As the second anniversary of Pokemon TCG Pocket approaches, the community still looks back fondly on the massive first-anniversary celebration that DeNA rolled out in late 2025. The mobile card game, which originally launched on October 30, 2024, had already surpassed 150 million downloads on Android and iOS by that time, and its first birthday event delivered a wave of free rewards, limited-time missions, and the long-awaited return of promotional cards that many collectors had missed.
Starting on October 29, 2025, the First Anniversary Celebration Campaign ran all the way through December 16, giving every player a chance to grab three free booster packs — one from each available pack type at the time. Alongside the packs, a series of Special Missions rewarded dedicated trainers with exclusive cosmetic items, including a sparkling first-anniversary emblem that quickly became a badge of honor among players. The celebration wasn't just about new loot though; it also marked the very first reissue of promotional cards in the game’s history, a move that was cheered by the millions of trainers who had gaps in their collections.
The promo reissues came in two distinct waves. The first, called the PROMO Reissue Drop Event 2025, allowed players to collect A Series promo packs volumes 1 through 6 and 8 through 13. This event was active from October 29 to November 8, giving everyone a limited window to chase after cards that hadn't been available since the early weeks of the game. The second part was the PROMO Reissue Wonder Pick Event, which ran from October 29 to November 13. This brought back promotional cards that were originally offered through the Wonder Pick feature, a fan-favorite mechanic that lets players pick a random card from a shared pool. Both events together made the first anniversary a true collector's paradise.
The timing of the anniversary blitz was no coincidence. Just days before, on October 23, DeNA had unveiled the B1 set, Mega Rising, the game’s most anticipated expansion to date. Mega Rising introduced the first-ever Mega Evolved Pokemon to Pokemon TCG Pocket, with three distinct booster packs bursting with new cards. The expansion’s scope was massive, and combining its launch with the anniversary celebration meant players had more reasons than ever to log in daily.
Many fans had been vocal about wanting a way to obtain older promo cards ever since the Deluxe Pack EX expansion introduced reissued cards from previous sets. DeNA listened, and the PROMO Reissue events directly answered those calls. For trainers still missing a few key cards to complete their Pokedexes, October 2025 felt like a miracle month. The community buzzed on social media, with players sharing their lucky Wonder Pick pulls and comparing their freshly earned anniversary emblems.
Adding to the mystery, the celebration also sparked fresh speculation about the game’s elusive Advanced Ticket. This mysterious item had been sitting in players’ inventories since the early days with no clear purpose. Many theories suggested that the first anniversary event might finally unlock its secret, and while that didn't materialize during the October-to-December window, the buzz around the ticket did not fade. It remains one of the game’s longest-running riddles, and some trainers believe DeNA might save its reveal for a future milestone — maybe even the upcoming second anniversary.
Now, in 2026, the landscape of Pokemon TCG Pocket continues to evolve. New expansions have arrived, fresh promo events have cycled through, and the player base remains as engaged as ever. But the first-anniversary celebration stands out as a defining moment — the time when DeNA showed it could balance nostalgia, generosity, and forward-looking content in a single grand festival. As the two-year mark approaches, the community is already speculating about what surprises might be in store. Will there be another mega-sized expansion? A second chance at the Advanced Ticket’s reveal? Or perhaps an entirely new kind of event that breaks the mold?
For now, players can only look back in appreciation — and forward with hope. The first-anniversary celebration of Pokemon TCG Pocket not only rewarded loyal trainers but also set a high bar for the game’s future milestones. If DeNA can replicate that level of enthusiasm and player-focused design, the game’s second birthday might just eclipse the first.