The Pokémon Company made a splash at the 2024 Pokémon World Championships, announcing the nostalgic return of beloved mechanics to the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) in 2025.
Trainer's Pokémon and Team Rocket Cards: A Nostalgic Comeback
Get ready for the comeback of "Trainer's Pokémon" cards! The announcement, accompanied by a teaser trailer, showcased iconic trainers like Marnie, Lillie, and N, alongside their signature Pokémon. The trailer featured Lillie’s Clefairy ex, Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex, N’s Zoroark ex, and N’s Reshiram, hinting at the unique abilities and artwork these cards will offer.
The teaser also teased the potential return of Team Rocket, featuring Mewtwo and the infamous Team Rocket symbol. This fuels speculation about a dedicated Team Rocket set or even the revival of Dark Pokémon, a popular mechanic from the game's early days, known for its darker, more aggressive takes on familiar Pokémon. Rumors, including a Japanese retailer listing and a trademark filing ("The Glory of Team Rocket"), further support this possibility.
Paradise Dragona Set Debuts
The World Championships also unveiled the first cards from the upcoming Paradise Dragona set. According to PokeBeach, the showcased cards featured Latias, Latios, Exeggcute, and Alolan Exeggutor ex. This Japanese subset, focused on Dragon-type Pokémon, is slated for an English release as part of the Surging Sparks set in November 2024.
Upcoming Releases
While details remain scarce, the Pokémon TCG is concluding its exciting Kitikami chapter with the release of Shrouded Fable this month. This set boasts 99 cards: 64 main cards and 35 secret rare cards, according to the official Pokémon TCG blog. The anticipation for these upcoming releases, coupled with the exciting news of returning classic mechanics, promises an electrifying future for the Pokémon TCG.
