If you’ve been scrolling through TCGplayer or hitting the local card shops lately, you've definitely felt the heat. It’s not just the summer air; it’s the absolute mania surrounding Ethan's Ho-Oh SIR from the 2025 Destined Rivals set. Honestly, it’s a bit of a weird situation. We’ve seen Ho-Oh cards before—countless times, really—but this one hits different. It’s a Special Illustration Rare (SIR) that finally gives the Johto protagonist, Ethan, his due alongside the legendary rainbow bird.
Basically, the card is a masterpiece.
But is it actually worth the triple-digit price tag people are slapping on it? Some collectors are calling it the "Moonbreon" of the Scarlet & Violet era, while others think it’s a bubble waiting to pop. To understand why Ethan's Ho-Oh SIR is dominating the conversation, you have to look past the shiny foil and see how it’s actually changing the game—both on the kitchen table and in the graded slab market.
The Artwork: Why Everyone is Obsessed
The illustration is the first thing that grabs you. Created by Artushi Furusawa, the card features a sprawling, cinematic view of Bell Tower. You see Ethan standing at the base, looking up as Ho-Oh descends through a swirl of autumn leaves and golden light. It’s nostalgic. It’s beautiful. It’s expensive.
Most cards use a generic "battle" pose. Not this one. This is a "story" card. It captures that 2000s feeling of playing Pokémon Gold on a Game Boy Color under a streetlamp. Collectors call this "emotional value," and it's why the card is currently sitting at a market price of around $140 to $170 for a raw copy. If you’re lucky enough to pull a centered one and get it into a PSA 10 slab? You’re looking at $500 plus. No joke.
Destined Rivals: A Set Defined by One Card
The Destined Rivals (Sv10) set was always going to be a hit, but Ethan's Ho-Oh SIR (card number 230/182) turned it into a gold rush. When the set dropped, everyone was hunting for the Gold Hyper Rare version (239/182). That card is flashy, sure, with its solid gold background and etched texture. But the market has spoken. People want the art.
In the Pokémon TCG, rarity names can get confusing. You’ve got Double Rares, Ultra Rares, and then the "Secret" tiers. The SIR (Special Illustration Rare) is the top of the mountain. The pull rates for this specific Ho-Oh are rumored to be 1 in every 6 or 7 booster boxes. That’s a lot of cardboard to rip through just to find one bird.
Is Ethan's Ho-Oh SIR Actually Good in a Deck?
It’s not just a pretty face.
The card is a powerhouse in the current meta. With 230 HP and the "Golden Flame" ability, it’s a terrifying bench accelerator.
Golden Flame Ability: Once during your turn, you may attach up to 2 Basic Fire Energy cards from your hand to 1 of your Benched Ethan’s Pokémon.
This ability is the engine behind the "Ho-Oh Armarouge" deck that’s been popping up in Regional tournaments. By pairing Ho-Oh with Armarouge (from the Scarlet & Violet base set), players can move those Fire energies around the board like a shell game. You power up a Reshiram ex or even a heavy hitter like Iron Hands ex in a single turn. It’s fast. It’s aggressive. It’s annoying to play against.
The main attack, "Shining Feathers," hits for 160 damage and heals 50 from each of your Pokémon. It’s a sustain move. In a format where "one-shot" KOs are king, being able to heal your entire bench while dealing respectable damage keeps you in the game longer than you have any right to be.
The Price Trap: Buying vs. Pulling
Let’s talk money.
If you go to a convention today, you'll see Ethan's Ho-Oh SIR in every display case. Sellers are greedy. They know the Johto nostalgia is a bottomless pit. But before you drop $150 on a raw card, check the back. I’ve seen so many copies of this card with "white dots" (chipping) on the corners straight out of the pack. The quality control for the English Destined Rivals print run has been... let's just say "inconsistent."
Japanese collectors have it a bit better. The Japanese version, found in the Heat Wave Arena (SV9a) set as a Special Art Rare (SAR), usually has better centering and a cleaner finish. It’s often cheaper, too, hovering around $90 to $110. If you just want the art and don’t care about playing the card in a sanctioned English tournament, go Japanese. Your wallet will thank you.
✨ Don't miss: The Lashes Sims 4 CC Most Players Are Using Totally Wrong
What to Look for if You're Investing
If you are buying this as a "long-term hold," you need to be clinical.
- Centering: Look at the borders on the front. If the left side is thicker than the right, it’s not a 10. Don't pay 10 prices for a 9.
- Texture: Real copies have a fingerprint-like texture that follows the artwork. If the card is smooth like a greeting card, it’s a fake.
- The "Ethan" Tag: Remember, the ability only works on other "Ethan’s" Pokémon. If the deck doesn't have synergy with those specific cards, the Ho-Oh becomes a very expensive paperweight.
There’s a lot of debate about whether we’ve reached "Peak Ho-Oh." Some believe the price will dip once the next big set, Stellar Crown, fully takes over the competitive scene. However, legendary birds have a history of holding value. Just look at the Ho-Oh from Skyridge or the old Neo Revelation shinies. They don't go down; they just go up slower.
How to Handle Your Ho-Oh
So you pulled it. Or you bought it. Now what?
Don't just shove it in a binder. Ethan's Ho-Oh SIR is a high-texture card. These are prone to "warping" or curling if the humidity gets to them. Use a "perfect fit" sleeve first, then a standard deck protector, and finally a top-loader or a magnetic one-touch case. If you're planning on playing it, for the love of Arceus, use matte sleeves so the glare doesn't give away your hand to your opponent.
Actionable Steps for Collectors and Players:
- Check the Edges: Before buying, use a jeweler's loupe (or just the zoom on your phone) to check for silvering.
- Monitor the Meta: Watch Limitless TCG for tournament results. If the Ho-Oh/Armarouge deck falls out of favor, the price of raw cards will likely drop by 20%.
- Verify Authenticity: Always check for the diagonal holo pattern. Fakes often have vertical holo lines that look cheap and "flat."
- Grade with Caution: Only grade if you are 95% sure it’s a 10. A PSA 9 of this card often sells for the same price as a raw "Near Mint" copy, meaning you lose money on the grading fee.
If you’re hunting for one, keep an eye on eBay auctions ending on Tuesday nights. For some reason, that’s when the "snipes" happen. Avoid buying during the weekend hype when everyone is at their local card shop feeling impulsive.
Wait for the market to breathe. The bird isn't flying away anytime soon.