The Most Desirable Cards in Journey Together
Lillie, N, and the rest of Journey Together's trainers, ranked by what collectors are paying.
By Misprint Editorial | Published Feb 14, 2026 | 6 min read
Updated pricing as of March 2026
Journey Together is one of those sets that just lands. The entire concept -- beloved trainers paired with their signature partner Pokemon -- gives every major card in the set a built-in story. Lillie and Clefairy. N and Zoroark. Hop and Zacian. Iono and Bellibolt. These are not just pretty illustrations; they are callbacks to some of the most memorable moments in the franchise. And that emotional resonance shows up directly in the secondary market.
We ranked the 10 most expensive cards in the set from bottom to top, so the further you scroll, the bigger the price tags get. Let's count it down.
Honorable Mentions
Before we get into the top 10, a few cards worth flagging. These did not quite crack the list, but they are still solid pulls that hold real collector interest.
Spiky Energy HR (190) is a gold Hyper Rare energy card. It is not going to headline anyone's binder, but gold cards have a way of holding quiet, steady value over time. Iono's Kilowattrel IR (163) benefits from the Iono name recognition, which continues to carry weight in this era of the TCG.
Lycanroc IR (166), Noibat IR (169), and Furret IR (168) are all attractive Illustration Rares with artwork that stands out in the set. Lycanroc in particular has a dedicated fanbase that keeps demand consistent, and Noibat and Furret both have the kind of charming, detailed illustrations that tend to age well with collectors.
All five of these are worth picking up if you find them at the right price. Now, on to the main event.
#10 -- Lillie's Ribombee IR (164)
Lillie is one of the most popular trainers in the entire franchise, and anything with her name on it gets a bump. Ribombee is a perfect thematic partner -- small, gentle, and a little whimsical, just like Lillie's character arc in Sun and Moon. Among the Illustration Rares in Journey Together, this one sits at the top of the heap. The trainer association alone puts it a cut above the generic IRs, and the artwork delivers on the emotional connection that makes Journey Together special.
#9 -- N's Reshiram IR (167)
N is arguably the most beloved rival or antagonist in Pokemon history, and Reshiram is the legendary that defines his story in Black and White. This Illustration Rare taps into that deep well of nostalgia, and the market reflects it. Of all the IRs in the set, N's Reshiram commands the strongest premium. If the Illustration Rares are the entry point to Journey Together's best cards, this one is standing right at the door to the next tier.
#8 -- Iono's Bellibolt EX Hyper Rare (188)
The gold treatment on an already popular trainer-Pokemon pairing makes this card a standout among the Hyper Rares. Iono has been one of the defining characters of the Scarlet and Violet era, and Bellibolt has become inseparable from her brand. The Hyper Rare version adds that premium gold aesthetic that a certain segment of collectors actively chases. It is not the most expensive card in the set by a long shot, but it punches above what you might expect from a typical gold card.
#7 -- N's Zoroark EX Hyper Rare (189)
Same idea as the Iono gold card, but with the added weight of N's legacy. Zoroark has always been one of the cooler designs in the franchise, and the gold Hyper Rare treatment suits it well. This card tends to trade a bit above Iono's Bellibolt HR, which makes sense -- N's fanbase runs deeper and has been around longer. If you are collecting the gold cards from Journey Together, this is the one you want most.
#6 -- Volcanion EX SIR (182)
Now we enter the Special Illustration Rare tier, and the prices start to separate from everything below. Volcanion EX SIR is the most affordable SIR in the set, but do not let that fool you into thinking it is an afterthought. The artwork is strong, and as the entry point into the Journey Together SIR lineup, it serves as a gateway card for collectors who want to start building toward the full set. That said, it lacks the trainer nostalgia factor that drives the cards above it, which is why it sits here at number six.
#5 -- Iono's Bellibolt EX SIR (183)
Iono keeps showing up on this list, and for good reason. She has been everywhere in the Scarlet and Violet era -- gym leader, popular supporter card, fan art staple, you name it. Her Bellibolt SIR in Journey Together captures that energy with a full narrative scene that collectors have responded to enthusiastically. This card trades solidly in the mid-range for Journey Together SIRs, buoyed by the sheer popularity of the trainer. If Iono's star fades over time, this card might settle a bit. But right now, demand is real.
#4 -- Salamence EX SIR (187)
Salamence is one of those Pokemon that just carries weight. A fan-favorite Dragon type with a strong competitive history and a design that has looked good on cardboard for over two decades. The SIR artwork in Journey Together gives Salamence real shelf appeal, and the card has carved out a comfortable spot in the upper-middle tier of the set's most valuable pulls. It does not have a named trainer attached to it like some of the cards above, but the Pokemon's own popularity is more than enough to hold this position.
#3 -- Hop's Zacian EX SIR (186)
Hop gets a lot of jokes in the community -- he is not exactly the most beloved rival in franchise history. But this card is no joke on the secondary market. The pairing with Zacian, one of the most iconic Legendaries from Sword and Shield, elevates it well above the mid-tier SIRs. The illustration is genuinely beautiful, capturing the moment where Hop steps into his own alongside a Pokemon that represents everything he has been striving for. Collectors who might roll their eyes at Hop the character have still been paying up for Hop the card. That tells you everything you need to know.
#2 -- N's Zoroark EX SIR (185)
N is one of the most beloved characters in the entire Pokemon franchise, full stop. His pairing with Zoroark in Journey Together has produced the second most valuable card in the set, and it has held its value remarkably well since release. The artwork captures the mysterious, almost melancholic bond between the two perfectly -- it feels like a scene pulled straight from Black and White's story.
What makes this card a strong long-term hold is that N's popularity is not tied to a trend. It is built into two decades of Pokemon storytelling. Collectors with any attachment to the Black and White era have been paying a premium, and there is no sign of that slowing down. On most days, this card and the number one spot are not particularly close. But N's Zoroark EX SIR is a rock-solid number two that any collector would be thrilled to pull.
#1 -- Lillie's Clefairy EX SIR (184)
And then there is the one. Lillie's Clefairy EX SIR is the undisputed chase card of Journey Together, and it is not particularly close. Lillie has been a fan favorite since Sun and Moon -- her story arc across those games and the anime resonated with people in a way that few Pokemon characters ever have. Clefairy is the perfect partner for her gentle, determined character, and the illustration brings them together in a scene that has connected deeply with collectors.
This is the card that sells booster boxes. It is the reason people keep ripping packs. On the secondary market, it commands a clear premium over everything else in the set, and it has shown no signs of giving up that top spot. If you pull one, you know exactly what you have. And if you are buying one, you are paying for a card that sits at the intersection of character popularity, artwork quality, and genuine scarcity -- the three things that tend to hold value longest in the Pokemon TCG.
The Bottom Line
Journey Together is a set where the trainer-partner theme gives every premium card an emotional hook that goes beyond rarity and artwork alone. The Illustration Rares are accessible and well-designed. The Hyper Rares fill their role. But the Special Illustration Rares -- especially Lillie's Clefairy and N's Zoroark at the top -- are the cards that define the set's identity and its market.
If you are collecting Journey Together, the SIRs are where the long-term value lives. And if you are just cracking packs for fun, you already know which card you are hoping to see when you flip that last card over.
Prices referenced are approximate market values as of March 2026 and will fluctuate. Check current listings on Misprint for the latest prices.
