Destined Rivals was an extremely hypedPokemon TCGset from the moment it was announced, thanks to the return of Team Rocket combined with the trainer and Pokemon combinations that feature heavily in thelatter portion of the Scarlet & Violet era.
Since we’ve already analyzedthe most expensive cards in Destined Rivals,we’ll be focused on the best cards to grade across price ranges. While value plays a role in determining if a card is worth spending money on to grade, this isn’t a concern if you’re purely collecting the card for yourself. Whatever your motivation, these are the best Destined Rivals cards to grade.
8Arven’s Mabosstiff ex – Special Illustration Rare
Lying In Wait
Arven’s Mabosstiff might not excite you if you’re looking to grade a card, then sell it for a profit, but don’t sleep on this sweet slice-of-life scene. Arven and Mabosstiff are relatively new characters in the Pokemon series, and their popularity may not hit its apex for quite some time.
Once Scarlet and Violet cards age and the kids who grew up with these two characters begin to buy their own cards, you might be surprised by where this card’s value settles. Value speculations aside, there’s something so adorable about this scene of a boy and his dog trying to read a map.
7Misty’s Lapras – Illustration Rare
A Sunny Day Forever
Misty’s Lapras is worthy of a place amongthe best Misty cards ever,but that’s still a long journey, given that most cards fall in value after their release before eventually rising again down the road. For now, the most obvious reason to grade this card is its bright pastel colors that create a layered scene of Misty, Lapras, and a serene ocean background.
If you think you may get a perfect ten, this card will be much more valuable, so your investment in the grading cost won’t be wasted. Even if you just want to keep your card protected for the future, this is the perfect candidate, given how much this card relies on a clean design to pop.
6Team Rocket’s Meowth – Illustration Rare
The Right-Hand Cat
Speaking of visually appealing cards, cat lovers and Giovanni stans will adore the Team Rocket’s Meowth Illustration Rare. This artwork is a bit more drab and dark at first glance, but the red rug and multicolored books provide subtle and stimulating colors fo spice things up.
More importantly, Meowth is having a bath and enjoying getting clean while Giovanni is busy being a crime boss in the background. If that type of contrast doesn’t appeal to you, then maybe something more typically exciting will.
5Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex – Special Illustration Rare
A Usual Suspect
Team Rocket’s Mewtwo is the top chase card in Destined Rivals, but it’s not necessarily the best card to grade unless you’re able to nearly guarantee a ten. While getting a nine isn’t the worst thing in the world, it limits the potential short-term value for those interested in resale value.
However, ignoring the resale side, you might have to pay more for your grading if this card comes back a ten, depending on which grading company you use. These potential downsides give this card more to think about than some of the other best cards to grade in Destined Rivals.
4Ethan’s Typhlosion – Illustration Rare
A Beautiful Bargain
Ethan’s Typhlosion is arguably one of the most surprising cards in Destined Rivals as it missed out on being included among the set’s Special Illustration Rare (SIR) lineup, settling for Illustration Rares (IR). However, despite this slight snub, the artwork is fierce, as Ethan and Typhlosion are both preparing for an attack.
There’s no doubt that this artwork is worth being categorized as an SIR, and its somewhat cheaper price compared to the best SIRs in the set makes it viable to grade a few copies if you want to try for a perfect grade.
3Team Rocket’s Giovanni – Special Illustration Rare
The Leader For A Reason
Team Rocket’s Giovanni might not bethe most valuable full art trainer cardat the moment, but beautiful artwork like this is always worth sending to be graded. Whether you’re collecting for yourself or open to trading and selling, grading trainer cards can set them apart from other copies, if you get a clean card.
There’s something about this card framing Giovanni with his Rocket admins that makes it feel like it should be the best trainer card in Destined Rivals for the future, even if Arianna provides stiff competition.
2Cynthia’s Garchomp ex – Special Illustration Rare
A Champion Rising
The most valuable Cynthia cardshave seen a massive uptick since Journey Together was released, and introduced plenty of hype for Pokemon and Trainer combinations. This Cynthia card continues the trend of great cards featuring this iconic duo, following a similar card from Hidden Fates.
There’s so much going on in this scene between the vicious fight in the foreground and Cynthia commanding her Pokemon in the background. Getting this card graded is a great way to confirm its condition, especially considering how hard it is to check the surface given the dark colors used.
1Misty’s Psyduck – Illustration Rare
An Endless River
Misty’s Psyduck stands out as the best all-around card to grade in Destined Rivals, as it offers appeal no matter what you prioritize: monetary or aesthetic value. Misty and her Psyduck are probably one of the most iconic duos in Pokemon history, and this card feels worthy of being distinguished with a grade.
Aside from the protection it offers, Misty holds a special place in many of our hearts as one of the original characters from the Pokemon anime. Whether you’re new to Pokemon or have been here forever, Misty’s popularity and this calm, sunny summer moment in the water are reason enough to grade this card.
