Summary: The Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet – Destined Rivals expansion introduces standout cards such as Cynthia’s Garchomp ex and Arven’s Sandwich, enhancing gameplay with new strategies.
Explore the upcoming Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet – Destined Rivals expansion, featuring powerful cards like Cynthia’s Garchomp ex and Arven’s Sandwich.
The Pokémon Trading Card Game is set to release its latest expansion, Scarlet & Violet – Destined Rivals, on May 30, 2025, with pre-release events scheduled from May 17 to May 25. This expansion brings a host of new cards, including powerful Pokémon ex and Trainer cards that are sure to shake up the competitive scene.
In this article
- Destined Rivals Notable Cards
- Cynthia's Garchomp
- Ethan's Ho-Oh
- Arven's Sandwich
- Steven’s Metagross ex
- Marnie’s Scrafty
Destined Rivals Notable Cards
Among the highlights is Cynthia’s Garchomp ex, a formidable card featuring the attacks Spiral Dive, which deals 100 damage and allows players to draw until they have six cards in hand, and Dragon Buster, delivering a massive 260 damage at the cost of discarding all Energy from the Pokémon.
Another notable addition is Arven’s Sandwich, a Trainer card that heals 30 damage from the Active Pokémon, or 100 damage if that Pokémon is an Arven’s Pokémon, providing significant recovery options during battles .
The expansion also features other exciting cards like Arven’s Mabosstiff ex, Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex, and Steven’s Metagross ex, offering players new strategies and deck-building possibilities.
Cynthia's Garchomp
Cynthia has always been a powerful Trainer, and her Garchomp ex makes a striking addition to any battlefield. In a dynamic illustration by HICO KIM, Garchomp is shown reshaping the terrain with raw power and intensity. This fearsome Pokémon features the mighty Draconic Buster attack, dealing a massive 260 damage—though it comes at the cost of discarding all attached Energy. As a reliable backup, the Corkscrew Dive attack requires just one Fighting Energy and lets you draw cards until you have six in hand, keeping your strategy sharp and your options open.
Ethan's Ho-Oh
Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex takes to the skies in a vibrant illustration by aky CG Works, with Ethan himself cheering it on from afar. Its Golden Flame Ability allows you to accelerate your strategy by attaching up to two Basic Fire Energy cards from your hand to one of your Benched Ethan’s Pokémon. When paired with the Ethan’s Adventure Supporter card, this combo helps bring key cards into play with ease.
Ho-Oh ex’s Shining Feathers attack packs a punch—dealing 160 damage to your opponent’s Active Pokémon and healing 50 damage from each of your Pokémon, keeping your entire team battle-ready.
Build a cohesive strategy by pairing Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex with Ethan’s Cyndaquil, Ethan’s Quilava, and Ethan’s Typhlosion. Their synergy with Ethan’s Adventure creates a powerful engine of support and offense—one that just might make you a true rival to Team Rocket.
Arven's Sandwich
The illustration for Arven’s Sandwich by AYUMI ODASHIMA looks almost good enough to eat—but this flavorful card offers more than just visual appeal. As an Item card, Arven’s Sandwich delivers major healing to Arven’s Pokémon (maybe they really do love his cooking!). Even if an Arven’s Pokémon isn’t in your Active Spot, you can still play as many Item cards as you like during your turn, allowing you to heal up to 120 damage from your Active Pokémon. That’s a lot of sandwiches—and a whole lot of recovery.
Steven’s Metagross ex
As Steven’s trusted partner, Metagross ex looks like it’s ready to leap right out of the card—thanks to dynamic artwork by PLANETA Mochizuki—and take command of the battlefield. Its X-Boot Ability accelerates your setup by letting you attach extra Energy to your Psychic- or Metal-type Pokémon. And when Metagross ex takes the lead in your Active Spot, its Metal Stomp attack hits hard, dealing 200 damage to your opponent’s Active Pokémon. Requiring just one Metal Energy and two Colorless Energy, this attack becomes even more efficient with the help of X-Boot.
Steven’s Metagross ex is a tough and reliable partner that pairs well with other Steven’s Pokémon, offering great potential for building a deck with strong synergy and strategic depth.
Marnie’s Scrafty
Spikemuth’s Dark-type expert Marnie enters the fray against Team Rocket, bringing her ever-scrappy Scrafty along for the fight—captured in a bold illustration by Kazumasa Yasukuni. Scrafty gets into the action early with Rear Kick, a quick attack that costs just one Darkness Energy—perfect for chipping away at your opponent’s defenses. As it powers up, it can unleash Wild Tackle, dealing 160 damage to the opposing Active Pokémon. Just watch out—it also deals 30 damage to itself, so timing and recovery are key. If you’ve got healing options like Arven’s Sandwich on hand, that recoil might be well worth the risk.
With the inclusion of these dynamic cards, Destined Rivals promises to deliver fresh gameplay experiences for both collectors and competitive players alike.