Torrentgame – The Pokémon Trading Card Game has recently unveiled new cards for the upcoming Journey Together set, and among the surprises is a seemingly unremarkable trainer, Hop, who now wields powerful new cards. Set to launch in 2025, the new Journey Together expansion will resurrect the Trainer’s Pokémon cards, a nostalgic feature from the early days of the game. These cards feature Pokémon closely linked to specific trainers, gaining unique synergies and abilities that enhance their power. Originally, the Trainer’s Pokémon cards were limited to Kanto gym leaders and Team Rocket, but the new sets will bring in trainers from more recent Pokémon games.
In the latest reveal from the Japanese Battle Partners set, which will be released internationally as Journey Together, fans were shown a fresh batch of cards. As highlighted by PokeBeach, one of the major surprises is the appearance of Hop’s Pokémon. Known as the main rival from Pokémon Sword and Shield, Hop’s Pokémon include the Legendary Zacian, as well as Dubwool, Snorlax, and Cramorant—each benefiting from powerful synergies that enhance their damage output. These synergies result in cards that can hit remarkably hard, capable of one-shotting many of the top-tier Pokémon in the current TCG meta.
Why Hop’s Pokémon Are So Powerful in the Pokémon TCG
At first glance, Hop’s Pokémon may not seem particularly impressive, but the hidden power in his cards comes from multiple synergies that can amplify their strength. For instance, Hop’s Snorlax has an ability that boosts all of his other Pokémon’s attacks, creating a snowball effect that makes the team incredibly potent. Furthermore, the Postwick Stadium card boosts Hop’s Pokémon by adding 30 extra damage to their attacks. On top of that, Hop’s Choice Band item card further boosts one Pokémon’s attacks and reduces energy costs for their moves by one.
These boosts can stack, allowing players to significantly increase their Pokémon’s damage output and lower their energy costs. As a result, Hop’s Cramorant can dish out a hefty 210 damage with no energy cost, while Hop’s Zacian ex can deal a massive 330 damage for only 3 Metal energy. Hop’s Zacian also serves as an excellent counter to Budew, a popular Pokémon in new decks that many players are eager to counter.
Our Take: Hop’s Pokémon Are Surprisingly Strong, But He’s Still a Bit Annoying
Including Hop as a featured trainer in this set might seem odd to some fans. Characters like Lillie, N, and Iono have all become fan favorites, but Hop has often been seen as an annoying character who’s always lagging behind the player in Pokémon Sword and Shield. His constant presence as the rival who never quite matches up was part of his charm (or frustration) in the games.
However, the power of Hop’s synergies in the new set cannot be ignored. While his inclusion was likely a way to bring in Zacian, the Legendary Pokémon, it’s clear that Hop’s cards have become incredibly powerful, and his synergies will make him a key player in the meta. Expect to see a few decks featuring Hop’s Pokémon next year, as his unique abilities could make him a force to be reckoned with, even if he’s still a bit of an annoying rival in the Pokémon universe.
