Pokémon TCG - Destined Rivals Review: The Best Products and Cards!

Greetings, Pokémon TCG community!

The next Pokémon TCG set, Destined Rivals, is Scarlet & Violet's tenth base set. It will be released on May 30th, 2025, but we already know quite a bit about it.

Today, we'll explore everything this set has to offer, so let's go!

Destined Rivals is a combination of two Japanese sets:

- Hot Wind Arena (originally known as “強化拡張パック 熱風のアリーナ”), which was released on March 14th, 2025 in Japan and featured Misty, Ethan, Cynthia, and Arven.

And

- Glory of Rocket Gang (originally known as “ロケット団の栄光”), which was released on April 18th, 2025 and featured Team Rocket (as the name suggests). More specifically, it focused a lot on the Team Rocket leader, Giovanni, as well as Ariana, Archer, Proton, and Petrel.

Destined Rivals was first announced at the 2024 Pokémon Championship, which was held in Honolulu, Hawaii. First, they showed us Psyduck in a pool (a reference to Misty), then Arven's silhouette with his Mabosstiff, Ethan's silhouette with a Pichu, and, finally, a message by Team Rocket, team logo and all - disguised as a sort of "invasion/hack in the system".

If you'd like to know more about this event, click here!

You can also check out the entire online broadcast below. The characters above start showing up from 2:01 onward.

Ever since then, we've been discussing how the next sets could feature Team Rocket as a theme, particularly in our article about the recent "trademark leaks". The Honolulu World Championship only showed, at the closing ceremony, that this set would definitely be coming soon.

Then, months ago, the spoilers for Hot Wind Arena (a Japanese set) indicated that Mega Evolutions would come back, new and upgraded, for this year's Standard format. Back then, I suggested we should all get ready to invest in Cynthia's Garchomp ex. If you'd like to see more about this strategy, click here!

Logos

Products

Western Booster Design

Japanese Booster Design

Elite Trainer Box

Standard version:

This product includes:

- 7 dice, including 1 coinflip die and 6 damage counter dice.

- 65 card sleeves to protect your cards, featuring the promo Pokémon in the box.

- Plastic condition markers for Poison and Burn damage.

- A box to keep everything, with 2 dividers to keep it organized, both featuring the theme of the box.

- A player’s guide to the Scarlet & Violet—Destined Rivals expansion.

- A code card for this Elite Trainer Box so you can add it to Pokémon Trading Card Game Live.

- Nine standard ETB boosters. Each booster includes 11 cards (10 Pokémon or Trainers and 1 basic energy), and each one also comes with a digital code for TCG Live.

Furthermore, a promo card will be featured on each ETB: an Illustration Rare "Rocket's Wobbuffet".

Pokémon Center version:

The difference between this ETB to the standard version is how many boosters it includes (eleven instead of nine) and that the Illustration Rare "Rocket's Wobbuffet" promo will also feature the Pokémon Center logo.

Booster Box

This product includes 36 Destined Rivals boosters. A single booster usually costs US$4.49, but the Booster Box, with 36 boosters, costs around US$161.64.

Blister Single Booster

This product costs around US$5.49.

Triple Packs

This product includes 3 Destined Rivals boosters and two different promo cards: Kangaskhan and Zebstrika. It costs around US$13.99.

Checklane Blister: Rellor & Gastrodon

This product costs around US$5.49.

Premium Checklane Blister: Skeledirge & Togekiss

This product costs around US$5.49.

Pack Blister

In this product, you'll find a booster, a collectible acrylic coin, and one of two different promo cards, either Eevee or Zarude. It costs around US$5.49.

In some countries, like Brazil, this product becomes a "Quad Pack", which includes four boosters, one promo of one of the Pokémon we mentioned above, and doesn't include a coin.

Booster Bundle

This product includes 6 Destined Rivals boosters. It costs around US$26.94.

Build and Battle Box - Pre Release Kit

This product includes 6 Destined Rivals boosters and part of a "deck" built around one of the promo Pokémon in the kit, which features the set's logo. It costs around US$21.99.

