The official Nintendo VGC 2014 rules have been released by Nintendo. A direct link to the PDF is below:
http://assets22.pokemon.com/assets/...14/Play_Pokemon_VG_Rules_and_Formats_2014.pdf
The most important changes and additions to the rules this year are:
Only Pokemon found in the Kalos dex are allowed
No Pokemon bred or caught in Generation 5 or before transferred with Pokebank will be legal to use, only "Native" Pokemon bred or caught in Pokemon X and Y are allowed
Mega-evolutions are allowed
Hidden abilities are allowed
I found a Reddit page that has a more or less complete list of Pokemon not in the Kalos dex:
http://www.reddit.com/r/pokemon/comments/1p6civ/list_of_pokémon_that_are_not_in_the_kalos_pokédex/
What does this mean for Doubles this year at the VGC? Please contribute your own feedback.
A metagame without Thundurus and company will be very different from year's past. Also, the lack of most of the other legendary pokemon will make for a much less offensive meta in general (no Terrakion OR Whimsicott for those that use Beat Up).
There will also be no Hitmontop, most starters except for Gen 1 and 6, and tons of others. If you are planning on playing Doubles VGC this year, check the pokemon on that list carefully!
I think the single biggest change this year will be the exclusion of Cresselia. Teams will no longer have to pack strong Bug/Dark/Ghost moves to take her down, which I think will allow for much more variety in team building besides Tyranitar plus 5.
http://assets22.pokemon.com/assets/...14/Play_Pokemon_VG_Rules_and_Formats_2014.pdf
The most important changes and additions to the rules this year are:
Only Pokemon found in the Kalos dex are allowed
No Pokemon bred or caught in Generation 5 or before transferred with Pokebank will be legal to use, only "Native" Pokemon bred or caught in Pokemon X and Y are allowed
Mega-evolutions are allowed
Hidden abilities are allowed
I found a Reddit page that has a more or less complete list of Pokemon not in the Kalos dex:
http://www.reddit.com/r/pokemon/comments/1p6civ/list_of_pokémon_that_are_not_in_the_kalos_pokédex/
What does this mean for Doubles this year at the VGC? Please contribute your own feedback.
A metagame without Thundurus and company will be very different from year's past. Also, the lack of most of the other legendary pokemon will make for a much less offensive meta in general (no Terrakion OR Whimsicott for those that use Beat Up).
There will also be no Hitmontop, most starters except for Gen 1 and 6, and tons of others. If you are planning on playing Doubles VGC this year, check the pokemon on that list carefully!
I think the single biggest change this year will be the exclusion of Cresselia. Teams will no longer have to pack strong Bug/Dark/Ghost moves to take her down, which I think will allow for much more variety in team building besides Tyranitar plus 5.
