Best Pokémon TCG deal: Destined Rivals Three Booster is below market value at Amazon

BELOW MARKET VALUE: The Pokémon TCG’s Destined Rivals Three Booster Blister is currently $33.03 on Amazon, which is down to market value when compared to TCGplayer listings starting at $37.98.

If you’re as ancient as I am, you’ll remember the magic of the first Pokémania wave hitting the West in the late ’90s. Destined Rivals brings back the nostalgic feel of Pokémon Gold and Silver on the Game Boy Color, alongside the epic Wizards of the Coast era of the Pokémon TCG, specifically Gym Heroes.

Serving as the sixth set in the Pokémon TCG, Gym Heroes introduced Trainer’s Pokémon and breathed new life into the game. Now imagine mixing that with the darker artwork of the fifth Pokémon TCG set, Team Rocket, and reworking it into a modern-era release. Enter Destined Rivals.

Instead of Dark Pokémon this time around, we’re getting Team Rocket Trainer Pokémon (that Team Rocket’s Mewtwo SIR though), alongside appearances from Gold and Silver protagonist Ethan and Diamond and Pearl’s Pokémon League Champion, Cynthia.

Although it’s not the most valuable card in the set, Ethan’s Typhlosion – 190/182 Illustration Rare is a massive highlight for me. Artist GIDORA perfectly captured what was going on in my imagination while playing Pokémon Gold and Silver. It’s such a great feeling when you connect with a piece of art like this, and it’s a central part of my personal collection.

The best chase cards you can pull from Destined Rivals

Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company

Ripping booster packs is awesome, but if you’re chasing the higher-end cards, it’s going to cost you. You might get lucky and pull an SIR from a three-pack blister like this one, but the odds are incredibly low. Once I’m done opening a booster box for a set, if I haven’t pulled the card I’m after, I’ll take a look on TCGplayer and see what it’s going for. More often than not, the card you want will be cheaper than buying a couple of booster boxes or a boatload of booster bundles.

Here are the top five Destined Rivals chase cards, including where to buy them and up-to-date market value information so you can make an informed buying decision:

1. Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex – 231/182
   Near Mint Holofoil: $401.31
   Market price: $413.26
   Most recent sale: $321.75

2. Cynthia’s Garchomp ex – 232/182
   Near Mint Holofoil: $188
   Market price: $193.28
   Most recent sale: $192

3. Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex – 230/182
   Near Mint Holofoil: $136
   Market price: $144.22
   Most recent sale: $140.76

4. Team Rocket’s Moltres ex – 229/182
   Near Mint Holofoil: $109.32
   Market price: $116.81
   Most recent sale: $114.31

5. Team Rocket’s Crobat ex – 234/182
   Near Mint Holofoil: $62.99
   Market price: $66.78
   Most recent sale: $62.99