Pokemon TCG: Platinum - Arceus Set

Platinum: Arceus (アルセウス光臨) Trading Card Game Set 42
General information

Cards	English: 111 Japanese: 90
Series	Platinum
Region Focus	Arceus and the Jewel of Life
Previous Expansion	Supreme Victor’s
Following Expansion	HeartGold & SoulSilver
Associated Decks	Flamemaster Stormshaper
Released	November 4th, 2009 (English) July 8th, 2009 (Japanese)

Arceus was the grand finale of the Platinum series — a 111-card set released in November 2009 and named for the Alpha Pokémon said to have shaped the universe. It arrived hand-in-hand with the twelfth Pokémon movie, Arceus and the Jewel of Life, and it put its legendary namesake front and centre.

The set’s defining twist was the Arceus card itself. Printed in a rainbow of different Energy types — all sharing the single name “Arceus” — these cards carried a special rule found nowhere else: you could include as many of them in your deck as you liked, ignoring the usual four-copy limit entirely.

It was also the end of an era in a bigger sense — the last set the game would ever print with Pokémon LV.X.

Before Time Began… Perfection Existed

Stepping out of ancient times comes a Pokémon so mighty that legends say it shaped the universe itself! The Pokémon TCG: Platinum—Arceus expansion introduces the Alpha Pokémon Arceus and its multiple Energy types. So, harness and wield this awesome power or rise to its incredible challenge! Capture previously unseen Pokémon LV.X to aid you in this titanic struggle, and turn the tide of battle with all-new Trainer and Stadium cards. Prepare to face your greatest test…

— official Arceus expansion blurb

The Alpha Pokémon

Arceus was built to be assembled. Because you could run any number of the multi-type Arceus, a deck could field a whole spectrum of them at once — and the set’s Arceus LV.X were designed to tie that spectrum together.

The cleverest of them was Arceus LV.X (94). Its Multitype Poké-Body took on the type of whichever Arceus it sat on, and its Omniscient Poké-Body let it borrow the attacks of every other Arceus you had in play — turning a bench full of different-typed Arceus into one impossibly versatile attacker, able to hit whatever a matchup demanded.

Others simply hit hard. Arceus LV.X (95) paired the same Multitype flexibility with Meteor Blast, a 100-damage swing that only wavered on a coin flip. Between the set’s three Arceus LV.X, players could tune the Alpha Pokémon to almost any strategy.

Arceus LV.X (94/99)

The connective tissue of an Arceus deck. Multitype copies the type of the Arceus beneath it, and Omniscient lets it use the attacks of every other Arceus you have in play — pure versatility.

Arceus LV.X (95/99)

The straightforward beatstick of the trio. It keeps the type-shifting Multitype Poké-Body and adds Meteor Blast, a 100-damage hit that only drops on a bad coin flip.

Print Versions

Fittingly, two of Arceus’s four booster arts showed the Alpha Pokémon itself — in its Grass and Water forms — alongside Salamence and Zapdos. Every pack was a chance at one of the set’s six Pokémon LV.X, its secret rares, or a Shiny.

