Great Encounters
Set Details
Witness Legendary Battles… Experience Great Encounters
Dialga. Palkia. Darkrai. Who will stand victorious? In the Pokémon TCG: Diamond & Pearl—Great Encounters expansion, these three incredible legends come together to battle one another in an epic confrontation that will be a triumph for Trainers everywhere! With more brand-new Pokémon, more Pokémon LV.X, and a titanic clash of some of the most powerful Pokémon ever, Great Encounters is your chance to encounter greatness!
The Great Encounters expansion arrived on February 13 2008 with 106 cards and a bold promise embedded in its title: legendary meetings between Sinnoh’s time‑ and space‑shifting dragons. Much of the set’s content originates from the Japanese Moonlit Pursuit block, so English players received a focused snapshot of Sinnoh lore headlined by Dialga, Palkia, Cresselia, and Darkrai. Booster packs feature four distinct artworks—Latias, Latios, Dialga, and Palkia—while three theme decks—Eternal Time, Infinite Space, and Endless Night—offer quick entry points for newcomers.
On the competitive scene, Great Encounters made an immediate impact. Dialga LV.X and Palkia LV.X introduced “Time Shift” and “Restructure,” disruptive Poké‑Powers that could reset set‑ups or force awkward bench swaps. Claydol (Cosmic Power) became a format‑defining draw engine, fueling decks all the way through the 2009 World Championships. Meanwhile, Supporters and Items such as Felicity’s Drawing, Premier Ball, and the first printing of Leftovers added consistency and healing options. Even common tech like Unown G emerged as a staple guardian against targeted effects, proving that greatness sometimes hides in the lower rarities.
Collectors have their share of memorable pulls. The prerelease promo is a stamped Porygon2 49/106, one of the few prerelease cards that never received a holo upgrade. Each reverse‑holo card bears the set logo in the lower‑right corner—the penultimate expansion to use that flourish—and early production sheets show a darker foil layer on several commons, a subtle variant treasured by print‑run enthusiasts. Line up Latios 23/106 and Latias 22/106 side by side and the background nebula connects across both cards, forming a hidden panorama of the dragons’ clash in Sinnoh’s skies. With tournament‑ready engines, alt‑art panoramas, and one last dose of LV.X spectacle before Majestic Dawn arrived, Great Encounters truly lives up to its name.
Great Encounters Set Cards
