Pokémon TCG Journey Together: A Nostalgic Return for Trainer's Fans

The Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet — Journey Together set is set to launch on March 28, 2025, and it's bringing back a beloved mechanic from 2004: Trainer's Pokémon. This nostalgic feature, reminiscent of the classics from EX Team Magma vs. Team Aqua, is sure to excite fans and collectors alike. I'm thrilled to give you a sneak peek into what this set has to offer.

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This set shines a spotlight on four iconic Trainers: N, Iono, Lillie, and Hop, each paired with their unique Pokémon ex, highlighting the strong bonds they share with their teams. If you've ever dreamed of building a deck around N's Zoroark ex, Lillie's Clefairy ex, or Iono's Bellibolt ex, your time has come.

Check out the full Pokémon TCG Release Schedule for 2025

My Journey Together Product Openings

With over 180 cards to explore, there's a wealth of treasures to chase. The set includes over 40 Trainer's Pokémon, 16 Pokémon ex, 11 Illustration Rares, six Special Illustration Rares, and three Hyper Rare gold cards. Box Toppers are also making a comeback, with Enhanced Booster Display Boxes featuring a stamped N's Reshiram Illustration Rare.

Journey Together Standard Booster Box

Opening a Booster Box is an exhilarating experience. With 36 packs, the excitement of each pull is unmatched. My highlights included N's Reshiram Illustration Rare, Iono's Bellibolt ex Secret Rare, and a Hyper Rare Spiky Energy. These were thrilling moments, but even beyond the big hits, I pulled numerous solid ex cards that are perfect for my decks.

Unfortunately, I didn't manage to pull Hop's Zacian ex or Lillie's Clefairy ex Special Art Rare, but that's the nature of Booster Boxes. You get plenty of chances, but nothing is guaranteed. Still, this was the best way to dive into the set. If you enjoy opening packs or want to boost your collection significantly, a Booster Box is a fantastic choice. Check out all the rare pulls further down. This box was definitely worth it for me.

Journey Together Elite Trainer Box

Elite Trainer Boxes offer a more premium experience than loose packs. The N's Zorua promo immediately caught my eye, and the box itself is ideal for card storage. The included sleeves, dice, and condition markers are perfect for players, and with nine booster packs, there's still a good chance for some exciting pulls.

With only nine packs, I didn't expect anything too extraordinary, but I still managed to pull Iono's Kilowattrel Illustration Rare, Articuno Illustration Rare, and a Veluza ex. These fun cards made the opening worthwhile. While ETBs don't offer as many hits as a Booster Box, the structured, all-in-one product is appealing. If you're looking for a mix of pack-opening fun and collectible extras, this is a great way to experience Journey Together. Check out the full list of rare cards from our preview further down. We ended up with some serious gems.

Journey Together Build & Battle Box

Build & Battle Boxes offer a unique experience compared to Booster Boxes or Elite Trainer Boxes. The main attraction is the prebuilt 40-card deck, allowing you to start playing immediately. I pulled Hop's Snorlax as my promo, which is a fantastic card. Its ability boosts all of Hop's Pokémon by 30 damage, making it essential for any deck featuring his lineup.

The four packs didn't disappoint, yielding Mamoswine ex and Swinub Illustration Rare, which perfectly complemented my deck's theme. While you won't get as many rare pulls as with a Booster Box, this is the best option for quickly starting to play with the new set. With four different promo cards available, I'm already eager to pick up another box to see which one I'll get next. Check out my Journey Together preview pulls below to see some of the best cards we got from all our openings.

Our Pokémon TCG: Journey Together Pulls

I opened 49 booster packs across all our products and ended up with 18 rare cards. Some were exactly what I was hoping for, while others were delightful surprises. Trainers will definitely be pulling more rare cards than in Prismatic Evolutions. Here’s what I pulled:

Hop's Snorlax (Promo 184)

A robust Basic Pokémon with 150 HP that boosts all of Hop's Pokémon attacks by an additional 30 damage. This card is a great addition to any Trainer-themed deck, and while Dynamic Press hits hard, the 80 recoil damage is a significant drawback. Nonetheless, the ability alone makes it a valuable asset for any Hop-based strategy.

N's Zorua (Promo 189)

A cute but unremarkable card that serves as a stepping stone to evolve into something more powerful. With 70 HP and 20 damage from Scratch, it won't turn heads, but if Zoroark ex proves strong in this set, Zorua will have its moment.

Spiky Energy Hyper Rare (190/159)

An instant staple in my decks, this card deals 20 damage every time the Pokémon it's attached to is hit, making it both offensive and defensive. Plus, it provides Colorless Energy. A definite win.

Iono's Bellibolt ex-Secret Rare (172/159)

A 280 HP Lightning-type powerhouse with Energy acceleration capabilities. Its Electric Streamer ability allows you to attach unlimited Lightning Energy to Iono's Pokémon, making it an engine for Lightning decks. Thunderous Bolt's 230 damage is impressive, even if it means skipping a turn. This card is sure to see play.

