Hi. In this post I cover the evolution line of Team Rocket's Ampharos from Japan's The Glory of Team Rocket set. The Team Rocket (physical) cards will join the cards from Heat Wave Arena as a part of the Destined Rivals set.
Destined Rivals items have been officially revealed on March 24, 2025. Here are some product pictures. Source
Team Rocket has taken control of a Mareep. This Mareep has 60 HP, one retreat cost and Fighting weakness. The second attack is not very good at one Lightning Energy for 10 damage. Provision as the first attack is okay. Search your deck for an Item card and put it into your hand. An item search attack is okay but you can countered by Iono or Budew.
Team Rocket's Flaaffy is the Stage 1 evolution of Team Rocket's Mareep. This has 90 HP, two retreat cost and Fighting weakness. It has only one attack in the form of Thunder Shock. The attack requires one Lightning energy and one Colourless energy to deal 50 damage plus a coin flip chance of paralysis.
This is the final evolution of Team Rocket's Mareep. Team Rocket's Ampharos has 140 HP, two retreat cost and Fighting weakness. The Head Bolt attack is somewhat costly at one Lightning Energy and two Colourless Energy to deal 140 damage. The Darkest Impulse ability activates whenever your oppoennt plays a Pokemon from their hand to evolve 1 of their Pokemon during their turn. Upon evolution from the opponent's hand this ability places 4 damage counters on that evolved Pokemon. This effect does not stack as in you cannot have another Team Rocket's Ampharos use this ability.
This Ampharos does not seem very good. The attack is hard to pull off and the ability is too niche. Too many cards required to get a Stage 2 Pokemon that is not useful. If the opponent does not play any evolution Pokemon then this Team Rocket's Ampharos sees no use.
Thank you for reading.
