Platinum—Rising Rivals

Status: Released (May 2009)

Rise to the Challenge with Platinum—Rising Rivals

The excitement of the Sinnoh League came to life in Platinum—Rising Rivals, released on May 16, 2009. This expansion focused heavily on the Gym Leaders and Elite Four of the Sinnoh region, introducing a massive wave of new "Pokémon SP" cards. Platinum—Rising Rivals gave players the chance to command the signature teams of characters like Volkner, Fantina, and Cynthia, adding a rich layer of role-playing flavor to competitive battles. The set is also notable for featuring five distinct forms of Rotom—Fan, Frost, Heat, Mow, and Wash—each with unique abilities to disrupt opponents.

The Elite Power of Rising Rivals

Competitive players revere Platinum—Rising Rivals for introducing Luxray GL LV.X and Flygon LV.X, two cards that defined the meta for years. Luxray GL LV.X's "Bright Look" Poké-Power, which allowed players to force an opponent's benched Pokémon into the active spot, became arguably the most dominant ability of the era. The set also brought versatile tool cards and the supporter card "Cyrus's Conspiracy," essential for any Team Galactic deck. Whether collecting the Rotom forms or building a championship-winning SP deck, Platinum—Rising Rivals represents the pinnacle of the Platinum series' tactical depth.