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Home/Expansions/Scarlet & Violet Destined Rivals/Team Rockets Giovanni
Team Rockets Giovanni Supporter
#238/182Illus. Krgc
Special Illustration Rare

Team Rockets Giovanni

#238/182 · from Destined Rivals · released May 30, 2025
Track this card
Holofoil
76/ 100
A-Tier Chase

Cardrake Chase Score

A top chase card for this set.

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Quick take

  • Giovanni is the leader of Team Rocket — the central villain of the Kanto story
  • Trainer SIR at approximately $32 — the most accessible Team Rocket SIR
  • Giovanni is simultaneously the Viridian City gym leader in the original games
  • Conceptual capstone to the Team Rocket SIR subset in Destined Rivals

Collector's readWhat it means for your master set

Set position
11 of 409
Among the higher-value cards in the set
Demand vs rarity Est.
0.4×
Below its rarity · others at this rarity sell for about $53.96
Cost to complete
≈2%
of the ~$1522 to finish Destined Rivals
Completion difficulty Est.
Medium
A moderate pickup for the set
Where it sits in the price lifecycle
Release Hype
Post-Release Correction
Stable / Reprint Risk
End-of-Print Spike
Out-of-Print Maturation
Buy timingDestined Rivals is still in print, so prices can soften if it gets reprinted. No rush unless you spot a good deal.
Still in print · pricing trending down · estimated

Set landscapeWhere this card sits in Destined Rivals

fewermore cards
Common
85
85
Uncommon
58
3
1
62
Rare
17
1
18
Double Rare
1
14
2
17
Ultra Rare
1
17
3
1
22
Illustration Rare
11
8
4
23
Special Illustration Rare
5
4
2
11
Hyper Rare
3
2
1
6
all
161
19
31
14
12
5
2
244
0.5
1
5
15
50
150
150+
Columns = resale price up to $X (log) · shade = cards in cell (log) · right & bottom = totals · white ring = this card

VariantsCard variants

Holofoil 238/182 · $22.94 — the only variant this card was printed in (no reverse holo or special pattern), so a master set needs just this one copy.

Team Rocket's Giovanni is the leader of Team Rocket himself, depicted in a full SIR trainer card from Destined Rivals at approximately $32. Giovanni is the most important character in the original Pokemon villain narrative — the gym leader who is secretly running the region's crime organization. As a trainer SIR at the more accessible end of the price range, this card appeals to collectors who want the Team Rocket leadership represented without the Pokemon ex price tier. The inclusion of Giovanni as a trainer SIR rather than a Pokemon ex SIR reflects a design choice to give the organization's leader a card that represents his role directly. He commands Team Rocket; his card commands Team Rocket's Pokemon. That thematic consistency makes Team Rocket's Giovanni a satisfying capstone to the Team Rocket SIR collecting experience in Destined Rivals.

The storyThe Team Rocket Boss Gets His Proper SIR

Giovanni has appeared on Pokemon cards before, but a full-art SIR depicting the Team Rocket boss in his role as the organization's leader is a different treatment. In Destined Rivals, Giovanni serves as the conceptual head of the Team Rocket SIR subset — his presence gives the organization a face, and his Pokemon (represented by the other Team Rocket SIRs) get their context.

“Giovanni is the leader of Team Rocket — the central villain of the Kanto story”

As a character, Giovanni occupies a unique position in Pokemon lore. He's simultaneously the final gym leader in Kanto (Viridian City, Ground-type specialty) and the boss of Team Rocket. The dual identity was the original games' biggest plot twist for many young players. That reveal is embedded in the card's identity.

At $32, Team Rocket's Giovanni is accessible. It's the most affordable way to add the Team Rocket SIR aesthetic to a collection, and it rounds out the subset by including the actual leader. Collectors building the complete Team Rocket SIR group have a natural reason to pursue it.

By the numbersMarket analysis

Price context

Most affordable SIR in the Destined Rivals chase tier at approximately $32. Trainer SIRs generally trend lower than Pokemon ex SIRs, and the Team Rocket subset premium elevates this above generic trainer SIRs while Giovanni's villain status prevents it from reaching Ethan's Ho-Oh ex territory.

Price trend

Stable at the accessible price point. Collector demand is consistent from the Team Rocket and Gen 1 villain nostalgia communities. Not a speculative target, but steady.

Investment outlook

Stable rather than growth-oriented. The Team Rocket subset dynamic provides demand longevity. Giovanni's character recognition is durable across collector generations. Not a primary investment vehicle but a satisfying completion piece for subset builders.

Demand drivers
Giovanni is the primary villain of the original Pokemon gamesTeam Rocket SIR subset — Giovanni as the leader completes the organizational pictureGen 1 nostalgia — Giovanni is recognized across all collector demographicsDual identity (gym leader and crime boss) makes him a uniquely compelling characterAccessible price point broadens the buyer pool
Graded premium

At $32 raw, grading costs exceed any realistic premium. This card is purchased raw by virtually all collectors.

Approx. pull rate

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.

Rarity context

Most affordable SIR in Destined Rivals at approximately $32. Trainer SIRs in modern sets generally trend to this price range when the character has collector appeal but isn't a Pokemon ex. The Team Rocket association provides a premium over generic trainer SIRs.

ArtworkWhy the art matters

Card artwork
Artist · Atsushi Furusawa

Atsushi Furusawa brings a dramatic, character-focused style to trainer cards. Villain characters in particular benefit from artwork that conveys authority and menace without resorting to caricature.

The artwork

Giovanni is depicted in the composed, authoritative manner befitting the Team Rocket boss. Suited, controlled, positioned in a commanding stance. The Team Rocket aesthetic — dark backgrounds, red organizational branding — frames him properly. A Persian or other signature Pokemon may appear as a design element. The composition conveys power through stillness rather than action.

