Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Tech Sticker Collections: Wave 1 vs Wave 2 Guide
By Dexhaul Team · August 31, 2026
At $34.95, the 30th Celebration Tech Sticker Collections are the most accessible entry point in the entire September 16 lineup.
Every other 30th Celebration product starts at $84.95 or higher. The Tech Sticker Collections sit well below that threshold, which makes them the obvious pick for collectors who want to open a few packs without committing to an Elite Trainer Box or Booster Bundle. Two Wave 1 designs launch on September 16, and a Wave 2 is already in pre-order at several shops.
Here is what each wave contains, how the two designs differ, and whether it makes sense to lock in Wave 1 now or hold off for what comes next.
What Is a Tech Sticker Collection?
The Tech Sticker Collection format launched with the Scarlet & Violet era and has appeared in multiple sets since, including Prismatic Evolutions and the Ascended Heroes mini-set. Each box contains three booster packs from the parent set, a large sticker sheet featuring the collection's featured Pokémon, and a code card.
They are designed as a lower-cost companion product, giving collectors a way to open packs and get the sticker sheet without buying into a larger product. The sticker sheet is the draw for many buyers. It typically runs 65 stickers or more, covering a wide range of the featured Pokémon's poses and card art.
For the 30th Celebration set, the booster packs inside will pull from the same card pool as the ETB and UPC, including the Futuristic Rare Mew ex and Mewtwo ex that have become the chase cards of the set. Three packs is a small sample, but the format is intentionally for players and collectors who want the sticker sheet experience first.
Wave 1: Lucario and the Alolan Design
Two collections release on September 16.
The Lucario collection is the more prominent of the two. Lucario has appeared across multiple Scarlet & Violet era products and is one of the most consistently popular Pokémon in collector-facing releases, with the Mega Lucario ex Figure Collection remaining a strong seller long after launch. The 30th Celebration version gives Lucario-focused collectors a direct and affordable way into the anniversary product family.
The second Wave 1 design pairs with the Lucario collection in several Set of 2 bundles listed at $89.95. Seller listings reference an Alolan-themed design, which is consistent with the 30th anniversary's broader Kanto and regional-form nostalgia angle. The 30th Celebration set draws on multiple eras, and an Alolan pairing fits the anniversary's cross-generational approach.
If you want both designs, the Set of 2 bundles available from pre-order sellers offer the cleanest way to get them together and avoid a second shipping charge.
Price Variation Across Sellers
Wave 1 single collections range from $34.95 to $58.88 USD at current pre-order prices. That spread reflects the difference between domestic US sellers and international retailers factoring in shipping overhead.
The $34.95-$35 range from US-based sellers is close to where Tech Sticker Collections typically land at launch. If you are in Australia, the UK, or Europe, your best option is usually a local seller at the equivalent price point rather than importing and absorbing international shipping costs.
Set of 2 bundles currently sit at $89.95 from US pre-order shops. That is a straightforward double price, with no bundle discount, so buying two singles from the same seller would cost you roughly the same if available.
Wave 2: What We Know
A second wave of 30th Celebration Tech Sticker Collections is already in pre-order at multiple shops. Wave 2 features a different character lineup and ships after the September 16 Wave 1 launch date, with no confirmed ship window in most current listings.
(Pre-Order) Pokemon TCG: 30th Celebration Tech Sticker Collection Wave 2
$80.00 USD
Wave 2 pricing varies significantly by seller, from $39.99 for a single collection to $80 for what appears to be a set listing. As with Wave 1, the spread reflects seller location and bundling.
The character details for Wave 2 are not fully confirmed in official announcements at the time of writing. Pre-order listings exist, but character identity should be verified against the official Pokémon product pages as September 16 approaches.
Should You Buy Wave 1 Now or Wait for Wave 2?
Buy Wave 1 if you want the Lucario design or the companion Alolan collection, or if you want to open 30th Celebration booster packs close to the September 16 launch window.
Wait for Wave 2 if the Wave 1 characters do not appeal to you, or if you prefer to see the Wave 2 character confirmed before committing. Wave 2 has a longer pre-order window and is unlikely to sell out before the official reveal.
One thing worth noting: the 30th Celebration is an anniversary release with a fixed product window. Unlike evergreen products, Tech Sticker Collections for limited anniversary sets can sell through faster than expected once the set launches and early buyers post their unboxings. Wave 1 pre-ordering now eliminates that launch-day availability question entirely.
The Unique Value of the Sticker Sheet
The booster packs are the obvious draw, but the sticker sheet is what separates this format from buying three loose packs.
For a character like Lucario, the sticker sheet typically pulls from a range of artwork: base cards, holo variants, VSTAR and ex illustrations, and promotional art that would otherwise require buying individual singles to display. Collectors who track specific Pokémon across eras get a wide reference set in a single product.
The anniversary theme also means the 30th Celebration sticker sheets are likely to reference classic artwork alongside modern ex-era designs. That cross-era framing is part of what makes the set distinct from a standard product launch, and the sticker sheet tends to reflect it more explicitly than the cards themselves.
DexHaul lists 30th Celebration Tech Sticker Collection pre-orders from independent shops across multiple regions. Search the 30th Celebration Tech Sticker Collection on DexHaul to compare current pre-order prices and find the seller closest to you before September 16.