Hi there. Here are the rest of the Team Rocket Cards from Japan. The Glory of Team Rocket set is to be released on April 18, 2025. Team Rocket cards plus Heat Wave Arena cards release in English and internationally in Destined Rivals. Destined Rivals releases in late May 2025.
Smoliv & Dolliv
Smolive and Dolliv individually are not great attackers but are needed in order to evolve into...
Arboliva ex
It is about time we get an Arboliva ex. This one is a Stage 2 310 HP Pokemon with 2 retreat cost and Fire weakness.
The first attack of Oil Machine Gun costs one Grass Energy. It is a damage spread attack where you choose 1 of your opponent's Pokemon 6 times and do 20 damage to it. In theory you can get multiple knockouts with this attack.
The Aroma Shot attack for 3 Colourless Energy does 160 damage plus recovering from Special Conditions.
On its own Arboliva ex seems not so good. Combos have to be explored that would go well with Oil Machine Gun damage spread attack.
Team Rocket's Chingling
Team Rocket's Chingling is one another 30 HP Basic Pokemon with free retreat. The Ringing Noise free attack allows you to discard one random card from your opponent's hand. This may see competitive play, not sure.
Team Rocket's Mimikyu
Team Rocket's Mimikyu is one of those punish attacker cards against a certain archetype. The Gem Mimickry for one Psychic Energy and one Colourless Energy allows you to copy an attack from the opponent's Terrastralized Pokemon and use that attack as an effect. Popular Terastralized Pokemon in the format are Dragapult ex, Charizard ex (not as popular in 2025 but still used), Teal Mask Ogerpon ex and Cornerstone Ogerpon ex.
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This Mimikyu becomes useful if your opponent plays Dragapult ex or a Tera Pokemon with a good attack. It is useless if the opponent does not use Tera Pokemon. It is a gamble to put 1 copy of this in your deck.
Note that this Mimikyu has a zero retreat cost.
Team Rocket's Ekans & Arbok
Ekans and Arbok have been iconic "evil" Pokemon in the anime and in the video games. Ekans and Arbok were famous Pokemon with Jessie from Team Rockets in the early seasons of the Pokemon Anime.
The Team Rocket's Ekans is not great but the Arbok's ability is something that may be used. The Intimidating Glare ability only works if the Team Rocket's Arbok is in the Active Spot. Once in effect the ability does not allow your opponent to play any Pokemon cards with Abilities from their hand.
The Spinning Tail attack has good damage spread at 30 damage to each Benched Pokemon but the attack cost is too high.
Team Rocket's Nidorina
I don't cover the Team Rocket's Nidoran F card. It is not a great Basic Pokemon attacker.
Team Rocket's Nidorina is kind of interesting because of its first attack. The Dark Awakening attack has an evolution effect for up to 2 Dark Pokemon. For each of the chosen Pokemon find a Pokemon that evolves from that chosen Pokemon and put that Evolution Pokemon to evolve it.
Team Rocket's Nidoqueen
Nidoqueen cards typically have attacks that are reliant on Nidokings in play. This one is not different.
Team Rocket's Nidoqueen's second attack is generic but the first attack can do 180 damage if any of your Benched Pokemon has Nidoking in its name.
Overall this Nidoqueen is not a great attacker. Too much work for little damage.
Team Rocket's Nidoking ex
I don't cover Team Rocket's Nidoran M or Nidorino as nothing stands out from them.
Here is Team Rocket's Nidoking ex. The second attack is not good, don't use it. The first attack of Dirty Horns requires 2 Dark Energy and one Colourless Energy to deal 100 damage plus a special Poison. Normal Poison deals 10 damage in between turns (Pokemon Checkup) but this Special Poison effect from this attack deals 8 damage counters instead of 1 in between turns.
Add a Perilous Jungle Stadium to add 2 more Poison damage. This goes up to 100 Poison damage between turns.
As of late the card designers are really trying to make Poison not useless in the competitive metagame.
Team Rocket's Intruder Robot
This item card is one of those information gain cards. It is kind of interesting as this effect is unique.
Choose 1 of your opponent's face-down Prize Cards and a random card from the opponent's hand. Your opponent reveals those cards. Then you may have your opponent switch those reveal cards. The reveal card in the Prize cards stays face up for the rest of the game.
You get information gain from this Intruder Robot card plus a potential card denial. If you know your opponent plays 1 copy of a certain card then you can choose to have your opponent put a certain card into their Prize cards or in their hand.
As this is a gamble type of card, decks may try 1 copy of this card. Will this be good? I don't know.
Team Rocket's Watchtower
Team Rocket's Watchtower is a disruptive Stadium card that cancels out abilities on Colourless Pokemon for both players. This Stadium can be used in any deck (not just Team Rocket decks).
What cards are affected by this Stadium?
- Noctowl
- Fan Rotom
- Bouffalant
- Dudunsparce
- Pidgeot ex
- Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex
- Ditto
- Dodrio (Not used much)
- Blissey ex
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I do expect to see this card being played as a counter to decks that rely on Noctowl, Fan Rotom, Dudunsparce and/or Ditto. Not every deck will play this, some will.
Team Rocket's Factory
I think this Team Rocket's Factory stadium is kind of busted. Whenever a player has played a Team Rocket Supporter card from their hand you may use this Stadium effect and draw 2 cards.
The Team Rocket Supporter cards are pretty powerful in their own ways. Adding another 2 cards from deck to hand is just another bonus.
This is likely to be the number 1 stadium choice for Team Rocket decks.
Team Rocket Decks Look To Be Powerful
From looking at the cards it looks like Team Rocket decks will be consistent and powerful. The attackers don't seem to be that powerful other than the Rocket Mewtwo ex.
(This product to release in English in May or June 2025)
Supporting Pokemon like Team Rocket's Spidops ex provides very good energy acceleration. The Trainer cards provide a mix of draw power, hand disruption and gusting effects. Team Rocket's Giovanni might be the most powerful supporter in the format. It combines a Switch for a Team Rocket's Pokemon and a Boss's Orders.
Add in Team Rocket's stadiums like Team Rocket's Watchtower to cancel abilities of Colourless Pokemon and Team Rocket's Factory for draw support. The amount of choices for Team Rocket decks is abundant. It really seems like the card designers are really pushing for Team Rocket decks to be in the top tier of the metagame.
Closing Notes
I do think that Team Rocket cards in Destined Rivals will appeal to mostly players. Team Rocket cards are also good for collectors and people who like nostalgia.
Journey Together was an important set as it re-introduced owner's Pokemon. This set continues the Owner's Pokemon while appealing to both collectors and players.