Alright, Pokémon TCG fanatics, gather ’round! The hype for Destined Rivals has been real, and whether you’re a seasoned collector or just diving into the exhilarating world of chase cards, you’ve probably felt that familiar tingle of anticipation.
This set is a true titan, boasting a whopping 244 cards – that’s 182 cards in the main set and a staggering 62 secret rares, all battling for a coveted spot in your binder (and your heart!). So, what separates a good pull from a truly legendary one? Is it pure rarity, undeniable artwork, or perhaps a mix of both that sends its value skyrocketing?
In a market where chase card values can swing wildly overnight, knowing exactly what to hunt for—and what to pay—can mean the difference between scoring the deal of a lifetime and watching your investment crumble.
Some Destined Rivals cards are already commanding premium prices that rival vintage classics, while others offer incredible value plays that savvy collectors are quietly accumulating.
Please note: Prices are listed as of June 2025.
The Quick Rundown
| Card Name | Ebay | TCG Player | Card Market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethan’s Typhlosion 190/182 | $36.66 | $41.53 | $32.42 |
| Ethan’s Adventure 165/182 | $47.29 | $50.66 | $48.15 |
| Misty’s Psyduck 193/182 | $53.35 | $55.24 | $45.26 |
| Team Rocket’s Crobat ex 234/182 | $62.36 | $68.44 | $62.12 |
| Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex 240/182 | $76.78 | $71.80 | $54.13 |
| Team Rocket’s Nidoking ex 233/182 | $97.73 | $102.10 | $96.55 |
| Team Rocket’s Moltres ex 229/182 | $142.31 | $132.31 | $177.85 |
| Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex 230/182 | $147.13 | $149.46 | $167.03 |
| Cynthia’s Garchomp ex 232/182 | $216.83 | $223.66 | $148.65 |
| Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex 231/182 | $370.95 | $402.51 | $366.60 |
#10: Ethan’s Typhlosion 190/182 (Illustration Rare card)
This artwork captures pure nostalgic magic – it shows Ethan, the iconic trainer from Pokémon Gold and Silver, in perfect harmony with his Typhlosion as they unleash a devastating fire attack together.
The dynamic illustration perfectly embodies that epic moment every Johto player remembers: standing alongside their trusted starter Pokémon, ready to take on any challenge.
It’s the kind of artwork that doesn’t just show a Pokémon battle; it captures the heart and soul (pun intended) of what made those games special – the unbreakable connection between trainer and Pokémon facing the world together.
Current Market Price Ungraded: $36.66 on Ebay / $41.53 on TCG Player / $32.42 on Card Market
#9: Ethan’s Adventure 165/182 (Special Illustration Rare card)
The scene in this card radiates pure joy and friendship, capturing that magical moment when a young trainer is simply enjoying time with his Pokémon companions in nature.
The warm, storybook illustration style feels like it’s pulled straight from a cherished Pokémon anime episode or manga chapter.
For anyone who grew up with Gold and Silver, this card instantly transports you back to those countless hours spent exploring Johto’s forests and routes, building bonds with your team.
Current Market Price Ungraded: $47.29 on Ebay / $50.66 on TCG Player / $48.15 on Card Market
#8: Misty’s Psyduck 193/182 (Illustration Rare card)
Full-art trainer and Pokémon combination cards have become a modern staple, but this “Misty’s Psyduck” captures a special kind of nostalgic magic that makes it an undeniable chase card in Destined Rivals. Illustrated by the talented OKACHEKE, the card is a vibrant and dynamic snapshot of the chaotic relationship between the Cerulean City Gym Leader and her famously confused Pokémon.
The appeal of this card is rooted in deep-seated nostalgia. For anyone who grew up with the original Pokémon anime, the unique and often hilarious bond between Misty and her Psyduck is legendary. This card isn’t just a depiction of a Pokémon; it’s a captured memory. It represents Psyduck’s habit of popping out of its Poké Ball at the most inconvenient times, and its latent psychic power that only emerges under extreme stress.
