VGC 2024 Regulation G, Doubles Format Reference
Reg G is the Scarlet & Violet VGC format that allowed up to two Restricted Legendaries per team. The most powerful SV VGC ruleset of the era, and the format the 2024 World Championships ran on.
Cartridge
Scarlet & Violet
Type
4v4 Doubles
Restricted
Up to 2 per team
Status
Frozen format
Two Restricted Legendaries on a team means every other slot is built around enabling them. Calyrex-Shadow was the answer; the rest of the meta was the question.
At a glance
Reg G is the highest-power VGC format of the SV era. Calyrex-Shadow + a second Restricted on most teams produced an offensive ceiling no Doubles format outside of late-Series VGC has matched.
The format is now frozen, Reg H succeeded it in early 2025. Reg G remains the most-discussed VGC ruleset of the gen and the foundation Worlds 2024 was decided on.
- Format type4v4 Doubles, brought 4 from a 6
- CartridgePokémon Scarlet & Violet
- Restricted slotUp to TWO Restricted Legendaries per team
- MechanicsTera legal, Paradox Pokémon legal, no Megas / Z-Moves / Dynamax
- StatusFrozen, replaced by Reg H in early 2025
- Where it's playedPokémon Showdown ladder + retro VGC tournaments. Live data: /sv/vgc2024regg.
- Tournament contextWorlds 2024 played under this rule set
Format rules
VGC formats apply a Doubles-specific rule set on top of the cartridge engine. Items are clause-restricted; the team-preview lead-choice is part of every match.
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Battle type | 4v4 Doubles, brought 4 from a 6 |
| Team preview | Yes, both sides see all 6 before lead choice |
| Level | All Pokémon set to level 50 |
| Species Clause | Each team can only carry one of any given species |
| Item Clause | Each held item can only appear once on the team |
| Restricted slot | Up to 2 Restricted Legendaries per team (eligible list below) |
| Tera | LEGAL, once per team, per battle |
| Paradox Pokémon | LEGAL |
| Time control | Tournament-standard match clock + per-turn timer |
| Best of | Best-of-3 in tournament play |
Eligible Pokémon
Reg G uses the full SV Paldea + DLC dex with the Restricted Legendary list permitted. Mythicals are excluded.
Restricted Legendaries, up to 2 per team
- Calyrex-Shadow, the format-defining Restricted slot. 165 SpA + 150 Spe + Astral Barrage spread + Grim Neigh stat-snowball ability.
- Calyrex-Ice, 165 Atk + 50 Spe + Glacial Lance spread + As One (Chilling Neigh) Atk-snowball. Trick Room cornerstone.
- Miraidon, 135 SpA + 135 Spe + Hadron Engine auto-Electric Terrain + Electro Drift super-effective ×4/3 boost.
- Koraidon, 135 Atk + 135 Spe + Orichalcum Pulse auto-Sun + Collision Course super-effective ×4/3 boost.
- Terapagos, DLC2 box legendary. 90/65/85/65/85/60 base; 95/95/110/105/110/85 in Terastal Forme via Tera Shell.
- Zacian, Crowned + Behemoth Blade + Intrepid Sword on switch-in.
- Zamazenta, Crowned + Behemoth Bash + Dauntless Shield on switch-in.
- Lunala, Solgaleo, Necrozma-Dusk-Mane, Necrozma-Dawn-Wings, Sun/Moon-era Restricted; Necrozma fusions with Sunsteel Strike / Moongeist Beam.
- Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Sinnoh box legendaries; Origin Forme variants viable.
- Reshiram, Zekrom, Kyurem, Unova trio; Kyurem-Black/White through HOME transfer.
- Groudon, Kyogre, Rayquaza, Hoenn legendaries via HOME.
- Lugia, Ho-Oh, Johto legendaries via HOME.
Excluded categories
- Mythicals, Mew, Celebi, Jirachi, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin, Arceus, Victini, Keldeo, Meloetta, Genesect, Diancie, Hoopa, Volcanion, Magearna, Marshadow, Zeraora, Meltan / Melmetal, Zarude, Pecharunt all banned.
- Mewtwo, Mythical-equivalent banned status.
- Ultra Beasts, Ultra Beasts not part of the Restricted list; available as standard Pokémon (Pheromosa, Kartana, Naganadel etc. in the eligible roster as non-Restricted).
Tera + Restricted = the Reg G design fact
The combination of two Restricted Legendaries plus Terastallization produced the highest offensive ceiling SV VGC ever reached. Most teams ran one or both Restricted slots Tera-tunable as the team's primary win-condition lever.
For the underlying Tera mechanic, refer to the Terastallization section of the Gen 9 Era guide.
The Calyrex-Shadow centerpiece
Calyrex-Shadow appeared on the majority of competitive Reg G teams. Its 165 SpA + 150 Spe + Grim Neigh ability (raises SpA by 1 stage on each KO) produced a Pokémon that snowballed offensive value across the match. Astral Barrage spread move + Pollen Puff partner heal (Indeedee or Tornadus-Therian) defined the format's offensive shape.
Tera as the Restricted answer
Most teams ran Tera on a non-Restricted Pokémon as the answer to opposing Calyrex-Shadow. Tera Dark Urshifu Single Strike to absorb Astral Barrage; Tera Normal Incineroar for Fake Out + Knock Off support; Tera Flying speed-boost teams via Tornadus-Therian. The Tera slot was one of the team's most contested decisions.
