Hello, everyone! I am Iván Casanova, but I also go by the nickname Beygon. I became a VGC player in midway 2017, but I became a regular in 2018, year where I went to all the Chile Regionals. The Regional of Santiago took place this 4th of June, the one and only latinoamerican major, where I achieved a Top 8.
In this report you’ll find the team I used, its teambuilding process and how to use it against certains match ups.
Teambuilding Process
This team has been some months in development, since January. During these months it underwent through some changes in its moves, spreads and Pokémon.
When I started building the team, I wanted to change the restricted core Kyogre + Zacian that I had been playing recently because it wasn’t giving me the best of the results, nonetheless I wanted to use take advantage of the experience I had with Zacian, which is one of the best restricted in the game. Groudon is my favourite restricted and one who is just as good as Kyogre. It has the chance to deal a lot of damage to both enemies with Pricipice Blades, counter Regieleki and endure Zacian. This two restricted have some common downsides, but they have a strong sinergy and they became the restricted duo of the team.
Since it was a Sun team, I had to take advantage of the weather, so I went straight to pick the best Pokémon in Sun-based teams. Charizard and Venusaur can use the Sun to gain a delightful speed and an explosive damage. They also have a good synergy with each other and the best G-Max Moves in the game.
Now, to pick a support Pokémon, I had to choose Grimmsnarl since it is one of the best in its role. It also makes a good addition to a Sun team and has a Fairy-type STAB move in Spirit Break since I wasn’t running it in Zacian.
The common problem of the team was its weakness to Intimidate, so Milotic entered the team as the last pick withouth further thinking, completing the first version of the team.
The team was solid enough, having good match-ups against most of the teams in the meta, but some battles shed light to the team’s weaknesses: the duos of Shadow Rider Calyrex + Thundurus and Regigigas + Weezing. Venusaur wasn’t good enough against the first core since you have to rely on putting your threats to sleep. The problems against the second duo were Regigigas having a speed tie with Charizard and Weezing being bulky enough to endure attacks and burn my Pokémon, and making it easier for Shadow Rider Calyrex and Kyogre (common folks of Regigigas) to finish in the late game. I threw the team, but I remained playing it since it was the only one I was comfortable with.
Some weeks before the tournament I still had the same problems: I had a team with weaknesses but no other team I felt comfortable with. But then came the last member of the team: a Regieleki that was shared by some friends that had Screech. It had a lot of things to add to the team, so I changed Venusaur for Regieleki and I started the pre-Regionals testing. It had all that I needed to cover those weeknesses. Finally, my team was complete.
The Team
Get the team’s paste here!
Zacian @ Rusted Sword
Ability: Intrepid Sword
Level: 50
EVs: 116 HP / 124 Atk / 4 Def / 12 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
– Iron Head
– Protect
– Close Combat
– Substitute
This Zacian spread tries to achieve the best balance between bulk and Attack without losing Speed, so it can win the speed tie against other Zacian. Substitute makes it more consistent against Trick Room match-ups and to avoid Intimidate abuse. Close Combat allows you to achieve bigger damages than Sacred Sword, and it has a good synergy with Regieleki’s Screech.
