Moltres 130/128, Articuno 132/128 & Zapdos 133/128 Get Matching 30th Celebration Illustration Rares
Pokémon is bringing the original Legendary Birds back together for Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration, and apparently separating them was never an option.
Side note: I remember ripping packs when the Fossil set was released. Yes, I'm that old. These three Pokémon are near and dear to my heart, so I'm very glad Pokémon is getting them right in this set. Okay, back to reading.
Moltres 130/128, Articuno 132/128 and Zapdos 133/128 are all getting Illustration Rares in the 30th anniversary set. Better yet, all three cards were illustrated by mashu, giving collectors a matching Kanto trio to chase.
If you pull one, you know you can't not get the other two.
Moltres 130/128 Pokémon 30th Celebration Illustration Rare
Moltres kicks off the trio at 130/128, immediately following Alolan Exeggutor 129/128 in the secret-numbered Illustration Rare lineup. All three birds use the same underlying cards found earlier in the main set, but get new full-art treatments here.
Moltres has the Fiery Flapping Ability, which lets you attach a Basic Fire Energy from your hand to Moltres once per turn, but only if Articuno and Zapdos are also in play.
Its Fire Spin attack deals 130 damage and requires you to discard two Energy afterward.
Articuno 132/128 Pokémon 30th Celebration Illustration Rare
Articuno 132/128 follows the same idea.
Its Frosty Flapping Ability activates when Moltres and Zapdos are in play, allowing you to attach a Basic Water Energy from your hand to Articuno.
Hail then deals 30 damage to each of your opponent's Pokémon, giving Articuno a completely different role from the other two birds.
Zapdos 133/128 Pokémon 30th Celebration Illustration Rare
Finally, Zapdos 133/128 has Flash-Pop Flapping, which requires Moltres and Articuno in play and lets you attach a Basic Lightning Energy from your hand.
Zapdos also brings the biggest attack of the trio. Thundering Lightning deals 210 damage, although Zapdos takes 60 damage itself afterward.
So all three birds accelerate their own Energy, but none of the Abilities work unless the entire trio is together.
Pokémon wasn't exactly subtle.
The Legendary Birds Are a Mini Collection Inside 30th Celebration
That's what makes these cards more interesting than three unrelated Illustration Rares.
They're the original Legendary Bird trio. They share an artist. Their card designs directly reference one another. And Pokémon is also featuring Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres together as foil promos in the 30th Celebration Poster Collection.
Those Poster Collection cards are separate promos, so don't confuse them with the Illustration Rares numbered 130/128, 132/128 and 133/128.
How Do You Pull Moltres, Articuno and Zapdos?
All three Illustration Rares are part of the regular 30th Celebration card pool and can be pulled from booster packs.
Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration releases worldwide on September 16, 2026, with every booster pack containing five foil cards plus one foil Basic Energy.
Reliable Illustration Rare pull rates aren't available yet, so we'll have to wait until enough product is opened before putting real odds on completing the trio.
For now, I know how this story ends.
Pull Articuno. Buy Moltres. Buy Zapdos.
Binder page complete. Toplaoder binder, of course.
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