The upcoming expansion for the Pokémon Trading Card Game, titled Journey Together, is set to introduce over 180 fresh cards, with some of the rarest anticipated to fetch extraordinary prices. This release includes more than 40 Trainer Pokémon and incorporates many with the ex designation. In addition to impactful moves that could elevate your deck’s performance, several cards will feature exclusive designs and full art, making them visually appealing.
The set is scheduled for release on March 28, 2025. Unfortunately, similar to past expansions like Surging Sparks, this release may face significant scalping challenges. Attempts by official Pokémon Stores to curb these practices have yielded limited success, resulting in a rampant reselling market within collector communities. The opportunities to acquire powerful new cards, along with their unique designs, will surely entice collectors. It’s important to note that the predicted prices are based on current listings from TCG Player and will likely fluctuate once the set releases and rarities are confirmed.
Quick Links
- Iono’s Bellibolt ex Ultra Rare
- Iono’s Bellibolt ex Hyper Rare
- Articuno Illustration Rare
- Volcanion ex Special Illustration Rare
- Lillie’s Clefairy ex Ultra Rare
- Iono’s Bellibolt ex Special Illustration Rare
- Hop’s Zacian ex Special Illustration Rare
- N’s Zoroark ex Special Illustration Rare
- Salamance ex Special Illustration Rare
- Lillie’s Clefairy ex Special Illustration Rare
10. Iono’s Bellibolt ex Ultra Rare
Card 172/159 in The Journey Together Set
This set prominently features Trainer Pokémon cards, with Paldea’s electric gym leader, Iono, showcasing her Pokémon, including the notable Bellibolt. This Ultra Rare card allows players to attach Electric energy to any of Iono’s Pokémon as frequently as desired during their turn. Importantly, the ability is not restricted to only benched Pokémon, providing strategic versatility.
Currently, this card is expected to retail for around $23 on TCGPlayer. While it may seem pricey, it is a valuable addition to Electric-type decks and offers a delightful holofoil finish for collectors. Iono’s Bellibolt Ultra Rare is a solid choice for anyone building a competitive deck or simply enjoying the collection aspect.
9. Iono’s Bellibolt ex Hyper Rare
Card 188/159 in The Journey Together Set
The Iono’s Bellibolt ex Hyper Rare variant is expected to retail for about $54 on TCGPlayer, more than double the price of the Ultra Rare version. This increase is driven by the stunning full art design capturing Iono and her Bellibolt in vibrant holofoil. Collectors fortunate enough to acquire this card will face a tough decision: keep it for their collection or utilize it in a Rain Dance deck strategy.
8. Articuno Illustration Rare
Card 161/159 in The Journey Together Set
Competing closely in price with the Hyper Rare Bellibolt, the Articuno Illustration Rare is anticipated to sell for approximately $58 on TCGPlayer. Paul Kuroimori visually depicts Articuno mid-flight amidst a snowstorm, with striking full art elements that were originally featured in the Japanese Battle Partners expansion. This card employs two moves: “Frigid Fluttering”allows for the search and attachment of two Basic Water Energy cards, while “Ice Blast”deals 110 damage, offering simplified yet effective gameplay mechanics.
7. Volcanion ex Special Illustration Rare
Card 182/159 in The Journey Together Set
Volcanion ex’s Special Illustration Rare is projected to have a price tag around $64 on TCGPlayer. This full-art holofoil card uniquely depicts Volcanion surrounded by swirling lava and flames. With the ability “Scalding Steam,”this card poses a threat by enabling burn damage to the opponent’s Active Pokémon. Although effective, the Burn status condition is less reliable than others like Poison, which can create strategic considerations when integrating this card into your gameplay.
6. Lillie’s Clefairy ex Ultra Rare
Card 173/159 in The Journey Together Set
The Lillie’s Clefairy ex Ultra Rare is making multiple appearances in this list, currently valued at around $77 on TCGPlayer. Its “Fairy Zone”ability amplifies the vulnerabilities of opposing Dragon-type Pokémon by imposing a 2x damage multiplier regardless of their original weaknesses. The attack “Full Moon Rondo,”which requires a mere Psychic Energy and a Colorless, deals a base damage of 20, increasing by 20 for every benched Pokémon on both sides, showcasing the potential for significant damage output.
5. Iono’s Bellibolt ex Special Illustration Rare
Card 183/159 in The Journey Together Set
The Special Illustration Rare of Iono’s Bellibolt stands out due to its premium price, currently expected to be around $130 on TCGPlayer. This card is anticipated to remain a top contender among the priciest in the set. In synergy with cards like “Raging Bolt,”it can facilitate swift energy generation, but might necessitate a well-rounded approach integrating both Electric and Fighting types in your deck composition.
4. Hop’s Zacian ex Special Illustration Rare
Card 186/159 in The Journey Together Set
The Hop’s Zacian ex Special Illustration Rare currently commands a price of around $174 on TCGPlayer. Adorned with stunning holofoil, it showcases a beautiful scene of Hop and Zacian in dappled light. While Zacian ex may not serve as the primary attacker in many deck strategies, it complements cards like Hop’s Snorlax, enabling efficient damage output for minimal energy requirements.
3. N’s Zoroark ex Special Illustration Rare
Card 185/159 in The Journey Together Set
Currently priced at approximately $213 on TCGPlayer, the N’s Zoroark ex Special Illustration Rare features stunning artwork of the trainer and his Pokémon. This card presents unique abilities that have evolved since its initial release, now providing powerful attack options while ensuring deck strategy remains flexible. “Night Joker”empowers players to utilize one of N’s Pokémon attacks from the bench, allowing for effective energy management in play.
2. Salamance ex Special Illustration Rare
Card 187/159 in The Journey Together Set
This iteration of the Salamance ex card is currently valued at about $203 on TCGPlayer. It boasts breathtaking full art crafted by Tsuyoshi Nogono, highlighting powerful attacks that make this card a formidable presence in competitive play. Its “Wide Blast”attack provides the ability to deal damage across multiple targets, making it an advantageous choice.
1. Lillie’s Clefairy ex Special Illustration Rare
Card 184/159 in The Journey Together Set
The standout card of the Journey Together set, the Lillie’s Clefairy ex Special Illustration Rare commands an impressive price of $329.36 on TCGPlayer. While it often functions as a tactical addition in counter-Dragapult decks, its influence on the meta could become more pronounced following upcoming rotations.
No matter your budget or strategy, the cards listed here represent some of the most desirable additions from the Journey Together expansion. As the Pokémon TCG market continues to evolve and expand, securing the cards you seek can be a challenge. With the looming possibility of scalping impacting this release, collectors should brace themselves for a potentially difficult journey in obtaining their coveted boosters and boxes.