View source for GS Cup with various item restrictions until April will be the VGC 2019 rules

{{Article|
type=news |
picture=Video Game Championships logo.png |
caption=The Pokémon Video Game Championships logo |
weekday=Monday |
day=27 |
month=8 |
year=2018 |
time=00:08:04 |
discusstype=none |
discusslink= |
sourcetype=othersite |
sourcename=The official Pokémon website |
sourcelink=https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/get-ready-for-a-legendary-video-game-championships-season/ |
user=Water Max |
userlink=User:Water Max |
tagline=From April until Worlds all items will be permitted |
blurb=The official Play! Pokémon rules and formats for the 2018-2019 season of VGC tournaments have been revealed by the official site. The standard battle format style will be Double Battles using Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. The VGC 2019 rules will be an updated version of the GS Cup with various item restrictions throughout three different time periods until the 2019 Pokémon World Championships. }}
{{CategorizeIn|Games|8|18}}
[[File:Video Game Championships logo.png|thumb|right|The Pokémon Video Game Championships logo]]
The official Play! Pokémon rules and formats for the 2018-2019 season of Pokémon Video Game Championship (VGC) tournaments have been revealed by the official site.

The standard battle format style will be Double Battles using Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. The VGC 2019 rules will be an updated version of the {{bp|GS Cup}} with various item restrictions throughout three different time periods until the 2019 Pokémon World Championships. This means that  throughout the season from September 4 players can use Pokémon from the National Pokédex except for {{p|Mew}}, {{p|Celebi}}, {{p|Jirachi}}, {{p|Deoxys}}, {{p|Phione}}, {{p|Manaphy}}, {{p|Darkrai}}, {{p|Shaymin}}, {{p|Arceus}}, {{p|Victini}}, {{p|Keldeo}}, {{p|Meloetta}}, {{p|Genesect}}, {{p|Greninja|Ash-Greninja}}, {{p|Diancie}}, {{p|Hoopa}}, {{p|Magearna}}, {{p|Marshadow}} and {{p|Zeraora}}. Teams may have no more than of two of the following Pokémon: {{p|Mewtwo}}, {{p|Lugia}}, {{p|Ho-Oh}}, {{p|Kyogre}}, {{p|Groudon}}, {{p|Rayquaza}}, {{p|Dialga}}, {{p|Palkia}}, {{p|Giratina}}, {{p|Reshiram}}, {{p|Zekrom}}, {{p|Kyurem}}, {{p|Xerneas}}, {{p|Yveltal}}, {{p|Zygarde}}, {{p|Cosmog}}, {{p|Cosmoem}}, {{p|Solgaleo}}, {{p|Lunala}} and {{p|Necrozma}}. However during this season there will be various rules about items and moves during three different time periods called the Sun, Moon and Ultra series which will have the following starting and ending times and rules:

*The Sun series will start on September 4, 2018 and end on January 7, 2019 and during this time period  {{bp|Mega Stones}}, {{bp|Z-Crystals}}, the {{bp|Blue Orb}} and the Reb Orb will be banned and Rayquaza must not know the move {{m|Dragon Ascent}}.
*The Moon series will start on January 8, 2019 and end on April 1, 2019 and during this time period  Mega Stones, the Blue Orb, the Reb Orb and Ultranecrozium Z will be banned but all other Z-Crystals will be permitted and Rayquaza must not know the move Dragon Ascent.
*The Ultra series will start on April 2, 2019 and end at the Pokémon World Championships in August 2019 and during this time period all moves and items obtained through normal gameplay will be permitted.

In addition to these rules every Pokémon in a party must also have a black plus {{bp|Alola}} symbol in the Pokémon summary screen to show that they were obtained in Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun or Ultra Moon. Battles will be conducted using 7 minutes of "Your Time" instead of 5 minutes. This is a time limit that is only deducted while each player is making a decision on a Pokémon move or switching Pokémon. Every Pokémon must hold a different item and more than one of the same Pokémon cannot be used. Pokémon that are below and above Level 50 will be auto-leveled up and down to 50 for the duration of battle.