Destined Rivals Chase Cards (Value + Rankings 2026)

Team Rocket's Mewtwo EX SIR is commanding prices we haven't seen from a modern card in a while, and the rest of the Destined Rivals lineup isn't exactly cheap either — here's the full breakdown of what every chase card is actually worth.

Destined Rivals pulled off something that most modern Pokemon sets fail to do: it made people genuinely excited about a release for reasons beyond just "new shiny cards." The Team Rocket theming tapped into a deep well of 90s nostalgia, the trainer-Pokemon pairings created emotional connections that generic sets can't replicate, and the artwork across the SIR lineup is some of the strongest we've seen in the Scarlet & Violet era.

We put together a ranked list of the most expensive Destined Rivals cards previously. This guide goes deeper — current prices, how they've moved since release, which cards are gaining or losing value, and what the investment outlook looks like heading into mid-2026.

The Top 5 Chase Cards by Current Value

1. Team Rocket's Mewtwo EX SIR (#231)

Current market price: $180–$240 raw | $480–$620 PSA 10

This is the one. Team Rocket's Mewtwo EX SIR is the undeniable chase card of the set and arguably one of the most desirable cards printed in the entire Scarlet & Violet generation. The illustration is peak villain energy — Mewtwo in full Team Rocket regalia, the dark color palette, the menacing pose. It's the kind of card that makes non-collectors stop and ask "what is that?"

The price trajectory tells an interesting story. Opening weekend saw copies selling for $280–$350, fueled by hype and limited initial supply. Over the following weeks, prices corrected to the $160–$200 range as more product was opened. Then something happened that doesn't happen with most modern chase cards: the price started climbing back up. As of March 2026, raw copies are comfortably in the $180–$240 range and trending upward.

Why? Because the demand is real. This isn't speculative flipping — it's collectors who genuinely want this card for their Mewtwo collections, their Team Rocket collections, or their "best of the generation" binders. Mewtwo has that rare combination of competitive legacy, cultural significance, and aesthetic appeal that sustains long-term value. If you want to see how this stacks up historically, we covered the most expensive Mewtwo cards across all eras.

The Hyper Rare version of Team Rocket's Mewtwo EX trades at a step below — roughly $120–$160 raw — providing a more accessible entry point for collectors who want the card without paying peak SIR prices.

2. Cynthia's Garchomp EX SIR

Current market price: $120–$160 raw | $320–$420 PSA 10

Cynthia is Pokemon royalty. As arguably the most iconic Champion in the franchise's history, anything with her name on it commands attention, and pairing her with Garchomp — her signature Pokemon — was a guaranteed home run. The SIR delivers exactly what fans wanted: Cynthia and Garchomp together in a dynamic, beautifully illustrated scene.

This card has been one of the most stable in the set, fluctuating very little from its settled price. That stability at $120–$160 signals genuine collector demand rather than speculative interest. Cynthia cards have historically been among the best-performing trainer cards in the TCG aftermarket, and this one has all the ingredients to continue that trend.

3. Ethan's Ho-Oh EX SIR

Current market price: $95–$130 raw | $260–$350 PSA 10

The Johto representation in Destined Rivals is a big deal. Ethan (Gold, for the Gen 2 purists) paired with Ho-Oh taps into the HeartGold/SoulSilver nostalgia that hits a specific generation of Pokemon fans right in the feelings. The artwork leans into that emotional connection — warm colors, a sense of adventure, Ho-Oh as this majestic companion rather than just a powerful legendary.

Ethan's Ho-Oh has been quietly climbing. It started in the $75–$100 range and has pushed into triple digits consistently. Johto gets less representation in the TCG than Kanto or Sinnoh, which means the cards that do feature Johto characters tend to carry scarcity premiums within that collector niche.

4. Team Rocket's Nidoking EX SIR

Current market price: $60–$85 raw | $170–$230 PSA 10

Nidoking is a deep cut and a fan favorite simultaneously. The Team Rocket theming elevates a Pokemon that doesn't usually get premium card treatment, and the result is a SIR that's found a passionate audience. The artwork is aggressive and dark — exactly what you want from a Team Rocket card — and Nidoking's imposing design translates perfectly to the full-art illustration format.

This card benefits from what we call the "second-tier SIR sweet spot." It's expensive enough to feel premium but accessible enough that most collectors can justify the purchase. At $60–$85, it's the kind of card that doesn't sit in trade binders for long.

5. Team Rocket's Moltres EX SIR

Current market price: $55–$75 raw | $150–$210 PSA 10

Legendary birds always sell, and Team Rocket's Moltres brings the fire (literally). The SIR showcases Moltres in what might be the most dramatic rendering the bird has received in the modern era — dark, intense, with Team Rocket's aesthetic influence turning the normally majestic firebird into something more sinister.

