It has already been three months sinceĀ Series 8Ā started and the Restricted Legendaries modified the metagame. This format has been used for some major competitions, mainly:
- TheĀ second edition of the Women’s Tournament
- Won by
Ā Elisa M. (Salami)
- Won by
- Taiwan’s second live event, theĀ Kaohsiung Regionals
- Won by
Ā Wu Chen (ęęęå„)
- Won by
- TheĀ VR Circuit: Winter Series, consisting of five Qualifiers and a Grand Finale
- Won by
Kevin Salvetto (Lil Bo Peep)
- Won by
- TheĀ third instalment of the PokĆ©mon Players Cup
- Won by Jonathan Evans (Ezrael)
- Won by
During this Series, we have seen theĀ postponement of the 2021 World Championships, as was expected given the current situation, as well as the celebration of the 25th anniversary of PokĆ©mon, which came with theĀ announcement of some new titlesĀ for the coming months; in particular, PokĆ©mon Brilliant Diamond and PokĆ©mon Shining Pearl might be very relevant for next year’s competitive scene!
However, it is time to wrap up and prepare for the next series… or recover the notes from the past winter? This is because, just a short few weeks into the metagame,Ā we were all surprised by the early announcementĀ of Series 9, which would be starting on 1 May 2021 and would correspond to the same ruleset as Series 7, which was in force from November 2020 to January 2021.
This unusual timing has made many players think of Series 8 as a somewhat pointless metagame, since its development would be stopped in three months just to go back to a previous ruleset. But is it just a step back?
In this article we will introduce all that the new format of VGC, as confirmed on the 29 March issue of theĀ Play! PokĆ©mon ruleset document, brings to the table starting on 1 MayĀ and the impact that the three-month detour to a format with one Restricted PokĆ©mon may have on the previously established metagame of Series 7.
Uneligible PokƩmon
With the new ruleset, the following PokƩmon currently available in Series 8 will no longer be eligible for competitive play starting on 1 May:
| List of uneligible PokƩmon for Series 9 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |  |
| Mewtwo | Lugia | Ho-Oh | Kyogre | Groudon | Rayquaza |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
| Dialga | Palkia | Giratina (Altered F.) | Giratina (Origin F.) | Reshiram | Zekrom |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
| Kyurem | White Kyurem | Black Kyurem | Xerneas | Yveltal | Zygarde (50% Forme) |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
| Zygarde (10% Forme) | Cosmog | Cosmoem | Solgaleo | Lunala | Necrozma |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
| Dusk Mane Necrozma | Dawn Wings Necrozma | Zacian (Hero of Many Battles) | Zacian (Crowned Sword) | Zamazenta (Hero of Many Battles) | Zamazenta (Crowned Shield) |
| Ā |  |  |  |  | Ā |
| Ā | Eternatus | Calyrex | Ice Rider Calyrex | Shadow Rider Calyrex | Ā |
| List of Restricted PokƩmon | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| | | |
| Mewtwo | Lugia | Ho-Oh | Kyogre |
| | | |
| Groudon | Rayquaza | Dialga | Palkia |
| | | |
| Giratina (Altered F.) | Giratina (Origin F.) | Reshiram | Zekrom |
| | | |
| Kyurem | White Kyurem | Black Kyurem | Xerneas |
| | | |
| Yveltal | Zygarde (50% Forme) | Zygarde (10% Forme) | Cosmog |
| | | |
| Cosmoem | Solgaleo | Lunala | Necrozma |
| | | |
| Dusk Mane Necrozma | Dawn Wings Necrozma | Zacian (Hero of Many Battles) | Zacian (Crowned Sword) |
| | | |
| Zamazenta (Hero of Many Battles) | Zamazenta (Crowned Shield) | Eternatus | Calyrex |
| Ā | | | Ā |
| Ā | Ice Rider Calyrex | Shadow Rider Calyrex | Ā |
Learning from the past
Several conclusions can be taken just by looking at the results and usage stats of the past Series 7.
Glastrier and Spectrier
Some PokƩmon were dominant in Series 7, but saw themselves relegated to niche roles because a newly available Restricted Legendary PokƩmon filled its slot better on the teams. The clearest example of this are Glastrier and Spectrier, which were nowhere to be seen in Series 8 due to the availability of Ice Rider Calyrex and Shadow Rider Calyrex, respectively. However, their time is here again.
Glastrier in particular was one of the most successfully used PokĆ©mon in Series 7, especially accompanied by Dusclops and Tapu Fini. Teams with those three PokĆ©mon got the first place of QualifiersĀ #9Ā andĀ #10Ā of VR Spain’sĀ Circuito Galar, as well as Taiwan’sĀ Taipei RegionalsĀ and South Korea’sĀ Crown Tournament.