Technical details

Character-portrait SIR cards with dark backgrounds benefit from the holofoil treatment in the environmental and organizational design elements rather than the character figure itself. The Team Rocket red accents interact with the foil for a distinctive visual effect consistent with the other Team Rocket SIRs in the set.

What makes it special

Giovanni doesn't need to be doing anything dramatic. The character's menace comes from composure. An artwork of Giovanni simply present and in control captures the original games' portrayal more accurately than any battle-action scene would. The SIR format gives him space to be the character he is.

BackgroundAbout Team Rockets Giovanni

Giovanni is the leader of Team Rocket and the Viridian City gym leader — the final gym leader in Kanto, specializing in Ground types. The reveal that the gym leader you face at the end of your gym badge quest is also the villain you've been fighting throughout the game was the original Pokemon's biggest narrative twist. In the anime, Giovanni is a recurring antagonist who commands Jessie, James, and Meowth from behind the scenes. His Persian is his most iconic companion Pokemon. He appears throughout multiple game sequels whenever Team Rocket resurfaces.

Why fans love it
  • ›The original Pokemon villain — recognizable across all collector demographics
  • ›The gym leader / crime boss dual identity is the franchise's first major plot twist
  • ›Persian as a companion adds a characterful design element to his appearances
  • ›Appeared in anime across multiple series as Team Rocket's commanding presence
  • ›Ground-type gym specialty — the challenge before the Pokemon League
Notable appearances
  • ›Pokemon Red and Blue — Viridian City gym leader and Team Rocket boss
  • ›Pokemon Gold and Silver — referenced in Team Rocket's collapse
  • ›Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver — plot antagonist in Team Rocket revival
  • ›Original Pokemon anime — recurring antagonist
  • ›Pokemon Masters EX — playable character

Own it wellCollector guide

Condition notes

Dark backgrounds typical of Team Rocket SIRs hide minor surface imperfections better than lighter-background trainer cards. Standard centering and edge inspection apply. The Team Rocket SIRs in this set have shown generally consistent print quality.

Grading recommendation

At $32 raw, grading is not financially viable for most copies. Skip grading and store raw in a rigid holder. Read the grading guide →

Storage advice

Perfect-fit inner sleeve, outer sleeve, rigid top-loader or magnetic case. Dark borders show edge wear more clearly than artwork-bordered cards — handle carefully from opening. See the storage guide →

Buying advice

Widely available on TCGPlayer at consistent pricing. Team Rocket subset collectors may find this is the easiest of the four Team Rocket SIRs to acquire, both by price and by supply. See the singles buying guide →

Protect your card

High Chase Score — protect and consider grading. · Amazon affiliate links · Storage guide
Inner sleeveVault X Exact Fit SleevesA snug perfect-fit inner layer — double-sleeve valuable cards with these before the matte sleeve goes on.View on Amazon →Outer sleeveDragon Shield Matte SleevesMatte, archival-safe outer sleeves — the everyday standard for keeping surfaces and edges clean.View on Amazon →Rigid holderCardboard Gold Top LoadersPSA-recommended acid-free top loaders — rigid protection against bends and scratches on raw high-value cards.View on Amazon →Premium binderDragon Shield Card Codex 360A 360-card side-loading portfolio with a padded cover for long-term, display-safe storage.View on Amazon →

Word on the streetCommunity sentiment

Reception

Appreciated as a Team Rocket subset completion piece. Giovanni as a character generates consistent positive recognition from Gen 1 collectors. The card appears primarily in subset completion content and Team Rocket-focused pack opening discussions rather than as a standalone chase target.

Social buzz

Active in Team Rocket SIR subset completion discussions. The 'boss card' framing resonates — having Giovanni in the same display as his Pokemon SIRs creates a thematically complete Team Rocket collection from a single set.

Good to knowFrequently asked questions

Giovanni is the leader of Team Rocket and the Viridian City gym leader in Kanto. He specializes in Ground types as a gym leader, but his true goal is using Team Rocket to steal rare Pokemon and take over the world. The reveal that the gym leader at the end of the gym challenge is also the primary villain is the original games' biggest plot twist. He appears as an antagonist in Pokemon Gold and Silver's Team Rocket revival plot and in the original anime series.
The Team Rocket faction branding, Giovanni's character significance as the organization's leader, and the SIR production quality combine to create collector demand. Trainer SIRs of important characters can carry meaningful value even without being Pokemon ex cards. At $32, this is the most accessible Team Rocket SIR in Destined Rivals.
The four Team Rocket Pokemon SIRs in Destined Rivals (Mewtwo ex, Nidoking ex, Moltres ex, Crobat ex) represent Giovanni's Pokemon. Team Rocket's Giovanni is the boss who commands them. For collectors building a complete Team Rocket display from Destined Rivals, having Giovanni alongside his Pokemon SIRs creates a thematically coherent collection.
At $32 raw, grading costs exceed any realistic premium a grade adds. This card is purchased and stored raw by virtually all collectors. Reserve grading for the Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex at the top of the set's hierarchy.
Persian is Giovanni's most iconic companion — he strokes it in the original anime's villain sequences, and it became a symbol of his authority. In the original games, his gym team includes Nidoking and Rhyhorn among others. Nidoking's inclusion in the Team Rocket SIR subset connects directly to Giovanni's game team.

Keep collectingRelated cards

Team Rockets Mewtwo exTeam Rocket SIR subsetTeam Rockets Mewtwo exEthans AdventureSame set trainer SIREthans Adventure
Game data
Type
Trainer
Element
Trainer - Supporter
Stage
Supporter
Rarity
Special Illustration Rare
Artist
Krgc

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