Summary
The Team Rocket set was the fifth main expansion ofPokemon TCG, and it’s pretty ancient, launching in Japan back in 1997. This set introduced Pokemon with “Dark” in their names, setting the stage for all kinds of sneaky shenanigans. Then, in the seventh main expansion, ex Team Rocket Returns, we got more Dark Pokemon and Rocket Team’s notorious crew.
These Pokemon usually had low HP but high attack or trickster abilities. Fast forward to July 17, 2025, when Glory of the Rocket was announced, bringing back Team Rocket’s Pokemon with all their devious flair. This set only has eight ex Pokemon, and we’ve ranked them just for you—let’s get started!
Regi Charge
Giant Rock (140+)
Attach up to 2 Basic Fighting Energy cards from your discard pile to this Pokemon.
If your opponent’s Active Pokemon is a Stage 2 Pokemon, this attack does 140 more damage.
Regirock usually does exactly what you’d expect—a big rock that hits stuff. Not much mystery there. But in this set, it got a bit lucky in the energy department. Its Regi Charge attack scoops up two Basic Fighting Energy from the discard pile like it’s plucking daisies, making it much easier to fire off its pricier move, Giant Rock.
Without Regi Charge, charging up for that would be like trying to hike uphill with bricks in your socks. Giant Rock hits for 140 damage, and if your opponent has a Stage Two Pokemon, it smashes for 280 instead—talk about punishing overachievers! Who knew a giant boulder could be so petty?
Ability: Lost in the Snow
Crush Press (140+)
Whenever your opponent plays an Item or Supporter card from their hand, prevent all effects of that card done to this Pokemon.
You may discard a Stadium in play. If you do, this attack does 140 more damage.
Cetitan is a whale-sized cetacean Pokemon, and yes,it’s as massive as it sounds.But does big size mean big impact? Well… not necessarily. Its Ability, Lost in the Snow, makes it immune to Item and Supporter effects—which sounds cool until you realize it only works if your opponent actually plays those cards.
Sometimes it’s clutch, other times it’s just a fancy snowflake. Its Crush Press attack hits for 140, and if you discard a Stadium card, it smashes for 280. Sounds epic—until you run out of Stadiums and it goes back to gentle slapping. For all its size, Cetitan might just be a chilly underachiever.
Haughty Order
Cruel Slash (140)
Reveal the top 10 cards of your opponent’s deck. You may choose an attack from a Pokemon you find there and use it as this attack. Shuffle the revealed cards into your opponent’s deck.
Your opponent’s Active Pokemon is now Confused.
Team Rocket’s, or more precisely Giovanni’s, most iconic Pokemon? None other than the sly and regal Persian. This feline brings its elegant sneakiness to the battlefield with attacks that match its shady vibe. As a Colorless card, it can fit into any deck like it owns the place—which it probably thinks it does.
Its Haughty Order attack is a gamble: reveal the top ten cards of your opponent’s deck, steal one of their attacks, and use it! It’s stylish, risky, and oh-so-Persian. But if there’s no Pokemon among those ten cards, Persian just stares dramatically into the void. Cruel Slash hits for 140 and Confuses, but let’s be honest—Haughty Order is the real drama queen move here.
Ability: Bite Around
Assassin Return (120)
When you play this Pokemon from your hand to evolve 1 of your Pokemon during your turn, you may choose 2 of your opponent’s Pokemon and put 2 damage counters on each of them.
You may discard all cards from this Pokemon and put it into your hand.
Some Pokemon look evil, others act evil—and the bad guy trainers? They love both. Enter Crobat ex, a bloodthirsty bat with trickster energy and serious edge. Its Bite Around ability activates when you evolve it, dealing 20 damage to two of your opponent’s Pokemon, just a little batty “hello.” Sure, it’s a Stage Two, and its Assassin Return attack might seem weak at first glance.
But here’s the twist: you can discard all cards attached to Crobat and return it to your hand. Why? One, you can reuse that sneaky Bite Around. Two, and more importantly, if Crobat’s about to get knocked out, you just yoink it back and deny your opponent their prize. Evil never looked so strategic.
Ability: Power Saver
Erasure Ball (160+)
This Pokemon can’t attack unless you have 4 or more Team Rocket’s Pokemon in play.
You may discard up to 2 Energy from your Benched Pokemon. This attack does 60 more damage for each card you discarded in this way.
In the anime, Team Rocket is behind the creation of Mewtwo—cloning it from Mew’s DNA like the overachieving villains they are. In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Giovanni even brings a Mewtwo to battle. So clearly, this Mewtwo ex card has officially joined the Rocket squad. But… not without strings attached.
Its Ability is basically a big ol’ nerf: Mewtwo can’t even attack unless you have four or more Team Rocket’s Pokemon in play. And its attack? A decent 160 base damage, with up to 60 extra per Energy you discard from your Bench Pokdmon. Manage your energy well and it hits hard. Mismanage it, or lose your Rocket crew, and Mewtwo just stands there looking legendary… and useless.
Dirty Horn (100)
King Impact (240)
Your opponent’s Active Pokemon is now Poisoned. During Pokemon Checkup, put 8 damage counters on that Pokemon instead of 1.
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Nidoking might be one of the least surprising picks in this set—Giovanni practically takes him to brunch in every game. Clearly, he loves Nidoking as much as Persian, and who can blame him? This powerhouse is no joke.
Despite its slightly questionable name, Dirty Horn deals 100 damage and poisons the opponent. But not your average poison—this one hits for 80 damage between turns, which is basically toxic with a vendetta. Then there’s King Impact, a no-nonsense royal smackdown that deals 240 damage with zero side effects. After one or two of these hits, most opponents are already packing their bags. Team Rocket’s Nidoking? More like Team Rocket’s wrecking ball.
Oil Machine Gun
Aroma Shot (160)
Choose 1 of your opponent’s Pokemon 6 times. (you may choose the same Pokemon more than once.) For each time you chose a Pokemon, do 20 damage to it. This damage isn’t affected by Weakness or Resistance.
This Pokemon recovers from all Special Conditions.
Who knew an innocent-looking olive tree could be this dangerous? Arboliva ex is surprisingly one of the strongest cards in Glory of the Team Rocket Gang. Its Oil Machine Gun attack sounds more like a kitchen mishap, but it’s deadly in the right hands. For a low energy cost, it dishes out ten damage six times—anywhere you want.
That’s great for picking off Bench Pokemon or teaming up with others that love softening the backline. Aroma Shot doesn’t hit the hardest, butit clears Arboliva of any Special Conditions, which is great for keeping your oily tree in tip-top shape. Who wouldn’t want an overachieving olive in their deck?
Flame Screen (110)
Evil Burn
During your opponent’s next turn, this Pokemon takes 50 less damage from attacks (after applying Weakness and Resistance).
Discard a Team Rocket Energy from this Pokemon. If you do, discard your opponent’s Active Pokemon and all attached cards.
Team Rocket’s Moltres ex is pure chaos, and arguably the best ex card in this set. In the Pokemon Adventures manga, Rocket Team catches Moltres, but no one expected them to use it so effectively. Flame Screen dishes out 110 damage, plus a 50-damage reduction during your opponent’s turn. This is key for keeping Moltres ex alive and ready for its next big move.
Evil Burn is an absolute wrecking ball—discarding the opponent’s active Pokemon and all attached cards. Just discard one Team Rocket Energy (which counts as two energies, Darkness and Psychic, in any combination) and watch their strategy crumble. With moves like this, Moltres ex might leave your opponent with nothing but empty space and regret.