Spectrier was also a force to be reckoned as it could function offensively or in a supportive role, depending on its set. Takuto Notohara (Notton) used it on his 1st place team of theĀ Ranked Battles Season 14 ladderĀ (January 2021)Ā and it was present in several top cut teams from many tournaments.
Galarian Moltres and the Steel types
Other PokƩmon that will benefit from the absence of Restricted Legendary PokƩmon will be Galarian Moltres, Metagross and Celesteela. They for sure will not miss Yveltal or the various Steel-type Legendaries, such as Zacian, Dialga or Solgaleo. Often holding a Weakness Policy, these naturally bulky PokƩmon will take advantage of the offensive potential given to them by its item activation.
Galarian Moltres was the most dominant of the three, with its access to the key Max Airstream and its Ability Berserk, and was present in the team with which former World Champion Wolfe Glick (Wolfey) conquered theĀ PokĆ©mon Players Cup II.
Rillaboom and Tapu Fini
The terrain setters Rillaboom and Tapu Fini have seen some use in Series 8, but the truth is that they had been much more dangerous in Series 7. Together with Incineroar, these PokĆ©mon had grabbed the top 3 spots in usage. Notoriously, only the early-metaĀ VR Tundra ChallengeĀ saw a winner in Joseph Ugarte (JoeUX9) that did not have at least one of them in their team!
Rillaboom has been surpassed as the Grass-type preferred option in Series 8 teams by Whimsicott and Venusaur. The generally slower metagame of Series 7 may be a signal that Rillaboom will regain its type’s top spot for Series 9.
The establishment of Psychic spam teams, especially those with Shadow Rider Calyrex, made the Misty Terrain concede its second place to Indeedee’s Psychic Terrain. With the removal of that threat, it is expected that Tapu Fini will regain that spot soon enough.
The influence of Series 8
Some PokĆ©mon that were extensively used in Series 8 had already been used much in Series 7. This is the case of Incineroar, Regieleki, Single Strike Style Urshifu or Landorus (Therian). However, other PokĆ©mon saw a huge increase in usage during Series 8: let’s talk about them.
Lapras had been present in many of the earlier 2020 series since its Gigantamax form became available, but its use had declined in favour of other screen setters, such as Grimmsnarl or Regieleki. The new Series 8 archetype it formed with Zacian (commonly known as “LapDog”) is not easily replaceable without the Legendary PokĆ©mon, so its use will likely decline again.
This is probably not the case for Charizard. The sun archetype was already strong in Series 7. With the unprecedented dominance that it has shown in Series 8, it is difficult to think that sun-based teamsĀ will not try to develop further into the Series 9 metagame, with the triad of Torkoal, Venusaur and Charizard. This will likely be the most noticeable difference between the previous Series 7 and Series 9, at least at its earliest stages, even though Groudon being away may hinder the usage of Charizard along another special Fire-type.
Other PokƩmon that may suffer from the change of series will be the Incarnate Formes of the genies Tornadus and Thundurus. The departure of Kyogre will mean the decline of rain-based teams, so Tornadus will not be as necessary to accompany them nor Thundurus to counter them. The absence of Zacian, against which Intimidate users were almost a must, will also diminish the need for Thundurus.
Other options
In any case, other teams like those based on Gigantamax Coalossal or on the combo of Weezing + Regigigas will also need to be taken into account when teambuilding for this new series. Do not forget that these cores starred on the Grand Finals of Series 7’sĀ PokĆ©mon Players Cup II!
Who knows? Maybe a new, unexplored team composition is awaiting your discovery… Meta calls are key for it, but the distinct metagame ofĀ Series 8 may have brought some applicable ideas for Series 9, and there is the chance that it will end up developing in a complete different direction than that of Series 7.
What's next?
Although it may be important to study the pastĀ Series 7, Series 9 will surely not be neither as similar nor as different from it. We do not know an end date for this format, and, although the early stages can be a chaotic mix of Series 7 stuff and new ideas coming from Series 8, the development of the metagame with already three months of experience can be a key point. Take a look atĀ our Rental Teams hubĀ if you are lost!
Prepare for the ruleset that will be played in the newest instalment of ourĀ VR Circuit: the Spring Series! The first Qualifier will be held this weekend, and registrations are already availableĀ here!
Further in the metagame, other major tournaments will be held, including theĀ Taiwan Nationals, theĀ Japan NationalsĀ and theĀ PokĆ©mon Players Cup IV. The offline celebration of two National Championships in some parts of the world, even with many restrictions to the participation in them, is a sign that the return of live events elsewhere gets closer!
Don’t forget to follow us onĀ our Twitter accountĀ to have the latest information about all the upcoming news and events!
