The 2024 Pokémon VGC Japanese National Championships took place on 1–2 June and Victory Road compiled a list of the top 64 teams as well as some teams from the Juniors and Seniors division. For this post, I’ll focus on the Masters division and pick some of my favourites.
Kiwamu Endo’s team (finished 2nd)
Team: Raging Bolt, Urshifu Rapid-Strike, Ogerpon Cornerstone, Calyrex-Ice, Iron Valiant, Pelipper
The thing that stood out to me the most was the Iron Valiant, which I’ve not seen outside of ladder. It’s a strong offensive option with massive speed and a great movepool but often gets left out due to its frailty. Endo didn’t actually bring it out in any of the matches that I saw on stream but maybe someone from the West will see its potential and start piloting it to success?
Another interesting pick was Ogerpon with the Cornerstone Mask. It’s a solid defensive Pokémon but it can be hard to navigate with so many weaknesses to the most common types in the format. It also has Sturdy which acts as a in-built Focus Sash so it’ll always survives on 1HP if the opposing attack was going to KO it.
Hideo U. also used this team in the Junior division to finish 2nd.
Junya Suzuki’s team (finished joint 5th)
Team: Dawn Wings Necrozma, Hisuian Lilligant, Torkoal, Ursaluna, Gallade, Indeedee-F
Junya had an interesting restricted pick in Dawn Wings Necrozma with a Quiet nature, to boost it’s Special Attack and reduce its Speed, and Trick Room to make use of that Speed decrease. The Liligant-Torkoal pairing was an annoying combo on Showdown when it was popular in Reg D and it’s cool to have seen it here in Reg G. Finally, another Ralts relative to point out but this time it’s Gallade with Psycho Cut, Sacred Sword, Wide Guard, and Trick Room. These players are cooking!
Yoichiro Kurogi’s team (Top 64)
Team: Kyogre, Tsareena, Hisuian Goodra, Urshifu, Landorus, Iron Jugulis
I’ve seen Tsareena pop up from time to time, both on ladder and on stream at regionals, but not Hisuian Goodra since its brief heyday in Reg D. Unfortunately, there isn’t a Poképaste here but its typing and defensive stats makes it a good switch-in option to a variety of restricteds such as Calyrex-Ice, Terapagos, and Miraidon.
Honourable mentions
Shout outs to some other teams in the Top 64 including:
- Tomoya Kimura using Iron Crown (without Indeedee-F) alongside Calyrex-Shadow
- Yuta Ishigaki with another Iron Valiant
- Hirofumi Kimura with Iron Treads
- Kengo Hirata with Groudon and Bronzong
- Yasumitsu Hama with Sneasler
- Yuhei Otani with Maushold
- Yuki Shimizu with Archaludon, Whimsicott, and Terrakion (I know a dual Beat Up strat when I see it!)
- Takehiro Nakata with Mimikyu
- Kentaro Matsumoto with two Forces of Nature: Tornadus and Landorus
- Kento Sato with Ting-Lu and Volcarona
- Masahiro Ito with Iron Bundle, paired with Miraidon to get a free Quark Drive boost
- Daiju Tamura with Iron Boulder, paired with Indeedee-F for an alternative version of Psyspam
- Genki Miyahara with Smeargle and Hatterene
- Kazuki Ogushi with yet another Iron Valiant and a Clefairy
I’ll be very interested to see what the Japanese players bring to Worlds in August.
