Misty’s Magikarp and Misty’s Gyarados are returning to the Pokémon TCG for the first time since the Gym Challenge set! This marks the fourth time in the Scarlet & Violet era that Magikarp and Gyarados have made an appearance. They previously appeared in the first two sets of the era—SV Base and Paldea Evolved—as well as in SV 151. It doesn’t look like we’ll be seeing an Illustration Rare version of either card in the upcoming set.
Let’s dive into these cards!
Misty’s Magikarp – 048/182
Misty’s Magikarp will be only the second card ever to feature both Magikarp and its trainer, Misty. Back in Gym Challenge, we saw a common version of Misty’s Magikarp with fairly average artwork. With this release, we’ll now have the 87th and 88th variants of Magikarp in the game.
This card shows Magikarp floating above a stream. I really like the background artwork; there’s good contrast, rocks in the foreground and within the stream, followed by a stretch of plains and shrubland in the distance. The black linework around the rocks and bushes adds great visual texture, reminiscent of the recently reviewed Misty’s Starmie card.
The coloring on Magikarp is bold, and the details really pop. However, my biggest issue is that Magikarp is just kind of floating above the water. The card’s move is Splash, and I wish that action were more clearly represented. The Paldea Evolved release did a much better job capturing the energy and motion I was hoping for.
SMS Cardz Rating: 6.4/10
Misty’s Gyarados – 049/182
Misty’s Gyarados is the second, and final, card in this evolution line featured in the Destined Rivals set. This marks the fourth time Gyarados has appeared in the Scarlet & Violet era, this time as only a Holo Rare and Reverse Holo Rare. With this release, we now have the 117th and 118th Gyarados cards in the TCG. I imagine Gyarados fans may be disappointed, as the card doesn’t get an Illustration Rare and has no other variants in the set.
I was also underwhelmed by the card’s artwork. Gyarados seems to be in the same body of water as Misty’s Starmie from Destined Rivals, with a beach in the background and a forest at the base of a mountain beyond that.
Surrounded by splashing water, Gyarados looks enraged and poised to attack—very fitting for its first move, Splashing Panic. Its aggressive posture reminds me of an alligator about to lunge at its prey.
Unfortunately, the card feels too visually cluttered. Gyarados dominates the frame, and the splash effects overwhelm the rest of the scene. It’s hard to appreciate the finer details. The two cheapest Gyarados cards so far are its releases from SV Paldea Evolved and SV 151, and I don’t expect this one to be any harder to find.
SMS Cardz Rating: 4.8/10
*Please note that the ratings given in this article are for entertainment purposes only. They are highly dependent on my current mood and taste while writing the specific article and ratings will very likely contradict one another.
*This post is not sponsored or endorsed by The Pokémon Company, Nintendo, Game Freak, or any affiliated entities. All opinions expressed are my own and are based on personal analysis and experience. The SMS Cardz Ratings are subjective and intended for entertainment and informational purposes only.
