The Glory of Team Rocket

After months of anticipation, Japan’s The Glory of Team Rocket set has finally been revealed in all its villainous splendor! Set to release on April 18th, this collection brings Team Rocket back to the TCG spotlight with an impressive array of powerful cards and nostalgic callbacks.

Team Rocket’s Pokémon: A New Villainous Strategy

The set introduces a cohesive Team Rocket strategy, with every Rocket Pokémon sharing the “Team Rocket’s” naming convention. As predicted in our earlier coverage, these cards showcase different Team Rocket executives as their trainers, including Giovanni, Proton, Ariana, and Archer, while all sharing the iconic “R” symbol that unifies the Team Rocket archetype.

The Glory of Team Rocket will contain 98 cards in its main set, with the total likely reaching approximately 130 cards after secret rares. This extensive collection will provide players with numerous options to build competitive Team Rocket decks.

The trademark for this set was discovered a remarkable nine months ago in June 2024, indicating just how long The Pokémon Company has been planning this villainous revival.

Team Rocket’s Powerful Support Cards

A key feature of this set is the powerful support cards designed specifically for Team Rocket decks. Team Rocket’s Energy provides double energy of Psychic and Dark types, while Supporters like Ariana allow drawing up to 8 cards when using a full Team Rocket lineup. These synergistic effects create a cohesive and powerful archetype for competitive play.

Western players won’t have to wait long to get their hands on these cards, as they’ll be included in the English Destined Rivals set releasing on May 30th.

Notable Cards and Key Mechanics

The set’s marquee card is undoubtedly Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex, featuring a powerful 280 HP and a devastating Deletion Sphere attack that can deal up to 280 damage. Its Power Saver ability requires having 4 Team Rocket’s Pokémon in play to attack, encouraging dedicated Team Rocket builds.

Other standout cards include:

• Team Rocket’s Persian ex – Can copy attacks from your opponent’s deck with its Haughty Orders attack
• Team Rocket’s Porygon-Z – Features a card draw ability and attack that scales with Team Rocket Supporters
• Team Rocket’s Spidops – Energy acceleration and damage multiplier based on Team Rocket Pokémon
• Team Rocket’s Receiver – Item card that searches for Team Rocket Supporters

Update (Friday): While TPCi would normally have revealed Destined Rivals by now, it appears they prioritized the announcement of Pocket’s Shiny Revelry set due to its imminent March 27th release. Expect the official Destined Rivals reveal next week!

Special thanks to Toine L. and JustInBasil for providing accurate translations of these exciting new cards.

Team Rocket Merchandise

In addition to the card set, over 20 Team Rocket-themed accessories and apparel will release alongside the set at Pokémon Centers across Japan. These collector items are sure to be popular among fans of the iconic villains.

Team Rocket’s TCG Legacy

This 2025 release marks the latest chapter in Team Rocket’s long history within the Pokémon TCG. The villainous team has been featured in several iconic sets throughout the years:

The original Team Rocket set in 2000 introduced Dark Pokémon—corrupted versions with lower HP but higher attack power. Gym Heroes and Gym Challenge followed with the first Owner’s Pokémon. Neo Destiny (2002) brought back Dark Pokémon alongside Light Pokémon, and 2006’s EX Team Rocket Returns combined both Dark Pokémon and Rocket’s Pokémon in one cohesive set.

While Dark Pokémon aren’t returning in this 2025 set, the Owner’s Pokémon mechanic proves to be a more versatile approach, allowing The Pokémon Company to feature trainers and Pokémon from every generation. This explains why The Glory of Team Rocket focuses exclusively on the “Team Rocket’s” naming convention rather than reintroducing Dark Pokémon, which were conceptually limited to the first two generations.

Are you excited for Team Rocket’s triumphant return to the Pokémon TCG? Which cards are you most looking forward to adding to your collection? Let us know in the comments below!