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Learn whether the Regulation J ruleset, which allows Mythical Pokemon, is used at VGC tournaments or just the online ladder.
The Regulation J of Pokemon VGC will only be applicable to Ranked Battles, not to any tournaments taking place during the same time. This Regulation started from August 31, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. PDT and will be active until January 4, 2026, at 3:59 p.m. PST, and will allow players to pick Mythical Pokemon among their Restricted Pokemon. Since not every player has access to Mythical Pokemon, they are usually not seen in VGC.
Why Isn’t the Regulation J Ruleset Being Used at Pokemon VGC Tournaments?
The main reason that Regulation J isn’t being used for tournament play is that Mythical Pokemon have a history of uneven distribution amongst players. Now, several of these Mythicals, like Phione or Deoxys Defense Forme do not stand a chance in the current meta. However, Pokemon like Arceus or Magearna could end up having a massive impact and end up dominating the scene. Effectively, the players who “paid” for Mythical Pokemon (by attending events or purchasing extra content) would have an advantage over those who did not.
Additionally, since these Mythical Pokemon have rarely seen tournament play, nobody has an exact idea of how much they would alter the balance of the competitive meta.
What Makes Mythicals Different From Pokemon Brought Over From Other Pokemon Games?
Now, this argument may feel hollow to some, as Pokemon like both Calyrex formes and Urshifu are allowed in regular play despite needing other games to get them. While this is true, those Pokemon can be acquired by completing a storyline within the game itself. Additionally, players can reset and reroll for versions of this Pokemon that will do well in the competitive scene.
Almost all Mythical Pokemon were at one point only available through event distribution, with fixed stats and natures. As a matter of fact, you could complete your in-game Pokedexes without getting these event-only Pokemon at all. So, while the Regulation J ruleset will let players use the Mythical Pokemon they have, until these Pokemon are more widely available to everyone, any Regulation they are a part of will probably only be limited to Ranked Battles.
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