Team Rockets Crobat ex
Quick take
- Most affordable Team Rocket SIR in Destined Rivals at approximately $67
- Crobat is the fully-evolved form of Team Rocket's most iconic Pokemon line (Zubat)
- Entry point for collectors building the Team Rocket SIR subset
- Canonical Team Rocket association recognized by all original game and anime fans
Collector's readWhat it means for your master set
Set landscapeWhere this card sits in Destined Rivals
VariantsCard variants
Holofoil 234/182 · $54.34 — the only variant this card was printed in (no reverse holo or special pattern), so a master set needs just this one copy.
The storyTeam Rocket's Signature Pokemon, Fully Evolved
If any Pokemon has an inseparable association with Team Rocket, it's the Zubat line. Every cave in the original Pokemon games was littered with Team Rocket Zubats. Every Team Rocket grunt in the anime had a Zubat. It became a running joke in the Pokemon community — the ultimate Team Rocket Pokemon, ubiquitous and slightly annoying.
“Most affordable Team Rocket SIR in Destined Rivals at approximately $67”
Crobat is what that Pokemon becomes at its apex. The full four-stage evolution chain, achieved through Zubat's happiness, makes Crobat an earned Pokemon. A Team Rocket Crobat represents organizational resources and commitment — this isn't a grunt's Zubat, it's a well-trained battle-ready evolution.
In Destined Rivals, Team Rocket's Crobat ex carries that entire cultural history. Collectors who played the original games understand exactly what they're looking at. The irony of Crobat's happiness evolution requirement — a Pokemon that can only evolve through being well-treated — owned by Team Rocket adds a layer of storytelling to the card.
By the numbersMarket analysis
Sixth in the Destined Rivals SIR hierarchy at approximately $67. The most affordable Team Rocket Pokemon SIR while still carrying the Team Rocket subset premium. Compare to generic non-Team-Rocket SIRs in the set, which generally trend lower without the faction branding.
Stable with the subset demand providing a floor. As the most affordable Team Rocket SIR, it's also the most accessible for collectors who want to participate in the subset without committing to the full cost of Nidoking, Moltres, and Mewtwo cards simultaneously.
Subset demand provides stability. Crobat's canonical Team Rocket association is durable — it's referenced across game generations whenever Team Rocket appears. The card benefits from being the affordable anchor of a collectible subset rather than standing alone as a mid-tier SIR.
PSA 10 and CGC 10 copies sell for approximately $90 to $110. At this price range, grading is borderline — submission costs eat into the premium. Recommended only for clearly exceptional copies.
Approximately 1 in 36 packs for any SIR in Destined Rivals. Multiple SIRs in the set mean this specific card is not guaranteed from a single booster box.
Sixth in the Destined Rivals SIR value hierarchy. Most affordable Team Rocket Pokemon SIR. The Team Rocket subset premium places it above non-Team-Rocket SIRs of comparable Pokemon. The subset dynamic is this card's primary value driver beyond standalone Crobat appeal.
ArtworkWhy the art matters
Sanosuke Sakuma brings a dynamic style to Pokemon that emphasizes speed and movement. Crobat's fast-flying nature suits this artistic approach — the card should convey a Pokemon built for velocity.
Team Rocket's Crobat ex is depicted in high-speed flight, wings blurred at the edges to convey velocity. The Team Rocket visual language — dark backgrounds, organizational framing — situates the Pokemon firmly within the villain faction. Crobat's distinctive four-winged silhouette is immediately recognizable against the dark field. Purple and near-black tones dominate with Team Rocket red accents.
The dark aesthetic works well with the SIR holofoil — similar to other Team Rocket SIRs in the set. The speed blur elements in the artwork interact with the foil treatment to create motion depth when the card is tilted. The purple-on-dark color scheme is more subtle than the fire-and-lightning SIRs but effective.
The Team Rocket framing here is the point. A standard Crobat SIR would be a nice card. A Team Rocket Crobat SIR is a cultural reference that the entire Pokemon community recognizes. The joke lands because everyone knows about Team Rocket Zubats.
BackgroundAbout Team Rockets Crobat ex
Crobat is the final evolution of Zubat, introduced in Generation II via a happiness-based evolution from Golbat. The Zubat line became synonymous with Team Rocket in the original games — every cave and Team Rocket hideout was filled with them. Crobat has remained a recurring Team Rocket Pokemon in subsequent game appearances. The happiness evolution mechanic makes it notable for being a Pokemon that can only evolve through positive treatment, which creates a deliberate irony when owned by Team Rocket.
- ›Entire Zubat line is definitionally associated with Team Rocket
- ›Crobat is the earned evolution of the most common Team Rocket Pokemon
- ›Cross-generational recognition — every game player knows Team Rocket Zubats
- ›Community meme status for Team Rocket Zubat encounters in caves
- ›Happiness evolution mechanic creates ironic storytelling with Team Rocket ownership
- ›Virtually every Team Rocket cave encounter in the games
- ›Team Rocket anime appearances across multiple series
- ›Pokemon Gold, Silver, Crystal — Rocket Hideout encounters
- ›Multiple Pokemon GO Team Rocket encounters
Crobat has been a competitive staple in various formats due to its high speed stat and useful ability in Inner Focus and Infiltrator. As a TCG card at this price, it's primarily collected rather than played.
Own it wellCollector guide
Dark artwork backgrounds on Team Rocket SIRs are more forgiving of minor surface imperfections than light-background cards. Standard centering and edge inspection apply. The dark borders show whitening from pack handling — inspect all four edges.
At $67 raw, grading is marginal from a pure ROI perspective. Recommended only for exceptional copies that clearly have PSA/CGC 10 potential. Centering must be close to perfect for submission to make financial sense. Read the grading guide →
Standard SIR protection: perfect-fit inner sleeve, outer sleeve, rigid holder. Dark borders show edge wear more clearly than artwork-bordered cards. See the storage guide →
Most accessible of the Team Rocket SIRs. Consistent supply on TCGPlayer and eBay. Good starting point for collectors who want to enter the Team Rocket subset without committing to Mewtwo prices immediately. See the singles buying guide →
Protect your card
High Chase Score — protect and consider grading. · Amazon affiliate links · Storage guideWord on the streetCommunity sentiment
Well received as the completion piece for the Team Rocket SIR subset's lower tier. The Zubat-line Team Rocket connection is universally recognized and generates affectionate nostalgia. Pack openers who pull this card in Team Rocket-specific breaks treat it as appropriate thematic completion.
Frequently appears in Team Rocket subset completion posts. The Zubat Team Rocket association generates genuine community humor and nostalgia in a way that more serious legendary cards don't. It's the card in the subset with the most accessible cultural joke behind it.
Good to knowFrequently asked questions
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