VG Battle Rules & Restrictions

This is a continuation of the Tournament Rules.

Pokémon Video Games - Battle Rules

The tournament regulations that players will receive during registration will automatically enforce the following rules:

Prior to the start of the battle, the Pokémon on each player's team will be displayed to their opponent briefly. Moves and held items are not displayed.

While viewing the Pokémon on their opponent's team, each player selects four Pokémon to use during the battle, and sends out two Pokémon at a time. The Pokémon that a player selects and the order of those Pokémon remains a secret until they are revealed during battle.

A 15-minute time limit for each match will automatically be enforced in-game, beginning at the start of each battle. If the outcome has not been determined by the end of the time limit, the game will automatically apply tiebreakers to determine a winner.

At the beginning of each turn, players will have 1 minute to select moves for both Pokémon, or the change Active Pokémon. If a player has not made his or her selections at the end of this period, the game will automatically make selections for the player.

Pokémon Restrictions

Players may use Pokémon from the National PokeDex from 001-646 that are caught in the game, transferred from a previous Pokémon title, or received at an official event or distribution.

The following Pokémon may not be on a players team.

150-Mewtwo

151-Mew

249-Lugia

250-Lugia

251-Celebi

382-Kyogre

383-Groudon

384-Rayquaza

385-Jirachi

386-Deoxys

483-Dialga

484-Palkia

487-Giratina

489-Phione

490-Manaphy

491-Darkrai

492-Shaymin

493-Arceus

494-Victini

643-Reshiram

644-Zekrom

646-Kyurem

All Pokémon that are Level 51 or higher will have their level reduced to 50 for the duration of the battle with the following parameters:

Each Pokémon retains all of the moves that it knew before being auto-leveled.

Pokémon that evolve after Level 50 do not devolve when auto-leveled.

Pokémon below Level 50 remain at their actual level rather than being auto-leveled up to Level 50 for the battle.

The Pokémon's stats are adjusted to what its Level 50 stats would be.

A player's team may not contain two Pokémon with the same Unova Pokédex number.

Each Pokémon on a player's team may use held items, though no two Pokémon may hold the same item during battle. Only items acquired in Pokémon Black Version or White Version, or received at an official Pokémon event or promotion, may be used.

Naming Restrictions (Nicknames)

Players may not enter two Pokémon with the same nickname.

Players may not enter a Pokémon nicknamed with the name of another Pokémon character (for example, an Unfezant nicknamed "Pidove").

Players found to have inappropriate/offensive Trainer names or Pokémon nicknames, as determined by the event staff, will be disqualified from the event.

Moves

Pokémon may only use moves that have been learned through one of the following methods:

By leveling up

By TM or HM

As an Egg move, through breeding

From a character in the game

Already learned by a Pokémon that was received at an official Pokémon event or promotion

Pokémon cannot use the move Sky Drop during battle.

Other Important Links/Rules

Back to Tournament Rules

Video Game Event FAQs