Current Format · Regulation I · 2026

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

👥Doubles format — 2 vs 2 on field simultaneously
🎯Bring 6, choose 4 to battle
📊All Pokémon set to Level 50 (capped automatically)
⏱️Max 20 turns per game; tie if exceeded
🎮45 seconds per player per turn
🧬Each team may include up to 2 Restricted Legendaries (Regulation I rule)
Terastallization may only be used once per battle
🚫No duplicate species on a single team
🔮No duplicate held items on a single team

02 Restricted Legendaries

Each team may include at most 1 Restricted Legendary. The following 28 Pokémon (including forms) are restricted.

MewtwoMewtwo
LugiaLugia
Ho-OhHo-Oh
KyogreKyogre
GroudonGroudon
RayquazaRayquaza
DialgaDialga
PalkiaPalkia
GiratinaGiratina
ReshiramReshiram
ZekromZekrom
KyuremKyurem
SolgaleoSolgaleo
LunalaLunala
NecrozmaNecrozma
ZacianZacian
ZamazentaZamazenta
EternatusEternatus
CalyrexCalyrex
KoraidonKoraidon
MiraidonMiraidon
TerapagosTerapagos
⚠️ Note: Calyrex and its Ice/Shadow Rider forms count as the same Pokémon. Same applies to Black/White Kyurem.

03 Banned Pokémon (Event / Mythical)

The following Pokémon are banned from all VGC formats including restricted formats.

MewMew
JirachiJirachi
DeoxysDeoxys
PhionePhione
ManaphyManaphy
DarkraiDarkrai
ShayminShaymin
ArceusArceus
KeldeoKeldeo
MeloettaMeloetta
DiancieDiancie
HoopaHoopa
VolcanionVolcanion
MagearnaMagearna
ZarudeZarude
PecharuntPecharunt

04 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)

Regulation A 2023.01 – 2023.03

SV base game, no legendaries

Regulation B 2023.04 – 2023.05

Restricted Legendaries added

Regulation C 2023.06 – 2024.01

Full SV Pokédex

Regulation D 2024.02 – 2024.04

Teal Mask DLC added

Regulation E 2024.05 – 2024.09

Indigo Disk DLC added

Regulation F 2024.10 – 2024.12

Experimental ruleset

Regulation G 2025.01 – 2025.12

National Dex + 1 Restricted Legendary per team

Regulation I CURRENT2026.04.01 – 現在

National Dex + up to 2 Restricted Legendaries · Final SV format

06 Getting Started on Pokémon Showdown

1
Go to Pokémon Showdown (showdown.pokemonshowdown.com)
2
Click "Battle!" → open the "Format" dropdown
3
Select "VGC 2026 Reg I" (or search gen9vgc2026regi)
4
Build your team: 6 Pokémon with moves, EVs, and Tera type
5
When battle starts, choose 4 to bring, then pick 2 leads
💡 Pokémon Showdown is completely free. You can practice VGC without owning the game. Format name: gen9vgc2025regg.

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