Current Market Price Ungraded: $53.35 on Ebay / $55.24 on TCG Player / $45.26 on Card Market
#7: Team Rocket’s Crobat ex 234/182 (Special Illustration Rare card)
Some cards are sought after for their beauty, others for their nostalgia, and some for their pure, unapologetic “cool factor.” The Team Rocket’s Crobat ex from Destined Rivals falls firmly into that last category and is one of the set’s most menacing and desirable pulls. This card is a brilliant modern homage to the classic “Team Rocket” set from the year 2000, bringing back the fan-favorite concept of Pokémon belonging to the villainous organization.
Illustrated by Gochibi, the artwork is a chaotic flurry of purple and blue. A sinister Crobat ex dominates the foreground with a gleam in its eye, promising a swift attack. But the genius of this card is in the details. Behind the Crobat, a whole swarm of its pre-evolutions, Golbat and Zubat, fly in unison, accompanied by a fierce-looking Raticate. Look closer and you’ll even spot a classic green-haired Team Rocket Grunt, a smirk on his face as he directs the villainous squadron.
Current Market Price Ungraded: $62.36 on Ebay / $68.44 on TCG Player / $62.12 on Card Market
#6: Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex 240/182 (Secret Rare card)
This card is more than just a powerful game piece; it’s a trophy, an emblem of the ultimate villainous partnership in the Pokémon universe.
The artwork depicts the legendary Genetic Pokémon, Mewtwo, coiled with psychic energy and ready to unleash its devastating power. Looming behind it, like a puppet master surveying his creation, is the boss of Team Rocket himself, Giovanni. His confident smirk and the sheer power radiating from Mewtwo tell a story that is fundamental to Pokémon lore.
As one of the very few gold secret rare with the highest card number in the set, its scarcity is guaranteed. Collectors are naturally drawn to the “trophy” status of gold cards, but the subject matter here elevates it to another level entirely.
Current Market Price Ungraded: $76.78 on Ebay / $71.80 on TCG Player / $54.13 on Card Market
#5: Team Rocket’s Nidoking ex 233/182 (Special Illustration Rare card)
While the golden Mewtwo ex represents Giovanni’s ultimate ambition, the Team Rocket’s Nidoking ex captures the raw, earth-shattering power he was famous for as the Viridian City Gym Leader. This card is a direct and explosive homage to one of the most memorable battles from the original Pokémon games, making it a hugely significant chase card for anyone with a love for the series’ roots.
For collectors who appreciate the lore and the history of Pokémon’s most iconic villain, securing this incredible illustration of his original powerhouse is an absolute must.
Current Market Price Ungraded: $97.73 on Ebay / $102.10 on TCG Player / $96.55 on Card Market
#4: Team Rocket’s Moltres ex 229/182 (Special Illustration Rare card)
It’s hard to look at this card and not feel the heat. Akira Egawa has created a masterpiece of controlled chaos, capturing a version of Moltres that is pure, untamed power.
Moltres is a Gen 1 icon with a massive fanbase. Combine that with the immense popularity of artist Akira Egawa, known for their dynamic and powerful illustrations, and you have a guaranteed recipe for a chase card.
Special Illustration Rares are at their best when they tell a story, and this card delivers a blockbuster. It’s not just a Pokémon in its habitat; it’s a Pokémon being used as an instrument of power, a concept that is both thrilling and menacing.
Current Market Price Ungraded: $142.31 on Ebay / $132.31 on TCG Player / $177.85 on Card Market
#3: Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex 230/182 (Special Illustration Rare card)
The appeal of this card runs incredibly deep, tapping directly into the heart of Gen 2 nostalgia. For anyone who started their journey in Pokémon Gold, Silver, or their remakes, Ethan isn’t just a character; he was them.
Seeing him alongside the iconic box art legendary isn’t just cool, it’s personal. It validates a core memory for millions of fans. This card represents the ultimate “good” counterpart to the villainous “Team Rocket’s” cards, celebrating the pure bond between a trainer and their legendary partner.
