Destined Rivals is the Scarlet & Violet expansion that brought Team Rocket back to the Pokémon TCG. It is packed with Trainer’s Pokémon such as Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex and Cynthia’s Garchomp ex, and it quickly became one of the most collected sets of 2025. This guide covers the card list, the chase cards, every Mewtwo version and the sealed products worth buying.

What is Destined Rivals?

Destined Rivals (set code SV10) released on May 30, 2025, after prerelease events that started on May 17. The set is built around Trainer’s Pokémon, the mechanic that pairs a trainer with their partner: Giovanni and Mewtwo, Cynthia and Garchomp, and Ethan and Ho-Oh lead the way.

According to the official Pokémon press release, the set adds 83 new Team Rocket cards and 17 Pokémon ex, 10 of which are Trainer’s Pokémon ex. That mix of villains and rivals is why the set feels so different from a normal expansion.

What are Trainer’s Pokémon?

A Trainer’s Pokémon carries its trainer’s name as part of the card name, such as Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex or Cynthia’s Garchomp ex. Several Trainer cards in the set reward you for playing Pokémon from the same team, which is why Team Rocket decks are built almost entirely from Team Rocket cards. For collectors, it means many of the best illustrations show the trainer and Pokémon together.

Booster pack artwork

Packs come in four designs: Giovanni and Mewtwo, Team Rocket, Cynthia and Garchomp, and Ethan and Ho-Oh. The artwork does not change what is inside, so there is no need to hunt for a particular pack.

The Japanese versions

In Japan, these cards first appeared in two sets: Heat Wave Arena (March 14, 2025) and Glory of Team Rocket (April 18, 2025). If you prefer Japanese packs, we stock the Japanese Glory of Team Rocket booster box and the Japanese Heat Wave Arena booster box.

Destined Rivals card list at a glance

The Destined Rivals card list has 182 cards in the main set and 244 cards in total once the secret rares are counted. Here is how the numbers break down:

001–182: the main set, from commons to double rare Pokémon ex.
183–205: 23 illustration rares with full-scene artwork.
206–227: 22 ultra rares (full-art Pokémon ex and Supporters).
228–238: 11 special illustration rares, the set’s top chase tier.
239–244: 6 gold hyper rares.

If you want every single card with its number, the full set list on Bulbapedia is the most complete reference.

Destined Rivals chase cards

The Destined Rivals chase cards sit almost entirely in the special illustration rare and gold hyper rare slots. Values move quickly, but a few cards have stayed at the top since release.

Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex special illustration rare

Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex 231/182 is the card most collectors want. In a January 2026 value roundup it ranked as the most valuable card in the set, ahead of every other special illustration rare.

The other special illustration rares

The remaining special illustration rares cover the set’s biggest names:

228 Yanmega ex and 229 Team Rocket’s Moltres ex
230 Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex and 232 Cynthia’s Garchomp ex
233 Team Rocket’s Nidoking ex and 234 Team Rocket’s Crobat ex
235 Arven’s Mabosstiff ex
236 Ethan’s Adventure, 237 Team Rocket’s Ariana and 238 Team Rocket’s Giovanni (Supporters)

Cynthia’s Garchomp ex, Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex and Team Rocket’s Moltres ex have consistently followed Mewtwo in value rankings.

Gold hyper rares

The six gold cards are 239 Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex, 240 Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex, 241 Cynthia’s Garchomp ex, 242 Team Rocket’s Crobat ex, 243 Jamming Tower and 244 Levincia. The gold Mewtwo is the one most players chase from this group.

Illustration rares worth watching

Not every great card is a secret rare at the very top. Misty’s Psyduck 193/182 is one of the most popular illustration rares in the set, and the illustration rare slot is where many collectors start their binders.

Every Destined Rivals Mewtwo card

There are four Destined Rivals Mewtwo prints in the set itself:

081/182 double rare
213/182 ultra rare (full art)
231/182 special illustration rare
240/182 gold hyper rare

Outside the packs, Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex also appears as a promo in several collector products, and it leads a ready-to-play deck.

The Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex Box released on June 13, 2025. It includes a foil Mewtwo ex promo, an oversize Mewtwo ex card, foil Team Rocket’s Meowth and Giovanni cards and four booster packs.

The Team Rocket Tin followed on September 5, 2025, in Mewtwo, Nidoking and Persian versions. Each US tin has five booster packs and one foil promo.

For players, the Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex League Battle Deck arrived on December 12, 2025. It is a 60-card deck built around Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex and Team Rocket’s Crobat ex, with Giovanni and the rest of the Team Rocket executives.

Launch promos and other products

At launch, spending $15 or more on the set at participating stores earned a Team Rocket promo while supplies lasted: Zapdos at GameStop and Articuno at Best Buy. Those offers have ended, but the promos still turn up on the singles market.

The set also has bigger collector boxes. The Team Rocket’s Moltres ex Ultra-Premium Collection comes with stamped Moltres ex promos, and there is a Cynthia’s Garchomp ex Premium Collection, a Build and Battle Box and two-pack blisters. Two small details matter to binder collectors: the Meowth and Giovanni cards in the Mewtwo ex Box are Cosmos Holo exclusives, and the League Battle Deck has its own non-holo Team Rocket’s Spidops and Articuno.

Which Destined Rivals product should you buy?

Your best pick depends on whether you want to open packs, collect promos or play.

Booster box

The booster box gives you the most packs in one sealed case. A standard English booster box holds 36 packs, so it is the best choice if you are chasing special illustration rares and want several attempts at the gold cards. It is also the product sealed collectors like to keep for the long term, because a sealed display is easy to store and to verify.

Elite Trainer Box

The Elite Trainer Box has 9 booster packs, 65 card sleeves, 45 Energy cards, damage dice, a coin-flip die, condition markers, a player’s guide and a collector’s box with dividers. Its promo is a full-art Team Rocket’s Wobbuffet (SVP 203).

Booster bundle

The booster bundle is the lighter option: a few packs without the accessories, which makes it an easy gift or a first taste of the set.

Card values change week to week. Before buying singles, check recent sold listings rather than asking prices.

Tips for collecting the set

Sleeve every special illustration rare as soon as you pull it, because edge wear shows quickly on full-art cards. Check centering and the surface under a bright light before you think about grading; textured special illustration rares show scratches more easily than regular holos. Keep a simple checklist of the 11 special illustration rares and 6 gold cards so you can see what is missing at a glance. If you are keeping sealed product, store boxes upright, away from sunlight and in a dry room so the shrink wrap stays tight.

Destined Rivals FAQ

When did Destined Rivals come out?

It released on May 30, 2025. Prerelease events started on May 17, 2025.

How many cards are in Destined Rivals?

There are 182 cards in the main set and 244 cards in total including secret rares.

What is the best card in Destined Rivals?

Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex special illustration rare (231/182) is widely seen as the top chase card, followed by the other special illustration rares and the gold Mewtwo.

The Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex Box and the Mewtwo version of the Team Rocket Tin both include a Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex promo.

More Pokémon set guides

Want to compare sets? Read our guides to Prismatic Evolutions, Journey Together and Pokémon 151, or browse all of our TCG news and guides. You can also see every Pokémon booster box we stock.

Destined Rivals Card List, Chase Cards and Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex Guide

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