You’re staring at the team preview screen and there it is. Calyrex-Shadow Rider. Again. If you’ve spent any time on the ladder recently, you know that restricted pokemon reg g has completely flipped the script on how we play VGC. It isn’t just about having high stats anymore; it’s about managing the sheer, unadulterated power creep that comes when the "big dogs" are allowed back into the yard. Regulation G changed the rules by allowing a single Restricted Pokémon on your team of six. One. That’s it. It sounds simple, but that one slot carries the weight of your entire win-loss record.
I’ve seen players go from Master Ball tier to struggling in Great Ball just because they didn't respect the Calyrex-Ice matchup. It's brutal.
The Restricted Pokemon Reg G Meta: Power vs. Consistency
Most people think you just slap a Miraidon on a team and click Electro Drift until you win. Honestly, I wish it were that easy. The reality of restricted pokemon reg g is that because you only get one "god-tier" Pokémon, the four non-restricted Pokémon you actually bring to a battle have to work twice as hard. They aren't just support; they are bodyguards. They are the secret sauce that keeps your Restricted from getting blown up by a Choice Scarf Urshifu or a well-timed Tera Ghost.
Take Terapagos, for example. When it first dropped, everyone thought it was unstoppable because of its Tera Shell ability. But then the meta adapted. People realized that if you just chip it with a Fake Out or some weather damage, that shell breaks. Now, the best players are using it with heavy redirection like Clefairy or Ogerpon-Wellspring. It's a game of cat and mouse. You're trying to keep your nuke alive while the opponent is trying to defuse it before it even goes off.
The sheer variety of viable restricted Pokémon right now is actually kind of wild. We went from the "big two" (usually Groudon and Kyogre in older formats) to a landscape where Zamazenta—yes, the shield dog everyone used to laugh at—is a top-tier threat. Body Press off a Dauntless Shield boost is no joke. It's tanky, it's fast, and it ignores a lot of the Intimidate cycles that usually plague physical attackers.
✨ Don't miss: Duck Hunting Hangout NYT: Why This Specific Clue Stumps Everyone
Why Calyrex-Shadow Rider Rules the Roost
If we’re being real, Calyrex-Shadow Rider is the undisputed king of restricted pokemon reg g. Its signature move, Astral Barrage, hits both opponents with 120 base power and has no drawbacks. No accuracy checks. No stat drops. Just pure ghost-type carnage. Its ability, As One, combines Unnerve with Grim Neigh, meaning your opponent can't eat their Sitrus Berries and Calyrex gets a Special Attack boost every time it picks up a KO.
It snowballs. Fast.
But it’s not invincible. Dark-types are everywhere because of it. Incineroar remains the most used Pokémon in the history of the format for a reason. It cycles Intimidate, it has Fake Out, and it resists those nasty Ghost moves. But even Incineroar has to be careful. A Tera Fairy Draining Kiss from Calyrex can turn the tables in a heartbeat. That’s the beauty and the frustration of Reg G; the guessing game starts at the Teambuilder and doesn't end until the "Game Over" screen.
Breaking Down the "Big Three" Matchups
You’re going to see these three constantly. If your team doesn't have a plan for them, you're basically donating points to the ladder.
1. Miraidon and the Electric Terrain Menace
Miraidon is fast. Like, faster than almost everything else fast. Its Hadron Engine ability sets Electric Terrain and gives it a massive Special Attack boost. If you aren't running Rillaboom to overwrite that terrain with Grassy Surge, you're going to have a bad time. I’ve seen Miraidon OHKO (One Hit Knock Out) neutral targets through Light Screen just because the terrain boost is that significant. Ground-types like Ursaluna-Bloodmoon are the natural check, but even then, a Tera Drift can hurt.
💡 You might also like: Wordle Hint March 28: Why Today’s Word Is Tricky and How to Solve It
2. The Calyrex-Ice Trick Room Engine
While Shadow Rider goes fast, Ice Rider goes slow. Very slow. It uses Trick Room to move first and then spams Glacial Lance. It’s arguably more "unstoppable" than the Shadow version because it's so bulky. You can’t just priority-move it into oblivion. You have to stall out the Trick Room turns, which is easier said than done when a giant frozen horse is trying to impale your entire team. Porygon2 and Farigiraf are its best friends here, providing the setup and protection it needs to sweep.
