What Are the Chase Cards in Destined Rivals?
Team Rocket vs Johto's finest -- here's what collectors are paying for every chase card.
By Misprint Editorial | Published Feb 8, 2026 | 6 min read
Updated pricing as of March 2026
Destined Rivals is the set that finally delivers on what Pokemon fans have wanted for years: a full-blown showdown between Team Rocket and the heroes of Johto and Sinnoh. Ethan, Cynthia, Misty, and Arven each get signature cards alongside their iconic Pokemon partners, while Team Rocket fields a roster of villains and corrupted beasts that look genuinely menacing in full art. The result is one of the most flavorful and collectible sets in recent memory, and the secondary market has responded accordingly.
We ranked the ten most expensive cards in the set from least to most valuable, counted them down, and then threw in some honorable mentions for good measure. Let's get into it.
#10: Team Rocket's Mewtwo EX Hyper Rare
We're kicking off the countdown with a gold card, and not just any gold card. Team Rocket's Mewtwo EX Hyper Rare is the most valuable card in the Hyper Rare tier by a comfortable margin. That shouldn't surprise anyone. Mewtwo carries weight in every set it appears in, and slapping a Team Rocket prefix on it only amplifies the appeal. The gold treatment gives it a premium, collectible feel that sets it apart from the standard versions, and it trades well above the other Hyper Rares in the set. If you pull this one, you did just fine.
#9: Yanmega EX SIR
Yanmega EX SIR is the most affordable Special Illustration Rare in Destined Rivals, and honestly, that makes it one of the more interesting cards on this list. The artwork is genuinely impressive, with a dynamic composition that captures Yanmega in flight. The problem is simply that Yanmega doesn't have the fanbase to compete with Mewtwo or Cynthia or any of the named trainer cards in this set. If you happen to be a Yanmega fan, though, this is a gift at its current price point. It punches above its weight in terms of art quality relative to what you'll pay for it.
#8: Arven's Mabosstiff EX SIR
Arven's Mabosstiff EX SIR carries something that most cards on this list don't: genuine emotional weight. If you played through Scarlet and Violet, you know exactly what this card represents, and that storyline connection has built a surprisingly devoted collector following. The illustration leans into the bond between Arven and Mabosstiff in a way that hits harder than you'd expect from a trading card. It's not the flashiest pull in the set, but it has the kind of sentimental value that tends to hold up over time.
#7: Team Rocket's Ariana SIR
Team Rocket's Ariana SIR is pure villain energy. The artwork is striking, with Ariana commanding the frame in a way that makes this feel like a premium pull the moment you see it. Villain trainer cards have always had a niche but passionate collector base, and Ariana benefits from being one of the more recognizable Team Rocket executives. She doesn't have the raw name recognition of a Cynthia or a Mewtwo, but within the context of this set's Team Rocket theme, she fits perfectly. This is a card that looks incredible in a binder page next to the other Rocket SIRs.
#6: Team Rocket's Crobat EX SIR
Crobat has been one of Team Rocket's most recognizable Pokemon for decades, and the SIR treatment does it justice. Team Rocket's Crobat EX SIR sits comfortably in the mid-range of the SIR lineup, buoyed by Crobat's enduring popularity and an illustration that captures the sinister, lurking quality that makes this Pokemon such a natural fit for the villain faction. It's the kind of card that might not headline a set, but it consistently draws interest from collectors who appreciate the deeper roster of Team Rocket's lineup.
#5: Team Rocket's Moltres EX SIR
Now we're getting into the serious money. Team Rocket's Moltres EX SIR combines two things that collectors can't resist: a legendary bird and the Team Rocket dark aesthetic. The result is a card that commands real value on the secondary market. There's something about seeing Moltres reimagined under Team Rocket's influence that just works, and the Special Illustration Rare treatment takes an already compelling concept and elevates it into genuine chase card territory. If you're building a Team Rocket collection, this is one of the centerpieces.
