Pokémon Champions - releasing April 8, 2026

I think some value that not many of us thought initially are teams that take advantage of status, the biggest examples are things like hex/infernal parade. Spreading burns reliably, especially against special attackers works out, and then your scarf or specs ghost goes ham with full powered hex. Unless champions introduces more heal bell/aroma mons because in sv it was very rare.
 
Lectrys said:
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.

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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.
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I'd say Mega Scovillain is a bit more weak than Cramorant in Hackmons, but the principles are there.
You're giving up a Mega Slot for this one ability and Scovillain's best recovery options are Rest, Leech Seed, and Giga Drain, where as Cramorant wasn't a Mega and being Hackmons can run any set.
I still think it'll be strong, but is way more costly and harder to use with it not learning Synthesis or Recover and needing to hold a Mega Stone instead of HDBs.
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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Oh yeah, it's insanely broken. It's like Cramorant-Gorging in Hackmons but a bit worse, bit is not saying much since Cramorant got banned from Hackmons. The ability itself will certainly be banned/restricted in many OMs since you can put it on actually good Pokemon. Only God knows what society would be like with Spicy Spray Suicune or Toxapex.
As for set, I think Rest Talk would be the way to go. Its main role will be a punching bag, pivoting into physical attackers. And unfortunately it only has those limited options for recovery. It otherwise would only get to burn like 1 or 2 Pokemon before dying and you no longer having a Mega.
It also really shits all over Rillaboom. It threatens Rillaboom with Flamethrower and Rillaboom can't even U-turn on it for chip.
I'd say it'd be actually pretty good on offense because of that and doing well against other priority abusers, but it's also a Mega so that means you're not using an offensive powerhouse.
 
mega scovillain just announced as the new host of hot ones, replacing sean evans

Eeveeto said:
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.
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I think the funniest and also dumbest outcome of mega scovillain actually being good and used a lot in OU would be a bunch of random physical pokemon running facade just in case they get burned.
 
Cuddly said:
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.
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I agree a bit with this, since unlike Scovillian, Victreebel can take an attack, but I also think an offensive ability would work. It's stats are a bit more bulky luckily, but I think the most likely thing is it gets Corrosion and drops to RU.
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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Cuddly, pack your things and let's go see a doctor.
 
TastieGaming said:
I agree a bit with this, since unlike Scovillian, Victreebel can take an attack,
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They are surprisingly on par in terms of bulk as well, ngl. Those extra 15 or 30 HP can make the difference anyway.
 
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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I also have a terrible idea, mega victreebel getting poison spray or toxic spray because it has similar high atk high satk 70-80 everything else to mega scovillain made me realize something

mega eelektross also has this stat spread, what if they also make paralysis spray? lol

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Just want to remind everyone that there are only a few more new abilities left, so not every Mega and their mother is getting Spicy Spray but different.
 
CynicalGiant said:
poison spray, paralysis spray, bad dreams 2, whatever malamar gets

easily covers the remaining 4 slots
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Delibird is Amazing said:
Well technically we just know that currently there are 4 gaps. If the last known ability is 318 then there can be more abilities with 319 that won't show up yet.
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How likely is that GameFreak is gonna make Spicy Spray and multiple variants with other status instead of something unique for different Megas?
 
Cuddly said:
How likely is that GameFreak is gonna make Spicy Spray and multiple variants with other status instead of something unique for different Megas?
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about as likely as them making like multiple -ate abilities in one go?

static, flame body, and poison point were all invented at the same time 7 generations ago anyway

also 8 brand new abilities presumably exclusive to megas is higher than we have ever had. there were only 2 new abilities exclusively on megas in XY and only 1 in ORAS (primordial groudon and kyogre are technically not megas)
 
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On the topic of Mega Malamar...
If there was one ability/move/anything that had a chance of saving it, could anything at all save it? Contrary is good, but with those new stats, what are we supposed to do with it? (not that anyone was planning on using it anyways...)
Just feels like the "My Friend Malamar" hype was for nothing, i've never been more disappointed
 
TastieGaming said:
If there was one ability/move/anything that had a chance of saving it, could anything at all save it? Contrary is good, but with those new stats, what are we supposed to do with it? (not that anyone was planning on using it anyways...)
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singles wise probably nothing

vgc wise, topsy-turvy to the field upon evolving or switching in

if mega malamar set trick room it would probably be good in singles but it would single handedly destroy vgc as a format so I doubt game freak would ever willingly do that. it would be more groundbreaking than literally any other ability they have ever made for vgc ever.

only like broken old ability choice they could give to malamar would be like wonder guard probably?
 
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CynicalGiant said:
about as likely as them making like multiple -ate abilities in one go?

static, flame body, and poison point were all invented at the same time 7 generations ago anyway

also 8 brand new abilities presumably exclusive to megas is higher than we have ever had. there were only 2 new abilities exclusively on megas in XY and only 1 in ORAS (primordial groudon and kyogre are technically not megas)
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Dragonize is 1 new -ate ability. Status Spray would be 4 on 4 unrelated Pokemon.
It’d be like if the Of Ruin abilities were given to Honchkrow, Kingambit, Greninja, and Umbreon in gen 9 without making the treasures of ruin legendaries. You got to keep it at least somewhat realistic.
 
