2009 99 cards

The Alpha Pokemon

The final Platinum expansion celebrated the mythical Arceus with 9 type-variant cards alongside powerful LV.X Pokemon in a compact 99-card set.

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pl4

Difficulty

3/5 to complete

Avg Card Value

Varies

Market average

Top Card

Gengar LV.X

See market

Rarity Tier

Moderate

Overview

Arceus, released November 4, 2009, is the final Platinum expansion with 99 cards. The set is unique for featuring 9 different Arceus cards, each representing a different type. It served as the bridge between the Platinum and HeartGold SoulSilver eras and included several competitively relevant LV.X cards.

Best for

Gen IV collectors sorting reverse holos and early modern chases
collectors pricing Arceus (2009, 99 cards) as DP / Platinum era cardboard — not as generic “old cards”
buyers who already know Gengar LV.X / Salamence LV.X is the expensive row in Arceus

Skip this path if

you buy mixed “DP era” binders without sorting by set
you expect every card in Arceus to carry similar resale (bulk is bulk)

Common mistakes

The expensive mistake on Arceus is confusing base DP with later era expansions when reading listings. Set code pl4 (2009) is the membership test — character name alone will not save a bad buy. Budget Gengar LV.X / Salamence LV.X as priority singles; the other 97 cards are not the same project.

What to check first

Pull up Gengar LV.X / Salamence LV.X first — number, finish, and surface — then decide if the ask is real. Parallel check: exact expansion code, reverse vs standard holo, and any LV.X-style chase. Only after that does the full Arceus checklist tell you what is left.

Top of the chart

Most valuable cards

Gengar LV.X (#97) is the set's top chase card, with Gengar being a perennial fan favorite. Salamence LV.X (#98) and Tangrowth LV.X (#99) are also collected. The 9 Arceus type variants (AR1–AR9) are popular as a complete collection and hold value together.

Arceus

Arceus

Arceus

Bagon

Ponyta

Shinx

Full Collection

Cards from Arceus

Tap any card to see price history and details.

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Tips to finish the set

Arceus is a compact 99-card set, but the 9 Arceus variants add a unique collection-within-a-collection challenge. Many collectors aim to get all 9 Arceus types as a set. The LV.X cards are the primary singles expense. This is one of the more affordable Platinum-era sets to complete.

Step by step

How to Complete This Set

01

Identify Arceus cards by set code pl4 / symbol — do not sort by art alone
02

Split bulk commons/uncommons from holos and special rarities before pricing
03

Track Gengar LV.X and Salamence LV.X as priority singles, not pack EV fantasies
04

Scan or checklist-gap the rest after the chase budget is honest

Scan with the app

Pokex identifies all 9 Arceus type variants and their unique type-themed artworks. The scanner distinguishes between the similar-looking Arceus cards and tracks your progress toward the complete Arceus type collection.

FAQ

Common questions

01 How many Arceus cards are in the Arceus set?

The Arceus set features 9 different Arceus cards (AR1–AR9), each representing a different Pokemon type: Normal, Fire, Water, Grass, Lightning, Psychic, Fighting, Darkness, and Metal.

02 What is Gengar LV.X worth from the Arceus set?

Gengar LV.X (#97) typically sells for $30–$80 in near-mint condition. Gengar's consistent popularity as a fan-favorite Ghost-type Pokemon keeps demand strong for this card.

03 Is the Arceus set the last Platinum expansion?

Yes, Arceus is the final expansion in the Platinum block, released November 2009. It was followed by HeartGold SoulSilver in February 2010, which started a new sub-era within the DP era.

04 Can you use all 9 Arceus cards in one deck?

Yes, the Arceus cards have a special rule allowing you to have as many Arceus cards as you like in your deck, rather than the usual 4-copy limit. This enabled unique all-Arceus deck strategies.