#4: Team Rocket's Nidoking EX SIR
Team Rocket's Nidoking EX SIR is an imposing card in every sense. The illustration captures Nidoking's brute power under Giovanni's command, and the result is one of the most visually striking cards in the entire set. Nidoking has always been associated with Team Rocket through Giovanni, so this pairing feels natural and earned rather than forced. It sits right alongside Moltres in the upper tier of Rocket cards, and collectors who are drawn to the villain side of Destined Rivals tend to put this one near the top of their want lists.
#3: Ethan's Ho-Oh EX SIR
Ethan's Ho-Oh EX SIR ties directly into the Heart Gold storyline, and the artwork delivers on that narrative weight. There's a reason this card trades at a premium: the pairing of Ethan with the legendary Ho-Oh is one of those combinations that feels iconic the moment you see it. This is one of those cards that tells a story just by sitting in your binder. The illustration captures the scale and majesty of Ho-Oh alongside the determination of its trainer, and collectors who grew up with the Johto games have responded to it in a big way.
#2: Cynthia's Garchomp EX SIR
Cynthia is arguably the most popular Champion in the entire franchise, and Garchomp is her signature partner. That combination has never once failed to produce a high-value chase card, and Destined Rivals is no exception. Cynthia's Garchomp EX SIR captures both the elegance of Cynthia and the raw power of Garchomp in a single illustration that justifies every dollar of its price tag. It trades neck and neck with Ethan's Ho-Oh and, depending on the day, occasionally overtakes it. If you're looking for a card with long-term collector appeal, Cynthia's track record speaks for itself.
#1: Team Rocket's Mewtwo EX SIR
And then there's the card everyone is talking about. Team Rocket's Mewtwo EX SIR is the undisputed chase card of Destined Rivals, and it isn't particularly close. It combines three of the most powerful forces in Pokemon collecting: Mewtwo's iconic status, the Team Rocket villain aesthetic, and a Special Illustration Rare treatment that brings all of it together in one stunning piece of art.
This is the card that sells booster boxes. It's the card that keeps people ripping packs long after they've hit everything else on the checklist. And given Mewtwo's track record of holding value across decades of the TCG, there's a strong argument that this one has real staying power. If you pull it, congratulations. If you're buying it on the secondary market, you already know what it's worth to you.
Honorable Mentions
The top ten doesn't tell the whole story. Destined Rivals has real depth beyond its headliners, and several cards just outside the main countdown deserve a look.
The Hyper Rare gold cards offer solid mid-tier value for collectors who like the premium finish. Ethan's Ho-Oh EX HR, Cynthia's Garchomp EX HR, and Team Rocket's Crobat EX HR all trade above most of the Illustration Rares in the set and serve as respectable consolation prizes if you miss the SIR versions.
On the Illustration Rare side, a few standouts punch above their weight class. Ethan's Typhlosion IR benefits from the Johto nostalgia factor and consistently trades at the top of the IR tier. Cynthia's Roserade IR rides the Cynthia name recognition that carries value in every set she appears in. And Misty's Lapras IR has a charming illustration that resonates with fans of the original anime, giving it a small but steady premium over the rest of the IRs.
The Bottom Line
Destined Rivals is a set built around nostalgia and rivalry, and collectors are paying accordingly. The top ten is dominated by Special Illustration Rares, with Team Rocket's Mewtwo EX SIR sitting comfortably at the top as the card that defines the set. The Cynthia and Ethan SIRs offer strong value with real long-term upside, and the mid-range Rocket cards provide plenty of chase targets for collectors who don't want to pay top dollar.
Whether you're ripping packs or shopping the secondary market, knowing the pricing landscape helps you make smarter decisions. The cards at the top of this list carry real weight, but even the honorable mentions are worth picking up if you find them at the right price. Good luck out there.
Prices referenced are approximate market values as of March 2026 and will fluctuate. Check current listings on Misprint for the latest prices.
