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

Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet — Journey Together is set to launch on March 28, 2025, and it's bringing back a fan-favorite mechanic from 2004: Trainer's Pokémon. This exciting set harks back to the nostalgia of classics like EX Team Magma vs. Team Aqua, and I'm thrilled to give you a sneak peek at what's in store.

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Journey Together spotlights four iconic Trainers: N, Iono, Lillie, and Hop, each with their own Pokémon ex that highlight their unique bonds with their teams. If you've ever dreamed of building a deck centered around N's Zoroark ex, Lillie's Clefairy ex, or Iono's Bellibolt ex, this is your golden opportunity.

Check out the full Pokémon TCG Release Schedule for 2025

My Journey Together Product Openings

With over 180 cards to chase, this set is packed with excitement. It 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 back, 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, every pull feels like a treasure hunt. 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 many solid ex cards perfect for my decks.

The card I was most eager to find, Hop's Zacian ex, eluded me. Lillie's Clefairy ex Special Art Rare was also absent, but that's the nature of Booster Boxes—lots of chances, but no guarantees. Nevertheless, it was the best way to immerse myself in the set. If you love opening packs or want a massive card haul, 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 premium feel compared to loose packs. The N's Zorua promo immediately caught my eye, and the box is ideal for card storage. The included sleeves, dice, and condition markers are perfect for players, and with nine booster packs, there's still plenty of potential for great pulls.

With just nine packs, I didn't expect anything too wild, but I still managed to pull Iono's Kilowattrel Illustration Rare, Articuno Illustration Rare, and a Veluza ex. These fun cards made the opening feel worthwhile. While ETBs might not yield as many hits as a Booster Box, the structured, all-in-one experience is delightful. If you're after 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, different from Booster or Elite Trainer Boxes, yet equally exciting. The main attraction is the prebuilt 40-card deck, allowing you to dive straight into gameplay without sorting through countless cards. I pulled Hop's Snorlax as my promo, a fantastic card whose ability boosts all of Hop's Pokémon by 30 damage, making it essential for any Hop-themed deck.

The four packs included didn't disappoint either. I pulled Mamoswine ex and Swinub Illustration Rare, perfectly fitting my deck's theme. While the limited number of packs means fewer rare pulls than a Booster Box, if you're looking for a quick start with the new set, this is the best option. With four different promo cards available, I'm already tempted to get another box to see what 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 hoped for, while others were delightful surprises. Trainers are set to pull many 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 enhances all of Hop's Pokémon attacks by 30 extra damage. This card is a must-have for any Trainer-themed deck. While Dynamic Press packs a punch, the 80 recoil damage is significant. Still, the ability alone makes it a valuable addition to any Hop-based strategy.

N’s Zorua (Promo 189)

A cute but modest card, designed to evolve into something more formidable. With 70 HP and 20 damage from Scratch, it's unremarkable on its own. However, if Zoroark ex proves strong in this set, Zorua will have its moment.

Spiky Energy Hyper Rare (190/159)

An immediate staple in my decks. It deals 20 damage every time the attached Pokémon is hit, making it both offensive and defensive. Plus, it provides Colorless Energy. A clear winner.

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 a vital engine for Lightning decks. Thunderous Bolt's 230 damage is impressive, despite requiring a turn's skip. 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 a great way to refresh your hand, especially in decks that benefit from discarding Energy or Pokémon. The full art adds to its allure.

Iono’s Kilowattrel Illustration Rare (163/159)

A Lightning-type support Pokémon that refills your hand with its Flashing Draw ability, requiring you to discard a Lightning Energy first. Mach Bolt's 70 damage is average, but this bird is all about hand advantage.

N’s Reshiram Illustration Rare (167/159)

A 130 HP Dragon-type that grows more dangerous as it takes damage. Powerful Rage can rack up significant numbers, while Virtuous Flame's 170 damage is solid but Energy-intensive. Ideal for high-risk, high-reward plays.

Articuno Illustration Rare (161/159)

A Water-type setup Pokémon that accelerates two Basic Water Energy onto itself with Frigid Fluttering. Ice Blast's 110 damage is respectable, making it a great starting piece for any Water deck.

Swinub Illustration Rare (165/159)

This adorable little guy is a useful early-game asset. Call for Family lets you search your deck for two Basic Pokémon, crucial for setup. Lunge Out's 10 damage is negligible, but Swinub isn't meant for attacking.

Salamence ex Secret Rare (177/159)

A 320 HP Dragon-type monster that excels at spreading damage and delivering powerful hits. Wide Blast deals 50 damage to every Benched Pokémon, while Dragon Impact slams for 300 damage, requiring you to discard two Energy. A true powerhouse.

Hop’s Zacian ex (111/159)

A Steel-type legendary with a brutal 240-damage attack. Brave Slash can't be used twice in a row, necessitating a switching strategy. Insta-Strike offers minor spread damage, but Zacian is designed for one-hit knockouts.

Alcremie ex (075/159)

A support-heavy Psychic Pokémon that heals 30 damage every turn with its Confectionary Gift ability. Whipped Shot's 160 damage is solid, but this card shines 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 future knockouts. Ghostly Trip deals 120 damage and Confuses the Active Pokémon, disrupting their strategy.

Veluza ex (043/159)

A Water-type glass cannon capable of hitting for 240 damage if you discard your entire hand. Purging Strike is high-risk, high-reward, while Razor Fin's 30 damage is barely noteworthy. This card is all about going all-in.

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 impressive, and moving an Energy to a Benched Pokémon enhances its utility.

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 with 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 offers the same brutal power as the first one, with Wide Blast for spreading damage and Dragon Impact for a massive 300 damage hit. If you love big, hard-hitting Pokémon, this is the one for you.

Should You Buy Pokémon TCG: Journey Together?

Journey Together is poised to be one of the most thrilling Pokémon TCG expansions in years. The return of Trainer's Pokémon, a nostalgic feature absent for years, adds a new layer of personality to battles. Whether you're collecting for stunning artwork, competitive play, or pure nostalgia, this set offers 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

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With its release on March 28, 2025, just around the corner, now is the perfect 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.