Nikita Vlasenko Memorial Tournament results and team recap

The Nikita Vlasenko Memorial Tournament ($500 Pool) was played on 2026-07-26 on Limitless, drawing 249 players for Pokemon Champions Regulation Set M-B. The final round included aurarayquaza over flamingraccoon, orangemaniac over autin_mago, and stonestormvgc over badgebump48614, while Soraxjm finished first in the posted standings.

Place	Player	Record	Team
1	Soraxjm [US]	10-3-0	Hisuian Arcanine, Staraptor, Farigiraf, Sylveon, Kingambit, Raichu
2	Glibunkel	12-1-0	Kingambit, Charizard, Aerodactyl, Farigiraf, Garchomp, Sylveon
3	Avo [HR]	10-2-0	Aerodactyl, Metagross, Kommo-o, Sneasler, Kingambit, Basculegion
4	StoneStormVGC [CL]	9-3-0	Staraptor, Basculegion, Venusaur, Sylveon, Incineroar, Grimmsnarl

Soraxjm’s winning team is a compact mix of speed control, priority, and anti-priority positioning. Staraptor with Staraptite, Intimidate, Jolly, Tailwind, Protect, Close Combat, and Dual Wingbeat gives the team immediate speed control while also applying physical pressure. Farigiraf with Sitrus Berry, Armor Tail, Calm, Protect, Psychic, Trick Room, and Helping Hand gives the opposite mode, letting Soraxjm function when Tailwind is not the best route and blocking priority pressure through Armor Tail.

The damage profile is direct. Hisuian Arcanine uses Focus Sash, Rock Head, Jolly, Protect, Extreme Speed, Head Smash, and Flare Blitz, creating a lead or cleaner that can threaten big damage while still carrying priority. Sylveon with Fairy Feather, Pixilate, Modest, Protect, Hyper Beam, Hyper Voice, and Quick Attack supplies spread Fairy damage and another priority option. Kingambit brings Life Orb, Defiant, Adamant, Protect, Kowtow Cleave, Swords Dance, and Sucker Punch, punishing Intimidate and giving the team a late-game threat that does not need Tailwind to matter. Raichu with Raichunite Y, Lightning Rod, Timid, Protect, Zap Cannon, Fake Out, and Focus Blast adds Fake Out support and Electric redirection.

Across the top standings, several patterns were clear. Kingambit appeared on the first, second, third, and seventh-place teams, usually with Defiant and Sucker Punch. Sylveon was on first, second, and fourth, each using Fairy Feather and Pixilate with Hyper Voice and Hyper Beam. Farigiraf appeared on the top two teams with Sitrus Berry, Armor Tail, Trick Room, and Protect, reinforcing how valuable priority denial and alternate speed control were in this field.

Basculegion was another major presence, appearing on Avo, StoneStormVGC, AuraRayquaza, and OrangeManiac, with Wave Crash, Aqua Jet, and Last Respects repeated across those teams. Incineroar remained a common support pick on StoneStormVGC, MEGA_Meganium, AuraRayquaza, and Vgcorner, always bringing Intimidate and usually pairing Fake Out with Parting Shot. Focus Sash and Life Orb were also frequent among the top teams, showing up across several offensive and support roles rather than being tied to one archetype.

Takeaway for ladder players: build with both speed control and priority interaction in mind, because the top teams repeatedly combined Tailwind, Trick Room, Fake Out, Armor Tail, and Sucker Punch.

Source: Limitless