Introduction
The Scarlet & Violet—Destined Rivals collection for the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) is expected to come out on May 30, 2025, and it’s going to be huge. This collection is full with memories and new mechanics, and it’s already caused a frenzy among collectors and players. Destined Rivals will be a big expansion with more than 240 cards, including 182 in the main set and 62 secret rares. It will also bring back Trainer’s Pokémon and the dreaded Team Rocket. Now is the time to make a plan for how to pre-order Destined Rivals. Pre-release events will be held from May 17 to May 25, and pre-orders are already selling out quickly. This article is your ultimate pre-order checklist. It shows you the Destined Rivals cards you can’t miss and gives you ideas on how to get them before scalpers and strong demand run out of stock.
Why Destined Rivals Is a Must-Have Set
The hype around the Destined Rivals set is at an all-time high, and for good cause. It mixes old-school components with new gaming techniques, using ideas from Japan’s The Glory of Team Rocket, Heat Wave Arena, and the Marnie and Steven decks. The collection has around 15 Pokémon ex cards and more than 45 Team Rocket-themed cards. It also include Trainer’s Pokémon for famous characters including Misty, Ethan, Steven, Cynthia, Marnie, and Arven. With bright illustration rares (IRs) and special illustration rares (SIRs), the artwork is some of the best we’ve seen in a long time, making it a collector’s dream. Players who want to win are also talking about how cards like Cynthia’s Garchomp ex and Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex could change the game’s meta. However, you need to be ready to get your Destined Rivals cards list because pre-orders are selling out swiftly and scalpers are raising prices. Make sure you don’t miss out by following this list.
Pre-Order Checklist: Important Steps to Get Your Rivals Cards
1. Be aware of the release and pre-order dates.
The official launch of the Destined Rivals set is on May 30, 2025. There will be events before the set’s release from May 17 to May 25. Around March 28, 2025, people could start pre-ordering, but many items, notably at the Pokémon Center, sold out within hours since they were so popular. The Pokémon Center’s FAQ says that restocks are likely, but no exact dates have been set. To keep ahead:
- Sign up for newsletters from stores: For alerts about restocks, sign up for updates from Pokémon Center, TCGStadium, and Total Cards.
- Follow these social media accounts: Accounts like @PokemonRestocks and @pokebeach on X often publish updates about pre-orders and restocks.
- Look in your local gaming stores (LGS): Many LGS let you pre-order items closer to their release date for a little more than the MSRP, which is usually less than what they cost on the secondary market.
2. Put high-value items first
The Destined Rivals set has different products, each with its own features. Here are your goals:
- Elite Trainer Box (ETB): There include 9 booster packs, a full-art foil promo card of Team Rocket’s Wobbuffet, 65 card sleeves, and other things. The Pokémon Center version has both stamped and ordinary promo cards, which makes it quite popular.
- Booster Box: There are 36 packs in this set, which gives you the best chance of getting pursuit cards like Cynthia’s Garchomp ex SIR or Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex SIR. Great for people who collect or invest.
- Build and Battle Boxes: At pre-release events, you can get these, which come with a 40-card prebuilt deck and four booster packs that each have one of four promo cards, including Team Rocket’s Tyranitar or Mimikyu. Great for early access.
- Boxes for Premium Collections: There will probably be variant art previews of popular characters like Misty, Cynthia, or Ethan. These are magnets that collectors want, and they generally sell out quickly.
3. Go after the Must-Have Destined Rivals cards
There are a lot of collectible and competitive cards on the Destined Rivals card list. These are the best cards you don’t want to miss:
- Cynthia’s Garchomp ex SIR: This card is a must-have for collectors and competitive players because it has amazing artwork and can deal a lot of damage and draw cards. It is believed to be worth a lot more, especially if it is graded.
- Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex SIR: This card needs a Rocket-themed deck, but it may change the flow of the game and do a lot of damage. Because it is rare and brings back memories, it is a top target.
- Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex: It speeds up energy and heals, making it a good choice for Fire-type decks. The bright artwork makes it more valuable as a collectible.
- Misty’s Psyduck IR: People love it because of its cute art and strange ability to throw itself to the top of your deck. It is a good candidate for grading because it looks well and is worth a lot of money.
- Shaymin: Its Flower Curtain ability stops all damage to Pokémon that aren’t on the Rule Box Bench, therefore it’s a must-have for defensive strategy. A great choice for gamers that want to win.
- Giovanni Full Art from Team Rocket: This trainer card, which shows Giovanni with his administrators, is a great find for collectors because of its unique art and possible long-term worth.
4. Stay away from scalpers and stores that charge too much.
Scalpers have been a big problem; some stores have raised the prices of Destined Rivals products by 150–200% since they thought there weren’t enough of them. To avoid paying too much:
- Look at the MSRP: To find out if prices are too high, you should know the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (for example, ETBs cost about $50 and Booster Boxes cost between $120 and $180).
- Buy from stores you trust: Amazon, Walmart, and GameStop have had stock at good pricing, although the amount of stock changes. Look for price cuts, because certain things have gone down in price recently.
- Think about singles once they come out: If you miss pre-orders, it might be cheaper to buy singles of chase cards like Cynthia’s Garchomp ex or Misty’s Psyduck than to acquire sealed products that cost too much.
5. Make plans for events before the release
From May 17 to 25, pre-release activities give people a chance to get Destined Rivals cards list early through Build & Battle Boxes. These events are good for beginners and a terrific chance to get promo cards like Mimikyu or Team Rocket’s Tyranitar. Here are some tips for success:
- Get in touch with your LGS early: Make sure to get a space, since events might fill up fast.
- Look at guides on building decks: You can get the most out of your 40-card deck with resources like JustInBasil’s Destined Rivals prerelease guide. Don’t draw too many cards to keep from decking out.
- Concentrate on synergy: Team Rocket decks with cards like Weezing or Venture Bomb are strong in pre-release formats because they can be set up quickly.
6. Make a budget and stick to it
Prices for Destined Rivals are going up because of all the buzz, so make a budget so you don’t spend too much. Think about:
- Collecting for fun or for money: As people get more nostalgic for Scarlet & Violet, cards like Arven’s Mabosstiff IR may become more valuable. But if you collect cards for fun, focus on the ones you love.
- Potential for grading: Cards with bright artwork, like Ethan’s Typhlosion IR or Misty’s Psyduck, are great for grading since they can make them worth more or keep them in good shape.
- Don’t be afraid of missing out: Scalpers love it when people are afraid of missing out. If prices are too high, wait for new stock to come in or buy singles later when the market settles down.
7. Keep up with news on your destined rivals.
The list of cards and product details for Destined Rivals are still coming out. Keep up with what’s going on by:
- Checking authoritative sources: PokéBeach and TCG Collector keep their listings of cards and translations up to date.
- Keeping an eye on the meta’s effect: SI.com and other sites like it show off competitive cards like Yanmega ex and Shaymin, which helps you decide which cards to pick for games.
- After X posts: Accounts like @pokebeach share new card reveals, which keeps you ahead of the game.
Conclusion
The Destined Rivals set is going to be one of the most famous Pokémon TCG releases of 2025 since it combines old and new gameplay. This pre-order checklist will help you get ready to get your Destined Rivals card list, whether you’re after the beautiful Cynthia’s Garchomp ex SIR, the nostalgic Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex, or the cute Misty’s Psyduck IR. Move quickly, shop at stores you trust, and use pre-release events to be ahead of the pack. With demand going through the roof and scalpers hovering, it’s important to be ready. Gather your friends, pick a side, and get ready for the Scarlet & Violet—Destined Rivals experience!
