Pre-release events for the upcoming Pokémon TCG expansion “Destined Rivals” are just days away, bringing with them a wave of cards worth considering for your next deck build.
While Japan’s metagame—already ahead with “The Glory of Team Rocket” and “Heat Wave Arena”—offers early insights, several upcoming cards could prove useful against today’s top-tier threats.
These Trainer cards will appeal to collectors, but if you’re focused on building a strong deck, here are a few Destined Rivals staples worth your attention.
The Gaming Districts breaks down which cards to look out for—whether you’re lining up on release day or getting a head start during the pre-release window.
Disclaimer: This guide is not a guaranteed solution to counter every top-tier card in the current meta. While Destined Rivals offers viable options, skills are still important. Use these suggestions as a starting point—but remember, how you play matters more than what you play.
Destined Rivals Card # 1: Team Rocket’s Crobat EX
Dragapult EX already has a stacked list of archetypes, and it seems like Team Rocket’s Crobat may help it even become stronger.
Its ability, “Bite About” places damage counters on 2 of your opponent’s Pokemon. Although the ever-powerful Dusknoir-Dragapult archetype isn’t letting up soon, Team Rocket’s Crobat Ex may replace the self-detonating Dusknoir in the long run. (For as long as Japan’s own Gym card promo Psyduck isn’t there yet.)
A City League deck placed first based on this list found on Limitless.
Destined Rivals Card # 2: Shaymin
With Manaphy out of rotation, bench snipers such as baby Raging Bolt, Wellspring Mask Ogerpon EX, and N’s Darmanitan are already gaining popularity due to being able to disrupt some of the best decks in format. (Case in point, Dragapult EX and Gardevoir EX – essentially stage 2 decks.)
Shaymin’s ability, “Flower Curtain,” prevents all damage to benched Pokémon without a rule box by attacks from opponents’ Pokémon. In Japan alone, this was enough to ward off Tera Box decks in the April edition of Champions League Aichi. But it hasn’t stopped Tera Box and snipe-dependent decks from dominating City League Tournaments as of late. (Like this one in Tokyo!)
Destined Rivals Card # 3: Team Rocket’s Watchtower
This card, which disables abilities of colorless Pokemon, provides a direct counter to decks that run Noctowl and Pidgeot EX. Bumping it out with Area Zero Underdepths could provide a a temporary fix. But Team Rocket’s Watchtower can still come up clutch in crucial moments against the deck. This could be a punishing stadium bump, paired with an Iono in the final stretch to keep your opponent from a game-changing “Jewel Seeker.”
This card may aid against Charizard EX decks running both Noctowl and Pidgeot EX engines, and even against the Raging Bolt EX-Noctowl archetype which recently won the Milwaukee Regionals. “Team Rocket’s Watchtower” can even deny the opponent Bloodmoon Ursaluna’s “Season Skill” endgame.
This next pick may be controversial, but really, anything that gives Festival Lead a fairer shot competitively is a win to me.
Destined Rivals Card # 4: Hydrapple
“Festival Lead” enjoyers may finally find the light with “Destined Rivals'” release. “Destined Rivals'” Hydrapple discarding 6 basic grass energy from your hand in order to knock out an opponent’s active Pokémon.
This keeps “Festival Lead” as a one-prizer deck while having another late game exit plan against steel decks like Gholdengo, Archaludon or Hop’s Zacian.
Destined Rivals Card # 5: Ethan’s Adventure (well, basically Ethan’s Trainer cards.)
Ethan trainer decks may shape up on their own in the future thanks to this card- “Ethan’s Adventure.”
“Ethan’s Adventure” allows players to look for up to 3 in any combination of Ethan’s Pokémon and Basic Fire Energy. I believe Ethan’s Ho-Oh, Typhlodion and Magcargo can be pivotal for this deck format.
Ethan’s Ho-Oh’s ability, Golden Flame, attaches “up to 2 Basic Fire Energy from your hand to one of your Benched Ethan’s Pokémon. Its attack, “Shining Feather,” even heals 50 damage on every Pokémon in your bench, possibly giving you a lifeline.
Ethan’s Typhlosion is also significant enough to torch opponents in the endgame thanks to its ability, “Buddy Blast.” This does 40 damage and 60 more damage for each “Ethan’s Adventure” card on the discard pile. Discarding four of these cards will allow 280 max damage. This is enough to knock out a basic like Raging Bolt – more if your opponent’s active Pokémon is steel. (In Japan, players often pair this card up with “Run Away Draw” Dudunsparce. It’s also performing quite okay in City Leagues so far.)
Honorable Mentions
The meta remains volatile after Sword and Shield cards rotated out of regulation, including anti-disruption cards such as Manaphy and Cancelling Cologne. Decks built off Team Rocket cards alone can arguably disrupt your opponent’s momentum.
Personally, I’ve tried a deck revolving around Team Rocket during a pre-release event, and it held up pretty well for this specific format.
Rocket’s Articuno in itself may be an answer to Dragapult, thanks to “Resistance Veil” but its bench protection only extends to Team Rocket’s Pokemon. Team Rocket’s Factory can even provide a viable draw engine for Team Rocket decks. In its revival, Sacred Ash – which shuffles up to 5 Pokemon from your discard pile into your deck – provides good recovery. But if you’re opting for flexibility, Night Stretcher or Super Rod might be a more practical route (What’s another energy to fish out of your discard, amirite?)
“Destined Rivals” comes out on May 30, with pre-release happening across stores worldwide from May 17 onwards.
