Pokemon has announced with a trailer that Pokemon Trainer cards will finally return to the trading card game in 2025, confirming several of the characters included.
The news was announced during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Pokémon World Championships, which took place in Honolulu, Hawaii, from August 16 to 18.
This awesome trailer shows off several cards and Trainers that will be included in future Pokémon Trading Card Game expansions starting next year. Below are all of the Trainer’s Pokémon confirmed so far.
Lillie’s Piepi
The Pokemon CompanyThe Trainer’s Return Pokémon cards include Lillie from Pokémon Sun and Moon and Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, as well as her Clefairy.
Lillie is a main character in the Alola games. She serves as a friend and traveling companion to the player, and protects a Cosmog she names Nebby. Although she is not initially a trainer, she becomes one after the events of the main story.
Outside of Nebby, Lillie is usually associated with Clefairy. She is often seen with a Poke Doll – an item that resembles Clefairy – which she gives to the player at the end of Sun and Moon. In USUM, she uses Clefairy during Episode RR.
Marnie’s Grimmsnarl
The Pokemon CompanyMarnie’s Grimsnarl will also be among the trainer’s new Pokémon cards. Both debuted as part of Pokémon Sword and Shield and hail from the Galar region.
In these games, Marnie is a rival and Dark specialist who eventually takes on the role of Spikemuth’s Gym Leader.
Although Marnie is often seen with a Morpeko, her top Pokémon for late and post-battles is her Grimmsnarl, which she often Gigantamaxes.
N’s Zoroark and Reshiram
N from Pokémon Black and White and Black 2 and White 2 is the only Trainer so far confirmed to receive more than one Trainer’s Pokémon card, with both his Zoroark and Reshiram revealed in the trailer.
In Black and White, N starts out as the antagonist and leader of Team Plasma. However, it turns out that he is being used as a puppet by the group’s true leader, Ghetsis.
In B2W2, N returns to rescue the new player character with the legendary dragon he captured in the previous game – in White 2, it is Reshiram.
Zoroark is also heavily associated with N, appearing frequently with him in the games and in official artwork. Some fans even suspect that N is actually a Zoroark.
Swiss stone pine
The Pokemon CompanyAlthough we don’t see his face or a card, Arven has been hinted at as another trainer coming to the TCG next year. The rival and friend of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is seen in the trailer making a sandwich alongside his Mabosstiff, who plays an important role in his story.
Misty
The Pokemon CompanyAlthough it is not clearly shown in the trailer, Misty’s reflection can be seen in the water along with Psyduck, a Pokémon that is strongly associated with the Water-type Pokémon Gym Leader from Kanto.
Although she doesn’t use it in most of her Gym battles (with the exception of Let’s Go Pikachu! and Let’s Go Eevee!), in the Pokemon anime Misty famously owns a Psyduck that constantly pops out of its Poké Ball and often causes her trouble. She also uses Golduck in most of her post-game battles.
Ethan
The Pokemon CompanyThe trailer also confirms that the often overlooked Johto protagonist Ethan will be among the new trainer’s Pokémon cards. Despite being a main character of a popular generation, Ethan has never been seen in the TCG.
Team Rocket
The Pokemon CompanyAlthough no specific characters or Pokémon were revealed, the trailer ended with the Team Rocket logo, indicating that TCG players should prepare for trouble.
That’s all the Pokémon Trainer cards we know about so far! For more on the Pokémon TCG, check out our guides to all upcoming Pokémon TCG releases and everything we know about Pokémon TCG Pocket so far.
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