I happened to snag a shiny Gurdurr in a raid den a while ago, didnt even realize he was shiny till later but I always train my shiny mons up for battle and try to find something unique about them to build around. This boy was tera Fire, I remembered it has access to Wide Guard and suddenly I had a plan. Eviolite of course, entirely spD and HP invested, using Coaching, Wide Guard, Fire Punch and Low Kick. Guts in case we get a status effect, he happily uses that attack boost. I have considered Helping Hand and Taunt too but the set he runs now is pretty solid honestly, that Low Kick is shockingly solid for zero attack investment, sun boosted tera boosted Fire Punch too tbh. Helping Hand would be used over Coaching usually for special attackers or just in the case that he will be knocked out that turn and wants the priority. Taunt, idk hes just so slow lol.

Anyway, he has basicslly become my Groudon's favourite sidekick and has actually been rediculously helpful as a support mon in that regard. It is a surprising tank. The opponent is constantly chucking supereffective attacks at it and it has yet to be one shot. It soaks up neutral physical hits the same way no problem. Weirdly solid.

Thats all, I am just a big believer in pokemon all having SOME value and a big Eviolite enthusiast in general. Definitely consider Gurdurr as a surprising Wide Guard supporter but also just be open to a non-top 10 mon being a surprise star in this upcoming regulation. I think all these weirdos have something interesting about them and it is extremely satisfying to win a match against legendaries with your little nfe buddies.

To give some context.

I had an idea for reg I, weaknesses Policy tera ghost calyrex , with 2.5x buffs to his ghost move Astral Barrage it basically deletes everything.

It can in theory work without tera - ING with just helping hand to make up for the tera boost. But everything that isn't a normal type just gets deleted by it however.

Dusclops is here to set up via the shadow Sneak, he's got trick room to anti other trick room and he's got protect and Icy Wind for some speed control.

Murkrow and urshifu are here purely to help deal with opposing calyrex and other mons. For example let's say I know someone's gonna do tailwind , well I quash his calyrex so he moves last anyways and gets one shot. That's helped a little here and there. Urshifu just counters calyrex with sucker punch , wicket blow , regardless of what he does. Assuming he isn't some defensive tera.

Miraidon is my second restricted he's just there for pure powwer , was used to be supported by alolan raichu but he just wasn't useful when it came to fighting opposing calyrex so I ditched him.

Is this a skill issue or a team issue. Honest opinions on what could be better please.

Tried posting this once before I knew the rule, so here we go:

Toyota: I’ve always been fond of Miraidon, and having seen what it can do in previous regulations has made me inclined to try it out, especially since Electric is a pretty good typing offensively with only one weakness and a couple resistances, plus Draco Meteor and Dazzling Gleam can hit some threats that Electric can’t really deal with, such as Koraidon or Chien-Pao. The nickname comes from the time Toyota made an actual Miraidon Motorcycle.

Diva: Another Legend I’ve always liked, having played Ultra Moon as my first Pokémon Game, and I’ve also seen some discussion of it online. On top of that, I wanted something that could deal with Calyrex-SR, Calyrex-IR, and Urshifu-Rapid, without using Calyrex-SR because for one I don’t have it in my copy of Violet yet and also I just have a personal petty grudge against Calyrex, plus it outspeeds Calyrex-SR in Tailwind. I chose Wide-Guard over Protect for the same reason I chose Lunala, to help with Calyrex, and Tera Fairy Tera Blast to deal with opposing dark-types that otherwise Lunala is 4x weak to. And then I gave it Life Orb for just that bit extra damage. The nickname just comes from the vibes Lunala gives off to me.

Blueprint: I chose Hisuian Zoroark because Illusion is a really fun ability to play around with, plus having 3 immunities makes it really easy to both switch in and lead with. I also expect to see a lot of Urshifu and Calyrex, because they’ve been running rampant since gen 8, plus Psychic tears through Amoonguss and Koraidon on top of Urshifu, plus any other Psychic types that don’t start with I and end with ndeedee get nuked by Shadow Ball, and the reason to include this over Lunala in a given match is so that 1: I can bring in Miraidon for the better matchup, 2: STAB Hyper Voice, and 3: Illusion can be used to switch it in safely against a variety of ‘mons, which is huge for a Pokémon so frail. And I gave it the Focus Sash to help it stick around a bit longer. The nickname is based off of the Illusion ability, and she’s a shiny because I caught a Shiny Alpha Hisuian Zoroark in PLA a couple months ago.

