Battle Rules
- Double Battles
- Level 50 (or under)
- Species Clause, Item Clause
- Soul Dew item is banned
- Moves Dark Void and Sky Drop are banned
- Bring 6 Choose 4, Best of 3
Pokemon Restrictions
- 2011: Unova Pokedex only (Pokedex #494-#649): Victini, Tornadus-Therian, Thundurus-Therian, Reshiram, Zekrom, Landorus-Therian, Kyurem, Keldeo, Meloetta and Genesect are not eligible
- 2012: Mewtwo, Mew, Lugia, Ho-Oh, Celebi, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza, Jirachi, Deoxys, Chatot, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Phione, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin, Arceus, Victini, Tornadus-Therian, Thundurus-Therian, Reshiram, Zekrom, Landorus-Therian, Kyurem, Keldeo, Meloetta and Genesect are not eligible
- 2013: Mewtwo, Mew, Lugia, Ho-Oh, Celebi, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza, Jirachi, Deoxys, Chatot, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Phione, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin, Arceus, Victini, Reshiram, Zekrom, Kyurem, Keldeo, Meloetta and Genesect are not eligible
- Steel resists Ghost and Dark
- Grass types are affected by powders, Electric types can be paralyzed
- Turn order is static, does not change with speed changes (ie not Dynamic speed)
- Protect has a ½ then ¼, ⅛ etc chance of working in succession
- Wide Guard and Quick Guard fail when used in succession (like Protect/Detect)
- Critical Hits do 2x Damage and occur 1/16 times
- Sleep turns reset on switch out
- Paralysis reduces speed by 3/4
- Sound moves do not bypass substitute
- Fake Out has equal priority (+3) to Follow Me
- Weather summoned by Abilities is permanent
- Oblivious, Own Tempo and Scrappy do not grant immunity to Intimidate
- Shadow Tag traps Ghost types
- Various moves have different BP
- Hydro Pump, Blizzard, Fire Blast, Thunder and Hurricane have 120, not 110, BP
- Draco Meteor, Overheat and Leaf Storm, have 140, not 130, BP
- Flamethrower, Ice Beam, Thunderbolt and Muddy Water have 95, not 90, BP
- Dark Void has 80%, not 50%, Accuracy and can be sketched by Smeargle
- Hidden Power has a maximum of 70, not 60, BP
- Knock Off has 20, not 65, BP
- Heat Wave has 100, not 95, BP
- Dragon Pulse has 90, not 85, BP
- Aura Sphere has 90, not 80 BP
- Energy Ball has 80, not 90, BP
- Meteor Mash has 100 BP and 85% Accuracy, not 90 BP and 90% Accuracy
- Will-O-Wisp has 75%, not 85%, Accuracy
VGC 2012 and 2013 are both National dex formats. However, many hidden abilities and move tutor exclusive moves are not legal in VGC 2012, as well as the Therian formes of Tornadus, Thundurus and Landorus.
Accelgor, Aipom, Alomomola, Ambipom, Amoonguss, Arbok, Audino, Axew, Basculin, Beartic, Beautifly, Beedrill, Beheeyem, Bisharp, Blitzle, Boldore, Bouffalant, Braviary, Breloom, Budew, Carracosta, Chimchar, Cinccino, Combee, Conkeldurr, Cottonee, Crustle, Cubchoo, Deerling, Dialga, Ditto, Drilbur, Druddigon, Ducklett, Duosion, Durant, Dustox, Dwebble, Ekans, Elgyem, Emolga, Empoleon, Escavalier, Excadrill, Foongus, Forretress, Fraxure, Frillish, Galvantula, Garbodor, Gigalith, Giratina, Golett, Golurk, Gothitelle, Gothorita, Grimer, Grotle, Gulpin, Gurdurr, Haxorus, Heatmor, Heracross, Herdier, Hooh, Infernape, Jellicent, Joltik, Karrablast, Klang, Klinklang, Kricketot, Kricketune, Krokorok, Krookodile, Landorus, Leavanny, Liepard, Lilligant, Lillipup, Lugia, Mandibuzz, Maractus, Mienfoo, Mienshao, Minccino, Monferno, Muk, Nincada, Ninjask, Nuzleaf, Palkia, Palpitoad, Panpour, Pansage, Pansear, Paras, Parasect, Patrat, Pawniard, Petilil, Pidove, Pineco, Pinsir, Piplup, Prinplup, Purrloin, Reuniclus, Roggenrola, Roselia, Roserade, Sandile, Sawk, Sawsbuck, Scolipede, Scrafty, Scraggy, Seedot, Seismitoad, Seviper, Sewaddle, Shelmet, Shiftry, Shroomish, Sigilyph, Simipour, Simisage, Simisear, Snorlax, Solosis, Stoutland, Stunfisk, Swadloon, Swalot, Swanna, Swoobat, Throh, Thundurus, Timburr, Tirtouga, Tornadus, Torterra, Tranquill, Trubbish, Turtwig, Tympole, Unfezant, Vanillish, Vanillite, Vanilluxe, Venipede, Venomoth, Venonat, Vespiquen, Vullaby, Watchog, Weedle, Whimsicott, Whirlipede, Woobat, Wurmple, Zangoose and Zebstrika.
Additionally Hidden Ability; Articuno, Bayleef, Chandelure, Chikorita, Croconaw, Cyndaquil, Dewott, Emboar, Entei, Feraligatr, Gothita, Heatran, Klink, Lampent, Larvesta, Litwick, Meganium, Moltres, Oshawott, Pignite, Quilava, Raikou, Regice, Regirock, Registeel, Rufflet, Samurott, Serperior, Servine, Snivy, Suicune, Tepig, Totodile, Typhlosion, Volcarona and Zapdos are unavailable in both 2012 and 2013.
Additionally Hidden Ability; Articuno, Bayleef, Chandelure, Chikorita, Croconaw, Cyndaquil, Dewott, Emboar, Entei, Feraligatr, Gothita, Heatran, Klink, Lampent, Larvesta, Litwick, Meganium, Moltres, Oshawott, Pignite, Quilava, Raikou, Regice, Regirock, Registeel, Rufflet, Samurott, Serperior, Servine, Snivy, Suicune, Tepig, Totodile, Typhlosion, Volcarona and Zapdos are unavailable in both 2012 and 2013.
Resources
- Gen 4/5 VGC Discord: https://discord.gg/bvj553yAdJ
- Gen 3 VGC (Orre): https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/orre-colosseum-now-playable.3698894/
- Gen 4 VGC: https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/dp-vgc-2008-2010.3753816/
- Poké Classic Network DNS for online cartridge battles: 178.62.43.212