Team Rocket's Crobat ex

Market outlook

Stable Outlook 7/10

As a modern SIR, the card should hold collector interest, but most copies will continue entering the market through openings and grading submissions. Prices usually stabilize after the initial release hype, then gradually depend on playability, artwork popularity, and graded population trends.

Next months. Expect volatility tied to set opening hype, grading returns, and competitive interest; raw prices may soften after release excitement, while gem-mint copies should remain relatively resilient.

Long term. Over 1-3 years, the card is likely to trend modestly upward if Team Rocket nostalgia stays strong and print supply absorbs over time, with the best long-term performance likely in graded 10 or equivalent top-grade copies.

History

Team Rocket's Crobat ex is a modern Pokémon TCG character card built around Crobat, the Bat Pokémon from the Johto era, reimagined as part of Team Rocket's lineup. Crobat itself evolves from Golbat and is known in the video games and broader Pokémon franchise as a fast, aggressive, poison-themed bat Pokémon. In the Team Rocket context, it references the villain organization from the Pokémon universe, adding nostalgic appeal for collectors who grew up with the original Team Rocket theme while also tying into the current Scarlet & Violet-era storyline and mechanics.

First released in the English-language Pokémon TCG set Scarlet & Violet—Destined Rivals in 2025, card number 234/182 as a Special Illustration Rare. The card is part of the initial print wave for that set and appears alongside the lower-rarity Team Rocket's Crobat ex printing in the same expansion.

• This card is the Special Illustration Rare version of Team Rocket's Crobat ex, making it one of the most collectible versions of the card.
• The set also contains other rarities of Team Rocket's Crobat ex, including a Double Rare and higher-end secret/ultra variants, which creates a tiered collector market around the same Pokémon.
• Its artwork and Team Rocket branding make it attractive both to competitive players who like the card's gameplay utility and to collectors focused on iconic villains and illustration rares.

Rarity and print run

Tier

Secret Rare

Print run

High

First printed in

Scarlet & Violet—Destined Rivals

Demand

High

Supply

Medium

• Special Illustration Rare treatment with premium artwork and lower pull rate than regular ex cards
• Collector demand boosted by Team Rocket branding and fan-favorite Crobat line
• Competition from other chase cards in the same expansion can temper short-term price spikes
• Modern print volume is substantial, so raw copies are not truly scarce even if top grades are harder to obtain

Collector notes

Condition. Check the card for edge whitening, corner dings, surface scratches, print lines, centering, and any dents or roller marks in the holo/foil area. Special Illustration Rares are especially sensitive to front-surface scuffs and edge wear because the full-art finish makes flaws easier to see.

Storage. Store in a penny sleeve and semi-rigid or top loader immediately after opening, and keep graded-worthy copies in a clean, dry environment away from sunlight and humidity. For long-term preservation, use side-loading binders only with high-quality sleeves, and avoid frequent handling of the face surface.

Authenticity. Verify correct set symbol, card number 234/182, texture pattern, and print quality. Counterfeits often have blurry text, incorrect foil behavior, poor texture depth, off-color borders, or inconsistent font spacing. For high-value copies, compare against official scans from the Pokémon card gallery and consider professional grading.