The Pokemon TCG often features at least one signature artistic design for every generation, with some ofthe most valuable sets from the EX eraboasting notable inserts, like Gold Stars. Team Rocket Returns is another set that boasts several Rocket’s cards, including many of the most expensive.
Other sets include Rocket’s cards, as they even feature assome of the most valuable cards in Gym Challengeand Gym Heroes. However, the cream of the crop belongs almost exclusively to Team Rocket Returns, but one surprise Pokemon gets the Rocket’s party started with an unusual distinction.
Cards are ordered according to theirTCGPlayerMarket Price,which represents what you might pay on average for a copy of the cards below.
Given the age and rarity of these cards, only those with anestablished market price on TCGplayerare included.
However,sale prices are vastly different depending on the card’s condition,so this market price is just a rough idea of the card’s value.
7Rocket’s Mewtwo (Winner): Best Of Promos (Promo) – $232.30
Win Or Go Home
We start things off with the most unusual Rocket’s card on the list, a promo card that features reprinted artwork of Mewtwo that was also used in the Gym Challenge set. This rare piece of Pokemon history is an incredibly difficult card to find in perfect condition, though there are other listings in a variety of conditions.
This card is the reprinted reverse holo version with a “Winner” stamp in the bottom right. It was distributed to theparticipants of June 2003’s BattleZone tournaments.
Heavily played(HP)copies can be bought for as low as $100, while moderately played(MP)copies have sold in the same region. Once you start looking at cards in lightly played(LP)condition, the price tag jumps to $150, with near-mint(NM)copies commandingover $250 in certain cases.
6Rocket’s Scizor Ex: Team Rocket Returns (Ultra Rare) – $257.98
Shining Through The Shadows
With one of the darkest designs of any Rocket’s card, this Scizor earns the crown of the most intimidating design, with its red body cloaked in darkness as it glares toward us.
Rocket’s Scizor is one of the scariest Pokemon depictions ever, with Team Rocket’s evil corrupting this Pokemon to the core.
Appearances aside, this card is just as rare and valuable as many of the other best Rocket’s cards and includes a range of price tags that shift according to condition. MP copies sell between $107 and $175 – an unusually wide range for an inferior option. However, considering thatNM copies of this card have fetched up to $257,it’s no surprise that any discount from that number is appreciated.
5Rocket’s Articuno Ex: Team Rocket Returns (Ultra Rare) – $265.00
Iced Out Of The Top Spots
Despitemissing out on the top three by a relatively small margin,Articuno settles for a solid top-five finish among the most valuable Rocket’s cards in the Pokemon TCG.
Unlike some other Rocket’s cards, Articuno’s original light blue color palette still shines through the signature shadowy background.
Rocket’s Articuno is slightly easier to find than the next few cards coming up, contributing to its slightly lower market price.Articuno boasts an NM sale at $265,with LP copies offering a significant price reduction to the tune of $164. Once you get into MP and HP copies, expect to pay somewhere between $40 and $100, depending on how nice the card in question is.
4Rocket’s Mewtwo Ex: Team Rocket Returns (Ultra Rare) – $268.45
Building A Lead
Since the early days of Pokemon, Giovanni, and Team Rocket have toiled to gain control over Mewtwo and its incredible Psychic powers, failing each time – until now. Mewtwo’s glowing red eyes make it unmistakable who this Pokemon is working for.
This incredibly valuable Mewtwo also lands amongthe most expensive Mewtwo cards in the Pokemon TCG,supported by its sky-high value.
With only a handful of available listings and only a few more sales to reference, this Mewtwo card is difficult to evaluate, asan LP copy sold for over $313,leaving room for this card’s market price to surge once an NM copy sells. However, given this card’s rarity, copies that look clean are likely to be sent in for grading.
3Rocket’s Moltres Ex: Team Rocket Returns (Ultra Rare) – $276.11
Team Rocket Loves Fire-Type Legendaries
Moltres is no stranger to being pursued by dangerous villains, as that’s what it endured during Pokemon: The First Movie. However, Rocket’s Moltres leaves no ambiguity regarding its allegiances, as thisFire-type Pokemon’s most valuable cardmakes an appearance among the best Rocket’s cards.
This depiction of Moltres falls in line with the other legendaries from Team Rocket Returns, as they each boast sinister auras and unusual art that focuses heavily on shadows. If you’re lucky enough to find this card inNMcondition, then expect to pay somewhere in the region of$330,thoughyou might find HP copies for as little as $80.
2Rocket’s Entei Ex: Team Rocket Returns (Ultra Rare) – $345.95
A Dark Descent For Entei
This card stands tall asone of the most expensive Enteri cards in the Pokemon TCG,featuring a high-angle of Entei, as flames burn beneath its feet, with shadows closing in. Entei’s ferocious expression in the face of darkness might usually be attributed to its defiance, but this Entei seems consumed by Team Rocket’s evil plans.
You won’t see this card often, with only a handful of sales on TCGplayer, though they luckily come in a variety of conditions. NM copies have set the market price at the $345 mark, whileLP copiesoffer a massive discount, with a sale of$250 on record.
1Rocket’s Snorlax Ex: Team Rocket Returns (Ultra Rare) – $499.99
Devouring Every Dollar
Snorlax snags the top spot asthe most valuable Rocket’s cardavailable, boasting a quintessential depiction that captures this Pokemon during a delicious meal.
Snorlax is one of the few Pokemon who appears largely unchanged from its traditional depiction, lending an air of familiarity to this soldier of Team Rocket.
Listings for this card are becoming more difficult to find by the day, though there’s a solid list of sales that support this card’s massive value. An NM copy sold for $499.99 in July 2024, withLP copies falling off with a 50 percent discount,selling for $238 to $250.
