This event was the first in the Europe region to use the Regulation Set I ruleset, allowing the use of Paradox Pokemon, Legendary Pokemon, along with a choice of two Restricted Special Pokemon per team. This format runs from now until the end of August 2025, encompassing the 2025 Pokémon World Championships, held in Anaheim, California on the 15th-17th of August.
The following list shows the Top 8 players, their previous titles, the teams they used, as well as the prizes they earned. This includes Championship Points (CP) and any invites to the World Championships.
2023 Worlds Finalist
Ranked #18 in Europe with 1215 CP
Ranked #143 in Europe
Ranked #111 in Europe
Ranked #45 in Europe
2023 Bochum Regionals Top 32
2025 Global Challenge III Rank #2
Top Pokemon
Top Restricted Pokemon
Top Restricted Pairs
Streamed Battles
Musumeci is using the popular combination of Zamazenta and Calyrex's Ghost-type Shadow Rider form. With the Life Orb, Calyrex can deal insane amounts of damage with its signature move Astral Barrage, and Zamazenta provides great support with the move Wide Guard, protecting its team from getting hit by any spread moves, which are commonly used on most popular Restricted Pokémon, such as both Calyrex forms, Kyogre, Groudon, Terapagos, and commonly on Miraidon as well. Additionally, the Normal and Dark-types that threaten Calyrex are weak to Zamazenta's Body Press.
Magurno opts for the pairing of Calyrex Shadow Rider and Terapagos. Their Calyrex is built for more immediate damage, with the Focus Sash implying that its EVs are invested entirely in its Special Attack and Speed. The option for a Ghost-type Terastallization also doesn't help with its defense, but greatly increases its damage output instead. Terapagos runs a slower, bulkier build, using the Covert Cloak to avoid secondary effects from moves, such as being flinched by Fake Out, while it boosts its Special Attack and Special Defense with Calm Mind.
Holmer is using a niche combination of Miraidon and Kyogre. With the former's ability Drizzle setting up the rain, Miraidon can use Thunder with 100% accuracy, dealing slightly more damage than it would with Electro Drift. Noticeably, Holmer is also using a unique Pokémon in Tsareena, which rarely sees serious competitive usage. With its ability Queenly Majesty, it blocks all incoming priority attacks. This niche is typically covered by Farigiraf, whose signature ability has the same effect, but Tsareena has the potential to do more damage to big threats like Miraidon with Triple Axel boosted by an Ice-type Terastallization.
Markl goes for a safer option in Calyrex Shadow Rider and Zamazenta. As seen in the previous battle between Max Musumeci and Francesco Magurno, Calyrex and Zamazenta have great synergy together. While the latter uses its absurdly high Special Attack stat boosted by the Life Orb to get large amounts of damage on the board, Zamazenta can help protect it from spread moves with Wide Guard and uses Body Press to protect Calyrex from Normal and Dark-types that it typically struggles against.
Kelsch uses the combination of Miraidon and Calyrex Ice Rider, dishing out large amounts of spread damage with Dazzling Gleam, boosted by Choice Specs, and Glacial Lance. Calyrex opts for a more defensive build, using Leftovers to heal a small amount each turn, and a niche move in Leech Seed to heal even more if necessary. With its incredible bulk, this can help Calyrex stay around for even longer.
Zhang uses a combination of Miraidon and Ho-Oh, with the former similarly using the Choice Specs item. With the Clear Amulet blocking stat drops, such as Intimidate from Incineroar, Ho-Oh can pair its impressive bulk with the move Sacred Fire, that has a 50% chance to burn its target. This makes it a formidable foe against physical attackers such as Kelsch's Calyrex Ice Rider.
Following their victory in the Top 16 seen above, Markl uses a safe option with the combination of Zamazenta and Calyrex Shadow Rider. While the latter is threatened by Dark-types and Normal-types, Zamazenta can use Body Press to deal large amounts of damage and protect Calyrex. It can also accomplish this goal with Wide Guard, blocking damage from spread moves.
Ubaghs uses a team similar to Michael Kelsch's seen above, making use of a bulky Calyrex-Ice with more stats invested in its Defense and utilising the Leftovers and Leech Seed to maximise the health it can recover each turn. Miraidon uses the Choice Specs to maximise its damage output, boasting powerful attacks such as Dazzling Gleam, Electro Drift, and Draco Meteor.
Nielsen is betting on the combination of Miraidon and Zamazenta. In a similar fashion to its role on teams with Calyrex Shadow Rider, Zamazenta can protect Miraidon from spread moves coming out from other Restricted Pokemon. Similarly, Miraidon goes for a full-out offensive build with Choice Specs and the choice of a Fairy-type Terastallization to boost the damage of Dazzling Gleam.
As seen above in their Top 8 battle, Kelsch is using a Calyrex Ice Rider built mainly for defense, with more investment in its defensive stats and using Leftovers and Leech Seed to recover health each turn. Miraidon, similar to their opponent, uses the Choice Specs to maximise its damage output.
As a final reminder, Markl's team is led by the Restricted Pokemon Calyrex Shadow Rider and Zamazenta. The former deals huge amounts of damage with the Life Orb and option to use Nasty Plot to boost its Special Attack stat, while Zamazenta can use Wide Guard to protect it from spread damage from other powerful Restricted Pokemon. It also threatens Fighting-type damage on Normal and Dark-type Pokémon which Calyrex typically struggles with.
Kelsch brings Miraidon and Calyrex Ice Rider, with the latter using a new defensive set currently growing in popularity, utilising Calyrex's unmatched defensive stats by using Leftovers and Leech Seed to heal up each turn. In contrast, Miraidon uses its overwhelming offenses to overpower its opponents, with powerful attacks such as Electro Drift, Dazzling Gleam, and Draco Meteor, boosted by the Choice Specs.