Set List

Card Image	No.	Card name	Rarity	Card type
	1/99	Charizard
	Card text Fire Formation Each of Charizard’s attacks does 10 more damage for each Fire Pokémon on your Bench to your opponent’s Active Pokémon (before applying Weakness and Resistance). Fire Wing 30 Burning Tail 80 Discard a Fire Energy attached to Charizard.
	2/99	Froslass
	Card text Snow Gift Once during your turn, when you play Froslass from your hand to evolve 1 of your Pokémon, you may search your deck for any 1 card and put it into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward. Ground Frost 50 If there is any Stadium card in play, this attack does nothing.
	3/99	Heatran
	Card text Fire Fang 20 The Defending Pokémon is now Burned. Magma Mantle 60+ Discard the top 3 cards of your deck. This attack does 60 damage plus 20 more damage for each Fire or Metal Energy card you discarded.
	4/99	Kabutops
	Card text Primal Scythe 20+ You may discard Helix Fossil, Dome Fossil, or Old Amber from your hand. If you do, this attack does 20 damage plus 50 more damage. Rock Slide 60 Does 10 damage to 2 of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.)
	5/99	Luxray
	Card text Flash 30 If the Defending Pokémon tries to attack during your opponent’s next turn, your opponent flips a coin. If tails, that attack does nothing. Gadget Bolt 60 If Luxray has a Pokémon Tool card attached to it, you may do 100 damage instead of 60 to the Defending Pokémon. If you do, discard that Pokémon Tool card.
	6/99	Mothim
	Card text Cloak Party Search your deck for up to 3 in any combination of Burmy and Wormadam, show them to your opponent, and put them into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward. Energy Assist 30 Search your discard pile for a basic Energy card and attach it to 1 of your Benched Pokémon.
	7/99	Probopass
	Card text Competitiveness If you don’t have a Supporter card in play, each of Probopass’s attacks does 30 more damage to the Active Pokémon (before applying Weakness and Resistance). Top Chop 30 Draw a card. Tumbling Attack 50+ Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 50 damage plus 30 more damage.
	8/99	Salamence
	Card text Top Accelerator Once during your turn (before your attack), you may reveal the top card of your deck. If that card is a basic Energy card, attach it to 1 of your Pokémon. If that card isn’t a basic Energy card, discard it. This power can’t be used if Salamence is affected by a Special Condition. Shoot Through 50 Does 20 damage to 1 of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.) Dragon Claw 70
	9/99	Swalot
	Card text Damage Roller Put damage counters on the Defending Pokémon until the Defending Pokémon has the same remaining HP as Swalot. (If the Defending Pokémon has the same or less remaining HP as Swalot, this attack does nothing.) Entangle Tackle 50+ You may do 50 damage plus 30 more damage. If you do, this attack does 30 damage to 1 of your Pokémon, and don’t apply Weakness and Resistance to this damage.
	10/99	Tangrowth
	Card text Leaf Guard 30 During your opponent’s next turn, any damage done to Tangrowth by attacks is reduced by 20 (after applying Weakness and Resistance). Swallow Up 50 Before doing damage, count the remaining HP of the Defending Pokémon and Tangrowth. If the Defending Pokémon has fewer remaining HP than Tangrowth’s, this attack does 120 damage instead
	11/99	Toxicroak
	Card text Corner 20 The Defending Pokémon can’t retreat during your opponent’s next turn. Convert Blow 30+ If Toxicroak has any Psychic Energy attached to it, the Defending Pokémon is now Poisoned. If Toxicroak has any Fighting Energy attached to it, this attack does 30 damage plus 30 more damage
	12/99	Zapdos
	Card text Charge Beam 10 Flip a coin. If heads, search your discard pile for an Energy card and attach it to Zapdos Pokémon G. Lightning Strike 40 You may discard all Lightning Energy attached to Zapdos Pokémon G. If you do, this attack’s base damage is 80 instead of 40.
	13/99	Aerodactyl
	Card text Unearth Once during your turn (before you attack), you may search your deck for Helix Fossil, Dome Fossil, or Old Amber, show it to your opponent, and put it into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward. This Power can’t be used if Aerodactyl is affected by a Special Condition. Hyper Beam 30 Flip a coin. If heads, discard an Energy card attached to the Defending Pokémon.
	14/99	Bronzong
	Card text Oracle Arrow Choose 1 of your opponent’s Pokémon that has any damage counters on it. This attack does 40 damage to that Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.) Antigravity 60 The Retreat Cost for Bronzong is 0 until the end of your next turn.
	15/99	Cherrim
	Card text Cloudy Sky If any of your Grass Pokémon or Fire Pokémon would be damaged by an attack, reduce that damage by 10 (after applying Weakness and Resistance). Worry Seed 30 Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Confused.
	16/99	Gengar
	Card text Curse Once during your turn (before your attack), you may move 1 damage counter from 1 of your opponent’s Pokémon to another of your opponent’s Pokémon. This Power can’t be used if Gengar is affected by a Special Condition. Shadow Skip 60 Does 10 damage to 1 of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.) You may switch Gengar with 1 of your Benched Pokémon
