Destined Rivals feels like it was made for anyone who grew up with the Team Rocket set. The moodier art, the focus on rival trainers and cards that actually tell a story?
(*Chefs kiss*).
Since the Japanese release, there’s been a lot of noise around certain pulls and now we’re finally getting a proper look.
So, what makes a chase card? Bit of early market buzz, strong artwork, nostalgia and a dash of common sense. Mix all that together and here’s what I reckon will be the top chase cards in Destined Rivals. Enjoy!
8. Yanma Illustration Rare
This one won’t break price records but it doesn’t need to. The Yanma Illustration Rare is just… lovely. There’s something great about seeing a Johto Pokemon get some quiet attention and the gentle art style gives it a real storybook feel.
It’s not trying to be flashy, it’s just vibing in the grass. If you grew up with Gen 2, this one might hit you right in the nostalgia without even trying.
7. Shaymin Illustration Rare
For me, Mew was the mystery in Gen 1. It felt secret, special and slightly illegal to own. Shaymin was that for Gen 4 kids. If you weren’t near an event stop, tough luck. That generational frustration clings to this card, which makes finally owning it feel like closure.
The art is fluorescent and gorgeous but the real pull here is emotional. Shaymin wasn’t easy to get and that’s exactly why it still matters.
6. Ethan’s Typhlosion
This one’s going to be a big chase, not because of nostalgia or rarity but because the artwork absolutely rips. Ethan and Typhlosion are mid-charge, surrounded by wild streaks of flame and motion that make the whole card feel alive.
It’s bold, explosive and full of energy, which is exactly the kind of art collectors love showing off. If cool factor alone could dictate value, this would be one of the set’s most expensive pulls.
5. Misty’s Lapras
If you’re anything like me, you’ve always been drawn to Pokemon art that feels grounded in the real world. As a kid, I wanted Pokemon to be real so badly and that’s probably why this card hits so hard.
Misty and Lapras just vibing on a quiet beach? Come on.
It’s calm, nostalgic and beautifully illustrated. Add in Misty’s popularity and the soft, summery palette and you’ve got a serious chase on your hands.
4. Misty’s Psyduck
Gen 1 love runs deep and Psyduck’s fanbase is loud. Pair that with Misty, who’s iconic on both sides of the world and you’ve got a recipe for a true chase card.
The artwork is playful and full of character and Japanese buyers are already shelling out solid prices for it.
If that’s anything to go by, this one won’t stay cheap for long. It’s got nostalgia, popularity and a bit of hype behind it.
3. Ethan’s Adventure (SIR)
This one feels like the poster child for Destined Rivals. Ethan’s Adventure is vibrant, full of movement and packed with that “journey just beginning” energy. It’s one of the set’s Special Illustration Rares and already hitting solid prices in Japan, which bodes well.
Big character moment, beautiful execution and, yeah, if this set ends up being hard to find, expect demand to spike.
2. Ethan’s Ho-Oh (SIR)
This isn’t the blazing, Sacred Fire Ho-Oh some may have expected but there’s something familiar about it…
The artwork captures the same majestic stillness Ho-Oh had when it first appeared in the anime’s opening episode, gliding across the sky in a moment that stuck with a whole generation.
It’s calm, radiant and iconic in its own way. For that reason alone, this card earns its place as one of the top chase contenders in Destined Rivals.
1. Cynthia’s Garchomp (SIR)
Cynthia plus Garchomp already sounds like a top-tier pull but throw in battle-style artwork this good and you’ve got a serious chase card.
It’s sharp, intense and captures the kind of energy that Destined Rivals is doing so well with. We don’t get enough cards that feel mid-battle anymore and this one delivers hard.
Cynthia’s fanbase is huge, Garchomp’s iconic and together they’re bound to send this card’s value soaring once the set drops.
