I am posting this here for everyone's convenience. I'll probably be staffing at the US VGC Nationals again since I have the past couple years so you are free to ask me any question and I'll do my best to get you an answer.
5. Standard Format Style
All sanctioned Pokémon video game tournaments require players to assemble a team of Pokémon, with items, prior to the start of the event. The standard format style for all PLAY! Pokémon tournaments is Double Battle.
5.1. Double Battle
In Double Battles, each player selects four Pokémon from his or her party of six to battle with. At the start of the battle, players send out the first two Pokémon in their party, making a total of four Pokémon on the battlefield. Game play continues until a player knocks out all four of his or her opponent’s Pokémon.
6. Standard Team Construction Rules
When building a team for a PLAY! Pokémon tournament, all players must adhere to these standard construction rules.
A player’s team cannot contain two Pokémon with the same Pokédex number
Each Pokémon on a player’s team can hold an item, though no two Pokémon may hold the same item
A player’s team cannot contain two Pokémon with the same nickname
A player’s team cannot contain a Pokémon nicknamed with the name of another Pokémon (for example, an Unfezant named “Pidove”)
Pokémon may only use moves that have been learned through one of the following methods:
o By leveling up
o By TM or HM
o As an Egg move, through breeding
o From a character in the game
o A move already known by a Pokémon received at an official Pokémon event or promotion
7. Sanctioned Format
Pokémon Organized Play supports one format for sanctioned play: Modified. Sanctioned events are listed on the POP website, and the results are reported to POP after the event concludes.
7.1. Modified Format
The Modified format is the standard tournament format for PLAY! Pokémon video game events. This format will be used at all premier events unless specified otherwise. The Modified format for the 2011–2012 season will use the following restrictions:
12
Pokémon Organized Play Tournament Formats
Rev: September 1st, 2011
Only Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version Game Cards are permitted for use.
Players may use Pokémon from the National Pokédex, from No. 001–646, that are caught in the game, transferred from a previous Pokémon title, or received at an official event or distribution
The following Pokémon may not be on a player’s team:
o 150 – Mewtwo
o 151 – Mew
o 249 – Lugia
o 250 – Ho-Oh
o 251 – Celebi
o 382 – Kyogre
o 383 – Groudon
o 384 – Rayquaza
o 385 - Jirachi
o 386 – Deoxys
o 483 – Dialga
o 484 – Palkia
o 487 – Giratina
o 489 – Phione
o 490 – Manaphy
o 491 – Darkrai
o 492 – Shaymin
o 493 – Arceus
o 494 – Victini
o 643 – Reshiram
o 644 – Zekrom
o 646 – Kyurem
Pokémon must be placed in the Battle Box.
Pokémon above level 50 are permitted, but they are auto-leveled down to 50 for the duration of battle.
Pokémon may not know the moves Sky Drop or Dark Void.
The Wonder Launcher cannot be used during battle.
Legality Issues:
-The only thing we check is your Battle Box. We don't check your party or your regular boxes.
-If you didn't obtain the Pokemon from an official event or through normal game play, we can't guarantee it will pass a game check.
-You are responsible for the Pokemon in your battle box. If you traded for them and they don't pass a check for one reason or another, you are the one responsible. Trading for a Pokemon is a risk you are taking if you aren't going to catch and raise the Pokemon yourself.
-If a Pokemon has a move that is banned from the competition such as Sky Drop, the data we send your game when you register will not allow you to even register. If a Pokemon is banned, such as Victini, you also will not be able to register.
5. Standard Format Style
All sanctioned Pokémon video game tournaments require players to assemble a team of Pokémon, with items, prior to the start of the event. The standard format style for all PLAY! Pokémon tournaments is Double Battle.
5.1. Double Battle
In Double Battles, each player selects four Pokémon from his or her party of six to battle with. At the start of the battle, players send out the first two Pokémon in their party, making a total of four Pokémon on the battlefield. Game play continues until a player knocks out all four of his or her opponent’s Pokémon.
6. Standard Team Construction Rules
When building a team for a PLAY! Pokémon tournament, all players must adhere to these standard construction rules.
A player’s team cannot contain two Pokémon with the same Pokédex number
Each Pokémon on a player’s team can hold an item, though no two Pokémon may hold the same item
A player’s team cannot contain two Pokémon with the same nickname
A player’s team cannot contain a Pokémon nicknamed with the name of another Pokémon (for example, an Unfezant named “Pidove”)
Pokémon may only use moves that have been learned through one of the following methods:
o By leveling up
o By TM or HM
o As an Egg move, through breeding
o From a character in the game
o A move already known by a Pokémon received at an official Pokémon event or promotion
7. Sanctioned Format
Pokémon Organized Play supports one format for sanctioned play: Modified. Sanctioned events are listed on the POP website, and the results are reported to POP after the event concludes.
7.1. Modified Format
The Modified format is the standard tournament format for PLAY! Pokémon video game events. This format will be used at all premier events unless specified otherwise. The Modified format for the 2011–2012 season will use the following restrictions:
12
Pokémon Organized Play Tournament Formats
Rev: September 1st, 2011
Only Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version Game Cards are permitted for use.
Players may use Pokémon from the National Pokédex, from No. 001–646, that are caught in the game, transferred from a previous Pokémon title, or received at an official event or distribution
The following Pokémon may not be on a player’s team:
o 150 – Mewtwo
o 151 – Mew
o 249 – Lugia
o 250 – Ho-Oh
o 251 – Celebi
o 382 – Kyogre
o 383 – Groudon
o 384 – Rayquaza
o 385 - Jirachi
o 386 – Deoxys
o 483 – Dialga
o 484 – Palkia
o 487 – Giratina
o 489 – Phione
o 490 – Manaphy
o 491 – Darkrai
o 492 – Shaymin
o 493 – Arceus
o 494 – Victini
o 643 – Reshiram
o 644 – Zekrom
o 646 – Kyurem
Pokémon must be placed in the Battle Box.
Pokémon above level 50 are permitted, but they are auto-leveled down to 50 for the duration of battle.
Pokémon may not know the moves Sky Drop or Dark Void.
The Wonder Launcher cannot be used during battle.
Legality Issues:
-The only thing we check is your Battle Box. We don't check your party or your regular boxes.
-If you didn't obtain the Pokemon from an official event or through normal game play, we can't guarantee it will pass a game check.
-You are responsible for the Pokemon in your battle box. If you traded for them and they don't pass a check for one reason or another, you are the one responsible. Trading for a Pokemon is a risk you are taking if you aren't going to catch and raise the Pokemon yourself.
-If a Pokemon has a move that is banned from the competition such as Sky Drop, the data we send your game when you register will not allow you to even register. If a Pokemon is banned, such as Victini, you also will not be able to register.
