Since the release of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: 151, the Pokémon TCG has done a great job of tapping into a rich vein of nostalgia for older fans. We’ve also seen the return of TCG-specific elements, such as ACE SPEC cards, and Owner’s Pokémon too. The Glory of Team Rocket is a set which is hugely nostalgic, bringing back the villainous, eponymous organization, and continues to widen the availability of special Owner’s Pokémon in the modern game. Now that the set is available in Japan (due to be released in English as Destined Rivals on May 30th, 2025), what cards are fans most keen to get their hands on? Let’s find out!

10. Team Rocket’s Crobat ex – Double Rare, 131/098

First up on our list is Team Rocket’s Crobat ex. Though you’ll first need Team Rocket’s Golbat to evolve to Team Rocket’s Crobat ex (and, in turn, the Stage 1 Team Rocket’s Golbat will specifically need to be evolved from Team Rocket’s Zubat), it’s definitely worth the extra hassle. Its ability allows you to place 2 damage counters on 2 of your opponent’s Pokémon when the Team Rocket’s Crobat ex is used to evolve a Team Rocket’s Golbat ex.

Its single attack makes good use of this ability too; dealing 120 damage at the cost of 2 Darkness Energy, you can also return Team Rocket’s Crobat ex to your hand to evolve it once more, keeping that ability in use over and over again!

9. Team Rocket’s Meowth – Art Rare, 109/098

With trainer Giovanni looking approvingly on from the corner, Team Rocket’s Meowth is shown looking quite sleepy on this card’s art. However, this Pokémon’s attacks are anything but sleepy! Its first attack allows its player to choose a card at random from the opponent’s hand, which must be shuffld into their deck (and this only costs 1 Colorless Energy to use!). Secondly, its 2 Colorless Energy-cost attack deals 20 damage for each heads that results from 3 coin flips.

8. Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex – Super Rare, 114/098

Since the very first Pokémon game on the Nintendo Game Boy (not to mention the first ever Pokémon animated movie!), Mewtwo has been one of the most popular Pokémon; at least for those players who like their pocket monsters to be on the dark side! Though this one does come with a caveat (its ability stops it from attacking unless you have 4 or more Team Rocket’s Pokémon in play on your side), its 2 Psychic, 1 Colorless Energy attack is pretty effective when you can use it. It deals 160 damage, plus a further 60 damage per Energy card discarded from your Benched Pokémon.

Though this is also restricted, given that you can discard a maximum of 2 Energy from your Benched Pokémon, that’s an extra 120 damage, for 280 in total, that Mewtwo ex can deal per turn. Given that Mewtwo is also a Basic Pokémon, you won’t be waiting around to evolve it either!

7. Team Rocket’s Ariana – Special Art Rare, 128/098

Full art Supporter cards are always highly sought after, so it’s no surprise to see this fantastic Team Rocket’s Ariana card in this list. It has a pretty cool and thematic effect; when played, you can draw until you have 5 cards in your hand, but if all of your Pokémon in play are Team Rocket’s Pokémon, you can draw until you have 8 cards instead!

6. Team Rocket’s Giovanni – Special Art Rare, 129/098

Though infamous Pokémon Trainer Giovanni is at the forefront of this card, it also features Archer, Ariana, Petrel and Proton, all of whom appear on their own cards in The Glory of Team Rocket. This particular version of Giovanni allows you to switch your Active Team Rocket’s Pokémon with a Team Rocket Pokémon from your Bench, and then allows you to switch 1 of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon with their Active Pokémon too.

5. Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex – Ultra Rare, 130/098

Yes, it’s Mewtwo again, and another card featuring Giovanni! We’ve already seen what this Mewtwo ex can do, but this time it’s the gold, Ultra Rare variant of the card. These are known as Hyper Rare cards in English Pokémon sets.

4. Team Rocket’s Nidoking ex – Special Art Rare, 126/098

Another highly regarded Pokémon from the original selection of 151 (found in the very first Pokémon video games), Nidoking has always been a personal favorite of mine, particularly as his cards tend to punch above their weight.

Team Rocket’s Nidoking ex is no exception, with its first attack (costing 2 Darkness and 1 Colorless Energy) not just dealing 100 damage, but poisoning the opposing Active Pokémon too. To add to that, instead of adding a single Poison Counter during Pokémon Checkup, the Poisoned Pokémon must add a huge 8 Poison Counters instead.

For the cost of 3 Darkness and 1 Colorless Energy, Team Rocket’s Nidoking ex can use a no-nonsense, straightforward attack which deals 240 damage, with no further effects. Though you’ll specifically need Team Rocket’s Nidorino to evolve into Team Rocket’s Nidoking ex, I think you can see it’s definitely worth doing!

3. Team Rocket’s Crobat ex – Special Art Rare, 127/098

Just like Mewtwo ex, Team Rocket’s Crobat ex is another card we’ve already seen before, but this time it’s the Special Art Rare variant of the card. Somewhat hidden in the background is the nefarious Proton, unleashing not just Golbat ex, but a whole flock of bat Pokémon, at varying stages of evolution!

2. Team Rocket’s Moltres ex – Special Art Rare, 124/098

We’ve already spoken about the power of nostalgia when it comes to Pokémon cards, and going back to the original 151 Pokémon really draws that out! Moltres is one of the original Legendary Pokémon from the first ever video games (along with Articuno and Zapdos).

For the cost of 1 Fire Energy and 2 Colorless, Moltres can deal 110 damage, and also takes 50 less damage itself on the turn following the use of this attack. Then it has a further attack, costing 1 Fire and 3 Colorless Energy, which works only if you discard a Team Rocket’s Energy card from Moltres; if you do so, your opponent’s Active Pokémon is immediately discarded, along with all attached cards. Pretty powerful, right?

1. Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex – Special Art Rare, 125/098

Finally, it’s back to Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex, which really speaks to the popularity of this particularly powerful Pokémon. On this Special Art Rare card, we can see the dastardly Giovanni glancing menacingly out of shot, whith Mewtwo itself looking very ready for battle. It’s a gorgeous illustration with a very atmospheric color scheme, and it’s no surprise to see it at the top of the list of the most wanted cards from The Glory of Team Rocket!

Check out the full list of cards from The Glory of Team Rocket, and take a look at our current view of Pokémon’s meta, following the English language release of Journey Together!