This report was first posted on my blog.
Team: https://pokepast.es/18a80efad72b31f7
Landorus-T/Thundurus/Cresselia/Metagross/Amoonguss/Heatran
2nd Place
Sets: 4-2
Games: 9W-4L
Introduction
The Pokémon Black/White 2 Discord server hosted a VGC 2013 tournament. It took place over a few weeks and notably was open teamsheet (OTS). I enjoyed the opportunity to use Pokémon I trained back in 2013 for the VGC circuit. The battles took place on Black2/White2 wifi via Wiimmfii, and communications took place in the Pokémon Black/White 2 Discord server.
Process
12 years ago Landorus-T was considered strong but not necessary, so I didn’t bother to obtain the Reveal Glass. In 2025, Landorus-T is considered one of the three strongest Pokémon in the format, and I felt like my game file was inferior by not having one. I thus committed to getting the Reveal Glass for the tournament. I spent some time finishing Dream Radar, RNG manipulating the Sheer Force Landorus, and being excited to transform one of my other Landorus-I into Landorus-T!
I then discovered both Landorus-T in my boxes are Timid.
This disheartened me. It would be a hassle to start a new White save file and RNG manipulate another Landorus. I again considered using other teams, then decided to commit to a bad idea: what if I used my Timid Landorus-T? Angel Miranda (rest in peace) used it to Top 4 US Nationals 2015. Perhaps it would work here.
I started with the popular core of Landorus-T, Thundurus, Cresselia, and Metagross. Because this tournament was OTS, Amoonguss looked strong because I could scout for Lum Berry, Chesto Berry, and Taunt. Seeing that these five were all part of contra92’s ladder-dominating team, I just copied contra’s 6th Pokémon, Heatran. I adapted what I had on cart to build a solid team similar to contra’s. At the last minute, I added Sunny Day over HP Fire on Cresselia to enable Heatran and better deal with Rain teams.
In-Detail
Djinn (Landorus-Therian) @ Life Orb
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 70
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 14 Atk / 30 Def
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Protect
- U-turn
- 252S+ to speedtie other Landorus-T
- 252C to maximize damage
- 4H remainder
- Life Orb compensates for Landorus-T’s mediocre Sp. Atk and guarantees OHKO against Metagross and Landorus-T
- RNGed this in 2012 for friendly battles, before B2W2 released
Valenzuela (Thundurus) @ Electric Gem
Ability: Prankster
Level: 51
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 20 Atk / 30 Def
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Taunt
- Thunder Wave
- Moveset, EVs, and item is copied from contra92
- Max speed is useful to Taunt other Thundurus
- RNGed this in 2011 and used it at US Nationals 2011 and Worlds 2011
Voyage1969 (Cresselia) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Levitate
Level: 68
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 4 HP / 4 Def / 248 SpA / 4 SpD / 248 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 22 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
- Psychic
- Ice Beam
- Skill Swap
- Sunny Day
- 248S outruns my Heatran so I can Sunny Day before Heat Wave
- 248C+ to maximize Ice Beam damage against Thundurus, Landorus-T, Latios, etc.
- 4H 4B 4D remainder
- Sitrus Berry compensates for the low defensive EV investment
- Skill Swap enables Heatran and sometimes Metagross by giving them Ground immunity
RNGed this in 2013 for friendly battles
Berlin (Metagross) @ Psychic Gem
Ability: Clear Body
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 116 Atk / 140 Spe
Adamant Nature
IVs: 6 SpA
- Iron Head
- Zen Headbutt
- Protect
- Earthquake
- 252H for bulk
- 116A+ hits 11n
- 140S outruns no investment Cresselia for Iron Head flinches
- Psychic Gem used to handle Amoonguss and Rotom-W
- RNGed and cloned this in 2024 for contemporary Orre, VGC 2010, VGC 2009, and VGC 2013 battles
Annabelle♥︎ (Amoonguss) (F) @ Lum Berry
Ability: Regenerator
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 84 Def / 172 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Giga Drain
- Spore
- Protect
- Rage Powder
- 252H for bulk
- 172D+ is 11n that survives 252C Latios Dragon Gem Draco Meteor
- 84B remainder
- 0SV 0S- to counter Trick Room
- RNGed this in 2013 and used it at October 2013 Philadelphia Regional
Montag (Heatran) (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 84 HP / 220 SpA / 204 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 23 Atk
- Heat Wave
- Earth Power
- Protect
- Substitute
- 204S+ outruns 252S+ base 70s (Breloom, Metagross, etc.)
- 84H hits 16n-1 to reduce Hail damage.
- If I had time, I would have re-EVed it to 88H to hit 16n for more Leftovers recovery
- 220C remainder for more damage
- RNGed this in 2013 and used it at US Nationals 2013
Strategy
Unlike most genie balance teams, I cannot mindlessly lead Landorus-T + Thundurus because special Landorus-T lacks the spread damage of Earthquake. I have to review my options at team preview and react accordingly with the best set of 4. Understanding matchup specifics is based on experience and studying, and writing them out in this report would take too much time. The only proactive strategy on this team is CressTran – if the opposing team has limited options against Heatran, set up Levitate Heatran and Sunny Day and watch their team struggle to hit back.
