The 2025 Play! The Pokémon Atlanta Regional Championships are set to take place from April 11 to April 13 at the Georgia World Congress Center, with live coverage kicking off on April 12. This major competitive Pokémon event features three formats—Video Game Championships (VGC), the Trading Card Game (TCG), and Pokémon GO—each experiencing pivotal changes that will make this tournament one of the most unique and impactful of the season.
What makes the Atlanta Regional so crucial is its position as the final regional tournament before significant rule and format updates. It also marks the first TCG event to use the new Standard rotation and the debut of the Might and Mastery meta in Pokémon GO. Most importantly, winners across all divisions will earn automatic qualification for the Pokémon World Championships, raising the stakes considerably.
Where to Watch the Pokémon Atlanta Regionals 2025
Fans can tune in to the action through the official Pokémon Twitch channels:
VGC Masters
- April 12 – 9:15 AM EDT
- April 13 – 10:15 AM EDT
- Stream: twitch.tv/pokemon
TCG Masters
- April 12 – 12:00 PM EDT
- April 13 – 10:45 AM EDT
- Stream: twitch.tv/pokemontcg
Pokémon GO
- April 12 & 13 – 9:45 AM EDT
- Stream: twitch.tv/pokemongo
Pokémon Atlanta Regional Championships 2025 (image via Getty)Note that the Seniors and Juniors divisions in both VGC and TCG will begin 30 minutes after the Masters Division. If you miss any battles, visit the official Pokémon YouTube channel to catch up on highlights and full match replays.
Final Event for VGC Regulation G
This tournament is the final opportunity for players to compete under the current VGC ruleset, known as Regulation G. Starting next month, Regulation I will allow teams to include an additional Restricted Pokémon, drastically altering the meta. For a deep look into these upcoming changes, check out our full breakdown of how Regulation I will reshape the competitive terrain.
Atlanta is the last chance for players to secure crucial Championship Points or earn a guaranteed Worlds spot. High-profile players such as Nicholas Morales and Paul Chua—finalists at the Baltimore Regionals—are expected to compete. Morales has already secured his Worlds invitation, while Chua looks to solidify his position. Their rivalry adds an exciting narrative to the weekend.
You can view the top Championship Point standings for the VGC Masters Division on Pokemon.com.
TCG Decks Get Overhauled with New Standard Rotation
The Atlanta Regional coincides with the implementation of the new Standard rotation, removing all cards with the “F” regulation mark from competitive play. Only cards marked “G” and “H” will be legal, requiring trainers to rethink their deck strategies and adapt to the fresh format.
Among the new cards impacting the meta are:
Giratina ex
- Debuted in Shining Revelry (March 27, 2025)
- Ability: Broken-Space Bellow (adds an extra Psychic Energy)
- Attack: Chaotic Impact (130 damage, 20 recoil)
- An aggressive and energy-efficient choice for going first.
Celebi ex
- Introduced in Mythical Island (December 2024)
- Attack: Powerful Bloom
- Often paired with Serperior to maximize energy acceleration and damage output.
With players adapting to a post-rotation meta, deck diversity and innovation will be on full display. Top-performing trainers will need to stay agile as the field continues to evolve. Championship Point standings for the TCG Masters Division are available on Pokemon.com.
Pokémon Atlanta Regional Championships 2025 (image via Getty)Pokémon GO Introduces Brand New Meta with Might and Mastery
The Atlanta Regional is the first North American event to be played under the Might and Mastery meta, which introduced several key move updates and meta shake-ups. With recent balance changes, previously underused Pokémon like Lapras, Cradily, and Sableye have surged in usage.
Based on data from the Brisbane region, here are some of the top-performing Pokémon and their usage stats:
- Azumarill (45.5%) – A bulk-heavy Fairy that counters Dark and Dragon-types
- Clodsire (37.1%) – A durable Poison/Ground type ideal for dealing with Fairy Pokémon
- Lapras (35.4%) – Buffed to be a stronger anti-meta pick
- Drapion (Shadow) (30.3%) – Fast-charging Poison-type with versatile coverage
- Sableye (Shadow) (23.6%) – Dominates as a safe swap and anti-Ghost tech
Trainers will be developing creative strategies using this redefined meta, with major implications for Championship Points and Worlds invitations. The full rankings can be found on Pokemon.com.