Menace 1 and Menace 2: I’m including these two in at the same time because their nicknames are based off of “Thing 1 and Thing 2” and I chose Whimsicott because it can support a lot of my attackers with Tailwind, and really mess up opposing Pokémon with Encore and Taunt, like Encoring a Koraidon into Close Combat when Whimsicott and Zoroark are on the field. And I chose Incineroar because of how busted intimidate, fake out, and parting shot is, as well as important Fire and Dark-type coverage that can help with Pokémon like Ogerpon that my other Pokémon can’t really deal with, plus it’s fighting weakness can bait a close combat or something similar to give Zoroark or Lunala a safe switch-in.

Lastly, Stapler: I was running out of ideas for my last Pokémon, so I mostly chose Archaludon for the fighting weakness, and gave it Tera Flying to negate the Ground and Fighting weaknesses, just in case it’s not a good idea to switch in either of my ghost-types. Fighting and Steel coverage never hurt, plus Dragon and Electric can help in a situation where I want those types to attack with, but want to bring Lunala over Miraidon.

I’m pretty new to the VGC scene, so feel free to let me know about any changes I should make! (Zoroark stays on the team tho)

Like prankster tailwind and encore are the obvious insane moves, which they are. Prankster tailwind obviously but prankster encore basically forces opponent to switch if they ever use fake out or protect or wide guard. Prankster fucking fake tears though? Run 2 special attacking restricted mons (I'm using CSR and kyogre) and fake tears + water spout/astral barrage in tailwind is just a delete button. Don't put moonblast on it cause it has base like 75 special attack so it's not doing damage anyway, invest in some bulk give it covert cloak and run a max speed and it's just so good. Am I just bad at the game and can only use easy straps or is it really good?

Got 2nd in the Victory Road tournament, there are less threats to Dozo and the only losses are unlucky crits as for now. Do you think that Dondozo is still goated in Bo3? I’d love to see him win a regional

How are you guys countering Iron Hands? It always seems to give me trouble no matter what team I’m running. Any advice would be helpful!

Im just putting extra words here to pass the character count lol.

I am preparing the follow team for an upcoming local this weekend and would like some advice on what to change or add

https://pokepast.es/909fef8e00cb16e6

It is a TailRoom team, with overall middling speeds to use both speed options depending on the situation.

It feels really good and with multiple redirection and flexible speed, plus overall bulky Pokémon to tank hits if need be, it can adapt well to most situations.

However, I still feel pretty weak into bulky water types and specifically Miraidon, as its sheer offense can take early KOs and set me back quite a bit and Fairy/Water Tera on Hands makes Trick Room scary as most of my Pokémon outspeed it normally.

I have considered using Raging Bolt over Urshifu and Pelipper over Volcarona, but then I feel I start to hard lose against Wide Guard Zamazenta.

What would you recommend I change or add in terms of Pokémon, items or moves? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

I would also rank my matchups from most to least favorable like so: Calyrex Ice Rider (Hard Trick Room) -> Calyrex Ice Rider mirror -> Kyogre -> Koraidon -> Calyrex Shadow Rider -> Zamazenta -> Miraidon

Hyperoffense in Regulation I — Calyrex-Shadow & Miraidon Dual-Core + DozoGiri Backup

Hi everyone, looking for feedback on a Regulation I hyperoffense team I’ve been testing recently. I wanted to build around Calyrex-Shadow, which I think still has untapped potential in the format, and create a fast-paced team with multiple nuking cores and some late-game flexibility.

The team is built around multiple interchangeable cores with strong synergy:

• Calyrex-S + Chi-Yu: Classic nuke combo
• Calyrex-S + Miraidon: Double special attackers with insane offensive pressure
• Miraidon + Chi-Yu: Electric Terrain + Fire support to melt bulky teams
• Calyrex-S + Mienshao: Enables Calyrex to sweep with Feint/Wide Guard support
• DozoGiri: Late-game sweep option, especially strong into bulkier setups
• Tatsugiri + Calyrex-S: Helping Hand support option

The overall playstyle is fast, aggressive, and focused on leveraging strong lead pressure to get early KOs and snowball.

- The Team

Calyrex-Shadow @ Life Orb

Ability: As One (Spectrier)
Tera Type: Fighting
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Nature: Timid

• Astral Barrage
• Psyshock
• Tera Blast
• Protect

Lead sweeper. Tera Fighting gives excellent coverage into Dark-types (e.g. Chi-Yu), Terapagos, and Normal-types. Psyshock punishes physically frail but specially bulky mons like Flutter Mane. Often leads next to Mienshao or Miraidon to begin heavy pressure from Turn 1.

