As we approach 2025, the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) community is buzzing with excitement over upcoming releases. The next Japanese set, after Stellar Crown, will be Paradise Dragona (or, likely, Surging Sparks in English). Which was recently officially revealed – you can read more about it here!
Two upcoming sets have caught the attention of collectors and players alike: “Battle Partners” and “The Glory of Team Rocket.” Let’s dive into what we know so far and what we can speculate about these highly anticipated releases.
In other news, Shrouded Fable was recently released – and we’ve been opening a lot of it!
Check our store for Shrouded Fable Products and scoop this special set up now. Alternatively, come down to our store in Margate, Thanet and pick up a collection box, or Shrouded Fable Boosters!
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Team Rocket & Battle Partners - A Trip Down Memory Lane
Before we explore the upcoming sets, it’s worth noting how the Pokémon TCG has been teasing these themes in recent years.
The 2021 Celebrations set gave us a taste of what might be coming with the return of Dark Pokémon, featuring a special Dark Sylveon V promo. This set also included a nod to the partner Pokémon era with the Lance’s Charizard promo. A card that was previously only available in the Japanese-exclusive Pokémon VS. Series.
These inclusions in the Celebrations set sparked hope among fans that we might see a full revival. Both, Team Rocket’s Dark Pokémon theme, and, the partner Pokémon concept originally Gym Heroes sets. While the partner Pokémon theme has made several appearances in more recent sets, many collectors have been eagerly awaiting the return of a full-fledged Team Rocket-themed expansion.
Battle Partners: A Revival of Owner's Pokémon Cards
Set to release on January 24, 2025, in Japan, “Battle Partners” is shaping up to be an exciting addition to the Pokémon TCG line-up. This set will bring back the popular concept of Owner’s Pokémon cards, pairing notable trainers with their signature Pokémon.
Here’s what we know about the set so far:
- Owner’s Pokémon Cards: The main focus of this set will be the return of cards featuring trainers alongside their partner Pokémon. This concept harks back to the days of Gym Heroes and Gym Challenge, but with a modern twist.
- Potential Multi-Pokémon Cards: There’s speculation that we might see cards featuring multiple Pokémon, similar to the TAG TEAM concept from previous sets. This could add an interesting dynamic to both collecting and gameplay.
- Preconstructed Decks: On February 22, 2025, two preconstructed decks will be released in Japan, featuring “Steven’s Beldum & Metagross ex” and “Marnie’s Morpeko & Grimmsnarl ex”. These decks will likely showcase the Owner’s Pokémon concept and provide ready-to-play options for fans of these trainers.
- Accompanying Products: The set will be supported by additional products like “Collection File N” and “Collection File Lillie” – we don’t know much about what will be in them, however, but they’ll likely be similar binder products as we have seen recently.
- Iono Showcase: The set’s card sleeves and deck box will feature Iono, a popular character from recent Pokémon games Scarlett & Violet. This suggests that we’ll see a mix of classic and modern trainers in the set.
The Glory of Team Rocket: A Villainous Return
While details about “The Glory of Team Rocket” are more limited, the mere announcement of this set has sent waves of excitement through the Pokémon TCG community. Here’s what we can speculate based on the information available:
- Release Timeline: The set hasn’t been revealed through distributor listings as of yet, whereas “Battle Partners” has – meaning it’ll likely to be released after “Battle Partners”, potentially in the spring or summer of 2025.
- Theme and Content: Given the set’s name, it’s almost certain that it will heavily feature Team Rocket and their Pokémon. This could mean a revival of the Dark Pokémon theme, which was a hallmark of previous Team Rocket sets.
- Potential Reprints or Reimagining’s: There’s a possibility that we might see reprints or modern reimagining’s of classic cards from the original Team Rocket (2000) and EX Team Rocket Returns (2004) sets. This could include updated versions of fan-favorite cards like Dark Charizard or Dark Blastoise.
- Modern Mechanics: While the set will likely focus on the Team Rocket theme, it’s expected to incorporate modern Pokémon TCG mechanics and card types. This could include Scarlet and Violet era features like Illustration Rares, Paradox Pokémon, Stellar Types, or Terastallized Pokémon with a Team Rocket twist.
- Collector’s Items: Given the popularity of Team Rocket among collectors, it’s likely that this set will include some highly sought-after cards. EX Team Rocket Returns (2004) also featured the coveted gold stars, of Treeko, Mudkip and Torchic – which populated the Ruby and Sapphire TCG era. Of course, we’re unlikely to see anything like that, but we may see some Scarlet and Violet staples mixed with Team Rocket’s Dark Pokémon theme.
As we look forward to these sets, it’s important to remember that much of what we’re discussing is speculation based on limited information. The Pokémon Company often surprises us with unexpected twists and new concepts – however, there is certainly a precedent for “nostalgia-based” sets, like the recent Pokémon 151.
Looking Ahead - Team Rocket & Battle Partners
As exciting as these upcoming sets are, it’s worth noting that the Pokémon franchise is always evolving. By the time these sets release in early 2025, we might have even more exciting news to discuss. There’s always the possibility of a new generation of Pokémon games being announced, which could influence the direction of these and future TCG sets.
For now, collectors and players can look forward to an exciting 2025, with “Battle Partners” kicking off the year in January and “The Glory of Team Rocket” following later – which much in-between too!
These sets promise to blend nostalgia with modern Pokémon TCG elements, offering something for both long-time fans and newer players.
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We’re also getting new products in-store, or filling up our binders with a wide variety of singles everyday. We buy, trade and sell. So come see either Tom Snr or Tom Jnr – a father and son team at our Margate store – for all your Pokémon needs. Thank you for being part of the We Love Collectibles community. Check us out on Instagram – where we often showcase what we have in store.
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