Pokémon LV.X (TCG)
Pokémon LV.X are a group of Pokémon in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. They first appeared in the Diamond & Pearl expansion and made their final in-set appearance in the Arceus expansion. They represent Pokémon that have been well trained, making them stronger.[1]
The LV.X portion next to the card's name is treated the same as normal levels are in the TCG. Because Pokémon LV.X cards share the same name as the Pokémon they Level-Up from, the rule that only four cards of the same name in a normal 60-card deck applies to the combination of Pokémon LV.X cards and normal cards. However, a Pokémon LV.X can be referred to with LV.X as a suffix; a Pokémon LV.X depicting Hippowdon could be called Hippowdon LV.X. For instance, a player would be allowed to have two Honchkrow LV.42 and two Honchkrow LV.X in the same deck, but no more than four Honchkrow would be allowed in total.
Pokémon LV.X are Pokémon Level-Up cards, a distinct group from Basic Pokémon or Evolution cards. They are played on top of an Active Pokémon with a matching name to Level-Up, an action distinct from Evolution. For example, Magmortar LV.X can be played on top of a Magmortar and Floatzel 
LV.X can be played on top of Floatzel . Most rules applicable to Evolution also apply to playing a Pokémon LV.X card: a Pokémon cannot be Leveled-Up in the same turn as it is played or evolved, a Pokémon that is Leveled-Up recovers from all Special Conditions, all other effects are removed, and damage counters stay on the Pokémon.
A segment reading "Level Up" and "put onto [Name of card without LV.X]" is printed in the upper right corner, below the card's name, in place of the "evolves from" field on Evolution cards. It has a gold background. Additionally, Pokémon LV.X have a gold section on the bottom of the card, which explains that a Pokémon LV.X has all of the Pokémon Powers and attacks that its previous Level has.[2] Although Pokémon LV.X predate the mechanic, this clause also allows them to use the Abilities of their previous Level,[3] which is relevant in the Unlimited and Hall of Fame formats.
Pokémon LV.X use 3D renders of Pokémon, with the Pokémon appearing to burst out of the art of the card. Some parts of their body wind up overlapping other portions of the card, though this never covers up the rules text. Like Pokémon-ex, Pokémon LV.X have holofoil borders.
Information
Since Pokémon LV.X are Pokémon Level-Up cards, effects that search for or otherwise affect "Basic Pokémon" or "Evolution cards" (such as Great Ball and Professor Elm's Training Method respectively) do not work on Pokémon LV.X. However, cards from the EX Series that say "Basic Pokémon or Evolution card" may target Pokémon LV.X cards, as the former cards were intended to affect all Pokémon cards.[4] Pokémon LV.X cannot be played on other Pokémon LV.X.[5] Effects that Level Up Pokémon, such as that of Level Max, are able to ignore the restriction to the Active Pokémon that applies to playing a Pokémon LV.X from one's hand.[6]
Pokémon Level-Up cards do not have an Evolution Stage, and while in play, inherit the Evolution Stage from the card they Leveled-Up from.[7] If Lucario LV.X Levels Up from a normal Stage 1 Lucario, it will be a Stage 1 Pokémon. Similarly, if Dialga LV.X Levels Up from a Basic Dialga, it will be a Basic Pokémon. Pokémon LV.X are only Evolved Pokémon if they Level Up from an Evolved Pokémon, and only those Pokémon can be devolved. If a Pokémon LV.X is put on top of an unevolved Pokémon, then it stays unevolved and therefore cannot devolve. Additionally, because Pokémon LV.X cards share the same name as the Pokémon they Level-Up from, an effect which would remove the highest Stage Evolution card from a Pokémon would force the removal of both the highest Stage Evolution and the Pokémon LV.X.[citation needed]
Pokémon that have appeared as Pokémon LV.X
References
- ↑ Platinum: Rising Rivals Rulebook, via Judge Ball
- ↑ Compendium ruling, Compendium LvX, Team Compendium, PUI Rules Team, Sep 4, 2008
- ↑ PokéGym ruling, The PokéGym, Jan 26, 2012
- ↑ Compendium ruling, Compendium LvX, Team Compendium, PUI Rules Team, May 10, 2007
- ↑ Compendium ruling, Compendium LvX, Team Compendium, PUI Rules Team, Feb 12, 2009
- ↑ Compendium ruling, Compendium LvX, Team Compendium, PUI Rules Team, Feb 12, 2009
- ↑ Platinum: Rising Rivals Rulebook, via Judge Ball
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This article is part of Project TCG, a Bulbapedia project that aims to report on every aspect of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. |