Pokemon TCG Destined Rivals released in May 2025 and brought Team Rocket back to the TCG for the first time in 25 years. Nearly a year on, the question for Australian collectors and players is whether the set is still worth buying, and if so, what to target. This guide covers current chase card values as of early 2026, box value, and an honest assessment of whether to buy sealed or singles.
Destined Rivals is one of the strongest Pokemon sets released in the Scarlet and Violet era and remains highly collectible in 2026. The Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex SIR is the flagship card at approximately AU$700 to AU$800 raw and continuing to grow. Sealed booster boxes are still available on Amazon AU. For collectors who missed release, buying specific singles is now more efficient than cracking boxes. For casual buyers who want the experience of opening Team Rocket-themed packs, it remains a strong choice.
Why Destined Rivals Still Matters
Team Rocket was a defining part of Pokemon TCG history. The original Team Rocket set from 2000 introduced Dark-type Pokemon and remains one of the most nostalgic and sought-after sets from the early era. For 25 years, Team Rocket was absent from the main Pokemon TCG as a featured faction. Destined Rivals ended that absence.
The set combines nostalgia-driven demand from collectors who grew up with the original Rocket cards with new gameplay relevance from a strong competitive card lineup. Team Rocket-related cards in this set include Giovanni, Archer, and other Rocket admins alongside familiar Pokemon under Team Rocket's command.
Ten months after release, secondary market prices on the top chase cards have continued to appreciate rather than depreciate. That sustained trajectory is unusual and reflects how strongly the collector base has responded to the Rocket return.
The Top Chase Cards (Current AU Prices)
1. Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex Special Illustration Rare
The flagship card of the set and one of the most valuable Pokemon TCG cards produced in the Scarlet and Violet era. The SIR artwork features Giovanni commanding Mewtwo in a dramatic, full-card illustration by Iwamoto05. By March 2026, this card was trading at approximately USD $484 on TCGPlayer, which translates to roughly AU$750 to AU$800 raw depending on grade.
On the competitive side, Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex has 280 HP and an attack that deals up to 280 damage, but requires four or more Team Rocket's Pokemon in play. Building around this restriction is viable and the card has tournament-relevant potential in dedicated Team Rocket decks.
Verdict: The card you want if you are a serious Mewtwo collector or are targeting the most iconic card from the set. Buy as a single from eBay AU. Opening boxes to chase this card is extremely inefficient.
2. Cynthia's Garchomp ex Special Illustration Rare
Cynthia is one of the most beloved Champion characters in the Pokemon main series games, known for her Garchomp. The SIR features Cynthia and Garchomp ex in a dramatic full-card composition. Trading around AU$300 to AU$350 raw as of early 2026, with steady appreciation since release.
Garchomp ex's competitive ability lets you draw up to a hand size of six every turn, providing consistent draw power that translates directly to tournament viability. Dual collector and player demand sustains the price.
3. Ethan's Ho-Oh ex Special Illustration Rare
Ethan (Gold from Pokemon Gold and Silver) with Ho-Oh is a combination with deep nostalgia for players who grew up with the Gen 2 games. The SIR shows Ho-Oh in a sweeping full-card illustration with Ethan. Trading around AU$220 to AU$240 raw.
Ho-Oh ex has a fire energy accelerator ability usable only on Ethan's other Pokemon, making it a combo piece in Ethan-themed decks rather than a standalone attacker.
4. Team Rocket's Nidoking ex Special Illustration Rare
Nidoking under Team Rocket's banner is an unusual pairing that works visually. Trading around AU$135 to AU$150 raw. Nidoking is a fan-favourite from the original games and this card has sustained collector interest from that nostalgia.
5. Misty's Psyduck Illustration Rare
Not a SIR but the standout Illustration Rare of the set. Misty with Psyduck in a beach-adjacent illustration is charming and has been consistently cited as one of the most aesthetically pleasing cards in the set. Trading around AU$30 to AU$50 raw and showing gradual appreciation based on March 2026 data. At this price point, it is an accessible collector target.
6. Marnie's Morpeko and Steven's Metagross ex (Starter Deck Promos)
Pre-release events for Destined Rivals included the Marnie and Steven rival battle decks, which were available from 16 May 2025 before the full set release on 30 May. Cards from these decks with promo stamps carry premium collector value. If you did not attend the prerelease, these promo versions are available from eBay AU sellers.
Is Destined Rivals Still Worth Buying Sealed?
