Hey, Pokémon TCG fans! The Pokémon Company just pulled back the curtain on The Glory of Team Rocket, the next big set hitting Japan, and it’s all about those iconic bad guys. Dropping April 18, 2025, this set’s got Team Rocket front and center, and Shoaib, your cutitoy.com readers are gonna flip for this—let’s break it down!
The Set: 98 Cards of Rocket Mayhem
The Glory of Team Rocket is locked in with 98 standard cards, though the full count—secret rares and all—is still under wraps. It’s the third Japanese set in a row to spotlight Trainer’s Pokémon, following Battle Partners (which became Journey Together in English) and Heat Wave Arena. This time, it’s all Team Rocket’s turf—think “Rocket’s Pokémon” and “Giovanni’s Pokémon” stealing the show. For English players, mark your calendars: these cards will roll into the Destined Rivals set on May 30, 2025, mashed up with Heat Wave Arena goodies.
First cards revealed? Feast your eyes on Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex and Giovanni’s Meowth ex. Mewtwo’s a beast at 280 HP—huge for a Basic—but it’s got a catch: no attacking unless four Team Rocket Pokémon are in play. Meowth’s a sneaky opener, evolving into a Persian ex that’s already got collectors drooling. Posts on X (like @pokebeach’s March 20 drop) are hyping these up, and the pack art—Giovanni, Arbok, Mewtwo—screams nostalgia.
Merch Madness Incoming
It’s not just cards—The Pokémon Company’s going all-in with Team Rocket merch hitting Japan’s Pokémon Centers on April 18. We’re talking a slick attaché case (¥14,900, 30 boosters included), clothing (socks, sweatpants, a tie—executive vibes!), a shoulder bag, a mug, even a ¥22,000 storage box. Posts on X from @PokeGuardian and @PLDHnet show the hype’s real, but no word yet on if this haul crosses to global Pokémon Center stores. Collectors, start saving—those briefcases are fire!
Why It’s a Big Deal
This is Team Rocket’s third TCG spotlight in Japan—first in 2000, then Team Rocket Returns in 2004—and it’s been 20 years since their last big run. The Glory of Team Rocket leans hard into their villainous legacy, with mechanics teasing Rocket-only synergies (think Team Rocket’s Energy or Giovanni support cards). For players, Mewtwo’s a meta wildcard; for collectors, those alt-art chases (like Meowth’s chibi-style AR) are gonna be gold. Shoaib, tell your crew to snag Destined Rivals pre-orders—this could rival Prismatic Evolutions for hype.
What’s your play? Grabbing that Mewtwo ex for your deck, or hunting the merch? Let’s hear it—this Rocket revival’s blasting off!
