Some of the best vintage sets in the Pokemon TCG are full of prominent cards that feature some of the most desirable Pokemon ever, including a selection of superb Kantonian classics. Team Rocket Returns is one of the most valuable sets in the EX era, highlighted by Gold Star cards of Hoenn’s beloved starter Pokemon.
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Team Rocket Returns features an exclusive subset of Rocket’s cards, which include popular Pokemon in dark scenes, indicating their affiliation with the nefarious Team Rocket. From Snorlax to Scizor, the most expensive cards from Team Rocket Returns boast intimidating depictions along with vibrant Gold Stars.
Cards are ordered according to their TCGPlayer Market Price, which you might pay on average for a copy of the cards below.
Given the age and rarity of these cards, only those with an established market price on TCGplayer are included.
However, sale prices differ depending on the card’s condition, so this market price is just a rough idea of the card’s value.
Updated April 8, 2025, by Andrew Scariati: With Destined Rivals creating hype around Team Rocket in the modern market, EX Team Rocket Returns is also shifting. Despite the set’s age, the best Ex Team Rocket Returns chase cards have seen some noticeable movement, highlighted by Scizor’s massive drop out of the top spots.
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Rocket’s Zapdos Ex (Ultra Rare) – $228.80
Navigating The Dark Side
Rocket’s Zapdos ex sets the tone for many of the best cards in Team Rocket Returns, as they primarily include Pokemon designated as Team Rocket’s. This card is one of the most valuable Zapdos cards, though the Pokemon are mostly lost in the dark shadows.
While it’s difficult to appreciate this Pokemon and its yellow coat in all its glory, its sales history reminds us of how difficult it can be to find this card.
Damaged copies might drop to as low as $34, but a lightly played (LP) copy commanded almost $240 while some near-mint (NM) copies sold for around the same price.
10
Rocket’s Suicune Ex (Ultra Rare) – $249.95
A Legendary Battle Against Hitmonchan
Suicune makes a splash among the best chase cards in Team Rocket Returns, as it shot up out of nowhere to break into the top spots. This legendary beast isn’t the only one to appear in Ex Team Rocket Returns, with another fiery entry still to come further up the list.
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Suicune sets the tone with stunning shiny cards.
This card is incredibly difficult to find in NM condition, but you can expect those copies to exceed the currently listed market price for this card. If you’re interested in picking up a damaged copy, you’ll pay in the neighborhood of $75, while HP cards can cost up to $150, followed by MP copies in the $150 to $200 range.
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Rocket’s Hitmonchan Ex (Ultra Rare) – $249.95
An Unexpected Draw
In a stunning turn of events, both Hitmonchan and Suicune sit at a deadlock near the $250 plateau, unable to separate themselves by even a penny. However, despite this card’s impressive market price, it can be picked up for far cheaper if you’re willing to compromise on its condition.
You can find MP copies anywhere between $100 to $125, while the cleanest NM copies cap out around this card’s market price. If you just want to own this card regardless of condition, then you’ll be excited to know that damaged copies sell for as little as $40.
8
Rocket’s Articuno Ex (Ultra Rare) – $270.00
The Birds Are Back In Town
Articuno surpasses Zapdos in the friendly battle between the legendary birds, with Articuno opening up some distance in front with a substantial lead.
As you might’ve guessed through the process of elimination, this placement of Articuno means Moltres reigns supreme, leaving “by how much?” as the only remaining question.
Articuno is similarly rare to the cards we’ve analyzed thus far, with recent sales of copies in damaged, MP, LP, and NM conditions. Damaged copies start at around $50, while NM copies will fetch the market price. If you’re looking for a nice discount off the market price, then LP cards sell closer to $160, a significant reduction.
7
Rocket’s Moltres EX (Ultra Rare) – $289.98
Soaring In Price
Rocket’s Moltres makes its mark with a small victory over its peers, Zapdos and Articuno, as it beats out the latter’s value by a relatively slim margin. Although its margin of victory is minuscule, this card is one of the most expensive Moltres cards ever and deserves recognition given its gorgeous art.
