Pokémon Champions - releasing April 8, 2026

Fivepoint said:
(if wonky and suboptimal for its statline) gimmick that can potentially let it work on the right teams.
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i feel like this should be expected tbh, most (keyword most, urshifu exists) pokemon that get these kinds of abilities that are insanely game warping are locked down to pokemon with major issues. and this is absolutely game warping, clicking earthquake with mega scovillain switching in, it taking like 40% due to doubles damage reduction and having your garchomp be burnt is kinda a big deal

its a massive nerf to spread moves and fake out which is why i think this is actually balanced being on that statline. also like i really think we are underestimating how much investment goes a mile

uninvested versus invested

252+ Atk Garchomp Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 112 Def Mega Scovillain: 70-84 (40.6 - 48.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252+ Atk Garchomp Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Scovillain: 81-96 (57.8 - 68.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
i think this kind of thing is one of the best arguable justifications for mega scovillain, being able to tank a spread EQ fairly well and then burn chomp which is a massive win in a lot of 4v4s


76+ Atk Ogerpon-Wellspring Ivy Cudgel vs. 252 HP / 112+ Def Scovillain: 72-85 (41.8 - 49.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
ivs from pikalytics idk if this is truly the optimal set rn, also im 95% sure this mon wont be legal at launch of champions

252+ Atk Choice Band Dragonite Dragon Claw vs. 252 HP / 112+ Def Scovillain: 106-126 (61.6 - 73.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
this is pretty bad tbh , but also a burnt dnite i think is a fair trade

252 Atk Roaring Moon Throat Chop vs. 252 HP / 112+ Def Scovillain: 67-79 (38.9 - 45.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
roaring moon is also support so its not like this entirely neuters it but i think this is still nice to make it *only* able to use supporting moves and otherwise do little

252+ Atk Iron Hands Drain Punch vs. 252 HP / 112+ Def Scovillain: 69-82 (40.1 - 47.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
preferrable to switch in on fake out, but hard to get the mega up and get into that position to bait fake out, and honestly probably really late into a game
still able to do it if you turn 1 rage powder + mega but idk how often that is gonna be unpunished lol

252+ Atk Kingambit Kowtow Cleave vs. 252 HP / 112+ Def Scovillain: 76-90 (44.1 - 52.3%) -- 15.6% chance to 2HKO

252+ Atk Urshifu-Rapid-Strike Surging Strikes (3 hits) vs. 252 HP / 112+ Def Scovillain on a critical hit: 99-120 (57.5 - 69.7%) -- approx. 2HKO
considering how stupid this mon is i consider this a fair trade, band def kills though


i think if you can get two good burns its a really good trade of the mega honestly, and it has just enough bulk with investment to take like 45% average from really strong physical attacks so you should be able to try and get two in a match

i think what makes that not the most useful is how many mons esp. spread mons are spatk and that makes it questionably useful for those matchups. also guts mons, i dont really feel like calcing it into ursaluna honestly

i also think the prevalence of so many offensive and supportive fires in vgc is honestly a bigger limiting factor than its stats, if incineroar could be burnt it'd be a generational lead mon with rage powder and this ability, and mons like gouging fire its basically useless into

i concur this might be better as a second mega you add as a 6th for some matchups idt you run it as your "main mega"

in singles its bad
 
I think at least buffing the hp stat even just a little would do wonders for scovillain. I think they're just worried the combination of leech+Giga drain on something with 100% burn would be too busted. That's what champions is for lol, play test.
 
Cuddly said:
I can imagine Mega Scovillain fitting on Stall teams.
Defensive Megas are very rare, and Stall has only really used Mega Sableye, and that has fallen off thanks to changes in the game.
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I thought a lot about this too. If it got Sythensis, it would be a decent staller with Protect + Leech Seed + Giga Drain/Flamethrower or even Worry Seed to stop abilities like Guts and Heatran's Flash Fire.
 
Eriorguez said:
Scovillain has the usual stats for a stone evolved Grass fwiw:

View attachment 820574

Gen V was cursed in terms of power creep I say.
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Now that you mention it, actually, I wonder if victreebel is going to have a poison equivalent to mega scovillain's ability for its mega. They have practically the same stat spread overall, so if scovillain got the hoenn special (again) to balance out its status auto-counter, they might be doing the same for victreebel as well. Plus, mega victreebel's whole thing is that it's overflowing with poison to the point it has to tie its mouth shut to keep it from all spilling out, which would thematically match as well (even if corrosion also has flavor-backing and would be better competitively).
 