3. Terapagos and the Stellar Phenomenon
Terapagos is the "new kid" on the block. Its Stellar Forme changes the math of the game. It gets a massive HP boost and its Tera Starstorm hits both targets. Unlike other Pokémon, Terapagos wants to Tera every single game. This makes it predictable, sure, but it also makes it incredibly sturdy. You have to play a very methodical game against Terapagos—chip damage, status, and smart positioning.
The Support Cast: Who Actually Wins the Games?
Let's talk about the unsung heroes. You can't just talk about restricted pokemon reg g without mentioning the supports. Whimsicott is back in a huge way because Tailwind is mandatory to keep up with the speed tiers. If you’re not moving first, you’re losing. Amoonguss is still a nightmare with Spore and Rage Powder. Honestly, I hate playing against Amoonguss. It feels like every time I have a winning play, that mushroom just puts my Restricted to sleep and the game is over.
Then there's Smeargle. Yeah, the sketch artist is back. It’s using Moody to get random stat boosts and clicking Follow Me or Spore. It’s annoying. It’s inconsistent. But in a best-of-one ladder environment, it’s effective enough to ruin your day.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Reg G
A lot of players treat Reg G like it's a standard format where you can just out-value the opponent over 10 turns. You can't. The damage output is too high.
- Don't hold your Tera too long. In Reg G, you often need to Tera defensively on turn one just to survive a Choice Specs Tera-boosted attack. If your Restricted faints, the game is usually over.
- Respect the "Wide Guard" users. Moves like Astral Barrage, Glacial Lance, and Water Spout are all spread moves. One Wide Guard from an Araquanid or a Mienshao can completely waste your turn.
- Neglecting Speed Control. Even the bulkiest Pokémon can't take two or three hits from a Restricted. You need Tailwind, Icy Wind, or Trick Room. If you're playing mid-speed without control, you're playing on hard mode.
The jump from two restricteds (which we've had in the past) to just one is a massive shift. It makes the game feel more centered on "Protect the King" styles of play. It’s intense. It’s high-stakes. One wrong read and your Kyogre is gone, and suddenly your Incineroar and Rillaboom are looking very lonely against a full-health Zacian.
💡 You might also like: Why Dragon Quest IX Sentinels of the Starry Skies is still the series high point for many
Actionable Next Steps for Mastering Reg G
If you want to actually climb the ladder and not just bounce around the bottom tiers, you need a process.
First, pick your Restricted based on your playstyle, not just what's top of the usage charts. If you like fast, aggressive games, go Miraidon or Calyrex-Shadow. If you prefer a slow, methodical grind, look at Zamazenta or Calyrex-Ice. Don't try to force a playstyle that doesn't click with you.
Second, build your "Core Four." These are the non-restricted Pokémon that cover your Restricted's weaknesses. If you're running Kyogre, you need something to handle Rillaboom and Regieleki. Tornadus is a classic partner for a reason—it sets rain manually if needed and provides Tailwind support.
Third, practice your leads. In restricted pokemon reg g, the first two turns often decide the winner. Use a simulator like Pokémon Showdown to run through the first three turns of a match against the most common threats. See what happens when they lead Incineroar/Scream Tail against your Miraidon/Whimsicott. Do you have a safe switch? Do you have to protect?
Finally, watch the pros. Check out players like Wolfe Glick or Aaron "Cybertron" Zheng. They explain their thought processes in real-time. Notice how they prioritize keeping their Restricted healthy. They rarely take unnecessary risks with their big hitter until the opponent's main threats are cleared out.
Reg G is a fast, punishing, and exhilarating format. It rewards deep knowledge of damage calcs and punishes "autopilot" play. Get out there, find your King, and build a kingdom that can actually survive an Astral Barrage. You've got this.