	17/99	Gengar
	Card text Sharpshooting Choose 1 of your opponent’s Pokémon. This attack does 40 damage to that Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.) Poison Jab 60 The Defending Pokémon is now Poisoned.
	18/99	Glalie
	Card text Wreck 20+ If there is any Stadium card in play, this attack does 20 damage plus 50 more damage. Discard that Stadium card. Avalanche 50 Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 10 damage to each of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.)
	19/99	Golem
	Card text Lunge Out 50 Tumble Down 30× Discard as many Fighting Energy cards as you like from your hand. This attack does 30 damage times the number of Fighting Energy cards you discarded. Rock Tumble 80 This attack’s damage isn’t affected by Resistance.
	20/99	Hariyama
	Card text Push Out 50 Your opponent switches the Defending Pokémon with 1 of his or her Benched Pokémon. Vortex Chop 60 If the Defending Pokémon has any Resistance, this attack’s base damage is 120 instead of 60.
	21/99	Lopunny
	Card text Relaxing Shower Once during your turn (before your attack), you may discard an Energy card from your hand. If you do, remove 1 damage counter from each of your Pokémon. This Power can’t be used if Lopunny is affected by a Special Condition. Hover Heal 40 Remove all Special Conditions from Lopunny.
	22/99	Manectric
	Card text Second Bite 20+ Does 20 damage plus 10 more damage for each damage counter on the Defending Pokémon. Swift 50 This attack’s damage isn’t affected by Weakness, Resistance, Poké-Powers, Poké-Bodies, or any other effects on the Defending Pokémon.
	23/99	Omastar
	Card text Time Spiral Choose 1 of your opponent’s Evolved Pokémon. Remove the highest Stage Evolution card from that Pokémon and have your opponent shuffle that card into his or her deck. Primal Tentacles 30+ Does 30 damage plus 10 more damage for each Helix Fossil, Dome Fossil, and Old Amber in your discard pile.
	24/99	Pelipper
	Card text Water Pulse 30 The Defending Pokémon is now Asleep. Continuous Crush 70 Flip a coin until you get tails. For each heads discard an Energy attached to the Defending Pokémon.
	25/99	Pichu
	Card text Baby Evolution Once during your turn (before your attack), you may put Pikachu from your hand onto Pichu (this counts as evolving Pichu) and remove all damage counters from Pichu. Baby Steps Look at the top 5 cards of your deck, choose 1 of them, and put it into your hand. Shuffle the other cards back into your deck.
	26/99	Porygon-Z
	Card text Dowsing Code Once during your turn, when you put Porygon-Z Pokémon G from your hand onto your Bench, you may search your discard pile for up to 2 Pokémon Tool cards, show them to your opponent, and shuffle them into your deck. Ambush 20+ Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 20 damage plus 40 more damage.
	27/99	Raichu
	Card text Boosted Voltage 20 If Raichu has a Pokémon Tool card attached to it, this attack does 20 damage to each of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon that isn’t an Evolved Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.) Thunder Blast 70 Discard a Lightning Energy card attached to Raichu.
	28/99	Rapidash
	Card text Wild Guard Prevent all effects of attacks, including damage, done to Rapidash by your opponent’s Pokémon SP. Fire Mane 20 Rising Lunge 50+ Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 50 damage plus 20 more damage.
	29/99	Raticate
	Card text Recruit Look at your opponent’s hand. Choose a Supporter card you find there, and discard it. Then, use the effect of that card as the effect of this attack. Extend Fang 20+ If Raticate has a Pokémon Tool card attached to it, this attack does 20 damage plus 40 more damage.
	30/99	Sceptile
	Card text Green Breath When you attach a Grass Energy card from your hand to Sceptile, remove 2 damage counters from Sceptile. Leaf Blast 20× Does 20 damage times the number of Grass Energy attached to Sceptile. Poison Claws 60 The Defending Pokémon is now Poisoned.
	31/99	Sceptile
	Card text Leaf Supply 30 You may attach a Basic Energy card from your hand to 1 of your Pokémon. Dual Cut 70× Flip 2 coins. This attack does 70 damage times the number of heads.
	32/99	Spiritomb
	Card text Keystone Seal As long as Spiritomb is your Active Pokémon, each player can’t play any Trainer cards from his or her hand. Darkness Grace Search your deck for a card that evolves from 1 of your Pokémon and put it onto that Pokémon. (This counts as evolving that Pokémon.) If you do, put 1 damage counter on Spiritomb. Shuffle your deck afterward. Will-o’-the-wisp 10
	33/99	Bronzong
	Card text Metal Wide Laser This attack does 10 damage to each of your opponent’s Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.) Hyper Beam 50 Flip a coin. If heads, discard an Energy card attached to the Defending Pokémon.
	34/99	Bronzor
	Card text Speed Dive 10 Extrasensory 30+ If you have the same number of cards in your hand as your opponent, this attack does 30 damage plus 30 more damage.