+1 124 Atk Zacian-Crowned Behemoth Blade vs. -2 0 HP / 0 Def Dynamax Thundurus: 386-456 (125.3 – 148%) — guaranteed OHKO
+1 124 Atk Zacian-Crowned Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 68 Def Incineroar: 236-278 (116.8 – 137.6%) — guaranteed OHKO
+1 124 Atk Zacian-Crowned Behemoth Blade vs. -2 252 HP / 156+ Def Eviolite Porygon2: 165-195 (85.9 – 101.5%) — 12.5% chance to OHKO
+1 124 Atk Zacian-Crowned Close Combat vs. -2 252 HP / 156+ Def Eviolite Porygon2: 262-310 (136.4 – 161.4%) — guaranteed OHKO
+1 124 Atk Zacian-Crowned Behemoth Blade vs. -2 236 HP / 4 Def Groudon: 217-256 (105.8 – 124.8%) — guaranteed OHKO
+1 124 Atk Zacian-Crowned Behemoth Blade vs. -2 4 HP / 0 Def Kyogre: 158-186 (89.7 – 105.6%) — 37.5% chance to OHKO
116 Atk Zacian-Crowned Behemoth Blade vs. -2 0 HP / 0 Def Regigigas: 178-210 (96.2 – 113.5%) — 75% chance to OHKO
252+ SpA Kyogre Water Spout (150 BP) vs. 116 HP / 12 SpD Zacian-Crowned in Rain: 153-181 (84 – 99.4%) — guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Groudon Precipice Blades vs. 116 HP / 4 Def Zacian-Crowned: 168-198 (92.3 – 108.7%) — 50% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Transistor Regieleki Max Lightning vs. 116 HP / 12 SpD Zacian-Crowned: 160-188 (87.9 – 103.2%) — 25% chance to OHKO
164+ Atk Calyrex-Ice Max Quake vs. 116 HP / 4 Def Zacian-Crowned: 164-194 (90.1 – 106.5%) — 43.8% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Zapdos Max Flare vs. 116 HP / 12 SpD Zacian-Crowned: 164-195 (90.1 – 107.1%) — 43.8% chance to OHKO
Groudon @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Drought
Level: 50
EVs: 36 HP / 172 Atk / 4 Def / 84 SpD / 212 Spe
Jolly Nature
– Precipice Blades
– Rock Slide
– Swords Dance
– Protect
My Groudon is faster than the average, which allows me to outspeed Shadow Rider Calyrex with +1 in Speed. Swords Dance + Sitrus Berry is a good way to control Intimidates, and you can make a good punish if you manage to gain both a Speed and an Attack boost. It is less bulky than the Assault Vest set, but I don’t think that bulk is much needed with this team since it tries to take advantage of the offensive options instead of the defensive boosts. Sitrus Berry was the best item to not turn it into a glass cannon since it allows it to endure more hits without bulk investment.
172 Atk Groudon Precipice Blades vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Kyogre: 88-105 (50 – 59.6%) — guaranteed 2HKO
+2 172 Atk Groudon Precipice Blades vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Kyogre: 177-208 (100.5 – 118.1%) — guaranteed OHKO
172 Atk Groudon Precipice Blades vs. -2 4 HP / 0 Def Kyogre: 177-208 (100.5 – 118.1%) — guaranteed OHKO.
252 SpA Mystic Water Kyogre Origin Pulse vs. 36 HP / 84 SpD Groudon in Sun: 90-108 (50 – 60%) — guaranteed 3HKO after Sitrus Berry recovery
252 SpA Turboblaze Reshiram Solar Beam vs. 36 HP / 84 SpD Groudon: 152-180 (84.4 – 100%) — 6.3% chance to OHKO
Charizard @ Life Orb
Ability: Solar Power
Level: 50
Gigantamax: Yes
EVs: 12 Def / 244 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
– Heat Wave
– Hurricane
– Blast Burn
– Protect
Speed control, chip damage and taking advantage of the Sun weather make Charizard a threat to take into account. This set has double Fire-type STAB moves: Blast Burn, to deal more damage with G-Max Wildfire, and Heat Wave to have another option against Wide Guard, and also as it is a good spread attack which can deal damage every turn. Life Orb makes it more offensive, and I run it instead of Charti Berry since I needed that extra damage a lot of times.
244 SpA Life Orb Solar Power Charizard G-Max Wildfire vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Dynamax Zapdos in Sun: 337-398 (101.5 – 119.8%) — guaranteed OHKO
244 SpA Life Orb Solar Power Charizard G-Max Wildfire vs. 252 HP / 100 SpD Eviolite Porygon2 in Sun: 195-230 (101.5 – 119.7%) — guaranteed OHKO
252 Atk Thundurus Max Lightning vs. 0 HP / 12 Def Gigantamaxed Charizard: 246-290 (80.3 – 94.7%) — guaranteed 2HKO
Grimmsnarl @ Lagging Tail
Ability: Prankster
Level: 50
Gigantamax: Yes
EVs: 236 HP / 124 Def / 148 SpD
Careful Nature
– Spirit Break
– Trick
– Light Screen
– Scary Face
A mandatory slot in every Sun team. Grimmsnarl is the main speed controler of the team with both Scary Face and Lagging Tail, the last one allowing me to control the Speed against both Tailwind and Trick Room. One of the most central and annoying Pokémon of the team. Spirit Break gives you a lot of control and a STAB move which helps against Palkia. Light Screen makes it easier to endure threats like Palkia, Charizard or Reshiram.
