Destined Rivals: Everything You Should Know About the Latest Pokémon TCG Set

Pokémon TCG sets drop all the time, but you’re going to want to sit up and pay attention to the latest release. Destined Rivals isn’t just another Scarlet & Violet expansion with a handful of reprinted staples and flashy promos. It’s a full-blown callback to some of the game’s most iconic eras, and it’s built from the ground-up with both hardcore players and collectors in mind. If you’ve been waiting for a set that shakes things up in an interesting way, you’re going to want to lock yours in as soon as possible.

Releasing May 30, Destined Rivals pulls together elements from Japan’s Heat Wave Arena, Glory of Team Rocket, and character-themed decks like Marnie and Steven’s. The result is a set that feels incredibly dense. There are over 240 cards, new mechanics, and some of the best art we’ve seen in the Scarlet & Violet drops so far. Put simply, you’re going to want to make sure you get the best pulls possible when it’s time to start opening packs.

Team Rocket Returns

Team Rocket makes a massive return in this set with more than 80 cards. But they aren’t just hanging around to add some flavor to the expansion. These cards are actually baked into the game’s mechanics. Expect to see Team Rocket’s Pokémon doing more than stalling or disrupting, because they’re much more hands-on this time around.

Cards like Moltres ex bring legitimate firepower and intricate synergy to Rocket-themed builds that could shake up the meta significantly. This card has the power to completely erase a Pokémon from the game by having an opponent discard the monster and anything attached to it, which could be as brutal as it sounds for those unfortunate enough to face it.

If you’re the kind of player who remembers the original Team Rocket set from the Wizards era and wished those themes could return in a more modern, competitive environment, this set’s going to scratch that itch nicely. And if you’re collecting, there’s a good reason to invest in Destined Rivals, too. Rocket’s Wobbuffet is locked behind the Elite Trainer Box as a promo, and that’s going to be a chase piece.

Trainers’ Pokémon Bring the Heat

Trainer-owned Pokémon return in this expansion in a huge way as well, which was one fan-favorite part of the original Rocket card set back during the vintage Pokémon TCG days. Cynthia’s Garchomp ex is an aggressive fighter, where Arven’s Mabosstiff ex is a defensive juggernaut that could find a great home in control decks. You’ve also got callbacks to Misty, Steven, Ethan, and Marnie with Pokémon and moves meant to shake up the status quo.

These cards have the potential to be extremely in-demand deck additions, and not just cool artwork (though they definitely have that too). What makes them such a fun addition to the set is their variety of dynamic poses, fun variations in “expected” moves, and the fact that we’re seeing what is essentially the return of one of the coolest Pokémon TCG expansions yet!

What to Buy (and What to Skip)

So what’s out there to collect in Destined Rivals? Plenty! Here’s what to keep an eye out for: You’ve got 23 Illustration Rares, 11 Special Illustration Rares, and 6 Hyper Rare cards with the full etched foil treatment. That means there’s plenty.

There’s no Enhanced Booster Box this time around, so your best bet is sticking to traditional Booster Boxes if you want to try to get the full spread. Elite Trainer Boxes are a good idea if you’re going after the Wobbuffet promo card. Traditional blister packs and Booster Bundles are a safe bet too, but only if you want to buy piecemeal.

You already know this set is going to sell fast. Make sure you preorder when able, or try to hit up some of the prerelease events running at certain locations and retailers from May 17 to May 25. These not only give you early access to playable cards but are sometimes the only shot you’ll have at pulling something big without secondary market prices attached.

And when you finally have your complete set, be sure and have them graded – that’s what a true Pokémon TCG master would do, after all!