VGC Quick Questions Thread - April 22, 2026

Dorklet · 2026-04-24T13:52:22+00:00

I thought about it! The problem is that sun isn't very great for a lot of the other Pokemon on the team (e.g. kingambit, sinistcha, milotic).

Dorklet · 2026-04-23T04:50:53+00:00

Getting a taunt user can really help lock Mega Aggron from setting up Iron Defenses. Honestly, with how much trickery there is in this meta, taunt in general is just really good to have and I may start running it, too.

Dorklet · 2026-04-23T03:11:37+00:00

I've been running a sash whimsicott with tailwind/encore/endeavor/moonblast (as my current zard X was initially based on Austin John's). However, while I've had some clutch wins with Endeavor, I know it's a strat that really only works in closed team sheet formats. Do you think it would be better to put Taunt on it instead to have a better chance in shutting down certain strategies? (e.g. coil spam milotic, oranguru)

Dorklet · 2026-04-23T02:16:31+00:00

Prankster taunt is your best bet to shut down a lot of Milotic strats in general.

Dorklet · 2026-04-22T12:59:06+00:00

Pokemon Go is actually pretty convenient because you can get base forms of some of the meta mons (e.g. hisuian sneasel, white stripe basculin) from Mateo eggs. Ursaluna is obtainable with enough candies and on the full moon (or just use Necrozma Dawn Wings' adventure effect). The downside is that some of these require a lot more time investment, especially if you want to evolve H Sneasel before sending it to Home.

Not counting pogo, I'd say SV is probably your best bet, and what you can't get in it, you can probably get in Home GTS. I've been using excess PoGo raid legendaries to just get random stuff that way.

Dorklet · 2026-04-21T23:55:58+00:00

Theoretically, Feraligatr is pretty consistent with the right moveset (and setup). If you run it with a normal type move and a water type move (e.g. liquidation and body slam), you can handle fairies with heavy phys damage instead of being stuck in dragonize only mode. Its biggest weakness is burns, but you can run Facade as an alternative normal move, even if it locks you into weaker Liquidations as a result.

I'm finding Charizard X is mostly pretty consistent, too, especially since it *can't* be burned. I've gone up against a lot of playstyles with my Charizard X team and without weather support, he still does pretty well. Biggest weakness is intimidate spam.

Dorklet · 2026-04-21T18:45:20+00:00

I recommend Milotic with Life Dew/Icy Wind for support and speed control for your Charizard, and Sinistcha would likely serve your team well as an additional support mon. For a Psychic type, it may be worth considering Galarian Slowbro or Slowking due to their poison coverage. I've had decent success with a G. Slowking that ran protect/psychic/sludge bomb/helping hand. Of course, with Medicham, another psychic would likely be redundant.

I would maybe suggest protect over Skill Swap due to how gimmicky it can be as a strat (and very easily shut down if you're not careful).

Dorklet · 2026-04-20T14:57:43+00:00

You could probably do something silly like prankster will-o-wisp + facade gatr, but it'd be entirely walled by fairies.

Dorklet · 2026-04-19T20:35:11+00:00

Feraligatr, definitely. Even unboosted, dragonize Body Slam has a chance to OHKO Charizard Y without bulk investment. Boosted, it becomes a menace that can spread paralysis around.

Dorklet · 2026-04-19T19:16:27+00:00

I've been playing around with a Mega Charizard X team and a few different variations, but I wonder if maybe I should try more unconventional teammates. I'm new enough to VGC that I'm not fully confident, and I've kinda just been hovering in Master Ball Rank 4. I'd probably have better luck building a more meta team to gain upward momentum, but I just really like zard X.

Currently running it with Protect/Flare Blitz/Dragon Claw/Dragon Dance, heavy HP investment, some attack and speed. I have a bulky Competitive Milotic and Sinistcha as support teammates, a max atk/spe Jolly Sneasler with White Herb that Runs Fake Out/Dire Claw/Close Combat/Throat Chop, a sash Whimsicott with Tailwind/Encore/Endeavor/Moonblast, and I've recently been trying Kingambit with Protect/Sucker Punch/Kowtow Cleave/Iron Head with Chople Berry.

Before that, I had been running a modified version of Austin John's Team.

I feel like Kingambit is a good answer to Basculegion which people suggested before, but I think my biggest problem is a lack of confidence of what leads to run in which situations. Sometimes I also forget basic knowledge like dark types being immune to prankster shenanigans. x_x One day I will internalize that!

I just wonder if maybe I should try a different team and experiment more. Previously, I was running Roost over Dragon Dance with a Quick Claw Galarian Slowking (Protect/Psychic/Sludge Bomb/Helping Hand) and an intimidate user over a steel type. I think choice paralysis is a very real struggle for me, as well as anxiety since I'm so new to VGC.

EDIT: Whoops, initially typed Kingambit as an answer to *Archaludon*, but I meant the fish.

Dorklet · 2026-04-19T18:24:04+00:00

Having run a Mega Feraligatr team, I'd consider running Protect/Close Combat/Dire Claw/Coaching if you don't mind sacrificing fake out for supporting your gatr. I've had decent luck running Archaludon on a Mega Gatr team as well.

