The Pokémon Europe International Championships (EUIC) have begun in London, and the current VGC meta appears strikingly similar to what we saw at Worlds 2024. Despite the passage of time, the most dominant Pokémon from last year’s World Championships continue to shape competitive play at the highest level.
A Meta That Refuses to Change
Six months ago, top Pokémon VGC players gathered in Honolulu, Hawaii, for the 2024 World Championships. The event was defined by strong meta threats such as Urshifu, Incineroar, Calyrex, and Miraidon. Fast-forward to EUIC 2025, and the usage statistics from the first day of competition tell a familiar story. These same Pokémon are still at the top of the meta, leaving little room for new strategies to emerge.
Urshifu Still Reigns Supreme
Urshifu remains the undisputed king of competitive Pokémon battles. At EUIC, the bear Pokémon boasts a staggering 55.3 percent usage rate among all competitors. Other popular choices from Worlds 2024—Incineroar, Amoonguss, Ogerpon, Rillaboom, and Raging Bolt—are still prevalent in team compositions, proving their effectiveness is far from over.
Pokémon EUIC 2025 (image via Getty)Restricted Pokémon Trends Remain Unchanged
The restricted Pokémon usage chart at EUIC 2025 is almost a mirror image of what we saw at Worlds 2024. The eight most frequently chosen restricted Pokémon are the same: Calyrex Shadow Rider, Calyrex Ice Rider, Miraidon, Zamazenta, Terapagos, Kyogre, Koraidon, and Groudon. The only notable shift in ranking is Miraidon surpassing Calyrex Ice Rider, taking the second-place spot in popularity.
A Champion’s Winning Formula
Luca Ceribelli, the reigning 2024 World Champion, has opted to stick with the same team that secured his victory in Honolulu. His winning lineup consists of Miraidon, Ogerpon Hearthflame, Urshifu Rapid Strike, Iron Hands, Whimsicott, and Farigiraf. This team continues to dominate, as evidenced by Ceribelli’s victory during Swiss round two on stream. The performance of this squad at EUIC 2025 further highlights the lack of evolution in the current meta.
The Reason Behind the Stagnant Meta
One of the biggest reasons for the lack of change in the meta is the tournament format. EUIC 2025 is being played under Regulation G—the same format used at last year’s Worlds—despite Regulation H having been introduced in the time since. It remains unclear why VGC switched to Regulation H for select tournaments, such as the Latin America International Championships (LAIC), only to revert to Regulation G for EUIC.
For now, Regulation G will remain in effect for at least another two months, with the format scheduled to last until April. Many players and fans are hoping for significant changes when the next new regulation arrives, shaking up the competitive terrain for the upcoming North America International Championships (NAIC) and the 2025 World Championships.
Pokémon EUIC 2025 (image via Getty)Will the Meta Finally Shift?
With Regulation G set to expire in April, there is cautious optimism that a fresh meta will emerge in time for the next major international events. Players and analysts alike are eager to see how a new format might disrupt the dominance of Urshifu and other staples. If Regulation H or a brand-new set of rules brings substantial changes, it could open the door for underutilized Pokémon to shine on the big stage.
For now, competitors must continue to adapt within the constraints of Regulation G. With the stakes high at EUIC 2025, every battle serves as further proof that mastering the established meta is still the key to victory. Whether we’ll see any surprises before Regulation G concludes remains to be seen, but for now, the competitive Pokémon scene remains as predictable as ever.
