Destined Rivals is a landmark release for thePokemon TCG,ushering in thereturn of valuable Team Rocket cardsand continuing to use Trainer and Pokemon duos, following inspiration from theset that preceded it, Journey Together.While hype for the set was appropriately high and the set continues to soar in value, certain cards are flying under the radar.
Destined Rivals is such a big set full of beloved Pokemon and Trainers, that it’s natural for certain superstars like Mewtwo to steal the show. But keep an eye on some of Destined Rivals' most underrated cards, as they might be affordable now, but might quickly rise when the set disappears from shelves.
Card prices used reflect theirTCGplayermarket price at the time of writing. Any cards without a market price are not included.
8Hydrapple: Illustration Rare – $5.96
The Best Apple
You might be looking at this card, racking your brain, trying to remember the last time you saw this Pokemon in the TCG, and you’d understandably come up with almost nothing. Hydrapple’s TCG career is still young, and its roster of cards is still growing, with this Illustration Rare topping the charts as its best.
Given the distinction this card has as the first Hydrapple Illustration Rare, it’ll remain as the holy grail for collectors of this Pokemon. While its modest price might not inspire a lot of FOMO, you’ll wish you had this card when it eventually creeps up in price.
7Misty’s Lapras: Illustration Rare – $30.18
Misty’s Other Card
Misty’s most valuable cardsare full of gorgeous beach vibes, but none feature such a beautiful scene at the beach as Misty’s Lapras. While Misty’s Psyduck gets most of the limelight in this set, Lapras is arguably just as beautiful a card but commands far less money than its peer.
Even though this bright blue scene is getting plenty of appreciation, judging by its solid price, it will always be in the shadow of Misty’s Psyduck, and it will likely take a massive shift in the community for this card’s value to exceed Psyduck.
6Team Rocket’s Giovanni: Ultra Rare – $11.05
All Eyes On Giovanni
Giovanni’s valuable Special Illustration Rare(SIR) steals the spotlight away from this Giovanni card that perfectly captures this Team Rocket Boss’s mischievous nature in this artwork. If it wasn’t for the gorgeous colors and variety of trainers featured in the Special Illustration Rare, this card could’ve been a worthy substitute.
The simple scene might not stand up to the level of detail you’ll find in the SIR version of Team Rocket’s Giovanni, but sometimes less is more. Giovanni’s worst enemy really is himself.
5Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex: Ultra Rare – $9.50
A Rare Rainbow
While Ethan’s Ho-Oh is one of the most popular cards in the set, this isn’t the version you’re thinking of, but this Ultra Rare still stands out thanks to its bright rainbow colors from Ho-Oh’s wings. The style of these Trainer and Pokemon duo Ultra Rares is uniform for everyone, but the color palette here makes this card stand out.
If you could only pick one of the Ultra Rare designs to compete with the impressively detailed SIR and IR versions, this Ethan’s Ho-Oh would be the clear choice thanks to its standout style.
4Blaziken: Illustration Rare – $14.50
Training Pays
Blaziken is usually one of the most exciting Pokemon included in any set, and if its beautiful Alternate Art from Chilling Reign is anything to go by, this Pokemon can carry a set on its own. Setting aside the IR status of this Blaziken card, visually, this card is worthy of attention and could’ve carried a set on its own.
While this Blaziken probably wouldn’t be an extremely valuable card even if it were the chase card of its own set, it deserves a price in the $20 range, where it will likely settle after it dips closer to the single digits, then rebounds.
3Rotom: Illustration Rare – $4.88
A Ghost In The Light
Rotom stands out thanks to two clear factors: its incredibly low price and the incredibly high level of detail in this Illustration Rare. Whether it’s the scattered photos in the room or the rainbow of colors used to shade the items on the desk, this card exceeds expectations across the board, except in its price.
Rotom isn’t a particularly popular Pokemon, so you shouldn’t expect to see this card catapult into the $50 range or anything like that (at least not for several years), but a sub-five-dollar valuation is a bargain. Grab this card at its incredibly affordable price while you still can.
2Cynthia’s Roserade: Illustration Rare – $16.09
A Work Of Art
Cynthia frequently finds her cards among the most valuablein most sets she appears in, but the intense, fierce expressions of Cynthia and Roserade here reflect their disappointment with this card’s value. This card’s detail-oriented approach to the wind, Cynthia’s hair, and every last corner of the canvas is mind-blowing.
Yes, Roserade isn’t a popular Pokemon by any stretch of the imagination, but considering the presence of Cynthia and the card’s amazing artwork, expect it to get more attention down the road.
1Shaymin: Illustration Rare – $15.93
As Bright As Its Future
Shaymin isn’t the most popular Mythical Pokemon of all time, but it deserves more than the fairly modest price tag it boasts in Destined Rivals. Blaziken’s card in this set might be a stretch as a top chase card, but you could easily bill this card as a top-tier option in most other sets.
The bright flowers in the background are the perfect accompaniment to Shaymin’s predominantly green and white color scheme, creating a blindingly bright scene. We’re glad this card isn’t too expensive to buy at the moment, but expect that the good value might not last for long.
