Trainer Pokemon Cards are Back!

During the closing ceremony of the Pokemon 2024 world championship, a teaser video showcasing the return of Trainer Pokemon was shown. The audience exploded in excitement to see that trainer Pokémon have made their way back into the TCG after 25 years (Cards are scheduled to be released in 2025).

In the teaser video, there are noticeable trainers who we can expect to be in the set along with their Pokemon. Here are some of the trainers and Pokemon we know that will part of this set or series of cards.

• Lillie’s Clefairy ex
• Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex
• N’s Zoroark ex & Reshiram (basic)

If you haven’t gotten the chance to watch the video. Watch the teaser video here.

A Brief History of Trainer & Team Pokemon cards in the TCG

The Team Rocket set from Pokemon's Base set introduced Dark Pokemon that belong to Team Rocket in April 2000 (this isn't a trainer Pokemon but they are associated to a team).

The introduction of Trainer Pokemon’s was in the Gym Heroes set that was released in August of 2000 from the Gym Heroes series. This set introduced Pokemon from the Kanto region’s Gym leaders and Team Rocket. It included Brock, Misty, Lt. Surge, Sabrina, and Erika. The following set Gym Challenge added more Gym leaders and their Pokémon into the TCG. This set introduced Blaine, Giovanni, Koga and included more Pokémon from Brock, Misty, Erick, Lt. Surge, Sabrina, and Team Rocket.

2 years later in February 2002 Neo Destiny Set from Neo Genesis Series reintroduced more Dark Pokemon.

In 2004 Team Magma & Aqua Pokemon were introduced in the EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua set in the EX Ruby & Sapphire Series.

In 2015 Team Magma & Aqua Pokémon Pokemon had a resurgence in the Double Crisis set from the XY series.

7 Years later in 2022 we saw the introduction of Trainer Gallery Cards in the Sword and Shield Series for the following sets.

• Brilliant Stars
• Astral Radiance
• Lost Origin
• Silver Tempest

Trainer Gallery cards became their own type of Pokemon card which had never been seen before, which kind of hinted 'No more' Trainer Pokemon cards. Now with the recent announcement of Trainer Pokemon cards we can be certain we are receiving a new batch of cards in 2025.

Here are some of our speculations on what to expect in the upcoming Trainer Pokemon set/cards:

• Seems like we can also except Arven to be part of the list of trainers included in the set.
  
• Misty perhaps with psyduck being shown in the video
  
• A young red with his pichu?
  
• New Dark or Team Rocket pokemon cards.