The coming of Destined Rivals, set to release on 30 May, signals that the Scarlet & Violet era of the Pokémon TCG is reaching a crescendo. High-class sets composed of huge chase cards are what typically round off time spent exploring a region. But with Destined Rivals, we are getting that and more.
For Destined Rivals will be our first reintroduction to Team Rocket in the TCG since 2004, a whole 21 years since EX Team Rocket Returns. Naturally, Trainers are simmering with excitement at the prospect of seeing familiar villainous faces. Though it’s not just the bad guys back in town.
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Destined Rivals includes cards from the Japanese Heat Wave Arena subset and the two ex Battle Decks: Marnie's Morpeko and Grimmsnarl ex, and Steven's Beldum and Metagross ex. This means it’ll reconnect us with some timeless Trainers too – some of which we’ll explore below.
So let’s take a look at the most valuable cards in Destined Rivals, the tenth expansion in the Scarlet and Violet era.
1. Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex (Special Illustration Rare)
No card in Destined Rivals captures the set’s villainous spirit quite like the Special Illustration Rare, Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex.
This card showcases Mewtwo as the ultimate weapon in Team Rocket’s arsenal, depicted in a menacing stance behind Giovanni, whose steadfast presence reinforces the wild power dynamic between Trainer and Pokémon.
Illustrated by the artist Iwamoto05, a relatively new contributor to the Pokémon TCG, the card feels like an insight into the underworld, neatly capturing those villainous vibes.
With a staggering 280HP, unprecedented for a basic Pokémon outside of tag teams, Mewtwo ex is as formidable in play as it is in the collection.
The card’s attack, Deletion Sphere, can unleash devastating damage when backed up by other Team Rocket Pokémon, reaching up to 280 in a single blow.
However, wielding this power isn’t easy: Mewtwo can only attack if you have at least three other Team Rocket’s Pokémon in play, making it a true centerpiece for dedicated Rocket-themed decks.
The artwork and mechanics together evoke the high stakes and ambition of Team Rocket, making this card a must-have for collectors and competitive players alike.
Obviously, these factors, combined with the nostalgia of Team Rocket and Gen I, make this card a top chase.
2. Cynthia’s Garchomp ex (Special Illustration Rare)
Engrossed in the midst of a fiery battle, facing headstrong against an opponent in an imposing stadium arena, it’s no wonder the artwork for Cynthia’s Garchomp ex has captured the minds of collectors and competitors alike.
Figures from Japan reinforce this too, telling us that Cynthia’s popularity as a character, widely recognised as one of the most powerful in the franchise, has not waned since our time in Sinnoh.
And this, combined with the fact we have an artwork from HICO KIM showing Trainer and Pokémon together, means the card is pricey.
Though it’s deserving. Delving into the artwork, we see Cynthia adopting a domineering stance behind the field of battle, her figure projected onto a large stadium screen as the limelight follows her.
In front, her Garchomp decimates the ground, slamming its fin-like forearms down. We can only imagine the reverberations up close.
It’s a wonderful homage to gen four, and it’s clear the market appreciates it too.
3. Team Rocket’s Moltres ex (Special Art Rare)
Team Rocket’s Moltres ex was always going to be highly anticipated. The other two legendary birds had received sublime prints in the Scarlet and Violet era, leaving just one to be revealed. And this unforgettable card has been worth the wait.
Moltres is depicted with its signature fiery wings unfurled, flames rendered in wispy, dynamic strokes that seem to shimmer off the card.
Archer, one of Team Rocket’s key lieutenants, stands coolly in the background, his presence hammering home the card’s villainous theme. The cityscape behind them, shared with other Rocket cards in the set, adds a sense of scale and drama to the glow of embers. And ultimately, the interplay of light and shadow make the card come alive.
While it remains to be seen how viable the 220HP Pokémon is in the field, one thing is for sure – the card will captivate the collecting community and command a striking value.
Already, the Japanese print of the card has reached above £200. Expect this excellence from AKIRA EGAWA, the artist behind the Charizard ex from Obsidian Flames, to do much the same.
4. Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex (Special Illustration Rare)
sing slick sanguine colours and a stylish skybound angle, Atsushi Furusawa’s design of this Special Illustration Rare shows Ethan and Ho-Oh in a beautiful portrayal that captures their famous ties.
