This was a google docs originally I made for Hugs when he was having trouble figuring out the differences in sets that VGC Pokemon run compared to singles. Excuse the poor grammar and puncutation since this was rushed very quickly but it has most of the popular and common Pokemon in VGC 2020 with a brief description, movesets, and common items. Also if anyone wants to learn how to teambuild in VGC check out this video
Gen 1
Charizard - Will usually be paired up to Sunny Day Whimsicott or a Drought user. Main items are Life Orb and Choice Specs that abuse a Solar Power set (1.5x Sp Atk in Sun but takes 10% of Hp every turn) Main moves involve Heat Wave, Solar Beam, Air Slash and Protect/Overheat. Life Orb sets like to Dynamax and abuse Max Airstream to gain a speed boost.
Butterfree - Almost always Focus Sash. They use Compound eyes Sleep Powder so they will always hit Sleep Powder. Common moves are Sleep Powder, Rage Powder, Pollen Puff (Bug Move that does damage but if used on their ally heals 50% of their hp like heal pulse) and either Protect/Hurricane. Very common on Hard Trick Room teams or set up teams
Raichu - Generally a Lightning rod support user with options of Fake Out, Nuzzle, Helping Hand, Feint (move that breaks through protect), and electric move either Thunderbolt, Volt Switch or sometimes Volt Tackle. Usually holds Focus Sash or Assault Vest.
Ninetales - Used as a Pokemon to set up the Sun with Drought. Common items are Focus Sash, Air Balloon and Life Orb. Common movesets usually involve Heat Wave, Solar Beam, Will-o-Wisp/Nasty Plot and Protect
Vileplume - Chlorophyll abuser in Sun. Almost always Focus Sash or Wide Lens. The 4 main moves that we typically see are Solar Beam/Energy Ball, Sludge Bomb, Sleep Powder and After You.
Arcanine - A Pokemon that can run many different sets from fast offensive to slow and bulky. It’s very difficult to judge which type of Arcanine it will be in Bo1. Common items involve Assault Vest, Sitrus/Figy Berry, Life Orb and Choice Band. Intimidate is the typical ability we see but if you see Arcanine and Whimsicott on the same team or if you don’t see Arcanine’s Intimidate activate, it will be Justified. They like to use Beat up with Whimsicott (a multihit Dark type attack that is based on the number of Pokemon alive you have which is 4 usually as they like to lead this combination as it will let Arcanine get 4 stages of increased attack) Offensive sets usually carry Flare Blitz, Play Rough/Close Combat, Wild Charge and Extreme Speed/Protect. Defensive sets will usually run Flare Blitz/Flamethrower, Will-o-Wisp, Snarl/Extreme Speed and Protect.
Weezing-Galarian - Usually a Pokemon with the ability Neutral Gas which negates the usage and effects of all abilities on the field. Typically will be either an offensive set or defensive set. They tend to like Sludge Bomb, Strange Steam, Dazzling Gleam/Will-o-Wisp/Taunt/Haze and Protect/Flamethrower/Fire Blast. Common items are usually a recovery item like Black Sludge, Sitrus Berry or Iapapa Berry or Assault Vest.
Gyarados - Very common Dragon Dance set up user or choice band set but in small cases is a support Pokemon or an Assault Vest set. We usually see both abilities with Intimidate and Moxie. Choice Band, Wacan Berry, Assault Vest, Sitrus Berry/Figy Berry and Life Orb are the common items. Gyarados will usually run Waterfall, Power Whip, Dragon Dance and Bounce/Earthquake/Stone Edge/Protect. It does get access to Thunder Wave and Taunt for support sets but they are rare.
Snorlax - Usually holding a Sitrus Berry/Figy Berry or in rare cases a choice band. If they have Figy Berry, they will be Gluttony but if they are Sitrus Berry or Choice Band, they will be Thick Fat. Snorlax usually run either Belly Drum or Curse sets. Typical move sets are Double Edge/Body Slam, Darkest Lariat/High Horsepower, Belly Drum/Curse and Protect/Recycle/Fire Punch/Heat Crash. It has a g-max which has a move called max replenish which is a max normal attack that gives it a 50% chance to recycle a berry.
Gen 2
Hitmontop - Mainly an Intimidate support user. Main items involve Eject Button, Figy Berry/Sitrus Berry and Assault Vest. Common moves are Close Combat, Fake Out, and then a mixture between Sucker Punch, Helping Hand, Wide guard, Feint, and Protect/Detect
Tyranitar - Almost always a weakness policy set. When it’s not, it will hold a choice scarf, assault vest or life orb. Will almost always have Rock Slide, Crunch and Protect with usually Superpower or sometimes Fire Punch/Dragon Dance.