252+ SpA Kyogre Water Spout (150 BP) vs. 236 HP / 148+ SpD Grimmsnarl in Rain: 169-199 (84.5 – 99.5%) — guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Mystic Water Kyogre Water Spout (150 BP) vs. 236 HP / 148+ SpD Grimmsnarl in Rain: 184-217 (92 – 108.5%) — 50% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Solar Power Charizard Max Airstream vs. 236 HP / 148+ SpD Grimmsnarl in Sun: 153-180 (76.5 – 90%)
Milotic @ Leftovers
Ability: Competitive
Level: 50
EVs: 244 HP / 132 Def / 12 SpA / 36 SpD / 84 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
– Muddy Water
– Coil
– Hypnosis
– Protect
This is the top-notch addition of the team that almost ended up being a Gastrodon days before the tournament, but I am grateful to have used Milotic since it was very important in more than one match. Milotic fits like a glove in this team to control hard Trick Room teams and to threaten Intimidates. The famous Hypnosis + Coil set is amazing if you manage to boost Milotic at least once, making it bulkier and a sleep-inducing machine. It also takes advantage of all the speed control resources of the team to put the enemies to sleep, being faster than Shadow Rider Calyrex if there’s a +2 Speed difference. Leftovers gives it durability without the needing of Recover, and it also turns some 2-hit KO moves into 3-hit KOs.
252 SpA Magnet Transistor Regieleki Thunderbolt vs. 244 HP / 36+ SpD Milotic: 168-200 (83.5 – 99.5%)
252+ Atk Rillaboom Grassy Glide vs. 244 HP / 132 Def Milotic in Grassy Terrain: 170-204 (84.5 – 101.4%) — 6.3% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Kyogre Max Lightning vs. 244 HP / 36+ SpD Milotic: 169-200 (84 – 99.5%)
+1 252 Atk Zacian Sacred Sword vs. 244 HP / 132 Def Milotic: 97-115 (48.2 – 57.2%) — 46.5% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Calyrex-Shadow Astral Barrage vs. 244 HP / 36+ SpD Milotic: 87-103 (43.2 – 51.2%) — guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
Regieleki @ Focus Sash
Ability: Transistor
Level: 50
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
– Volt Switch
– Electroweb
– Protect
– Screech
The main job of Regieleki is to support in both speed control and physical offensive since Screech can make my Restricted pair achieve damages that take out a lot of threats in one hit, and it also allows pivoting and weather control to the team, which makes Volt Switch a better option than other Electric-type moves. It can also deal massive damage to some Pokémon like Kyogre or Charizard thanks to its Ability Transistor. Focus Sash allows it to make its job for at least two turns, or to keep it until the late game to provide a crucial speed control or to get sacrificed in order to have a clean switch-in.
Fun fact: this Regieleki has 31 IVs in physical attack!