Cuddly said:
Dragonize is 1 new -ate ability. Status Spray would be 4 on 4 unrelated Pokemon.
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I was referring to gen 6 making two ate abilities at once for megas, 3 if you consider that refrigerate was likely designed at the same time and planned to be given to mega glalie in oras before xy was released

them making like 3 new status spreading abilities at once is just as likely as them deciding to do 3 ates at once, which they did before, also like I said they made 3 status spreading abilities at once like 20 years ago so who knows

I don't think most of the new megas really need a new ability anyway other than making a new ability for the sake of it. I was also mostly joking since we already know who the new abilities are for from the credible leaks.

pyroar, eelektross, darkrai, scovillain, drill, was included in the leak
 
TastieGaming said:
On the topic of Mega Malamar...
If there was one ability/move/anything that had a chance of saving it, could anything at all save it? Contrary is good, but with those new stats, what are we supposed to do with it? (not that anyone was planning on using it anyways...)
Just feels like the "My Friend Malamar" hype was for nothing, i've never been more disappointed
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There is no ability that could save Malamar that would be balanced.
Like with Mega Emboar, Mega Malarmar is essentially just a glorified Assault Vest, which at least Mega Emboar got +25 to its actual offense. And Fire/Fighting is way better than Psychic/Dark. And Mega Emboar could use Bulk Up at least which it normally can’t with Assault Vest. So keeping Contrary is only going to hurt it.
People have speculated it’s getting Auto Trick Room, which honestly would be really broken. Switching in and immediately outspeeding everything faster than no investment Heatran would be really broken. You instantly stop any Dragon Dance or fast sweeper just from switching in. And if you die, you get to throw Ursaluna out to destroy your enemies. Not to mention Dynamic speed stuff in Doubles when you Mega Evolve.
So either Mega Malamar is going to be stupidly strong or dogshit.
 
I was thinking of variations on Trick Room setting, like maybe only once hit (ala sand spit or seed sower) or it would just be once per game (ie: when you mega evolve) but having any sort of "free" Trick Room at all would probably still be too much.

if it gets a new ability it probably does just lean into the stat flipping gimmick instead. It might still be bad but at least it'd be novel
 
R_N said:
if it gets a new ability it probably does just lean into the stat flipping gimmick instead. It might still be bad but at least it'd be novel
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topsy-turvy as an ability would probably be good in a niche way but you'd have to like not run icy wind or intimidate on your team whatsoever or malamar would just buff the enemy, lol

malamar probably also needs a "im immune to bug moves" ability
 
Some of these Pokémon could get new moves in Champions, as we've seen with Greninja getting Skitter Smack. It's not a good move on it, but it still got a move it didn't have before (It's from a HOME datamine 6 years ago!). When Champions gets a proper datamine we'll be able to see the full movepool for every Pokémon usable in the game
 
Excadrill's ability probably doesnt mean much of anything but it would be cool if this Protect-piercing effect was also present on "drill " moves like Drill Peck & Drill Run + could stack with Excadrill's ability (so drill run would deal 1/2 damage through Protect).
 
Magcargo said:
it would be cool if this Protect-piercing effect was also present on "drill " moves like Drill Peck & Drill Run + could stack with Excadrill's ability
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as long as they aren't full damage so the Dunsparce line signature move isn't overshadowed
also honestly they should let Fearow have it too, why not
 
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Cuddly said:
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.
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Eh, I'm not sold on this. VGC has no tiers, and there's plenty of super strong special attackers in every format. Running a mega whose only purpose is "spread burns" just doesn't click on me. There's other better ways to deal with Urshifu (including... just running Amoongus as rage powder user) that don't have such a huge opportunity cost.

Again, this isn't a case of an actually strong mon that also happens to have a good ability. Mega scovillain still fucking sucks stat wise.
It also doesn't help that the most common Fake Out users either are immune to burn (cough cough cat), are immune to rage powder (monke) or don't care to be burned (the various support fake out users).
Cuddly said:
People have speculated it’s getting Auto Trick Room, which honestly would be really broken. Switching in and immediately outspeeding everything faster than no investment Heatran would be really broken. You instantly stop any Dragon Dance or fast sweeper just from switching in. And if you die, you get to throw Ursaluna out to destroy your enemies. Not to mention Dynamic speed stuff in Doubles when you Mega Evolve.
So either Mega Malamar is going to be stupidly strong or dogshit.
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Ngl it still amazes me that people don't understand how insanely broken "autoTR" ability would be even on a shitmon. EXPECIALLY in doubles.
The ability to completely flip the speed control by swapping in is way WAY more powerful than the other field condition abilities, even actually worth running a shitmon just for it, and even worse because of the actual 50/50 you can force if Malamar is on the field and not megad yet.
 
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