Iris's Fighting Spirit Full Art (180/159)

A risk-reward draw Supporter that lets you discard one card and draw until you have six. This is an excellent way to refresh your hand, especially in decks that benefit from discarding Energy or Pokémon. The full art design makes it even more appealing.

Iono's Kilowattrel Illustration Rare (163/159)

A Lightning-type support Pokémon that refills your hand with its Flashing Draw ability, albeit at the cost of discarding a Lightning Energy. Mach Bolt's 70 damage is average, but this bird is more about hand advantage than brute force.

N's Reshiram Illustration Rare (167/159)

A 130 HP Dragon-type that becomes more dangerous as it takes damage. Powerful Rage can rack up serious numbers, while Virtuous Flame's 170 damage is solid but Energy-intensive. If you enjoy high-risk, high-reward plays, this card is for you.

Articuno Illustration Rare (161/159)

A Water-type setup Pokémon that can accelerate two Basic Water Energy onto itself with Frigid Fluttering. This is useful for getting it battle-ready quickly, and Ice Blast's 110 damage is respectable. A great starting piece for any Water deck.

Swinub Illustration Rare (165/159)

This adorable little guy is surprisingly useful early-game. Call for Family lets you search your deck for two Basic Pokémon, which is huge for setup. Lunge Out's 10 damage is laughable, but Swinub isn't here to attack.

Salamence ex Secret Rare (177/159)

This 320 HP Dragon-type monster excels at spreading damage and hitting hard. Wide Blast deals 50 damage to every Benched Pokémon, and Dragon Impact slams for 300 damage, albeit at the cost of discarding two Energy. An absolute beast.

Hop's Zacian ex (111/159)

A Steel-type legendary with a brutal 240-damage attack. The downside? Brave Slash can't be used twice in a row, necessitating a switching strategy. Insta-Strike does a little spread damage, but Zacian is here to knock things out in one hit.

Alcremie ex (075/159)

A support-heavy Psychic Pokémon that heals 30 damage every turn thanks to its Confectionary Gift ability. Whipped Shot's 160 damage is solid, but this card is best used as a sustain option in control decks.

Mimikyu ex (069/159)

A tricky Pokémon that loves spreading damage. Mischievous Hands puts three damage counters on two of your opponent's Pokémon, setting up knockouts later. Ghostly Trip deals 120 damage and Confuses the Active Pokémon, disrupting their plays.

Veluza ex (043/159)

A Water-type glass cannon that can hit for 240 damage if you're willing to discard your whole hand. Purging Strike is high-risk, high-reward, and Razor Fin's 30 damage is barely worth mentioning. This card is all-in or nothing.

Lillie's Clefairy ex (056/159)

A Psychic-type that punishes Dragon decks with its Fairy Zone ability, making all Dragon Pokémon weak to Psychic. Full Moon Rondo scales its damage based on both players' Bench size, making it a potential late-game sweeper.

Volcanion ex (031/159)

A Fire-type bruiser that burns the opponent's Active Pokémon just by being in play, thanks to its Scalding Steam ability. Scorching Cyclone's 160 damage is great, and moving an Energy to a Benched Pokémon makes it even better.

Mamoswine ex (079/159)

An absolute tank at 340 HP that can search your deck for any Pokémon once per turn with Mammoth Hauler. Rumbling March starts at 180 damage but scales up if you have more Stage 2 Pokémon on your Bench, making it terrifying in evolution-heavy decks.

Salamence ex (114/159)

This is the second Salamence ex I pulled, and I'm not complaining. It has the same brutal power as the other one, with Wide Blast for spreading damage and Dragon Impact for a massive 300 damage hit. If you like big, hard-hitting Pokémon, this is the one.

Should You Buy Pokémon TCG: Journey Together?

Journey Together is shaping up to be one of the most exciting Pokémon TCG expansions in years. The return of Trainer's Pokémon, a nostalgic feature absent for years, adds an extra layer of personality to battles. Whether you're collecting cards for their stunning artwork, competitive value, or sheer nostalgia, this set has something for everyone.

### Pokemon Trading Card Game: Scarlet and Violet Journey Together Booster Sleeves

9$4.99 save 5%$4.74 at GameStop$4.49 at Best Buy### Pokemon Trading Card Game: Scarlet and Violet Journey Together Build and Battle Box

8$21.99 save 5%$20.89 at GameStop### Pokemon Trading Card Game: Scarlet and Violet Journey Together Booster Bundle

7$29.99 save 5%$28.49 at GameStop### Pokemon Trading Card Game: Scarlet and Violet Journey Together Booster Box 36 Count

8$160.99 at Best BuySee it at GameStop### Pokemon Trading Card Game: Scarlet and Violet Journey Together Elite Trainer Box

9See it at GameStop### Pokemon Trading Card Game: Scarlet and Violet Journey Together Three Booster Blister

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With its March 28 release date just around the corner, now's the time to start planning which cards you want to chase. Whether it's N's Reshiram, Iono's Bellibolt ex, or the elusive Hyper Rare Spiky Energy, there's no shortage of incredible pulls waiting to be discovered.