The Destined Rivals card list has 244 cards: 182 in the main set and 62 secret rares. Released in May 2025 as the tenth main expansion of the Scarlet and Violet series, Destined Rivals brought back Team Rocket’s Pokémon and set them against heroes such as Cynthia and Ethan. This guide explains how the card list works, ranks the Destined Rivals chase cards and helps you pick a product.
Collecting the sets around it? See our Pokémon 151 card list for another Kanto favourite, or our Phantasmal Flames card list for the start of the Mega Evolution era.
Destined Rivals at a glance
| Detail | Destined Rivals |
|---|---|
| Series | Scarlet and Violet |
| Set code | SV10 (printed DRI) |
| Prerelease events | From 17 May 2025 |
| Release date | 30 May 2025 |
| Total cards | 244 |
| Main set | 182 cards |
| Secret rares | 62 |
| Headline card | Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex |
| Japanese base set | The Glory of Team Rocket |
What is Destined Rivals?
Destined Rivals is built around a simple idea: heroes against villains. On one side are Team Rocket and their Pokémon, led by Giovanni and his admins Archer, Ariana, Petrel and Proton. On the other are famous trainers including Cynthia, Ethan, Misty, Steven, Marnie and Arven.
It continued the Trainer’s Pokémon mechanic that returned in Journey Together, where a card shows a Pokémon that belongs to a named trainer. Team Rocket’s Pokémon had not been a major theme in the English card game for many years, which made the set a huge draw for collectors who remember the original Team Rocket expansion from 2000.
Destined Rivals release date
The Destined Rivals release date was 30 May 2025. Prerelease events started on 17 May, and some cards from the set appeared even earlier, from 16 May, in the Marnie and Steven Rival Battle Decks.
The English set is based mainly on the Japanese expansion The Glory of Team Rocket, released on 18 April 2025, with extra cards added to make a full main set.
How the Destined Rivals card list works
Cards 001 to 182 make up the main set, and cards 183 to 244 are secret rares. The official line-up includes 17 Pokémon ex, more than 20 Trainer cards and over 45 cards with special illustrations.
| Rarity | Cards |
|---|---|
| Illustration Rare | 23 |
| Special Illustration Rare | 11 |
| Hyper Rare (gold) | 6 |
With 11 Special Illustration Rares and 23 Illustration Rares, Destined Rivals has one of the deepest chase lists of the Scarlet and Violet era. The rest of the secret rares are full-art Ultra Rares of Pokémon ex and Trainers.
Team Rocket’s Pokémon
Team Rocket’s Pokémon cards show the villains’ partners in darker, more menacing artwork. Highlights include Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex, Team Rocket’s Moltres ex, Team Rocket’s Nidoking ex and Team Rocket’s Crobat ex, all of which have Special Illustration Rares. Team Rocket’s Giovanni, the boss himself, has a Special Illustration Rare Supporter card too.
For players, Team Rocket’s Pokémon work together through shared support cards, so a Team Rocket deck can be built largely around this one set.
The rival trainers in Destined Rivals
The heroes side of the Destined Rivals card list is just as strong. Cynthia brings her Garchomp, Ethan arrives with Ho-Oh and Typhlosion, Misty brings Water-type favourites such as Psyduck, and Steven, Marnie and Arven each have their own Trainer’s Pokémon. That mix covers almost every generation of the games, so it is a great set for fans of a particular trainer rather than a particular Pokémon.
If you collect by trainer, start with that trainer’s Illustration Rares and work up to their Special Illustration Rare. It is a satisfying way to build a smaller collection inside a very large set.
Destined Rivals chase cards
These are the Destined Rivals chase cards collectors look for first:
1. Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex Special Illustration Rare (231/182)
The crown jewel of the set and one of the most valuable Special Illustration Rares of the whole Scarlet and Violet era. It shows Mewtwo under Giovanni’s command, and it has been the clear number one since release.
2. Cynthia’s Garchomp ex Special Illustration Rare (232/182)
The Sinnoh Champion and her signature Pokémon. Cynthia is one of the most popular trainers in the series, and this card is a favourite with fans of the Diamond and Pearl era.
3. Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex Special Illustration Rare (230/182)
Ethan, the hero of Pokémon Gold and Silver, appears with the legendary Ho-Oh. It is a perfect card for Johto fans.
