Teambuilding Necessities:
1. Speed Ctrl (TW and TR, a restricted for one or both - Lunala) Torn/Whim/etc for TW like possibly Ho Oh since bulky with no Prankster, Solgaleo/Lunala/etc for TR
2. Spore counters (Electric Terrain/Multihit move for Smeargle/Taunt/etc)
3. A few immune to Intimidate and Fake Out (Ghost/Tera Ghost/Inner Focus/Special Mons/etc)
4. Two Restricteds that work well together: (Groudon + Solgaleo, Lunala Miraidon, etc)
A - Amoonguss, Arc-H, Arceus forms*, Archaludon, Armarouge, Bloodmoon Ursaluna, Bronzong, Brute Bonnet, Calyrex forms, Chien Pao, Chi Yu, Clefairy, Conkelduer with flame orb, Darkrai*, Deoxys Speed*, Dialga forms, Ditto, DozoGiri, Drednaw, Empoleon, Empoleon, Excadrill, Farig, Gastrodon, Gholdengo, Glimmora, Gothitelle, Gouging Fire, Grimm, Hatterene, Heatran, Ho Oh, Hoopa*, Hoopa-U*, Indeedee F, Iron Boulder, Iron Bundle, Iron Hands, Iron Jugulis, Iron Treads, Kingambit, Koraidon, Kyogre, Lando-I and T, Maushold, Milotic, Ninetales-A, Okidogi, Pelipper, Politoed, Raging Bolt, Rayquaza?, Reshiram, Rhydon, Rilla, Roaring Moon, Sableye, Sandy Shocks, Scream Tail, Shaymin?*, Shiftry, Sinistcha, Slither Wing, Smeargle, Snorlax, Starraptor, Swampert, Sylveon, Talon, Tar, Terapagos, Thundurus (Prankster), Ting-Lu, Toedscreul?, Torkoal, Tsareena, Ursaluna, Urshifu Dark, Venusaur, Vikavolt, Volcanion*, Volcarona, WeezingG, Wo-Chien, Zacian, ZapdosG, Zekrom
B or below - Abomasnow, Appletun, Arcanine, Barraskewda, Basculegion, Baxcalibur, Blastoise, Braviary, Braviary-H, Breloom, Calyrex original, Cinderace, Coalossal, Cosmoem, Cosmog, Croak, Dragapult, Dragonite, Dusk Mane, Enamorus, Entei, Eternatus, Flamigo, Gallade, Garganacl, Gengar, Giratina (both forms with O being worse), Glastrier, Goodra, Great Tusk, Gyarados, Haxorus, Hitmontop, Houndstone, Hydrapple, Indeedee-M, Inteleon, Iron Crown, Iron Leaves, Iron Moth, Iron Thorns, Iron Valiant, Jumpluff, Kilowattrel, Kingdra, Kleavor, Kyurem all forms, Latios and Latias, Lilligant, Lugia, Lycanroc, Malamar, Medicham, Meowscarada, Metagross, Mew*,Mewtwo, Mimikyu, Necrozma, Necrozma Dawn Wings' form change, Ninetales-Original, Oranguru, Palafin, Palkia, Palkia-O, Perrserker, Pincurchin, Primarina, Raichu forms, Regi all forms, Regieleki, Reuniclus, Rhyperior, Sandslash forms, Sawbuck, Scizor, Slowking and Slowbro forms, Sneasler, Spectrier, Stonjourner, Suicune, Sunflora, Tauros Fire and Water forms, Terrakion, Thundurus (Defiant), Thundurus-T, Tropius, Virizion, Walking Wake, Wyrdeer, Zoroark both forms
Some reasoning behind all this: Some mons are outclassed generally by others, like Mewtwo vs Deoxys Speed. A restricted Pokemon takes up that limited slot so a nonrestricted that does about the same job is probably better. Some mons rey on something, like TR, to thrive like Ursaluna. Others simply are not great at anything but good overall like Volc. Unique abilities or moves or typing might set some mons apart, especially with decent stats. Generally slower Dragon mons than Miraidon and Koraidon aren't great since they lose the fight. Reg I is the same as J except no mythicals are allowed. Asterisk Pokemon won't be allowed in VGC 26. Kalos dex will be applied later in the VGC 26 season with the new version Z-A when the rules change (in 2026 and the game comes out on Oct 16th, 2025).
Possible good restricted combos:
Groudon or another ally Lunala but Meteor Beam is inaccurate
Groudon Calyrex Shadow but makes FM faster in Sun, test more
Miraidon Groudon but makes FM faster in Sun and the two don't have synergy
Kyogre Calyrex Shadow - Too Wide Guard weak
Miraidon Ogre - Ogre is too Wide Guard weak
Miraidon Lunala - great with e seed Lunala
Miraidon Calyrex Shadow - speed tie issue with shadow rider, not great synergy
Terapagos + Grimm or some kind of redirection mon
Possible good combos without 2 restricted:
Groudon Shiftry/Venusaur
Groudon Flutter Mane/Protosynthesis
Groudon Fire Type Attacker
Groudon Water Weak Ally like Ho Oh
Kyogre Tornadus with Rain Dance
Kyogre Zong Gravity
Miraidon Eseed Farig
Miraidon Quark Drive or Electric Attacker
Calyrex Shadow Fighting Mon Ally like Top
Chi Yu FM esp scarf chi yu
Chi Yu Special Restricted
Chien Pao Physical Restricted
FM Shadow Rider to counter dark mons that resist
