Legal Sets
Official Rules
- •60-card decks exactly
- •Maximum 4 copies of any card with the same name (Basic Energy exempt)
- •Must include at least 1 Basic Pokémon
- •First player does not draw a card and cannot play a Supporter on Turn 1
- •SP (Team Galactic's) Pokémon introduced — Basic Pokémon representing evolved forms
- •Level X Pokémon level up from the matching Pokémon in play
- •First format with globally consistent card pool (NA, Europe, Japan all used DP-On)
- •2009 World Championship in San Diego — Stephen Silvestro wins Masters with Luxdrill
Format Overview
The DP-On format introduced one of the most game-changing mechanics in TCG history: SP Pokémon. These were Basic Pokémon belonging to Team Galactic that represented evolved forms — Luxray GL, Garchomp C, Dialga G — bypassing the traditional evolution system entirely. Combined with SP-exclusive Trainer cards like Cyrus's Conspiracy, Energy Gain, Power Spray, and SP Radar, they created a toolbox engine that could search, disrupt, and accelerate all in one turn.
The format's other pillar was Claydol from Great Encounters, whose Cosmic Power drew through the deck every turn. This made the game consistently fast, with most competitive decks running a 2-2 Claydol line alongside Uxie for burst draw. Stage 2 decks like Gengar, Machamp, and Flygon remained viable thanks to Broken Time-Space (which allowed immediate evolution) and Rare Candy.
At the 2009 World Championship in San Diego, Stephen Silvestro won with Luxdrill — an innovative hybrid that used Rising Rivals Beedrill's Flutter Wings to chain Great Encounters Beedrill from the deck, alongside Luxray GL LV.X for targeted knockouts via Bright Look. Sami Sekkoum finished 2nd with FlyChamp (Flygon/Machamp), proving that Stage 2 decks could compete with SP. The format showcased a healthy metagame with viable strategies from hyper-aggressive SP builds to methodical evolution decks.
Key Cards
Top Decks (10)
Luxdrill
1st Place — 2009 World Championship (Masters)
Beedrill's Flutter Wings chains Great Encounters Beedrill from the deck. Luxray GL LV.X's Bright Look drags up targets for knockout. Claydol draws, and Broken Time-Space enables instant Beedrill setups. An innovative hybrid that surprised the field.
FlyChamp (Flygon / Machamp)
2nd Place — 2009 World Championship (Masters)
Flygon's strong HP and typing combine with Machamp's Take Out, which instantly KOs any Basic Pokémon — devastating against SP decks. Upper Energy provides extra damage for evolved Pokémon. A dual Stage 2 build that proved evolution decks could compete with SP.
Queengar (Gengar / Nidoqueen)
Gengar's Fainting Spell gives a coin-flip KO when Gengar is knocked out. Nidoqueen's Maternal Comfort heals 10 between turns, forcing opponents into a lose-lose: attack into Fainting Spell or let Gengar snipe with Shadow Room. Crobat G's Flash Bite combos with Shadow Room to KO 70-HP bench sitters.
SP Toolbox (Dark)
T4 — 2009 World Championship (Masters)
Sableye's Overconfident steals early KOs. Crobat G's Flash Bite and Darkness Energy bonuses stack damage. Wide SP toolkit with Honchkrow G, Toxicroak G, Skuntank G, and Mewtwo LV.X to cover every matchup. Galactic HQ punishes evolution decks.
Gyarados
Gyarados hits for up to 90 damage with Tail Revenge for zero energy — 30 per Magikarp in discard. Sableye Impersonates supporters turn one. Felicity's Drawing and Regice pitch Magikarps. Crobat G / Poké Turn loops add damage. 130 HP on a Stage 1 that attacks for free.
Palkia Lock
Mesprit's Psychic Bind turns off all opponent Poké-Powers for a turn. Combined with Power Spray and Poké Turn to reuse Mesprit, the deck creates a soft lock. Palkia G LV.X's Lost Cyclone forces the opponent to Lost Zone bench Pokémon, permanently shrinking their board.
Machamp
Machamp's Take Out costs one Fighting Energy and instantly KOs any Basic Pokémon — every SP Pokémon in the format. Broken Time-Space and Rare Candy enable turn-one Machamp. Claydol draws. Relicanth starts the game by searching the deck. THE SP counter deck.
LuxApe (Luxray GL / Infernape)
Combines Luxray GL LV.X's Bright Look with Infernape's fast Fire attacks for a dual-type SP/evolution hybrid. Infernape Lv.X's Flare Up recycles fire energy from the discard. Luxray handles Water types that threaten Infernape, while Infernape handles Grass/Metal types that resist Luxray.
Gengar / Nidoqueen / Dusknoir
An expanded Gengar build adding Dusknoir's Shadow Command to rearrange the opponent's bench, setting up Shadow Room snipes. Nidoqueen heals. Gengar's Fainting Spell deters attacking. Broken Time-Space enables fast Stage 2 setup. The most complete version of the Gengar control archetype.
DialgaChomp (2009 Season)
Dialga G's Deafen blocks the opponent from playing Trainers while building toward Dialga G LV.X with Special Metal Energy for a tanky attacker. Luxray GL LV.X's Bright Look provides gust. Bronzong G's Galactic Switch moves energy between SP Pokémon. Slower but more controlling than LuxChomp.
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