Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—Destined Rivals Top Competitive Cards

06 June 2025

Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—Destined Rivals Top Competitive Cards

Learn how to play some of the latest expansion’s top cards, including Cynthia’s Garchomp ex, Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex, and more.

By Ellis Longhurst, Contributing Writer

Declare your allegiance with cards from the Pokémon Trading Card Game: Scarlet & Violet—Destined Rivals expansion. This set marks the return of Giovanni and Team Rocket, who scheme to take over the battlefield using powerful Pokémon and tricky tactics. Tensions ignite as heroic Trainers and their Pokémon enter the fray to foil these plans! Choose your side wisely: each has strengths to champion and weaknesses to exploit. Read on to find out which Trainer cards and Trainer’s Pokémon in Scarlet & Violet—Destined Rivals will make great allies in this epic fight.

Team Rocket’s Spidops Pulls the Strings

Who better to showcase the venom of Team Rocket than Team Rocket’s Spidops? This Pokémon is a formidable single-Prize attacker, and its Charging Up Ability supports the schemes of Team Rocket’s Pokémon. By accelerating a Basic Energy into play through Charging Up, then moving it with Energy Switch, the unique attacks of Team Rocket’s Arbok, Team Rocket’s Crobat ex, Team Rocket’s Hypno, or Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex can be expedited. These Pokémon could even attack the same turn they’re played if Team Rocket’s Energy is part of the plan.

Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex relies on Team Rocket’s Spidops to realize its ambitions. Charging Up consistently provides targets to maximize the damage done by Erasure Ball, and Team Rocket’s Spidops contributes to the quota of Team Rocket’s Pokémon that need to be in play to overcome Power Saver. On its own, Team Rocket’s Spidops makes quick work of opposing single-Prize Pokémon and Pokémon ex that are commonly played in a supporting role, such as Squawkabilly ex and Mew ex. Charizard ex, Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex, and N’s Zoroark ex must beware! Rocket Rush can Knock Out each of them in one hit because of their Weakness to Grass-type Pokémon.

Team Rocket’s Spidops will cause even more trouble for the opponent when it conspires with Team Rocket’s Mimikyu. This Pokémon is a single-Prize nuisance for all Tera Pokémon, but particularly for Dragapult ex, which it will Knock Out in one hit if you are crafty enough to put a Lillie’s Clefairy ex into play. Make sure you also invite Team Rocket’s Articuno to join the gang: its Repelling Veil Ability protects Team Rocket’s Tarountula and Team Rocket’s Mimikyu from the effects of attacks—like being Knocked Out by Phantom Dive—while they are on the Bench.

The machinations of Team Rocket’s Spidops are aided by an impressive collection of Team Rocket Trainer cards that can be searched for at any time by Team Rocket’s Transceiver. Of them, Team Rocket’s Proton is the pick for the early game. This Supporter card provides a way to search for multiple Basic Pokémon while under the effect of Budew’s Itchy Pollen—it can even be played on the first turn of the game when going first! By committing to Team Rocket’s Pokémon, players will also be able to draw loads of cards with Team Rocket’s Ariana or Team Rocket’s Factory and disrupt the opponent’s hand with Team Rocket’s Archer. Loyalty will be rewarded by Team Rocket’s Giovanni, too: this Supporter card can be used to plot an escape, a Knock Out, or both.

Cynthia’s Garchomp ex Bites Back

Cynthia’s Garchomp ex is destined to bring you a taste of success. This Pokémon does 260 damage with Draconic Buster, making it a powerful ally in the battle against Team Rocket. It even has a perfect partner in crime-stopping: Cynthia’s Roserade, which increases the damage done by the attacks of Cynthia’s Pokémon. With just two Cynthia’s Roserade in play, Cynthia’s Garchomp ex will send Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex blasting off again and again.

