At the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet North America International Championships (NAIC), everyone thought Flutter Mane would rule again. But a less-known Ghost-type Pokémon stole the spotlight and won big.
The Surprise Winner
NAIC was the last big battle before the World Championships. Players didn’t hold back, showing their best strategies and teams. This was a perfect chance for NAIC’s champion, Alex Gómez, to surprise everyone. He chose Dragapult, a Pokémon others didn’t expect to face.
Dragapult had already made a splash in the first Reg. C regional tournament in April. Along with its partner Chien-Pao, it led rising VGC star Justin Tang to win Fort Wayne Regionals. This proved Dragapult’s strength when played well. Now, it has won both the first and last tournament titles under Regulation C.
Despite its early win, Dragapult has been quiet at other tournaments. This was mainly because Flutter Mane, another Ghost-type, was very popular and often used. This led players to overlook Dragapult.
Dragapult’s Big Moment
Luckily, Gómez saw Dragapult’s potential and knew how to use it well. With the Ghost Tera Type and Chien-Pao’s Sword of Ruin, Dragapult hit hard. It often knocked out opponents in one hit or took big chunks of their HP with Phantom Force and Tera Blast. Even after being weakened in the finals, Dragapult still shone and was the most valuable player against finalist Raghav Malaviya.
Following Gómez’s victory, players like Tang apologized to Dragapult for underestimating it after its initial success.
Looking Forward
Now, the rules have changed from Regulation C to Regulation D. It’s not clear if Dragapult will still be a top choice in this new setting. But one thing is sure, we should never doubt its power.
This big win reminds us all that surprises can happen. It shows the importance of not underestimating any Pokémon. Dragapult’s victory at NAIC is a clear example of this. Keep an eye on how players adapt to the new rules and if Dragapult continues to make waves in the Pokémon VGC scene.