Pokémon SV10 Set List – The Glory of Team Rocket

Even if we are in the “Year of Eevee”, not everything has to be filled with cuteness and rainbows. Some Pokémon are well known to be less than friendly and of course there are also some Trainers that are only driven by fame and money. Those belonging to the Team Rocket, the international villainous cartel led by Giovanni, are likely the most famous ones considering the part they played in Manga/Anime as well as in the video games.  

Interestingly, it has been twenty years since last time we saw the Team Rocket taking the spotlight in the Pokémon Trading Card Game but this just changed in April with the release of Pokémon The Glory of Team Rocket. The set has obviously a great collectible value due to the nostalgia for the 2004 set “Team Rocket Returns” and the amazing artwork of the new cards. Moreover, it also features a number of interesting cards that can be relevant in the competitive gameplay. If you are wondering which ones will actually be the best to chase in this set, don't worry as we just put together a nice list for you.

What is Pokémon SV10 – The Glory of Team Rocket?

Released on April the 18th, Glory of Team Rocket is the tenth main Japanese set of the Pokémon Scarlet & Violet era. The set was then later combined with cards from Heat Wave Arena into the English set “Destined Rivals” that released at the end of May.
The core set includes 98 cards plus 34 Secret Rare cards bringing the overall set to 132 cards in total. As usual, Booster boxes contains 30 Packs of 5 cards each with mixed rarities for a total of 150 cards per box.

As the name suggests, the set is themed around Team Rocket. Previously, this type of theme mainly featured Team Rocket’s and Dark Pokémons while in this new set there are actually no Dark Pokemons. That's a bit of a shame as I would have loved another Dark Charizard but hopefully we may get more support in future sets.

In line with previous sets Battle Partners and Heat Wave Arena, Glory Of Team Rocket set also continue the expand the Trainer’s Pokémon mechanics. However, in Glory Of Team Rocket all Trainer’s Pokémon cards are named as “Team Rocket’s - Pokémon” although they may showcase different avatars on their card ranging from Giovanni to generic Rocket Grunts. All four Executives of the dark cartel are also featured in the set but no Jessie or James so far unfortunately.

Top Cards from Pokémon SV10 – Collector and Player Favourites

As usual, Japanese sets in Pokémon TCG are amazing to open and to collect. Personally, one of the aspects I find more appealing is the fact that Booster Packs do not feature a pre-determined rarity distribution therefore you never know what you can pull. The amount of hits in these boxes are usually higher than their English counterparts mostly due to the difference in size and rarity ratios in these sets.

As a result Japanese cards are very interesting to collect and a number of them can fetch quite high prices in particular for set as exciting as Glory of Team Rocket. Together with the rarity, the artwork on the cards of this set and the Character featured on them also contribute to their value. On top of this, the value of the card can increase in general if it has interesting game mechanics and even more if it finds a place in meta-relevant decks and SV10 is definitely filled with these type of cards. Considering all these factors, we took a balanced look to the card list of Glory of Team Rocket and came up with a list of 10 great cards you should be happy to pull from your packs (in no particular order).

1. Team Rocket's Ariana 

We kick-off our list with the Supporter card “Team Rocket's Ariana” featuring one of the four Team Rocket Executives that made their appeared in Pokémon Gold and Silver. When played, Ariana allows the Player to draw until they have five cards in their hand although this limit is increased to eight is have only Team Rocket's Pokémons in play. This card is pretty effective in any deck but its synergy with the other cards from this set makes Ariana a must to have in a Team Rocket deck. The Illustration Rare version of this card is also among the most beautifully illustrated cards of this set making Ariana even more collectible.

2. Team Rocket's Crobat ex

“Team Rocket's Crobat ex” also deserves a spot on this list as well as Ariana from both a game play and artistic point of view. The cartoonish design of the special art version of this card it is very appealing while it still shows the villainous side of this little trickster. This is also very well reflected in its ability “Bite Around” that can deal 20 damage to two of the opponent’s Pokémon just by evolving Crobat ex. Moreover, players can also use its “Assassin's Return” attack to deal 120 damages and return Crobat to their hand discarding all the cards attached to it. This approach prevents the opponent from getting two prizes and also allows Crobat to come back and deal even more damages next turn.

3. Team Rocket’s Wobbuffet

“Team Rocket’s Wobbuffet” is popular as the hilarious components of the evil trio with Jessie and James, just this makes the new card from this set worth having. The artwork on the Illustration Rare version of this card in particular really embodies the cheeky and gag-worthy nature of this Pokémon. This card is not only stunningly beautiful but it also highlights the more humorous side of the infamous organization with respect to other, much darker cards from this set.  