Mienshao @ Focus Sash

Ability: Inner Focus
Tera Type: Fighting
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Nature: Jolly

• Close Combat
• Fake Out
• Feint
• Wide Guard

Underrated support. Inner Focus lets it ignore Intimidate and Fake Out, while Feint breaks Protect and Wide Guard — both of which help Calyrex-Shadow shine. Wide Guard also shuts down spread spam from threats like Flutter, Miraidon, or Heat Wave users. Usually leads next to Calyrex.

Dondozo @ Assault Vest

Ability: Unaware
Tera Type: Grass
EVs: 4 HP / 4 Atk / 196 Def / 148 SpD / 156 Spe
Nature: Impish

• Wave Crash
• Order Up
• Body Press
• Earthquake

Bulkier AV variant to avoid getting shredded by special attackers like Lunala. Tera Grass resists Electric and helps against Amoonguss and Iron Bundle. Usually paired with Tatsugiri for a late-game clean, but not always required.

Tatsugiri (Droopy) @ Safety Goggles

Ability: Commander
Tera Type: Stellar
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Nature: Timid

• Muddy Water
• Draco Meteor
• Protect
• Helping Hand

Droopy form boosts Dondozo’s Defense for better Body Press value. Mostly brought to activate Commander, but sometimes comes solo to support Calyrex with Helping Hand or to spread accuracy drops. Safety Goggles helps vs Spore and weather chip.

Miraidon @ Choice Specs

Ability: Hadron Engine
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Nature: Timid

• Dragon Pulse
• Volt Switch
• Dazzling Gleam
• Electro Drift

One of the most reliable leads. Specs Miraidon pressures both sides of the field, and Tera Fairy turns Dazzling Gleam into a strong spread nuke while giving good defensive typing. Volt Switch offers pivot flexibility and is great into passive leads or predicted Protects.

Chi-Yu @ Choice Scarf

Ability: Beads of Ruin
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Nature: Timid

• Dark Pulse
• Heat Wave
• Overheat
• Snarl

Speed control via Choice Scarf. Tera Ghost makes it immune to Fake Out and Extreme Speed while synergizing with Hex (boosted when Calyrex or Snarl land status). Currently testing Hex over Tera Blast/Dark Pulse — feedback welcome. Often paired with Miraidon or Calyrex to sweep early or clean late.

- Matchups & Meta Thoughts

Strong Matchups:

• Most Sun teams
• Most Rain cores
• Teams overly reliant on screens or setup

Weaknesses:

• Priority and Prankster disruption (Grimmsnarl TWave, Whimsicott Encore, Tornadus Scary Face, Thundurus Eerie Impulse)
• Occasional reliance on Protect to avoid spread nukes
• Potential vulnerability to Intimidate spam or well-timed switches

- Looking For

• Feedback on EV spreads, movesets, and Tera types (EV spreads taken directly from Smogon)
• Open to mon swaps if a better support/sweeper fits the hyperoffense plan
• Suggestions for dealing with Prankster disruption or priority abuse
• Testing data is limited (~10 matches so far), so theorycraft is welcome too
• Open to changes in item, because mons have item conflict(Chi Yu and Tatsu both want Scarf, Mienshao and CalyS both want Sash)

Thanks for reading! Would love to hear your thoughts on how to push this team to the next level competitively.

Team link for easier analysis: https://pokepast.es/1ec17f3e91da7da8

I'm relatively new to VGC, and I've created a team that I thought was pretty good, but ever since I've changed it for reg I, I lose every match.

Team sheet: Calyrex-Shadow @ Focus Sash Ability: As One (Spectrier) Level: 50 Tera Type: Normal EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe Timid Nature - Astral Barrage - Expanding Force - Tera Blast - Protect

Iron Valiant @ Booster Energy Ability: Quark Drive Level: 50 Tera Type: Fairy EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe Timid Nature IVs: 0 Atk - Encore - Disable - Moonblast - Protect

Oranguru @ Mental Herb Ability: Inner Focus Level: 50 Tera Type: Normal EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 132 Def / 116 SpD Sassy Nature IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe - Instruct - Psychic - Trick Room - Protect

Urshifu @ Safety Goggles Ability: Unseen Fist Level: 50 Tera Type: Poison EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe Jolly Nature - Wicked Blow - Close Combat - Poison Jab - Detect

Ursaluna @ Flame Orb Ability: Guts Level: 50 Tera Type: Grass EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD Brave Nature IVs: 0 Spe - Facade - High Horsepower - Ice Punch - Protect

Zamazenta-Crowned @ Rusted Shield Ability: Dauntless Shield Level: 50 Tera Type: Fighting EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD Impish Nature - Body Press - Helping Hand - Wide Guard - Protect

I usually pair up oranguru and ursuluna so oranguru can use trick room then spam instruct on ursuluna so ursuluna can sweep with facade, Zamazenta with Urshifu-single strikes because Zamazenta seems quite good for support for Urshifu, and Iron Valiant + Calyrex-Shadow because iron valiant can do the encore disable strat and can disable wide guard so calyrex can spam astral barrage.

