How to Identify Salamence ex Counterfeit Cards for Collectors

In TCG ·

Salamence ex from Journey Together SV09 holo card art by 5ban Graphics

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Spotting Fake Salamence ex: A Collector’s Guide to Counterfeit Cards in a World of High-Tech Hobby

Salamence ex has long stood as a dazzling centerpiece for Dragon-type decks and a coveted piece for serious collectors. When you’re combing through a stack of “Journey Together” SV09 cards, a counterfeit can feel convincing enough to fool a quick glance. But with the right eye for detail—and a little patience—you can separate genuine magic from shiny mimicry. This guide dives into how to identify authentic Salamence ex and why certain telltale signs matter more than you might expect ⚡🔥.

What an authentic Salamence ex from Journey Together looks like

Authenticity starts with the card’s core data and presentation. The Salamence ex you’re analyzing is a Dragon-type, Stage 2 Ultra Rare card with a lofty 320 HP. It’s printed in holo variant among the Journey Together set (SV09), with the illustrator credited to 5ban Graphics. The card’s official print run for the set sits at 159, while the local print index on this specimen is noted as 177—subtle, but important for cross-checks when you’re comparing multiple copies from different printings. The card comes with two core attacks: Wide Blast and Dragon Impact.

  • Wide Blast — Cost: Fire, Colorless, Colorless. Effect: This attack hits 50 damage to each of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon. Important nuance: Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.
  • Dragon Impact — Cost: Fire, Water, Colorless, Colorless. Effect: Deal 300 damage, then you must discard 2 Energy from Salamence ex.

Additionally, Salamence ex bears a Retreat Cost of 2 and a Regulation Mark of I, signaling its legality across Standard and Expanded formats as of the latest update. The fresh, modern-looking holo artwork is a hallmark of 5ban Graphics’ style, and the card's overall finish should feel crisp and aligned with other Journey Together prints. The card’s display panel should clearly show its rarity as “Ultra Rare,” a marker that fakers often misrepresent or misprint on counterfeit stock. The official holos in this set are typically vibrant with consistent foiling across the surface, not a patchy or uneven shimmer.

For price awareness, reliable market data from CardMarket shows a current average around €0.68 with subtle upward drift, and a low around €0.10. While price alone isn’t proof of authenticity, it can help you spot suspiciously cheap reprints that lack the expected surface quality, typography fidelity, and correct holo pattern of a Journey Together card.

Red flags to watch for when you suspect a fake

  • Counterfeits often skimp on letter spacing, font weight, or line breaks. Compare the exact wording of the attack effects—“This attack does 50 damage to each of your opponent's Benched Pokémon. (Don't apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.)” vs. a slightly altered version. Even tiny punctuation changes can be a giveaway.
  • HP, retreat, and energy costs: A Salamence ex with either incorrect HP (not hitting 320) or an unusual retreat cost (different from 2) should raise suspicion, as these values are consistently reproduced in authentic prints.
  • set symbol and regulation mark: The Journey Together SV09 symbol should be crisp and correctly colored. The regulation mark “I” must appear cleanly as a single glyph (not a smudged or re-printed look).
  • illustration and border quality: The holo finish should exhibit even foil across the card, with clear, stable borders and legible text. Fakes often show jagged foil patches, misregistered borders, or blurred imagery.
  • illusor credit and card back: The card back should match the official TCG design; verify that the illustration credit lists 5ban Graphics and that there’s no misspelling or alternate credit that doesn’t align with Journey Together releases.
  • local vs official indexing: If you’re comparing multiple Salamence ex cards, note the localId (177 in this specimen) relative to the set’s official cardCount (159). Mismatches between local indexing and official counts are a classic sign of counterfeit distribution schemes.
  • foil layer consistency: Some counterfeit cards try to replicate holo by layering foils, but the texture and depth will feel off to a seasoned eye—lift the card to inspect how light interacts with the surface; authentic holo foils respond with consistent, multi-directional sheen.

Beyond pure visuals, the story behind the card matters. Journey Together is a modern set with a distinct design language, and authentic Salamence ex cards should align with that aesthetic: a clean die-cut, exact typography, and a holo pattern that matches other SV09 holo cards. If a card looks good at first glance but doesn’t “feel” right in hand, it’s worth a second, more purposeful look or a comparison with a verified reference.

Practical steps for a hands-on authenticity check

  • Compare the card to a verified Salamence ex image from TCGdex or the official set gallery. Look for exact matches in the attack names, effects, and the order of information on the card text.
  • Inspect the holo presence and alignment under bright light. Genuine Journey Together holos have a consistent, fine-grained texture, never blotchy patches or oversized specks.
  • Check the regulation mark and the set symbol—these two tiny icons carry a lot of weight. If either is off or miscolored, treat the card as suspect.
  • Cross-check pricing and availability on trusted marketplaces. An alarmingly low price, especially for a coveted Ultra Rare with a 320 HP statline, can be a red flag that prompts closer scrutiny.
  • When in doubt, request more high-resolution photos of the front and back, then contrast them with official references. A quick live video or a second copy from a different seller can save you from a costly mistake.
“In the world of high-value TCG collectibles, diligence is your best armor. A well-printed Salamence ex should feel sturdy, and the details should sing in harmony with the Journey Together set as a whole.” — A seasoned Dragon-type collector 🔥

Market context: value, rarity, and how fakes impact collectors

Ultra Rare Salamence ex from Journey Together remains a aspirational target for many collectors. While market data from CardMarket shows a stable baseline around €0.68 with occasional upticks, counterfeiters attempt to ride the wave of demand with lower-quality prints. For collectors, authenticity translates into long-term value—especially when a card like this supports both competitive play viability and display-worthy art. The illustration by 5ban Graphics is a key attribute that many fans will recognize as a hallmark of quality, and it’s a clue you can rely on when evaluating secondhand cards.

For those safeguarding a collection, consider pairing your Salamence ex with sturdy protection. A reliable, clear silicone phone case—like the one offered here—can help you transport and display your prized assets safely while you hunt for authentic pieces. The design is slim and durable, with an open-port layout suitable for everyday use, and it’s a reminder that care for your gear is part of the collector’s discipline ⚡🎴.

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