VG Masters Division Top-8 Teams

Shoma Honami (Japan)

World Champion

Reminiscent of a popular strategy from 2013, Shoma used Cresselia's Trick Room to help accelerate
Amoonguss, who in turn used Rage Powder and Spore to protect Heatran. Amoonguss also uses Sunny
Day to increase Heatrans damage (in 2013 Tyranitar served this purpose). Shomas tricky Thundurus is
set up very defensively by holding Safety Goggles and knowing Protectperhaps a counter to the many
Amoonguss Shoma expected to face.

Kangaskhan

Normal

Moves:

Return
Low Kick
Sucker Punch
Fake Out

Nature:

Adamant

Kangaskhanite

Scrappy

Held Item:
Ability:

Heatran
Fire / Steel

Moves:

Protect
Substitute
Heat Wave
Earth Power

Nature:

Modest

Shuca Berry

Flash Fire

Held Item:
Ability:

Thundurus
Electric / Flying - Incarnate Forme

Moves:

Protect
Thunderbolt
Thunder Wave
Swagger

Nature:

Timid

Safety Goggles

Prankster

Held Item:
Ability:

Landorus

Ground / Flying - Therian Forme

Moves:

Rock Slide
Earthquake
Knock Of
Superpower

Nature:

Jolly

Assault Vest

Intimidate

Held Item:
Ability:

Cresselia
Psychic

Moves:

Protect
Psychic
Ice Beam
Trick Room

Nature:

Quiet

Sitrus Berry

Levitate

Held Item:
Ability:

Amoonguss
Grass / Poison

Moves:

Rage Powder
Spore
Energy Ball
Sunny Day

Nature:

Relaxed

Rocky Helmet

Regenerator

Held Item:
Ability:
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Hideyuki Taida (Japan)

Runner Up

We see a bunch of rather common Pokmon on Hideyukis team, but he put his own twist on them to
throw his opponents off guard. Aegislash with Shadow Sneak is a good example, a surprising Ghost-type
Physical move that has increased priority to steal Knock Outs.

Cresselia
Psychic

Moves:
Psychic

 Hidden Power
Icy Wind
Trick Room

Nature:

Modest

Sitrus Berry

Levitate

Held Item:
Ability:

Aegislash
Steel / Ghost - Shield Forme

Moves:

Shadow Ball
Shadow Sneak
King's Shield
Flash Cannon

Nature:

Relaxed

Weakness Policy

Stance Change

Held Item:
Ability:

Volcarona
Bug / Fire

Moves:

Flamethrower
Quiver Dance
Protect
Giga Drain

Nature:

Modest

Rocky Helmet

Flame Body

Held Item:
Ability:

Thundurus
Electric / Flying - Incarnate Forme

Moves:

Thunderbolt

Hidden Power
Taunt
Protect

Nature:

Timid

Life Orb

Prankster

Held Item:
Ability:

Kangaskhan
Normal

Moves:

Return
Protect
Sucker Punch
Power-Up Punch

Nature:

Adamant

Kangaskhanite

Scrappy

Held Item:
Ability:

Landorus
Ground / Flying - Therian Forme

Moves:

Earthquake
Rock Slide
Superpower
Protect

Nature:

Adamant

Focus Sash

Intimidate

Held Item:
Ability:
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Yosuke Isagi (Japan)

Semifinalist

Yosuke became the top-seeded player heading to the top cut thanks to a clear strategy and smart play.
He used Kangaskhans Fake Out to give either of his two Steel-type Pokmon the opportunity to use
Substitute. Helping Hand is more popular in Japan than anywhere else, so while Japanese players would
likely expect to see Sylveon know it, it probably surprised (and frustrated) many other players in the field.

Thundurus
Electric / Flying - Incarnate Forme

Moves:

Thunderbolt
Hidden Power
Thunder Wave
Protect

Nature:

Bold

Sitrus Berry

Prankster

Held Item:
Ability:

Landorus
Ground / Flying - Therian Forme

Moves:

Earthquake
Rock Slide
Superpower
Protect

Nature:

Jolly

Life Orb

Intimidate

Held Item:
Ability:

Kangaskhan
Normal

Moves:

Fake Out
Return
Low Kick
Sucker Punch

Nature:

Adamant

Kangaskhanite

Inner Focus

Held Item:
Ability:

Sylveon
Fairy

Moves:

Hyper Voice
Helping Hand
Quick Attack
Detect

Nature:

Modest

Pixie Plate

Pixilate

Held Item:
Ability:

Heatran
Fire / Steel

Moves:

Heat Wave
Earth Power
Substitute
Protect

Nature:

Timid

Shuca Berry

Flash Fire

Held Item:
Ability:

Aegislash
Steel / Ghost - Shield Forme

Moves:

Shadow Ball
Substitute
Wide Guard
King's Shield

Nature:

Modest

Leftovers

Stance Change

Held Item:
Ability:
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Naohito Mizobuchi (Japan)

Semifinalist

Entei stands out on Naohitos team, a seldom seen option to fill the Fire-type role, but it was highly
effective. Its the only Fire-type Pokmon in the format that knows the powerful Sacred Fire move. With a
50% Burn chance (which also halves its targets Attack), it allows Entei to continue to dish out big damage
while impairing the other teams Physical attackers.

