Summary
The competitive landscape forPokemon Scarlet and VioletVGC has changed drastically since the games launched in 2022, seeing a variety of creatures come and go as dominant forces in the game. As more critters were made available outside the ones initially found inPokemon Scarlet and Violet, the meta for competitive play evolved to include some of the franchise’s most powerful creatures. However, with the introduction of Regulation G,Pokemon Violet’s mascot Legendary Miraidon may have just become the game’s top restricted mon thanks to its performance at the recent Indianapolis Regional Championship tournament.
The Indianapolis Regional Championship tournament was the first to feature the new Regulation G ruleset forPokemon Scarlet and VioletVGC. What makes this ruleset such a big deal for competitors is that it allows them to use one critter from the restricted list on their team, which mostly consists ofLegendary Pokemon. Despite having the choice to include past VGC powerhouses like Kyogre, Zacian, and Shadow Rider Calyrex, Miraidon showed players just how much of a threat it can be, as it was a crucial team member on the tournament’s winning team.
Miraidon Won a Pokemon Scarlet and Violet VGC Regional Tournament
Before this tournament, not many players were predictingMiraidonto be the standout critter fromPokemon Scarlet and VioletVGC’s restricted list. However, Rajan Bal, the winner of the Indianapolis Regional Championship, showed just how powerful Miraidon can be in the current VGC meta. With all the tools Miraidon has in its toolbox, it was inevitable that someone would find a way to maximize the potential of this Legendary and utilize these strengths to set a strong precedent going forward in the Regulation G format forPokemonVGC.
Rajan Bal defeated Andrew Zheng in the Masters Finals of the Indianapolis Regional Championships using a strategy that allowed Miraidon to pivot and continuously set up Electric Terrain using its Hadron Engine Ability. While Zheng attempted to wall this strategy by terastallizingTerapagos into its Stellar Formso that its Teraform Zero Ability would remove the terrain effects, Miraidon’s Volt Switch move allowed it to easily switch out and bring Electric Terrain back when switched in at a later time. When combined with other mons that support this pivot play style, like Whimsicott and Incineroar, it was clear Miraidon would not be stopped.
Why Miraidon is Such a Threat in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet VGC Regulation G
Miraidon has an exceptional number of ways to boost its power that can be hard to prevent in the currentPokemonVGC meta. With Electric Terrain being automatically set up when switched in, Miraidon gains an additional 30% power boost to itsElectric-type attacks, and its Hadron Engine Ability further boosts its Special Attack while on Electric Terrain. To make Miraidon even more of a Special-Attacking threat, Rajan Bal gave it Choice Specs to boost its Special Attack by another 50%, allowing moves like Volt Switch and Miraidon’s signature Electro Drift to deal massive amounts of damage.
Typically, Electric Terrain can be removed through the use of mons like Rillaboom and its Grassy Surge Ability or Indeedee and its Psychic Surge Ability, but these mons were not being used very much during this tournament. Even if Electric Terrain is removed, Miraidon can use Volt Switch to swap out and set up the terrain again when switched back in, which also removes the drawback of Choice Specs locking the mon into its first move used until it switches out. Given how powerful Miraidon has the potential to be, it seems likely that thePokemonVGC metawill see mons like Rillaboom and Indeedee used as counters to this strategy in future tournaments.
