The Pokémon Company made a splash at the 2024 Pokémon World Championships, announcing 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 showcasing trainers like Marnie, Lillie, and N, and hinting at a possible Team Rocket resurgence. A trailer featuring Lillie’s Clefairy ex, Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex, N’s Zoroark ex, and N’s Reshiram was shown.
The teaser also briefly showcased Mewtwo alongside the Team Rocket logo, fueling speculation about a dedicated Team Rocket set or the return of Dark Pokémon, another popular early-game mechanic often associated with Team Rocket. Rumors of a Japanese retailer listing and a trademark filing ("The Glory of Team Rocket") further bolster this anticipation.
Paradise Dragona Set Debuts at World Championships
Beyond the nostalgic announcements, the Pokémon World Championships also offered a first glimpse at the Paradise Dragona set, featuring Latias, Latios, Exeggcute, and Alolan Exeggutor ex. This Japanese subset, focusing on Dragon-type Pokémon, is slated for an English release as part of the Surging Sparks set in November 2024 (according to PokeBeach).
The Pokémon TCG continues its exciting updates, with the Kitikami chapter concluding this month with the release of the Shrouded Fable expansion, boasting 99 cards (64 main cards and 35 secret rare cards), as detailed on the official Pokémon TCG blog. Fans eagerly await further details on the 2025 releases.
