Pokémon pros explain how Regulation H will open door to new VGC players after Worlds

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s upcoming competitive ruleset, Regulation H, is set to begin shortly after the World Championships, and pro players believe the format change will draw new players to the VGC scene.

All eyes will be on top Pokémon players competing at the World Championships next week (Aug. 16 to 18) in VGC, TCG, Go, and UNITE. If you’re a casual player or fan, you might walk away from Worlds feeling inspired to pick up one of these games and get a taste of the competitive side. Scarlet and Violet players, for example, may want to give VGC a spin if they haven’t already done so.

But entering VGC may sound intimidating with so many different Pokémon to look out for and collect. After all, the ruleset for Worlds is Regulation G, Scarlet and Violet’s first single-restricted format, with Legendaries like Calyrex, Miraidon, and Urshifu ruling the meta. As you might imagine, acquiring all these rare Legendary Pokémon takes a lot more time and resources compared to the average creature. You may need to go as far as playing through other games like Sword, Shield, or Legends: Arceus to get the right Legendaries for your competitive teams. 

This will all change with Regulation H (Sept. 1 to Jan. 5, 2025), when all Legendary and Paradox Pokémon will be removed from competitive play. Without having to worry about catching the rarer Legendaries, VGC will become “way easier for people to get into,” according to pro players Stefan Mott, Joseph Ugarte, and Baris Ackos on the OHKO podcast. They point out how most legal Pokémon in Reg H are relatively easy to obtain multiples of, with one exception being Bloodmoon Ursaluna.

An easily accessible VGC format couldn’t have come at a better time, right after the biggest international event of the year. “Worlds always creates hype for the game,” Mott commented. “There are always new players who watch Worlds and are like, ‘Wow, this looks cool. I wanna play.’” Thanks to Reg H, those eager new players can quickly build strong, viable teams as long as they have Scarlet and Violet with the DLC.

Plus, they won’t have to worry about the dreaded Urshifu until it returns with the other Legendary Pokémon in future formats. And a break from it is great for everyone, whether you’re a beginner or an expert in VGC.