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In this guide, we will look at the Non-Restricted Pokemon in VGC that are likely to do well at Worlds 2025.
In Worlds 2025, the Pokemon VGC format will be played under Regulation I rules. This means that players can choose up to two Restricted Pokemon for their team. However, they will need to pick other useful Pokemon as well. While some of these Pokemon provide support, the rest are meant to deal damage alongside the Restricted Legendaries. In this guide we will look at some of the top VGC choices for Worlds 2025.
Top 5 Non-Restricted VGC Pokemon for Worlds 2025
These are among the best non-Restricted Pokemon for the VGC format that are expected to leave a mark at Worlds 2025:
- Iron Hands
- Chien-Pao
- Urshifu-Rapid Strike
- Rillaboom
- Incineroar
5) Iron Hands
Iron Hands is a powerful Electric/Fighting dual type. What makes it unique is that it is a great physical Electric-type, compared to most others which use their Special Attack instead. Additionally, it has access to Fake Out for priority flinches and its Speed is low enough to take advantage of the opponent setting up Trick Room.
4) Chien-Pao
Chien-Pao is a fast dual Ice/Dark type Pokemon. With all the Dragon and Ghost-types in the meta, it can easily come in after one of your Pokemon is KO’d and take out a weakened member of the opponent’s team. It also has access to the priority move Sucker Punch in case the opponent’s Pokemon has a Choice Scarf for extra speed. It is rather frail, so some care needs to be taken before bringing it into play. But once it’s on the field, it can demolish unprepared teams.
3) Urshifu Rapid Strike
Urshifu Rapid Strike is the superior choice over its Single Strike counterpart in Regulation I. Its signature move Surging Strikes lets it hit a target multiple times with critical hits, bypassing screens set up by Grimmsnarl or Whimsicott. Also, its ability Unseen Fist bypasses moves like Protect, so opponents cannot stall for a turn against its attacks. Urshifu Rapid Strike can also pivot out of an unfavorable matchup with U-turn. It does need an extra boost in either Speed or Attack, which leads to its choice of item being either a Choice Scarf or a Choice Band, appropriately enough. However, even with the move restriction, this Water/Fighting dual type is one that players will have to consider while teambuilding.
2) Rillaboom
Rillaboom’s main claim to fame is its Hidden Ability Grassy Surge. This ability lets it set up Grassy Terrain when it enters the field. Just being able to do so opens up a whole avenue of options for Rillaboom and its allies. For starters, Grassy Terrain heals all grounded Pokemon for a little HP each turn, providing passive recovery. Secondly, the move Grassy Glide gets +1 priority in Grass Terrain, which Rillaboom tends to always use for that reason. Finally, by setting up Grassy Terrain, Rillaboom disrupts Miraidon’s Electric Terrain (and Indeedee F’s Psychic Terrain to an extent).
Besides Grassy Surge, Rillaboom also has other useful traits. This Galar gorilla has Fake Out to flinch the opponent, Knock Off to remove an opponent’s item, and U-Turn to pivot out of the field. So, for all its useful traits, Rillaboom is likely to find itself on a lot of teams.
1) Incineroar
Incineroar may be the best Pokemon in VGC, even including Restricted Legendaries. While it cannot match their damage output, its Attack stat of 115 is nothing to sneeze at either. It can use STAB Flare Blitz for raw power, Knock Off for item removal, Fake Out for flinching, and U-turn to pivot. The last part is very crucial, as the main reason behind Incineroar’s success in VGC is its access to Intimidate as a Hidden Ability. Intimidate lowers the Attack of both the opponent’s Pokemon whenever Incineroar switches in. With a little support from its allies, Incineroar can switch in over and over again to use Intimidate. This capability, combined with its vast movepool and decent bulk, makes Incineroar one of the best non-Restricted Pokemon in VGC.
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