Extra Products

Rocket’s Suitcase

This product includes 30 Glory of the Rocket Gang boosters, a playmat, a PVC deck box, a padded deck box, and two types of themed card sleeves.

When it was released in Japan (April 18th, 2025), it cost around JPY14,900 (US$103.50).

This type of product is nothing new. Back in the X/Y era, over 8 years ago, the Pokémon Company released something similar: the Team Rocket Special Case for the Japanese 20th Anniversary, an anniversary case exclusively sold in Japan. The promo cards featured in it were full art, limited reprints of Giovanni's Scheme BKT 138 and Here Comes Team Rocket! EVO 113.

2017 version:

Rival Deck Battle

Steven

Marnie

These products will most likely come out in May 2025 and will be exactly like League Battle Decks, but centered around Marnie and Steven.

The mechanic featured in this set is very similar to something Diamond & Pearl featured, back when game characters were released with their signature Pokémon:

The difference between Diamond & Pearl and Scarlet & Violet is that, before, these characters' stage 1 and 2 Pokémon were considered "basic", to sum up, and cards with "rule boxes" (like LV.X) were considered "stage 1 Pokémon".

Now, in the current block, you'll have to follow each Pokémon's evolution line, so, to get to their most advanced form (their ex form, for instance), you must go through the entire evolution line.

Another important detail: you must evolve that "signature" Pokémon in question into their respective "trainer" evolution!

As we mentioned when we discussed N Pokémon (more specifically, Zorua and Zoroark in Journey Together), if you want to evolve a Zorua into "N's Zoroark ex", you must use a "N's Zorua" first.

This rule also applies to the cards in Destined Rivals, be them the signature Pokémon of Ethan, Cynthia, Arven, or any Team Rocket member!

Out of all these trainers, Arven is the weakest, and isn't relevant competitively, as his Pokémon are more "for fun". And because we'll focus on the competitive scene in this article, we'll focus on the other trainers.

Let's see the best Destined Rival spoilers:

Prerelease Cards

Here are a few theories on what this Prerelease kit will include:

- Rocket’s Mimikyu

- Rocket’s Tyranitar

- Misty’s Gyarados

- Ethan’s Typhlosion

Ethan’s Pokémon

Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex

- Ability: Golden Fire - during your turn, you may attach 2 Basic Fire Energy sv3 230 from your hand to one of your Benched Pokémon, as long as it is one of Ethan's Pokémon.

- Attack: Shining Feather (F)(F)(F)(F) - deal 160 damage and heal 50 damage.

It is vital for this archetype, as its ability lets you attach energies to your Pokémon.

Ethan’s Cyndaquil, Quilava & Typhlosion

Cyndaquil

- Attack: Ember (F) - deal 30 damage and discard one energy attached to this Pokémon.

Quilava

- Ability: Bonds of the Journey - look in your deck for an Ethan's Adventure, reveal it, put it in your hand, then shuffle your deck.

- Attack: Combustion (F) - deal 40 damage.

Typhlosion

- Attack: Buddy Blast (F) - deal 40 damage, plus another 60 damage for each Ethan's Adventure in your discard pile.

- Attack: Steam Artillery (F)(F)(C) - deal 160 damage.

Ethan’s Pichu

- Attack: Jolting Draw (no cost) - deal 30 damage and draw a card.

It is an exceptional Pokémon for many decks, particularly as an answer to Budew PRE 4. It also draws cards, which is always great.

Ethan’s Sudowoodo

- Attack: Impound (F) - deal 20 damage, and, on the next turn, the opponent's active Pokémon won't be able to retreat.

- Attack: Try Mimicking (C)(C) - flip a coin. If it's heads, copy one attack on your opponent's active Pokémon and use it.

Misty’s Pokémon

Misty’s Staryu & Starmie

Staryu

- Attack: Bubble Beam (W) - deal 20 damage. Flip a coin: if it's heads, the opponent's active Pokémon is Paralyzed.

Starmie

- Attack: *Sudden Flashes (W) - deal 60 damage, plus another 80 damage if this Pokémon evolved this turn.

