The Pokémon Trading Card Game is expanding once again! Following last month’s leaks, The Pokémon Company has officially announced the Scarlet & Violet – Journey Together expansion, launching on March 28th. This highly anticipated set brings over 180 cards to English-speaking fans, including cards from the Japanese Battle Partners expansion. A key feature of Journey Together is the return of Trainer’s Pokémon, spotlighting iconic characters from the mainline Pokémon video games. Over 40 Trainer’s Pokémon are set to appear, including notable cards like N’s Reshiram ex, Hop’s Zacian ex, Iono’s Bellibolt ex, and Lillie’s Clefairy ex.
Several purchase options are already listed on the official Pokémon Center website, although preorders are not yet live. A standout item is the Elite Trainer Box, priced at $59.99. This box contains 11 Journey Together booster packs, a full-art foil N’s Zorua promo card featuring the Pokémon Center logo, a second full-art foil N’s Zorua promo card (without the logo), 65 card sleeves, 45 Energy cards, and more.
Unlike the recent Prismatic Evolutions set, Journey Together booster packs will be sold individually for $4.49 on the Pokémon Center website, or as a 6-pack bundle for $26.94. For serious collectors, an Enhanced Booster Display box containing 36 booster packs and an illustration rare-style N’s Reshiram promo card is available for $161.64.
A New Approach to Trainer’s Pokémon
Journey Together introduces a significant change to the Trainer’s Pokémon mechanic. Unlike older sets such as Gym Heroes and Gym Challenge, this expansion will feature a mix of both standard Pokémon cards and Trainer’s Pokémon. The Pokémon Company’s announcement revealed the distribution: over 40 Trainer’s Pokémon, more than 15 Trainer Cards, and over 15 Pokémon ex. This mix raises questions about the likelihood of pulling a Trainer’s Pokémon in every pack, which is arguably the set’s main draw.
Understanding Trainer’s Pokémon
For those unfamiliar with Trainer’s Pokémon, these cards represent Pokémon specifically associated with characters from the games or anime. Classic examples include Brock’s Geodude and Misty’s Psyduck, featuring the trainer’s image on the card. The unique gameplay element of Trainer’s Pokémon is their restricted evolution paths. They can only evolve to and from other Pokémon associated with the same trainer. For instance, N’s Zorua can only evolve into N’s Zoroark or N’s Zoroark ex, adding a strategic layer to deck building.
What to Expect
Journey Together promises a dynamic collecting and playing experience with its blend of traditional Pokémon and Trainer’s Pokémon. The inclusion of popular characters and powerful Pokémon ex cards adds to the excitement. However, the distribution ratio within booster packs remains a point of interest for collectors aiming to complete their Trainer’s Pokémon sets.
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