The Pokémon Company International made a splash at the 2024 Pokémon World Championships, announcing the highly anticipated return of classic Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) mechanics in 2025.

Nostalgia Strikes: Trainer's Pokémon and Team Rocket Cards Return to the TCG

Official Release Date Pending

The announcement confirmed the comeback of "Trainer’s Pokémon" cards, a beloved feature from the TCG's early days. A teaser trailer showcased iconic trainers like Marnie, Lillie, and N, alongside their signature Pokémon: Lillie’s Clefairy ex, Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex, N’s Zoroark ex, and N’s Reshiram. These cards typically feature unique abilities and artwork, setting them apart from standard Pokémon cards.

The trailer also teased the potential return of Team Rocket, featuring Mewtwo and the infamous Team Rocket symbol. This fuels speculation about a dedicated Team Rocket-themed set, or even the resurgence of Dark Pokémon—another popular early mechanic associated with Team Rocket and their darker, more powerful Pokémon variants. Rumors of a Japanese retailer listing and a trademark filing ("The Glory of Team Rocket") further support this possibility.

Paradise Dragona Set Debuts at World Championships

Beyond the nostalgic announcements, the Pokémon World Championships also unveiled the first cards from the upcoming Paradise Dragona set. PokeBeach reported previews of Latias, Latios, Exeggcute, and Alolan Exeggutor ex. This Japanese-origin Dragon-type focused subset is slated for an English release as part of the Surging Sparks set in November 2024.

The Pokémon TCG continues its exciting run, 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. While specific release dates for the Trainer’s Pokémon and potential Team Rocket sets remain unconfirmed, the announcements have generated considerable excitement amongst collectors and players alike.