Misty’s Magikarp & Gyarados

Magikarp

- Ability: Super Dive - prevent all attacks and attack effects from enemy Pokémon dealt to Misty's Magikarp.

- Attack: Splash (W) - deal 10 damage.

Gyarados

- Attack: Splashing Panic (W) - discard the top 7 cards in your deck. Then, you'll deal 70 damage for each Misty Pokémon you discard this way.

- Attack: Waterfall (W)(W)(C) - deal 120 damage.

Misty’s Psyduck

- Ability: Panic Jump - during your turn, if this Pokémon is on your bench, you may discard a card from the bottom of your deck. If you do, discard all cards attached to Misty's Psyduck and put it at the top of your deck.

- Attack: Sprinkle Water (W) - deal 30 damage.

Misty’s Lapras

- Attack: Let's Swim Together (W) - look in your deck for 3 Misty Pokémon, and put them in your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.

- Attack: Surf (W)(C) - deal 60 damage.

Cynthia’s Pokémon

Cynthia’s Gible, Gabite & Garchomp ex

Gible

- Attack: Rock Hurl (F) - deal 20 damage, and ignore all resistance.

Gabite

- Ability: Call of the Champion - during your turn, look in your deck for a Cynthia Pokémon, reveal it, put it in your hand, and shuffle your deck.

- Attack: Dragonslice (F) - deal 40 damage.

Garchomp ex

- Attack: Screw Dive (F) - deal 100 damage and draw until you have 6 cards in hand.

- Attack Dragon Buster (F)(F) - deal 260 damage. Discard all energies attached to this Pokémon.

Cynthia’s Roserade

- Ability: Glory Yell - attacks of all Cynthia Pokémon deal 30 extra damage to the opponent's active Pokémon.

- Attack: Leaf Step (G)(C)(C) - deal 80 damage.

This Pokémon will be critical to deal even more damage with this archetype, as it buffs Cynthia's Garchomp ex's attack.

Cynthia’s Spiritomb

- Attack: Raging Curse (C) - deal 10 damage for each damage counter on all Cynthia Pokémon.

Rocket’s Pokémon

Giovanni

Rocket’s Mewtwo ex

Basic Pokémon.

- Ability: Power Saver - this Pokémon won't be able to attack unless you have at least 4 Team Rocket Pokémon in play.

- Attack: Erasure Ball (P)(P)(C): deal 160 damage. You may discard up to two energies attached to one of your Benched Pokémon. For each energy discarded this way, deal 60 extra damage.

Mewtwo's ability is basically the same as Team Magma's Groudon MA 9', as you need to meet a condition to attack, which can be a bit frustrating.

But you can play around this in a few ways. For instance, you can use a Terastal Pokémon ex in your deck. Teal Mask Ogerpon ex PRE 12 is excellent because it lets you attach basic Grass energies in your hand to it, and also draws cards. It will also activate Area Zero Underdepths PRE 94 and expand your bench to 8 slots.

As such, you can add 4 Team Rocket Pokémon on your bench to use Mewtwo ex's attack, and then use Teal Mask Ogerpon ex PRE 12 on the other 4 (or any other Terastal Pokémon ex) as well as other support Pokémon.

Rocket’s Persian ex

Stage 1 Pokémon: it evolves from Rocket's Meowth.

- Attack: Haughty Order (C)(C) - look at the top 10 cards in your opponent's deck. If you find any Pokémon among them, pick one of their attacks and use it. Then, shuffle the 10 cards back into your opponent's deck.

- Attack: Cruel Slash (C)(C)(C) - deal 140 damage and make your opponent's active Pokémon Confused.

Rocket’s Nidoking ex & Rocket’s Nidoqueen

Stage 2 Pokémon: Rocket's Nidoking ex evolves from Rocket's Nidorino and Rocket's Nidoqueen evolves from Rocket's Nidorina.

Rocket's Nidoking ex

- Attack: Dirty Horn (D)(D)(C) - deal 100 damage and the opponent's active Pokémon is Poisoned. During "check-up", you'll be able to put 8 damage counters on the Poisoned Pokémon instead of 1.

