In Japan, this card was given to participants of the initial qualifying stage of the 2010 Japan World Championship representative tournament. The English print was first released as one of two promotional cards, alongside Ho-Oh, available in the HeartGold & SoulSilver Poster Pack released on February 24, 2010. It was later released again alongside Ho-Oh in the HeartGold & SoulSilver Knock Out Collection.
Trivia
Although Lugia is Psychic/Flying in the games, it is depicted here as a Water-type Pokémon. Interestingly, unlike most other part-Flying Pokémon, it has previously been depicted as a Colorless-type just as often as it has as a Psychic-type.