The Pokémon Trading Card Game: 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 making a thrilling comeback, and I'm beyond excited to dive into this set.

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This set shines a spotlight on four iconic Trainers: N, Iono, Lillie, and Hop, each paired with their own Pokémon ex, highlighting the deep bonds they share with their teams. Whether you're looking to build a deck around N's Zoroark ex, Lillie's Clefairy ex, or Iono's Bellibolt ex, Journey Together offers you the perfect opportunity.

Check out the full Pokémon TCG Release Schedule for 2025

My Journey Together Product Openings

With over 180 cards, Journey Together is packed with excitement. 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 return, with Enhanced Booster Display Boxes featuring a stunning N’s Reshiram Illustration Rare.

Journey Together Standard Booster Box

Opening a Booster Box is an exhilarating experience. With 36 packs, the thrill 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. Even beyond these big hits, I pulled numerous solid ex cards that are perfect for deck-building.

Sadly, I didn't find 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. Nonetheless, this was the best way to experience the set. If you enjoy opening packs or want to boost your collection significantly, a Booster Box is an excellent 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 itself is perfect for storing cards. The included sleeves, dice, and condition markers are great for players, and with nine booster packs, there's still potential for exciting pulls.

With only nine packs, I wasn't expecting anything too extraordinary, but I still managed to pull Iono's Kilowattrel Illustration Rare, Articuno Illustration Rare, and Veluza ex. These fun cards made the opening experience completely worthwhile. While Elite Trainer Boxes don't offer the same volume of hits as a Booster Box, the structured, all-in-one product 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 fantastic 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 an excellent card. Its ability boosts all of Hop's Pokémon by 30 damage, making it essential for any Hop-themed deck.

The four packs delivered some great pulls, including Mamoswine ex and Swinub Illustration Rare, which perfectly complemented my deck's theme. Although you won't get as many rare pulls as with a Booster Box, if you're eager 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 which one I 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

Across 49 booster packs from all our products, I pulled 18 rare cards. Some were exactly what I hoped for, while others were delightful surprises. Trainers will definitely be pulling more rare cards than in Prismatic Evolutions. Here’s a detailed look at what I pulled:

Hop’s Snorlax (Promo 184)

A sturdy Basic Pokémon with 150 HP that boosts all of Hop’s Pokémon attacks by 30 extra damage. This card is a great addition to any Trainer-themed deck. While Dynamic Press hits hard, the 80 recoil damage is a drawback. Nonetheless, its ability alone makes it a valuable addition to any Hop-based strategy.

N’s Zorua (Promo 189)

A cute but unremarkable card designed to evolve into something more formidable. With 70 HP and 20 damage from Scratch, it's not a standout, but if Zoroark ex is powerful 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, making it an absolute win.

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

A 280 HP Lightning-type powerhouse with unparalleled Energy acceleration. Its Electric Streamer ability lets you attach unlimited Lightning Energy to Iono’s Pokémon, making it a critical engine for Lightning decks. Thunderous Bolt’s 230 damage is impressive, though it requires skipping a turn. This card will definitely see play.

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

A risk-reward draw Supporter that allows you to discard one card and draw until you have six. This is an excellent way to refresh your hand, particularly in decks that benefit from discarding Energy or Pokémon. Being a full art card adds to its appeal.

Iono’s Kilowattrel Illustration Rare (163/159)

A Lightning-type support Pokémon that refills your hand with its Flashing Draw ability, although you must discard a Lightning Energy first. 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 the more damage it takes. Powerful Rage can rack up serious numbers, while Virtuous Flame’s 170 damage is solid but requires a lot of Energy. Ideal for high-risk, high-reward plays.

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 incredibly 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 negligible, 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. A true beast.

Hop’s Zacian ex (111/159)

A Steel-type legendary with a brutal 240-damage attack. The downside is that 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)

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 knockouts later. Ghostly Trip deals 120 damage and Confuses the Active Pokémon, disrupting their strategy.

Veluza ex (043/159)

A Water-type glass cannon that can hit for 240 damage, provided you discard your whole hand. Purging Strike is a high-risk, high-reward move, while 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 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.

Should You Buy Pokémon TCG: Journey Together?

Journey Together is set to be one of the most exciting Pokémon TCG expansions in recent years. The return of Trainer's Pokémon, a nostalgic feature absent for years, adds a unique layer of personality to battles. Whether you're collecting cards for their stunning artwork, competitive value, or just the 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

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With the March 28 release date approaching, it'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.