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At the most recent VGC Regional Championship, the venue was Portland, Oregon. The competition featured some intriguing teams due to the recently introduced ruleset, Regulation I. This rule modification permits two “restricted Pokémon” on a team, which typically aren’t allowed in competitive play, such as the Calyrex Riders (Shadow and Ice). Additionally, the box legends from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Miraidon and Koraidon, are two more restricted Pokémon that were frequently encountered on teams during the Portland Regionals.

In the recent regional championship, Gavin Michaels led a victorious squad, including Calyrex (Ice Rider) as one of his limited picks, while also fielding the classic Kyogre. Despite being powerful, Kyogre is less frequently used due to the widespread use of electric Miraidon in the current game format. Gavin Michaels’ journey to this championship could be seen as a fairy tale. He needed a high placement to even have a shot at qualifying for the Pokémon World Championships later on this year. His surprise victory solidified his invitation to the Worlds.

The Portland Regional Winning Pokémon VGC Team Is Well-Rounded

This Pokémon VGCTeam Can Cover Nearly Every Situation

Gavin’s squad comprised: Kyogre, Calyrex (Ice Rider), a male Basculegion, Flutter Mane, Amoonguss, and Grimmsnarl. Kyogre was like a throwback from the past since it debuted in the games of Generation III. Its talent, Drizzle, transforms the weather into Rain, a move that’s been essential in competitive Pokémon for quite some time. It also counters Koraidon’s ability to induce Sunny weather. Given Koraidon’s popularity, it’s logical that Kyogre, who secured a place on this victorious team, would be included.

This team has a solid core and rounded coverage:

Two powerful restricted Pokémon, one Physical Attacker and one Special Attacker.
Two support Pokémon
Two non-restricted Attackers, Physical and Special

A typical tactic in Pokémon VGC is to assemble a well-balanced team, and this strategy was employed by nearly all the top eight teams, albeit with some variations – such as three support Pokémon or multiple attackers of the same type. This method works effectively because it ensures your team can address a wide range of possible dangers. For instance, a team that solely depends on Special attackers may be countered by moves like Light Screen or Pokémon with superior Special Defense.

In a game of Pokémon, your goal is to either weaken or confuse your opponent, or strengthen and safeguard your ally. Typically, you send out a supporter and an attacker first, but occasionally two attackers are deployed instead. Having two of the same type of attacker provides more tactical choices when encountering your opponent. The competitive aspect of Pokémon involves strategy, mental games, and prediction, so situations can change rapidly.

Because official Pokémon VGC competitions follow a double battle best-of-three (BO3) setup, having the ideal team members in at opportune moments becomes absolutely essential.

As a passionate gamer, I’ve learned that one misstep can easily tip the scales in any game. However, in a Best-of-3 (BO3) format, both players have the opportunity to learn from their initial performance and bounce back in the second round. This adaptability is crucial because it levels the playing field for both winners and losers.

In these tournaments, transparency is key. Open team sheets are used to display each Pokémon’s statistics, moves, abilities, held items, and Tera type. This openness ensures fairness as no player will typically lose due to an unexpected factor. It also emphasizes the importance of selecting the right Pokémon and constructing a formidable team for optimal success.

Kyogre and Calyrex (Ice Rider) Are a Strong Restricted Duo in Regulation I

Kyogre Proved That It’s Still a Threat in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

At the heart of this team are two formidable attackers, Kyogre and Calyrex (Ice Rider). It’s important to note that Calyrex and its steeds, Spectrier and Glastrier, were introduced as part of the Crown Tundra DLC for Pokémon Sword and Shield. The Ice Rider Calyrex is a Psychic/Ice type and has demonstrated remarkable strength due to its impressive Attack and Defense stats. During the gameplay, Gavin’s Calyrex (Ice Rider) utilized:

Glacial Lance
Leech Seed
Trick Room
Protect

Leech Seed makes Calyrex regenerate health every turn, gradually lowering the opponent’s life points. Additionally, it keeps Leftovers which recovers health at the end of each round. Combined with its inherent durability, Calyrex can absorb numerous attacks and keep battling, even without the Trick Room effect.

The Glacial Lance has just one attack, but its potency lies in this single strike. It’s a strong physical Ice move capable of striking down not one, but two adversaries simultaneously. Additionally, it employs a Fairy Tera, an adaptable defensive type that offers protection against Fire, Fighting, Rock, Ghost, and Dark attacks.

Kyogre utilized exclusively Water moves such as Run and Protect. Both Water Spout and Origin Pulse function as area-of-effect moves, affecting both opposing Pokémon. Hydro Pump is its sole move that targets a single opponent. To amplify the potency of its Water-based attacks, Kyogre carried the Mystic Water item. Kyogre, being a Water-type Pokémon, employs a Grass Tera type to help it withstand Electric attacks.

