Weekly Qualifier for RookideeVGC Grand Tourney results recap

The Weekly Qualifier for RookideeVGC Grand Tourney was a 27-player online event on Limitless, played in Pokemon Champions Regulation Set M-B. Shmon [BE] finished first at 6-1-0, closing the final sequence by beating Buizom, while MrBear21 [US] defeated Zach K [US] before falling to Shmon in the last listed match.

Place	Player	Record	Team
1	Shmon [BE]	6-1-0	Tyranitar / Staraptor / Excadrill / Sinistcha / Gholdengo / Milotic
2	MrBear21 [US]	5-2-0	Aggron / Sinistcha / Basculegion / Sableye / Hisuian Arcanine / Farigiraf
3	Zach K [US]	5-1-0	Froslass / Scovillain / Lycanroc Dusk / Kingambit / Basculegion / Sneasler
4	Buizom	4-2-0	Tyranitar / Excadrill / Venusaur / Staraptor / Wash Rotom / Houndstone

Shmon’s winning team was built around a clear sand engine with Tyranitar and Excadrill. Tyranitar carried Tyranitarite, Sand Stream, and an Adamant set of Knock Off, Rock Slide, Protect, and Low Kick, giving the team immediate weather control and spread pressure. Excadrill paired with it through Sand Rush, using Focus Sash and attacks in High Horsepower, Iron Head, and Rock Slide alongside Protect.

The team was not only a sand offense shell. Staraptor added Intimidate, Tailwind, and strong physical coverage with Dual Wingbeat and Close Combat, giving Shmon another speed-control mode. Sinistcha provided the slower option with Rage Powder, Trick Room, Matcha Gotcha, and Protect, plus Hospitality and Sitrus Berry for added support value. That let the team shift between Tailwind, sand speed, and Trick Room positioning depending on matchup.

The last two slots rounded out the composition well. Gholdengo used Life Orb, Good as Gold, Make It Rain, Nasty Plot, Protect, and Shadow Ball, giving the team a special attacker that could punish passive turns. Milotic brought Competitive, Leftovers, Scald, Recover, Protect, and Ice Beam, which fit naturally beside a team that also used Intimidate itself through Staraptor.

Across the top cut of standings, several patterns stood out. Sand was a major theme at the very top: both Shmon and Buizom used Tyranitar plus Excadrill, and Buizom also added Houndstone with Sand Rush. Staraptor appeared on both of those sand teams with Staraptite, Intimidate, and Tailwind.

Sinistcha was another repeated support pick, appearing on Shmon, MrBear21, and Kirbygambit. Its sets varied by item, with Sitrus Berry, Coba Berry, and Kasib Berry, but the common role was redirection and Trick Room utility. Farigiraf also appeared multiple times in the upper standings, including MrBear21, Juan R, and Mosto, always carrying Armor Tail and Trick Room.

Item trends were also clear. Focus Sash showed up on Excadrill, Lycanroc Dusk, Whimsicott, Aerodactyl, Sneasler, and Kingambit across the listed top teams. Sitrus Berry was common on support or bulky pieces such as Sinistcha, Farigiraf, Basculegion, Incineroar, and Annihilape. Weather was not limited to sand either, with Charizardite Y Charizard appearing on MatRodny, Juan R, and Mosto.

Takeaway for ladder players: prepare for flexible speed control, because the best teams here combined weather, Tailwind, and Trick Room rather than relying on only one mode.

Source: Limitless