	35/99	Charmeleon
	Card text Slam 30× Flip 2 coins. This attack does 30 damage times the number of heads. Fire Punch 50
	36/99	Gastly
	Card text Lick 10 Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed. Night Shade 10 Does 10 damage to 1 of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.)
	37/99	Graveler
	Card text Tackle 30 Double-edge 70 Graveler does 10 damage to itself.
	38/99	Grovyle
	Card text Detect Flip a coin. If heads, prevent all effects of an attack, including damage, done to Grovyle during your opponent’s next turn. Blade Arms 30
	39/99	Grovyle
	Card text Quick Attack 20+ Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 20 damage plus 10 more damage. Cut 50
	40/99	Gulpin
	Card text Endure Flip a coin. If heads, during your opponent’s next turn, if Gulpin would be Knocked Out by damage from an attack, Gulpin is not Knocked Out, and its remaining HP becomes 10 instead. Pound 10
	41/99	Haunter
	Card text Hidden Poison If Haunter is your Active Pokémon and is damaged by an opponent’s attack (even if Haunter is Knocked Out), the Attacking Pokémon is now Poisoned. Tongue Spring Choose 1 of your opponent’s Pokémon. This attack does 20 damage to that Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.)
	42/99	Haunter
	Card text Psyshot 20 Shadow Bind 30 The Defending Pokémon can’t retreat until the end of your opponent’s next turn.
	43/99	Luxio
	Card text Kick 20 Discharge 40× Discard all Lightning Energy attached to Luxio. Flip a coin for each Lightning Energy card you discarded. This attack does 40 damage times the number of heads.
	44/99	Manectric
	Card text Tackle 20 Head Bolt 60
	45/99	Pelipper
	Card text Water Ball 20+ Does 20 damage plus 10 more damage for each Water Energy attached to Pelipper. Wing Attack 60
	46/99	Ponyta
	Card text Ascension Search your deck for a card that evolves from Ponyta and put it onto Ponyta. (This counts as evolving Ponyta.) Shuffle your deck afterward. Combustion 20
	47/99	Rapidash
	Card text Searing Flame 10 The Defending Pokémon is now Burned. Flare 40
	48/99	Shelgon
	Card text Scrunch Flip a coin. If heads, prevent all damage done to Shelgon by attacks during your opponent’s next turn. Dragon Bump 40+ If Shelgon has any basic Fire Energy and any basic Water Energy attached to it, this attack does 40 damage plus 20 more damage.
	49/99	Wormadam Plant Cloak
	Card text Magical Needle 20 Remove 2 damage counters from 1 of your Benched Pokémon. Cloak Scale 50 If you have Wormadam Sandy Cloak in play, the Defending Pokémon is now Burned, Confused, and Poisoned.
	50/99	Wormadam Sandy Cloak
	Card text Hang Down 30 Cloak Headbutt 60+ If you have Wormadam Trash Cloak in play, this attack does 60 damage plus 30 more damage.
	51/99	Wormadam Trash Cloak
	Card text Cloak Shard Choose 1 of your opponent’s Pokémon. This attack does 10 damage to that Pokémon. If you have Wormadam Plant Cloak in play, this attack does 40 damage to that Pokémon instead. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.) Serve Trash 30 You may search your opponent’s discard pile for any 1 card, show it to your opponent, and put it on top of his or her deck.
	52/99	Bagon
	Card text Smash Kick 10 Super Singe 20 Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Burned.
	53/99	Beedrill
	Card text Raid 10 If you played Beedrill Pokémon G from your hand during this turn, this attack’s base damage is 40 instead of 10. Fury Attack 30× Flip 3 coins. This attack does 30 damage times the number of heads.
	54/99	Bronzor
	Card text Hypnosis 10 Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Asleep. Spinning Attack 20
	55/99	Buneary
	Card text Bunny Hop Choose 1 of your opponent’s Pokémon that doesn’t have any damage counters on it. This attack does 20 damage to that Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.)
	56/99	Burmy Plant Cloak
	Card text Cloak Evolution Burmy Plant Cloak can evolve during the turn you play it. Tackle 20
	57/99	Burmy Sandy Cloak
	Card text Cloak Evolution Burmy Sandy Cloak can evolve during the turn you play it. Tackle 20
	58/99	Burmy Trash Cloak
	Card text Cloak Evolution Burmy Trash Cloak can evolve during the turn you play it. Tackle 20
	59/99	Charmander
	Card text Call for Friends Search your deck for a Fire Basic Pokémon, show it to your opponent, and put it into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward. Steady Firebreathing 20
	60/99	Cherubi
	Card text Ram 10 Solarbeam 20
	61/99	Croagunk
	Card text Astonish Choose 1 card from your opponent’s hand without looking. Look at that card you chose, then have your opponent shuffle that card into his or her deck. Punch 30
	62/99	Electrike
	Card text Zap Kick 10 Thunder Jolt 30 Flip a coin. If tails, Electrike does 10 damage to itself.
	63/99	Electrike
	Card text Bite 10
	64/99	Gastly
	Card text Gnaw 10 Suffocating Gas 20
	65/99	Geodude
	Card text Stone Barrage 10× Flip a coin until you get tails. This attack does 10 damage times the number of heads.
	66/99	Gulpin
	Card text Collect Draw a card. Drool 20
	67/99	Kabuto
