Battle Partners Pull Rates & Best Cards (SV9)

Top 10 Most Valuable Battle Partners Cards

Lillie's Clefairy ex SAR leads the set by a massive margin, and four of the top five cards are Trainer's Pokémon — confirming that character association drives value in this set.

Prices as of March 2026. Sources: SNKRDUNK, Mercari completed sales.

#1 Lillie's Clefairy ex SAR — ¥28,000 (~$190)

Lillie's Clefairy ex SAR is the undisputed chase card of SV9 and one of the most sought-after SARs in the entire Scarlet & Violet series. At ¥28,000 (~$190), it holds its value firmly even fourteen months after release.

The art features Lillie — consistently one of the most popular Pokémon characters across all media — alongside Clefairy in a Special Art Rare treatment that highlights their bond as battle partners. Lillie's popularity as a character from Sun & Moon, combined with the emotional resonance of the Trainer's Pokémon mechanic, creates a level of demand that keeps this card's floor high.

For PSA 10 graded copies, expect to pay ¥40,000-45,000 (~$270-$306). The centering on JPN prints tends to be better than ENG equivalents, so PSA 10 hit rates are relatively favorable.

#2 Iono's Bellibolt ex SAR — ¥14,000 (~$95)

Iono's Bellibolt ex SAR holds the second spot at exactly half the Lillie chase card's price. Iono is arguably the breakout character of Scarlet & Violet — her SARs across multiple sets consistently command premiums, and Battle Partners is no exception.

The card showcases Iono with Bellibolt in her signature energetic style. Collectors who already own Iono's SAR from other SV sets often chase this version to complete their Iono collection, creating consistent secondary market demand. At ¥14,000, this card sits in a price range that is accessible enough for most collectors while still holding meaningful value.

#3 N's Zoroark ex SAR — ¥8,300 (~$56)

N's Zoroark ex SAR rounds out the top three at ¥8,300 (~$56). N is one of the most beloved characters from Black & White, and pairing him with Zoroark — the Pokémon most associated with his story arc — gives this card strong narrative appeal.

This card also has a unique connection to the set's most famous collectible: the N's Zoroark ex UR error card (covered in detail below). Collectors hunting the error variant often pick up the SAR version alongside it, which supports steady demand.

Cards #4–#10

Pull Rates — What's in Your Box?

SV9 follows the standard Scarlet & Violet expansion pull rate structure: guaranteed hits in every box, with SAR and UR pulls requiring luck or volume.

Guaranteed Hits Per Box

Every SV9 box (30 packs) includes:

Your floor value from guaranteed pulls alone is approximately ¥2,450 (~$17) per box. Every box delivers at least this baseline.

Probability-Based Pulls

The high-value pulls — SARs and URs — are probability-based:

These rates are estimated from Japanese community opening data and are not officially confirmed by The Pokémon Company. Actual results vary.

To put this in perspective: if you open 6 boxes, you can expect roughly 1 SAR. That SAR could be the ¥28,000 Lillie's Clefairy ex or the ¥3,500 Hop's Zacian ex — the variance is significant. Opening 12+ boxes gives you a reasonable shot at both a SAR and a UR.

Should You Buy Battle Partners?

Battle Partners is a strong pickup for character-driven collectors, a hold-and-monitor situation for investors, and a viable alternative to Journey Together for anyone who values JPN print quality.

For Collectors

Salamence ex SAR

Hop's Zacian ex SAR

Iono's Bellibolt ex UR

If you collect Lillie, Iono, or N cards, this box is essential. The SAR lineup is character-heavy, meaning every high-end pull connects to a trainer you care about. At ¥9,000 (~$61) per box, one to two boxes give you a solid opening session with guaranteed ARs and a real chance at a SAR.

The Trainer's Pokémon mechanic adds a layer of collectibility that standard sets lack. Cards with trainer names in the title tend to hold value better than generic Pokémon cards because character fans are less price-sensitive.

For Investors

The set has settled into a stable price range after 14 months on the market. The initial launch premium has fully corrected, and current prices reflect sustained demand rather than hype.

Key signals to monitor:

• Lillie's Clefairy ex SAR at ¥28,000 has shown minimal movement — this suggests a genuine price floor
• First-print boxes with error card potential command a premium that could expand as supply decreases
• The ENG release (Journey Together) did not significantly impact JPN card prices, confirming the JPN premium is structural

JPN Box vs Journey Together (ENG)

The JPN box costs roughly half the ENG box price while the cards inside trade at a 15-40% premium. For collectors who want the best value per dollar — and access to the error card possibility — the JPN box is the clear winner.

Where to Buy Battle Partners

At Samurai Sword INC, we ship sealed Battle Partners boxes directly from Japan with tracked shipping. Every box comes with a serial number — if a box shows signs of search or reseal, we trace it back to the source and ban that supplier. Our team inspects every box before shipping to ensure you receive a genuine, untampered product.

Other options for purchasing JPN sealed boxes:

For a deeper comparison of JPN card purchasing options, see our guide on how to buy Japanese Pokemon cards from Japan. If you are concerned about counterfeits, check how to spot fake Japanese Pokemon cards.

View complete Battle Partners card list →

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