At the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Europe International Championships, a certain team stood out. The top picks were Flutter Mane, Amoonguss, Arcanine, and Palafin.
These four Pokémon create the “Palance” core. It’s ruling the early Regulation C games. Ting-Lu, a fan-favorite, also joined this group. The finalists both used very similar teams.
Finalists Show Off Palance Power
Paul Chua and Gabriel Agati Madeira reached the finals, showcasing the Palance core. Each added a Dragon Pokémon to their team. Gabriel chose Baxcalibur with a Clear Amulet. Paul picked Roaring Moon with Dragon Dance.
Though Paul usually fought with Roaring Moon, he left it out in the finals. He trusted the Palance core completely. This move won him his first international title.
Top Threats: Flutter Mane and Palafin
Paul and other top players believe Flutter Mane and Palafin are huge threats when supported by Amoonguss and Arcanine. They spoke about how this dominating core would shape future games.
Players at the tournament were particularly interested in Flutter Mane. It was chosen in 79% of teams! Alberto Lara, runner-up at the Oceania Internationals, explained that adding Flutter Mane to his team was a game-changer.
Flutter Mane: A Dominant Force
Nick Navarre and Aaron Traylor compared Flutter Mane to the previously unbeatable Incineroar. Unlike Incineroar’s utility focus, Flutter Mane brings speed and attack power to the table.
Aaron detailed Flutter Mane’s role: early damage or a strong finisher. It always causes chaos in battles.
Because of its strength, some players believe Flutter Mane and Palafin need nerfs. Especially Palafin’s “Jet Punch” move.
A Look at the Future
The Palance core might define the game’s future. Despite attempts, finding counters has been tough. Some worry the meta will get stale because of this.
Yet, Aaron thinks some players will invent unique winning strategies. He highlighted Wolfe Glick as someone always coming up with innovative ideas.
Others are more hopeful. They expect variety to increase after a few events. And discussions continue about how to adapt to or counter the Palance core.
To keep Regulation C interesting, players are eager for new strategies. This can prevent the game from becoming monotonous with just a few Pokémon dominating play.