Kicking Off the 2016 Pokémon VG World Championships
Video game Trainers from all over the world are bringing their best to San Francisco.
Competition at the 2016 Pokémon Video Game World Championships is finally underway following a season of fierce battles involving many of the most powerful Pokémon available in
Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire. The tables at Day One of the Pokémon Video Game World Championships are filled with stars, even though some top players qualified directly for the second day of competition on Saturday. Former National and World Champions are competing alongside and against newer players looking to build their own legacies with deep runs at this year's Pokémon World Championships.
As action at the World Championships began, players dreamed of taking down common Pokémon such as Smeargle, Kangaskhan, and Cresselia as effortlessly as Crabrawler did in its exciting reveal during opening ceremonies. But players who prepared only to take on the most common Pokémon from the rest of the 2016 Video Game Championships season were likely quickly caught off-guard in San Francisco by unexpected changes to the metagame. Kangaskhan, Xerneas, and Groudon will certainly continue to get their wins, but we've seen players adopting a number of clever strategies that buck established trends during the opening rounds of the World Championships.
Rayquaza's popularity has been a roller coaster so far this season, with most players considering it to be both a top Pokémon and almost unplayable on a championship-caliber team at different points in the season. Despite concerns earlier in the season, we've seen many players pinning their last hopes at becoming the 2016 Pokémon World Champion on the Sky High Pokémon. Paired with Kyogre, Groudon, or even Xerneas, Rayquaza is picking up knockouts all over the tournament while restricting the effectiveness of the weather-based Abilites of many other Restricted Pokémon. Trainers that opted to pair Rayquaza with a Pokémon other than Kyogre have been replacing it with a different sturdy Water-type Pokémon on their teams, with Suicune and Slowbro both making several appearances along Rayquaza on teams still in contention for Saturday.
Many of the Trainers considered favorites to move on to Day Two are showing off the creativity that has been a key factor to their past success. As we complete a season where many players excelled using similar strategies, the first day of the World Championships has been full of innovation so far. Gyarados, Manectric, Gengar, Hitmontop, and Raichu all proved strong enough to be selected by former National Champions on Friday, and all of them are continuing their march toward Day Two. With their seasons on the line, the world's most successful players are keeping their fates in their own hands by trying to outplay their opponents with their ingenuity instead of playing out mirror matches between nearly identical teams.
Trainers from over 30 countries are still in the running to leave the Pokémon World Championships as a World Champion. Groudon and Xerneas may have reigned for most of the Pokémon Video Game Championships season, but it looks like the story of the 2016 season could be taking a surprise turn at its conclusion. We're sure to see even more innovative tactics as the World Championships continue and Trainers battle with their seasons on the line on Pokemon.com/Live. Keep watching to find out if a Trainer from your country is able to become champion and to see which team comes out on top at the most important Pokémon Video Game tournament of the year.
![CoOnV0TUMAAe5Hr[1].png](https://mail.pokemon-trainer.com/attachments/coonv0tumaae5hr-1-png.862/ "CoOnV0TUMAAe5Hr[1].png")
maybe it's because of what happened last year? 
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And a lot of plushes!!! 
