Summary
Pokemon Scarlet and Violetdramatically reshaped the series' landscape in terms of what modern games can entail and what is expected of them, both in terms of new concepts for additional critters and gameplay features. While all the new ideas from Gen 9 are not guaranteed to return in Gen 10,Pokemon Scarlet and Violetmade groundbreaking changes to the formula that shouldn’t go to waste. From the convergent Pokemon lines to an open world rich in critters and secrets,Pokemon Scarlet and Violetdid a lot right - but one change to competitive with the so-called Regulation H should become a series staple.
Competitive Pokemon has arguably never been better, with a flourishing community heralded by content creators and high-profile players, like Wolfe Glick, and live events with hundreds of participants as well as thousands of viewers online. Not only that, but the overall balance of the game is in a good spot, save for a few problematic Pokemon likeIncineroar dominating the meta. However,Pokemon Scarlet and Violetmanaged to breathe new life into competitive after a Legendary-heavy season by introducing Regulation H, which bans a small but significant portion of critters, including all Legendaries.
The list of legal Pokemon in Regulation H includes:
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Regulation H Explained
What Regulation H does is ban all Paradox Pokemon and Legendaries, includingPokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Treasures of Ruin. This may seem small in the grand scheme of things, but Legendaries tend to play a massive role in competitive teambuilding when legal. Some Legendaries are even restricted for being too powerful, limiting players to 1 of them per team.
Regulation H will run until June 23, 2025.
Legendaries like Zacianor even Chien-Pao can rapidly become a core piece of the puzzle in competitive matches, let alone a win condition. While this is something that is normally seen with teambuilding revolving around Legendary Pokemon, it is often at the culmination of a newPokemongame’s lifespan, whereas Gen 9 introduced Regulation H soon after that. Making Regulation H ban a good chunk of the most powerful Pokemon in the format was essentially a fresh start for the meta - and that’s not something that happens frequently.
Why Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Regulation H is a Game-Changer
MostPokemongames tend to go through different metas in their lifespans, typically starting with the game’s Pokedex and then bringing back a few morecritters fromPokemon Homeor with DLC, gradually making Legendaries legal. Regulation H is not too different from Regulation A in terms of concept, which was at the very beginning ofPokemon Scarlet and Violet’s competitive season, with the difference that now most of the critters from The Teal Mask and The Indigo Disk are available.
Considering thatPokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Blueberry Academyadded all starters to the game, Regulation H has been unique in this regard, and it allowed players to explore each first-partner Pokemon’s potential in a Legendary-deprived meta. This goes for a lot of other critters that would normally not find their spot in the meta, whereas Gen 9 allowed them to shine. Some great OGPokemon Scarlet and Violetcombos also came back in full force, such as Annihilape and Tandemaus.
Why Regulation H is a Great Competitive Meta
With a meta that is not strictly tied to using one restricted Legendary and as manyOP Pokemonas possible, the competitive scene has arguably been healthier than ever. This is also a great ruleset for beginners, as newcomers may not have all the Legendary Pokemon in the series, thus being inherently limited in building teams. Instead, Regulation H allows every other critter available in Gen 9’s Pokedex to be used, giving new players the perfect excuse to start their competitive journey from scratch.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
WHERE TO PLAY
The school that you’ve enrolled in as you playPokémon ScarletandPokémon Violethosts a special independent study project. The theme of this assignment is “A Treasure Hunt.” Explore the world and seek out your very own treasure!Three stories will be woven into your adventure while traversing the sprawling Paldea region. Along Victory Road, you will go to Gyms in different locations in order to to achieve Champion Rank. On the Path of Legends, you’re able to join Arven in search of rare ingredients. And in ★ Starfall Street ★, you’ll challenge Team Star, a group of delinquents causing trouble for the school.These stories are set in an open world, so where you go is all up to you. A world teeming with Pokémon and people to meet is waiting for you—traverse the Paldea region wherever you heart desires.
