What are all the times Pokémon have been banned from VGC?

Question

What Pokémon have been banned from VGC throughout the years? I’m not talking about how Mythical Pokémon have always been banned, I mean has there ever been an instance where the Pokémon Company has said “This Pokémon cant be used in the VGC format?” This can be for Battle Spot or for VGC. I was wondering because of the new ban and I’m curious if this has happened before.

Thank you!

Comments

I don’t think it’s ever happened before. Usually, Game Freak waits until the next generation games if they feel anything needs to be balanced.

---

I'm pretty sure legendary & mythical Pokemon are the only ones that have been banned from VGC. Unless you're talking about SWSH's ranked battle series or how they ban some gigantamax forms in online competitions.

---

There are a lot of years when non-legendary and non-mythical Pokemon are banned for various reasons. I think VGC 2017 banned everything that isn't on the Alola Pokedex.

---

Okay. So sometimes they’ve said “Regional Dex only” or “No Gigantamax Charizard with HA,” but this is the first time there’s been a real banlist?

---

If I answer, do I have to list every legendary Pokemon that was banned in a VGC? Different VGCs have very different legendary Pokemon banlists.

---

That would be great! I’m mostly wondering if there’s ever been an actual banlist of specific Pokémon like the new one before.

---

In previous games, the only Pokemon that were banned from VGC were the "True" Legendaries, meaning all of the box art legends plus some. These include
Mewtwo
Mew
Ho-Oh
Lugia
Celebi
Groudon
Kyogre
Rayquaza
Jirachi
Deoxys
Dialga
Palkia
Giratina
Regigigas
Manaphy
Darkrai
Shaymin
Arceus
Reshiram
Zekrom
Kyurem
Victini
Keldeo
Meloetta
Genesect
Xerneas
Yveltal
Zygarde
Diancie
Volcanion
Hoopa
Solgaleo
Lunala
Necrozma
Magearna
Marshadow
Zeraora
Meltan
Melmetal
Zacian
Zamazenta
Eternatus
Zarude

Tell me if I am missing any!

However in Series 6 of Sword and Shield VGC 2020, they banned a large selection of Pokemon. These Pokemon were
Venusaur
Gyarados
Porygon2
Tyranitar
Torkoal
Hippowdon
Magnezone
Togekiss
Excadrill
Whimsicott
Incineroar
Mimikyu
Rillaboom
Cinderace
Indeedee
Dragapult

Series 6 is over now so the above Pokemon are usable now

[Source][1]


  [1]: https://www.millenium.gg/news/19788.html

Answer 1

"Special Pokemon", Mythical Pokemon, and Ash-Greninja are banned by default unless specifically unbanned. Past that, there are a few other cases.

2008: Dragonite and Tyranitar
2009: All forms of Rotom
2011: Pokemon not in the Unovan Pokedex
2013: Chatot
2014: Pokemon not in the Kalosian Pokedex
2017: Pokemon not in the Alolan Pokedex (including Kantonian forms of Alolan Pokemon)
2019 (Series 1): All Gigantamax Pokemon
2020 (Series 2): Gigantamax Coalossal, Lapras, Flapple, Appletun, Alcremie, Kingler, Orbeetle, Grimmsnarl, Hatterene, Solar Power Charizard, Toxtricity, Machamp, Gengar, Garbodor, Copperajah, and Duraludon
2020 (Series 3): Gigantamax Machamp, Gengar, Garbodor, Copperajah, and Duraludon
2020 (Series 6): Venusaur, Gyarados, Porygon2, Tyranitar, Torkoal, Hippowdon, Magnezone, Togekiss, Excadrill, Whimsicott, Incineroar, Mimikyu, Rillaboom, Cinderace, Indeedee, and Dragapult
2022 (Regulation A): Pokemon not in the Paldean Pokedex, Paradox Pokemon, and the Treasures of Ruin
2023 (Regulation B): Pokemon not in the Paldean Pokedex, the Treasures of Ruin
2023 (Regulation C): Pokemon not in the Paldean Pokedex
2023 (Regulation D): Pokemon in the Kitikami Pokedex, Walking Wake, and Iron Leaves
2023 (Regulation E): Pokemon in the Blueberry Pokedex, Walking Wake, and Iron Leaves
2024 (Regulation H): Legendary and Paradox Pokemon

World Championships | Video Game Championship (Bulbapedia)