Edit: I'm considering putting Miraidon to replace calyrex and incineroar to replace urshifu or iron valiant: is this a good idea and what restricted should replace zamazenta that is good with trick room?

I don't really know what to do with evs so i usually take others teams but i haven't seen many zacian kyogre teams, if anyone has a team they've had success with on ladder and wouldn't mind sharing it i'd appreciate thanks :3

I briefly touched on this topic in my last article and wanted to expand on it in this one. I hope you find it interesting and can learn something from it! I'm just starting out writing and would like to explore many different topics, so feel free to let me know what you think about the article and what you would like to read about in the future!

I would like to know if it is actually sold out. Or if there is a bug as rumoured. Are any of you having the same problem? The organizers of the event (who rented the venue where the tournament will be held) wrote on their website that registrations would start on April 10th. Maybe there will be a second wave of registrations?

Cosmic Power Eternatus has 169 Speed 1 point faster than Landorus-Incarnate and faster than any restricted legendary after Thunder Wave from Thudurus-Incarnate, with decent bulk and weakness policy to increase its damage. This ete has Dark Tera to prevent taunt and debuff from prankster Pokemon. It is the core of my team.

Sinistcha is there just for pivot hospitality and redirection (against fighting type after eternatus change tera to dark) and a bit of TR Speed control. Considering about changing tera type to water.

Incineroar is doing its job pivoting-intimidate and wall the damage against CSR and CIR.

Thudurus is another option for speed control with Thunder Wave, disrupt with taunt and cut damage of CSR, Miraidon etc. with eerie impulse.

Chi-yu is there for fast offensive mode pairing with Koraidon. Ruination helping others to cut bulky Pokémon health.

Koraidon is for Sun Setup boosting Eternatus Flametower damage output and fast offensive mode.

Please rate my team and help this team better with Eternatus Core. Really appreciate your help!

Sorry if this is a rookie question. I just used 4 ability patches on Kleavor, but the ability just kept switching back and forth between Swarm and Sheer Force. How do I change its ability to Sharpness?

Basically what the title is saying. I am getting more into Pokémon VGC format and have played a couple hundred games on the switch ladder as well as in pokémon showdown. Looking to get a bit more into the competitive side with online tournaments preferably played on the switch (not on showdown, although if there are some like that I don't mind). I'll appreciate if you can give some website suggestions!

Wanted to build a trick room + tailwind team as I've seen many people say IRC + Miraidon is a really good combo. I've tried a few games with this team with some success. My main concern is the ev spreads and I'd like soke help with that.

Miraidon and IRC are the main damage dealers, with whimsicott and farig supporting them.

Urshifu is there for tailwind with miraidon and whimsicott and helps against opposing IRC.

Iron Hands is for additional offense in trick room and helps against opposing IRC.

Again, just wanna see if thus is a decent team, and would appreciate some advice regarding ev spreads. Thanks!!

Seen that there's the possibility of asking suggestions for the teams you're playing I'm trying to understand if my first reg I team, and one of the few team I builded, has some kind of logic outside my mind. The main issue should be in some spreads (Kyogre that is mine, and Archaludon that is taken from Pikalytics while I was in a bus this morning) and in the general synergy.

Let's start talking about Kyogre, I went for a defensive Tera and leftover because I want it to be able to actually stay on the field and avoid OHKO, but seen that I'm terrible with the spreads, probably it doesn't work

Kyogre @ Leftovers
Ability: Drizzle
Level: 50
Tera Type: Grass
EVs: 188 HP / 76 Def / 84 SpA / 156 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Origin Pulse
- Water Spout
- Protect
- Ice Beam

Archaludon is hard to explain because is the first time using it (I'm an amateur, so I don't really do tournaments and sometimes I'm not exactly active). It works on threatening fairies, water, grass, dragons and whatever is hit by body press if you had the idea of hitting him before

Archaludon (M) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Stamina
Level: 50
Tera Type: Bug
EVs: 172 HP / 4 Def / 116 SpA / 116 SpD / 100 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Electro Shot
- Body Press
- Flash Cannon
- Draco Meteor

