Pokemon VGC, 2026
Regulation Set F in Pokemon VGC (Scarlet & Violet) is one of the official competitive formats defining what Pokemon are legal and how battles are run. It originally ran in early 2024 and is returning for official Championships from Dec 1, 2025 to Mar 31, 2026, making it the last major Scarlet & Violet ruleset before the switch to Pokemon Champions. Under Regulation F, players can use many eligible Pokemon transferred through Pokemon Home, while Restricted Legends and Mythicals (such as Koraidon & Miraidon and most iconic legendaries) remain banned. Teams use standard VGC doubles formats with auto level 50, no duplicate held items, and the usual clauses that shape strategy. This ruleset brought a diverse metagame featuring things like Trick Room cores, balanced offense, and popular picks like Urshifu and Flutter Mane in its original 2024 run.
In recent months, there has been a large increase in a strategy commonly called “balance”. Taking a combination of fire, water and grass cores (like Incineroar, Urshifu Rapid Strike and Rillaboom) and fairy, dragon and steel (such as Flutter Mane, Raging Bolt and Gholdengo). These teams are able to adapt to a number of different threats, while maintaining a high versatility over certain win conditions like Hyper Offense and Trick Room teams. Lately, players have used something called Booster Speed Flutter Mane. Using the item Booster Energy, Flutter Mane is able to out speed about any other Pokemon on the field and fire off Icy Wind to lower your opponent's speed. In addition to Booster Speed Flutter Mane, players have used Hisuian Arcanine to use Rock Slide to damage both opposing Pokemon with a 30% chance they flinch and are unable to move that turn. Another very popular and powerful Pokemon is Raging Bolt. Its good bulk and high special attack stat allow it to stay on the field for long and provide support in lowering opponent's speed or special attack, all while threating knock outs with its signature move, Thunderclap.