	Card text Fast Evolution Search your deck for up to 2 Evolution cards, show them to your opponent, and put them into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward. Speed Attack 30
	68/99	Makuhita
	Card text Sand Attack If the Defending Pokémon tries to attack during your opponent’s next turn, your opponent flips a coin. If tails, that attack does nothing. Magnum Punch 30
	69/99	Nosepass
	Card text Harden During your opponent’s next turn, if Nosepass would be damaged by an attack, prevent that attack’s damage done to Nosepass if that damage is 30 or less. Knock Away 20+ Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 20 damage plus 10 more damage.
	70/99	Omanyte
	Card text Collect Draw 3 cards. Tickle 20 Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
	71/99	Pikachu
	Card text Pika Ball 10 Mega Shot Discard all Lightning Energy attached to Pikachu and then choose 1 of your opponent’s Pokémon. This attack does 40 damage to that Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.)
	72/99	Ponyta
	Card text Tackle 10 Stomp 10+ Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 10 damage plus 20 more damage.
	73/99	Rattata
	Card text Lunge 30 Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing.
	74/99	Shinx
	Card text Gnaw 10 Swagger 20 Flip a coin. If heads, discard an Energy card attached to the Defending Pokémon.
	75/99	Snorunt
	Card text Ice Breath Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed. Double Headbutt 20× Flip 2 coins. This attack does 20 damage times the number of heads.
	76/99	Tangela
	Card text Absorb 10 Remove 1 damage counter from Tangela. Sleep Powder 20 The Defending Pokémon is now Asleep.
	77/99	Tangela
	Card text Collect Draw a card. Stun Spore 30 Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokémon is now Paralyzed.
	78/99	Treecko
	Card text Tail Crush 20+ Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 20 damage plus 10 more damage.
	79/99	Treecko
	Card text Pound 10 Slash 20
	80/99	Wingull
	Card text Glide 10 Slashing Strike 30 During your next turn, Wingull can’t use Slashing Strike.
	81/99	Wingull
	Card text Rain Splash 20
	82/99	Beginning Door		T
	Card text Search your deck for Arceus, show it to your opponent, and put it into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward.
	83/99	Bench Shield		T
	Card text Attach Bench Shield to 1 of your Pokémon that doesn’t already have a Pokémon Tool attached to it. If that Pokémon is Knocked Out, discard this card. As long as the Pokémon this card is attached to is on your Bench, prevent all damage done to that Pokémon by attacks (both yours and your opponent’s).
	84/99	Buffer Piece		T
	Card text Attach Buffer Piece to 1 of your Pokémon that doesn’t already have a Pokémon Tool attached to it. If that Pokémon is Knocked Out, discard this card. Damage done to the Pokémon this card is attached to by an opponent’s attack is reduced by 20 (after applying Weakness and Resistance). At the end of your opponent’s turn after you played Buffer Piece, discard Buffer Piece.
	85/99	Department Store Girl		Su
	Card text You can play only one Supporter card each turn. When you play this card, put it next to your Active Pokémon. When your turn ends, discard this card. Search your deck for up to 3 Pokémon Tool cards, show them to your opponent, and put them into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward.
	86/99	Energy Restore		T
	Card text Flip 3 coins. For each heads, put a Basic Energy card from your discard pile into your hand. If you don’t have that many basic Energy cards in your discard pile, put all of them into your hand.
	87/99	Expert Belt		T
	Card text Attach Expert Belt to 1 of your Pokémon that doesn’t already have a Pokémon Tool attached to it. If that Pokémon is Knocked Out, discard this card. The Pokémon this card is attached to gets +20 HP and that Pokémon’s attacks do 20 more damage to your opponent’s Active Pokémon (before applying Weakness and Resistance). When the Pokémon this card is attached to is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 1 more Prize card.
	88/99	Lucky Egg		T
	Card text Attach Lucky Egg to 1 of your Pokémon that doesn’t already have a Pokémon Tool attached to it. If that Pokémon is Knocked Out, discard this card. When the Pokémon this card is attached to is Knocked Out by damage from an opponent’s attack, draw cards until you have 7 cards in your hand.
	89/99	Old Amber		T
	Card text Play Old Amber as if it were a Colorless Basic Pokémon. (Old Amber counts as a Trainer card as well, but if Old Amber is Knocked Out, this counts as a Knocked Out Pokémon.) Old Amber can’t be affected by any Special Conditions and can’t retreat. At any time during your turn before your attack, you may discard Old Amber from play. (This doesn’t count as a Knocked Out Pokémon.) Hard Amber As long as Old Amber is on your Bench, prevent all damage done to Old Amber by attacks (both yours and your opponent’s).
	90/99	Professor Oak’s Visit		Su
	Card text You can play only one Supporter card each turn. When you play this card, put it next to your Active Pokémon. When your turn ends, discard this card. Draw 3 cards. Then, choose a card from your hand and put it on the bottom of your deck.
