The excitement is palpable as the Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet — Journey Together set is set to launch on March 28, 2025. This expansion brings back a nostalgic mechanic not seen since 2004: Trainer's Pokémon, reminiscent of the classics from EX Team Magma vs. Team Aqua. As a fan, I'm thrilled to dive into this set and explore its offerings.
### 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
3$14.99 save 5%$14.24 at GameStop
This set shines a spotlight on four iconic Trainers: N, Iono, Lillie, and Hop, each with their own Pokémon ex that highlight the deep bonds they share with their teams. If you're dreaming of building a deck featuring N’s Zoroark ex, Lillie’s Clefairy ex, or Iono’s Bellibolt ex, your dreams are about to come true.
Check out the full Pokémon TCG Release Schedule for 2025
My Journey Together Product Openings
IGN Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company + Creatures Inc.
With over 180 cards to explore, there's no shortage 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, each pull is filled with anticipation. My highlights included N’s Reshiram Illustration Rare, Iono’s Bellibolt ex Secret Rare, and a Hyper Rare Spiky Energy. These were thrilling finds, but even beyond these big hits, I pulled numerous solid ex cards ready to be integrated into my decks.
IGN Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company + Creatures Inc.
Sadly, the one card I was eagerly seeking, Hop’s Zacian ex, eluded me. Lillie’s Clefairy ex Special Art Rare was also missing from my pulls, but that's the nature of Booster Boxes—plenty of chances, but no guarantees. Nonetheless, this was the best way to immerse myself in the set. If you're passionate about opening packs or looking to significantly expand your collection, a Booster Box is a rewarding choice. Check out all the rare pulls further down; this box was absolutely worth it for me.
Journey Together Elite Trainer Box
Elite Trainer Boxes offer a premium experience. The N’s Zorua promo immediately caught my attention, and the box itself is perfect for organizing cards. The included sleeves, dice, and condition markers are great for players, and with nine booster packs, there's still ample opportunity for exciting pulls.
IGN Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company + Creatures Inc.
With only nine packs, I didn't expect anything too extraordinary, yet I managed to pull Iono’s Kilowattrel Illustration Rare, Articuno Illustration Rare, and a Veluza ex. These fun cards made the experience completely worthwhile. While Elite Trainer Boxes may not yield as many hits as a Booster Box, their structured, all-in-one approach is appealing. If you're after both the thrill of pack openings and collectible extras, this is a fantastic way to experience Journey Together. Check out the full list of rare cards from our preview further down; we found some genuine gems.
Journey Together Build & Battle Box
Build & Battle Boxes provide a unique experience compared to Booster or Elite Trainer Boxes, offering a different kind of excitement. The highlight is the prebuilt 40-card deck, allowing you to jump straight into playing without the need for extensive sorting. I pulled Hop’s Snorlax as my promo, which is an excellent card. Its ability boosts all of Hop’s Pokémon by 30 damage, making it an essential component for any deck featuring his lineup.
IGN Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company + Creatures Inc.
The four packs I opened didn't disappoint. I pulled Mamoswine ex and Swinub Illustration Rare, perfectly complementing my deck's theme. Although the limited number of packs means fewer rare pulls compared to a Booster Box, if you're looking for a quick way to start playing with the new set, this is the best option. With four different promo cards available, I'm already planning to pick up 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 across all our openings.
Our Pokémon TCG: Journey Together Pulls
Across 49 booster packs from all our products, I ended up with 18 rare cards. Some were exactly what I was hoping for, while others were delightful surprises. One thing's for sure, trainers will be pulling more rare cards than with Prismatic Evolutions. Here’s what I pulled:
Hop’s Snorlax (Promo 184)
IGN Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company + Creatures Inc.
This bulky Basic Pokémon with 150 HP boosts all of Hop’s Pokémon attacks by an extra 30 damage. It's a great addition to any Trainer-themed deck. Although Dynamic Press hits hard, the 80 recoil damage is significant. Nevertheless, the ability alone makes it a valuable card for any Hop-based strategy.
N’s Zorua (Promo 189)
IGN Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company + Creatures Inc.
A cute yet unremarkable card that's meant to evolve into something more powerful. With 70 HP and 20 damage from Scratch, it won't turn heads on its own, but if Zoroark ex proves strong, Zorua will have its moment.
