2009 120 cards

Rivals Clash

Rising Rivals pitted Gym Leaders against Team Galactic with Pokemon SP and GL cards, headlined by the format-warping Luxray GL LV.X.

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pl2

Difficulty

3/5 to complete

Avg Card Value

Varies

Market average

Top Card

Luxray GL LV.X

See market

Rarity Tier

Moderate

Overview

Rising Rivals, released May 20, 2009, is the second Platinum expansion with 120 cards. It expanded the Pokemon SP roster with Gym Leader (GL) Pokemon and introduced Stadium cards specific to the SP mechanic. The set is best remembered for Luxray GL LV.X, one of the most competitively impactful cards ever printed.

Best for

People bridging EX into DP checklist habits
collectors pricing Rising Rivals (2009, 120 cards) as DP / Platinum era cardboard — not as generic “old cards”
buyers who already know Luxray GL LV.X / Flygon LV.X is the expensive row in Rising Rivals

Skip this path if

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

Common mistakes

The expensive mistake on Rising Rivals is confusing base DP with later era expansions when reading listings. Set code pl2 (2009) is the membership test — character name alone will not save a bad buy. Budget Luxray GL LV.X / Flygon LV.X as priority singles; the other 118 cards are not the same project.

What to check first

Pull up Luxray GL LV.X / Flygon 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 Rising Rivals checklist tell you what is left.

Top of the chart

Most valuable cards

Luxray GL LV.X (#109) is the top chase card and one of the most expensive DP-era cards. Its Bright Look Poke-Power was format-defining. Flygon LV.X (#105) and Infernape 4 LV.X (#108) are also valuable. Snorlax LV.X was a fun casual collector card.

Fan Rotom

Frost Rotom

Heat Rotom

Mow Rotom

Wash Rotom

Charon's Choice

Full Collection

Cards from Rising Rivals

Tap any card to see price history and details.

28 of 120

Arcanine

Bastiodon GL

Darkrai G

Floatzel GL

Shiftry

Gastrodon East Sea

Nidoking

Yanmega 4

Leafeon

Vibrava

Forretress G

Munchlax

Sealeo

Turtwig GL

Pokémon Contest Hall

SP Energy

Luxray GL

Mismagius GL

Snorlax

Pikachu

Flying Pikachu

Surfing Pikachu

Fan Rotom

Frost Rotom

Heat Rotom

Mow Rotom

Wash Rotom

Charon's Choice

Tips to finish the set

Rising Rivals has 120 cards with multiple LV.X and SP Pokemon. Luxray GL LV.X alone can cost more than the rest of the set combined. Build the base set first, then target the LV.X cards. SP trainers and stadiums are affordable and add depth.

Step by step

How to Complete This Set

01

Identify Rising Rivals cards by set code pl2 / symbol — do not sort by art alone
02

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

Track Luxray GL LV.X and Flygon 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 SP Pokemon variants and their associated trainer designations (GL, G, etc.). The scanner is invaluable for verifying Luxray GL LV.X authenticity, as this high-value card is occasionally counterfeited.

FAQ

Common questions

01 Why is Luxray GL LV.X so expensive?

Luxray GL LV.X had Bright Look, a Poke-Power that forced your opponent's benched Pokemon to the active spot. It was a staple in the dominant "LuxChomp" deck that won multiple World Championships, creating extreme competitive and collector demand.

02 What Pokemon GL cards are in Rising Rivals?

Rising Rivals features Pokemon GL (Gym Leader) variants including Luxray GL, Roserade GL, Floatzel GL, and others. These are basic Pokemon versions of evolved Pokemon, owned by Sinnoh Gym Leaders.

03 How many cards are in Rising Rivals?

Rising Rivals contains 120 cards including multiple LV.X cards, Gym Leader Pokemon GL, Team Galactic Pokemon G, holographic rares, and a full range of uncommons and commons.

04 Is Rising Rivals worth collecting?

Rising Rivals is one of the most competitively significant Platinum sets. Luxray GL LV.X alone makes it a premium set, and the SP mechanic has a dedicated collector following. It is a strong choice for DP-era collectors.