The first cards of the upcoming Pokemon Trading Card Game 2 set and Japanese release date information have been revealed. Titled “Heat Wave Arena” and “The Glory of Team Rocket,” the set will arrive in Japan in the spring of 2025, and will eventually be released in Western countries as well (released under a different name possible).
The first card confirmed by PokeBeach to be included in the Heatwave Arena set is Cynthia’s Garchomp EX. Fans who purchase the Heat Wave Arena box set will also receive all three winning cards from the 2024 Illustration Contest. The release date for Heat Wave Arena in Japan has also been set for March 14, 2024. The second upcoming set, Team Rocket’s Glory, will be released in Japan on April 18th and will include Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex, with the rest of the set still in production. This is the most popular Pokemon card in Rocket.
Team Rocket Pokemon TCG set does not include Dark Pokemon
Breaking the tradition of Team Rocket expansion
“Glory of Team Rocket” will be the third expansion set to feature the titular group of villains from the original Pokémon show and games. The first installment, simply titled Team Rocket, was released in 2000, and Team Rocket Returns was released four years later. It’s been 20 years since this team was in the spotlight. As such, Team Rocket Glory is a welcome addition to the trading card game’s roster.
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The first two expansions featuring Team Rocket introduced Dark Pokémon, a type closely related to Team Rocket. According to PokeBeach, the April set will not include dark versions of Pokemon, only Rocket Pokemon. While this may be a bummer for some fans, the upside is that prices for original dark cards have remained stable, with some currently fetching more than $100.
Pokemon TCG Heatwave Arena card reveal was unexpected (but welcomed)
Cynthia is a fan-favorite champion
While the fact that Team Rocket’s set includes their Pokémon is self-explanatory, Cynthia’s Garchomp is a bit more of a surprise. The name of the set that appears in it, “Heat Wave Arena,” hints at a connection to the Pokémon move “Heat Wave.” Because of this, I was expecting cards like Ash’s Torkoal and Alder’s Volcarona. Cynthia’s Garchomp has nothing to do with this move, so her reveal as the first card will be a little out of left field.
However, Cynthia is a fan favorite and her Gershomp is a notoriously tough opponent, so the champion’s addition is a welcome addition. Cynthia’s stylish design, wise and calm demeanor, and balanced and powerful team have made her a popular character in the Pokémon series.
The Pokemon Trading Card Game also has a full lineup of other upcoming sets and cards. Heat Wave Arena and Team Rocket Glory are scheduled to arrive in Japan in spring 2025, but the set’s release date and English name have not yet been announced.
Source: Poke Beach
pokemon
Creator: Satoshi Taijiri, Ken Sugimori, Junichi Masuda
summary
For more than 25 years, Pokemon, known as Pocket Monsters in Japan, is a multimedia franchise co-created by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures. Conceived by Satoshi Tajiri in collaboration with Ken Sugimori and Junichi Masuda, Pokémon is set in a fictional world where people coexist with tamed creatures known as Pokémon. A person who catches, raises, and battles Pokémon is called a Pokémon trainer. They embark on an extensive journey across continents to raise Pokémon, with the ultimate goal of competing in tournaments to become champions. Pokémon has spanned several behemoths, from a long-running animated series to a successful trading card game to the medium that started it all: video games. Additionally, Pokemon started the “two-game” trend where two versions of the game are released, with different Pokemon and features between versions, and where players meet and trade with other players to “catch them all.” I encouraged that.
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