The Pokémon VGC (Video Game Championships) features a diverse array of strategies, some of which are considered overwhelmingly powerful—often referred to as “broken.”While employing these techniques doesn’t guarantee a win, they necessitate a considerable level of skill to execute effectively.
Below are five of the most notorious “broken strategies”that players can explore in Pokémon VGC. Remember, successful implementation of these methods is influenced by player skill, match circumstances, and inherent game complexity.
Top 5 Broken Strategies in Pokémon VGC
1) The PerishTrap Strategy
PerishTrap exploits the synergy between the move Perish Song and the ability Arena Trap. Arena Trap locks down opposing Pokémon on the ground (excluding Ghost-types), while Perish Song ensures those who are present will faint after four turns. By cleverly using this combination, players can effectively trap opponents into a situation where they cannot escape their fate.
The strategic execution involves stalling turns using moves like Protect, ultimately leading to the opponent’s Pokémon fainting. While this approach poses significant risks in single battles—often facing bans—it is more permissible in doubles due to the increased capacity to target foes effectively. An example of success with this strategy includes Wolfe Glick, who utilized a Perish Trap Team to triumph in an event boasting over 1,000 participants.
2) Ally Switch Shedinja
Shedinja presents a challenging yet unique choice for Pokémon VGC battles. While its Wonder Guard ability makes it impervious to all but super effective hits, it operates with just 1 HP and falls prey to many common attack types, including Ghost, Fire, and Dark. The solution? Implementing Ally Switch alongside Shedinja.
This +2 priority move permits players to swap the positions of their Pokémon, allowing Shedinja to evade knockouts by cleverly redirecting attacks to its partner. This strategy not only preserves Shedinja but can significantly shift the momentum in battle.
3) Miraidon Hyper Offense
Miraidon emerges as a powerhouse in Pokémon VGC, boasting impressive Dragon and Electric STAB moves while utilizing the Hadron Engine ability to establish Electric Terrain, amplifying its Electric-type attacks. With a staggering base 135 Special Attack, Miraidon serves as a primary offensive threat designed to dominate opponents within the current meta.
Support Pokémon like Farigiraf, utilizing its Armor Tail ability, can prevent priority moves such as Fake Out from disrupting Miraidon’s assault. Additionally, Whimsicott’s Encore can hinder opponents from attacking multiple times, while Fire-type Pokémon like Volcarona and Chi-Yu effectively counter Rillaboom, who threatens to replace Electric Terrain with Grassy Terrain.
4) Terastallized Calyrex Shadow
Calyrex Shadow stands out as a fearsome setup sweeper, aiming to amplify its already impressive 165 Special Attack stat by two stages utilizing Nasty Plot. Subsequently, it can unleash a barrage of STAB Astral Barrage, a powerful 120 BP Ghost-type move that hits both opposing Pokémon, challenging even the most resistant foes.
The tactical use of Terastallization primarily focuses on defense, allowing variants such as Tera Fairy to absorb attacks from Urshifu Single Strike effectively. Alternatively, Tera Normal Calyrex Shadow can gain immunity from rival Calyrex’s Astral Barrage, enabling team configuration flexibility.
5) Armarouge Variants
Despite appearing unremarkable at first glance, Armarouge’s adaptability is what renders it a threatening contender in Pokémon VGC. It has two distinct sets that, at first sight, can easily confuse opponents, significantly impacting match outcomes.
One approach involves setting up a Trick Room with Indedee-F’s Psychic Surge ability, allowing Armarouge to strike powerfully with Expanding Force—boosted to 120 BP in Psychic Terrain. Conversely, the second set leverages its Weak Armor ability, which increases its Speed by two stages following a physical hit. This can be coupled with a Weakness Policy to amplify its Attack and Special Attack when hit by a super effective move that doesn’t result in a knockout.
The cumulative impact can lead to an extraordinarily potent Stored Power move, which becomes increasingly powerful with each stat boost, aided further by Indeedee-F supporting its Psychic-type attack, exponentially increasing Armarouge’s threat level and allowing it to dismantle opponents rapidly.