ThePokémon Trading Card Game’s newThe Glory of Team Rocketset was just released today, and with it comes some cool new Secret Rares. These are some special treatments of existing cards from the set with new artwork. Because this set is about Team Rocket, it’s no surprise to see some of the organization’s leaders featured here alongside their Pokémon.
The Glory of Team Rocketis a set only being released in Japan right now, and it will be coming to North America later onin May asDestined Rivals. The English-language images of the cards below have not been revealed yet, but they typically feature the same art as the Japanese set, so we can likely expect the same Secret Rares inDestined Rivals. If you want to start collecting right away, which might not be a bad idea given the prevalence of scalpers in the English-languagePokémonmarket,here are the Secret Rares now available in Japan.
10The Secret Art Rare Team Rocket’s Ariana
Team Rocket’s Ariana Was Illustrated By Yoshioka
Ariana is one of the Team Rocket executives that firstappeared inPokémon GoldandSilver. Her new card inThe Glory of Team Rocket, Team Rocket’s Ariana,allows you to draw until you have five cards in your hand. This is a decent draw spell, with the added bonus that, if you control a Team Rocket’s Pokémon, you get to draw until you have eight cards instead.
Although I tend to lean towardPokémonSecret Rares that have more of a scene depicted in their art, I do like what artist Yoshioka did with this card. While it is largely a close-up of Ariana, the smoke and flying debris gives you the sense that she’s mid-battle.Her cool demeanor in the midst of what appears to be destruction also speaks to her strong sense of confidence.
9The Art Rare Team Rocket’s Wobbuffet
Team Rocket’s Wobbuffet Was Illustrated By Saboteri
As a card, Team Rocket’s Wobbuffet isn’t too bad. While its attack is pretty weak, especially for three energy, its real trick isbeing able to move all the damage from one of your Benched Team Rocket’s Pokémon onto your opponent’s Active Pokémon. If you play it right, you can swap Wobbuffet in and take out an opponent’s Pokémon while also healing yours significantly. Because Wobbuffet is a Basic Pokémon, you can also do this without your opponent seeing it coming.
From purely an art perspective, The Art Rare (AR) Team Rocket’s Wobbuffet is one of my favorite cards from this set.Artist Saboteri paints such a lively picture of a Team Rocket hangoutthat you can spend a lot of time admiring everything going on in this picture. Some of my favorite aspects are the Drowzee trying to sneak a drink, and the Sneasel looking annoyed at Wobbuffet’s antics.
8The Art Rare Blaziken
Blaziken Was Illustrated By Kodama
The new version of Blaziken fromThe Glory of Team Rocketgives you the option, with its second attack, to also deal 120 damage to one of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon if you discard two energy from Blaziken. Now, this scratches a very specific itch for me when it comes toPokémon. As aMagic: The Gatheringplayer, I frequently find myself missing removal in thePokémon TCG, soa Pokémon like Blaziken that allows you to snipe a threat on your opponent’s bench is always a plusfor me.
Between the AR of Blaziken and the Secret Art Rare (AR) of Team Rocket’s Ariana, I’m starting to think I don’t actually dislike cards that just prominently feature their subject, so long as they are well-detailed. The card’s artist,kodama, depicts Blaziken mid-strike in a pose that perfectly captures the Pokémon’s fighting ability. The flames look great, but I really love the tiny details, like the smoke that appears to be rising from Blaziken’s claws. The backdrop being bathed in smoke leads me to believe this fire-type Pokémon is wreaking havoc on its opponent.
7The Art Rare Zamazenta
Zamazenta Was Illustrated By Takumi Wada
Zamazenta is relatively tough for a Basic Pokémon that isn’t a Pokémon ex, but that’s not the only reason I’d use it to soak up some damage. After you use Zamazenta’s Strong Bash attack, it will deal any damage it receives from an attack next turn back to the Attacking Pokémon.This effect goes off even if Zamazenta gets knocked out, making it a great option to have up front early in the game. The thought of taking damage back could discourage your opponent from attacking Zamazenta until they have a trick up their sleeve, possibly buying you some time.
I’ll admit not having a lot of feelings tied to Zamazenta as a Pokémon. It looks like a dog, which is a plus, but I’ve never playedPokémon SwordandShield, and don’t have a huge connection to it. Because of that,artist Takumi Wada deserves some credit for still making this card one of my favorite AR cards from the new setamidst so much Team Rocket nostalgia. The sunset and lens flare add a cinematic touch, and the composition makes Zamazenta look incredibly imposing. I also like the bits of grass in the front used to create some extra depth.
6The Art Rare Team Rocket’s Meowth
Team Rocket’s Meowth Was Illustrated By Shimaris Yukichi
Team Rocket’s Meowth’s first attack forces your opponent to shuffle a random card from their hand back into their deck, and the second asks you to flip three coins, and then you do 20 damage for each heads. Both are based largely on chance, which I’m not a big fan of inPokémon, and although it evolves into the more powerful Team Rocket’s Persian ex, that’s not why it has earned a spot on this list.The main appeal of Team Rocket’s Meowth is in its appearance and nostalgia factor.