	91/99	Ultimate Zone		St
	Card text This card stays in play when you play it. Discard this card if another Stadium card comes into play. If another card with the same name is in play, you can’t play this card. During each player’s turn, the player may move an Energy card attached to 1 of his or her Benched Pokémon to his or her Active Arceus as often as he or she likes.
	92/99	Dome Fossil		T
	Card text Play Dome Fossil as if it were a Colorless Basic Pokémon. (Dome Fossil counts as a Trainer card as well, but if Dome Fossil is Knocked Out, this counts as a Knocked Out Pokémon.) Dome Fossil can’t be affected by any Special Conditions and can’t retreat. At any time during your turn before your attack, you may discard Dome Fossil from play. (This doesn’t count as a Knocked Out Pokémon.) Rock Reaction When you attach a Fighting Energy card from your hand to Dome Fossil (excluding effects of attacks or Poké-Powers), search your deck for a card that evolves from Dome Fossil and put it onto Dome Fossil (this counts as evolving Dome Fossil). Shuffle your deck afterward.
	93/99	Helix Fossil		T
	Card text Play Helix Fossil as if it were a Colorless Basic Pokémon. (Helix Fossil counts as a Trainer card as well, but if Helix Fossil is Knocked Out, this counts as a Knocked Out Pokémon.) Helix Fossil can’t be affected by any Special Conditions and can’t retreat. At any time during your turn before your attack, you may discard Helix Fossil from play. (This doesn’t count as a Knocked Out Pokémon.) Aqua Reaction When you attach a Water Energy card from your hand to Helix Fossil (excluding effects of attacks or Poké-Powers), search your deck for a card that evolves from Helix Fossil and put it onto Helix Fossil (this counts as evolving Helix Fossil). Shuffle your deck afterward.
	94/99	Arceus LV.X
	Card text You may have as many of this card in your deck as you like. Multitype Arceus LV.X’s type is the same type as its previous Level. Omniscient Arceus can use the attacks of all Arceus you have in play as its own. (You still need the necessary Energy to use each attack.) Put this card onto your Active Arceus. Arceus LV. X can use any attack, Poké-Power, or Poké-Body from its previous Level.
	95/99	Arceus LV.X
	Card text You may have as many of this card in your deck as you like. Multitype Arceus LV.X’s type is the same type as its previous Level. Meteor Blast 100 Flip a coin. If tails, this attack’s base damage is 50 instead of 100. Put this card onto your Active Arceus. Arceus LV. X can use any attack, Poké-Power, or Poké-Body from its previous Level.
	96/99	Arceus LV.X
	Card text You may have as many of this card in your deck as you like. Multitype Arceus LV.X’s type is the same type as its previous Level. Psychic Bolt 100 Discard a Lightning Energy and a Psychic Energy attached to Arceus LV.X. Put this card onto your Active Arceus. Arceus LV. X can use any attack, Poké-Power, or Poké-Body from its previous Level.
	97/99	Gengar LV.X
	Card text Level-Down Once during your turn (before your attack), you may choose 1 of your opponent’s LV.X. Remove the Level-Up card from that Pokémon and have your opponent shuffle that card into his or her deck. This Power can’t be used if Gengar is affected by a Special Condition. Compound Pain This attack does 30 damage to each of your opponent’s Pokémon that already has damage counters on it. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.) Put this card onto your Active Gengar. Gengar LV. X can use any attack, Poké-Power, or Poké-Body from its previous Level.
	98/99	Salamence LV.X
	Card text Double Fall Once during your turn (before your attack), when you put Salamence LV.X from your hand onto your Active Salamence, you may use this power. For each of your opponent’s Pokémon that is Knocked Out by damage from Salamence’s attacks this turn, take 1 more Prize card. Steam Blast 100 Discard an Energy card attached to Salamence LV.X. Put this card onto your Active Salamence. Salamence LV. X can use any attack, Poké-Power, or Poké-Body from its previous Level.
	99/99	Tangrowth LV.X
	Card text Healing Growth Once during your turn (before your attack), you may flip a coin. If heads, remove 4 damage counters from 1 of your Pokémon. This power can’t be used if Tangrowth LV.X is affected by a Special Condition. Big Growth Search your discard pile for as many Grass Energy as you like and attach them to your Pokémon in any way you like. Put this card onto your Active Tangrowth. Tangrowth LV. X can use any attack, Poké-Power, or Poké-Body from its previous Level.
	SH10	Bagon
	Card text Star Barrier As long as Bagon has any Energy attached to it, Bagon has no Weakness. Dragon Rage 40 Flip 2 coins. If either of them is tails, this attack does nothing.
	SH11	Ponyta
	Card text Star Barrier As long as Ponyta has any Energy attached to it, Ponyta has no Weakness. Blue Fire 50 Discard all Fire Energy attached to Ponyta.
	SH12	Shinx
	Card text Star Barrier As long as Shinx has any Energy attached to it, Shinx has no Weakness. Payback 10+ If your opponent has only 1 Prize card left, this attack does 10 damage plus 30 more damage.

