Pokémon TCG: Destined Rivals Preview - Scarlet & Violet's Best Expansion

Releasing connected May 30, 2025, the latest Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet expansion, Destined Rivals, is already acceptable to beryllium 1 of the biggest paper crippled releases ever. And it deserves it.

I've managed to get an aboriginal hands-on with the set, and fto maine conscionable accidental this: Destined Rivals is amazing. After getting my hands connected the enlargement for the archetypal time, it's harmless to accidental that this is 1 of the champion times I person had opening cards successful ages.

The illustrations are immoderate of the champion I've ever seen. The enlargement plays with much Trainer Pokémon cards, including Ethan, the Pokémon Gold and Silver protagonist, and brought backmost much nostalgia than I could header with. It feels similar precisely what Pokémon TCG needed.

Destined Rivals is much than conscionable a travel down representation lane. It is simply a existent improvement for the game. From the mode the caller Trainer’s Pokémon unfastened up deck-building possibilities to the overmuch amended propulsion rates, this acceptable feels similar they yet figured retired what collectors and players privation again.

It could beryllium deemed arsenic a mighty caller commencement for The Pokémon Company, aft months of banal issues and sets with pugnacious propulsion rates (although Journey Together had initially started getting things moving successful the close direction).

I americium already readying which decks to physique and which cards I privation doubles (or triples) of, and I haven't felt this mode astir a acceptable successful a while. And if banal levels tin yet get sorted this year, alongside the full of TCG, I deliberation astir trainers volition person a precise hard clip resisting this set.

Where to Buy

Unboxing and Impressions

I got my hands connected a bully enactment of Destined Rivals products acknowledgment to The Pokémon Company: a Build and Battle Box, a Booster Bundle, an Elite Trainer Box, and a afloat Booster Box. I privation to accidental upfront that opening each of these felt mode much rewarding than the past fewer sets.

Every merchandise had its highlights, and it genuinely felt similar I was hitting cards worthy getting excited astir alternatively of conscionable shrugging and moving on.

The Build and Battle Box acceptable the code early. Inside were 4 booster packs, a stamped promo paper (Team Rocket's Tyrainitar for me) and a 40-card deck. I pulled 1 ex paper and 1 Illustration Rare from the 4 packs, which is fractional decent if you inquire me.

Building a speedy platform from the included cards was amazingly fun, particularly since the Trainer’s Pokémon mechanics made adjacent the starter platform consciousness a batch much flavorful than usual. Four Team Rocket's Tyranitar holo's please!

Sadly I didn't propulsion overmuch from the Elite Trainer Box. But I did get 9 booster packs, sleeves, dice, markers, and the Rocket’s Wobbuffet promo card. This ETB looks truthful awesome successful my opinion. The red-and-black Team Rocket plan is adjacent amended successful person.

I deliberation this ETB is easy 1 of the strongest ones we person seen recently, though similar immoderate Pokémon TCG set, pulling pursuit cards is 50% luck and 50% based connected being a bully set. So I was unlucky.

But the Booster Bundle kept the momentum going. With six booster packs and nary extras, it was conscionable maine versus the Pokégods. I pulled a mates of ex's and my favourite paper of this set, Ethan's Typhlosian IR.

What a stunning card, truthful overmuch question and item that inactive manages to showcase the enslaved betwixt Ethan and Tyranitar. I deliberation Booster Bundles are 1 of the champion worth products if you privation a speedy deed of that fresh-set excitement without destroying your wallet.

The Booster Box was the expansive finale, and it delivered precisely what I was hoping for. I pulled aggregate ex cards, a Gold card, a SIR and respective Illustration Rares that made the full opening consciousness breathtaking from commencement to finish.

In my opinion, this was the cleanable reminder that Booster Boxes tin inactive consciousness similar an event, not conscionable a slog done 36 packs hoping for 1 decent hit. If I was to get 1 of these products again, I'd spell each successful connected a booster box.

But what astir my archetypal impressions with the caller expansion? Well the happening that jumps retired for maine astir Destined Rivals is however overmuch amended the illustrations are. Cards conscionable consciousness much live now.

Even commons are expressive capable that I find myself looking astatine them alternatively of instantly shuffling them into the bulk pile. It is the benignant of tiny but almighty alteration that makes each battalion a small escapade alternatively of a chore.

The instrumentality of Trainer’s Pokémon for a 2nd clip successful the Scarlet and Violet epoch is different immense displacement that I privation to outcry about. Building decks and collecting cards based astir circumstantial characters alternatively of conscionable types gives near-unlimited taxable options.

I emotion that Cynthia’s Pokémon consciousness similar a cohesive squad alternatively of a random heap of cards. It makes gathering and battling mode much fun, and it besides makes each propulsion consciousness a batch much personal.

Pull rates consciousness a batch amended too. From 46 packs, I pulled 8 ex cards, 6 Illustration Rares, 1 Special Illustration Rare, and 1 Gold card.

That's 16 respectable hits that don't conscionable consciousness similar glorified reverse holo cards. It matches the beardown propulsion acquisition from Journey Together, and it is simply a satellite distant from the frustrating acquisition I had with caller mini sets similar Prismatic Evolutions.

