The amount of Pokémon VGC YouTube and streaming content has exploded in the last few years. Players and other popular Pokémon content creators have started showcasing VGC content, which has helped the format gain a ton of exposure. In this piece, I’ll be directing you to some Pokémon YouTubers and streamers to start watching if you’re looking not only to improve but also be entertained!

Aaron “Cybertron” Zheng

“Hey guys. Aaron ‘Cybertron’ Zheng here!” is a familiar phrase to most in the VGC community; as it’s the intro used for all of Aaron’s videos. Aaron “Cybertron” Zheng is a 19 year-old college student who has been in the competitive Pokémon scene ever since it began back in 2008.

One of the most decorated players in Pokémon VGC history with six World Championship appearances, two National Championships, multiple Worlds and National Top Cuts, and a bunch of Regional wins; Aaron has solidified himself among the best.

Aaron started his YouTube channel back in 2014, and now currently has over 71,000 subscribers. He pretty much invented the “Road to Ranked” format that countless others have emulated, where he showcases different teams as he climbs the Rated Battle Spot Ladder. While this is the majority of what he uploads, he occasionally posts team reports, guides, and various discussion videos to add some variety. Being a full-time student does require a lot of time though, so Road to Ranked is mostly what you’re going to see.

Aside from being a competitor, Aaron actually forfeited playing at the 2016 National and World Championships to work as a commentator for the official Pokémon stream. In fact, Aaron sort of became a meme after performing a segment in front of a monitor where he analyzed a previous match; almost looking like a weatherman. For the fans, he introduced himself with “Hey guys, Aaron ‘Weatherman’ Zheng here!” to the crowd’s immediate delight.

Being one of the pioneers of Pokémon VGC content creation, Aaron’s channel is definitely one you should be subscribed to. His knowledge of the game, as well as his relatable and fun personality, provides a great mixture of education and entertainment.

Here’s where you can find Aaron!

YouTube: youtube.com/cybertronproductions

Twitch: twitch.tv/cybertronvgc

Twitter: twitter.com/CybertronVGC

Wolfe “Wolfey” Glick

Your current World Champion does indeed have a channel of his own, and it’s quite a good one. Wolfe Glick is a player who needs no introduction. 2016 World Champion, National Champion, multiple Regional Champion, are just a few of his many accomplishments.

From starting out small, Wolfe now has over 55,000 subscribers and looks to be on pace to catch up to his good buddy Aaron Zheng. Wolfe’s content is pretty diverse, including a plethora of guides, battle videos, and even a series where he plays through the “Battle Factory” modes on Pokémon Platinum and Emerald Versions. Wolfe’s formula is nothing close to formal, but he does showcase a deep knowledge and understanding of the game and its various mechanics.

In addition to the top-level analysis, you’ll often watch Wolfe hilariously outline why a particular situation is bad for him, or give you all of the reasons why Exeggutor is a good Pokémon. Wolfe’s videos are a ton of fun and give new players another great way to learn the game; this time, through the current best player in the world.

Here’s where you can find Wolfe!

YouTube: youtube.com/wolfeyvgc

Twitch: twitch.tv/wolfeyvgc

Twitter: twitter.com/WolfeyGlick

Alex Ogloza

Okay, I know what most of you who know Alex are thinking: “He doesn’t post VGC videos on his channel anymore.”

Unfortunately, Alex doesn’t post VGC videos to his YouTube channel, but he does amazing work for those who support him on Patreon. He provides VGC videos, teams, guides, and even one-on-one help to his Patrons who donate a certain amount every month. If you can’t afford it, or just don’t feel like shelling out the monthly amount, Alex does do a fair amount of VGC content streaming on his Twitch channel for all to see.

Regardless of what battle format you enjoy, Alex is probably one of the most entertaining of the bunch. Not only that, but he’s a National Champion, so he’s pretty good at the game too. Even though it’s not VGC, I highly recommend his Fight For First: Singles series on his YouTube channel just because of how entertaining I find him. If you like his stuff, consider supporting him on Patreon to get access to all of his great VGC material!

Here’s where you can find Alex!

YouTube: youtube.com/alexogloza

Twitch: twitch.tv/alexogloza

Twitter: youtube.com/alexogloza

Patreon: patreon.com/AlexOgloza

Ray Rizzo

Arguably THE greatest player of all time: three-time World Champion Ray Rizzo. Ray runs a bit of a smaller channel compared to those listed above, but still has 7,500+ subscribers. Despite announcing a possible come back to the game, he has been mainly doing work as a commentator for official Pokémon streams. Ray’s channel primarily features his own take on the “Road to Ranked” formula with his series Rayce to the Top. Ray has done tutorials and guides from time to time, so he does have a bit of variety too. Ray’s style is more formal, with him giving analysis and talking through his decisions as he plays battles. Ray looks like he’ll be uploading a ton now, so make sure to subscribe to him to support his content!

Here’s where you can find Ray!

YouTube: youtube.com/rayrizzovgc

Twitch: twitch.tv/rayrizzopkmn

Twitter: twitter.com/RayRizzoVGC

Barry “Baz” Anderson

Barry Anderson might not be as well-known as the players I’ve listed, but I hardly consider that a reason to discredit his content. He’s a pretty accomplished European player, with him recently making it to the Top 8 stage of the 2016 World Championships. On his channel, Barry mainly uploads Battle Spot and Showdown content where he frequently teams up with friends to use some fun strategies. Other than battle videos, he sometimes uploads team reports and other discussion-type videos. It’s a fun channel with a ton of unique battle content that definitely deserves a subscription.

Here’s where you can find Barry!

YouTube: youtube.com/user/bazandersonvgc

Twitter: twitter.com/bazandersonvgc

Markus “13Yoshi37” Stadter

A two-time European National Champion, Regional Champion, and now a World’s Semi-Finalist, Markus Stadter’s content is deserving of viewership.

His posts on YouTube are mainly battles with his Mark Us Back On Top series. He has definitely branched out to include discussion videos, team reports, and some great collaboration content too. Markus’ on-camera personality has definitely improved as a result of working as a commentator, as he effectively combines great analysis with the occasional funny or witty remark.

I personally recommend his collab videos with Wolfe since they’re pretty much best friends and their chemistry is on point. Markus recently has been regularly streaming on his Twitch channel, so do yourself a favor and follow him!

Here’s where you can find Markus!

YouTube: www.youtube.com/13yoshi37

Twitch: twitch.tv/13yoshi37

Twitter: twitter.com/13Yoshi37

The Official Pokémon Channel(s)

Despite not having regular competitive Pokémon content, the various official Pokémon YouTube and Twitch channels upload and stream from select large tournaments each season. On YouTube, you can find footage from the Top Cut stages of big tournaments that were previously live streamed. It’s a good source for viewing VOD’s from bigger tournaments, while also catching streams of those events live.

Here’s the list of Pokémon’s Official Channels!

YouTube: youtube.com/pokemon

Twitch:

twitch.tv/pokemonvgc

twitch.tv/pokemonvgc_eu

twitch.tv/pokemon

Stream Website: pokemonchampionships.com

Twitter: twitter.com/Pokemon

Finally, Support Your Smaller Channels!

In addition to all of the great channels I’ve talked about in this piece, there are a ton of other, lesser-known content creators out there! If ever you come across a small YouTube channel with only a few hundred subscribers or a Twitch streamer with only a handful of views, show them your support! The growth of the Pokémon VGC community starts with more exposure, and the more popular content creators we have the better! Go give these people your view, subscription, and a follow! Thanks for reading!