How to build a VGC team
A good VGC team is not six strong Pokémon thrown together: it is six that cover each other. This is how to build one from the core to the last slot, using tournament data so you are not guessing.
Start with a core of two
Pick two Pokémon that help each other: one that sets things up and one that takes advantage of it, or two that cover each other's weaknesses. In Cores you see which pairs are played the most and which win the most, with their number of teams.
Cover the basic roles
Almost every winning team has four things: some speed control (Tailwind, Trick Room or a very fast Pokémon), something that disrupts turn one such as Fake Out or Intimidate, a Pokémon that can take hits and enough damage to close games. Check that your team has at least one answer for each.
Check the team's weaknesses
If three of your six Pokémon are weak to the same type, a single opponent wins the game. The teambuilder shows which types the whole team is weak to and what it resists, and suggests partners that fill those gaps based on real teams.
Tune the sets with data
For each Pokémon, start from its most played set and only change what has a reason. The Pokédex tells you which items, abilities and moves are used and their win rate, so you know whether your idea is new or has already been tried and does not work.
Spend speed on purpose
Speed stat points decide who moves first. Look up in Speed Tiers who you want to outspeed and put in exactly the points you need; the rest goes to HP or attack. One extra Speed point can win a tie and one too few can cost you the game.
Test it and compare
Play the team and write down what you lose to. In Matchups you see how each Pokémon does against the most played ones in real tournaments, and with the calculator you check whether a stat point change lets you survive that hit that always knocks you out.
Frequently asked questions
Should I copy a team or build my own?
To start, copy one from a tournament. Once you understand why it works, swap pieces and you will end up with a team of your own.
What is a core in VGC?
A pair or trio of Pokémon played together because they complement each other. The most played cores and their win rate are in the Cores section.
How many different types does a team need?
There is no fixed rule, but no single attacking type should knock out half the team. Check the teambuilder's weakness table before you lock it in.
More guides
01 · 6 min readHow to start playing VGC, step by step
From your first team to your first tournament in eight steps.
Read the guide
02 · 5 min readWhat is VGC: competitive Pokémon explained
Doubles, level 50, stat points and best-of-three games.
Read the guide
05 · 5 min readHow to do damage calcs in VGC
If I attack, do I KO? And if it attacks, do I survive?
Read the guideTry it with real data
Every infovgc tool is free and built on the public team lists of Pokémon Champions tournaments.
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