Sinnoh Starter Trio #040–042 2026 Black Star Promos – ACE 10 Gem Mint Sequential

Pokémon TCG: Sinnoh First Partner Trio MEP 040–042 – ACE Gem Mint 10

Set: Mega Evolution Black Star Promos (MEP)

Source: First Partner Illustration Collection—Series 1

Cards: Turtwig MEP 040, Chimchar MEP 041 and Piplup MEP 042

Release Date: 20 March 2026

Language: English

Illustrator: Saboteri

Grading Company: ACE (Authenticated Card Experts)

Grade: Gem Mint 10 on all three cards

Certification Numbers: 1469210, 1469211 and 1469212

Presentation: Each slab remains inside its original sealed ACE sleeve, with the sleeve unopened

Overview

Bring the three Sinnoh first partners together in one exact, matched graded display. This listing includes Turtwig MEP 040, Chimchar MEP 041 and Piplup MEP 042 from the First Partner Illustration Collection—Series 1, with all three cards awarded an overall ACE Gem Mint 10.

Illustrated by Saboteri, the three cards form a connected Sinnoh panorama rather than three unrelated promotional prints. The artwork places the region's Grass-, Fire- and Water-type first partners within one colourful composition, with the Pokétch providing an unmistakable reference to the Sinnoh journey.

The set is sequential twice over. Its Mega Evolution Black Star Promo numbers run without interruption from MEP 040 to MEP 042, while the ACE certification numbers continue consecutively from 1469210 to 1469212.

Turtwig and Piplup each achieved a clean sweep of four perfect 10 subgrades. Chimchar received 10s for Surface, Centering and Edges, with a 9 for Corners. Across the complete trio, ACE awarded a 10 in 11 of the 12 individually assessed categories.

Key Features

🏆 Three ACE Gem Mint 10 Grades: Every card in the trio has achieved an overall ACE Gem Mint 10.

🔢 Sequential Cards and Certifications: Consecutive promo numbers MEP 040–042 are paired with consecutive ACE certifications 1469210–1469212.

🎨 Connected Sinnoh Artwork: The three Saboteri illustrations combine into a coordinated panorama when displayed together.

💯 Eleven Perfect Subgrades: Eleven of the twelve Surface, Centering, Edges and Corners assessments received 10.

🖼️ Illustrated ACE Labels: Each slab uses ACE's bespoke illustrated label treatment, extending the visual theme above the encapsulated card.

🛡️ Original Sealed ACE Sleeves: Every slab is supplied inside its original sealed ACE sleeve, which has not been opened.

Grade & Subgrades

🏆 Overall Grade: ACE Gem Mint 10 on all three cards

The certification numbers below identify the exact three slabs included in this listing.

Turtwig MEP 040 — Certification 1469210

• 🔲 Surface: 10 — ACE's maximum Surface subgrade.
• 📐 Centering: 10 — ACE's maximum Centering subgrade.
• ✂️ Edges: 10 — ACE's maximum Edges subgrade.
• 📌 Corners: 10 — ACE's maximum Corners subgrade.

Turtwig achieved a complete four-category sweep, with Surface, Centering, Edges and Corners all receiving 10.

Chimchar MEP 041 — Certification 1469211

• 🔲 Surface: 10 — ACE's maximum Surface subgrade.
• 📐 Centering: 10 — ACE's maximum Centering subgrade.
• ✂️ Edges: 10 — ACE's maximum Edges subgrade.
• 📌 Corners: 9 — One point below the maximum category score.

Chimchar achieved three 10 subgrades, with Corners the only assessed category across the complete trio not awarded a 10. The card nevertheless received an overall ACE Gem Mint 10.

Piplup MEP 042 — Certification 1469212

• 🔲 Surface: 10 — ACE's maximum Surface subgrade.
• 📐 Centering: 10 — ACE's maximum Centering subgrade.
• ✂️ Edges: 10 — ACE's maximum Edges subgrade.
• 📌 Corners: 10 — ACE's maximum Corners subgrade.