I inactive person nightmares astir Shrouded Fable, wherever the propulsion rates were truthful harsh that opening it felt similar a societal experimentation connected patience. Surging Sparks was lone somewhat better. Even aft opening a booster box, it mostly handed retired modular ex cards similar consolation prizes.

And Prismatic Evolutions? That mini acceptable was truthful flooded with Pokéball cards and debased chances that I felt rather disappointed aft previewing it. Destined Rivals fixes each of that and reminds maine wherefore I emotion this hobby.

My Favorite Destined Rivals Pulls

In presumption of axenic pursuit cards I pulled alone, this is 1 of my favourite Pokémon TCG previews to date. I got 16 hits from modular exs and IRs to SIRs, with the afloat assemblage astatine the apical of the article. Here's my apical 5 pulls from this Destined Rivals preview, and I deliberation I've caught immoderate of the champion cards successful this set:

Ethan's Ho-Oh ex 239/182

Image Credit: Christian Wait / The Pokémon Company

The Special Illustration Rare artwork shows Ethan and Ho-Oh soaring crossed a vivid sunset, and it's conscionable 1 of those cards that feels peculiar the 2nd you spot it. Whilst that was 1 of my pursuit cards I wanted to propulsion going in, I'm conscionable arsenic blessed with it's golden uncommon variant.

It has Ho-Oh and Ethan beforehand and center, positive my procreation 2 prime was Pokémon Gold, truthful this paper has a batch of meaning to me. The paper itself is precise playable, allowed you to connect 2 basal occurrence vigor per crook whilst causing 160 harm and healing 50 harm from each of your Pokémon. A Ho-Oh ex and Charizard ex platform would beryllium a beast!

Arven's Mabosstiff ex 235/182

Image Credit: Christian Wait / The Pokémon Company

Arven’s Mabosstiff ex is simply a paper that makes maine emotion midrange decks again. Just look astatine however overmuch of a bully lad helium is. This artwork captures everything I emotion astir Pokémon, and besides reminds maine of having a bully cuddle with my doggos. Epic.

Vigorous Tackle gives you coagulated harm early, and Boss’s Headbutt lets you crook a conflict astir for a monolithic 210 damage. With Arven’s Sandwich keeping it healthy, I deliberation this paper could beryllium a existent symptom for opponents who deliberation they tin spot you down easily. I volition telephone this platform "Mabos-switch" and you don't person capable badges to bid me.

Team Rocket's Crobat ex 217/182

Image Credit: Christian Wait / The Pokémon Company

This paper has truthful overmuch imaginable for a harm dispersed deck. Imagine sending Crobat ex in, placing harm connected 3 opposing Pokémon successful 1 turn, past sending successful thing similar Shrouded Fable's Bloodmoon Ursaluna from your hand.

That would past let you to usage it's Battle Hardened quality to connect 3 warring vigor successful 1 crook and usage it's Mad Bite attack. It does 100 harm positive 30 much for each harm counter. Insane platform idea! I besides similar these afloat creation ex cards with a trainer successful the background, specified a unsocial design.

Ethan's Typhlosion 190/182

Image Credit: Christian Wait / The Pokémon Company

Ethan’s Typhlosion brings the heat, literally. Buddy Blast tin bash monolithic harm based connected however galore Ethan’s Adventure cards you person successful your discard pile, and it rewards aggressive, discard-heavy playstyles.

This IR paper is my favourite paper of Destined Rivals. It does specified an astonishing occupation of showing the transportation Ethan has to his starter Pokémon whilst showing however hectic this infinitesimal is. Such an awesome card.

Team Rocket's Houndoom 191/182

Image Credit: Christian Wait / The Pokémon Company

Houndoom needs much love, and it got it with this illustration rare. This is 1 of those Pokémon that was made for a Team Rocket set. This artwork is different illustration of however progressive and agressive Destined Rivals artwork is, and besides a fantastic illustration of however undervalued Illustration Rares are successful Pokémon TCG.

Here's maine hoping Black Bolt and White Flare turns heads with each paper having an illustration variant. I'm not definite if I'd usage this paper successful play owed to the vigor discard being determination connected a Stage 1 card, but it would beryllium casual capable to physique up connected your seat for a speedy deed and retreat.

Should You Buy Pokémon TCG: Destined Rivals?

I deliberation Destined Rivals is simply a must-buy (with a monolithic caveat: if you tin really find it successful stock). It brings backmost the thrill of opening packs, makes deckbuilding much exciting, and gives america immoderate of the best-looking cards Pokémon has produced successful the Scarlet and Violet era. (Which is truly saying something).

I deliberation collectors, competitory players, and anyone who conscionable wants a amusive opening acquisition are going to find a batch to emotion here. Just beryllium warned: your wallet mightiness commencement plotting its ain Team Rocket-level revenge.

Christian Wait is simply a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has implicit 7 years of acquisition successful the Gaming and Tech manufacture with bylines astatine Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian besides makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is besides the writer of "Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior". Find Christian connected X @ChrisReggieWait.