Illustration Rare Art Pokemon Cards From Japan's Team Rocket Set

Hi there. In this Pokemon TCG post, I cover the illustration rare art cards from Japan's Team Rocket set. The Team Rocket set is to be released on April 18, 2025. The English cards from this set and Heat Wave Arena release in May in the Destined Rivals set.

For those who want card translations I recommend this Bulbapedia link or Justin Basil's site.

Illustration Rare Art Cards

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Here are the illustration rare art cards. For space saving purposes I take screenshots.

I think the illustration art cards in this set are pretty good overall. My favourites are the Team Rocket's Wobbuffet, Clamperl, Kangaskhan and Team Rocket's Weezing. Zamazenta is okay too.

Full Art Cards

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Starting from Journey Together some Full Art cards feature the respective Trainer in the background. As an example Team Rocket's Nidoking ex will have Nidoking at the front with Giovanni (or Team Rocket Member) in the background.

Team Rocket's Proton

Gold Cards

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Gold Version of Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex

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Gold Version Of Crobat ex

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Jamming Tower In Gold Borders

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Special Illustration Rare Cards

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The Special Illustration rare cards for the most part are very good. In my opinion I don't think any of them are bad (Maybe the Ariana as it looks generic.)

Team Rocket's Moltres ex

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This Moltres is colourful and all. Maybe the left wing is too big and it is hard to see the face of Moltres.

Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex

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From the Team Rocket set (Japanese), I predict this card to be the highest value card from the set. In Destined Rivals I think Cynthia's Garchomp ex and Ethan's Ho-Oh ex will take #1 and #2 over this Mewtwo in popularity and price.

Mewtwo rising in a dark background with Giovanni there looks really crazy.

Team Rocket's Nidoking ex

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This art card looks pretty cool too. Nidoking is doing an Earthquake attack here? Giovanni there in the back with his somewhat iconic hand gesture while giving orders to his Nidoking.

Team Rocket's Crobat ex

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Crobat here is leading the way with other Crobats and Golbats. You can kind of see the Team Rocket Grunt on the left in the background. You could say that this card is bat**** crazy. (Sorry bad joke.)

Team Rocket's Ariana

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This card seems generic to me. Not my thing.

Team Rocket's Giovanni

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This version of Team Rocket's Giovanni is nice. You have Giovanni and his Executives behind him.

Giovanni's pose and hand reaching out looks like he is saying "Join us and we can rule the world together.". He could also be saying "Take my deal or face the consequences." Giovanni has that sinister facial expression.

Closing Notes

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This Team Rocket set looks to be crazy. It is nearly impossible to get sealed products from pre-orders. Something is wrong when Japanese booster boxes are priced at least 200 CAD. They used to be under 100 CAD. Price increases have went up since Surging Sparks in November 2024.

In my opinion I think Destined Rivals with the Team Rocket cards, Ethan's Pokemon and Cynthia's Pokemon will be bigger than Journey Together. The cards appeal to both collectors and players.

For me personally, the best way for me to get packs is from pre-release events. Good thing I am a competent player which allows me to have good chances of winning packs from local tournament events.

Thank you for reading.