Destined Rivals: the Team Rocket Pokémon set explained
Pokémon's Destined Rivals set: its 244 cards, the 83 Team Rocket's cards and other Trainer's Pokémon, every rarity and its numbers, and what each box holds.
By the Rip.fan Editorial Team.
Published 8 min read
Destined Rivals is a Scarlet & Violet series expansion that Pokémon released on May 30, 2025. It is built around Trainer’s Pokémon, cards named for a Trainer as well as the Pokémon, and it brought Team Rocket into that style, led by Giovanni and Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex. The set has 244 cards: 182 inside the printed total and 62 numbered above it. Of them, 83 carry Team Rocket’s name.
When did Destined Rivals come out?
On May 30, 2025. Pokémon announced the date on March 24, 2025, and on release day it said the set was in stores around the world. The set code is DRI.
In Japan, Team Rocket’s cards came first. Glory of Team Rocket (ロケット団の栄光, SV10), sold in 5-card packs at a suggested ¥180, came out April 18, 2025, ahead of Destined Rivals. The English name is a translation of the Japanese title.
Is Destined Rivals the same as the Japanese set?
No. It is nearly twice the size: Glory of Team Rocket has 132 cards against 244 for Destined Rivals. The 17 Pokémon ex in Destined Rivals split three ways:
- 8 appear in Glory of Team Rocket: all five Team Rocket’s Pokémon ex (Moltres, Mewtwo, Nidoking, Crobat and Persian), plus Arboliva ex, Cetitan ex and Regirock ex.
- 6 appear in a second Japanese set, Heat Wave Arena (熱風のアリーナ, SV9a): Yanmega ex, Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex, Electivire ex, Dondozo ex, Cynthia’s Garchomp ex and Arven’s Mabosstiff ex. The English name is again Rip.fan’s rendering.
- 3 appear in neither list: Rabsca ex, Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex and Steven’s Metagross ex.
Our guide to Japanese Pokémon sets explains how Japanese releases map onto English ones.
What are Trainer’s Pokémon cards?
Pokémon cards whose name puts a Trainer’s name before the Pokémon’s, such as Cynthia’s Garchomp ex or Misty’s Psyduck. The style first appeared in the Gym Heroes expansion and came back earlier in 2025 in Journey Together. Destined Rivals added Team Rocket, with Giovanni at its head, alongside Trainers such as Ethan and Cynthia.
They make up most of the Pokémon in the main list: 90 of its 160. The table counts them by Trainer, then counts every card in the full set that carries the name, including higher-rarity versions and Trainer cards such as Arven’s Sandwich.
| Trainer | Trainer’s Pokémon in the main list | Every card carrying the name |
|---|---|---|
| Team Rocket | 46 | 83 |
| Ethan | 9 | 16 |
| Cynthia | 8 | 13 |
| Marnie | 8 | 8 |
| Steven | 7 | 7 |
| Misty | 6 | 8 |
| Arven | 6 | 10 |
The set spotlights the Team Rocket Admins and Giovanni, who appear on Supporter cards (Archer, Ariana, Petrel, Proton and Giovanni), and Team Rocket’s Pokémon appear with them on illustration rares and special illustration rares.
How many cards are in Destined Rivals?
- Cards 001 to 160 are Pokémon, and 161 to 182 are 21 Trainer cards and one Team Rocket’s Energy.
| Rarity | Mark | Cards | Numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common | Black circle | 85 | Within 002 to 163 |
| Uncommon | Black diamond | 62 | Within 001 to 182 |
| Rare | Black star | 18 | Within 008 to 159 |
| Double rare | Two black stars | 17 | Within 003 to 150 |
| Illustration rare | One gold star | 23 | 183 to 205 |
| Ultra rare | Two silver stars, which Pokémon calls foil stars | 22 | 206 to 227 |
| Special illustration rare | Two gold stars | 11 | 228 to 238 |
| Hyper rare | Three gold stars | 6 | 239 to 244 |
The 17 double rares are all Pokémon ex (10 of them Trainer’s Pokémon), the 11 special illustration rares are all Pokémon, and the 6 hyper rares are gold-etched cards.
Rip.fan’s page for the set uses the same eight rarities. For what each mark looks like, see our guide to Pokémon rarity symbols.
In card number order. Images from Scrydex.
How do the announced counts compare with the list?
The set has 11 special illustration rares, 8 of them Pokémon ex and 3 of them Supporters: Ethan’s Adventure, Team Rocket’s Ariana and Team Rocket’s Giovanni.
Two other blocks hold more than one card type. The 22 ultra rares are 14 Pokémon ex and 8 Supporters. The 6 gold hyper rares are 4 Pokémon ex and 2 Stadium cards, Jamming Tower and Levincia. The 23 illustration rares are all Pokémon.
Which Pokémon ex come in which versions?