Box opening for the experience: Yes, for Pokemon fans who enjoy Team Rocket-themed content and want the pack-opening experience. The set opens generously with multiple Illustration Rares and good mid-tier pulls per box. Reports from box openings consistently describe solid hits rather than disappointing bricks.
Box opening to build a Team Rocket deck: Partially. The competitive versions of key cards (Mewtwo ex, Cynthia's Garchomp, Ho-Oh ex) all have cheaper non-SIR versions that function identically in tournaments. An Ultra Rare Mewtwo ex for deck play costs AU$15 to AU$25 rather than AU$750 for the SIR. Build your competitive deck from singles.
Box opening to chase the SIR Mewtwo ex: No. The expected number of boxes required to pull the Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex SIR makes single purchase almost always more efficient. The SIR is approximately 1 in 30 to 40 packs pull rate in a set with no shortage of supply.
Sealed boxes as a collector hold: The case for sealed Destined Rivals as a held sealed product rests on the Team Rocket nostalgia factor and the continued trajectory of the top chase cards. The set has shown sustained appreciation rather than the typical post-release price normalisation. That said, sealed box speculation always carries risk and should not be treated as reliable investment strategy.
Box Value Reality Check
A Destined Rivals Booster Box (36 packs) in Australia currently retails around AU$160 to AU$190. The expected value of a typical box based on SIR pull rates and current singles prices is roughly:
- 1 SIR at approximately 1 in 33 to 40 packs (roughly 1 per box): average value across all six SIRs approximately AU$120 to AU$150 per pull
- Illustration Rares: approximately 3 to 4 per box at an average of AU$15 to AU$25 each
- Various Ultra Rares and standard rares
Average box expected value is broadly at or near retail, depending on which SIR you pull. If you pull the Mewtwo ex SIR you are significantly ahead. If you pull the lower-value SIRs you are at or slightly below retail on singles value.
This is a better box EV picture than most recent Pokemon sets, though the variance remains high.
The eBay AU Singles Market
If you know which cards you want, eBay AU is the most efficient path. Australian sellers stock Destined Rivals singles at broadly competitive prices with the international market. Search completed sales rather than listed prices to understand what cards are actually selling for.
The Cards on Cards on Cards eBay store stocks Pokemon singles including Destined Rivals cards. Buying from an established Australian seller with strong feedback is the safest approach for higher-value cards.
Shop Destined Rivals singles on eBay AU
Where to Buy Sealed in Australia
The Destined Rivals Booster Box is confirmed on Amazon AU. Check the Pokemon section of the shop for current availability and pricing.
Browse Pokemon Destined Rivals on Amazon AU
How Destined Rivals Sits in 2026 Context
With the Pokemon TCG now in the Mega Evolution era following Destined Rivals, the Scarlet and Violet era is winding down. Destined Rivals is the final main Team Rocket-themed Scarlet and Violet set. As the era closes and cards rotate out of Standard, sealed sets from the era that had strong collector reception tend to stabilise in value as supply becomes more finite.
Destined Rivals benefited from:
- Team Rocket returning for the first time in 25 years
- Strong competitive cards that drove player demand alongside collector demand
- An SIR card (Mewtwo ex) with dual nostalgia and iconic villain status
- A diverse SIR roster covering beloved characters from multiple generations
These fundamentals are strong for long-term collector appeal. It is not a guarantee of price appreciation, but Destined Rivals has more of the right ingredients than most recent sets.
Pokemon Destined Rivals is available on Amazon AU now. Team Rocket returns. Booster Box confirmed in stock.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Pokemon Destined Rivals release in Australia? 30 May 2025, simultaneous with the global English release.
How many cards are in Destined Rivals? 182 regular cards plus over 60 secret rares, for more than 240 cards total.
Is Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex playable in Standard in 2026? Yes, Destined Rivals is legal in the current Standard format. Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex requires building around it (four or more Team Rocket's Pokemon in play) but is tournament-viable in dedicated builds.
What is the pull rate for Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex SIR? Approximately 1 in 30 to 40 packs based on community opening data. Roughly 1 per booster box, not guaranteed.
Are Destined Rivals booster boxes worth more than retail now? At Australian retail pricing, booster boxes are broadly at retail value in secondary market pricing. If you want to buy for the opening experience, retail is the fair price. If you want specific cards, singles from eBay AU are more efficient.
Is Destined Rivals the last Team Rocket Pokemon set? No confirmed information. Ravensburger makes Lorcana decisions, not Pokemon. Team Rocket could return in future Pokemon sets. Destined Rivals is the first Team Rocket-featuring set in 25 years and currently the only one in the Scarlet and Violet era.