4. Team Rocket’s Giovanni

“Team Rocket’s Giovanni” is definitely another card you want to pull from your packs, in particular if you want to dominate this set. We had a few cards previously representing the most iconic villain in the Pokémon world, but getting one now in a set fully dedicated to Team Rocket is definitely something else. The artwork on this card showcases Giovanni charisma perfectly, in particular in its Special Illustration Rare version where he is surrounded by its four Executives. Mechanically, this effect of this card reminds a bit of the one on “Boss's Orders” that is actually set to rotate out pretty soon. As such, we can surely expect this new card Giovanni's presence in Team Rocket-themed decks remains solid for another few years.

5. Team's Rocket Meowth

If Giovanni is the most iconic Team Rocket’s Character, Meowth is definitely the most known Pokémon of the team. The artwork of both the standard and AR versions of “Team's Rocket Meowth” is a surprisingly nice tender take into the Team Rocket’s daily life. The Alternate rare version is obviously more impactful with Meowth relaxing on a carpet while Giovanni watches over him nearby. What's really fun about this card is that there is an official manga strip made by Shimaris Yukichi that shows the backstory of this card together with the Murkrow and Kangaskhan's one from this set. This is a quite unique aspect of this card that adds a very distinct appeal to it.

6. Persian ex

And of course, Giovanni’s most iconic Pokemon “Persian ex” cannot miss from this list. Considering it is a Colorless card, Persian can join any deck together with Meowth and bring out some nasty surprises to your opponent with its attack “Naughty Order”. For just two energies, the Player can reveal the top 10 cards of the opponent's deck and use the attack of any Pokemon they find in them. What a nice turn of events turning the opponent's deck against themselves...

7. Mewtwo ex

“Mewtwo ex” cannot also be left out in a set featuring Team Rocket. With an amazing artwork and a very interesting gameplay mechanic, this card is definitely the most iconic from the set and ticks all the boxes when it comes to its value. In terms of artwork, the SR version of this card is by far the most impressive one due to its dark vibes and a design that embodies the destructive force of Mewtwo. Gameplay wise, Mewtwo ex has an impressive 280 HP and can deal up to 280 damages by discarding two energies from your the player benched Pokémons. Unique draw back of this card is that it cannot attack unless the player have at least other three Team Rocket's Pokémons in play. Obviously, with so many good options and support cards to choose from in this set, fulfilling this condition should not be too difficult...

8. Arboliva ex

“Arboliva ex” is surprisingly among the strongest cards in SV10 in terms of gameplay. Its deadly “Oil Machine Gun” attack deals six times 20 damages to a chosen Pokémon for just one energy cost. This means that players can take out easy targets in the Opponent’s bench or deal 120 damages to a single one. Arboliva ex can also prove to be quite resilient with its 310 HP and considering the attack of its stage one, “Dolliv” can also heal 40 damages to a chosen Pokémon.

9. Moltres ex

In terms of gameplay, the other amazing card you should look for in this set is “Moltres ex”. Moltres' first attack, “Flame Screen” can unleash a very decent 110 damage, and also provides a 50-damage reduction during the opponent’s turn. The aim, of course, is to keep Moltres ex alive and ready to unleash “Evil Burn”, an absolute move that discards the opponent’s active Pokemon and all the cards attached to it at the price of one of Moltres' Energy. Considering Moltres can use the new “Team Rocket Energy” (which counts as two energies, Darkness and Psychic, in any combination) to power up its attacks, this Legendary Bird can quickly bring down any Opponent lineup.

10. Nidoking ex

Another nice Stage 2 Pokemon you should be happy to see in your packs is “Nidoking ex”. This powerhouse can deal 100 damages and poison the Opponent Active Pokemon. However, during the check-up phase, that Pokemon receives 8 damage counters instead of 1!

Where to Buy Pokémon SV10 Cards in the UK

Looking through our list, I think it is quite evident just how much Glory of the Team Rocket can please to both players and Collectors. While the cards of this set have been featured in the recently released English set “Destined Rivals”, looking for the original Japanese cards can be still be very appealing and Magic Madhouse offers an easy way to get them.

Pokemon SV10 is in fact available directly from the online shop for a discount price and you can purchase both a full Booster Box or as single Packs. Booster Box are usually a more efficient (and cost effective) way to collect a box but you can always add some packs to top up any order and benefit from the free shipment on any order above £30. In any case, ordering from Magic Madhouse can surely save you time and money while also ensuring you order from a trusted vendor and avoiding any hidden custom fees for importing items from abroad.