Journey Together: 190 Cards and Brilliant Trainer’s Pokémon

Journey Together is the Scarlet & Violet expansion that brought Trainer’s Pokémon back to the Pokémon TCG. Released on 28 March 2025 with the code SV09, it has 190 cards built around four fan-favourite Trainers – N, Iono, Lillie and Hop – and the Pokémon that battle beside them. This guide explains the mechanic, introduces each Trainer’s cards and points out the chase cards worth knowing.

Why Journey Together matters

Trainer’s Pokémon are cards that belong to a named character, such as N’s Zoroark ex or Hop’s Zacian ex. The official announcement from The Pokémon Company International describes them as celebrating the special bond between a powerful Trainer and their Pokémon. The idea was first introduced in the Gym Heroes expansion, and according to Bulbapedia this is the first time since EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua that the mechanic has featured in a main expansion.

Journey Together was first revealed at the 2024 Pokémon World Championships, and the theme gives it a different feel from most releases. Instead of one mascot, the set has four headline Trainers, each with a full team of Pokémon and their own support cards. In total, 31 of the 159 main-set cards are Trainer’s Pokémon, and four of them are Trainer’s Pokémon ex.

Meet the four Trainers

N

N, the enigmatic Trainer from Pokémon Black and White, has the biggest team: 11 Pokémon spread across six types. His headliner is N’s Zoroark ex, joined by N’s Zorua, N’s Darmanitan, N’s Klinklang and a Dragon-type N’s Reshiram. Two support cards carry his name too: the Stadium N’s Castle and the Item N’s PP Up.

Iono

Paldea’s streaming Gym Leader brings an all-Lightning line-up of six Pokémon, led by Iono’s Bellibolt ex alongside Iono’s Tadbulb, Iono’s Kilowattrel and Iono’s Electrode. The Stadium Levincia, named after the city where she runs her Gym, rounds out her corner of the set.

Lillie

Lillie, from Pokémon Sun and Moon, has a smaller, all-Psychic team of four: Lillie’s Clefairy ex, Lillie’s Cutiefly, Lillie’s Ribombee and Lillie’s Comfey. Her support card is the Pokémon Tool Lillie’s Pearl.

Hop

Hop, the rival from Pokémon Sword and Shield, gets ten Pokémon led by Hop’s Zacian ex, with Hop’s Corviknight, Hop’s Dubwool, Hop’s Snorlax and Hop’s Cramorant among them. His support cards are Hop’s Bag, Hop’s Choice Band and the Stadium Postwick, his home town.

Journey Together by the numbers

The set has 159 main-set cards and 31 secret rares, making 190 in all. Here’s the rarity breakdown:

• Common: 85
• Uncommon: 42
• Rare: 16
• Double Rare: 16 (the Pokémon ex)
• Illustration Rare: 11
• Ultra Rare: 11
• Special Illustration Rare: 6
• Hyper Rare: 3

Alongside the four Trainer’s Pokémon ex, the other 12 Pokémon ex include Blaziken ex, Reshiram ex, Volcanion ex, Salamence ex, Mamoswine ex and Mimikyu ex. Unlike the two expansions before it, Journey Together has no ACE SPEC cards, so the Trainer section leans on Supporters such as Brock’s Scouting, Iris’s Fighting Spirit and Ruffian.

Trainer cards worth a look

Beyond the named support cards, the Trainer section includes three numbered prints of Black Belt’s Training (143–145), a fresh Professor’s Research, Redeemable Ticket, Super Potion and Billy & O’Nare. Spiky Energy, the only Special Energy in the set, sits at 159 to close the main set and returns as a gold hyper rare at 190. Brock’s Scouting, Iris’s Fighting Spirit and Ruffian each get an Ultra Rare full-art version between 179 and 181.

