Series: Scarlet & Violet
Release Date: May 30, 2025
Set Abbreviation: DRI
Pokémon Destined Rivals brought Team Rocket back to the Scarlet & Violet era, and its Special Illustration Rares are still the reason collectors chase it. Here are the top 10 Destined Rivals hits and chase cards, ranked by current market value.
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10. Cynthia's Garchomp ex - $25.78
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Destined Rivals
Card Number: 241/182
Rarity: Hyper Rare
This is the gold version of the Special Illustration Rare at #2. Cynthia stands behind her Garchomp while it gets ready to dive, and the shiny gold foil covers the whole card. Hyper Rares don't often make a top 10, so two of them here says a lot about this set.
9. Ethan's Adventure - $29.65
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Destined Rivals
Card Number: 236/182
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Ethan's Adventure is the only Trainer card on the list. Ethan runs through a forest with Pichu on his shoulder, Cyndaquil at his feet, and a Slugma tagging along. It's a big dose of Johto nostalgia, and the set leans on Ethan's team all the way through.
8. Misty's Psyduck - $46.48
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Destined Rivals
Card Number: 193/182
Rarity: Illustration Rare
Misty swims right past a very confused Psyduck, and the whole card is bright blue water. OKACHEKE drew this one. It never fails: a Kanto favorite gets an Illustration Rare and collectors start chasing it. This is the most valuable regular Illustration Rare in Destined Rivals.
7. Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex - $48.12
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Destined Rivals
Card Number: 240/182
Rarity: Hyper Rare
Our first, but not our last, Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex. This is the Hyper Rare, which is the gold version of the artwork at #1, with Giovanni and Mewtwo standing side by side. It's worth a lot less than the Special Illustration Rare, but it's still one of the best gold cards in the set.
6. Team Rocket's Crobat ex - $52.30
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Destined Rivals
Card Number: 234/182
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Crobat is surrounded by Zubat and Golbat, so the whole card feels like a cave packed with bats. Crobat has been a Team Rocket favorite since Gold and Silver, and this card shows why. It's one of the most menacing cards in the set.
5. Team Rocket's Moltres ex - $71.24
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Destined Rivals
Card Number: 229/182
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Now we're getting into the real chase cards for Destined Rivals. AKIRA EGAWA drew Moltres in the middle of a huge blaze, with flames all over the card. It's one of the best Legendary Bird cards we've seen in years, and the red and orange makes it stand out in a binder.
4. Team Rocket's Nidoking ex - $73.16
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Destined Rivals
Card Number: 233/182
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Uninori has Nidoking mid-roar with Giovanni standing right behind it. Giovanni's Nidoking goes all the way back to Red and Blue, so this card is a nice callback for longtime fans. It's also the cleanest look at Team Rocket's boss in the whole set.
3. Ethan's Ho-Oh ex - $140.90
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Destined Rivals
Card Number: 230/182
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Speaking of nostalgia, Ethan looks up as Ho-Oh flies overhead against a sunset sky. Atsushi Furusawa illustrated this one. Ho-Oh has been the face of Gold and Silver since 1999, and its Shining Feathers attack heals your whole team, so it works in a deck too.
2. Cynthia's Garchomp ex - $185.63
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Destined Rivals
Card Number: 232/182
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Cynthia and Garchomp have been a fan-favorite duo since Diamond and Pearl. Here she stands in a huge stadium while Garchomp gets ready to attack. Cynthia cards sell well pretty much every time, and this is the best one she's had in years. It's the second most valuable card in Destined Rivals.
1. Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex - $358.85
Set: Scarlet & Violet: Destined Rivals
Card Number: 231/182
Rarity: Special Illustration Rare
Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex is the undisputed top pull in Destined Rivals, and it isn't close. Giovanni stands next to his Mewtwo against a red and pink background, which is the Team Rocket card collectors were hoping for. Those two have been tied together since the first Pokémon movie, and it plays well too.
Final Thoughts
Seven of the ten cards here are Special Illustration Rares, and the Team Rocket and trainer pairings carry the whole list. Mewtwo ex leads by a wide margin, and the two Hyper Rares show that gold cards still matter in this set. If you'd rather skip the pack odds, buying singles is usually the easier way to land a Destined Rivals chase card.
Want more on this set? Read what to know about Destined Rivals or the player's guide to the best Destined Rivals cards, then compare it with our Journey Together Top 10.
Ready to chase these cards? Browse Destined Rivals on Rare Candy, or scan and track your collection for FREE with the Rare Candy App.
FAQ
What is the most valuable card in Destined Rivals?
The most valuable card in Destined Rivals is the Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex Special Illustration Rare (231/182). It sits well ahead of Cynthia's Garchomp ex (232/182) and Ethan's Ho-Oh ex (230/182), which round out the top three.
What are the best cards in Destined Rivals?
The best Destined Rivals cards are the Special Illustration Rares: Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex, Cynthia's Garchomp ex, Ethan's Ho-Oh ex, Team Rocket's Nidoking ex, and Team Rocket's Moltres ex. The gold Mewtwo ex Hyper Rare is the best non-SIR pick.
Is Destined Rivals worth opening?
It can be, but the top cards are hard to pull. Special Illustration Rares come out at low odds, so many collectors buy singles instead. Our Destined Rivals questions answered post breaks down the pros and cons.
What is a Hyper Rare in Pokémon TCG?
A Hyper Rare is the gold top tier of the Scarlet & Violet era. These cards have gold foil across the whole card and are numbered at the end of the set. Destined Rivals has two on this list, Mewtwo ex and Garchomp ex.
How many cards are in Destined Rivals?
Destined Rivals has 182 cards in the main set and 244 with all the secret rares. It released on May 30, 2025. Track your progress with the Rare Candy master set tracker.