Kangaskhan
Normal

Moves:

Fake Out
Frustration
Low Kick
Protect

Nature:

Brave

Kangaskhanite

Scrappy

Held Item:
Ability:

Cresselia
Psychic

Moves:

Psychic
Ice Beam
Trick Room
Protect

Nature:

Quiet

Sitrus Berry

Levitate

Held Item:
Ability:

Entei
Fire

Moves:

Sacred Fire
Stone Edge
Substitute
Protect

Nature:

Adamant

Leftovers

Pressure

Held Item:
Ability:

Landorus
Ground / Flying - Therian Forme

Moves:

Rock Slide
Earthquake
Superpower
Protect

Nature:

Jolly

Yache Berry

Intimidate

Held Item:
Ability:

Aegislash
Steel / Ghost - Shield Forme

Moves:

Shadow Ball
Flash Cannon
Shadow Sneak
King's Shield

Nature:

Quiet

Life Orb

Stance Change

Held Item:
Ability:

Amoonguss
Grass / Poison

Moves:

Spore
Rage Powder
Sludge Bomb
Protect

Nature:

Relaxed

Rocky Helmet

Regenerator

Held Item:
Ability:
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Lajos Woltersdorf (Germany)

Top 8

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Daichi Kumabe (Japan)

Top 8

Daichis team is one of the more traditional Trick Room teams, with more sluggish Pokmon such as
Tyranitar and Amoonguss taking advantage of the move. Once Trick Room is in effect, Daichi can also
use his Heatran to hit with an Ice-type Hidden Power, as well as a handful of powerful moves from his
usually slower Pokmon. On games where its not as advantageous to set up Trick Room, he can rely on
Landorus Rock Tomb and Thundurus Thunder Wave attacks to control his opponents Speed.

Gardevoir
Psychic / Fairy

Moves:

Hyper Voice
Psychic
Trick Room
Protect

Nature:

Modest

Gardevoririte

Trace

Held Item:
Ability:

Landorus
Ground / Flying - Therian Forme

Moves:

Earthquake
Rock Slide
Knock Of
Rock Tomb

Nature:

Adamant

Assault Vest

Intimidate

Held Item:
Ability:

Heatran
Fire / Steel

Moves:

Heat Wave
Earth Power
Hidden Power
Protect

Nature:

Modest

Shuca Berry

Flash Fire

Held Item:
Ability:

Thundurus
Electric / Flying - Incarnate Forme

Moves:

Thunderbolt
Thunder Wave
Swagger
Protect

Nature:

Modest

Sitrus Berry

Prankster

Held Item:
Ability:

Tyranitar
Rock / Dark

Moves:

Rock Slide
Crunch
Low Kick
Protect

Nature:

Adamant

Life Orb

Sand Stream

Held Item:
Ability:

Amoonguss
Grass / Poison

Moves:

Giga Drain
Spore
Rage Powder
Protect

Nature:

Bold

Rocky Helmet

Regenerator

Held Item:
Ability:
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Daiki Moriyama (Japan)

Top 8

Speed control is usually viewed as one of the most important aspects in top-level play, but Daiki made the
top 8 without a single way to control speed. The one minor exception is Tyranitar holding Choice Scarf to
help it overcome its natural slowness. Daikis Cresselia is especially interestinga four attack Pokmon
without the typical moves to support its team that were used to seeing, such as Trick Room and Helping
Hand.

Cresselia
Psychic

Moves:

Psychic
Ice Beam
Hidden Power
Moonblast

Nature:

Modest

Sitrus Berry

Levitate

Held Item:
Ability:

Kangaskhan
Normal

Moves:

Return
Power-Up Punch
Sucker Punch
Fake Out

Nature:

Adamant

Kangaskhanite

Scrappy

Held Item:
Ability:

Tyranitar
Rock / Dark

Moves:

Rock Slide
Crunch
Ice Punch
Superpower

Nature:

Jolly

Choice Scarf

Sand Stream

Held Item:
Ability:

Landorus
Ground / Flying - Therian Forme

Moves:

Earthquake
Rock Slide
Superpower
Knock Of

Nature:

Jolly

Assault Vest

Intimidate

Held Item:
Ability:

Heatran
Fire / Steel

Moves:

Heat Wave
Earth Power
Substitute
Protect

Nature:

Timid

Shuca Berry

Flash Fire

Held Item:
Ability:

Amoonguss
Grass / Poison

Moves:

Giga Drain
Spore
Rage Powder
Protect

Nature:

Sassy

Rocky Helmet

Regenerator

Held Item:
Ability:
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Hayato Takahashi (Japan)

Top 8

Hayato didnt follow the trend of giving Kangaskhan Fake Out, instead going with Protect to help it stay on
the field longer. Its teammates Amoonguss and Scrafty helped protect Kangaskhan through a mixture of
Rage Powder and Fake Out while it built up its Attack with Power-Up Punch. His Cresselia has the usual
Trick Room, but also knows the uncommon Hidden Power to give it some offensive oomph.

Kangaskhan
Normal

Moves:

Return
Power-Up Punch
Sucker Punch
Protect

Nature:

Adamant

Kangaskhanite

Inner Focus

Held Item:
Ability:

Scrafty
Dark / Fighting

Moves:

Drain Punch
Knock Of
Ice Punch
Fake Out

Nature:

Brave

Assault Vest

Intimidate

Held Item:
Ability:

Heatran
Fire / Steel

Moves:

Heat Wave
Earth Power
Substitute
Protect

Nature:

Timid

Leftovers

Flash Fire

Held Item:
Ability:

Amoonguss
Grass / Poison

Moves:

Spore
Rage Powder
Giga Drain
Protect

Nature:

Sassy

Rocky Helmet

Regenerator

Held Item:
Ability:

Cresselia
Psychic

Moves:

Psychic
Icy Wind
Hidden Power
Trick Room

Nature:

Modest

Sitrus Berry

Levitate

Held Item:
Ability:

Landorus
Ground / Flying - Therian Forme

Moves:

Earthquake
Rock Slide
U-turn
Protect

Nature:

Jolly

Life Orb

Intimidate

Held Item:
Ability:
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