VGC 2018 rules have been updated for Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon

These updated rules will be applied from 1 January 2018
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  • Saturday, December 9, 2017

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​The official Play! Pokémon rules and formats for the 2017-2018 season of Video Game Championships (VGC) tournaments have been updated for Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon by the official site and this update will be applied from 1 January 2018. The updates to the VGC 2018 rules are as follows:

  • ​The standard battle format style will be Double Battles using Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.
  • Pokémon can now hold a Mega Stone or Soul Dew as well as any other ​item that have been officially released via Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon however ​every Pokémon must hold a different item.
  • A player’s team cannot contain two Pokémon with the same National Pokédex number and any Pokémon in the National Pokédex can be used except Mythical Pokémon, Special Legendary Pokémon and Ash-Greninja provided they are caught or hatched in the game or received at an official event in Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun or Ultra Moon.
  • If Pokémon have a Regional variant, either form may be used.
  • Players may be penalised or disqualified due to not updating their system or Ultra Sun or Ultra Moon game to the latest update.
  • Battles will be conducted using 5 minutes of "Your Time" instead of 10 minutes. This is a time limit that is only deducted while each player is making a decision on a Pokémon move or switching Pokémon. In order to maintain an enjoyable tournament environment this time limit might changed later in the season based on feedback from VGC tournament organisers.
  • ​Pokémon that are below and above Level 50 will be auto-leveled up and down to 50 for the duration of battle.
  • Before entering official Play! Pokémon tournaments each player's Team lists should be completed using the language to which that player's game is set.
  • Manual Hack Check considerations have been updated for the 2018 format and a player can be penalised or disqualified if that player is using any of the following Pokémon shown below:
    • Any Pokémon that lists “From: Nursery Helpers” on its Summary screen and that is contained in a Master Ball or a Cherish Ball.
  • Any of these Pokémon that has the following in-game level:
  • Any Pokémon with a move, Ability, Nature or other attribute that cannot be obtained through normal gameplay or official event.
  • Any of the following Pokémon that has Hidden Power as a Fighting type move:
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