All 17 start as double rares in the main list. This table tracks which of them reappear above 182.
| Pokémon ex | Double rare | Ultra rare | Special illustration rare | Hyper rare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yanmega ex | 003 | 206 | 228 | None |
| Arboliva ex | 023 | 207 | None | None |
| Rabsca ex | 025 | None | None | None |
| Team Rocket’s Moltres ex | 031 | 208 | 229 | None |
| Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex | 039 | 209 | 230 | 239 |
| Cetitan ex | 065 | 210 | None | None |
| Dondozo ex | 066 | 211 | None | None |
| Electivire ex | 069 | 212 | None | None |
| Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex | 081 | 213 | 231 | 240 |
| Regirock ex | 101 | 214 | None | None |
| Cynthia’s Garchomp ex | 104 | 215 | 232 | 241 |
| Team Rocket’s Nidoking ex | 119 | 216 | 233 | None |
| Team Rocket’s Crobat ex | 122 | 217 | 234 | 242 |
| Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex | 136 | None | None | None |
| Arven’s Mabosstiff ex | 139 | 218 | 235 | None |
| Steven’s Metagross ex | 145 | None | None | None |
| Team Rocket’s Persian ex | 150 | 219 | None | None |
Four come in all four versions: Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex, Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex, Cynthia’s Garchomp ex and Team Rocket’s Crobat ex. Three come only as double rares, and they are the same three that appear in neither Japanese list: Rabsca ex, Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex and Steven’s Metagross ex.
What products hold Destined Rivals packs?
The set’s lineup features five products, and a booster display is not among them.
| Product | Packs | Other contents |
|---|---|---|
| Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box | 11 | A storage box with 4 dividers, 65 sleeves, 45 Energy cards, a set guide, small accessories, and two Team Rocket’s Wobbuffet promos in full-art foil, one with the Pokémon Center logo |
| Elite Trainer Box | 9 | One Team Rocket’s Wobbuffet promo, with everything else the Pokémon Center box lists |
| Booster Bundle | 6 | None |
| A box with a 40-card prebuilt deck | 4 | One of four foil promos in the deck |
| Sleeved booster pack | 1 | None |
Each booster pack holds 10 cards and a Basic Energy card, so nine packs add up to 90 cards plus 9 Basic Energy. Later boxes changed the extras: our guide to Elite Trainer Boxes shows that the boxes from Mega Evolution to Pitch Black list 40 Energy cards and 6 dividers instead of 45 and 4. Our guide to sealed products compares the formats.
How do you check Destined Rivals card prices?
Rip.fan’s Pokémon price pages include a page for Destined Rivals. It lists the set’s cards with number, rarity and NM market price, sorts by name, number or price, and filters to a single rarity, a quick way to see the 23 illustration rares side by side. In the card price lookup, type the full name with the Trainer, such as Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex, and choose the set, since a plain Mewtwo ex exists in other sets; each result shows the printing its price is for. The price changes page lists moves between Rip.fan’s weekly checks.
None of these figures is a forecast; they are past prices for raw cards. For the costs of grading, our guide to whether a card is worth grading does the sums, and the centering checker works out a split from border widths.
What should you check before buying?
- The full name. The Trainer’s name is part of the card’s name. Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex from this set is a different card from a Mewtwo ex in another set, so search with the whole name and the set.
- The number. Illustration rares sit at 183 to 205, ultra rares at 206 to 227, special illustration rares at 228 to 238 and hyper rares at 239 to 244. A claimed rarity should match its block.
- The box contents. A Destined Rivals Elite Trainer Box lists 45 Energy cards and 4 dividers. Check any sealed item against the products listed above; our guide to spotting a resealed pack covers the seal itself.
- Counterfeits. Our guide to spotting fake Pokémon cards sets out checks you can make without damaging a card.
Our other set guides cover Prismatic Evolutions, 151 and Phantasmal Flames, and the Pokémon hub holds the rest of our coverage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most valuable card in Destined Rivals?
On October 21, 2026, Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex (231/182) had the highest Near Mint market price in Destined Rivals, at $346.52. Next came Cynthia's Garchomp ex (232/182), at $172.57.
Which card numbered inside Destined Rivals has the highest price?
Among the cards numbered up to 182, Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex (081/182), a Double Rare, had the highest Near Mint market price on October 21, 2026, at $1.39.
What is the top-priced Illustration Rare card in Destined Rivals?
On October 21, 2026, Misty's Psyduck (193/182) led the Illustration Rare cards of Destined Rivals, with a Near Mint market price of $46.18.
How much is Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex from Destined Rivals?
On October 21, 2026, the 4 Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex cards in Destined Rivals had Near Mint market prices of $1.39 for 081/182 (Double Rare), $16.36 for 213/182 (Ultra Rare), $45.63 for 240/182 (Hyper Rare) and $346.52 for 231/182 (Special Illustration Rare).