Knocking Out a Cynthia’s Garchomp ex in one hit is challenging because the Mach Pokémon can use Cynthia’s Power Weight to increase its HP to 400! With this Pokémon Tool card, Cynthia’s Garchomp ex will be able to endure one or two attacks from almost any Pokémon, keeping it on the battlefield to take a second or third bite at a Knock Out of its own. This should empower players to succeed with a more conservative style of gameplay rather than one in which they aggressively try to hit with Draconic Buster. Drawing cards and doing damage with Corkscrew Dive improves the consistency of this archetype and eliminates the need to use Crispin or multi-card processes for the Energy acceleration to attack. Instead, players can disrupt the opponent with Supporter cards like Iono and Judge, or they can find Unfair Stamp through Arven. Or, what about using Professor Turo’s Scenario or Scoop Up Cyclone to remove damage from Cynthia’s Garchomp ex and deny Prize cards to the opponent? Chew on that.

Otherwise, spin that damage to your advantage with Cynthia’s Spiritomb. It does 10 damage to the opponent’s Active Pokémon for each damage counter on all of your Benched Cynthia’s Pokémon. Suddenly, all the damage taken by Cynthia’s Garchomp ex becomes an asset, as do any damage counters placed on your Benched Pokémon by the likes of Dragapult ex or Munkidori.

Getting Cynthia’s Pokémon to join you on the battlefield is as simple as asking. By chaining the Champion’s Call Ability of Cynthia’s Gabite, you can quickly put multiple Cynthia’s Pokémon into play. Though, you will need to include a different way to bring in the new Shaymin. The Mythical Pokémon’s Flower Curtain Ability is crucial in protecting Cynthia’s Gabite and Cynthia’s Roselia from becoming an easy snack for the opponent while they are on the Bench.

Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex Chooses Alternative Allies

Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex stands out from the crowd for a good reason. It does not need any help from other Pokémon to start firing with Shadow Bullet. This Pokémon can be searched from the deck with Spikemuth Gym and accelerates up to 5 Darkness Energy onto Marnie’s Pokémon when it is put into play. Spread out the Energy and prepare multiple Marnie’s Pokémon to attack, or take the opportunity to set up a hardcore Marnie’s Morpeko.

Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex can succeed on its own, but it will rock the competition when played alongside Froslass, Munkidori, and Budew. This motley crew unites to enable an alternative, yet effective, winning strategy. Between turns, Froslass’s Ability spreads damage counters across the battlefield. Budew’s Itchy Pollen buys the turns needed to set up Froslass. And Munkidori further chips away at the opponent’s Pokémon by moving damage counters with Adrena-Brain. Given enough time, these damage counters will overwhelm any deck that puts Pokémon with Abilities into play.

The benefits of adding Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex to this established group of Pokémon cannot be overstated. Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex acts as a high-HP wall that protects Froslass and Munkidori, and the damage from Shadow Bullet reduces the number of turns required to rack up enough damage counters to take six Prize cards. Unlike other candidates for this role, Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex can independently satisfy its attack cost through Punk Up, which allows Munkidori to be the target for the Energy card attachment for the turn.

This diverse band of Pokémon has been making waves in Japan. Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex earned four spots in the Top 16 at the Champions League in Aichi—a tournament with thousands of players! Expect the trend to continue.

Ethan’s Adventure Fires Up the Rivalry

The journey to defeat Team Rocket may begin with a single Supporter card: Ethan’s Adventure. It allows players to step into the shoes of Ethan and partner with powerful Pokémon. Start with Ethan’s Typhlosion. For the cost of a single Fire Energy, it does up to 280 damage with Buddy Blast—enough to Knock Out most Pokémon in one hit! With the help of Gravity Mountain and damage modifiers like Maximum Belt and Victini’s Victory Cheer Ability, even behemoths like Dragapult ex, Charizard ex, and Cynthia’s Garchomp ex cannot withstand the heat from Ethan’s Typhlosion.