In contrast to the many cool and intimidating looks at Giovanni this set gives us,artist Shimaris Yukichi gives us a look at the Team Rocket boss’s softer sideon the AR of Team Rocket’s Meowth. The more cartoony art style fits well for this intimate setting where Giovanni looks admiringly at his cute little Meowth as it cleans itself. I like the choice to highlight Meowth with a light outline, making it pop a bit from its surroundings, as this is its card.
5The Art Rare Kangaskhan
Kangaskhan Was Illustrated By Mékayu
Kangaskhan fromThe Glory of Team Rocketis another case ofa Pokémon that relies on chance for one of its moves. Its second move, Dizzy Punch, has you flip two coins, then do 90 damage for each heads. Though this is potentially a lot, I still prefer moves that I know are going to do at least some damage when I use them. However, like Meowth, Kangaskhan still stands out as one of the better Secret Rares in this set thanks to its artwork.
Instead of capturing Kangaskhan mid-battle,artist Mékayu gives us a slice of life from the world of Pokémon. In the art, a Kangaskhan seems to be showing its curious offspring the friendly Quagsire at the edge of a body of water. It’s very wholesome, and the Pokémon being smaller in the frame gives you the sense that this is the type of thing that just happens all the time in the Pokémon world. The late-evening setting and soft lighting also give the card a pleasant and relaxing vibe.
4The Secret Art Rare Team Rocket’s Giovanni
Team Rocket’s Giovanni Was Illustrated By Krgc
Team Rocket’s Giovanni is an effective Trainer card which gives you a good amount of control over the battlefield. Not only does it let you switch your own Active Team Rocket’s Pokémon out for one of your Benched Team Rocket’s Pokémon,it also lets you swap in one of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon for their Active one. If this card wasn’t restricted to Team Rocket’s Pokémon, I could easily see it being an auto-include in a lot of different builds.
While there are a couple Secret Rare versions of Team Rocket’s Giovanni, I think the best one from the set is the SAR version illustrated by Krgc.I like that it features not only the Team Rocket boss himself, but also all his executivesand even a few grunts in the background. It’s a nice reminder that Giovanni isn’t just one powerful trainer, but the head of an entire criminal organization.
3The Secret Art Rare Team Rocket’s Nidoking Ex
Team Rocket’s Nidoking Ex Was Illustrated By Uninori
Team Rocket’s Nidoking ex is notable because it’s the first time Nidoking has gotten a Pokémon ex version. It’s fitting that it would come in this set, as Nidoking is one of Giovanni’s signature Pokémon. This card’s Dirty Horns attack deals 100 damage and Poisons your opponent’s Active Pokémon, with a catch.Instead of just one damage counter, the poison adds eight instead, meaning this attack has a serious lasting impact if your opponent’s Pokémon isn’t switched out or healed.
The SAR version of Team Rocket’s Nidoking ex is also easily one of the coolest action shots from the set. The card shows Giovanni commanding his Nidoking to unleash a devastating attack that is tearing apart the ground. The art style, especially on Giovanni, reminds me of classic Pokémon, adding an extra bit of nostalgia to this already beautifully illustrated card.
2The Secret Art Rare Team Rocket’s Moltres Ex
Team Rocket’s Moltres Ex Was Illustrated By AKIRA EGAWA
Team Rocket’s Moltres ex has an okay first attack. 110 damage isn’t a ton, but it does prevent 50 incoming damage from the next attack against this card. The real star here, however, is Team Rocket’s Moltres ex’s second attack,which allows you to discard your opponent’s Active Pokémon and all attached cardsby discarding a Team Rocket’s Energy from Moltres in addition to the attack’s normal cost. Although this doesn’t score you any Prize cards, the ability to take out any Pokémon in one shot is still very powerful, and can set you up nicely to control the game.
There are a few treatments of Team Rocket’s Moltres ex, but the SAR version is easily my favorite.Artist AKIRA EGAWA delivers a nicely composed piece that makes Moltres the clear subject while also showing Archer clearly in controlof the Legendary Bird, establishing that this is Team Rocket’s version. Archer appears to be on the Goldenrod Radio Tower’s Observation Deck, which is where you battle himinPokémon Heart GoldandSoul Silver.
1The Secret Art Rare Team Rocket’s Mewtwo Ex
Team Rocket’s Mewtwo Ex Was Illustrated By Iwamoto05
Even though Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex is restricted from attacking unless you have four or more Team Rocket’s Pokémon in play, I still think this is a powerful card. Its attack already does a decent amount of damage to begin with, andyou can tack on up to 120 more damage by discarding Energy from your Benched Pokémon. Discarding Energy from Benched Pokémon can also be a benefit if you have ways to get it back from your discard pile, because you’ll be able to rearrange it as needed. Or, you may just reattach it to fuel another big attack.
Artist Iwamoto05 gives us a very intimidating Mewtwo thanks to its menacing pose and the low-angle composition of the piece. Giovanni in the foreground looks confident and in control, and it’s hard to blame him with such a powerful Pokémon backing him up. I’m not even a huge fan of Mewtwo, but I would still be happy to add this card to myPokémon TCGcollection thanks to the art on this SAR version.
