The last few sets for the Pokémon Trading Card Game (or TCG) seem to have caught the attention of collectors everywhere, leading to numerous stock shortages, and causing the value of cards to absolutely skyrocket. With Destined Rivals now hitting and promptly disappearing from store shelves as eager fans snap up as much product as they can, what cards from the set should you be looking for? Let’s check out the most valuable cards from the Destined Rivals set!
10. Ethan’s Typhlosion – Illustration Rare, 190/182
In at the number 10 spot of our most valuable Destined Rivals Pokémon cards is Ethan’s Typhlosion, in its Illustration Rare variant. As an Illustration Rare, it’s a card that appears elsewhere in the Destined Rivals set with a less striking aesthetic, and as a variant it has a number which goes over the stated number of cards in the set. Down in the bottom left, you’ll see that it has the card number 190/182; whenever a card number goes above the set number (in this case, the designated number of cards is 182), it’s also known as a “Secret Rare”. You can check out more details in our guide to Pokémon card rarities.
9. Misty’s Psyduck – Illustration Rare, 193/182
Older Pokémon fans will likely still remember just how badly Pokémon Trainer Misty mistreated her Psyduck in the early days of the Pokémon anime series. Those same fans can breathe a sigh of relief for poor Psyduck, as it looks like the Pokémon is now having a great time with the previously impatient Misty, swimming alongside her in beautifully crystalline water, on this gorgeous Illustration Rare from Destined Rivals!
8. Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex – Hyper Rare, 240/182
Gold colored, Hyper Rare cards are often among the most visually impactful cards in any given Pokémon set, and stand out thanks to an emphasis on golden backgrounds, outlines and even a textured card treatment. The Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex, with its illustration of the nefarious Trainer, Giovanni, and his Mewtwo, is a great example of this style of card, and it’s clear why it has made it to the list of the most valuable cards in the Destined Rivals set!
7. Ethan’s Adventure – Special Illustration Rare, 236/182
The first non-Pokémon card on this list, Ethan’s Adventure is a Trainer card showing the titular character enjoying a run through the forest alongside numerous Pokémon. Along with its charming illustration, the card is a really useful one for players using “Ethan’s” Pokémon in their deck, as it allows the card owner to search their deck for up to 3 “Ethan’s Pokémon” or Fire Energy cards, in any combination, and draw them straight to their hand.
6. Team Rocket’s Crobat ex – Special Illustration Rare, 234/182
Another Pokémon belonging to the villainous Team Rocket, the Crobat ex card, at least in this Special Illustration Rare variant, is a great showcase not just for this particular Pokémon, but for its entire evolutionary line as well. Eagle eyed fans will spot Zubat and Golbat alongside Crobat, with a swarm of the creatures heading straight out of the card, it seems!
5. Team Rocket’s Nidoking ex – Special Illustration Rare, 233/182
Always a favorite Pokémon of mine from the original Game Boy Pokémon title, Nidoking is on impressive form in Destined Rivals, as a Pokémon trained by Team Rocket. Nidoking ex has 330 HP and two heavy-hitting attacks: one which deals 100 damage and Poisons the opposing Pokémon (dishing out 8 damage counters during checkup instead of 1), and the other which hits for an impressive 240 HP. It’s clear to see that the appeal of this card is much more than just its amazing full art illustration!
4. Team Rocket’s Moltres ex – Special Illustration Rare, 229/182
One of the original Legendary Pokémon from the very first Pokémon video game, Moltres appears here in the possession of Team Rocket, with a spectacularly fiery pose on this Special Illustration Rare variant of the card. Team Rocket players will have a field day with this card, which can not only attack for 110 HP with Flame Screen (and reduce incoming damage by 50 HP on its next turn as a bonus effect), but also discard the opponent’s Active Pokémon and all attached cards, as long as the initial Energy cost and an attached Team Rocket’s Energy is discarded too.
3. Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex – Special Illustration Rare, 230/182
At last, Ethan’s back, stealing the spotlight from the evil Team Rocket, who seem to have been dominating this list of the most valuable Pokémon Destined Rivals cards! This Special Illustration Rare variant of Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex is gorgeous, and the card itself is no slouch in terms of its in-game abilities. Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex can add up to 2 Fire Energy cards from your hand to 1 of your Benched “Ethan’s Pokémon”, and it can also dish out 160 HP of damage with its Shining Feathers attack. That’s not all; the same attack heals 50 HP of damage from all of your Pokémon in play!
2. Cynthia’s Garchomp ex – Special Illustration Rare, 232/182
Fighting type Pokémon aren’t utilized enough, in my opinion, but then your mileage may vary; I have a soft spot for the sheer might and simplicity of Fighting Pokémon, and will often favor them over other types when building my own decks. Cynthia’s Garchomp ex, as well as looking amazing, from a visual perspective, is also an excellent card. Corkscrew Dive costs just 1 Fighting Energy to use, but deals 100 HP of damage and allows you to draw cards until you have 6 in your hand. For just 2 Fighting Energy, you can use Draconic Buster instead, which deals a huge 260 HP considering its cost, though you do have to discard all Energy from the card when using it.
1. Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex – Special Illustration Rare, 231/182
Finally, Giovanni and Mewtwo make another appearance, this time with the Special Illustration Rare variant of the Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex card. It’s not difficult to see why this is the most valuable card in the Destined Rivals set, with its dark, sinister artwork and textured foil treatment. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Mewtwo has always been one of the most popular Pokémon, and for very good reason. Mewtwo is very powerful, and features on some of the strongest Pokémon cards in existence. This Team Rocket version of the Pokémon is no different, with an attack that deals 160 HP minimum; you can also add an extra 60 HP of damage per Energy card you discard from your Benched Pokémon, up to a maximum of 2 cards. Not bad, right? Of course, there’s also the fact that you need at least 4 Team Rocket Pokémon in play before Mewtwo ex can attack, but if you build your deck carefully, that shouldn’t be a problem!
So there you have it; those are the most valuable cards in the Destined Rivals set. Check out our full list of card in Destined Rivals, and peek ahead to the future of Pokémon in our list of the Japanese cards in Black Bolt and White Flare!