Spiky Energy Hyper Rare (190/159)
IGN Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company + Creatures Inc.
An instant staple for my decks. It deals 20 damage every time the Pokémon it’s attached to gets hit, making it both offensive and defensive. Plus, it provides Colorless Energy. It's a definite win.
Iono’s Bellibolt ex-Secret Rare (172/159)
IGN Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company + Creatures Inc.
A 280 HP Lightning-type powerhouse with Energy acceleration capabilities. Its Electric Streamer ability allows unlimited Lightning Energy attachment to Iono’s Pokémon, making it a key component for Lightning decks. Thunderous Bolt’s 230 damage is impressive, though it requires skipping a turn. This card is sure to see competitive play.
Iris’s Fighting Spirit Full Art (180/159)
IGN Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company + Creatures Inc.
A risk-reward draw Supporter that lets you discard one card and draw until you have six. It's excellent for refreshing your hand, particularly in decks that benefit from discarding Energy or Pokémon. Being a full art card only adds to its appeal.
Iono’s Kilowattrel Illustration Rare (163/159)
IGN Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company + Creatures Inc.
A Lightning-type support Pokémon that refills your hand with its Flashing Draw ability, requiring the discard of a Lightning Energy. Mach Bolt’s 70 damage is average, but this bird is all about hand advantage.
N’s Reshiram Illustration Rare (167/159)
IGN Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company + Creatures Inc.
A 130 HP Dragon-type that becomes more formidable as it takes damage. Powerful Rage can deliver serious damage, while Virtuous Flame’s 170 damage is strong but Energy-intensive. If you enjoy high-risk, high-reward strategies, this card is for you.
Articuno Illustration Rare (161/159)
IGN Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company + Creatures Inc.
A Water-type setup Pokémon that can accelerate two Basic Water Energy onto itself with Frigid Fluttering. This makes it ready for battle quickly, and Ice Blast’s 110 damage is respectable. It's a great starting piece for any Water deck.
Swinub Illustration Rare (165/159)
IGN Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company + Creatures Inc.
This adorable little guy is incredibly useful early in the game. Call for Family lets you search your deck for two Basic Pokémon, which is invaluable for setup. Lunge Out’s 10 damage is negligible, but Swinub isn't here to attack.
Salamence ex Secret Rare (177/159)
IGN Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company + Creatures Inc.
This 320 HP Dragon-type monster excels at spreading damage and delivering heavy hits. Wide Blast deals 50 damage to every Benched Pokémon, while Dragon Impact slams for 300 damage, requiring the discard of two Energy. It's an absolute beast.
Hop’s Zacian ex (111/159)
IGN Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company + Creatures Inc.
A Steel-type legendary with a brutal 240-damage attack. The catch? Brave Slash can’t be used twice in a row, necessitating a switching strategy. Insta-Strike offers some spread damage, but Zacian is here to knock things out in one hit.
Alcremie ex (075/159)
IGN Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company + Creatures Inc.
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 shines as a sustain option in control decks.
Mimikyu ex (069/159)
IGN Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company + Creatures Inc.
A tricky Pokémon that loves spreading damage. Mischievous Hands puts three damage counters on two of your opponent’s Pokémon, setting up knockouts. Ghostly Trip deals 120 damage and Confuses the Active Pokémon, disrupting their plays.
Veluza ex (043/159)
IGN Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company + Creatures Inc.
A Water-type glass cannon capable of hitting for 240 damage—if you’re willing to discard your entire hand. Purging Strike is high-risk, high-reward, while Razor Fin’s 30 damage is negligible. This card is all-in or nothing.
Lillie’s Clefairy ex (056/159)
IGN Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company + Creatures Inc.
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)
IGN Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company + Creatures Inc.
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 adds to its value.
Mamoswine ex (079/159)
IGN Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company + Creatures Inc.
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)
IGN Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company + Creatures Inc.
This is the second Salamence ex I pulled, and I’m not complaining. It offers the same brutal power 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 for you.
Should You Buy Pokémon TCG: Journey Together?
Journey Together is poised to be one of the most thrilling Pokémon TCG expansions in recent memory. The return of Trainer's Pokémon, a nostalgic feature absent for years, adds a rich layer of personality to battles. Whether you're collecting for stunning artwork, competitive play, 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
3$14.99 save 5%$14.24 at GameStop
With its release date of March 28 just around the corner, now's the perfect time to plan 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.
