VGC
FORMAT GUIDE
Pokémon VGC is Nintendo’s official doubles competitive format. This page covers all Regulation I 2026 rules (up to 2 Restricted Legendaries per team), banlists, and core doubles mechanics.
01 Basic Rules
02 Restricted Legendaries
Each team may include at most 1 Restricted Legendary. The following 28 Pokémon (including forms) are restricted.
Mewtwo
Lugia
Ho-Oh
Kyogre
Groudon
Rayquaza
Dialga
Palkia
Giratina
Reshiram
Zekrom
Kyurem
Solgaleo
Lunala
Necrozma
Zacian
Zamazenta
Eternatus
Calyrex
Koraidon
Miraidon
Terapagos03 Banned Pokémon (Event / Mythical)
The following Pokémon are banned from all VGC formats including restricted formats.
Mew
Jirachi
Deoxys
Phione
Manaphy
Darkrai
Shaymin
Arceus
Keldeo
Meloetta
Diancie
Hoopa
Volcanion
Magearna
Zarude
Pecharunt04 Doubles Core Mechanics
Spread Move Damage
Moves targeting both opponents (e.g. Earthquake, Rock Slide) deal 75% damage. Single-target moves are unaffected.
Fake Out Mechanic
Fake Out only works on the user’s first turn on the field. Commonly used to interrupt setup or force a Protect.
Redirection
Rage Powder (Amoonguss), Follow Me, and similar moves redirect single-target attacks to the user.
Protect & Wide Guard
Protect blocks all attacks for one turn. Wide Guard blocks spread moves. Success rate drops with consecutive use.
Terastallization
Can only be used once per battle. Changes the Pokémon’s type to its Tera type and grants STAB on that type.
Tailwind & Trick Room
Tailwind doubles your team’s speed for 4 turns. Trick Room reverses turn order for 5 turns. Both can coexist — Trick Room takes priority with doubled speeds.
Intimidate
Intimidate lowers all opposing Pokémon’s Attack by 1 stage on switch-in. In Doubles, both opponents are affected.
Ally Switch
Swaps both allied Pokémon’s positions (Priority +2). Useful for dodging locked moves or changing Earthquake targeting.
05 Format Timeline (Gen 9)
SV base game, no legendaries
Restricted Legendaries added
Full SV Pokédex
Teal Mask DLC added
Indigo Disk DLC added
Experimental ruleset
National Dex + 1 Restricted Legendary per team
National Dex + up to 2 Restricted Legendaries · Final SV format