Gen 3
Ludicolo - Typically a Swift Swim abuser paired next to Pelipper that likes to run Assault Vest or Life Orb/Choice Specs. Common moves are Hydro Pump/Scald, Leaf Storm/Energy Ball/Giga Drain, Ice Beam/Protect, and Fake Out.
Pelipper - Rain setter that likes to use Tailwind. Will almost always be Focus Sash with Scald/Brine/Hydro Pump, Hurricane, Tailwind and Protect.
Milotic - Mainly used as a bulky Water Type with Competitive to boost its Special Attack if it gets one of stats dropped (usually through Intimidate) Common items involve Leftovers or Sitrus/Wiki Berry but sometimes they like to have a surprise choice scarf. Usually will run Scald, Icy wind, Recover and Protect/Life Dew(Move that restores the user’s and its ally’s hp by 25%)/Helping Hand
Dusclops - Always an Eviolite Trick Room user that is very tanky. Common movesets involve Trick Room, Night Shade/Hex, Will-o-Wisp, and one of Bulldoze/Protect/Pain Split/Helping Hand/Haze/Ally Switch
Gen 4
Gastrodon - Storm Drain for its ability to redirect and single target water type attacks and boost its own SpAtk by +1. Generally runs a bulky set with Rindo Berry/Leftovers but sometimes will run Expert Belt/Life Orb. Common moves involve Earth Power and Recover with the last usually being a mixture of Scald/Muddy Water/Ice Beam/Protect.
Bronzong - Trick Room user that can run either Heatproof or Levitate to help out with one of its weaknesses. Will almost always run Trick Room and Gyro Ball/Iron Head with a mixture of Ally Switch/Protect/Body Press/Bulldoze/Hypnosis/Light Screen. Commonly holds Mental Herb, Sitrus Berry or Leftovers.
Lucario - Just like Arcanine, a justified user that is usually paired with Whimsicott that likes to Dynamax and do lots of damage. Otherwise will be an Inner Focus set (Ignore Intimidate and can’t be flinched). Usually a fast offensive attacker with Meteor Mash, Close Combat, Protect and either Bullet Punch/Extreme Speed and Protect. Common items are shuca berry, life orb, focus sash and choice scarf.
Rhyperior - Trick Room Sweeper that will almost always be Weakness Policy and Solid Rock for its ability. Mainy Trick Room users like to use Bulldoze to activate the weakness policy on Rhyperior. Common moves are Rock Slide, High Horsepower, Protect and Earthquake/Rock Wrecker(For Stronger Max Rockfall)/Fire Punch
Togekiss - Either one of two sets where its a bulky follow me user with Babirir Berry or Sitrus Berry or an offensive weakness policy set that likes to abuse dynamax bulk, activate policy and use Max Airstream to increase its speed. Common support Togekiss will use Air Slash, Dazzling Gleam, Yawn and Follow Me while offensive ones like to have Dazzling Gleam, Air Slash, Heat Wave/Flamethrower and Follow Me.
Rotom-Wash/Cut/Heat - Rotom is an extremely versatile Pokemon that can run many sets. They like to be offensive with Choice Scarf, Choice Specs and Life Orb or like to be bulky with Sitrus Berry/Wiki Berry and Leftovers. Offensive ones will generally have Signature Move, Thunderbolt, Volt Switch/Nasty Plot and Trick/Protect while defensive support ones will often have Signature Move, Thunderbolt/Volt Switch, Will-o-Wisp, Protect/Light Screen/Reflect.
Gen 5
Excadrill - If paired with Tyranitar will usually be Sand Rush otherwise will almost always be Mold Breaker. Strong attacker that likes to run Choice Band, Life Orb, Focus Sash and sometimes Assault Vest or Weakness Policy. Will generally run High Horsepower, Iron Head and Protect with Rock Slide/Earthquake/Swords Dance as its last move.
Conkeldurr - Slow Fighting type that runs either Iron Fist or Guts (usually with Flame Orb). Common items include Close Combat, Mach Punch, Drain Punch/Ice Punch/Thunder Punch/Poison Jab and Protect/Wide Guard. It likes to hold Assault Vest, Flame Orb, Sitrus/Figy Berry and Life Orb.
Whimsicott - Almost always a support Pokemon with Focus Sash. Typical moveset involves Tailwind with a combination of any of these moves: Beat Up/Moonblast/Energy Ball/Taunt/Fake Tears/Encore/Endeavor/Sunny Day/Helping Hand/Protect Very hard to anticipate the whimsicott moveset in bo1.
