a miniature plastic version of the Happy Meal box themed after an individual Pok\u00e9mon, with the full slate shown below. Each toy box has a clip you can use to attach it to a bag or keychain, and I happened to get Diglit and good ol’ Pikachu. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\nI’m collectin’ it. Image credit: McDonald’s<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/output><\/p>\n
This is far from Pok\u00e9mon\u2019s first time teaming up with the fast-food giant. The partnership goes all the way back to 1999, when Pok\u00e9mania first hit its stride. The modern ‘Pok\u00e9mon Happy Meal’ first launched in 2011.<\/p>\n
It was only natural that the promotion would return for the year of Pok\u00e9mon\u2019s 30th anniversary, offering what I believe to be one of the best budget-friendly ways for fans to get involved in the festivities. Safe to say, I’m satisfied, albeit still hungry. <\/p>\n
The Pok\u00e9mon Happy Meal is now available across all U.S. McDonald\u2019s locations through December 14. The promotion will be expanding to additional countries over the next couple of months, with the full roll-out detailed in an official McDonald\u2019s post.<\/p>\n
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Blythe (she\/her) is an Audience Development Coordinator at IGN who spends way too much time in character customization screens and tracking down collectibles. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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