Team Rocket Returns to Japan: Glory of Team Rocket Set Launches April 18

Team Rocket Returns to Japan: Glory of Team Rocket Set Launches April 18

Team Rocket Returns to Japan: Glory of Team Rocket Set Launches April 18

April 4, 2025 – Team Rocket is back with a vengeance in the upcoming Japanese Pokémon TCG set, Glory of Team Rocket (ロケット団の栄光), releasing on April 18, 2025. This highly anticipated set revives one of the franchise’s most iconic villain teams with a mix of vintage throwbacks and modern gameplay mechanics, thrilling collectors and competitive players across generations.

Vintage Vibes Meet Modern Mechanics

Glory of Team Rocket reintroduces the classic “Dark Pokémon” concept first seen in 2000’s Team Rocket set. These Pokémon are marked by their corrupted aesthetics, altered movesets, and new “Dark Alliance” effects — a synergy-based mechanic that enhances Pokémon when paired with Rocket-themed Trainers.

What makes this set stand out is its dedication to blending the old and new. Several cards are designed in a retro WOTC-era art style, mimicking the look and feel of 1990s TCG cards, including vintage borders and original illustrator tributes.

Chase Cards Generating Hype

Collectors and resellers are already eyeing key cards expected to headline the set:

  • Dark Charizard ex (SAR) – Featuring ominous artwork and heavy nods to the 2000 holo version, this is already being called the chase card of the set.

  • Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex (SR) – A powerful Psychic-type with art showing Mewtwo restrained in Rocket’s lab, capturing the lore perfectly.

  • Jessie & James (Full Art Trainer) – A vibrant anime-style illustration makes this a top target for character card collectors.

  • Dark Dragonite (Reprint) – Appears in a limited vintage sub-series within the set, rumored to include 10 reimagined cards from the original Rocket line.

  • Giovanni’s Command (Ace Spec) – A new high-rarity Trainer card with potential meta impact, offering major board control options.

Early leaks and translations have confirmed that Glory of Team Rocket will also include a new rarity tier — "R-Rare" (Rocket Rare) — with textured black-and-red foil borders exclusive to villain-aligned cards.

Competitive Relevance in Japan

This set doesn’t just appeal to collectors. Japanese players preparing for the summer tournament season are eyeing key Trainer cards and synergy-based attackers:

  • Rocket’s Scheme – A Supporter that allows you to draw cards and discard from your opponent’s hand, depending on conditions.

  • Dark Umbreon – A sneaky Darkness-type with abilities that disrupt evolving and switching mechanics, expected to see early play in control builds.

The Rocket-themed stadiums and Tool cards in the set are already being praised for adding layers of mind games to competitive decks.

International Speculation

While Glory of Team Rocket is currently a Japan-only release, many expect its contents to be featured in the international fall 2025 English set. This echoes the release path of previous Japanese sets like Night Wanderer and VSTAR Universe.

English collectors are already importing sealed product ahead of time, with booster boxes, promo packs, and Rocket-themed card sleeves selling out quickly on Japanese marketplaces.

Final Word

With a blend of ruthless villains, dark lore, vintage artwork, and serious competitive potential, Glory of Team Rocket is shaping up to be one of the standout Japanese Pokémon sets of the year. Whether you’re a long-time collector or new to the TCG scene, this release is one to watch — or better yet, pre-order.

Prepare for trouble… and make it double.
April 18, 2025 — Team Rocket takes over the Pokémon TCG once more.

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