The Pokémon Trading Card Game expansion " Battle Partners ", released in Japan on January 24, 2025, has attracted a lot of interest among collectors and competitive players alike, and it could actually be a set that deserves attention. But let's take a closer look at it and see if it's really worth collecting.
Let's start by looking more at the collectible value:
The value of a set usually depends on factors such as demand, print run, and card design. And Battle Partners is a set that certainly doesn't leave us high and dry in terms of design. It has attracted particular attention precisely for its special illustrations and themed cards depicting iconic and beloved characters.
Among the most precious and sought-after "goodies" of Battle Partners we certainly find:
- Clefairy by Lylia ex (126/100): Card that has already reached a value of over €300 to date.
- Bellibolt by Kissara ex (125/100)
- Zoroark by N ex (127/100): These last two both have an average value well above €100.
These cards have high values precisely because:
- They are linked to particularly beloved characters (Lylia, Kissara, N)
- They have exclusive and detailed artwork
- They are hard to find in packs, making them investment items.
The set follows the structure of the latest Japanese expansions, with a fairly standard rarity distribution:
- Common (C) and Uncommon (U) → Base cards
- Rare (R) and Double Rare (RR) → Pokémon-ex, usually playable but not rare
- Super Rare (SR) and Ultra Rare (UR) → Alternate versions of Pokémon-ex or Trainers
- Special Art Rare (SAR) → The most sought-after cards, with unique artwork
- Hyper Rare (HR) → Rainbow or Golden variants
SAR and UR are extremely hard to find, with an estimated ratio of 1 in 3-4 boxes for a particularly rare card, so if you intend to collect the whole set, be prepared to invest quite a bit because opening booster boxes is a gamble, while buying individual cards may be more cost-effective.
📌 Market Forecast : The value of the cards will almost certainly increase over time, but everything will also depend on future reprints and the evolution of the metagame.
Let's talk about the playability of the cards instead, because in addition to their collectible value, many Battle Partners cards offer truly innovative and powerful game mechanics.
Those with the greatest competitive impact are certainly:
- Zoroark from N ex : offers flexible strategies in darkness-based decks, has an ability that allows you to draw and discard cards (useful for aggressive decks), has good synergy with cards that exploit the discard pile.
- Kissara's Bellibolt ex : Has good synergy in decks with control strategies, its attack increases in damage if the opponent has few prizes remaining.
- Zacian from Hop ex : Tank Pokémon with good stamina and a powerful attack, perfect for decks with a defensive setup.
- Lylia's Strategy : Allows you to draw more cards in critical situations.
- Destruction of N : Reduces the opponent's hand.
Some cards will be strong in the metagame but their true value will depend on how they are integrated into current decks.
Let's sum it up:
- For collectors: a must-have set if you love exclusive artwork and want to own cards related to N, Lylia, and Kissara.
- For investors: Some cards may increase in value, but the risk is related to future reprints.
- For competitive players: Some cards can improve existing decks, but not all of them will have a lasting impact on the meta.
Battle Partners is an interesting set for those who love Pokémon and the TCG, but the purchase should be weighed based on your needs (collection, gaming or investment).
And what do you think? Have you already purchased some booster boxes or bet on some single cards? Let us know in the comments! And if you want to stay updated on Pokémon TCG and collecting, follow us on social media and subscribe to the blog newsletter!