Moltres has been steady in the $55–$75 range. It's not making dramatic moves, but it's not losing ground either. For Team Rocket completionists, this is a must-have.

The Rest of the SIR Lineup

Team Rocket's Crobat EX SIR

Current market price: $40–$60 raw | $120–$165 PSA 10

Crobat is a Pokemon that consistently overperforms its "popularity tier" in the card market. There's a dedicated collector base for Crobat that treats every new premium card as an event. The Team Rocket connection makes this even more appropriate — Crobat has been associated with Team Rocket since Koga's days, and this SIR leans into that history.

Team Rocket's Ariana SIR

Current market price: $50–$70 raw | $140–$190 PSA 10

Trainer SIRs from Destined Rivals carry the Team Rocket branding, which adds a layer of collector appeal that standard trainer supporters don't have. Ariana's SIR has settled into a solid mid-range position. Female trainer SIRs reliably hold value — this is a well-documented market pattern — and the Team Rocket connection gives Ariana additional thematic weight.

Arven's Mabosstiff EX SIR

Current market price: $35–$50 raw | $100–$145 PSA 10

Arven is a fan-favorite character from Scarlet & Violet, and his pairing with Mabosstiff tugs at heartstrings for anyone who played through the games. This is an emotional card, and emotional cards find their buyers. The price is accessible, making it one of the easier SIRs to add to a collection.

Yanmega EX SIR

Current market price: $25–$40 raw | $80–$120 PSA 10

Yanmega is the most affordable SIR in the set, which makes it the value entry point. The artwork is strong — Yanmega in flight is visually striking — but the Pokemon just doesn't have the built-in fanbase of Mewtwo or Garchomp. At $25–$40 though, it's a nice piece for anyone collecting the full SIR set or looking for an affordable premium card.

The Illustration Rares Worth Tracking

Destined Rivals also packed some excellent Illustration Rares below the SIR tier that are worth knowing about.

Ethan's Typhlosion IR

Current market price: $18–$28 raw | $65–$90 PSA 10

Typhlosion is the starter that Johto fans ride or die for, and Ethan's Typhlosion Illustration Rare is a beautiful card at an accessible price. This is the kind of card that could quietly appreciate over time as the set goes out of print and Johto nostalgia continues to grow.

Misty's Lapras IR

Current market price: $15–$22 raw | $50–$75 PSA 10

Misty plus Lapras is one of the most iconic trainer-Pokemon pairings in the franchise. The Illustration Rare captures their relationship perfectly. At under $25, this is practically a steal for the collector appeal it offers.

Pull Rates: The Numbers Behind the Chase

Destined Rivals follows the standard Scarlet & Violet era pull rate structure, but let's spell it out because these numbers matter when you're deciding whether to rip boxes or buy singles.

• Hyper Rare: ~1 in 720 packs (roughly 1 in 20 booster boxes)
• Any SIR: ~1 in 100–130 packs (roughly 1 in 3 booster boxes)
• A specific SIR (e.g., Team Rocket's Mewtwo): ~1 in 900+ packs
• Illustration Rare: ~1 in 25–35 packs (roughly 1 per box on average)

To put it bluntly: if you want Team Rocket's Mewtwo EX SIR specifically, you would need to open approximately 25 booster boxes ($2,500–$3,000 at current box prices) to have a statistical expectation of pulling one. Or you could just buy it for $200. The math here is not subtle.

For a deeper dive into how these economics work, our guide to Pokemon card pricing explains the relationship between pull rates, singles prices, and sealed product value.

Price Trajectory: Winners and Losers Since Release

Cards That Have Gained Value

Team Rocket's Mewtwo EX SIR — Up roughly 20% from its post-hype settling price. The initial correction overshot, and real demand has been pulling the price back up steadily. This feels like a card that hasn't found its ceiling yet.

Ethan's Ho-Oh EX SIR — Up about 15%. Johto nostalgia is a slow-building force that tends to gain momentum over time. As more collectors from the HGSS generation enter the hobby with adult disposable income, Johto cards benefit.

Cynthia's Garchomp EX SIR — Up slightly, maybe 5–10%. More of a "held strong" than "gained significantly," but in a market where many modern SIRs lose 20–30% from their initial settling price, holding steady is a win.

Cards That Lost Ground

Yanmega EX SIR — Down about 15–20% from its settling price. The Pokemon just doesn't have the collector base to sustain elevated pricing once the new-set energy faded.

Team Rocket's Crobat EX SIR — Down slightly, maybe 10%. Still holds decent value, but the initial Team Rocket enthusiasm pushed it a bit beyond its natural demand level.