- Attack: King Impact (D)(D)(D)(C) - deal 240 damage.

Rocket's Nidoqueen

- Attack: Love Impact (D) - deal 60 damage, but, if you have at least one Nidoking on your bench, it'll deal an extra 120 damage.

- Attack: Mega Kick (D)(D) - deal 130 damage.

Archer

Rocket’s Moltres ex

Basic Pokémon.

- Attack: Flame Screen (F)(C)(C) - deal 110 damage, and, on the opponent's next turn, Rocket's Moltres ex will take 50 less damage from attacks.

- Attack: Evil Burn (F)(C)(C)(C) - discard one Team Rocket's Energy from this Pokémon. If you do, discard the opponent's active Pokémon and all cards attached to it.

Rocket’s Larvitar, Pupitar & Tyranitar

Larvitar

- Attack: Mountain Munch (C) - deal 10 damage and discard the top card in your opponent's deck.

Pupitar

- Attack: Explosive Ascension (C) - deal 30 damage. Look in your deck for a card to evolve this Pokémon (Rocket's Tyranitar) and put it over it. Next, shuffle your deck.

Tyranitar

- Ability: Sand Stream - during "check-up" (in between turns), if Rocket's Tyranitar is your active Pokémon, put 2 damage counters on your opponent's basic Pokémon.

- Attack: Demolishing Tackle (F)(C)(C)(C) - deal 180 damage and discard one energy attached to your opponent's active Pokémon.

Rocket's Pupitar and Rocket's Tyranitar are basically the same as the older versions. They're a nice way to honor the cards from Ruby & Sapphire: Team Rocket Returns.

Ariana

Rocket’s Zapdos

Basic Pokémon.

- Attack: Jamming Wing (C)(C) - deal 30 damage and move one energy attached to the opponent's active Pokémon to one of their Benched Pokémon.

- Attack: Bad Thunder (L)(C)(C) - deal 60 damage. If this Pokémon has one Team Rocket's Energy attached, deal an extra 60 damage.

Rocket’s Mareep, Flaaffy & Ampharos

Mareep

- Attack: Procurement (C) - look in your deck for an Item, reveal it, and put it in your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.

- Attack: Tiny Bolt (L) - deal 10 damage.

Flaaffy

- Attack: Thunder Shock (L)(C) - deal 50 damage. Flip a coin: if it's heads, the opponent's active Pokémon will be Paralyzed.

Ampharos

- Ability: Darkest Impulse - if this Pokémon is in play, whenever your opponent tries to evolve a Pokémon from their hand, you'll put 4 damage counters on that Pokémon (you can't stack this ability).

- Attack: Head Bolt (L)(C)(C) - deal 140 damage.

Petrel

Rocket’s Articuno

Basic Pokémon.

- Ability: Resist Veil - if this Pokémon is in play, prevent all enemy attack effects from affecting your basic Team Rocket Pokémon (damage isn't considered an effect, and already existing effects aren't disabled when you put Rocket's Articuno in play).

- Attack: Dark Frost (W)(C)(C) - deal 60 damage. If this Pokémon has one Team Rocket's Energy attached, deal an extra 60 damage.

Proton

Rocket’s Spidops

Stage 1 Pokémon: it evolves from Rocket's Tarountula.

- Ability: Charging Up - during your turn, you can get one basic energy from your discard pile and attach it to this Pokémon.

- Attack: Rocket Rush (G)(C) - deal 30 damage for each Team Rocket Pokémon in play.

This Pokémon is vital if you want to play Rocket's Mewtwo ex because Mewtwo ex's main attack forces you to discard energies from a Benched Pokémon to deal more damage.

Rocket’s Mimikyu

Basic Pokémon.

- Attack: Gemstone Play (P)(C) - pick one attack on your opponent's active Terastal Pokémon ex and use it.

Rocket’s Minions

Rocket’s Wobbuffet

Basic Pokémon.

- Attack: Rocket Mirror (P)(C) - move all damage counters from one of your Benched Team Rocket Pokémon to your opponent's active Pokémon.

- Attack: Headbutt Bounce (P)(C)(C) - deal 70 damage.