M-Scovillain doesn't even need to deal with the higher powered moves; it can easily punish common stuff like u-turn/flip turn, knock off, and rapid spin. Multi-hit move that make contact are also way easier to tank.
Same with many priority move. Want to pick of a KO with priority? You now have to consider that M-Scovillain might switch in and cripple your mon.
Once the match goes on and it's worn down, it can be sacked to stop a physical sweeper.
It applies pressure by merely existing and threatening to switch in. The oppenent takes high risks clicking those moves as long as M-Scovillain is up, and might therefore much more hesitant to do so.
Although it doesn't have reliable recovery by the usual standard, rest might work in 6v6 singles. The fact it can make significant progress by merely getting hit means that sleeping isn't as much of a disadvantage.
It has also access to superfang to deal decent damage without any offensive investement and disregard the target's bulk.
However the issue I see is that none of that is true until you actually get to mega evolve. M-Scovilain is at its strongest when it can switch in at any moment; but getting it online not only require regular scovillain to come in safely, but also leaves you with a Mega that can't immediately provide significant value.
 
Eclairius said:
However the issue I see is that none of that is true until you actually get to mega evolve. M-Scovilain is at its strongest when it can switch in at any moment; but getting it online not only require regular scovillain to come in safely, but also leaves you with a Mega that can't immediately provide significant value.
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Mega Scovillian might be in the Mega Sableye situation, where people ran Fake Out/Protect on turn one to get it up before switching into another Pokemon to threaten.
 
Fivepoint said:
Now that you mention it, actually, I wonder if victreebel is going to have a poison equivalent to mega scovillain's ability for its mega. They have practically the same stat spread overall, so if scovillain got the hoenn special (again) to balance out its status auto-counter, they might be doing the same for victreebel as well. Plus, mega victreebel's whole thing is that it's overflowing with poison to the point it has to tie its mouth shut to keep it from all spilling out, which would thematically match as well (even if corrosion also has flavor-backing and would be better competitively).
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Mega Victreebel would definitely need more than just Poison Spicy Spray. Poison is the weakest status condition (or second if you count Toxic as a seperate status). Scovillain can pivot into physical attackers like Rillaboom or physical Zeraora, and those physical attackers now are dealing only half damage while taking constant chip. Do the same with Poison version, and all you get is constant chip.
That’s why I hope the ability ends up being closer to Gulp Missile. Spicy Spray is actually kind of like Gulp Missile but with burns and not dealing fixed damage. In Mega Victreebel’s case, it should use the move Belch if it knows the move. That’s even what I predicted and think would be the most balance way to handle Mega Victreebel.
 
Eclairius said:
M-Scovillain doesn't even need to deal with the higher powered moves; it can easily punish common stuff like u-turn/flip turn, knock off, and rapid spin. Multi-hit move that make contact are also way easier to tank.
Same with many priority move. Want to pick of a KO with priority? You now have to consider that M-Scovillain might switch in and cripple your mon.
Once the match goes on and it's worn down, it can be sacked to stop a physical sweeper.
It applies pressure by merely existing and threatening to switch in. The oppenent takes high risks clicking those moves as long as M-Scovillain is up, and might therefore much more hesitant to do so.
Although it doesn't have reliable recovery by the usual standard, rest might work in 6v6 singles. The fact it can make significant progress by merely getting hit means that sleeping isn't as much of a disadvantage.
It has also access to superfang to deal decent damage without any offensive investement and disregard the target's bulk.
However the issue I see is that none of that is true until you actually get to mega evolve. M-Scovilain is at its strongest when it can switch in at any moment; but getting it online not only require regular scovillain to come in safely, but also leaves you with a Mega that can't immediately provide significant value.
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It also has Leech Seed, which could be pretty good if a Sub Seed set works.
Wait... Since Mega Scovillian's Ability doesn't need the attacker to make contact, does it work from behind Substitute? I'm pretty sure we don't know yet, but if it does... >:D

Cuddly said:
Ok I have an awful terrible idea.
What if Mega Darkrai’s ability is Spicy Spray but for Sleep?
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You're evil.
 
CTNC said:
It also has Leech Seed, which could be pretty good if a Sub Seed set works.
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I don't think Scovillain has the bulk to stay on the field long enough for leech seed, nor wants to. As I mentioned, I think it is at its most dangerous when you can switch it in to punish stuff.
CTNC said:
Wait... Since Mega Scovillian's Ability doesn't need the attacker to make contact, [...]
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I just realised that the way it was worded it doesn't seem to need contact. Shit is busted, it punishes even more stuff than I thought. Multi-hit moves have been found dead and seasoned.
 
