X Marks the Spot in the Pokémon TCG: Platinum Set!

By Arianne Haley-Banez

Grab your treasure map, but beware. No map or compass will help you escape the Lost Zone!

Grab your treasure map and take a journey to find where X marks the spot in the Pokémon TCG: Platinum set! Platinum contains six new Pokémon LV.X. Perhaps you'll find a sparkling Dialga LV.X (122/127), a lustrous Palkia LV.X (125/127), a dangerously dark Drapion  LV.X (123/127), a Lost Zone treasure Giratina  LV.X (124/127), or the shiny, emerald-green eyes of one of two Shaymin LV.X (126/127 & 127/127). But beware! No map or compass will help you escape the Lost Zone!

A Quick Rise to Power
Platinum is as good as gold if you want to get Pokémon LV.X into play and attacking fast. Five of the six new powerhouses Level-Up from Basic Pokémon. With the addition of the Trainer card Level Max (107/127), a lucky coin flip lets you search your deck for a LV.X and level it up—even on the Bench!

Reasons to Be Grateful
One of the most-anticipated Pokémon in this set is the never-before-seen Shaymin, the Gratitude Pokémon. You will certainly be thankful to have either of these two Pokémon LV.X in your deck. Put the Ground Forme Shaymin LV.X into play and its Thankfulness Poké-Body gives your Grass-type Pokémon (excluding any Shaymin) an extra 40 HP. The Sky Forme Shaymin LV.X will make your opponent think twice before Knocking Out any of your Grass-type Pokémon, since its Revenge Seed Poké-Body adds 60 damage to Shaymin’s attacks on your opponent’s Active Pokémon during your next turn!

A Mysterious New Zone
If you're not careful you may find your treasures vanishing into the Lost Zone. Unlike cards that are discarded, these cards are unplayable for the rest of the match. Palkia LV.X uses its Lost Cyclone Poké-Power while Dialga LV.X and Giratina LV.X have attacks that can send Energy, Pokémon Tools, or even Pokémon into the Lost Zone. Plus, Giratina  LV.X's Invisible Tentacles Poké-Body forces your opponent to discard a card from his or her hand prior to attacking.

Devastating Powers and Attacks
Crystals are on every treasure hunter’s wish list, and Dialga LV.X does not disappoint. Its Time Crystal Poké-Body turns off both players’ Poké-Bodies (excluding any Pokémon SP), making it a powerful threat. This exciting Pokémon LV.X also benefits from two Trainer cards for Pokémon SP. Team Galactic's Invention G-101 Energy Gain (116/127) lets any Pokémon SP attack with 1 less Colorless Energy. Add Team Galatic’s Invention G-105 Poké Turn (118/127) to your deck, and you can rescue a heavily damaged Pokémon SP, including Dialga LV.X and Palkia LV.X, by returning them to your hand.

With its Tri-Poison Poké-Power and Sniping Tail attack, Drapion LV.X is a gem that could be the surprise contender in the set. With a lucky coin flip, you can Poison the Defending Pokémon and put 3 damage counters on it between turns. Attack with Sniping Tail to prevent the Defending Pokémon from retreating while inflicting 70 damage, including 30 damage from those damage counters. Now you’re all set for the Knock Out next turn.

Grab your treasure map, flip open your compass, and see if you find where X marks the spot in the new Platinum set!