Pokémon TCG price watch: Destined Rivals bumps and cuts for September

Since launch, collectors and players have been watching Destined Rivals closely, and the market is already showing strong winners and losers. Illustration Rares, particularly the Rocket-era Special Illustration Rares, are pushing higher thanks to nostalgia and standout artwork. On the gameplay side, cards like Cynthia’s Garchomp and Ethan’s Ho-Oh are gaining traction for competitive use, lifting their values further.

But not everything is trending up. Several Hyper Rares and less-demanded Illustration Rares are cooling off as collectors redirect spending toward the most premium variants. The gap between SIRs and other rarities is widening with every week.

Meanwhile, sealed product from Destined Rivals has exploded in value just three months post-release. Booster boxes and Pokémon Center ETBs are already priced at premium collector levels, raising the question of whether it’s smarter to keep them sealed or crack them open.

Pokémon card bumps

Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex – 231/182 (SIR) rose from $339.60 in August to $369.37 now, an 8.8% bump. Its current price is exactly aligned with its market price of $369.37, suggesting demand is strong enough to hold at this level. This card is already the chase of the set, and collectors are driving the surge. With premium art and solid gameplay utility, it’s easy to see why the SIR is overshadowing the Hyper Rare.

Cynthia’s Garchomp ex – 232/182 (SIR) has made one of the biggest leaps, climbing from $193 in July to $249 now (+29%). The market price is slightly lower at $228.47, meaning some sellers may already be testing the limits of demand. Still, this card has both collector pull — Cynthia remains one of the most popular trainers — and competitive upside. That mix keeps it hot.

Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex – 230/182 (SIR) jumped from $144.95 in July to $198 now, a 36.6% increase. Its market price of $183.78 suggests it’s slightly overheated at the moment, but not by much. With a playable ability in Golden Flame and the legendary status of Ho-Oh, this is one of the safest climbs among the set.

Team Rocket’s Moltres ex – 229/182 (SIR) climbed from $132.04 to $169.09, a 28.1% gain. The market sits lower at $139.35, meaning the card may have run ahead of itself short term. That said, collectors love the dramatic artwork and the nostalgia of Rocket’s legendary birds. Even if it cools slightly, demand will stick around.

Team Rocket’s Nidoking ex – 233/182 (SIR) had a smaller rise, going from $99.59 to $107.91 (+8.3%). Its market price is almost identical at $107.41, meaning it’s holding steady with real transactions. Nidoking may not be as flashy as Mewtwo or Moltres, but the Rocket branding and poison-heavy mechanics make it appealing for niche collectors.

Pokémon card cuts

Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company

Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex – 240/182 (Hyper Rare) slipped from $71.31 to $65.58, down 8%. Its market price of $66.85 shows it’s still moving, but buyers clearly prefer the SIR version. The correction here is more about collectors flocking to premium art than a weakness in the card itself.

Misty’s Psyduck – 193/182 (IR) has seen the harshest fall, crashing from $94.99 in May to $51 now, a 46.3% drop. Its market price of $56.25 is slightly higher than current, suggesting a small rebound could happen, but the bigger story is that the novelty has worn off. Cute factor alone can’t sustain a card without playability or enduring collector demand.

Cynthia’s Garchomp ex – 241/182 (Hyper Rare) dropped from $57.86 in July to $44.09 now, down 23.8%. Its market price of $43.94 matches closely, signaling stability at this lower level. The SIR is dominating collector demand, leaving this variant struggling to hold interest.

Ethan’s Typhlosion – 190/182 (IR) edged down from $41.67 to $39.46, a modest 5.3% decline. Its market price of $34.19 shows the floor may be even lower than current listings suggest. Typhlosion just isn’t matching Ho-Oh’s appeal, and unless gameplay shifts, it could keep sliding.

Yanmega ex – 228/182 (SIR) fell from $38.18 to $33.74, a drop of 11.6%. The market price of $34.42 is close to its new level, suggesting the fall has stabilized. Yanmega’s niche ability wasn’t enough to compete with the bigger names in the set, leaving it underwhelming for both collectors and players.

Destined Rivaled sealed bumps and cuts

Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company

Destined Rivals sealed is proving to be one of the strongest sealed performers in recent TCG memory. Since releasing in English on May 30, nearly every product has risen, with some doubling in just three months.

Booster Boxes have surged from $247.76 in July to $349 now, a 41% increase. With a market price of $362.63, demand is still pushing higher. These are already a premium buy, and investors who want long-term sealed value should move quickly before they become unreachable.

Pokémon Center ETBs are the standout performer, skyrocketing from $182.39 in July to $312.90 now, a massive 71.5% rise. The market price of $330.68 is even higher than current listings, showing that real buyers are paying above sticker. This is the premier sealed product for Destined Rivals investors.

Half Booster Boxes rose slightly, from $186.99 in July to $199.85 now (+6.9%). With a market of $192.85, these are steady but not explosive. More of a mid-range option for collectors.

Regular ETBs climbed from $83.99 to $99.96, a 19% gain. The market price of $99.72 suggests it’s holding firm. These are still the entry point for casual collectors and remain a safe pick-up.

Booster Bundles and Build & Battle Boxes have been mostly flat, with Bundles dipping slightly and Build & Battle holding around $40. These are practical for players who want packs to rip, but not strong sealed investments compared to boxes or ETBs.

Sleeved Boosters and Blisters are trending upward. Sleeved booster packs rose from $6.84 to $9.49, while regular boosters went from $6.31 to $8.71. The three-pack blisters tell a split story: Kangaskhan’s blister rose from $40.85 to $39.74 (steady, slight dip), while Zebstrika’s blister jumped from $23.31 to $30.99, showing stronger demand. For collectors, Zebstrika looks like the sleeper pick.