Battle Report
Round 1 – oopsgtg (1-2)
https://pokepast.es/76e71a6c989eaaae
Metagross/Landorus-T/Thundurus/Kingdra/Politoed/Gothitelle
G1: 45-27178-66411
G2: 69-42839-41442
G3: 59-62183-37723
I’m unlucky to get paired R1 against oops. We’ve battled many times before, and I consider him the strongest active VGC 2013 player in the world. Perish Rain Trap isn’t fun for my team, which lacks spread damage from Landorus, can’t easily set up Sun against Encore, and overrelies on Thundurus. In our games, he makes the correct play of trading Landorus-T for Thundurus then limiting my options with Encore. I manage to win Game 2 by outrunning Thundurus with Cresselia, but it’s overall difficult.
Round 2 – devilape0211 (2-0)
https://pokepast.es/d26cb384dc778a8f
Cloyster/Tyranitar/Gengar/Ninetales/Scizor/Lucario
G1: 83-49090-45168
G2: (didn’t save)
Ape has a team that looks like it’s designed for Singles. I throw genies and Steels at them, take advantage of their lack of Protect, and win.
Round 3 – loupblancfr (2-0)
https://pokepast.es/7c3bffc842ba54dc
Tyranitar/Excadrill/Terrakion/Thundurus/Latios/Cresselia
G1: 83-06527-71153
G2: Written below
Code:
Amoonguss Cress vs. Latios Cress
T1 Latios Tect, Cress (M) IB Latios, Cress (O) Psy Amoon, Amoon Spore Latios
T2 Cress (O) HH Latios, Latios Psy Amoon KO, Cress (M) IB Latios. Amoon replaced with Meta
T3 Latios switch to Exca, Cress (M) Skill Swap Meta, Cress (O) Reflect, Meta Iron Head Exca
T4 Exca switch to Thundurus, Cress (M) IB Cress, Meta IH Cress, Cress (O) flinch
T5 Cress (O) > Exca, Meta Protect, Thundurus TWave Cress, Cress (M) IB Thundy
T6 Cress (M) > Lando-T, Thundy TWave Meta, Exca EQ, Meta ZH Thundy KO. Thundy replaced with Latios
T7 Latios IB Lando-T KO, Exca XScissor Meta, Meta IH Latios KO. Latios replaced with Cress. Lando replaced with Cress
T8 Cress (O) HH Exca, Exca X-Scissor Cress 70% Sitrus, Cress full para, Meta EQ KO Exca
DISCONNECTThe existence of both Hidden Power Ice Thundurus and Ice Beam Latios limits my ability to use Landorus-T. In addition, Earth Power doesn’t check Sand teams the way Earthquake does. Thundurus is limited in its usefulness by Excadrill, which proves to be a giant threat for my team if I cannot set up Skill Swap Steel-type. Latios is normally manageable, but it’s much harder when paired with an Excadrill.
In Game 1, I misplay by lettting Excadrill KO my Metagross, nearly depleting my damage output. I only win because of a lucky Ice Beam freeze against Cresselia.
In Game 2, loup gets an excellent position with an early KO. They can basically win the game on Turn 3 by clicking Helping Hand Draco Meteor to OHKO Cresselia (they can see it doesn’t have Protect) and achieving a 4-2 lead. Instead they misplay by switching into Excadrill (presumably to deal with my Metagross) and get punished as I set up Levitate on Metagross. I pilot the game into a Cresselia + Metagross vs. Cresselia endgame. The game disconnects right after I KO Excadrill, the game-deciding turn. The tournament organizer reviews the transcript and awards me a Game 2 win.
Round 4 – lewiswhoo (2-0)
https://pokepast.es/dee1065c4d67810d
Politoed/Scizor/Rotom-W/Zapdos/Tornadus/Kingdra
G1: 57-53007-65234
G2: 16-21088-97975
Rain is a strong, proactive strategy, and I realize that I will overrely on Thundurus this game. Lewwy’s team seems designed for Singles but is threatening in Doubles from its good defensive synergy and strong attacks. Since the team takes neutral or super-effective from Electric, my gameplan is “Redirect with Rage Powder and click Thunderbolt 6 times”. Because they don’t have Protect, it’s easy to focus my attacks. It works.
Top 4 – avdb6069 (2-0)
https://pokepast.es/2067c8a4ce8eb463
Tyranitar/Excadrill/Skarmory/Gastrodon/Landorus-T/Magnezone
G1: 72-38989-34048
G2: 39-33122-47027
Avdb has a Sand team that also seems designed for Singles. They have 3 Ground types, which discourages Thundurus, and Choice Scarf Hidden Power Ice Magnezone, which threatens Landorus-T. Recover Gastrodon forces me to bring Amoonguss. I know I can win the game with Landorus-T if I can avoid the Hidden Power.
