The growing use of pyridine stabilized polycationic I(III) regents ([PhI(Pyr)2]2+) as versatile oxidizing agents is reviewed. Currently the number of examples describing the use of these oxidants is modest, however those that do exist are spread across a diverse range of topic areas. The highly oxidizing nature of the [PhI(Pyr)2]2+ polycations coupled with the potential for neutral ligand delivery to metal centers or in situ generation of the reactive [PhI]+ electrophile gives access to a range of novel transformations across topic areas including organic, heavy main-group centered and organometallic chemistry.