252 SpA Transistor Regieleki Max Lightning vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Kyogre: 194-230 (110.8 – 131.4%) — guaranteed OHKO
Common leads
| Pokémon | Comments |
|---|---|
 + | |
| The auto mode of the team. Charizard is such a good Pokémon and Grimmsnarl gives the necessary speed control and special defenses. It also takes advantage of Grimmsnarl’s slow speed to switch in manually and set the Sun, making a potent Max Airstream which boosts both Charizard and Groudon. | |
| + | |
| This leads puts pressure on the rival, forcing them to make weather changes or defensive turns that can be used to boost these two. It’s a good lead to attack with two spread-damage attacks too. A very unusual lead. | |
| + | |
| This lead gives you a lot of speed control and possible switch-ins, either hard-switching or using Volt Switch. This is a good lead against Kyogre teams, especially if there is no Tornadus. It also works against Zapdos. | |
| + | |
| The lead to be used against Trick Room teams. The passive turns of redirection + Trick Room get punished with Zacian’s Subsitute and a Coiled Milotic. | |
| + | |
| Regieleki is a good partner for Zacian thanks to its Screech. This is a formidable lead against Shadow Rider Calyrex + Thundurus or Regigigas + Weezing, being able to KO Thundurus and Regigigas after a Screech. Max Strike can also be very annoying in the late game. |
Gameplans
| Pokémon | Comments |
|---|---|
| |
| This core tends to have Thundurus in it, so Regieleki + Charizard is the best combo for it. It is a 50/50 turn 1 based on Calyrex going for Protect or Will-O-Wisp. The best options por the back Pokémon are Groudon and Charizard or Grimmsnarl, based on the rest of the team and how they adapt to games 2 and 3. | |
or  | |
| The most consistent lead is Charizard + Regieleki, which allows you to attack twice with the Focus Sash in order to counter a Tailwind, or using Volt Switch to gain the weather control if they don’t lead with Grimmsnarl or Tornadus. The most common back is Groudon and Zacian. | |
 or | |
| Zacian + Milotic is the way to go in order to punish redirection + Trick Room, and to put Pokémon to sleep while you stall the enemy’s Dynamax with Zacian’s Substitute. This lead can be changed in game 2. Groudon and Charizard is the back to have, but you can change Grimmsnarl over Charizard if you need more control. | |
| |
| The lead against this core depends on its teammates. Grimmsnarl + Regieleki helps you control the speed if they have a Venusaur. Against Rinya Sun, the lead tends to be a Grimmsnarl + Charizard mirror, and you want to take out Grimmsnarl so your enemy doesn’t have both screens. You keep the enemy Charizard controlled with Lagging Tail and your back should be Groudon and Zacian. | |
 | |
| Same strategy as the last one, with the slight difference of prioritizing Grimmsnarl, since it’s more disruptive against a possible Regieleki or Venusaur. The companion is Charizard, which protects or attacks, depending on the items of Regieleki and Venusaur items. Groudon and Zacian should be in the back. | |
| |
| This core tends to be used in Regigigas + Weezing teams, so the main lead should be Regieleki + Zacian to not lose speed control and OHKO Regigigas. The back of the team will be either Groudon and Charizard or Groudon and Grimmsnarl, in case you need more control for a late game against those two. | |
| |
| Regieleki is the best choice to lead against this core, and its partner can be either Zacian or Charizard, depending on the rest of the team. The back should be Groudon and Zacian or Charizard, adapting to the lead you made. |
Tournament run
Swiss rounds
Top cut
| Round | Result | Opponent | Opponent’s team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top 8 | WLL |  Diego Gutiérrez (Zero) |   |
All the games consisted in keeping Reshiram under control since its Dynamax movepool could destroy my team very easy. Game 1 had a good development for me, but once he knew the set of my Grimmsnarl he adapted for Game 2 to receive the Lagging Tail in his Reshiram with it not being his Dynamax option. He dominated the game with a late-game Dynamaxed Landorus. Game 3 was a both-sided counterpick between Blastoise and Milotic wanting to put the rest of the team to sleep. It was an incredible match where I managed to swim against the tide. The match got decided with a 1v1 between Reshiram and Charizard, which was won by Reshiram.
Conclusion
This team has no reason to envy the rest of the metagame, especially if you play it in a smart way and taking advantage of its offensive power without losing the control factors of the team that support both Groudon and Zacian.
GGs to each of my rivals and thanks for this amazing experience! I would also like to thank my friends who were supporting me between rounds.
I am grateful with Victory Road for giving me this space to share my team, which faced rivals of such a high level and allowed me to enter the top cut. And thank you for reading the report!