Archetypes
Reg G archetypes cluster around the Restricted slot choice. Each Restricted defines the team's offensive engine; the remaining four slots support that engine.
Format-defining
Calyrex-Shadow Core
Calyrex-Shadow + Urshifu Single Strike + Incineroar Intimidate / Fake Out + Tornadus-Therian Tailwind setter. The most-played Reg G core.
Sun
Koraidon Sun Offense
Koraidon Orichalcum Pulse + Sun-boosted Fire / Grass partners. Flutter Mane + Specs Sun threats. Helping Hand support.
Electric Terrain
Miraidon Speed Offense
Miraidon Hadron Engine + Quark Drive Paradox abusers + Iron Hands Belly Drum. Electric Terrain blocks sleep + paralysis.
Trick Room
Calyrex-Ice TR
Calyrex-Ice Glacial Lance + slow Trick Room setters (Indeedee, Hatterene equivalents). 50 Spe sits perfectly in Trick Room bracket.
Steel Box
Zacian / Zamazenta
Zacian-Crowned offensive (Behemoth Blade) or Zamazenta-Crowned defensive (Dauntless Shield + Body Press) cores. Less common than Calyrex but tournament-viable.
Defensive
Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Bulky Offense
Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Sunsteel Strike + Trick Room setup + bulky support. Steel/Psychic walls many threats.
VGC team roles
VGC team roles are different from Singles. The Restricted slot is unique to VGC; Fake Out and Speed control are central in ways Singles doesn't reproduce.
One or two Restricted Legendaries. Reg G allows up to 2; pre-Reg-G most VGC formats allowed at most 1. The Restricted choice defines the team's offensive engine and structural archetype.
Incineroar Intimidate + Fake Out is the format's defining Fake Out user. Other options: Whimsicott (Fake Tears + Tailwind), Hitmontop (Intimidate + Wide Guard).
Speed control is non-negotiable in VGC. Tailwind doubles team Speed for 4 turns. Trick Room reverses speed for 5 turns. Icy Wind spread Speed-drop. Thunder Wave niche.
Spread moves hit both opponents for 75% damage. Astral Barrage, Heat Wave, Earthquake (with allied immunity), Make It Rain, Hyper Voice Pixilate, Glacial Lance all defining options.
VGC pivots produce momentum AND lead-flexibility. Tornadus-Therian U-turn + Tailwind, Incineroar Parting Shot, Volcarona U-turn niche.
Follow Me + 2 priority redirection. Indeedee-Female with Psychic Surge + Follow Me support. Amoonguss Regenerator + Rage Powder + Spore.
Reg G defining wincons: Calyrex-Shadow Grim Neigh snowball, Iron Hands Belly Drum + Drain Punch, Volcarona Quiver Dance with Tera Fairy, Calyrex-Ice Trick Room Glacial Lance.
What makes Reg G different
Reg G is the most powerful SV VGC format. The two-Restricted ruleset is unique in modern VGC; Reg H, Reg I, and Reg M-A all narrowed back from this peak.
2
Restricted slot
Up to 2 per team, Reg G unique
✓
Tera + Paradox
Both legal, both meta-defining
↑
Power ceiling
Highest of any SV VGC ruleset
- Two Restricted slots, most VGC formats allow 0 or 1 Restricted; Reg G allows 2. The combinatorial space of viable cores expanded dramatically.
- Tera + Restricted produced one-shot win conditions, Calyrex-Shadow Tera Normal Astral Barrage, Miraidon Tera Fairy Draco Meteor immunity, etc.
- Worlds 2024, the Worlds 2024 finals were played under Reg G. The competitive history of the format is well-documented.
- Replaced by Reg H, Reg G ended in early 2025. Reg H deliberately narrowed the dex by removing all Restricted, all Paradox, and all Mythical Pokémon.
How to get started
Reg G is now a frozen retro VGC format. Tournament archives are extensive; sample teams from Worlds 2024 are well-documented.
- Choose your Restricted, Calyrex-Shadow is the most-played starting point. Calyrex-Ice (Trick Room), Miraidon (Electric offense), or Koraidon (Sun offense) are alternatives.
- Build the support core, Incineroar Fake Out, Tornadus-Therian Tailwind, redirection support, speed-control answers.
- Pick your Tera target, usually a non-Restricted Pokémon. Tera Dark Urshifu, Tera Fairy Volcarona, Tera Steel Heatran are all defining choices.
- Play replays of Worlds 2024, every top team is documented. The skill ceiling lives in lead-prediction and Tera timing.
- Ladder Pokémon Showdown, Reg G has an active retro VGC ladder. Tournament play continues for retro VGC.
Where to go from here
The above is the static reference for VGC 2024 Reg G. Live frozen-format data lives in the rest of Pokékipe.
- Live format data, /sv/vgc2024regg for Reg G usage and tournament results.
- Mechanics, Gen 9, Scarlet & Violet covers Tera, Paradox abilities, and the underlying Gen 9 engine.
- Adjacent VGC formats, Reg H (no Restricted / no Paradox), Reg I (Paradox returns), Reg M-A (Champions current).
- Workflow, VGC Teambuilding guide. Tournament Preparation guide.