4. Team Rocket’s Moltres ex Special Illustration Rare (229/182)
One of the most striking pieces of art in the set, showing the legendary bird working for the villains.
5. Team Rocket’s Nidoking ex and Crobat ex Special Illustration Rares
Numbered 233 and 234, these two round out the Team Rocket side of the chase list.
6. Ethan’s Adventure and Team Rocket’s Giovanni
The Trainer Special Illustration Rares, numbered 236 and 238. Ethan’s Adventure in particular has become a collector favourite.
7. The gold Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex
Among the six gold Hyper Rares, the Mewtwo ex is the most wanted. Gold cards are harder to pull than Special Illustration Rares, but here the Special Illustration Rare version is still the bigger chase.
Illustration Rares worth pulling
The 23 Illustration Rares are easier to find than Special Illustration Rares, and several are well worth chasing. Misty’s Psyduck and Ethan’s Typhlosion are two of the most popular, and many collectors aim to complete the full Illustration Rare run before going after the bigger cards.
Japanese and English Destined Rivals
The Japanese set The Glory of Team Rocket came out about six weeks before Destined Rivals and shares most of its artwork. Japanese packs are smaller and cheaper, so some collectors open Japanese boxes to chase the same artwork at a lower cost. The numbering is different between the two, so keep the languages in separate binders. Browse our Japanese Pokémon cards to compare.
Destined Rivals for players
Destined Rivals is a strong set for players as well as collectors. Team Rocket’s Pokémon have their own support cards, and Trainer’s Pokémon for Cynthia, Ethan and others give new deck ideas. If you play at a local store, a Booster Bundle or Elite Trainer Box is a good way to pick up playable cards while chasing the Destined Rivals chase cards.
Destined Rivals products
| Product | Packs | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 3-Pack Blister | 3 | A small gift with a promo card |
| Booster Bundle | 6 | Simple pack opening |
| Elite Trainer Box | 9 | Packs plus sleeves, dice and storage |
| Half Booster Box | 18 | Plenty of packs at a lower price than a full box |
A full English booster box holds 36 packs of 10 cards. If you want a lot of packs without buying a full box, the Half Booster Box is a good middle ground.
Which Destined Rivals product should you buy?
- For the most packs: the Half Booster Box gives you 18 packs.
- For a gift: the Elite Trainer Box includes accessories a new collector will use.
- For a smaller spend: the Booster Bundle or the 3-Pack Blister let you try the set.
Destined Rivals was in very high demand at launch, and sealed product is now more limited. If you want to open or keep a box, it is worth picking one up while it is in stock.
How big is a Destined Rivals master set?
A master set includes every card plus the reverse holo version of the main-set cards. With 182 main cards, a Destined Rivals master set comes to more than 400 cards, which makes it one of the bigger challenges of the era. Secret rares do not have reverse holo versions, and the set has no Poké Ball or Master Ball reverse patterns.
Tips for collecting the Destined Rivals card list
- Choose a side. Many collectors build a Team Rocket binder and a heroes binder, which makes a large set feel more manageable.
- Use a big binder. You need 21 pages of a 9-pocket binder for the main set alone.
- Sleeve every hit. Put Illustration Rares and above into a penny sleeve and top loader straight away.
- Buy singles for the top cards. Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex is very hard to pull, so buying it is usually cheaper.
Is Destined Rivals worth collecting?
Yes. Destined Rivals combines nostalgia for Team Rocket with modern artwork and one of the deepest chase lists of its era. Whether you love the villains or the heroes, there is a card for you, and the Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex is one of the most iconic cards of recent years.
Browse every English set in our English Pokémon cards range, compare boxes in English booster boxes, or see upcoming releases on our pre-orders page.
Destined Rivals card list FAQs
How many cards are in Destined Rivals?
There are 244 cards: 182 in the main set and 62 secret rares.
When was Destined Rivals released?
Destined Rivals was released on 30 May 2025.
What is the best card in Destined Rivals?
The Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex Special Illustration Rare, 231/182, is the top chase card.
How many Special Illustration Rares are in Destined Rivals?
There are 11 Special Illustration Rares, plus 23 Illustration Rares and 6 gold Hyper Rares.
Where can I see the official card list?
The Pokémon Company publishes set details on the official Pokémon TCG website.