The chase cards in Journey Together

Six special illustration rares sit at the top of most wish lists, and four of them belong to the headline Trainers:

• Iono’s Bellibolt ex – 183/159
• Lillie’s Clefairy ex – 184/159
• N’s Zoroark ex – 185/159
• Hop’s Zacian ex – 186/159
• Volcanion ex – 182/159
• Salamence ex – 187/159

The three gold hyper rares are Iono’s Bellibolt ex (188/159), N’s Zoroark ex (189/159) and Spiky Energy (190/159). Don’t overlook the illustration rares either: N’s Reshiram (167/159), Iono’s Kilowattrel (163/159), Lillie’s Ribombee (164/159) and Hop’s Wooloo (170/159) let you collect a Trainer’s team in matching full-art style.

A binder idea for Trainer fans

Because every Trainer’s Pokémon carries its owner’s name, Journey Together is ideal for character binders. Give each Trainer a page and fill it with their regular cards, their ex, the Ultra Rare and special illustration rare versions, and their named Stadium, Item or Tool. It’s a satisfying way to organise the set that doesn’t depend on pulling only the rarest cards.

Japanese roots: Battle Partners

Most of the English set comes from Battle Partners (バトルパートナーズ), released in Japan on 24 January 2025, with a few extra cards from several Japanese Generations Start Decks. The official Japanese product page features the same four Trainers, and Japanese packs hold five cards each.

Battle Partners has 100 main-set cards and 132 in total, and a box holds 30 packs. If you’d like the Japanese prints, the Japanese Battle Partners SV9 Booster Box pairs nicely with the English set for a side-by-side binder.

Ways to open the set

There are two main English sealed options for Journey Together:

• Journey Together Booster Box – 36 booster packs, each with 10 cards and a Basic Energy. The best route to completing the set or opening with friends.
• Journey Together Elite Trainer Box – nine packs, a full-art foil N’s Zorua promo (SVP 189), 65 sleeves, 45 Energy cards, dice, condition markers and a collector’s box with four dividers.

Not sure which format suits you? Our guide to choosing a Pokémon booster box covers English and Japanese boxes, sealed cases and how box breaks work.

What came next

Trainer’s Pokémon didn’t stop here. The following expansion, released on 30 May 2025, put Team Rocket in the spotlight alongside rivals such as Ethan and Cynthia – see our Destined Rivals set guide for the full story.

Who the set suits

Character collectors are the obvious audience, but Journey Together also suits players who like themed decks built around one Trainer, and anyone who grew up with N in Black and White or met Iono in Scarlet and Violet. With 16 Pokémon ex and a modest 31 secret rares, it is also one of the more approachable Scarlet & Violet sets to complete.

Shop the range

• Journey Together Elite Trainer Box
• Japanese Battle Partners SV9 Booster Box
• Destined Rivals Booster Box

Journey Together is a brilliant pick if you collect by character, love N or Iono, or simply want a set with a clear story. For the original reveal, read the official Journey Together announcement, and browse more expansions in our Pokémon TCG range.

Journey Together FAQs

When was Journey Together released?

Journey Together was released on 28 March 2025. Its main Japanese source, Battle Partners, came out in Japan on 24 January 2025.

How many cards are in Journey Together?

There are 190 cards: 159 in the main set and 31 secret rares, including six special illustration rares and three gold hyper rares.

Which Trainers feature in Journey Together?

N, Iono, Lillie and Hop. Each has their own Trainer’s Pokémon, led by N’s Zoroark ex, Iono’s Bellibolt ex, Lillie’s Clefairy ex and Hop’s Zacian ex.

What are the chase cards in Journey Together?

The special illustration rares of N’s Zoroark ex, Lillie’s Clefairy ex, Iono’s Bellibolt ex and Hop’s Zacian ex lead most lists, along with the gold hyper rares of Iono’s Bellibolt ex and N’s Zoroark ex.

What promo comes in the Journey Together Elite Trainer Box?

A full-art foil N’s Zorua promo, numbered SVP 189, alongside nine Journey Together booster packs and the usual accessories.