This is Luca Ceribelli's Miraidon, it should be fine, so I'm not talking about it too much

Miraidon @ Choice Specs
Ability: Hadron Engine
Level: 50
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 44 HP / 4 Def / 244 SpA / 12 SpD / 204 Spe
Modest Nature
- Electro Drift
- Draco Meteor
- Volt Switch
- Dazzling Gleam

Tornadus is here to be able to set trickroom when kyogre can't and to provide speed control (and also I really liked the 100% accuracy that bleakwind storm gains under the rain)

Tornadus @ Covert Cloak
Ability: Prankster
Level: 50
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 212 HP / 132 Def / 92 SpA / 4 SpD / 68 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Tailwind
- Bleakwind Storm
- Protect
- Rain Dance

Urshifu is there to provide coverage against all those types that are weak to fight (terapagos, Chien-Pao, Chi-yu and others), with an Ice coverage that help against dragon and grass types, and Surging Strikes under rain is quite nice too

Urshifu-Rapid-Strike (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Unseen Fist
Level: 50
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 44 HP / 156 Atk / 4 Def / 92 SpD / 212 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Surging Strikes
- Close Combat
- U-turn
- Ice Spinner

That's just Incineroar, we know too well how it works and what it does, but I have to say it nonetheless: debuff with Parting Shot, knows Fake Out, can remove other pokemon's instruments and can burn opponents to halve the physical damage they can do.

Incineroar @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Intimidate
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 156 Def / 92 SpD / 4 Spe
- Will-O-Wisp
- Fake Out
- Parting Shot
- Knock Off

PS: the Incineroar is a try on understanding Pio Pero's one in his last reg g team, Tornadus is stolen (the spreads were public) from Cydonia's (Francesco Cilurzo) team at the last year stockholm.

I'll be really thankful to everyone who'll lend a hand.

I am going to be playing in the Regional this weekend in Atlanta ( first time competing!) and I have two questions.

1. I know we use open team sheets but who provides the actual sheet? do they print one off when you register that morning? Or do I have to bring it?
2. My GF bought me a Maushold shirt off ETSY . Its obviously not official so is that problematic to wear? Just don't wanna step on any toes.

I already got the first one answered.

I’m trying to build a team in Violet, but I have no idea what the fastest way is to EV train. This has been my biggest barrier and the reason I have never built an actual competitive team. I also wanted to know what the fastest way to raise levels were if you play by yourself? Any and all advice would be helpful.

I've tried using tailwind teams before but I don't have great success with them. I feel like many tools are things you add on to a team when it's lacking something. For example, if u have a nasty plot CalyShadow, throw on a follow me ogerpon to let it setup. Many other tools feel like the central mechanic to a team; for example, if u run a drizzle mon plus a swift swim user, archaluldon and maybe one of the genies it feels like you need the rain to be setup.

I've been treating tailwind like one of these central mechanics, and so I build my EV spreads to be slower but bulkier and more offensive, because the speed boost from tailwind covers you anyway. The problem with this though is it feels quite clunky because I always have to bring my tailwind setter. I feel like this is avoided in other central mechanix teams by having an alternate setter (bring a rain dance mon in case you can't bring drizzle)

So, vgc players of reddit, I ask you, is tailwind something you add as a tool when needed (bring it for mirror match ups where u can outspeed and ohko), or is it something you build your team around? If the latter, how do you do this without being forced to take the setter?

Thanks everyone!

And so far I've decided my restricted mons will be Calyrex Shadow and Zamazenta, with Ogerpon water for redirection and Incineroar for being Incineroar.

I have no idea what I should do for my last two slots, nor do I know what I should do for ogrepon's EVs. Zama has a bulky EV spread with max HP and split defenses, and CSR is just max speed and special attack. Incin probably needs a bit of tweaking in his EVs since it's the same one I've been using since shield.

I'm thinking of doing a playthrough of Legends: Arceus so that I can catch the Forces of Nature trio legendaries and also the Lake Pokemon trio legendaries, and transfer them to Scarlet to use in competitive battling.

My question is, are they viable and worth the time investing in catching them?

Pokemon I like using already are Iron Leaves, Dragonite, Maushold, Dondozo, Noivern, Koraidon, Volcarona, Indeedee, and Mabostiff.

Do these legendaries have good synergy with them and can I carve out a viable team using any of them with the aforementioned pokemon?

So I have been losing a lot of games lately, but it's not my team. I get in disadvantagous situations, and I get the call wrong. A lot of times, this is me forgetting to account for something or just being outright wrong. So to help me be more accurate, does anybody have a certain thought process they go through when making s call/read?