Darmanitan-G - Almost always Choice Scarf but some run Choice Band/Life Orb as well. Usually runs Icicle Crash/Ice Punch, Flare Blitz, U-turn and Protect/Superpower/Rock Slide
Scrafty - Similar to hitmontop as a bulky Fake Out user with Intimidate. Common items are Roseli Berry, Assault Vest, Figy Berry and Eject Button. Common movesets involve Fake Out and Crunch with a mixture of Drain Punch/Close Combat/Snarl/Protect/Foul Play/Poison Jab
Gothitelle - A Trick Room supporter with Shadow Tag to prevent you from switching. Items vary from Mental Herb to Sitrus/Wiki Berry, Leftovers, and Colbur Berry. Common moves are Trick Room, Fake Out, Protect/Heal Pulse/Helping Hand/Taunt/Ally Switch, and Psychic/Psyshock.
Jellicent - Bulky Water Type usually a Trick Room setter. Often carries Leftovers, Sitrus/Wiki Berry, Colbur Berry, Kasib Berry or Mystic Water. They like to run Scald/Water Spout, Giga Drain/Shadow Ball, Will-o-Wisp/Protect/Recover/Strength Sap and Trick Room most of the time.
Ferrothorn - Generally a wall with Leech Seed and Leftovers but can be offensive as well. Main item you will see is Leftovers but some run Assault Vest, Lum Berry or Choice Band. Common moves are Power Whip, Gyro Ball with Leech Seed/Knock Off and Protect/Body Press.
Braviary - Flying type with Defiant (Boosts +2 attack stages when it gets its stat dropped). Likes to run Brave Bird, Close Combat, Tailwind and Protect generally. Common items are usually Sitrus/Figy Berry, Lum Berry and sometimes Wacan Berry.
Mandibuzz - Opposite of Braviary where it usually is a bulky Tailwind Setter. Common abilities are usually Overcoat or Big Pecks (can’t have its physical defense lowered) Common moves involve Tailwind, Foul Play, Roost and either Snarl/Taunt/Fake Tears.
Hydreigon - Strong offensive threat typically with Choice Scarf, Choice Specs and Life Orb. Will usually run Draco Meteor/Dragon Pulse, Dark Pulse, Earth Power/Fire Blast/Flamethrower and Protect/U-turn.
Durant - Strong attack with hustle as its ability with very strong Max Moves. Will often run Life Orb or Focus Sash. Common moveset involves Iron Head, Superpower/Stomping Tantrum/Rock Slide, Thunder Fang/First Impression and Protect.
Gen 6
Hawlucha - Usually paired with Indeedee to get Psychic Seed Unburden. Generally will be either a Swords Dance Set up user or offensive three attacks with Close Combat, Brave Bird/Acrobatics, Steel Wing/Swords Dance and Protect. Will almost always have Psychic Seed.
Sylveon - Bulky Fairy Type mon that likes to deal consistent damage. Items include Pixie Plate, Choice Specs, Life Orb, Throat Spray, and Leftovers. Typical moveset is usually Hyper Voice, Mystical Fire, Calm Mind/Quick Attack and Protect/Hyper Beam
Gen 7
Mudsdale - Bulky strong ground type. Almost always Assault Vest but sometimes runs Figy Berry. Either runs Own Tempo (blocks Intimidate and paired with Screen Grimmsnarl and they Swagger their own Mudsdale) or Stamina. Standard moveset involves High Horsepower, Iron Head/Heavy Slam, Rock Slide and Close Combat/Body Press.
Araquanid - Strong but slow water type attacks with Water Bubble doubling the base power of all water type attacks before stab. Usually likes to hold Mystic Water or Figy Berry. Common move set is Liquidation, Leech Life/Bug Bite, Substitute/Giga Drain/Wide Guard and Protect.
Tsareena - Strong attack with Queenly Majesty as its ability to prevent itself and ally from being affected by Priority moves. Generally Assault Vest or Figy Berry with Power Whip/Trop Kick, High Jump Kick, U-turn/Play Rough and Protect/Helping Hand.
Oranguru - Trick Room user that has Inner Focus with the move Instruct (allows the target to be able to use the previous move it used twice) Will often hold Mental Herb or Wiki Berry. Often uses Instruct, Trick Room and a combination of Psychic/Psyshock/Taunt/Foul Play/Protect.
Togedemaru - Lightning Rod user similar to Raichu. Almost always will be Focus Sash or Air Balloon. Often uses Fake Out, Zing Zap, Nuzzle and sometimes Spiky Shield/Encore/Iron Head/Helping Hand.
Mimikyu - Either an offensive Pokemon with Life Orb or a Trick Room setter with Room Service (item that activates when Trick Room where it lowers the holder’s speed by 1 stage. Often will have Play Rough with a combination of Taunt/Shadow Claw/Shadow Sneak/Will-o-Wisp/Trick Room/Wood Hammer/Swords Dance/Protect.
Kommo-o - Will almost be a set up Pokemon using Clangorous Soul (Boost all stats by 1 stage but takes 33% hp recoil and can be used multiple times) Often will hold Throat spray to immediately get +2 after clangorous soul. Often carries Clanging Scales, Aura Sphere/Flamethrower, Clangorous Soul and Protect.