Rocket’s Porygon Z

Stage 2 Pokémon: it evolves from Porygon 2.

- Ability: Reconstitute - discard two cards from your hand to use this ability. If you do, draw a card.

- Attack: R Command (C)(C) - deal 20 damage for each Team Rocket Support card in your discard pile.

Pokémon ex

Yanmega ex

Stage 1 Pokémon: it evolves from Yanma.

- Ability: Buzz Boost - during your turn, if this Pokémon is moved from your Bench to the active spot, you can look in your deck for 3 Basic Grass Energy sv2 278 and attach them to Yanmega ex. Next, shuffle your deck.

- Attack: Jet Cyclone (G)(G)(G)(C) - deal 210 damage, and move three energies from Yanmega ex to any of your Benched Pokémon.

Dondozo ex

Basic Pokémon.

- Attack: Big Wave Return (W)(C) - deal 30 damage plus 10 extra damage for each damage counter on this Pokémon.

- Attack: Dynamic Dive (W)(W)(C)(C) - deal 120 damage. You can deal an extra 120 damage, but, if you do, this Pokémon will take 50 damage as a recoil effect.

It is a fast Water attacker, and it is practical because it is a basic Pokémon.

Furthermore, this block will be great for Water archetypes because of Baxcalibur sv2 60's ability, Super Cold (similar to Rain Dance). This way, you'll easily be able to attach energies to your Pokémon and attack with them.

Its first attack, Big Wave Return, is like Outrage: it deals more damage as the Pokémon takes damage. Ideally, you should buff its HP with cards like Bravery Charm sv2 173 or Hero's Cape TEF 152.

Cetitan ex

Stage 1 Pokémon: it evolves from Cetoddle.

- Ability: Lost in the Shadow - when your opponent plays any Supporter or Item from their hand that affects Cetitan ex, they simply won't affect it.

- Attack: Crush Press (W)(W)(W)(C) - deal 140 damage. Discard one Stadium in play to deal another 140 damage.

This is another great alternative for Water archetypes thanks to Baxcalibur sv2 60's Super Cold ability, as it lets you get the energies you need.

Cetitan ex is also great against "catcher" effects, like Boss's Orders (Ghetsis) sv2 172 and Counter Catcher sv4 160.

Elective ex

Stage 1 Pokémon: it evolves from Electabuzz.

- Attack: Dual Volt (L)(C) - deal 50 damage to two enemy Pokémon (don't apply weakness or resistance to the enemy bench).

- Attack: High-Voltage Press (L)(L)(C) - deal 180 damage. If this Pokémon has another two extra energies attached (besides the base attack cost), you'll deal another 100 damage.

This Pokémon will be great in "rogue" lists, particularly with Magneton SSP 59 because of its ability, which lets you attach energies to Electric Pokémon, as well as items like Electric Generator sv1 170.

“Baby” Pokémon

Hydrapple

Stage 2 Pokémon: it evolves from Dipplin.

- Attack: Hydra Breath (G) - to use this attack, you'll have to discard 6 Basic Grass Energy sv2 278 from your hand. Then, Knock Out your opponent's active Pokémon.

- Attack: Whip Smash (G)(C)(C) - deal 140 damage.

Shaymin

Basic Pokémon.

- Ability: Flower Curtain - prevent all damage dealt by enemy Pokémon to your Benched Pokémon that don't have a rule box.

- Attack: Smash Kick (C)(C) - deal 30 damage.

This Pokémon will be the "new" Manaphy BRS 41 (rotated in April 2025) for the current format, but it only protects "baby" Pokémon, which is essential for "single prize" decks.

Blaziken

Stage 2 Pokémon: it evolves from Combusken.

- Attack: Heat Blast (C)(C) - deal 50 damage.

- Attack: Infernal Legs (F)(F)(C) - deal 120 damage. After this attack, discard two energies attached to Blaziken, pick a Benched enemy Pokémon, and deal 120 to it (don't apply weakness or resistance to the bench).

This Pokémon is a great "single prize" attacker to play with Blaziken ex JTG 24, from Journey Together.