I might have to take my evaluation of Scovillain for singles down a peg. I kinda forgot about hazards, you know stuff like stealth rock that might be a tad relevant for a fire type that can't have boots and want to switch in all the time.
On the other hand, I don't think anyone has mentioned wish (from an ally) as possible source of recovery. But I'm not sure how flexible that can be nor how much actual healing that would result.
 
I'd also say the first issue: before you can threaten something with a burn, you need to switch in scovillain and safely mega it.


Nah bros, this aint it.
If it was an actually good mon, sure, i can see the risk/benefit (see mawile, kangaskan, etc)

But running a shitmon that ALSO takes your mega slot only because "if it gets to mega safely and swap out then it can swap in, take a hit, burn something and fucking die in the process cause it's made of paper for modern standards"?
Nah this aint it.

Drops to RU then gets banned. And 0 VGC usage cause why are you using this thing over the actually good megas? Ah ladder memes, ok, I am ok with it.

(Would be glad to be wrong but nah, this aint the sauce chief)
 
Worldie said:
I'd also say the first issue: before you can threaten something with a burn, you need to switch in scovillain and safely mega it.


Nah bros, this aint it.
If it was an actually good mon, sure, i can see the risk/benefit (see mawile, kangaskan, etc)

But running a shitmon that ALSO takes your mega slot only because "if it gets to mega safely and swap out then it can swap in, take a hit, burn something and fucking die in the process cause it's made of paper for modern standards"?
Nah this aint it.

Drops to RU then gets banned. And 0 VGC usage cause why are you using this thing over the actually good megas? Ah ladder memes, ok, I am ok with it.

(Would be glad to be wrong but nah, this aint the sauce chief)
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You can lead it and use Rage Powder and for the 80% of leads where one of their two Pokemon wants to use Fake Out, you're already getting value IMO

Fair to disagree ofc I'm still a believer tho
 
Mega Scovillain sounds stupid to use which is why I want to use it.

Yeah, I'll probably suck with it, but it can also lead to some very funny moments, and isn't comedy 85% of the reason to play competitive Pokemon?
 
Worldie said:
I'd also say the first issue: before you can threaten something with a burn, you need to switch in scovillain and safely mega it.


Nah bros, this aint it.
If it was an actually good mon, sure, i can see the risk/benefit (see mawile, kangaskan, etc)

But running a shitmon that ALSO takes your mega slot only because "if it gets to mega safely and swap out then it can swap in, take a hit, burn something and fucking die in the process cause it's made of paper for modern standards"?
Nah this aint it.

Drops to RU then gets banned. And 0 VGC usage cause why are you using this thing over the actually good megas? Ah ladder memes, ok, I am ok with it.

(Would be glad to be wrong but nah, this aint the sauce chief)
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The Mega Evolution issue is something I'm aware of and I've already mentioned. Even though someone else has mentioned a work around in protect, I think it's pretty abusable.
As for the bulk, it is bad, but it can still live 2-3 hits with investements. And it's a lot more against ubiquitous moves (in singles) like knock, u-turn, or rapid spin.
Ultimately the question (for singles) is "Do I want to dedicate my mega to burning half the oppenent's team and the looming threat of doing so at (almost) any time?"
 
In Singles context (not VGC), I see Mega Scovillain very good with Restalk + STABs (you can change one of the STABs for Stomping Tantrum or Super Fang). Needs big support (mainly Hazard removal, but also Fire counters), but punishes brainless clicking. The bulk is bad, but only if you don,t invest on it.

1775158320192.png


The meta will surely be very different to this, but out of all of these Mons, the only one that doesn,t suffer from a burn is Gholdengo and the only one that can OHKO with a STAB Move is Dragonite, with Hurricane.

Scovillain will lose to almost any Fire type (though it can run Stomping Tantrum for Heatran) and will be ignored by Magic Guard, Special Attackers (especially those with recovery), Guts, Gliscor (who however takes a lot from even uninvested STABs), Misty Surge (though neither Fini, not Weezing like switching into the STABs) and some walls. Everything else though? Think carefully or you will get a free burn.

I honestly see big potential for this Mon. No, you can,t slap it on any team like you can with Mega Mawile, Kanga, Diancie, etc. But with the right teammates (something like Alomomola, Tusk/Treads, Zapdos, some sweepers that set-up on burned Mons, etc.) it will be an important threat.
 
Worldie said:
I'd also say the first issue: before you can threaten something with a burn, you need to switch in scovillain and safely mega it.


