Pokemon Scarlet and Violet VGC Regulation I Restricted Pokemon tier list (May 2025)

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet VGC Regulation I started from April 30, 2025 at 5:00 PDT and will be active until August 31, 2025 at 4:59 PDT. The difference between the latest VGC regulation and the previous Regulation G is that Regulation I will allow players to bring up to two Restricted Legendaries in a match. This includes several Box Art Legendaries; however, Mythical Pokemon remain banned.

With a wide selection of Pocket Monsters now available to players, it would make their decision-making process easier if they were investing in the best mons in the meta. This guide aims to provide a tier list of all the Restricted Pokemon that can be used in battle in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet VGC Regulation I.

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Pokemon Scarlet and Violet VGC Regulation I Restricted Tier List

S-Tier

Miraidon as seen in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (Image via The Pokemon Company)

These are the apex picks, with at least one of them being on your team as you go into a match. While it is possible to succeed without them, not using these mons will give you a serious handicap and your opponents a huge advantage.

• Miraidon
• Calyrex Ice Rider
• Crowned Shield Zamazenta

Miraidon from Pokemon Scarlet and Violet almost needs no introduction, owing to its raw power capable of deleting its opponents off the field. Calyrex Ice Rider is able to boost its attack with each mon it KOs and has the moves to do it with its signature Glacial Lance and coverage moves like Close Combat and High Horsepower.

As for Crowned Shield Zamazenta, it is the best support in the game while also working as an offensive option for its team.

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A-Tier

Koraidon as seen in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (Image via The Pokemon Company)

These are Legendaries who excel in their roles, capable of doing exactly what their team needs them to do. They have some flaws, but they are minor in comparison to what they bring to the team.

• Koraidon
• Calyrex Shadow Rider
• Lunala

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Koraidon is perhaps the strongest single-target physical attacker in the game, capable of one-shotting most things it goes up against.

Calyrex Shadow Rider’s Astral Barrage single-handedly justifies the inclusion of at least one Pokemon carrying Wide Guard, considering its sheer destructive power.

Lunala is the surprise here, outdoing even its Necrozma form. This is down to its sheer bulk and support capability through moves like Wide Guard, Trick Room, and Icy Wind.

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B-Tier

Kyogre as seen in the anime (Image via The Pokemon Company)

From this tier onward are the Restricted Pokemon that can be considered good in the meta. While they do have some flaws, with proper team support, they are decent picks.

• Kyogre
• Groudon
• Crowned Sword Zacian
• Terapagos

Crowned Sword Zacian is a powerful physical attacker who manages to handle being Intimidated due to getting a +1 boost to its Attack, though it's only useful for a single turn. As for the other three, they all have access to powerful spread moves but are walled effectively by Pokemon carrying Wide Guard.

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C-Tier

Dusk Mane Necrozma as seen in the anime (Image via The Pokemon Company)

These Restricted Pokemon have one or two useful traits that might be used to spring a surprise on an unsuspecting player, but are rarely worth the investment.

• Ho-Oh
• Rayquaza
• Origin Forme Dialga
• Origin Forme Palkia
• Dusk Mane Necrozma
• Dawn Wings Necrozma
• Eternatus

Ho-Oh has access to the ability Regenerator, which allows it to heal via switching out, but is otherwise mostly passive. Rayquaza and Dusk Mane Necrozma are powerful physical attackers, but in a metagame with Intimidate users like Incineroar, their value is a lot less.

In a similar vein, the rest of the Legendaries are powerful Special Attackers, but provide little else in the form of utility.

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D-Tier

Dialga as seen in the anime (Image via The Pokemon Company)

These Legendaries have either been power crept due to newer additions over the years, or their playstyle is more suited to the slower pace of the singles metagame.

• Mewtwo
• Lugia
• Dialga
• Palkia
• Giratina Origin
• Giratina Altered
• Zekrom
• Reshiram
• Kyurem Black
• Solgaleo

Mewtwo and Lugia have long since been outclassed despite their vast movepools, while Zekrom, Reshiram, Kyurem Black, and both Giratina forms have struggled to adjust to the faster pace of play despite their raw power.

As for Solgaleo, Dialga, and Palkia, they perform far poorly compared to their alternate forms and are usually not worth investing in.

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E-Tier

Cosmog as seen in the anime (Image via The Pokemon Company)

These Pokemon, despite being legal, have no value in the meta as they have either alternate forms or evolutions that are far superior choices.

• Cosmog
• Cosmoem
• Calyrex
• Kyurem
• Necrozma
• Zacian
• Zamazenta

Cosmog and Cosmoem are simply unviable, while the rest have better counterparts worth considering.