Piplup recorded a second complete four-category sweep, finishing the sequential trio with perfect 10s across every individual assessment.

Population Data

Turtwig MEP 040 — Certification 1469210

• Population with the ACE label at Grade 10: 1,662
• Grade 10 population across all label types: 1,690
• Population graded lower: 486
• Population graded higher: 0
• Total submitted: 2,177
• Gem rate: 78%

Chimchar MEP 041 — Certification 1469211

• Population with the ACE label at Grade 10: 1,705
• Grade 10 population across all label types: 1,729
• Population graded lower: 466
• Population graded higher: 0
• Total submitted: 2,196
• Gem rate: 79%

Piplup MEP 042 — Certification 1469212

• Population with the ACE label at Grade 10: 1,932
• Grade 10 population across all label types: 1,974
• Population graded lower: 299
• Population graded higher: 0
• Total submitted: 2,274
• Gem rate: 87%

For transparency, all three cards have comparatively high gem rates, so they are not being presented as scarce Grade 10 outcomes. The strength of this listing is the certainty of receiving the complete Sinnoh trio at the same overall grade, including two four-subgrade clean sweeps, consecutive card numbers and one uninterrupted certification run.

Population figures are a snapshot from the supplied ACE grading reports and may change as further copies are submitted and graded.

About the Artwork

Turtwig, Chimchar and Piplup are the three first partners offered at the beginning of a Sinnoh adventure. Their Series 1 promotional cards were created as a connected regional composition, allowing the individual illustrations to become one wider scene when positioned in number order.

Saboteri's artwork gives each Pokémon its own space and personality while carrying visual details across the trio. The prominent Pokétch motif anchors the composition firmly in Sinnoh and makes the set especially effective as a three-slab display.

The sequence begins with Turtwig at MEP 040, continues through Chimchar at MEP 041 and concludes with Piplup at MEP 042.

About the Release

First Partner Illustration Collection—Series 1 launched on 20 March 2026 and celebrated first partner Pokémon from Kanto, Sinnoh and Alola.

The cards were originally distributed through a dedicated promo pack containing three of the nine Series 1 illustration rare-style promotional cards. This listing removes the uncertainty of assembling the Sinnoh group separately by presenting the complete regional trio together, already graded and individually certified.

ACE Labels & Sealed Presentation

All three holders use the illustrated ACE Label treatment. ACE creates these labels through its in-house illustration team, extending and enhancing the design of the card to produce a bespoke presentation above the slab.

Each encapsulated card is supplied inside its original sealed ACE sleeve. The sleeves have remained unopened, so the slabs have not been removed from their sealed ACE presentation.

Product Details

• Cards: Turtwig, Chimchar and Piplup
• Card Numbers: MEP 040, MEP 041 and MEP 042
• Set: Mega Evolution Black Star Promos
• Source: First Partner Illustration Collection—Series 1
• Release Date: 20 March 2026
• Language: English
• Finish: Holofoil illustration rare-style promotional cards
• Illustrator: Saboteri
• Grading Company: ACE
• Grade: Gem Mint 10 on all three cards
• Label Type: Illustrated ACE Label
• Certification Numbers: 1469210, 1469211 and 1469212
• Quantity: 3 individually encapsulated graded cards
• Presentation: Each slab supplied inside its original sealed ACE sleeve, unopened

Summary

A complete graded Sinnoh first-partner display combining consecutive promo numbers, sequential ACE certifications, illustrated ACE Labels and three Gem Mint 10 grades. Eleven of the twelve assessed subgrades are perfect 10s, including complete four-category sweeps for both Turtwig and Piplup.

Whether you're building a graded Sinnoh collection, displaying Saboteri's connected first-partner artwork, or securing the complete regional trio without the uncertainty of submitting raw cards, this graded trio delivers.