Panning toward the flying Ho-Oh from the ground, the artwork shows Etha looking up at the legendary Pokémon with an expression of defiant awe.
Ho-Oh, sweeping above the Trainer with its wings spread frame to frame, looks every bit as mystically as Pokémon lore alludes to.
Certain legendaries will always have that hold in the Pokémon community and perform well. Ho-Oh is one such example; from neat Neo series styles to this modern Trainer-Pokémon print, the Johto icon just gets it. But will we be able to get our hands on it…
5. Team Rocket’s Nidoking ex (Special Art Rare)
Team Rocket’s Nidoking ex is a true powerhouse in Destined Rivals, both in terms of gameplay and collectability.
Boasting a massive 330 HP, Nidoking ex stands as one of the bulkiest Stage 2 Pokémon in the set, making it a formidable presence on the battlefield. Its first attack, Dirty Horns, delivers 100 damage and poisons the opponent’s Active Pokémon-cranking up the pressure by placing eight damage counters during each Pokémon Checkup instead of just one. The second attack, King’s Impact, hits for a staggering 240 damage, though it does require a significant energy investment.
For collectors, it’ll be the artwork that will win them over. The card features Giovanni alongside his signature Nidoking, perfectly capturing the menacing aura of Team Rocket’s leader. Nidoking is shown in a dynamic, aggressive pose, and is brought to life with a dark, gritty palette and commanding composition that make this card a standout among the set’s villainous line-up. With this, it combines both competitive viability and Pokemon narrative.
Pricing of the Japanese version from Glory of Team Rocket already places the print near the £100 mark, so don’t expect the English version to be shying away from pricing charts.
6. Team Rocket’s Crobat ex (Special Art Rare)
The Crobat evolution line has long been synonymous with Team Rocket’s antics. Too often, Trainers will bump into a grunt ready to do battle with an often-annoying Zubat – and that has long left a mark, one way or another.
Now, we have Team Rocket’s Crobat ex, which is a true showpiece in the Destined Rivals set. Crobat ex is depicted mid-flight, leading a swirling flock of Golbat and Zubat through the night sky, with a Team Rocket Grunt rallying the charge below.
The artwork, illustrated by cochi8i, offers a layered effect of multiple Pokémon in motion and gives the card a sense of depth and excitement rarely seen in Crobat’s TCG history.
The dark, moody palette and the glint of Crobat’s red eyes add to the card’s menacing, villainous flair, making it a must-have for collectors who appreciate both competitive utility and artwork.
While the likes of Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex and Team Rocket’s Moltres ex are new iterations of vintage cards, Team Rocket's Crobat ex is a new card in its own right. We had a Dark Crobat, but nothing quite like this new artwork.
Naturally, that means fans are excited and the Destined Rivals design is primed to hold substantial value.
7. Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex (Hyper Rare)
The Hyper Rare version of Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex elevates the card’s prestige with a shimmering gold foil treatment that accentuates every detail of its imposing design.
This card retains the same formidable stats and attack as its Special Illustration Rare counterpart, including the ability to unleash up to 280 damage with its signature attack when supported by a full bench of Team Rocket’s Pokémon.
Visually, the gold Hyper Rare finish brings an extra layer of luxury and collectability. Mewtwo’s test tube-like, embryonic stance gleams against the radiant background, and Giovanni’s silhouette in the background further cements the Pokémon narrative of Mewtwo as Team Rocket’s ultimate weapon.
The combination of competitive potential and premium aesthetics ensures this Hyper Rare will remain one of the most coveted pulls in Destined Rivals.
8. Cynthia’s Garchomp ex (Hyper Rare)
Draped in gold, the Hyper Rare adopts the trademark style we’ve seen introduced in Journey Together where the Trainer is faded to the back and the Pokémon takes up the primary position in the art. Cynthia sent to the back, Garchomp grasping centre stage.
Standing stoically side on and roaring out of shot, the Dragon-type from Sinnoh looks truly menacing. Behind the Pokémon, the knock-back image of Cynthia shows a Trainer fully in control of every moment, casting her sight strategically over Garchomp and looking to orchestrate ongoings.
The fact that a second Hyper Rare places so high in the set, ousting so many other fantastic designs and Special Illustrations, is testament to the pull factor of Cynthia and Garchomp. True favourites from a scintillating era.