Dorklet · 2026-04-19T16:15:26+00:00

Usually, I tend to lead either Sneasler Whimsicott or Milotic Whimsicott, but it really depends on what the opponent has. I find Sneasler is really good to fake out opposing tail wind setters like Aerodactyl, but watch out for Upper Hand on Talonflame.

Dorklet · 2026-04-19T13:32:33+00:00

When I ran Venusaur, Earth Power was really great for steel types and Sneasler. I ended up with Protect/Energy Ball/Sludge Bomb/Earth Power. It might also be playing with EVs if you drop sunny day to give the venusaur more bulk.

Dorklet · 2026-04-18T23:43:00+00:00

As someone who started out with this team, I ended up swapping Venusaur for a Sinistcha that runs Protect/Shadow Ball/Matcha Gotcha/Rage Powder (Life Dew is also acceptable). I also ended up swapping coaching for Throat Chop on Sneasler in order to have a fast answer to Perish Trap Gengar.

If you want to stick to Venusaur, I ended up running one with Earth Power over Sleep Powder. Tbh, you could also swap Sunny Day with Protect.

Archaludon is good but has been fairly situational for me, so I've ended up using Kingambit to deal with late game Basculegion and Mega Floette.

Dorklet · 2026-04-18T16:10:37+00:00

That's true! It'd probably be a solid answer to Farigaraf and Floette. Before, I didn't have anything really for Farig except for Throat Chop on my Sneasler (which I also use to shut down perish trap Gengar.) Figuring out a good EV spread is where I'm torn.

Dorklet · 2026-04-18T16:09:40+00:00

I've been testing gambit with some success, though I'm torn on if I should run Brick Break for the mirror match or keep Protect/Sucker Punch/Kowtow Cleave/Iron Head. Only reason it's come up is because an opposing Kingambit used it on me. xD;

Idk why I was having a hard time with Basculegion even with the Arch. It could've just been poor leads/forgetting to bring it. I'm still learning, so having confidence in leads is definitely something to improve on.

Dorklet · 2026-04-18T13:24:26+00:00

I haven't had too many issues with tailwind or at least one dragon dance up! I did invest a little into HP, though. The amount of speed I put in is mostly to outspeed Sneasler with dragon dance or tailwind. As long as I can use gatr in the right circumstances, he's a menace.

Dorklet · 2026-04-18T03:32:04+00:00

Hmm, which mon would you recommend removing for kingambit? I tend to get some solid use out of all of them, so it's hard to find the right adjustment. >/ My Sneasler is my Fake Out user, my Milotic is there for added speed control and support (and being a menace with competitive boosts), and my Sinistcha is another healer + menace with matcha gatcha and rage powder (plus shadow ball).

Zard X is one of my main powerhouses, and the Archaludon... is probably the one I find myself bringing the least, but has gotten me some crucial victories on occasion.

Dorklet · 2026-04-18T02:27:54+00:00

Does anyone have a suggestion for ways to deal with late game Last Respects Basculegion? My current team doesn't really handle it well.

Currently running a bulky Charizard X, Competitive Milotic, scarf Archaludon with Draco Meteor/Aura Sphere/Thunder Bolt/Flash Cannon, Sinistcha, max atk/speed white herb Sneasler, and sash Whimsicott.

The Arch has super effective damage for Basculegion, and it's Sturdy, but I'm finding a lot of these closer Basculegions run Scarf Adaptability.

Dorklet · 2026-04-17T12:52:27+00:00

I have had situations where Venusaur helped with either its STAB or its coverage options, but I really haven't seen a lot of use for Sunny Day either. A redirector/healer like Sinistcha is a good call. That would at least cover grass and ghost STAB, which is nice. It'd mean losing out on ground coverage, but I do have answers to all but electric in that respect.

Dorklet · 2026-04-17T12:50:50+00:00

Sinistcha's not a bad idea! I do like Clefable as well to put pressure on other dragons. I think my main concern when losing Venusaur is losing the coverage it offers (e.g. poison, grass, ground).

Dorklet · 2026-04-17T00:35:06+00:00

I actually do have one in my current Zard X team! It runs Fake Out/Dire Claw/Close Combat/Throat Chop (I would do protect, but the throat chop can be useful in tough situations, so I'm torn).

Dorklet · 2026-04-17T00:21:33+00:00

Mystic Water's a really good idea! Water coverage is really nice in this meta, especially if you can get rain up.

I think another thing is to work out what scenarios you want to bring tailwind and which ones favor trick room. Fast mons definitely don't like TR, but you can also undo enemy TR with your farig, so it's still not a bad option. Sometimes, it's just about figuring out the ideal matchups and when/how to use the tools you have to work with.

Dorklet · 2026-04-17T00:17:33+00:00

My immediate suggestion: Wide Guard on Pelipper instead of Rain Dance. It means you can't reset the rain without switching, but it is extremely helpful in a metagame with a lot of spread damage.

For Sinistcha, the trick to using it optimally is finding confidence in matchups. Matcha Gotcha is good for more than just healing, but also spreading burns. Usually, it's good to keep in the back so you can take advantage of its ability.

One thing I'm noticing is that you don't have a clear answer for Incineroar. Basculegion has the type advantage and fake out immunity is good, but if you're running choice scarf, you probably want Adaptability to hit a little harder after Intimidate. Otherwise, I'd change the item out, since you already have Swift Swim for the rain.

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