1. Battle format
Pokémon Legends: Z-A utilizes a unique battle system that requires different rules from the main games. Please read thoroughly and carefully to ensure you don't miss anything important! Breaking of the rules can lead to an automatic disqualification from the tournament, at the league organizers' discretion.
Default Ruleset: We will be using the game's built-in "Normal Rules (6 Pokemon)" ruleset. However, each battle will be 1-v-1 (rather than a 4-way free-for-all). Note that some--but not all--of the below rules are automatically encapsulated within the default ruleset we will be using. Do not assume that just because it is allowed in the default ruleset that it will be allowed in the tournament.
Permitted Pokémon: Any Pokémon obtained in ZA (including all DLC) is permitted, with a blanket ban on legendary, mythical, and event distribution Pokémon. No exceptions.
Species clause: You cannot use two Pokémon with the same National Dex ID. If regional forms share National Dex Numbers (it is assumed they do unless clearly stated otherwise within the game itself), they cannot both be used (e.g. you can either have Kantonian Raichu or Alolan Raichu, but not both).
Banned Items: Evasion increasing or accuracy reducing items (e.g. Bright Powder), King's Rock, and Razor Fang
Items Clause: Duplicate items are not permitted.
2. Registration
Team Registration: You must register your team of up to 6 Pokémon before you begin your journey. At no point will you be able to change your team. If trainers are caught using unregistered Pokémon, they will be immediately disqualified and you shall go down in history as That One LAGS Person.
Registration Limits: We are capping the number of trainers at 30, and it will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Registration will open at 12pm (noon) on Friday, January 2, 2026 and close at 12pm (noon) on Thursday, January 8, 2026. This will allow us time to verify your teams and give you an opportunity to make any corrections/adjustments needed (accidents happen!). We promise we won't memorize your teams :)
Standby Registration: If you are not within the first 30 trainers to register, we will be opening a standby registration form. Should challengers not begin their journey by the cutoff time that night OR should a challenger cancel before the event, then we will allow Standby Players to join in the order they registered.
Tardiness: If you're running late, please let us know ASAP. Even better, if you think you might run late, still let us know.
Cancellation: If you need to cancel, please do so no later than 6pm on Thursday, January 8, 2026 so that we can open up your spot. Failure to do so could result in a ban from participating in any future LAGS Tournaments (including--but not limited to--future Pokemon League Champsionships).
3. Battling Logistics
Starting Your Challenge: Challenges will start promptly at 7:30pm. Anyone who has signed up that has not signed up to begin their challenge by 8:30pm will be disqualified and sent to the end of the Standby List.
The first four registrants in attendance at 7:30pm will each select to challenge a different E4 member. Afterwards, challengers will sign up to fight an E4 leader on a sign-up sheet next to the E4 member. You may only be signed up for one E4 member at a time. To keep things running smoothly, E4 members will not repeatedly yell for trainers or wade through the crowd, so you are responsible for being close by for when it is your turn. If you are not present, you will be skipped and you will need to re-sign up.
Order: You may fight the E4 members in any order, save for the champion (who, by definition, will be fought last).
Re-battling: If you lose to an E4 member, you may choose to immediately re-battle them. You are only allowed to re-battle once per run. So, if you re-battle and beat the second E4 member you fight but subsequently lose to the fourth one, your run is done.
Losing: Time permitting, we will allow trainers to enter the competition a second time. This will only happen after all registrants have completed one run-through attempt, and if time allows.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to Tennen#8792 on Discord or make a post in the Pokémon Channel.