Trainers competing in the VGC Kickoff Invitational battled using the Series 4 2020 Video Game Championships format in a double-elimination bracket. Battles took place in Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield. Players were permitted to use any Pokémon in the Galar Pokédex except for the strongest Legendary Pokémon. They were also permitted to use the regional variants of those Pokémon, the first partner Pokémon from the Kanto and Alola regions, Cobalion, Terrakion, Virizion, and Galarian Slowpoke.