In the dynamic world of Pokémon battles, relying heavily on spread moves can be precarious when confronting powerhouses like Lunala and Zamazenta, as they possess Wide Guard – a move that functions similarly to Protect, but specifically guards against spread moves. This vulnerability has been addressed by other team members, notably our two non-restricted attackers.

The Brutal Basculegion and Ghostly Flutter Mane are Fantastic in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

These Pokémon Have Answers to the Current Meta

Basculegion (the male variant) is a dual-type Water/Ghost creature, and it comes with a Ghost Tera type. This specific version is used due to the female’s lower Attack stat. Its ability, Swift Swim, increases its speed significantly when it rains, making it incredibly swift after Kyogre has set up the weather. In addition, this Pokémon carried a Life Orb, enhancing its damage even more. The moves it utilized were:

Aqua Jet
Protect
Wave Crash
Last Respects

Aqua Jet is a priority attack that takes precedence over other moves, even those with higher speed. This can be beneficial when there’s no rain and quick damage dealing is necessary. Wave Crash is its strongest move, but it also causes self-damage. This self-damage, combined with the damage it takes from Life Orb, makes it effective at eliminating threats quickly. Last Respects has a base power of 50, but gains +50 power each time a team member faints, making it particularly potent when it’s the only Pokémon remaining on the battlefield.

In simpler terms, Flutter Mane is a creature resembling a Ghost or Fairy, but in battles against Pokemon with Normal or Fighting types such as Ursaluna and Koraidon, it’s more effective to consider it as a Ghost/Fairy type because those types can’t inflict damage on it. This swift Pokémon boasts high Special Attack capabilities, and due to its possession of a Focus Sash, it tends to maximize Speed and Special Attack Evolution Stones (EVs), ensuring that it survives even when hit with a one-hit knockout attack if it’s at full health.

Mane the Fluttery Equine executed its usual Moonblast and Shadow Ball attacks, boosted by its STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus), but it also carried Icy Wind and Taunt as backup moves. These additional skills are strategic choices because Icy Wind slows down both adversaries, while Taunt hinders them from employing non-attacking abilities. This is particularly advantageous in thwarting Trick Room, Protect, setup maneuvers like Nasty Plot or Calm Mind, and status moves such as Thunder Wave or Spore. These combatants were bolstered by the supporting Pokémon in the team.

Grimmsnarl and Amonguss Are Classic Support Pokémon in VGC

These Pokémon Were the Backbone of Gavin’s Winning Team

A successful team can’t advance without solid backup, and this regional champion team is no exception. Grimmsnarl, a Pokémon with both Dark and Fairy types and a Steel Tera type, was no exception to the usual setup: Reflect and Light Screen were its moves of choice, and it held Light Clay to prolong these protective actions. In simple terms, Reflect and Light Screen reduce the damage taken from physical and special attacks by half respectively.

As a gamer, I’ve got this Grimmsnarl on my team, and it’s got quite a trick up its sleeve! It’s all about the Prankster ability, which lets its status moves cut in front of the line, setting up screens in a flash. Plus, it can run Spirit Break, a physical move from the Fairy type that not only packs a punch but also knocks down the target’s Special Attack stat. And if things get really intense, it can land a Sucker Punch – a priority move that strikes when the opponent is on the offensive!

Amongus, or Grass/Poison Pokémon, has a Dark Tera type and carries the Regenerator ability, enabling it to restore health upon entering the battlefield. Its defensive item, Rocky Helmet, inflicts damage on opponents when they physically attack Amongus. The moveset includes:

Spore
Rage Powder
Protect
Pollen Puff

This collection includes specific moves. Spore makes an enemy Pokémon fall asleep. Rage Powder compels the opposing Pokémon to attack it instead of its companion. This is beneficial for keeping powerful attackers on the battlefield for a longer duration. However, it’s ineffective against spread moves. Pollen Puff is a Bug-type move that inflicts Special Attack damage, but has the advantage of healing ally Pokémon if it targets them. This feature is particularly useful for maintaining Kyogre, Basculegion, and Calyrex’s high HP levels.

Gavin Played Well to Pilot This Pokémon VGC Team to Victory

He Trusted in His Skill as a Pokémon Trainer

The strategy aimed at maximizing Kyogre’s usage and maintaining a wet field, amplifying its Water-based attacks and allowing Basculegion to eliminate potential threats such as Zamazenta. Grimmsnarl reinforced the team with his dual-screen support, while Amoonguss excelled in disrupting the opponent and shielding crucial Pokémon from targeted attacks.

Engaging in Pokémon VGC play demands constant adjustments, as strategies successful in one competition may not fare well in another. Numerous players are likely to test teams resembling this particular setup over the ensuing days and weeks, which also implies that others will create teams tailored to counteract it. The heavy reliance on spread moves could result in a surge of Lunala and Zamazenta for Wide Guard usage. It’s intriguing to contemplate how the meta will evolve as we approach the Pokémon World Championships in August.

2025-05-27 03:53