It’s a powerful narrative of friendship and wonder, and in a set named Destined Rivals, this card feels like the ultimate prize for the hero of the story.
Current Market Price Ungraded: $147.13 on Ebay / $149.46 on TCG Player / $167.03 on Card Market
#2: Cynthia’s Garchomp ex 232/182 (Special Illustration Rare card)
Let’s be honest for a moment. Who here doesn’t have a few battle-scarred memories of that intense piano music starting up right before facing the Sinnoh Champion?
Just looking at this card probably gives you a jolt of adrenaline, and that’s precisely why it’s a top-tier chase in Destined Rivals. It’s more than a Pokémon card; it’s a visceral memory captured in holofoil.
So, what truly elevates this card to must-have status? It’s a perfect storm, a Snorlax blocking the road to every other chase card in the set. You have arguably the most revered Champion in the entire series, paired with her iconic ace Pokémon, on a top-rarity Special Illustration card.
This isn’t just a card for Garchomp fans; it’s for every player who ever had their team methodically swept by Cynthia and came back for more. This card is a badge of honour.
Current Market Price Ungraded: $216.83 on Ebay / $223.66 on TCG Player / $148.65 on Card Market
#1: Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex 231/182 (Special Illustration Rare card)
If there was ever a Pokémon that was destined for a “Team Rocket’s” card, it’s Mewtwo. This isn’t just some fun ‘what if?’ scenario a designer dreamed up; this is a direct line into the core origin story of the ultimate genetic Pokémon. It’s the lore we all obsessed over from the movies and games, brought to life on a single piece of cardboard, and it hits just as hard as you’d expect.
Illustrator Iwamoto05 has crafted a scene that is absolutely dripping with sinister atmosphere.
Let’s be real, the pull-factor here is completely off the charts. You’re combining arguably the most legendary Pokémon of all time with its original antagonist, the final boss of the Kanto region. It’s a pairing as iconic as Ash and Pikachu, just on the opposite end of the moral spectrum.
This card isn’t just for fans of Team Rocket; it’s for every collector who was captivated by Mewtwo Strikes Back, for everyone who understands the tragic power at the heart of Mewtwo’s story. It represents the dark side of ambition in the Pokémon world made tangible.
Getting your hands on this card feels like finding a secret file from the Cinnabar Island lab—it’s a piece of villainous history and a testament to a perfect thematic pairing that was decades in the making.
Current Market Price Ungraded: $370.95 on Ebay / $402.51 on TCG Player / $366.60 on Card Market
Our Chase Card Forecast for Destined Rivals
So, you’ve seen the current scoreboard, but where do these rival cards go from here?
Our forecast is that the titans at the top—specifically the #1 Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex (SIR) and the #2 Cynthia’s Garchomp ex (SIR)—are the most likely to appreciate in value over the long term. These aren’t just chase cards; they are modern grails in the making. Their value is tied to such fundamental lore, iconic characters, and fan-favourite moments that they transcend the initial hype. While they might see minor dips as more products are opened, their legendary status will likely propel them to new heights years from now.
Cards in the middle of the pack, like the powerful Team Rocket’s Moltres ex and the heroic Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex, have likely settled into a more realistic, albeit premium, price range. They are blue-chip collectibles that will hold their value exceptionally well due to artist popularity and nostalgic weight. The more accessible Illustration Rares, like Misty’s Psyduck and Ethan’s Typhlosion, have probably found their comfortable long-term price point, making them fantastic pickups right now for collectors who value art and story over pure investment potential.
However, every collector must be aware of the ultimate wild card: reprints. If The Pokémon Company decides to do additional waves of printing for Destined Rivals, the increased supply will almost certainly cause a dip in prices across the board. It’s the great equalizer in the TCG world. For now, our bet is on the most iconic legends to lead the pack, but as always, the chase is part of the fun.