More Toppers, and a Lasting Tool

Arceus wasn’t only about its namesake. The set carried three more Pokémon LV.X — Gengar, Salamence and Tangrowth — plus one of the most enduring Trainer cards of the whole era.

Gengar LV.X (97) was a control player’s dream. Its Level-Down Poké-Power reached across the table, plucked the Level-Up card off one of your opponent’s Pokémon LV.X and shuffled it away — undoing their biggest investment in a single move — while Compound Pain punished any Pokémon already carrying damage.

Salamence LV.X (98) played the Prize race. Its Double Fall Poké-Power handed you an extra Prize card for every opponent it Knocked Out that turn, and Steam Blast supplied the 100-damage hits to make that happen.

And then there was Expert Belt (87). A humble Pokémon Tool, it gave its holder +20 HP and +20 damage for a single risk — one extra Prize to your opponent if that Pokémon fell. It became one of the most-played Tools in the game, a fixture of competitive decks for years.

Gengar LV.X (97/99)

A control finisher. Level-Down rips the Level-Up card off an opponent’s Pokémon LV.X and shuffles it away, while Compound Pain spreads 30 to every already-damaged Pokémon.

Salamence LV.X (98/99)

A Prize-race accelerator. Double Fall grants an extra Prize for each Pokémon it Knocks Out in a turn, and Steam Blast delivers the 100-damage blows to trigger it.

Expert Belt (87/99)

A tiny Tool with a huge footprint. +20 HP and +20 damage, at the cost of one extra Prize if the holder is Knocked Out — one of the most-played Trainer cards of its era.