Annihilape

Stage 2 Pokémon: it evolves from Primeape.

- Ability: Rage Point - if this Pokémon has at least 2 damage counters, its attacks deal an extra 120 damage.

- Attack: Impact Blow (F)(F) - deal 160 damage. This Pokémon can't use this attack next turn.

Trainers

Hot Air Arena

Supporter

- Ethan's Adventure: look in your deck for a combination of 3 cards that can be either Ethan Pokémon and/or Basic Fire Energy sv3 230. Reveal them, and put them in your hand. Afterward, shuffle your deck.

This card is essential for the Ethan archetype, as it both filters energies and lets you draw Ethan Pokémon. It also supports attacks like Ethan's Typhlosion's Buddy Blast, which relies on Ethan's Adventure being in your discard pile.

- Emcee's Excitement: draw two cards. If your opponent has 3 Prize cards or less left, draw two more.

- Judge: both players shuffle their hands back into their decks and draw 4 new cards. It is a reprint.

Item

- Sacred Ash: recycle up to 5 Pokémon in your discard pile and put them back in your deck. It is a reprint from the X/Y: Flashfire set.

- Energy Recycler: recycle up to 5 energies from your discard pile and put them back in your deck. It is a reprint from the X/Y: Ancient Origins set.

This card will be included in the Steven Rival Battle and Marnie Rival Battle decks. So far, we don't know if it will be included in the main set.

Tool

- Arven's Sandwich: heal 30 damage from your active Pokémon. If it is one of Arven's Pokémon, heal 100 damage.

This card only works in the Arven archetype, and is only useful with Arven's Mabosstiff ex. It is just for fun, and won't be relevant competitively.

- Cynthia's Power Weight: give 70 extra HP to the Cynthia Pokémon you attach this to.

This card will be essential for decks built around Cynthia's Garchomp ex, like this one we built for the next meta, which features Garchomp and Mega Lucario ex.

Glory of Rocket Gang

Supporter

- Team Rocket's Giovanni: swap one of your Benched "Team Rocket" Pokémon with your active Pokémon. When you do, you may pick one of your opponent's Benched Pokémon and pull it into their active spot.

- Team Rocket's Ariana: draw until you have 5 cards in your hand. If all your Pokémon in play are "Team Rocket" Pokémon, draw until you have 8 cards in hand.

- Team Rocket's Archer: you can only use this card if, on the previous turn, one of your "Team Rocket" Pokémon was Knocked Out. Both players shuffle the cards in their hand back into their deck, but you'll draw 5 cards, and your opponent will only draw 3.

- Team Rocket's Petrel: look for a Trainer in your deck, reveal it, and put it in your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.

- Team Rocket's Proton: use this card if you're the first to play on turn 1. Look for 3 basic "Team Rocket" Pokémon in your deck, reveal them, and put them in your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.

Item

- Team Rocket's Great Ball: flip a coin. If it's heads, look for an evolution "Team Rocket" Pokémon in your deck. If it's tails, look for a basic "Team Rocket" Pokémon in your deck. Either way, reveal them and put them in your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.

- Team Rocket's Receiver: look for a "Team Rocket" Trainer Supporter in your deck, reveal it and put it in your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.

- Team Rocket's Venture Bomb: flip a coin. If it's heads, put 2 damage counters on an enemy Pokémon. If it's tails, put 2 damage counters on your active Pokémon.

- Team Rocket's Pester-Bot: pick one of your opponent's Prize cards and one card in their hand. Swap them. The new Prize card will be face up for the rest of the game.

Stadium

- Team Rocket's Surveillance Tower: all colorless Pokémon, yours and the opponent's, lose their abilities.

- Team Rocket's Receiver: during each turn, if you or your opponent played a "Team Rocket" Trainer Supporter on that turn, whoever played it draws 2 extra cards.

Special Energy: Team Rocket Energy

You can only use this energy on Team Rocket Pokémon. If you attach it to another Pokémon, you'll have to discard it.

It grants the Pokémon it is attached to two energies, and you can only use it on Dark or Psychic archetypes.

What did you think of the new set, and all the new cards? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!