The 15 Most Expensive Team Rocket Pokemon Cards, Ever
With Destined Rivals coming out soon in the Pokemon TCG, we’re likely going to have some insanely valuable new Rocket’s Pokemon out there in the wild. As we saw with Prismatic Evolutions, brand new, pack fresh Pokemon cards can be even more valuable than well-known vintage cards like some of the original Rocket’s Pokemon.
That being said, let’s take a look at what the most expensive Rocket’s Pokemon to date are.
#1 Rocket’s Snorlax ex is the most expensive “Rocket’s” Pokemon card
Market price: $600
You’ll likely notice a trend when we look through these Rocket’s Pokemon cards, and that is the one’s from Team Rocket’s Return in 2004 are typically more valuable than those from the original Rocket set. Apparently it was during this time that the Pokemon TCG saw something of a lull in popularity, so there were actually less boxes of these cards available int he world, causing these cards to be worth a pretty penny.
I suppose that makes sense – 2004 was enough after the initial Pokemon craze that people were probably a little burned out from Pokemania. As for why Snorlax tops the list? Well, Snorlax is a memorable Pokemon (one of the original 151) from a relatively rare set. And while it isn’t quite as valuable as the next card on this list, it’s noteworthy for including the “Rocket’s” name in its title.
#2 1st Edition Dark Gengar is the most expensive “Dark” Pokemon
Market price: $693
While not a main Rocket set like the original Team Rocket or Team Rocket Returns set, Neo Destiny included many Dark Pokemon with loose ties to the criminal organization. Much like the original Team Rocket set, these Pokemon aren’t referred to as “Rocket’s” Pokemon but rather as “Dark” Pokemon.
While it’s not a card that bares the Rocket symbol like the original Rocket Pokemon, it’s still worth noting thanks to its insane value and hailing from an iconic era in Pokemon TCG history.
#3 Dark Tyranitar – Neo Destiny
Market price: $400
Tyranitar is a very memorable Pokemon from the second generation of Pokemon. Dark Tyranitar appears here as if materializing out of the flames ready to wreck some havoc. But its not just wrecking havoc on the battlefield: it’s one of the most valuable Pokemon affiliated with Team Rocket of all time.
#4 Rocket’s Entei ex – Team Rocket Returns
Market price: $320
I’m not sure why exactly Entei was included as a Rocket’s Pokemon, but just the fact that it was is pretty cool. It’s no wonder this card is number two on this list: Entei is a hugely memorable Pokemon, and a much loved legendary. It’s pretty exciting to get a Rocket’s version of it, even if the Entei pictured here looks like a claymation figure straight out of Nightmare Before Christmas.
#5 Rocket’s Mewtwo ex – Team Rocket Returns
Market price: $300
There’s a pretty solid tradition of getting Team Rocket’s Mewtwo cards, and that’s going to be the case in Destined Rivals as well. If we end up getting a Rocket’s Mewtwo ex alt art in Destined Rivals, my guess is that card will exceed the value of even this retro Mewtwo. However, as of now this Pokemon’s the most valuable Team Rocket’s Mewtwo released to date.
#6 Dark Dragonite – Team Rocket
Market price: $300
At number four we finally have the first of the original Team Rocket’s set, Dark Dragonite. Instead of being called “Rocket’s” the Team Rocket Pokemon in this set were called “Dark” to show that the Pokemon had been corrupted by Team Rocket. As part of this corruption, Team Rocket’s Pokemon sported lower HP than comparative Pokemon of the time, while also boasting elevated attack power.
Dark Dragonite is a fairly memorable Pokemon card, and its most valuable version is going to be the 1st edition Holo.
#7-9 The Legendary Birds – Team Rocket Returns
Market price: $289
Market price: $270
Market price $228
Team Rocket Returns was chalk full of legendary Pokemon. Not only do we have the Mewtwo and an Entei, the legendary birds are also featured in this set. Rocket’s Moltres sort of looks like a tough Pokemon, the way its drifting down with that smug look on its face.
#10 Rocket’s Mewtwo – Gym Challenge
Market price: $255
This slightly odd looking Mewtwo hailing from the Gym Challenge set is noteworthy for being included in a non-exclusively Team Rocket focused set. In this set, we saw many different trainer’s Pokemon, with Rocket’s Pokemon included as a kind of Trainer’s Pokemon, much in the same way Destined Rivals includes a mashup of Team Rocket’s Pokemon with other popular trainer’s Pokemon like Cynthia’s Garchomp ex.
#11 Dark Espeon – Neo Destiny
Market price $272
Just in case you though Eeveelution love was something new in the Pokemon TCG world, we were getting iconic Eeveelutions even back in the days of Neo Destiny. I can’t help but feel a little bad for this cute, corrupted Espeon that just seems to be beckoning us to purify it and set it free from Rocket’s control.
While an unlimited holofoil version of this card can fetch you over $200 on the secondary card market, a first edition from this set that was the last set to carry the 1st edition marker is likely to earn you significantly more.
#12 Rocket’s Hitmonchan ex – Team Rocket Returns
Market price $250
Dancing with Hitmonchan under the pale moonlight never felt so good as the value in this card. This is one of the most valuable Hitmonchan cards ever to be printed, and a worthy addition to any Pokemon collection.
#13 Rocket’s Suicune ex – Team Rocket Returns
I’m really kind of confused about how Team Rocket got ahold of so many different legendaries in one set but there you have it. Suicune is one of the most expensive Team Rocket cards to date.
#14 Dark Blastoise – Team Rocket
Dark Blastoise is another fairly iconic card, and probably one of the better known Rocket’s cards. Of course, a Dark version of the original Blastoise is going to hold up in value, making this a pretty bankable card for long-term value.
#15 Dark Charizard
Last but not least is Dark Charizard. This guy’s my personal favorite Team Rocket Pokemon card of all time. Although it looks different, there was a dark Charizard in the original Pokemon movie that battled it out with Ash’s Charizard, giving some added weight in terms of Pokemon lore. Being a Charizard card, of course, this particular card is a fantastic collectible. If we ever got another Team Rocket’s Charizard or something like that in a modern set, the outcry would be truly insane.