Nah bros, this aint it.
If it was an actually good mon, sure, i can see the risk/benefit (see mawile, kangaskan, etc)

But running a shitmon that ALSO takes your mega slot only because "if it gets to mega safely and swap out then it can swap in, take a hit, burn something and fucking die in the process cause it's made of paper for modern standards"?
Nah this aint it.

Drops to RU then gets banned. And 0 VGC usage cause why are you using this thing over the actually good megas? Ah ladder memes, ok, I am ok with it.

(Would be glad to be wrong but nah, this aint the sauce chief)
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It’ll have its uses in Stall to help with its issues since its positives are very good for Stall.
And on VGC you can run Rage Power and this would cripple Urshifu. Depending on when it activates, it can also punish multi-hit moves like Surging Strikes.
You can also use it as kind of an anti-Fake Out Pokemon, as it will burn the good Fake Out user with the sole exception of Incatoru Gojo letting it set up more easily.
 
Eeveeto said:
In Singles context (not VGC), I see Mega Scovillain very good with Restalk + STABs (you can change one of the STABs for Stomping Tantrum or Super Fang). Needs big support (mainly Hazard removal, but also Fire counters), but punishes brainless clicking. The bulk is bad, but only if you don,t invest on it.

View attachment 820613

The meta will surely be very different to this, but out of all of these Mons, the only one that doesn,t suffer from a burn is Gholdengo and the only one that can OHKO with a STAB Move is Dragonite, with Hurricane.

Scovillain will lose to almost any Fire type (though it can run Stomping Tantrum for Heatran) and will be ignored by Magic Guard, Special Attackers (especially those with recovery), Guts, Gliscor (who however takes a lot from even uninvested STABs), Misty Surge (though neither Fini, not Weezing like switching into the STABs) and some walls. Everything else though? Think carefully or you will get a free burn.

I honestly see big potential for this Mon. No, you can,t slap it on any team like you can with Mega Mawile, Kanga, Diancie, etc. But with the right teammates (something like Alomomola, Tusk/Treads, Zapdos, some sweepers that set-up on burned Mons, etc.) it will be an important threat.
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I think Mega Scovillain is the kind of mon that isn't gonna be used much at first but as people play more they discover its uses because it has such a unique effect. No other status has been able to be spread essentially through magic, which is what this honestly feels like.

The stats look bad at first but I think the real issue is winning the hazard war, but after that I think it's extremely scary. Like for a lot of offense teams that want to get the most value for their mons, or even force trades to get progress, being able to just swap in Scovillain -> take maybe 40-60% to a very strong attack, burn it for free? Rest up?? Feels like it can help you slow down a lot of mons and force them to setup before they commit to attacking at all
 
If Cramorant-Gorging can be banned from Hackmons, I think its at least safe to say Mega Scovillain could definitely be UU material.
I don’t think that with its bulky enough to be OU considering that it’s a Mega and you’d essentially be using it as cannon fodder. Most teams have better options for Megas with Stall being probably the only archetype that would use Mega Scovillain. Additionally you have Gholdengo and how easy hazards are to set that make its job harder.
UU’s powerlevel is probably low enough to justify running Scovillain on regular teams since it’s far less likely to be KO’d by a light breeze. It’s also easier to remove hazards when Gholdengo isn’t present.
If Champions does give Scovillain a movepool buff, it definitely could be OU proper with how many threatening physical attackers there are, and how many utility moves like U-turn and Rapid Spin come out.
 
ant4456 said:
I think Mega Scovillain is the kind of mon that isn't gonna be used much at first but as people play more they discover its uses because it has such a unique effect. No other status has been able to be spread essentially through magic, which is what this honestly feels like.

The stats look bad at first but I think the real issue is winning the hazard war, but after that I think it's extremely scary. Like for a lot of offense teams that want to get the most value for their mons, or even force trades to get progress, being able to just swap in Scovillain -> take maybe 40-60% to a very strong attack, burn it for free? Rest up?? Feels like it can help you slow down a lot of mons and force them to setup before they commit to attacking at all
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Careful what you say - Gen 8 Hackmons players have already been exposed to this Spicy Spray kind of status spreading.

...In the form of the infamous Cramorant-Gorging.

Originally a haha funny meme in Metronome Battle (the first meta to try Cram-Gorging for the paralysis), Cramorant-Gorging revealed its true power in SwSh Balanced Hackmons and Pure Hackmons where it can paralyze multiple unlucky Pokemon with careful switch-ins. Admittedly, it also inflicts 25% chip when getting hit, but it lost its paralyzing ability and had to recharge it by using Surf/Dive or switching out and back in (thus why it was merely a meme in Metronome Battle, where switching cannot occur, but a true menace in 6v6 metas like both Hackmons).

