If you are old enough to remember opening packs from the original Team Rocket set from 2000, then the new Scarlet and Violet Destined Rivals set will bring back some fantastic memories. The main difference here is that it’s not just about Team Rocket but also Pokémon’s hero characters like Ethan and Misty. I got early hands-on access to the lineup: the Elite Trainer Box, Booster Bundle, Build & Battle Box, and even the full Booster Box. Here’s what’s inside, what’s new, and whether the cards live up to the hype.
The Destined Rivals set
Set to release May 30th, 2025, Destined Rivals adds to the Trainer’s Pokémon mechanic that Journey Together did so well. The main theme this time around is that there are two sides to choose from, either Team Rocket or the hero trainers. Here are some of the key details:
- 83 cards tagged as Team Rocket’s Pokémon
- 17 EX cards with 10 being Trainer’s Pokémon
- 23 Illustration Rares and 11 Special Illustration Rares
- 6 Hyper Rare gold-etched cards
All of these cards will be available in different product types like:
- Booster Packs
- Elite Trainer Boxes (ETBs)
- Booster Bundles
- Build & Battle Boxes
Even though they release on May 30th, you can get them early by either being a part of the pre-release tournaments beginning May 17th at participating stores, or you can try them digitally via the Pokémon TCG Live App on May 29th
Hands-on and my thoughts
I got my hands on one of each of the main products to see what they were like. So I received an Elite Trainer Box, a 6-pack booster bundle, a Build and Battle Box, and a Booster Box. Be sure to watch our for YouTube content to get a hands-on look!
Elite Trainer Box (ETB)
This was my favorite experience of the bunch because you get:
- 9 Destined Rivals booster packs
- 1 foil promo card (Team Rocket’s Wobbuffet)
- 65 themed card sleeves
- 45 Pokémon TCG Energy cards
- Player’s guide to the set
- 6 damage-counter dice
- 1 competition-legal coin-flip die
- 2 plastic condition markers
- Collector’s box with 4 dividers
- Code card for Pokémon TCG Live
- Retail for $59.99
Booster Bundle
This one is simple because you get 6 Destined Rivals booster packs and retails for $26.94.
Build and Battle Set
This one was great because it brought everything you need to build a deck for competitive play.
- 4 Destined Rivals booster packs
- 40-card ready-to-play deck (including 1 of 4 exclusive stamped promo cards)
- Deck-building tip sheet
- Code card for Pokémon TCG Live
- Retail for $26.94
Booster Box
This one is mostly for retailers but anyone can buy them if they are in stock. It brings 36 Destined Rival packs and retails for $161.94.
Here are some of the pulls we were able to get!
Final thought
If you’ve ever had a soft spot for the original Team Rocket set or just like the idea of choosing a side in your deckbuilding, Destined Rivals will be worth checking out. There’s a great mix of new mechanics, bold artwork, and plenty of pull potential across every product.
We’ll have more coverage on our YouTube channel and on the site as the release date gets closer. Remember to follow along for our full unboxings and favorite pulls when the set officially drops.
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