Gen 8
Corviknight - General bulky Tailwind user or set up Pokemon. Almost always has Mirror Armor as an ability (stat drops will be reflected against the opponent) Common items involve Leftovers, Lum Berry and Figy/Sitrus Berry. Common moves involve Brave Bird, Iron Head/Body Press, Bulk Up/Iron Defense/Tailwind, and Protect/Taunt/Roost
Coalossal - Pokemon with the ability steam engine which increases the Pokemon’s speed by +6 immediately after getting hit by a fire or water move. Often paired with Weakness Policy and a choice Scarf user with Surf (Weavile, Dragapult). Common movesets are Heat Wave, Solar Beam, Ancient Power and Protect but it can run physical with Flare Blitz, Rock Slide, Earthquake and Protect.
Toxtricity - New decently fast electric poison mon that has Punk Rock that increases sound moves by 30% along with a spread sound electric move in Overdrive. Common items involve Throat Spray, Choice Specs, Choice Scarf and Focus Sash. Moveset involves Overdrive, Sludge Bomb and Protect with the last being a mix up between Snarl/Substitute/Volt Switch/Boomburst.
Hatterene - Strong Trick Room user with the ability Magic Bounce usually paired with Indeedee for Psychic Terrain. Usually will hold a Babiri Berry, Life Orb, Sitrus/Wiki Berry or Focus Sash. Common moveset is Psychic, Dazzling Gleam, Trick Room and Protect/Mystical Fire.
Grimmsnarl - Prankster support Pokemon like Whimsicott but gets different support options and has decent atk (Base 115). Often holds Light Clay or Sitrus/Figy Berry. Will often have Light Screen + Reflect, and Thunder Wave but has many options including Fake Out/Taunt/Swagger/Fake Tears and will usually have one or two attacking moves which include Darkest Lariat/Foul Play/Sucker Punch/Spirit Break (Physical fairy type attack that lower’s the target’s SpAtk stat by 1 stage)
Indeedee (Female) - Normal Psychic mon that has Psychic Surge to summon Psychic Terrain and redirection. Only the female is used because it gets exclusive access to Follow Me (The male gets Trick Room) Often will be a support Pokemon with Follow Me. Common moveset involves Follow Me, Psychic, Helping Hand/Heal Pulse/Ally Switch, and Hyper Voice/Protect/Mystical Fire.
Copperjah - Strong slow hitter with Sheer Force. Often will carry Life Orb, Room Service or Assault Vest. Common moves include Iron Head, Protect, High Horsepower, and Rock Slide/Play Rough/Power Whip/Superpower/Heat Crash.
Dracozolt - Base 75 speed Electric Dragon Type with only a base 100 atk stat. However it does get hustle and Bolt Beak which is an 85 base power electric move which doubles in power if the user moves before the target. That makes this Pokemon extremely powerful under the right conditions. Common items include Wide Lens, Choice Scarf and Life Orb. Basic Moveset is Bolt Beak, Dragon Claw, High Horsepower and Protect/Fire Fang.
Dracovish - Water equivalent of Dracozolt with Fishious Rend which is a water type bolt beak. Common items with Choice Band, Choice Scarf and Life Orb. Common moveset will include Fishious Rend, and a mix of Ice Fang/Crunch/Leech Life/ Dragon Rush/Psychic Fangs/Stomping Tantrum and Protect.
Duraludon - Dragon Steel Type that has pretty good stats except SpDef which they try to patch with Assault Vest. Its ability Stalwart allows it to ignore redirectrion and ally switch. Common items include Assault Vest, Sitrus Berry, Choice Scarf and Weakness Policy. This Pokemon tends to commonly dynamax. Standard moveset includes Flash Cannon, Draco Meteor/Dragon Pulse, Thunderbolt and Protect/Solar Beam/Dark Pulse/ Snarl/Steel Beam (140 base power steel move that reduces the user’s HP by 50%)
Dragapult - Very fast ghost dragon with base 120 atk and 100 spatk. Can be very versatile in being either a physical attacker, special attacker or even a support Pokemon. This Pokemon also loves to dynamax if it has Life Orb or even Weakness Policy. Common items involve Life Orb, Choice Band, Choice Specs, Weakness and Focus Sash. Support sets will often run Reflect, Light Screen, Thunder Wave/Will-o-Wisp, Draco Meteor. Special sets will run Shadow Ball, Draco Meteor, Flamethrower/Fire Blast/Hydro Pump/Thunderbolt and Protect. Physical sets will run Phantom Force, Dragon Claw/Dragon Darts, Steel Wing/Dragon Dance/U-Turn/Fly and Protect. It’s basically impossible to predict which set it will be in bo1.
