Destined Rivals: The Shocking Truth About Pokemon TCG Pull Rates!

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When it comes to gathering Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG) cards, individuals hunting through packs aim for the rarest and most expensive finds. However, for these cards to retain their worth, they must remain somewhat scarce. If a significant number of good pulls from an expansion flood TCGPlayer or other online platforms, the value decreases. The upcoming TCG expansion, Destined Rivals, vividly demonstrates this pattern with pull rates so poor that even collectors might be swearing about them.

Generally speaking, in a Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG) expansion, the rarest and often most valuable cards are the Special Illustration Rare ones. Acquiring these cards is usually quite challenging, becoming even more difficult as the number of cards increases. This was particularly evident in the Evolving Skies expansion from Sword and Shield, an infamous release that features one of the costliest cards in the current TCG market due to its extensive card list and extremely low pull rates.

When collectors cannot obtain the scarce cards they desire, it might be that the Destined Rivals expansion sheds a brighter light on the dramatic tension of the predicament compared to other expansions in recent times.

What Are Pull Rates in The Pokemon TCG?

Official reveal of Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex special illustration rare #DestinedRivals

— Pokémon TCG (@PokemonTCG) May 14, 2025

In the Pokemon TCG, pull rates are the general odds of opening a pack with a rare card.

In a deck, there are three potential places for a scarcely found card to appear, and the chance of drawing one of the less frequent cards is influenced by both luck and the total number of cards in a set. For instance, if an expansion contains a large quantity of standard cards, players will typically draw a pack with a standard holo-rare rather than an Illustration Rare or rarer version.

In Destined Rivals deck, you’ll find a total of 244 cards. The truly rare cards with unique illustrations don’t show up until card number 183, and the special illustrated rares start from card number 228. This means that there are only 17 cards in this collection that are considered highly valuable. Given this, the chance of drawing one of these valuable cards is quite slim.

Yet, it’s not just the number of cards that matters. Some expansions feature extremely low rates of pulling rares. This could be a deliberate choice by The Pokemon Company or simply down to luck. When this occurs, it can lead to a scenario where those who preorder and open numerous packs find it challenging to obtain the more valuable cards from a specific set. A notable instance of this is Prismatic Evolutions, which boasted many Special Illustration Cards but didn’t have an exceptionally large card pool. Regardless, players continue to struggle to get anything from their booster packs.

How Shortages Impact Collectors

The availability of booster packs in the Pokemon Trading Card Game (Pokemon TCG) also influences pull rates. Unfortunately, we’re currently facing another wave of scarcity with items like Prismatic Evolutions and Journey Together products being challenging to acquire. Even Surging Sparks had a rocky introduction following its launch. When goods are hard to come by, it results in fewer packs being opened, making them potentially more costly than typical.

Having fewer packs opened reduces the chances of finding rare cards, consequently weakening a collector’s capacity to augment their collection with valuable items.

On the other hand, obtaining a rare card from one of your packs not only signifies success but also rewards them with a valuable treasure that significantly surpasses the standard value of a Special Illustration Rare.

The Dramatic Irony of Bad Pull Rates

Essentially, when items are scarce and their demand is high, collectors experience both disappointment and excitement. The rarer an item is, the more its value increases. For instance, the Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex card from Destined Rivals might be valued at hundreds of dollars due to its scarcity, as it seems difficult for players to obtain it.

Frequently, the scarcity and high price tag of these cards drives collectors into an excited, almost desperate state, eager to acquire one for their collection, regardless of the significant expense involved.

Collectors often spend more than a card’s purchase price on booster packs, not because it’s unusual, but due to the excitement of opening one themselves. It’s also worth noting that these cards can lose value over time as more expansions are released and supply increases, causing their value to decrease.

Given the challenging pull rates observed for Destined Rivals, coupled with product shortages affecting pre-orders of the Pokemon TCG set, this collection could prove both enticing and frustrating for avid collectors. Yet, it’s unlikely that the difficulty or cost associated with these pulls will discourage those on the hunt for rare cards; instead, the challenge might only serve to intensify the already burning passion for Pokemon card collecting.

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2025-05-23 17:14