Card of the Day – Palkia G LV.X (Platinum PL 125)

pokebeach.comToday, I’ll be taking a look at Palkia G LV.X from Platinum. Palkia G LV.X started to see major play in the 2008-2009 season as the focal point of Palkia Lock. Palkia Lock was a deck that used Mesprit and Power Spray to keep the opponent’s Poké-Powers locked along with Palkia G LV.X sniping your opponent’s Pokémon. (I realize there’s more to it than that, it’s just a general idea for newer players.)

Palkia G LV.X comes equipped with a nice 120 HP, a terrible Lightning weakness, disappointing lack of resistance, and a high but manageable two Retreat Cost. It also has access to the SP engine, which both helps with the Retreat Cost and makes it a much better card. Like all Pokémon SP, it is 1HKO’d by Machamp.

Palkia’s Poké-Power, “Lost Cyclone”, states that any player who has four or more benched Pokémon in play must send Pokémon to their Lost Zone until they have three. Obviously, this card combos amazingly well with put-into-play Poké-Powers such as Uxie, Azelf, Crobat G, and the aforementioned Mesprit. In addition to combining with a wide array of powerful cards, it also helps to disrupt your opponent by limiting their bench space.

“Lost Cyclone” is also a method to make Seeker much less effective for your opponent. You use “Lost Cyclone”, they are forced to reduce their bench to three, often removing their Azelf/Uxie/Crobat from play and making it so Seeker cannot scoop up those cards. I’m aware it’s a bit circumstantial, but it is certainly something that should be noted as a countermeasure for Seeker, Super Scoop Up, or sometimes even hindering Power Spray’s usability.

pokemon-paradijs.comPalkia G LV.X, being a Level Up Pokémon, has access to three attacks. “Splashing Turn”, doing 20 for WC, allows you to switch it with a benched Pokémon. While it won’t be used very often, it can help get Palkia out of the Active Spot if needed. “Pearl Breath”, for WCC, does 50 damage along with 10 to each of their benched Pokémon. This attack will be used much more often than “Splashing Turn” as it can do higher damage. I will also note that not only can it abuse Energy Gain but also Double Colorless Energy.

Perhaps Palkia’s best attack belongs to the Level Up. “Hydro Shot”, for the high cost of WWCC (also abuses Double Colorless), lets you do 80 damage to one of your opponent’s Pokémon. However, you must discard two Energy in order to use the attack. While it isn’t as fast or usable as “Dragon Rush”, I will note that, if you discard a DCE when you use the attack, you may use it again next turn so long as you can pay the cost, unlike Garchomp C LV.X.

If/when we see Lost World, I believe that Palkia Lock 2.0 will be a big threat that you’ll need to watch out for. It will be back like it was in 2006 and 2007 when Giant Stump was in the format; you always had to be careful about filling your bench. If you weren’t, it would cost you. I think this aspect is good for the game as it adds a new edge and I’m looking forward to it.

My Recommendation: Palkia G LV.X gained a good amount of power with the release of Seeker, so I will definitely be trying it out. If Lost World is released, you better believe that Palkia G LV.X will be a powerful deck.

Rating: 3.25/5 (for now) and 4/5 (when/if Lost World comes out)