Pokémon 30th Celebration excitement just hit a new peak thanks to the latest wave of card reveals from the upcoming anniversary set. The spotlight lands on two gorgeous Illustration Rares featuring Meowth and Alolan Meowth, playing into the set’s clever day-and-night theme as Kanto’s Scratch Cat naps in the sun while its Alolan cousin gets up to mischief after dark.
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Meowth has always been one of the franchise’s most cherished icons, so a moment like this is a huge deal for collectors and longtime fans. Before digging into these brand-new reveals, let’s take a quick trip down memory lane through some of the best Meowth cards the TCG has ever produced.
10. Rocket’s Meowth 46/109
This uncommon hails from 2004’s EX Team Rocket Returns and was illustrated by Midori Harada. The art leans hard into Meowth’s mischievous Team Rocket personality, capturing that signature troublemaker energy perfectly. It’s become a nostalgic favorite for anyone who grew up collecting during the e-Reader and EX era of the game.
9. Team Rocket’s Meowth 18/53
Released back in 2000 as a Wizards of the Coast Black Star Promo, this card was originally handed out through Pokémon League events and Nintendo Power magazine. Ken Sugimori’s artwork shows Meowth gleefully operating a giant Team Rocket surveillance camera. It remains one of the most recognizable promo cards from the early 2000s.
8. Meowth 56/64 (Gold Bordered Promo)
This oddball variant from 1999–2000 features artwork by Mitsuhiro Arita and stands out as one of the strangest vintage finds in the hobby. It was distributed exclusively inside boxes of Fruit Roll-Ups, swapping the usual yellow border for a shiny gold foil frame. That quirky origin story makes it a must-have for any serious Meowth completionist.
7. Meowth 10/53
Nicknamed the “GB Meowth,” this 2000 Wizards of the Coast promo was famously bundled with the Game Boy release of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Ken Sugimori’s illustration shows Meowth perched triumphantly atop a huge pile of glittering gold coins. It’s a fitting tribute to a Pokémon whose entire gimmick revolves around loving shiny treasure.
6. Meowth 078/144
Pulled from 2003’s Skyridge, the final set ever produced by Wizards of the Coast, this common card is highly prized simply for being part of such a rare release. Atsuko Nishida’s peaceful artwork depicts Meowth strolling beneath a starry sky near a cozy little home. Its e-Reader code strip adds another layer of vintage charm for collectors.
5. Meowth 11/12
This 2002 promo was released exclusively through Japanese McDonald’s Pokémon packs during the height of the e-Card era. It features artwork by Atsuko Nishida and stands apart thanks to its non-standard e-Reader design. Limited distribution has turned it into a genuine rare grail for vintage Japanese card collectors.
4. Meowth 106/094
Meowth 106/094 from Phantasmal Flames is a stunning Secret Illustration Rare that showcases the iconic Scratch Pokémon in a vibrant, full-art setting. Illustrated by artist Uninori, the card’s captivating artwork perfectly captures Meowth’s expressive personality amidst rich, atmospheric lighting. Beyond its visual charm, this secret rare card has quickly become a standout chase for both dedicated Meowth collectors and general set completionists.
3. Team Rocket’s Meowth 203/182
Team Rocket’s Meowth #203/182 from Destined Rivals features Meowth right there by the warm fireplace alongside Giovanni. Illustrated by Shimaris Yukichi, the scene captures Meowth in a cozy, intimate setting inside Team Rocket’s hideout, bathed in the ambient glow of the fire near Giovanni. It’s a beautifully crafted piece that gives a rare, relaxed look at the iconic villainous duo, making it a standout Illustration Rare for collectors.
2. Meowth ex 121/088
Meowth ex (121/088) is a Special Illustration Rare from the Pokémon TCG set ME03: Perfect Order, illustrated by Natsumi Yoshida in a full-art holo style. The card lets you put itself and all attached cards back into your hand, and when it’s knocked out as a Pokémon ex, your opponent takes 2 prize cards. It’s considered one of the set’s top chase cards, ranking just behind Mega Zygarde in overall desirability.
1. 30th Celebration Meowth Revealed!
Just when things seemed a little too quiet, Pokémon dropped a genuine surprise with two stunning new Meowth Illustration Rares. The daytime card shows a sleepy Kanto Meowth dozing on a balcony, fitting perfectly with the set’s sun-and-moon storytelling. Its Alolan counterpart takes the nighttime spotlight instead, perched sneakily outside a window on the very same apartment building while a wide-awake Kanto Meowth zooms off overhead on some kind of daring adventure. Together, the two cards tell a playful little story about two very different Meowths living very different lives.
Meowth isn’t the only star of the show in Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration, since the set is stacked with major chase cards collectors are already eyeing. Espeon ex and Umbreon ex lead the charge as the flagship Eeveelutions tying together the set’s day-and-night concept.
Throw in 30 unique Pikachu variants, each illustrated by a different renowned artist and guaranteed in every all-foil booster pack, and it’s easy to see why this release is being called a must-buy. Between the milestone artwork, the loaded chase list, and Meowth’s well-earned moment in the spotlight, 30th Celebration is shaping up to be one of the biggest sets in the franchise’s 30-year history.
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