Moltres’s rarity continues the trend thus far, but there is a noticeable diversity of sales to reference in comparison to the other options. Damaged starts at $62, with a slight bump in price for heavily played (HP) to $80, followed by MP cards fetching about $113 and LP cards capping the top-end at $285.
6
Treecko Star (Ultra Rare) – $299.99
A Sneaky Valuable Star
Treecko takes the cake as the rarest card from Team Rocket Returns thus far, boasting a single sale on record in 2024. This Gold Star is one of the standout cards in Team Rocket Returns, as it bucks the trend of Rocket’s Pokemon and introduces the Star subset, which features shiny versions of popular Pokemon.
This card’s market price might be unavailable on TCGplayer due to its lack of sales, so the market price is subject to change drastically.
This card’s sole HP sale clocks in at $350.00 with an NM listing in an unrealistically high stratosphere. Despite the lack of sales and reasonable listings, Treecko Star earns its market price and is likely to jump in value once one in MP or better condition sells on TCGplayer.
5
Rocket’s Mewtwo Ex (Ultra Rare) – $300.00
A Mighty Pose
This ferocious depiction of Mewtwo might be one of the most intimidating interpretations of this Pokemon, and easily stands out among the most valuable Mewtwo cards. The dark yellow and brown shades in the background are muted enough to allow Mewtwo’s purple and white color palette to claim center stage.
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Rocket’s Mewtwo ex is incredibly hard to find in NM condition, with a single sale of $1,999.99 for the cleanest copy, followed by an LP which hit the $500 mark, indicating that Rocket’s Mewtwo is set to rise.
4
Rocket’s Entei Ex (Ultra Rare) – $319.50
Catching Fire
This dazzling Rocket’s Entei easily earns a spot among Entei’s most expensive cards, as this Pokemon is the most valuable Legendary Pokemon in Team Rocket Returns.
Entei is surprisingly more straightforward to find than most of the other expensive Rocket’s cards, as HP cards have registered $100 sales. MP cards jump into the $140 range while LP can soar toward $250, followed finally by NM cards that commanded as much as $345.
3
Mudkip Star (Ultra Rare) – $417.99
Settling For A Co-Star
Mudkip makes a massive splash as one of the most valuable cards in Team Rocket Returns, though it’s not the best Gold Star in the expansion. Despite settling for a second (really third) fiddle placement here, Mudkip still touts an adorable depiction worth collecting.
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An MP copy is the only sale on TCGplayer in 2024 at the market price, making it hard to say what other copies are worth. However, there is a single listing at $1,999, which is what you should expect to pay for some of the cleaner copies of Mudkip Star.
This card’s market price might be unavailable on TCGplayer due to its lack of sales, so the market price is subject to change drastically.
2
Rocket’s Snorlax Ex (Ultra Rare) – $599.99
Feasting On Wallets
Snorlax is known for eating exorbitant amounts of food and then taking excessively long naps, and while it’s hard to say if Snorlax is waking up or preparing to sleep in this art, there’s no arguing this card’s place as one of the best Snorlax cards.
Rocket’s Snorlax Ex is one of the most frequently sold cards from Team Rocket Returns on TCGplayer, boasting records in a variety of conditions. HP cards sell for about $145, while MP jumps into the $250 to $350 range, followed by LP copies for $600.
1
Torchic Star (Ultra Rare) – $2,499.99
The Star Of The Show
Torchic Star easily claims the crown of the most valuable card from Team Rocket Returns, as it surpasses Rocket’s Snorlax ex by a wide margin, easily eclipsing its next closest competitor’s value.
Unfortunately, Torchic Star is also easily the rarest card in the set, with no recent sales available on TCGplayer despite its sky-high market price. However, despite its lack of sales, this card’s legendary status as one of the most difficult Gold Stars to find in good condition makes it the clear best chase card in Ex Team Rocket Returns.
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