The Pokémon Company made a significant announcement at the 2024 Pokémon World Championships: the return of beloved mechanics from the original Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) in 2025.
Nostalgia Strikes: Trainer's Pokémon and Team Rocket Cards Return to the TCG
Official Release Date Still Under Wraps
The highly anticipated comeback of "Trainer's Pokémon" cards was revealed, alongside a teaser trailer showcasing trainers like Marnie, Lillie, and N, and hinting at the possible return of Team Rocket-themed cards. The trailer featured Lillie’s Clefairy ex, Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex, N’s Zoroark ex, and N’s Reshiram.
These Trainer's Pokémon cards, a staple of the early TCG, depicted Pokémon owned by specific characters, boasting unique abilities and artwork.
The teaser also included a glimpse of Mewtwo alongside the Team Rocket symbol, fueling speculation about a dedicated Team Rocket set or the return of Dark Pokémon, another popular early mechanic associated with Team Rocket and their "edgier" Pokémon variants. Rumors of these cards have circulated, with reports of a Japanese retailer listing and a trademark filing ("The Glory of Team Rocket") by The Pokémon Company.
Paradise Dragona Set Debuts at World Championships
Further exciting news from the Championships included the unveiling of the first cards from the upcoming Paradise Dragona set. According to PokeBeach, the revealed cards featured Latias, Latios, Exeggcute, and Alolan Exeggutor ex. This Japanese subset, focusing on Dragon-type Pokémon, is anticipated to be released in English as part of the Surging Sparks set in November 2024.
Currently, the TCG is concluding its Kitikami chapter with the release of Shrouded Fable this month, a 99-card set (64 main cards and 35 secret rare cards), as detailed on the official Pokémon TCG blog. Fans eagerly await further details on the upcoming releases.