9. Misty's Psyduck (Illustration Rare)
The Illustration Rare of Misty’s Psyduck is one of the OGs from the Pokémon franchise’s origins, Misty is a gen one icon that has a famed favouring for Water-types…and leading a gym of her own in Cerulean City too. So for the 90s kids, the Kanto lovers, the artwork appreciators, and everyone else, Misty’s Psyduck is an absolute staple. Basically what we’re saying is the well-known OKACHEKE has created one heck of a card. Both Trainer and Pokémon are shown immersed in their watery world.
10. Team Rocket’s Giovanni (Special Illustration Rare)
Giovanni’s return as a Special Illustration Rare gives this Destined Rivals set an unmistakable villainous gravitas. The card presents the mastermind of Team Rocket with an imposing posture: flanked by shadows of his dark Pokémon, his gaze pierces through the art’s moody tones.
It’s a visual nod to the criminal aura he carries, updated for the Scarlet & Violet era. Fans appreciate the collector’s appeal—even if it's not the priciest card in the set, the design alone makes it a standout.
Its appeal comes not from rarity premium, but from the power of nostalgia and strong character branding—Giovanni isn’t just the boss; he’s the boss. This makes the card a definitive grab for collectors seeking to complete the Team Rocket gallery that Destined Rivals thoughtfully builds around.
What else should you look out for?
With over 250 cards and 85 Trainer’s Pokémon, there’s much to explore in Destines Rivals’ depiction of good versus evil. In fact, the footnotes here could be filled with cards that would likely appear in standouts in so many other sets. But Destined Rivals just goes so hard.
Ethan’s Adventure (Special Illustration Rare)
The first and only Supporter card on the list is Ethan’s Adventure. Designed by Kariya, this chase is another throwback to the early eras of Pokémon, taking us to Johto in a set largely premised on the nostalgia-factor of Team Rocket.
The affable Ethan, a typically popular protagonist, is seen in a stereotypical pose, running through the routes of his region with Slugma, Pichu, and Cyndaquil in tow. The backwards cap, fire-red jacket, and puffy trousers all make it feel like a time capsule artwork.
As ever, cards displaying both Trainers and the Pokémon together really pop off, igniting market prices and making Ethan’s Adventure one of the set’s most valuable cards.
Ethan’s Typhlosion (Illustration Rare)
Ethan’s Typhlosion Illustration Rare captures the fiery essence of Johto’s favored starter with striking intensity. In this full-art masterpiece, Typhlosion bursts from the battlefield, flames roaring around it, while Ethan—his signature cap turned backwards—shouts encouragement from the sidelines.
The dynamic composition channels pure nostalgia, recalling the evolution chain from Cyndaquil to Quilava to Typhlosion that so many players grew up with.
Japanese playtesters have already praised its competitive viability, and it’s become a staple in fast-paced “1 Prize” decks.
Misty’s Lapras (Illustration Rare)
Misty’s Lapras is one of the most loveable Trainer-Pokémon combinations we’ve seen in a while. The art of this Illustration Rare depicts Misty’s regal Lapras beached on the sand, giving its Trainer a spot to rest under the shadows of a picturesque palm tree. Misty, leaning back into her partner, closes her eyes and nuzzles under the Pokémon’s front fin. Behind them, waves, like liquid turquoise, look to crash rhythmically against the shore, their crests catching the sunlight and breaking to create frothy clouds of foam. This is, of course, all incredible, but with the knowledge of their bond, and the history that they have over the years, this card works on several fronts.
Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex (Hyper Rare)
A glowing golden take on Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex, this card is quite different to the one that occupies spot number three on the list. Nonetheless, this illustration from aky CG Works does wonders too.
Just like the Hyper Rare Cynthia’s Garchomp ex, this print puts the Pokémon front-and-centre. Ho-Oh castigates its gaze over the front of the card, while Ethan adopts a dynamic ‘I mean business’ pose.
The gold accentuates Ho-Oh’s ethereal presence, and feels like an ode to the Pokémon synonymous with vibrant colours and rainbows. Worth the money in that case, right?
Final Thoughts
But don’t forget to look out for many others too, such as Cynthia’s Roserade. The set just has so much to offer, and is evidence of the Pokémon TCG ramping things up with incredible sets to end an era.
Shop Destined Rivals and all things Pokémon TCG, including booster boxes and elite trainer boxes right here at Gathering Games.
