INTRODUCTION

This will be an article of sorts about the Pokemon VGC style of play, or Video Game Championship, which is the only style of play recognized by The Pokemon Company. VGC is played in what is the REAL Standard of Pokemon: Double Battle, Double Cup. This means that any Pokemon, with the exception of an official Banlist, are allowed in at Level 50 or under. In Pokemon Platinum, there is a rule that restricts the level of pokemon to be under 50 in Local Cup. In HeartGold or SoulSilver, any pokemon above lv. 50 is leveled down to lv. 50, and any pokemon under level 50 stays at it's current level.

Many players prefer the Official style of play, VGC, over Singles 6v6 for many different reasons. The most common reasons a player sums up are the fact that there is more strategical value, the Teamplay aspect is a whole new way for your team to actually work together, and also that it's just plain faster. Often enough, there is no use of the extremely popular, and nearly manditory move, Stealth Rock, which is another thing that catches people's eye. Not to mention that Garchomp IS NOT BANNED! As "broken" as he may seem in Singles, he is just another semi-common face in VGC, and not nearly as "over-powered."

Of course, not all matches are fast. Many Pokemon are built differently then in Singles, and are usually more Bulky. Cresselia, Togekiss, Snorlax, and many others fall into this category. Also, people can play more along the lines of Resistances and Immunities of their Team instead of raw defensive power, but you need to be great at Prediction to do that properly and win!

Before we get in-depth about team structure, common members, and everything else, you need to know all the rules of the VGC Style of play. They really are enjoyable, and add a whole new flair to Pokemon for you if you have only played Singles.



RULES
(according to the official website, http://www.pokemonvgc.com)

Battle Rules:

Each match is played using the Pokémon Link Club Colosseum, found on the top floor of the Pokémon Center. The tournament will use the Double Cup rules set, with some additional restrictions.

* Each match will use the 2-on-2 format.
* Each Pokémon on a player’s team must be Level 50 or lower. PLatinum did not have an auto leveling feature, but HG/SS does, so currently your pokemon can be over lv. 50 and still be eligible for tournament play.
* A player’s team may not contain two of the same Pokémon.
* Each Pokémon on a player’s team may use held items, though no 2 Pokémon on a team may hold the same item. Allowed items include held items from Pokémon™ HeartGold or Soul Silver Versions, earlier video games, including Berries 1–61. The Soul Dew item may not be used.
* Players may not enter two Pokémon with the same nickname.
* Players may not enter a Pokémon nicknamed with the name of another Pokémon character (for example, a Lucario nicknamed “Spiritomb”).
* You must have 6 Pokemon in your Party, and may choose any combination of 4 of any of those Pokemon and Held Items.


Pokémon Restrictions:

Players may use Pokémon found in the Pokémon™ Platinum Version National Pokédex, between 001 and 492, including those Pokémon imported from earlier video games, with the exception of those Pokémon listed below.

The following Pokémon/items/Moves are ineligible for use in the 2009 VGC tournament:

150 – Mewtwo
151 – Mew
248 – Tyranitar
249 – Lugia
250 – Ho-Oh
251 – Celebi
382 – Kyogre
383 – Groudon
384 – Rayquaza
385 – Jirachi
386 – Deoxys
479 – Rotom
483 – Dialga
484 – Palkia
487 – Giratina
489 – Phione
490 – Manaphy
491 – Darkrai
492 – Shaymin

The following Pokemon are what is banned from the VGC 2010 tournament:

151 – Mew
251 – Celebi
385 – Jirachi
386 – Deoxys
489 – Phione
490 – Manaphy
491 – Darkrai
492 – Shaymin
493 - Arceus


Banned Items:

Soul Dew

Banned Moves:

Judgment

Move Restrictions:

Pokémon may only use moves (including those learned in an earlier video game) which have been learned through one of the following methods:

* By leveling up
* By TM or HM
* As an Egg move, through breeding
* From a Move Tutor
* Already learned by a Pokémon, which was received at an official Pokémon event or promotion
* Already learned by a Pokémon, which was received from another Pokémon game (such as the Pikachu that knows Surf, from Pokémon Battle Revolution)
* By Smeargle’s “Sketch” move (limited to the above moves learned by Pokémon between 001 and 492)


OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT OPERATION

The Qualifier Tournament is a Single Elimination event. Each match will consist of a single game, and will result in the winner advancing to the next round and the loser being removed from the tournament.

* A player wins by knocking out his or her opponent’s final Pokémon.
* If an attack knocks out both players’ last Pokémon, the player that used the attack loses the match and is eliminated from the event. This includes attacks such as Explosion, Selfdestruct, and Destiny Bond.


Game Play Types:

Currently, there are two (2) types of Gameplay that exist in the VGC Format:

* Single Elimination. In this format, you battle one (1) times. If you lose that match, then you are removed from the Tournament. You may choose four (4) of any of your six (6) Pokemon for battle. If the Battle Time runs out, the Trainer with the most Pokemon alive wins. If both Trainers have an equal amount of Pokemon alive, then the Trainer with the most combined HP% is declared the winner.
* Swiss Elimination. In this format, you battle three (3) times. The Trainer that wins two (2) matches first is the winner. Between matches, you are free to switch any Hold Items and any Pokemon from your initial six (6) Hold Items and Pokemon. If the Battle Time runs out, the Trainer with the most Pokemon alive wins. If both Trainers have an equal amount of Pokemon alive, then the Trainer with the most combined HP% is declared the winner.


The Tournament scene has shifted to Swiss format since it's infant year in 2008 with the Pokemon Video Game Showdown, so Substitute Pokemon are more valuable then ever. Trainers use Substitute Pokemon to counter teams that otherwise give your team trouble, fufill a certain role that makes it harder for the opponent to win or makes it easier for you to win. They can even be used to completely change to style your team is usually played as! But beware, as this may be a surprise, this can also be more difficult for you to use if not planned out correctly.

Priority Move Table

This is a list of Priority Moves compiled by the Smogon user "Obi." All credit goes to him.

* +6 Switching
* +5 Helping Hand
* +4 Magic Coat, Snatch
* +3 Detect, Endure, Follow Me, Protect
* +2 Feint
* +1 Aqua Jet, Bide, Bullet Punch, Extremespeed, Fake Out, Ice Shard, Mach Punch, Quick Attack, Shadow Sneak, Sucker Punch, Vacuum Wave
* ±0 Assist, Me First, Metronome, Mirror Move, Sleep Talk, Everything else
* -1 Vital Throw
* -3 Focus Punch
* -4 Avalanche, Revenge
* -5 Counter, Mirror Coat
* -6 Roar, Whirlwind
* -7 Trick Room




Part two of the Introduction to VGC play

Part three of the Introduction to VGC play