Pokémon VGC: Emilio Forbes Wins Fresno Regional

At the end of the Fresno Regional, Emilio Forbes comes out on top once again.

Its crazy to think that a former World Championship finalist may just be having his best year ever.

Congratulations to 🇺🇸 Emilio Forbes (@gazemilyy), your 2023 Fresno Regional Champion! #PlayPokémon

Emilio's previous achievements:
▶️ 2022 Secaucus Regional Champion
▶️ 2020 San Diego Regional Champion
▶️ 2018 Worlds Finalist
▶️ 2018 San Jose Regional Finalist pic.twitter.com/sgXBtyW2lv

— Victory Road (@VGCVictoryRoad) June 12, 2023

Emilio Forbes

Emilio Forbes is becoming a North American legend year by year. His consistency from his year in the Pokémon VGC 2018 World's final, all the way up to this win at the Fresno Regional shows that he's a figure that'll always be prominent until he leaves the Pokémon VGC scene. Not only did he place 1st in the Fresco Regional, but he also took a 13-1 record in the swiss rounds. For perspective, he was the only one to do so, and the second best was Chuppa Cross IV with a 12-2 record. No other players placed better that 11-3 in the swiss rounds. Emilio absolutely dominated the entire regional from start to finish.

Team

Flutter Mane @ Choice Specs
Ability: Protosynthesis
Tera Type: Fairy
- Dazzling Gleam
- Moonblast
- Shadow Ball
- Trick Room

Kingambit @ Black Glasses
Ability: Defiant
Tera Type: Dark
- Kowtow Cleave
- Sucker Punch
- Swords Dance
- Protect

Arcanine @ Safety Goggles
Ability: Intimidate
Tera Type: Flying
- Flare Blitz
- Extreme Speed
- Will-O-Wisp
- Protect

Iron Bundle @ Booster Energy
Ability: Quark Drive
Tera Type: Ice
- Hydro Pump
- Icy Wind
- Freeze-Dry
- Protect

Amoonguss @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Regenerator
Tera Type: Water
- Spore
- Rage Powder
- Pollen Puff
- Protect

Iron Hands @ Assault Vest
Ability: Quark Drive
Tera Type: Grass
- Drain Punch
- Volt Switch
- Heavy Slam
- Fake Out

Emilio brought the perfect mix of long time meta Pokémon VGC picks. No Ting Lu, no Chi Yu, not even an Annihilape. His team is entirely Regulation B meta, and it's proving to still be very viable in the right hands. A talented trainer like Emilio could run through multiple regulations with this well crafted team. Using minimal support, this team focuses on type coverage hard hitters to be able to land heavy blows on any opponent. With few Special Attackers being used as top tier VGC Pokémon, Flutter Mane being the highlight of this team is quite impressive as well.

Congratulations Emilio!

Defeating Len Deuel, Zackary Thornberg, and Gavin Michaels in Top 8 to win the bracket isn't the toughest road there is, but he played so excellently that nobody doubted he could defeat almost any player in the Fresno Regional. He's well earned his way towards the 2023 VGC World Championship thus far. Already being a former World Championship finalist, every VGC fan knows he's more than worthy of the highest level of Pokémon VGC play.