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
- •Level X Pokémon level up from the matching Pokémon in play
- •NO rotation between 2008-09 and 2009-10 — only time in TPCi history rotation was skipped
- •SP Pokémon (Team Galactic's) dominated the metagame
- •2009 Worlds: Silvestro wins with Luxdrill. 2010 Worlds: Komatsuda goes 12-0 with LuxChomp
- •LEGEND cards (two-piece) introduced in HGSS
Format Overview
The DP-UL format is unique in Pokémon TCG history — it's the only time TPCi skipped yearly rotation. The 2008-09 season ran on DP-On through Rising Rivals, and the 2009-10 season simply added Supreme Victors, Arceus, HeartGold & SoulSilver, and Unleashed to the existing card pool. This resulted in one of the deepest and most skill-intensive formats ever, with over 14 legal sets.
SP Pokémon dominated. Luxray GL LV.X's Bright Look dragged targets from the bench, Garchomp C LV.X's Dragon Rush sniped for 80 damage, and the Cyrus's Conspiracy engine chained Supporters and Team Galactic's Inventions (Energy Gain, Poké Turn, Power Spray, SP Radar) for unmatched consistency every turn. LuxChomp was the unquestioned best deck, but diverse counter-strategies thrived.
At the 2010 World Championship in Hawaii, Yuta Komatsuda achieved the most dominant performance in Worlds history — going 12-0 undefeated with LuxChomp of the Spirit. His build included a Dialga G LV.X tech to shut down Spiritomb's Trainer lock. Frank Diaz finished 3rd with CurseGar, and Yasmin Kiss made Top 8 with Gyarados. The format also saw strong performances from Boltevoir (Gardevoir/Machamp), SableLock, and Jumpluff.
Key Cards
Top Decks (10)
LuxChomp of the Spirit
1st Place — 2010 World Championship (Masters, 12-0)
The most dominant Worlds performance ever. Komatsuda went undefeated 12-0. Luxray GL LV.X drags targets, Garchomp C LV.X snipes bench for 80. Dialga G LV.X shuts off opposing Bodies. The Cyrus's Conspiracy engine chains Supporters and TGI tools every turn.
Boltevoir (Gardevoir/Gallade/Machamp)
2nd Place — 2010 World Championship (Masters)
Gardevoir's Psychic Lock shuts off Poké-Powers. Spiritomb locks Trainers while evolving via Darkness Grace. Machamp's Take Out instantly KOs any Basic — devastating against SP decks. Azelf LV.X locks prizes.
CurseGar
3rd Place — 2010 World Championship (Masters)
Gengar SF's Fainting Spell gives a coin-flip KO when knocked out. Gengar AR's Curse places damage counters. Spiritomb locks Trainers. Nidoqueen heals passively. The deck grinds through disruption and attrition — opponents lose whether they attack Gengar or not.
LuxChomp / Entei & Raikou LEGEND
4th Place — 2010 World Championship (Masters)
A LuxChomp variant that trades Dialga G for Entei & Raikou LEGEND, whose Thunder Fall KOs all benched Pokémon with Poké-Powers — sweeping Claydol, Uxie, and support Pokémon off the board. Roserade GL adds Poison disruption.
Happy Luck (Gyarados)
5th Place — 2010 World Championship (Masters)
Gyarados's Tail Revenge does 30× the number of Magikarp in the discard — up to 90 for zero energy. Sableye starts with Impersonate. Felicity's Drawing dumps Magikarp fast. Expert Belt pushes damage to 110. Attacks for free, making it devastatingly efficient.
Gardevoir/Gallade/Nidoqueen
6th Place — 2010 World Championship (Masters)
Gardevoir's Psychic Lock shuts off Powers. Nidoqueen provides passive healing. Giratina's Let Loose disrupts hands. Azelf LV.X locks prizes. Poké Healer + provides additional recovery. A more attrition-focused GG variant.
DialgaChomp
Top 4 — 2010 US National Championship
Dialga G's Deafen locks Items while Dialga G LV.X's Time Crystal shuts off Bodies (including Spiritomb's Trainer lock). Garchomp C LV.X handles prize trading. Power Spray + Deafen creates a brutal early-game lock. The anti-Spiritomb SP variant.
Power Cottonweed (Jumpluff)
1st Place — 2010 World Championship (Juniors)
Jumpluff's Mass Attack does 10× the total number of Pokémon on both benches — easily 100+ damage for one Grass Energy. Broken Time-Space allows turn-1 Jumpluff. Unown R fills the bench and cycles through the deck. Blindingly fast and overwhelms slower setups.
Machamp
Machamp SF's Take Out instantly KOs any Basic Pokémon for one Fighting Energy — an automatic win condition against SP. Broken Time-Space and Rare Candy rush Machamp out turn 1-2. Uxie provides burst draw. Regirock adds damage. The premier anti-SP counter deck.
SableLock
1st Place — 2010 US National Championship
Sableye's Impersonate grabs Cyrus's Initiative turn 1, forcing the opponent to discard from their hand before they play. Garchomp C LV.X provides prize trading. Honchkrow G + Murkrow combo enable the Darkness lock engine. Strips resources then cleans up with efficient SP attackers.
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