VGC UmbreNews 25.08.2026 #29 - Champion results recap

VGC UmbreNews 25.08.2026 #29 - Champion was a 103-player online event on Limitless, played in Pokemon Champions Regulation Set M-B. rickinch [DO] finished first at 9-1-0, closing the final-round run with wins over nes7a, BrunoIPT, and LenVGC.

Place	Player	Record	Team
1	rickinch [DO]	9-1-0	Charizard, Pelipper, Venusaur, Archaludon, Grimmsnarl, Swampert
2	BrunoIPT [IT]	8-2-0	Dragonite, Incineroar, Sneasler, Sinistcha, Kingambit, Eternal Flower Floette
3	SunnyCN [GB]	8-1-0	Froslass, Sneasler, Lycanroc Dusk, Scovillain, Kingambit, Basculegion
4	laleli [PA]	6-3-0	Raichu, Basculegion, Aerodactyl, Kingambit, Sneasler, Sylveon

rickinch’s winning team was built around flexible weather pressure. Charizard with Charizardite Y, Blaze, and Modest Heat Wave, Weather Ball, Hurricane, Protect gave the team a major special attacking anchor, while Pelipper added Drizzle, Tailwind, Wide Guard, and its own Hurricane and Weather Ball. That let rickinch threaten from both weather directions instead of committing to one narrow mode.

Venusaur was the clearest speed-pressure partner, using Focus Sash, Chlorophyll, Leaf Storm, Sludge Bomb, Sleep Powder, and Protect. It gave the team a fast disruption option with Sleep Powder while still having direct damage into common targets. Archaludon with Leftovers, Stamina, Flash Cannon, Dragon Pulse, Electro Shot, and Protect gave the roster a steadier mid-game piece that could benefit from the weather structure without being only a weather attacker.

The support layer was also important. Grimmsnarl carried Light Clay with Prankster Reflect, Light Screen, Spirit Break, and Parting Shot, giving the team defensive pacing and repositioning. Swampert with Swampertite, Damp, Wave Crash, Earthquake, Ice Punch, and Protect rounded out the six as a physical threat that made the team less dependent on special offense. Overall, the composition combined screens, Tailwind, Wide Guard, weather-based attacks, and multiple Protect users to create a balanced set of lines.

Across the top teams, Sneasler was one of the most visible picks, appearing on BrunoIPT’s, SunnyCN’s, laleli’s, LenVGC’s, and anticrystal’s teams. Kingambit was similarly prominent, appearing on the teams in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 8th, most often with Defiant and Sucker Punch. Sinistcha also showed up repeatedly in the upper standings, with BrunoIPT, LenVGC, VascoAnime, and zrofs all using Hospitality sets.

Items followed clear patterns. Focus Sash appeared on rickinch’s Venusaur, SunnyCN’s Lycanroc Dusk, laleli’s Sneasler, LenVGC’s Sneasler, VascoAnime’s Excadrill, zrofs’s Maushold, and anticrystal’s Lycanroc Dusk. Sitrus Berry was also common on bulky or support slots including Pelipper, Incineroar, Milotic, and Basculegion. Black Glasses Kingambit was shared by BrunoIPT, SunnyCN, and anticrystal.

Takeaway for ladder players: prepare for Sneasler and Kingambit cores, but do not ignore weather teams that can pivot between offense, screens, and speed control.

Source: Limitless