McDonald's Pokémon Happy Meal launched in the U.S. on Nov. 10 with 15 toys and 15 cards. Here is what is inside, how long it runs and what to expect at stores.
The Pokémon Happy Meal went on sale at McDonald's restaurants across the U.S. on Tuesday, Nov. 10, and IGN says its local store was swarmed with teenagers on day one. As of Wednesday, Nov. 11, each meal comes with a mini Happy Meal box toy and two Pokémon trading cards, according to The Pokémon Company, and IGN says the U.S. run lasts through Dec. 14 while supplies last. One catch: not every store has everything yet.
What do you get in a Pokémon Happy Meal?
The Pokémon Company says every meal arrives in one of three boxes themed after Pikachu, Umbreon or Torchic. Inside is a miniature Happy Meal box-shaped toy, and there are 15 different toys to collect, including Pikachu, Rowlet and Sprigatito. You also get two Pokémon Trading Card Game cards. The full card set is 15 cards, and seven of them are foil.
The cards are the main draw for collectors. IGN reports that they are reprints marked with an "M26" label and their own numbering, and that they come loose in the box with no wrapper, next to the toy. The mini boxes have a clip, so they can hang from a bag or keychain, according to IGN. Mashable adds that scanning the QR code on the box opens a digital game where you hunt for the 15 toys in a virtual classroom and playground.
Mashable also notes that this is the first time since 2018 that McDonald's customers are getting a 3D collectible toy together with playable cards. The company says the promotion is tied to Pokémon's 30th anniversary, per IGN.
How much does the Pokémon Happy Meal cost?
We could not find a single price, and none of the sources we read gives one. IGN says the promotion is available with all of the usual Happy Meal choices, which are a hamburger, a cheeseburger, or a four- or six-piece nugget combo, and that prices vary by which one you pick. Every option comes with the same packaging and blind-boxed toys. McDonald's prices also differ by location, so check the app or the menu board before you go.
Will your local McDonald's have them?
Possibly not on the first day. The Pokémon Company says the toys are available at participating restaurants for a limited time while supplies last. IGN's writer found all three boxes and all 15 cards at a store in Washington, D.C., but a staff member there said other stores may be getting the promotional materials "in batches." Some social media users, IGN notes, say their stores are rolling it out gradually.
IGN also reported that the Umbreon box was the one most customers were asking for, and that staff were managing their stock of it. If you want a specific box, ask before you order, and do not be surprised if the answer is "whatever we have."
Are Pokémon Happy Meal cards worth money?
That depends on who you ask and when. IGN says promo cards like these often end up reselling at about the same price as the meal itself. That is one outlet's observation, and we have not checked current resale listings. Prices for cards in a hot promotion tend to move fast in the first days and settle later, so treat any number you see online this week as a snapshot.
What we can say is that these are reprints, not rare first printings, and that the supply is a full Happy Meal promotion across the country, not a small drop. If you are buying only for the cards, you can end up with duplicates, since each meal has two random cards from a set of 15.
What we make of it
This is our analysis, not reporting. The promotion works because it is cheap, easy to understand and aimed at a wide group, from kids who want the toys to adults who want the foil cards. That is also the reason stock may run thin. If you have a child who has set their heart on one box, the practical move is to call ahead or check the restaurant's app, and to buy early in the run instead of the last week. Collectors who are mostly after the cards may want to wait a few days, until the first rush passes and shelves are fuller.
One more thing to keep in mind: a Happy Meal is still a meal, and buying several to chase a card set adds up quickly.
Related reading
Picture credit: The Pokémon Company / McDonald's