As one would expect, there is great synergy between Ethan and his Pokémon. Ethan’s Quilava can search the deck every turn for Ethan’s Adventure, which in return searches for Ethan’s Cyndaquil, Ethan’s Quilava, or Ethan’s Typhlosion, and the Supporter card increases the damage done by Buddy Blast to boot. To ensure that this combination catches fire, quickly put multiple Ethan’s Quilava into play. Consider using Technical Machine: Evolution to evolve into two Ethan’s Quilava on the first turn of attack, and Shaymin’s Flower Curtain to protect Ethan’s Cyndaquil and Ethan’s Quilava on the Bench from damage. A Redeemable Ticket is essential in case there are one or more Ethan’s Adventure stuck in the Prize cards.

There are many paths to choose with Ethan’s Adventure. Go in a completely different direction by incorporating this Supporter card into the Gholdengo ex deck. It can search for the Energy needed for Gholdengo ex to Make It Rain and set up Ethan’s Typhlosion to make it rain fire. Another route might involve an Ethan’s Ho-Oh ex deck. The Legendary Pokémon’s Golden Flame Ability can facilitate a quick Steam Artillery from Ethan’s Typhlosion or a Lava Burst from Ethan’s Magcargo. Explore using Golden Flame to prepare Ethan’s Pinsir to do loads of damage after an Ethan’s Pokémon is Knocked Out, or try combining it with Armarouge’s Fire Off to fuel any Pokémon in the Active Spot.

Team Rocket’s Watchtower Steals the Spotlight

Team Rocket’s Watchtower may not be one of the most eye-catching cards of the expansion, but it is certainly worthy of inspection: Stadium cards with a similar effect have a long history of success in the Pokémon TCG.

Team Rocket’s Watchtower removes the Abilities of Colorless-type Pokémon in play. Now, take a look at the decks that are currently popular and performing well at tournaments. Many of them rely on the Abilities of Colorless-type Pokémon to execute their winning strategies. For example, Terapagos ex, Raging Bolt ex, and Tera toolbox decks routinely include Noctowl to search for Trainer cards with its Jewel Seeker Ability. Similarly, Pidgeot ex’s Quick Search facilitates the setup and board control of Charizard ex decks. Team Rocket’s Watchtower also prevents opponents from using Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex as a low-cost attacking option in the late game, as well as from using Squawkabilly ex’s Squawk and Seize or Fan Rotom’s Fan Call to become established on the battlefield.

This Stadium card is a natural fit for a Team Rocket-focused deck because it can be searched by Team Rocket’s Petrel. Plus, there are no constraints on the effects of Team Rocket’s Watchtower, which means it is an easy choice for any deck that does not already have a preferred Stadium card. At City League tournaments in Japan, it has appeared in almost every archetype! So, to prepare for similar trouble, a plan for sneaking past Team Rocket’s Watchtower is needed. Try reducing your deck’s reliance on the Abilities of Colorless-type Pokémon or perhaps playing more of your own Stadium cards.

Another way to let Team Rocket’s Watchtower shine is using it with Slaking ex. At first glance, the Pokémon ex might look almost unstoppable: it can do 280 damage with its Great Swing attack for a cost of only 2 Energy. Unfortunately, Slaking ex is held back by its Born to Slack Ability, which gives the opponent the power to dictate when—or even if—this Pokémon can attack. Reclaim this power and unlock the potential of Slaking ex by removing its Ability with Team Rocket’s Watchtower. Will this be the breakout deck of the set? Watch this space.


These are just some of the exciting cards that you will find in the new Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—Destined Rivals expansion. With over 240 cards to collect, including over 85 Trainer’s Pokémon, there are plenty of other daring combinations and strategies to explore. Where will your allegiance lie? For more Pokémon TCG strategy and analysis, visit Pokemon.co.uk/Strategy.


Ellis Longhurst



Ellis Longhurst is a contributing writer for Pokemon.com. She has been competing in high-level Pokémon TCG tournaments since 2006 and creating written content for the Pokémon community since 2011. Now she brings some Australian flavour to the Play! Pokémon commentary teams at the International and World Championships.

Scarlet & Violet—Destined Rivals
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