Celebrations Set Review – The Best Anniversary Set Ever Printed?
When Pokémon celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2021, the bar was set sky-high.
Collectors wanted nostalgia. Players wanted chase cards. New fans wanted accessibility.
Celebrations delivered — and then some.
Nearly four years later, in April 2025, it still stands as one of the most beloved mini-sets ever printed.
📦 Set Overview
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| 📅 Release Date | October 8, 2021 |
| 🧩 Set Size | 50 cards (25-card main set + 25-card Classic Collection) |
| 🎨 Key Features | Reprints of legendary vintage cards + new iconic promos |
| 🐉 Major Chase | Umbreon Gold Star, Shiny Magikarp, Base Set Charizard Reprint |
Celebrations was intentionally small, emphasizing quality over quantity — a sharp contrast to the sprawling Sword & Shield expansions.
💰 Top Chase Card Prices (April 2025)
| Card | Type | Raw Price | PSA 10 Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Set Charizard (Reprint) | Classic Collection | ~$75 | ~$200 |
| Umbreon Gold Star (Reprint) | Classic Collection | ~$60 | ~$180 |
| Shiny Magikarp (Reprint) | Classic Collection | ~$45 | ~$140 |
| Gold Mew (Secret Rare) | Main Set | ~$40 | ~$120 |
- 🧲 Charizard, Umbreon, and Magikarp remain the holy trinity of Celebrations singles
- 📦 Gold Mew maintains strong appeal thanks to playability and unique art
📈 Sealed Product Prices (April 2025)
| Product | Release MSRP | Current Price |
|---|---|---|
| ETB | $49.99 | ~$110–130 |
| Ultra-Premium Collection (UPC) | $119.99 | ~$500–600 |
| Mini Tins (Set of 8) | $69.99 | ~$150–180 |
- 🔥 Celebrations UPCs have quadrupled in value
- 📦 ETBs are solidly above double MSRP and still climbing
🧠 Why Celebrations Still Works
- 🧬 Multi-generational appeal — Base Set nostalgia for older fans, Gold Star love for EX-era fans, modern polish for new collectors
- 🔁 Frequent pull rate happiness — opening Celebrations felt good: lots of hits, few “dud packs”
- 🎨 Faithful reprint art — classic card templates, not modernized redesigns
- 🧃 Strong product line variety — ETBs, tins, UPCs, collector boxes
🧊 Weaknesses
- 📦 High initial print runs — delayed early sealed appreciation
- 🧪 Mini-set fatigue — it was a lot of small sets in a short window (Shining Fates, Celebrations, Crown Zenith)
- 🛑 Some casual confusion — newer fans sometimes confuse Celebrations reprints for real vintage cards
📊 How It Compares to Other Anniversary Sets
| Set | Collector Depth | Sealed Value | Nostalgia Execution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celebrations (25th) | 🔴 Very Strong | 🔴 High | 🔴 Excellent |
| Generations (20th) | 🟢 Strong | 🟡 Moderate | 🟢 Good |
| EX Power Keepers (10th unofficial) | ⚪ Weak | ⚪ Weak | ⚪ Minimal |
- 🎯 Celebrations is widely considered the best Pokémon anniversary set — full stop.
📈 Investment Take (April 2025)
| Horizon | View | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Short-Term | 🟢 Still strong | Sealed premiums rising steadily |
| Mid-Term | 🟢 Strong | Scarcity + nostalgia cycle growing |
| Long-Term | 🔴 Very strong | Will likely sit alongside Hidden Fates and Evolving Skies as enduring sealed legends |
Celebrations sealed (especially UPCs and ETBs) is becoming a core position for mid-term Pokémon investors.
🧵 Final Thoughts
Celebrations wasn’t just a nostalgia set — it was a love letter to the hobby.
Four years later, it remains the blueprint for how to do an anniversary release right: thoughtful, balanced, emotionally resonant, and endlessly collectible.
If you’re building a long-term Pokémon portfolio, Celebrations sealed and PSA 10 top hits are no-brainer holdings.
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