In Game 1 I bait Hidden Power Ice Turn 1 and immediately switch to Metagross to set up Levitate, which gets me to a winning position. I misplay later by opting for Zen Headbutt (which misses) instead of Earthquake, opening me up to a Scald burn but Magnezone luckily stays asleep. In Game 2, I win by putting Magnezone to sleep, which lets Landorus-T KO their team.
Finals – betty6432 / Jaden_Copeland (0-2)
https://pokepast.es/adf9faacabd77cc8
Cresselia/Landorus-T/Metagross/Hydreigon/Volcarona/Rotom-W
G1: 41-55344-69247
G2: 94-50101-56268
Jaden is another one of the strong active VGC 2013 players. He has some strong opinions on the value of certain Pokémon, but he has the in-battle skills to back up his teambuilding opinions. He’s running a modified version of Lucien Lachance and Radio Free C-Side’s Mogo Mojo core (Cresselia, Rotom-W, Metagross, scarf Landorus-T), which placed 1st on the VGC 2013 ladder and has consistently neutral to strong matchups against the entire metagame. Seeing Earth Power Hydreigon plus Volcarona worried me; this team has a poor Volcarona matchup since it lacks a Rock move. Amoonguss feels weak because Jaden has multiple options to KO it.
Game 1
I opt for Cresselia, Landorus-T, and double-Steel. Heatran is a solid switch in for a turn, but it really does not want to deal with Earth Power Hydreigon. I get a very lucky Freeze and more strong switch-ins, which turns this game from nearly unwinnable to a fighting chance… then Rotom-W comes in with Light Screen. When Jaden KOs my Metagross with a double-target, I lose my only out against Rotom-W.
Game 2
I make a desperate Turn 1 play banking Jaden will not Earth Power my Heatran (perhaps switch or Draco Meteor instead) and I get rewarded even further when he Protects the Hydreigon. This is compensated when he lands a critical hit on Thundurus for a OHKO. He then lands an Ice Beam freeze with his Cresselia (which by the way is faster than my absurdly fast Heatran), and I suddenly have no options against Rotom-W. I could have made some other hard predictions to clutch me the game (Protect Amoonguss on the Draco Meteor Turn, Heat Wave on the Freeze turn), but overall I’m satisfied with my plays in both games.
Team Reflection
Timid Landorus-T is weak. Earth Power has similar calcs to spread-reduced Earthquake, which is to say that Earth Power is dealing 50% the damage of Earthquake hitting both opponents. This is a huge trade-off to avoid the damage reduction from opposing Intimidate. In addition, running HP Ice for the Landorus-T mirror worsens the team’s Volcarona matchup. Furthermore, running a special set reduces the damage of U-Turn against Cresselia. Finally, running Life Orb makes it much more vulnerable to Hidden Power Ice than if I ran Yache Berry or Focus Sash.
The low damage output of Landorus-T can be felt by the rest of the team. Metagross becomes the only physical attacker and feels necessary to bring in most games. While I compensated by using high offensive EV investments on Thundurus, Cresselia, and Heatran, it often didn’t feel strong enough. Heatran in particular “felt” weak even when it has a high Sp. Atk stat throwing out spread Sun-boosted Heat Waves. The fact that I only have a Timid Heatran on-cart forced me to run fast Cresselia. Suddenly my overall bulk is lower since both of these run little defensive investment.
Therefore, in spite of using the exact same 6 Pokémon that dominated VGC 2013 ladder, this team feels weak. I don’t recommend this team and advise readers to use a stronger team.
Post Tournament Reflections
I’m glad to have competed in this tournament! VGC 2013 is my favorite Pokémon format – I’ve played it for over a decade and I intend to keep playing it for years to come. It’s always a treat to be able to play on-cart instead of Showdown and use the Pokémon I’ve spent hours training and brought to tournaments in my adolescence.
If I could redo this tournament, I would run a team with more proactive damage options, such as Latios, Hydreigon, and physical Landorus-T. My team felt weaker than I wanted. While the balanced nature of my team let me react to the wide variety of teams I would face, the lack of proactive damage mitigated that.
The Black/White 2 Discord server celebrates all aspects of B2W2, not just competitive battling, and as such I expected a wide range of skill levels in opponents from in-game casual to hardcore VGC player. In reality, the tournament consistently showed signs of well-thought building (defensive synergy, field effects, coverage) while simultaneously lacking hallmarks of the VGC 2013 metagame (Protect, heavy legendary use). I encourage participants who enjoyed playing this format to keep battling and to explore the wealth of metagame knowledge built throughout the years. VGC 2013 is an incredible format, and with some effort and studying one can improve and reap the full enjoyment of the format.
Thank you to the Black/White 2 Discord server for hosting this tournament, to Astro for their efforts as tournament organizer, and to my opponents for fun games. Congratulations to Jaden on winning the whole thing. You can see me at future VGC 2013 tournament and at this year’s Long Island Retro Gaming Expo Funfest Mission meetup!
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