Platinum Arceus Pokémon Cards
Discover every card in this set.
Set statistics
Platinum Arceus (PL04): the final Platinum-series expansion
Platinum Arceus is the fourth and final expansion of the Platinum series of the Pokémon TCG. Its official designation is PL04. The set was released in English on 4 November 2009 and in Japanese on 8 July 2009, under the name Advent of Arceus. It is based on the Pokémon Platinum video game and centres on Arceus, the Alpha Pokémon of Generation 4.
Unlike most expansions of the era, Platinum Arceus was distributed only in English in the West. According to its official release dates, no localized French, German, Spanish or Italian edition of the set was produced.
Search a card
Card list for the Platinum Arceus set
Your card collection, in your pocket
Catalogue, card scanner, live market prices and wishlist - on the app.
Detailed information
Iconic Pokémon in Platinum Arceus
The set revolves around Arceus, known as the Alpha Pokémon. It includes nine basic Arceus cards, one for each Energy type, plus three Arceus LV.X cards. Other notable Pokémon round out the expansion:
- Charizard, card 1/99, holographic
- Gengar, featured with its full evolution line and a Gengar LV.X card
- Salamence and its Salamence LV.X card
- Tangrowth and its Tangrowth LV.X card
- Heatran, holographic 3/99
- The Galaxy-foil cards such as Zapdos, Porygon-Z and Beedrill
The LV.X cards and holographics remain the most sought after by collectors.
Rarities and card types
Platinum Arceus offers several rarity levels:
- Common
- Uncommon
- Rare
- Rare Holographic
- Rare Holographic LV.X
The expansion stands out for its two separately numbered subsets. The nine Arceus cards are numbered AR1 to AR9 and show Arceus holding different Plates, which changes its type. The three Shiny cards, numbered SH10 to SH12, feature Bagon, Ponyta and Shinx in their Shiny form. Platinum Arceus is the first set in the game to include two distinct subsets.
The set also contains Trainer, Supporter and Stadium cards, including playable Fossils such as Dome Fossil and Helix Fossil.
Mechanics and gameplay
Platinum Arceus introduces a rule unique to Arceus: a deck can hold any number of Arceus cards, instead of the usual limit of four copies per card. The three Arceus LV.X cards can level up any basic Arceus.
The set also builds on Pokémon SP and offers a complete Gengar line up to Gengar LV.X, a popular deck-building option at the time. Two theme decks shipped with the release: Flamemaster and Stormshaper. Unlike previous expansions, Platinum Arceus contains no reprinted cards.
Boosters and availability
As an English-only 2009 release, sealed product and singles are found mainly on the secondary market. Sealed boosters and LV.X cards are the most in demand.
Several formats circulate among collectors:
- Single boosters
- Theme decks (Flamemaster, Stormshaper)
- Individual cards
- Sealed lots
Prices depend on condition, whether the product is sealed, and the rarity of the cards involved.
Why collect Platinum Arceus
Platinum Arceus marks the conclusion of the Platinum series and the TCG debut of Arceus. The set keeps the appeal of Generation 4 and the Diamond and Pearl era.
Because it was never localized beyond English, the set holds particular interest for collectors of classic, English-only expansions, alongside its LV.X cards and Shiny subset.
- Was Platinum Arceus released in other languages?
- The set was officially released only in English (4 November 2009) and Japanese (8 July 2009). No localized French, German, Spanish or Italian edition was produced.
- How many cards are in Platinum Arceus?
- The set has 111 cards in total: 99 main cards, 9 Arceus cards (AR1 to AR9) and 3 Shiny cards (SH10 to SH12).
- What makes the Arceus cards special?
- A printed rule lets you include any number of Arceus cards in a deck, instead of the usual four-copy limit.