Cards That Stayed Flat

Team Rocket's Nidoking EX SIR and Team Rocket's Moltres EX SIR — Both found their level quickly and haven't moved much. Stable, predictable, no surprises. The collector base for these cards knows what they're worth and isn't in a rush.

The Team Rocket Nostalgia Factor

Let's talk about what makes Destined Rivals different from most modern sets, because it matters for long-term value.

Team Rocket is arguably the most beloved villain group in Pokemon history. They've been a constant presence since Gen 1, and the original Team Rocket cards from the 2000 expansion still command serious premiums — Dark Charizard, anyone? When Pokemon announced a modern set featuring Team Rocket-branded cards, the collector community's reaction was immediate and intense.

That nostalgia isn't a fad. The people buying Team Rocket's Mewtwo EX SIR aren't doing it because a YouTuber told them to — they're doing it because they grew up watching Team Rocket on TV and playing with Team Rocket cards as kids. That kind of emotional demand is the most durable type of demand in the collectibles market.

Compare this to sets that rely purely on competitive playability or generic "cool artwork" for their chase cards. Those demand drivers are real but temporary. Nostalgia compounds over time. As the audience that grew up with Team Rocket continues to age into peak collecting years (30s and 40s with disposable income), the demand for these cards should strengthen, not weaken.

Investment Outlook: Is Destined Rivals a Buy?

We'll break this into three categories.

Singles: Strong Buy on the Top End

Team Rocket's Mewtwo EX SIR and Cynthia's Garchomp EX SIR are two of the better modern SIR investments available right now. Both have proven demand, iconic characters, and price trajectories that suggest room for growth. At $180–$240 and $120–$160 respectively, they're not cheap, but premium cards from landmark sets rarely get cheaper once the set goes out of print.

Ethan's Ho-Oh EX SIR is the sleeper pick. At $95–$130, it's relatively affordable for a top-tier SIR, and the Johto nostalgia engine is still warming up.

Sealed Product: Hold or Buy on Dips

Destined Rivals booster boxes are currently in the $100–$120 range, which is basically MSRP territory. If you can find them at retail ($100 or below), that's a solid long-term hold. The set has too many desirable cards and too strong a theme to languish at current prices once it goes out of print.

For broader sealed product investment strategy, see our best booster boxes for investment guide.

Budget Plays

If you want exposure to the set without spending $200 on a single card, focus on the Illustration Rares. Ethan's Typhlosion IR at $18–$28 and Misty's Lapras IR at $15–$22 are genuinely undervalued for the character appeal they represent. These are the kinds of cards that could triple in value over 3–5 years if the set develops the kind of legacy status that its quality deserves.

The Complete Price Guide

Here's every notable Destined Rivals card and its current March 2026 market value:

Card	Raw Price	PSA 10
Team Rocket's Mewtwo EX SIR (#231)	$180–$240	$480–$620
Cynthia's Garchomp EX SIR	$120–$160	$320–$420
Ethan's Ho-Oh EX SIR	$95–$130	$260–$350
Team Rocket's Nidoking EX SIR	$60–$85	$170–$230
Team Rocket's Moltres EX SIR	$55–$75	$150–$210
Team Rocket's Ariana SIR	$50–$70	$140–$190
Team Rocket's Crobat EX SIR	$40–$60	$120–$165
Arven's Mabosstiff EX SIR	$35–$50	$100–$145
Yanmega EX SIR	$25–$40	$80–$120
Team Rocket's Mewtwo EX HR	$120–$160	$300–$400
Ethan's Ho-Oh EX HR	$65–$90	$180–$240
Cynthia's Garchomp EX HR	$70–$95	$190–$260
Ethan's Typhlosion IR	$18–$28	$65–$90
Misty's Lapras IR	$15–$22	$50–$75

Final Thoughts

Destined Rivals is the kind of set that comes along once every few years — one where the theme, the artwork, the Pokemon selection, and the nostalgia factor all align perfectly. Team Rocket's return to the TCG isn't just a gimmick; it's a genuine event that resonated with a massive audience of collectors.

The chase cards reflect that quality. Team Rocket's Mewtwo EX SIR is a legitimate contender for the best SIR of the Scarlet & Violet era, and the supporting cast (Cynthia's Garchomp, Ethan's Ho-Oh) would be flagship chase cards in any other set.

If you're collecting this set, you're collecting something that's going to age well. The cards are beautiful, the characters are beloved, and the Team Rocket branding gives the entire set a cohesive identity that most modern expansions lack. We'll update this price guide as the market evolves, but our read is that Destined Rivals hasn't peaked yet.

For the full ranked list, check our most expensive Destined Rivals cards article. And if you're curious about whether Pokemon cards are a good investment more broadly, our 2026 investment analysis covers the big picture.