King of VGC – VGC 2017 (Week 5)

Date: November 22, 7:00PM Format: VGC 2017 Platform: Pokémon Showdown Entry Fee: Free

Prizes: Sling Bag Circuit points toward the King of VGC leaderboard

Structure:

17–32 players → 5 Swiss → Top 8 (right after Swiss)
33–64 players → 6 Swiss → Top 8 (right after Swiss)
65–128 players → 7 Swiss → Top 16 (right after Swiss)

📖 A Look Back at VGC 2017 – The Era of Z-Moves

VGC 2017 marked the rise of Z-Moves, game-changing one-time power bursts that reshaped both offense and defense. Every match could turn on a single devastating Z-Crystal activation — whether it was a clutch Continental Crush, a surprise Bloom Doom, or a momentum-shifting Z-Status move like Z-Conversion or Z-Parting Shot.

This format emphasized terrain control, speed management, and careful positioning, all while balancing the threat of explosive Z-Move pressure. Creativity flourished across teams: Trick Room Snorlax, Double Duck rain, bulky Celesteela, and hyper-offensive Z-Move cores all thrived.

And in the end, history was written: Ryota Otsubo became the Masters Division World Champion, winning the 2017 Pokémon World Championships with a brilliantly crafted team centered around Krookodile, Whimsicott, Tapu Fini, Alolan Marowak, Celesteela, and Tapu Koko — showcasing mastery of positioning, speed control, and strategic Z-Move timing.

VGC 2017 remains a beloved format where innovation, precision, and Z-Move mind games defined every battle.