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Team Rocket Japanese Singles Prices Plummet: What to Buy Now

by Claire Jun 21,2025

If you're eagerly awaiting the US release of Destined Rivals on May 30, now is an excellent time to start collecting cards from the Japanese Glory of Team Rocket set. With the initial hype starting to fade, inflated prices are beginning to drop rapidly—making it a prime moment for savvy collectors in the U.S. to jump in.

This isn't just your typical post-release price dip. It's being driven by increased stock availability and investors shifting their focus elsewhere, which means buying individual singles has become far more cost-effective than gambling on overpriced sealed boxes (no matter how tempting those shiny packs may seem). Here’s why purchasing single cards could be your best move right now.

TL;DR: Single Card Prices Are Dropping Fast

### Glory of Team Rocket Booster Box

4$146.99 at TCG Player### Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex - 125/098

2$370.77 at TCG Player### Team Rocket's Moltres ex - 124/098

1$163.00 at TCG Player### Team Rocket's Crobat ex - 127/098

1$107.00 at TCG Player### Team Rocket's Nidoking ex - 126/098

1$99.00 at TCG Player

Take a look at the current market for Japanese Glory of Team Rocket booster boxes—they’re currently priced at more than double their retail value. We haven’t seen this level of overpricing since the original 151 set, but there’s finally some light at the end of the tunnel as global Pokémon TCG stock shortages begin to ease.

For example, Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex SIR was selling for around $500 back on April 20th, but its price has dropped to about $370.77 in recent days—a promising sign of market correction. Similarly, Team Rocket's Moltres ex SIR has fallen from $250 to approximately $163, representing a significant decrease of $87 in just a week. These early drops indicate that scalpers are slowly exiting the scene, leading to less artificial price inflation at launch.

Most Affordable Team Rocket Cards

### Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex - 130/098

0$74.27 at TCG Player### Jamming Tower - 132/098

0$32.00 at TCG Player### Team Rocket's Crobat ex - 131/098

0$27.95 at TCG Player### Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex - 114/098

0$38.75 at TCG Player### Team Rocket's Nidoking ex - 116/098

0$12.94 at TCG Player### Team Rocket's Crobat ex - 117/098

0$14.97 at TCG Player### Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex - 112/098

0$10.75 at TCG Player### Team Rocket's Persian ex - 118/098

0$12.99 at TCG Player

While many focus on the high-end chase cards, the Glory of Team Rocket set also features stunning Super Rare ex and Hyper Rare ex cards that often fly under the radar—and that makes them great picks for collectors like us.

Take Team Rocket's Mewtwo Super Rare ex for instance. Since release, its value has climbed steadily to $38.75, up nearly $6. The artwork follows the Journey Together style, showcasing full-color Pokémon with their trainers subtly reflected in the background—truly a visual treat.

And then there's Team Rocket's Nidoking Super Rare ex, which started around $26 but has settled at about $12.94. As one of Generation I's most iconic Pokémon and a fan favorite from the first season of the anime, this card has menacing appeal and strong long-term potential. Similar trends can be observed with Moltres and Crobat, making them solid additions to any growing collection.

Best Team Rocket Trainer Cards

### Team Rocket's Giovanni - 129/098

0$34.95 at TCG Player### Team Rocket's Ariana - 128/098

0$39.94 at TCG Player### Team Rocket's Archer - 120/098

0$14.99 at TCG Player### Team Rocket's Ariana - 119/098

0$18.95 at TCG Player### Team Rocket's Giovanni - 121/098

0$17.10 at TCG Player### Team Rocket's Proton - 123/098

0$15.00 at TCG Player

The set delivers a wave of nostalgia, especially with classic Team Rocket members like Giovanni and Ariana. Giovanni, the infamous boss of Team Rocket in Kanto, and Ariana, who later took over leadership in Johto, both make appearances in visually striking forms.

Though data on Giovanni 129/098 is still limited, its design featuring the full Team Rocket hierarchy looks poised to hold value around the $35 mark. If it dips below that, it’s definitely worth picking up.

Similarly, Team Rocket's Ariana 128/098 offers a unique artistic variation of the standard trainer card, currently valued between $39–$40. While the set hasn’t been out long enough to fully assess future trends, anything under $40 is a solid deal at the moment.