Volcanion ex
Quick take
- The most affordable SIR in Journey Together at approximately $20
- Volcanion is a Fire/Water Mythical Pokemon from Generation VI
- Pure Pokemon card without a Trainer pairing
- Featured in Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel (2016), giving it story context
Collector's readWhat it means for your master set
Set landscapeWhere this card sits in Journey Together
VariantsCard variants
Holofoil 182/159 · $14.62 — the only variant this card was printed in (no reverse holo or special pattern), so a master set needs just this one copy.
The storyThe Accessible SIR
Journey Together's SIR lineup is anchored at the top by Trainer character cards, and the Pokemon-only SIRs occupy the lower price tiers. Volcanion ex is the most affordable entry in the set's SIR category, sitting around $20. That pricing makes it a realistic purchase rather than a chase target, which gives it a different kind of collector appeal.
“The most affordable SIR in Journey Together at approximately $20”
Volcanion is unusual in the Pokemon franchise. Fire/Water is an impossible typing for most Pokemon — water evaporates before fire, fundamentally. Volcanion's lore resolves this by having it use steam rather than water directly, which is inventive worldbuilding. Collectors who notice details like that remember it.
The card was also the focus of a 2016 Pokemon film, Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel, which introduced it alongside Magearna. That gave it a story context that pure Mythicals sometimes lack, and the film's fanbase carries into interest in the card.
By the numbersMarket analysis
The entry-tier SIR in Journey Together. Priced accessibly enough that collectors building the set's SIR collection can reach it without the same investment as the Trainer character cards.
At $20, Volcanion ex is already close to where Mythical Pokemon SIRs typically stabilize. Less room for price correction than higher-priced cards. Expect relatively stable pricing compared to the top of the set.
Lower price floor means less downside risk. Mythical Pokemon SIRs don't typically drop significantly below their initial stabilization point. The card serves more as a collection completion piece than a speculative target.
PSA 10 and CGC 10 copies typically reach 1.5 to 2x raw value. At a $20 raw price, a $30-$40 graded copy makes submission economics challenging. Grading primarily makes sense for personal collection prestige rather than financial return at this price.
Special Illustration Rares appear roughly once every 36 packs. Journey Together has multiple SIRs, reducing the specific odds of pulling Volcanion ex.
The lowest-priced SIR in Journey Together by a meaningful margin. Collector demand for Volcanion is stable but doesn't match the character-driven demand for Trainer SIRs or pseudo-legendary Pokemon like Salamence.
ArtworkWhy the art matters
Ryuta Fuse works in a painterly style with strong atmosphere. The illustrations tend toward dramatic, character-focused compositions with detailed environments.
The artwork shows Volcanion in a steam-filled environment that highlights its signature mechanic. The arms — large metallic rings that can release steam — are prominent. The Fire/Water duality is visible in the color palette, with warm fire tones and cooler steam effects coexisting. The Mythical Pokemon looks powerful in its natural element.
The steam and fire effects work well with the SIR holofoil treatment, adding shimmer to the steam clouds and fire elements when the card is tilted. The color contrast between warm and cool tones makes the card visually interesting from multiple angles.
Volcanion's design is inherently interesting to look at — the contradictory typing is visually expressed in the artwork rather than just stated in the typing line. The steam-and-fire composition gives collectors something to look at beyond a standard Pokemon-standing-there pose.
BackgroundAbout Volcanion ex
Volcanion was the last Mythical Pokemon of Generation VI, distributed via event codes in 2016. It was the only Pokemon to have both the Fire and Water types simultaneously, which required specific lore justification — its large arms can absorb water and convert it to steam, which it then expels with tremendous force. The 2016 film expanded on this concept.
- ›Fire/Water dual typing is genuinely unique — no other Pokemon has this combination
- ›Event-exclusive distribution created collector memory around obtaining it
- ›The 2016 film gave it a proper story arc rather than just existing as a Mythical
- ›Steam mechanic is clearly expressed in its design and lore
- ›Mythical designation makes it feel exclusive even after wide distribution
- ›Pokemon X and Y via event distribution in 2016
- ›Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel (2016) — featured prominently as the film's main Pokemon
- ›Pokemon GO raids in later events
- ›Regular appearances in TCG sets since Generation VI
Volcanion saw competitive use as a Rain team asset due to Steam Eruption in earlier formats. In the TCG, the ex version has competitive applications in current Standard format Fire-type strategies.
Own it wellCollector guide
The warm color palette and steam effects mean print defects may be less visible on this card than on lighter artwork. Still worth inspecting centering and edges before storing.
At $20 raw, grading for financial return is not practical — submission costs eat the potential upside. Grade this card only if you're building a graded complete SIR set from Journey Together for personal collection purposes. Read the grading guide →
Perfect fit sleeve into a toploader or semi-rigid binder page. At this price point, standard binder storage is reasonable if the card is properly sleeved. See the storage guide →
At $20, Volcanion ex is accessible on TCGPlayer and eBay with minimal price variance between sellers. No need to hunt for bargains — the pricing is already at an accessible level. Buy from reputable sellers and verify condition from photos. See the singles buying guide →
Protect your card
High Chase Score — protect and consider grading. · Amazon affiliate links · Storage guideWord on the streetCommunity sentiment
Accepted as the budget entry point for Journey Together's SIR set. Volcanion collectors appreciated the full-art treatment. Pack openers who pull this card are happy to have a complete set piece without the chase-card pressure.
Discussion around Volcanion ex focuses on its role as the affordable SIR in Journey Together. Collectors building complete sets mention it as a reasonable completion purchase. The Mythical Pokemon fanbase maintains steady interest without the peaks of Trainer character cards.
Good to knowFrequently asked questions
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