McDonald's Pokémon Happy Meal Dates and 15 Promo Cards

The McDonald’s Pokémon Happy Meal promotion now has start dates in three countries, the first three card names, and a full list of the 15 plastic toys. This fills in most of the gaps from the initial leak we covered yesterday, which pointed to a November 10 US launch.

One caveat up front: these details come from promotional materials circulating online. So far, neither company behind the promotion has put out an official word on the artwork, which cards are included, or when it goes live.

When It Starts in Each Country

Canada and Australia get the promotion first, with the US following a week later:

• Canada: Tuesday, November 3 through Monday, December 7
• Australia: Thursday, November 5 through Wednesday, December 9
• United States: Tuesday, November 10 through Monday, December 14

The US window matches the date from the earlier leak, so that part of the report held up.

Two Cards and a Toy Per Meal

Each Happy Meal comes with one plastic Pokémon toy and two random trading cards. The cards are reprints of popular TCG cards drawn from a set of 15.

That two-card format is a change from past McDonald’s collaborations, which historically came with four-card booster packs that guaranteed one holographic card. Whether any of the 15 cards here are holographic, or whether each meal guarantees one, has not been confirmed.

The First Three Cards

Three of the 15 cards have been identified so far:

• Metagross from Temporal Forces, the Steel/Psychic-type Pseudo-Legendary
• Palafin from Obsidian Flames
• Hawlucha from the Scarlet & Violet base set

The other 12 cards remain unconfirmed. These are reprints pulled from across the Scarlet & Violet era.

The Toys Double as Card Displays

The toy side of the promotion is the bigger shift. This is the first time since 2018 that Pokémon Happy Meals include plastic toys rather than card packs alone. There are 15 toys, each shaping one Pokémon into a small Happy Meal box, and you can stand the cards from your meal inside the box like a frame.

The full toy lineup covers starters and fan favorites across generations: Pikachu, Eevee, Umbreon, Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Weedle, Torchic, Sobble, Espurr, Munchlax, Minccino, Sprigatito, Piplup, and Rowlet.

The apple slice packaging gets the Pokémon treatment too, with Pikachu, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Eevee on display, so the theme runs through the entire meal.

How This Fits the Current Promo Calendar

The Happy Meal promotion overlaps with the Kyogre, Groudon, and Giratina gift-with-purchase promos that start November 6 alongside Delta Reign, and it lands shortly after the launch of the 30th Celebration set with its special Pikachu variants.

If past McDonald’s promotions are any guide, availability varies a lot by location, and the toys and cards you get are random. If you want specific Pokémon from the lineup, trading with other collectors after launch is usually the most reliable route.

If you want reprints of Metagross, Palafin, or Hawlucha, you can browse Pokémon promo cards and singles without waiting in the drive-thru line.