Journey Across America: 2006 Pokémon Video Game National Championships
Welcome to Journey Across America! Pokémon 10th Anniversary: Journey Across America (JAA) was a marketing tour across the USA celebrating Pokémon's tenth anniversary with a variety of activities, including The Video Game National Championships tournament series. Winners of the tournament at each stop qualified for the national finals in New York City, earning them $500 and a chance to compete for the title of National Champion and additional prizes, including a paid trip for four to Tokyo and a custom Nintendo DS.With its doubles ruleset and "Video Game National Championships" in the name, JAA can be touted as the father of modern Pokémon VGC. This metagame stands out as a major, Nintendo/Pokémon Company tournament run on XD: Gale of Darkness with max level set to 100, making it the first Gen 3 Nintendo tournament format to run with Gen 3's complete and final move pool that we are accustomed to playing today.
JAA has in recent years seen a revival of interest and callbacks, with the Orre Colosseum community hosting a tournament, the in-perspon Japanese Gen 3 tournament scene hosting tournaments on official hardware, and the official Pokémon VGC broadcast running a short segment on the 2006 metagame to illustrate how the earliest years of VGC looked like. Here's what you need to know to participate in this storied, competitive format:
Rules & Mechanics
- Double Battle
- Team Preview
- Bring 6, Pick 4
- Exact HP shown
Clauses - Species Clause
- Item Clause
- Stadium Sleep Clause
- Freeze Clause
- Self-KO Clause
Restrictions - Soul Dew is banned
- Enigma Berry is banned
- Wobbuffet cannot hold Leftovers
- Mythical Pokémon (Mew
, Celebi, Jirachi, Deoxys) are banned
Original Timer Restrictions (Optional) - 8 minute game timer
- 30 second move timer
A JAA teambuilder and challenge format currently exist on the Dawn Server via the [Gen 3] JAA 2006 option. Matches on Dawn using this challenge format are set to an 8 turn limit with timer on; players on Dawn who want a turn limit great than 8 turns and/or a turn limit tuned towards modern VGC time settings will use the [Gen 3] Orre Unlimited option, as JAA teams are still legal under that format and turn limit is set to 18 turns.
With the Orre Colosseum format now implemented on main Showdown, the following challenge command can be used to play JAA with a turn timer but no turn limit on the main Showdown server:
Code:
/challenge gen3orrecolosseum @@@ +Restricted Legendary, -Wobbuffet + LeftoversResources
- Sample Teams
- Orre Colosseum Discord Server (The Orre Colosseum folks treat JAA as a supported format and is the current hub for JAA discussion and tournaments)
- Official Rules Posting
- Modern Tournament Results
- Thoughts on metagame post Japan vs. The World exhibition tournament
- Detailed Video of JAA history by ScottMtC
- 2006 National Tournament Results
Metagame Overview: The Big Five
The following five Pokémon stand out as a solid core for teambuilding or individually slot well into strategies that don't center around using all five.
Mewtwo is the most versatile Pokémon in the game, with a wide move pool and stats that let it excel at multiple roles. While commonly run as a special attacker, Mewtwo is still a Self-Destruct threat and can also be run as a pure support 'mon. Any serious team should run Mewtwo.
Lugia's bulk makes it a great support 'mon that still can deal high damage via Aeroblast. Support move options include Icy Wind for speed control, Toxic for damage over time to support bulkier teams, and screens.
Kyogre sets unlimited rain turns while functioning as the premier special attacker through powerful moves such as Hydro Pump and Thunder. Kyogre can run Calm Mind to further boost damage.
Groudon sets unlimited sun turns while functioning as a threatening physical attacker through Earthquake, which in Gen 3 doubles does not receive any spread move penalty to damage since it targets every 'mon on the field. Groudon can run Swords Dance to further boost its physical damage threat as well as run a physical move such as HP Ghost or Ancient Power for flying type coverage. The combination of Endure and Salac Berry allow for sweeping potential.
Snorlax has enough bulk to hang with the Restricted 'mons while dishing it back against the psychic types with Shadow Ball, applying damage with a paralysis chance through Body Slam, and keeping teams fearful of getting wiped by Self-Destruct.Metagame Overview: Notable Additional Pokémon
Ludicolo is the most used Swift Swim 'mon, taking advantage of rain set by Kyogre and still having utility through Fake Out and Icy Wind even if an opposing Groudon manages to set sun over rain. Ice Beam functions as a good damage move against Groudon and Lugia, while Hydro Pump presents good damage under rain.
Jumpluff stands out as a support 'mon in sun. Sleep Powder can lock down threats, Encore can lock an opponent into a move, and Helping Hand extends the damage of an ally. Jumpluff will out-speed other 'mons in sun and with Icy Wind support can still out-speed other 'mons in rain, so it can remain a nuisance even in rain.
Ho-Oh presents a decent damage option, especially with Choice Ban equipped. Sacred Fire hits hard under sun and a 50% burn chance is nothing to scoff at; access to Earthquake, Shadow Ball, and Hidden Power Flying give good coverage options. Although limited by water and electric weakness, Ho-Oh's good bulk give it options for teams oriented towards stall.
Rayquaza's Air Lock can help keep opposing weather in check while Extreme Speed can remain a decent physical damage option that still lets Rayquaza hit first after speed drops from opposing Icy Wind.
Metagross functions as an additional boom option, especially with Silk Scarf increasing the damage range. Before exploding, it can get use out of Shadow Ball doing decent damage into psychic types and threatening special defense drops or break screens with Brick Break.
Last edited: