Journey Together -Price Recap May 2025
The modern Pokémon TCG market is on a roller-coaster once again. After the initial lull that greeted the Scarlet & Violet era, demand from both collectors and competitive players has roared back—pushing prices for the newest set, Journey Together (released 1 March 2025), into lively territory only ten weeks later.
Currency note: All original TCGplayer figures were in US dollars. I’ve converted them to pounds using the mid-market rate on 7–9 May 2025 of £0.752 = $1 (≈£1 = $1.33).
Top-Valued Cards (TCGplayer Market, 7 May 2025)
| Rank | Card & Rarity | Set # | Price (GBP) | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lillie’s Clefairy ex – Special Illustration Rare | 184/159 | £134.62 | $179.01 |
| 2 | Salamence ex – Special Illustration Rare | 187/159 | £76.75 | $102.06 |
| 3 | N’s Zoroark ex – Special Illustration Rare | 185/159 | £72.30 | $96.15 |
| 4 | Iono’s Bellibolt ex – Special Illustration Rare | 183/159 | £60.42 | $80.34 |
| 5 | Hop’s Zacian ex – Special Illustration Rare | 186/159 | £48.89 | $65.01 |
| 6 | Volcanion ex – Special Illustration Rare | 182/159 | £32.67 | $43.44 |
| 7 | N’s Zoroark ex – Gold Hyper Rare | 189/159 | £23.42 | $31.14 |
| 8 | Iono’s Bellibolt ex – Gold Hyper Rare | 188/159 | £22.40 | $29.79 |
| 9 | Articuno – Illustration Rare | 161/159 | £20.10 | $26.73 |
| 10 | Wailord – Illustration Rare | 162/159 | £13.87 | $18.45 |
| 11 | N’s Reshiram – Illustration Rare | 167/159 | £10.29 | $13.68 |
| 12 | Lillie’s Clefairy ex – Full Art | 173/159 | £9.94 | $13.22 |
| 13 | N’s Zoroark ex – Full Art | 175/159 | £9.71 | $12.91 |
| 14 | Iono’s Kilowattrel – Illustration Rare | 163/159 | £7.38 | $9.82 |
| 15 | Spiky Energy – Gold Hyper Rare | 190/159 | £6.30 | $8.38 |
How the Market Is Moving
Soft-landing for the chase card. Lillie’s Clefairy ex (SIR) has slipped roughly £18.05 since launch. That’s a 12% dip—healthy cooling rather than panic selling.
Other SIRs find equilibrium. Salamence ex and N’s Zoroark ex each eased by about £9.78 and £9.02 respectively. The hype premium is bleeding off, but prices remain strong relative to pull-rates.
Golds & Illustration Rares steady. Lower-tier chase cards have moved only pennies week-to-week, suggesting collectors are comfortable buying near current levels.
Should You Buy Singles or Crack Packs?
| Situation | Packs | Singles |
|---|---|---|
| You’re chasing just one big card (e.g., Lillie’s Clefairy ex) |
❌ Odds of pulling a £135 card from £4 packs are slim. | ✅ Even after the recent drop, buying the single is cheaper on average. |
| You enjoy building trade stock | ✅ Booster boxes still yield a solid spread of Illustration Rares to trade. | – Only buy singles if you need specific mid-tier cards. |
| Long-term sealed investment | ⚠️ Scarlet & Violet sets are print-to-demand so far—sealed might not spike quickly. | n/a |
Where can you buy single cards?
| Platform | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Cardmarket (MKM) |
• Europe’s largest dedicated TCG marketplace • Granular condition grading (Mint ➜ Played) • Seller ratings & automatic reputation system • Low sales fees (6.5 % + €0.05) • “Shopping Wizard” bundles multiple sellers to cut postage |
• No buyer protection outside PayPal if you pay by bank transfer |
| Vinted |
• Zero seller fees keeps listing prices low • Built-in buyer protection & tracked shipping labels • Growing UK TCG community = hidden deals • Simple mobile app—snap a photo ➜ list in 30 s |
• Platform was designed for fashion; card condition categories are vague • Search filters limited (no set or rarity filters) • Listings disappear after 28 days unless refreshed • Fewer high-end cards than Cardmarket/eBay |
| eBay UK |
• Massive inventory—from bulk commons to PSA 10 grails • eBay Money-Back Guarantee covers lost/damaged items • Advanced search (sold listings = real market data) • Auctions can snag bargains below BIN (Buy-It-Now) price |
• 12.9 % + £0.30 seller fees push prices up • Counterfeit risk on high-value singles (check feedback & photos) • “Authenticity Guarantee” not yet active for raw Pokémon cards • Auction sniping tools create last-second bidding wars |
Key Takeaways for May 2025
Natural price correction, not a crash. Most big hits have come down 10-15 %, a pattern we’ve seen with every modern set roughly six–eight weeks post-release.
Scarlet & Violet era is gaining momentum. Player excitement around Regulation I standard plus collectors hunting for standout artwork keeps liquidity high.
Singles strategy wins for targeted cards. With main chase cards still north of £70+, ripping packs is entertainment value first, acquisition strategy second.
This article is for entertainment and hobby-tracking purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always collect responsibly, and spend within your means.
