2008 106 cards

Light Meets Dark

Great Encounters brought the legendary Darkrai and Cresselia into the TCG as LV.X cards, along with a host of powerful Sinnoh Pokemon across 106 cards.

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dp4

Difficulty

3/5 to complete

Avg Card Value

Varies

Market average

Top Card

Darkrai LV.X

See market

Rarity Tier

Moderate

Overview

Great Encounters, released February 13, 2008, is the fourth Diamond & Pearl expansion with 106 cards. It featured the debut of Darkrai and Cresselia as LV.X cards, representing the contrast between darkness and light. The set also included evolutions for many popular Sinnoh Pokemon.

Best for

People bridging EX into DP checklist habits
collectors pricing Great Encounters (2008, 106 cards) as DP / Platinum era cardboard — not as generic “old cards”
buyers who already know Darkrai LV.X / Cresselia LV.X is the expensive row in Great Encounters

Skip this path if

you only shop modern illustration rares and will not learn DP numbering
you expect every card in Great Encounters to carry similar resale (bulk is bulk)

Common mistakes

The expensive mistake on Great Encounters is confusing base DP with later era expansions when reading listings. Set code dp4 (2008) is the membership test — character name alone will not save a bad buy. Budget Darkrai LV.X / Cresselia LV.X as priority singles; the other 104 cards are not the same project.

What to check first

Pull up Darkrai LV.X / Cresselia 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 Great Encounters checklist tell you what is left.

Top of the chart

Most valuable cards

Darkrai LV.X (#104) is the top chase card thanks to Darkrai's enduring popularity. Cresselia LV.X (#103) is the other headline LV.X. Pachirisu (#5) became a beloved competitive staple. Blaziken holo and Togekiss holo are also collected.

Premier Ball

Rare Candy

Cresselia

Darkrai

Dialga

Palkia

Full Collection

Cards from Great Encounters

Tap any card to see price history and details.

28 of 106

Browse all 106 cards

Tips to finish the set

At 106 cards, Great Encounters is one of the smaller DP sets. The 2 LV.X cards are the primary expense. The set has strong thematic appeal with its light-versus-dark motif. Focus on acquiring the LV.X cards and holos as singles for cost-effective completion.

Step by step

How to Complete This Set

01

Identify Great Encounters cards by set code dp4 / symbol — do not sort by art alone
02

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

Track Darkrai LV.X and Cresselia 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 recognizes Great Encounters cards and instantly identifies the Darkrai and Cresselia LV.X cards. The scanner helps verify authenticity and assess condition, which is especially important for the popular Darkrai cards.

FAQ

Common questions

01 What are the chase cards in Great Encounters?

Darkrai LV.X (#104) and Cresselia LV.X (#103) are the top pulls. Darkrai LV.X is particularly popular due to its Dark Pulse Poke-Power and Darkrai's fan-favorite status across all Pokemon media.

02 How many cards are in Great Encounters?

Great Encounters contains 106 cards including 2 LV.X cards, holographic rares, non-holo rares, uncommons, and commons from the Sinnoh region.

03 Is Darkrai LV.X from Great Encounters valuable?

Yes, Darkrai LV.X typically sells for $25–$70 in near-mint condition. Its popularity as a character keeps demand steady. PSA 10 graded copies can sell for $150+.

04 What makes Great Encounters unique in the DP era?

Great Encounters introduced the Darkrai/Cresselia light-and-dark legendary pair to the TCG. It was also one of the smaller DP sets, making it relatively approachable for collectors.