Pokemon TCG: The 12 Best Team Rocket Cards

Summary

• Team Rocket set introduced Dark Pokemon with lower HP but stronger attacks than regular Pokemon of that era.
• Best cards can be found in the later Gen Two EX Team Rocket Returns set due to their strength and effectiveness.
• Team Rocket themed deck cards like Wobbuffet, Suicune ex, and Sneasel ex offer unique, powerful abilities and strategies for battles.

If we dive into the roots of Pokemon TCG, the Team Rocket expansion was released as the fifth main set. This set introduced Pokemon with Dark and Rocket in their names—Pokemon that had, let’s just say, less-than-loving trainers. As a result, their HP was lower, but their attacks packed more punch compared to regular Pokemon of that era.

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Later, during Gen Two, EX Team Rocket Returns brought these edgy Pokemon back into action. Curious about the best and most powerful cards from these sets? Well, we’ve got you covered with this list—because Team Rocket always has a plan!

This list is based primarily on Pokemon with Rocket in their name rather than those with Dark. Additionally, since the cards from the EX Team Rocket Returns set are generally stronger and more effective than those from the original Team Rocket set, the cards featured in this list have been selected from that set. Also, Japanese-exclusive Team Rocket sets are not included in this list.

12 Rocket's Hideout

Of course, one of the most important things for Team Rocket is their hideout. After all, what’s a villainous team without a secret lair? Gotta have somewhere to plot world domination, right? This Stadium card gives all Pokemon with both Rocket and Dark in their name 20 extra HP—a little bonus for the bad guys.

Besides Team Rocket’s Pokemon, Dark Pokemon are known for being mistreated by their trainers, making them wild and aggressive. Love isn’t really their thing. That’s why they tend to have lower HP but hit harder. Plus, the Team Rocket and EX Team Rocket Returns sets are packed with Dark Pokemon that work together like a true band of misfits.

11 Rocket's Wobbuffet

Wobbuffet is an annoying Pokemon in the main games—if you’re caught unprepared, it can be a real headache. It’s also one of Team Rocket’s most iconic Pokemon in the anime, always showing up at just the right (or wrong) time!

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Its Dark Aid attack lets you either grab a Pokemon Tool or Rocket’s Secret Machine card from your discard pile or shuffle up to three cards back into your deck. Not bad for a sneaky little trick! But Wobbuffet’s surprises don’t stop there. Its Amnesia attack only deals ten damage, but against Pokemon with just one attack, it’s a nightmare—it completely locks them out from using their move. Talk about frustrating!

10 Rocket's Suicune ex

This card can do quite a lot! First, thanks to its Poke-Body, Dark and Clear, if Suicune ex has a Darkness Energy attached, it becomes immune to Special Conditions—no more annoying status surprises!

But Suicune ex isn’t just about avoiding tricks—it loves pulling off its own. Its attack Icy Wind doesn’t even need a coin flip; it just puts the opponent to sleep, no questions asked. And Suicune isn’t done yet! Hyper Splash may only deal 50 damage, but if the opponent’s Pokemon is Stage Two, it hits for 40 more, making it an incredibly versatile and powerful card!

9 Rocket's Snorlax ex

Among Team Rocket’s most devastating weapons is a massive, ever-hungry force—none other than Snorlax ex. If this Pokemon has a Darkness Energy attached, it heals ten HP between turns. That might not sound like much, but back in the day, attacks weren’t as ridiculously powerful as they are now.

With Poison Claws, you can try poisoning the opponent while Snorlax keeps passively healing. Or, you can just forget strategy and go for Collapse, dealing 60 damage—but there’s a catch! This attack puts Snorlax to sleep, which, let’s be honest, is probably what it wanted anyway.

8 Rocket's Hitmonchan ex

You know that villain fighter in martial arts movies who pushes the hero to their limits? Hitmonchan is that guy—for your opponent! Thanks to its Strikes Back Poke-Body, every time Hitmonchan takes damage, the attacker takes 20 damage right back. This means your opponent has to go all in or back off—small attacks will just hurt them in the long run.

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Mach Punch might only deal ten damage to a benched Pokemon, but keeping their bench under pressure can open up new strategies. And if you just want to hit hard, Magnum Punch delivers 60 damage with no downside—but unfortunately, no upside either. If it had one, Hitmonchan would be ranked even higher!

7 Rocket's Articuno ex

Of course, Team Rocket also has one of the legendary birds, Articuno, on their roster! Thanks to its PokeBody, Darkness Veil, if a Darkness Energy is attached, Articuno is free from those annoying special conditions—talk about a relief!

Freeze Solid helps you grab a Water Energy from your discard pile, setting you up for Articuno's other powerful attack. Ice Wing, while dealing just 50 damage, might seem modest, but with Articuno's majestic presence on the field, it’s enough to make a statement! So, when you play this card, you won't feel like you're just a Rocket member sending out Zubat—you’ll feel the full force of Team Rocket!

6 Rocket's Sneasel ex

With its mischievous posture and sharp claws, Sneasel looks like the kind of Pokemon that lets you know things are about to go very wrong for you. So, it’s no surprise that it fights alongside Team Rocket!

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Its Drag Off attack lets you forcefully swap your opponent’s Active Pokemon with a benched one—and then deals ten damage to the new target. Meanwhile, Dark Ring gets stronger for each Darkness-type Pokémon on your bench, adding ten extra damage per Dark ally. If your deck is stacked with Dark-types (which, let’s be real, it probably is in a Team Rocket-themed deck), this move can hit for a solid 80 damage. Not bad for such a sneaky little troublemaker!

5 Team Rocket's Trickery

Even if you're running a Team Rocket-themed deck, your goal shouldn’t just be to catch Pokemon—you need more than that! If your deck is full of Pokemon with no support, you're in serious trouble. That’s where Trainer cards come in.

With Team Rocket’s Trickery, you get to draw two cards, which isn’t a lot, but hey, drawing cards is always good. Even better, your opponent has to discard a card, making their life just a little bit harder. So, having multiple Trickery cards in your deck and causing more mischief will definitely make you feel like a true Team Rocket member, while leaving your opponent shaking their head in frustration!

4 Rocket's Persian ex

How about feeling like the boss of Team Rocket, just like Giovanni? And what's a villain without their sneaky and elegant Pokemon by their side? Of course, it’s none other than Persian! This sly-looking Pokemon also has a pretty creepy illustration.

With its Poke-Power Night Cry, you can grab a Dark or Rocket Pokemon from your deck every turn, letting you quickly get your most effective weapons into your hand. Plus, its Toxic Claws doesn’t just poison the opponent—no, it makes them suffer 20 damage every turn instead of just ten, just like the good old toxic status in the main games. Persian definitely brings the chaos!

3 Rocket's Moltres ex

Team Rocket is so powerful that they've even turned the legendary bird Moltres into one of their own! This deck is the perfect representation of Team Rocket's strength, and Moltres is living proof.

With a Darkness Energy attached, Moltres' PokeBody removes its retreat cost, which means you can easily swap it out when needed, or pull it back into the action when things heat up. On top of that, Fire Dance not only deals 30 damage, but also lets you attach a Fire Energy from your discard pile—super handy! Combustion adds another 50 damage, and all these attacks combined make Moltres ex a seriously strong Pokemon. Watch out!