Shinies and a Farewell

As it had since Stormfront, the set hid a Shiny subset in its final slots — Bagon, Ponyta and Shinx, numbered SH10 through SH12, alternate-coloured and rarer than anything else in the box.

Arceus closed the book on the Platinum series, and with it the Pokémon LV.X mechanic that had powered the game since 2007. The very next set, HeartGold & SoulSilver, would reboot the game with new mechanics — making this the last time the iconic “LV.X” would ever grace a card.

Shiny Shinx (SH12)

One of three Shiny secret cards — alternate-coloured Bagon, Ponyta and Shinx — tucked into the very end of the final Platinum-series set.

For Collectors: Most Valuable Cards

Arceus (Nov 2009) closed the Platinum era with six Lv.X and a two-tier secret layer: nine alternate ‘Arceus’ holos (AR1-AR9) plus three shiny secrets (SH10-12). Gengar Lv.X is the runaway chase card, while the three Arceus Lv.X (#94-96) and the shiny secrets anchor most collector demand.

Gengar Lv.X (#97/99)

The set’s crown jewel and one of the priciest Platinum-era Lv.X; clean raw NM copies run about $350-450, and gem-mint PSA 10 examples have sold well into five figures (a recent PriceCharting sale near $27,000).

Arceus Lv.X (#94/99)

The flagship of the three Arceus Lv.X variants; raw copies sit around $50, but the very thin high-grade pool pushes PSA 10s into the several-thousand-dollar range.

Salamence Lv.X (#98/99)

The most valuable Lv.X after Gengar; raw runs around $60, with PSA 10 copies fetching roughly $8,000 on a very low graded population.

Arceus Lv.X (#95/99)

Second of the Arceus Lv.X trio; raw about $55 and PSA 10 near $7,000, while its sister print #96 trades around $50 raw and roughly $1,400 in PSA 10.

Shiny Ponyta (Secret Rare) (#SH11/99)

Top of the three shiny secrets (SH10 Bagon, SH11 Ponyta, SH12 Shinx); raw near $140 and PSA 10 around $5,200, outpacing the nine alternate-art Arceus secrets (AR1-AR9, e.g. AR9 about $24 raw / ~$2,500 in PSA 10).

Most Powerful Cards (Competitive Play)

Legal throughout 2010 Modified (DP-on then MD-on), Arceus gave the format its premier universal Tool plus a key disruption engine. Expert Belt became a near-universal staple, Gengar Lv.X anchored the top-tier Vilegar deck, and the namesake Arceus cards powered their own multi-type archetype.

Expert Belt (Universal Tool / staple)

This +20 HP and +20 damage Pokemon Tool (#87/99) slotted into nearly every serious 2010 deck (LuxChomp, Gengar, Machamp and more), making it the set’s most impactful competitive card by a wide margin.

Gengar Lv.X (Vilegar engine)

Its Level-Down Poke-Power devolves an opposing Lv.X, crippling LuxChomp and Dialga G, and it adds 30 HP to the fragile Stormfront Gengar; the Vilegar deck it enabled reached the Top 4 at Worlds 2010.

Arceus + Arceus Lv.X (Arceus archetype)

A special rule allows any number of Arceus, so the multi-type basics (AR1-AR9) plus Arceus Lv.X (#94-96) formed a flexible deck that could hit weakness across the board and saw genuine Battle Road and rogue play.

Salamence Lv.X (Salamence beatdown)

Paired with the Rising Rivals Salamence line, this Lv.X (#98/99) gave a hard-hitting evolution deck extra HP and a heavy attacker, a recognized aggressive option in the 2010 field.

Bench Shield (Anti-snipe tech)

This Tool (#83/99) blocks attack damage to the benched Pokemon it is attached to, a valued tech for protecting setup Lv.X against the snipe-heavy Luxray GL / LuxChomp decks that defined the 2010 metagame.

Trivia

Arceus was the fourth and final set of the Platinum series, tied to the movie Arceus and the Jewel of Life.
Its Arceus cards came in multiple Energy types and shared a special rule: you could include any number of them in a single deck.
It was the last English set to feature Pokémon LV.X; the following HeartGold & SoulSilver series retired the mechanic.
Expert Belt, one of the most-played Pokémon Tools of the era, debuted here.
The set closed with three Shiny Pokémon — Bagon, Ponyta and Shinx (SH10–SH12).

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