It did not take long for SwSh Balanced Hackmons to ban Cramorant-Gorging. Even the threat of paralyzing a mon by switching Cramorant-Gorging in was too much, let alone actually crippling a sweeper or even two that way.

Cramorant-Gorging rocketed to the A ranks in viability in SwSh Pure Hackmons, a significantly more defensive meta revolving around a Pokemon form that can opt to take essentially no damage from non-fixed damage physical or special attacks: Eternatus-Eternamax. Due to being a more defensive meta, Cramorant-Gorging could often threaten to paralyze the entire opposing SwSh Pure Hackmons team except for Electric-types (mainly Regieleki), Comatose users, and Flame Orb users (mainly Neutralizing Gas Eternamax). Getting paralyzed is disastrous in SwSh Pure Hackmons, a meta where Substitute is king for absorbing OHKO moves (the most reliable way to take down Eternamax), and Taunt is therefore prince for blocking Substitute. While I am a fan of putting Surf on Cramorant-Gorging so it wins 1v1s against Eternamax, my fellow rivals in high-level SwSh Pure Hackmons games (e.g. aerobee) generally were not. Simply spreading paralysis (and threatening to always do so or force switches with Taunt) was that good.

~~~~~

Mega Scovillain has around Cramorant-Gorging levels of bulk (deceptively good bulk in the right hands) but has the glaring problem of needing to Mega and stay in for a turn to get its disastrous ability active. If it opts to Protect so it can try the switch-in threat later, it invites opposing mons to set up in its face. Spicy Spray has a great predecessor in Cramorant-Gorging's Gulp Missile, so I too suspect UU is the worst Mega Scovillain can get. Mega Scovillain is absolutely leaning on how many opposing mons it can burn before it gets KOed, though (although one physical sweeper is already victory based on SwSh Balanced Hackmons's example, and 2 physical sweepers is gravy), and it might have to try going for burns on attack the first turn it is out.
 
Am I the only one who thinks Mega Scovillan's ability is insanely broken? Guarenteed burn off of the opponent using ANY attack is insane. This lets it emergency check a lot of crazy sweepers if their boosts get out of hand & also heavily punishes many defensive Pokemon & wallbreakers for using moves that they would normally go for anyways, like Corv using U-Turn, Great Tusk clicking Rapid Spin, Ogerpon-W clicking U-Turn, etc. The amount of situations this is applicable in is signficantly wider than it seems at an initial glance too - since you can bait attacks like Zamazenta Crunch or Primarina Flip Turn with partners like Slowking-Galar. 65 / 85 / 85 bulk isn't even all that bad either, espicially once the opponent eats a burn.

IDK what the main set this guy would run would be. I like the idea Eeveeto mentioned with Restalk, but I also think a generic Leech Seed set with Protect + STABs also works.
 
Lectrys said:
If it opts to Protect so it can try the switch-in threat later, it invites opposing mons to set up in its face.
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It's not an invitation to be accepted lightly. If the opponent ignores it expecting a Protect, they can very easily find themselves being hit with Leech Seed or Overheat. Almost nothing likes getting Leech Seeded, and the few things that do really don't like getting hit with an Overheat that strong.
 
Magcargo said:
Am I the only one who thinks Mega Scovillan's ability is insanely broken? Guarenteed burn off of the opponent using ANY attack is insane. This lets it emergency check a lot of crazy sweepers if their boosts get out of hand & also heavily punishes many defensive Pokemon & wallbreakers for using moves that they would normally go for anyways, like Corv using U-Turn, Great Tusk clicking Rapid Spin, Ogerpon-W clicking U-Turn, etc. The amount of situations this is applicable in is signficantly wider than it seems at an initial glance too - since you can bait attacks like Zamazenta Crunch or Primarina Flip Turn with partners like Slowking-Galar. 65 / 85 / 85 bulk isn't even all that bad either, espicially once the opponent eats a burn.

IDK what the main set this guy would run would be. I like the idea Eeveeto mentioned with Restalk, but I also think a generic Leech Seed set with Protect + STABs also works.
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Yeah it's 100% an insanely broken ability I think the debate is really "How much can it carry a mid statline". I happen to be in "I think it's good in VGC kinda not good in singles", but honestly after doing more calcs I think it'll be good in Singles too. If you put this ability on any mon with a good statspread it'd unironically be AG material. We're LUCKY this shit's on Mega Scovillain
 
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