Everything you need to know about VGC format, regulations, Terastalization, and tournament play.
The Video Game Championships (VGC) is the official Pokemon competitive format. Matches are Double Battles where each player brings six Pokemon and selects four for the battle. VGC is played on a timer at official events, with each player having 7 minutes of in-game time and 90 seconds for team preview. The format changes yearly with new game releases and regulations.
VGC differs significantly from Smogon singles. The double battle format creates unique strategies like Protecting to scout, redirecting moves with Follow Me, and spread moves that hit both opponents. Speed control is even more critical in doubles because moves like Tailwind and Trick Room affect the entire team. The team preview phase, where both players see each other's six Pokemon, adds a layer of strategy before the battle even begins.
Each VGC regulation set defines which Pokemon are allowed. Regulation G, for example, allows one Restricted Pokemon (typically a cover Legendary) per team. Earlier regulations like Regulation F allowed two Restricted Pokemon. The rules cycle through different formats throughout the competitive season to keep the metagame fresh.
Common restrictions include: no duplicate items (Item Clause), no duplicate species (Species Clause), and level cap at 50. Certain Pokemon are banned entirely, usually Mythical Pokemon like Mew, Celebi, and Deoxys, as well as some Legendary Pokemon depending on the regulation. Pokemon must be obtained through legitimate gameplay, with Generation 9 marking a shift toward competitive play restricted to Paldea and Kitakami Pokemon.
Generation 9 introduced Terastalization, which changes a Pokemon's type to a Tera Type. Each Pokemon can have one of 18 possible Tera Types, and once per battle, a trainer can Terastallize one Pokemon. This adds immense strategic depth, as a Pokemon can change its weaknesses and gain STAB on new move types.
Common Tera Types include Tera Water for Fire-types to flip their Water weakness, Tera Fairy for Dragon-types to remove their Dragon weakness and gain a Fairy resistance, and Tera Ghost or Normal for an immunity to attacks with those types. Terastallization can also be used defensively to survive a normally fatal super effective hit.
A standard VGC team consists of an offensive core, support Pokemon, speed control, and type coverage. The restricted Pokemon format means most teams are built around one or two powerful Legendary Pokemon. Common cores include Groudon and Charizard (Sun), Kyogre and Ludicolo (Rain), and Calyrex-Shadow and Indeedee (Psychic Terrain offense).
Speed tiers are critical in VGC. Since most Pokemon are at Level 50, the Speed stat differences are smaller than at Level 100. Common benchmarks include outspeeding Timid max Speed Flutter Mane (base 135) and outspeeding common restricted Pokemon like Zacian and Calyrex. Tailwind support from Pokemon like Tornadus or Whimsicott can double your team's Speed for several turns.
VGC tournaments follow a structured format. Regional Championships (Regionals) are the primary qualifying events, offering Championship Points (CP) toward World Championship qualification. International Championships (Internats) offer higher CP rewards and attract top players worldwide. The Pokemon World Championships is the culminating event where the best players compete for the title of World Champion.
Tournament matches are best-of-three with a Swiss format for initial rounds, cutting to a single-elimination Top Cut. Each match has a strict time limit. Players register their team of six Pokemon in advance. For official rules updates and current regulation details, check Bulbapedia's VGC guide and Wikipedia's Pokemon World Championships page for the latest information. The Pokemon Fandom VGC wiki covers tournament formats and past results.
VGC enforces several key clauses that shape team building. The Item Clause prevents any two Pokemon on the same team from holding the same item, which is why common items like Focus Sash and Leftovers often appear on only one Pokemon per team. The Species Clause bans duplicate Pokemon species, meaning no two Pokemon with the same National Pokedex number can be on the same team. Additionally, the Team Preview clause requires players to register their full team in advance, adding a strategic layer where players must predict their opponent's four chosen Pokemon based on the visible six.
Pro Tip: VGC uses Doubles format with 4v4 battles from a team of 6. Matches are best-of-three with time limits.