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Pokémon Champions - releasing April 8, 2026

Yung Dramps said:
Too early to say of course but I might have to owe this Mega an apology...?
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Probably too early. This is only the first handful of MC tournaments, meta's all over the place, pretty much each tournament has diametrically opposed mega presence.

Take for example the Z mega.
First tournaments: people were hyping Lucario Z as usable with the Steel Beam set, consider Garchomp Z awful and Mega Golisopod as solid TR and rain mega
Second lap of tournaments: Garchomp Z has significant presence, Lucario Z falls off the face of the planet with near 0 presence, some people actually make day 2 with Absol Z, Raichu Y all over the place, practically 0 salamence and golisopod, random Mega Meowstics.

Give it a month more for people to actually figure out the meta.
 
CynicalGiant said:
for non megas a lot of people have apparently discovered the power of temu urshifu (grapploct)
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I take it like everyone else this one is for vgc? I play bss where mence seems more irritating from what I've gleaned. So it didn't work there. In vgc dp they JUST use storm throw for semi unique, or do they mess with tops curvy? I hate how that move seems good but sorta isn't. Cause I order for it to work you need to have them set up and it's in a slow mon so...yikes. it'd be cool to me if anyone uses it though! Except I think they sey up less in doubles
 
Omastar68 said:
I take it like everyone else this one is for vgc? I play bss where mence seems more irritating from what I've gleaned. So it didn't work there. In vgc dp they JUST use storm throw for semi unique, or do they mess with tops curvy? I hate how that move seems good but sorta isn't. Cause I order for it to work you need to have them set up and it's in a slow mon so...yikes. it'd be cool to me if anyone uses it though! Except I think they sey up less in doubles
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It's really just Storm Throw. Remember VGC is infested by Intimidate, having a physical attacker that can threaten Incin, Archaludon and a couple more targets without being bothered by intimidate cycling is a decent deal.

...that said it's a Trick Room mon in a meta where TR is very matchup fishy and hard to use. I call fotm on it, I don't think we'll really see it much after the new toy syndrome is gone.
 
R_N said:
When your "specific scenarios" are that frequent and it performs well because of it I think that just makes it a good mega actually.
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Worldie said:
I'd disagree. It makes it a situational mega that will disappear as soon as those scenario disappear.

Which tbfh is more than you can say for a lot of other that don't even get a temporary niche I guess
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I think the best term is "Anti-Meta" in this case. Chomp-Z is good into a lot of things that define the current state of the VGC Meta, but is not in such a state that it dictates or causes the Meta to form around itself the way they do. It the Meta state gives it successful match ups rather than the reverse, so have to see how it fares when things inevitably shift to another one and if it could adapt to that.
 
Finally no Garchomp Z in top 4, fraud allegations will not cease until people stop pretending it's anything but an Anti Charizard tool.

Raichu X finally getting tournament results is nice though. I knew that the existance of Rillaboom and Indeedee would prompt people to start experimenting with the other rat mega.
 
Worldie said:
Finally no Garchomp Z in top 4, fraud allegations will not cease until people stop pretending it's anything but an Anti Charizard tool.

Raichu X finally getting tournament results is nice though. I knew that the existance of Rillaboom and Indeedee would prompt people to start experimenting with the other rat mega.
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What tournament is this about?
 
Looking at the highest placing Raichu X team from Louisville, a part of me wonders if there could be just as much use because of Raichu Y since base Raichu no selling the Zap Cannons for stuff like Charizard and Politoed could be as much utility as breaking terrain wars and empowering the Electro Shot from Archaludon. Also MC really did seem to shake up the meta despite adding less than MB
 
Flamestorm6 said:
Looking at the highest placing Raichu X team from Louisville, a part of me wonders if there could be just as much use because of Raichu Y since base Raichu no selling the Zap Cannons for stuff like Charizard and Politoed could be as much utility as breaking terrain wars and empowering the Electro Shot from Archaludon. Also MC really did seem to shake up the meta despite adding less than MB
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There were a couple streamed matches of the Raichu X teams, but I also got the same impression.

I would assume the main job Raichu X has is to deny Indeedee/Rilla as well as neutering the threat of Sleep Powder.
 
MC Squared said:
Mega Raichu X was seen more again from the current Nice Regionals that the Play Pokémon account finally highlighted it
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Caught just enough of the stream to find that the Mega Raichu X team, in fact, won the Nice regionals.

...And, for once, a Rain team wins a regional!

Team is Mega Raichu X - Sneasler (Electric Seed) - Basculegion-F (Sash) - Pelipper - Archaludon - Mega Golisopod (fairly reminiscent of the time I tried Rillaboom and Sneasler in my Rain team except now this build has two mons that can OHKO Mega Charizard Y in Sun, and anti-Venusaur measures are no longer as essential since Electric Terrain blocks Sleep Powder).
 
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Lectrys said:
Caught just enough of the stream to find that the Mega Raichu X team, in fact, won the Nice regionals.

...And, for once, a Rain team wins a regional!

Team is Mega Raichu X - Sneasler (Electric Seed) - Basculegion-F (Sash) - Pelipper - Archaludon - Mega Golisopod (fairly reminiscent of the time I tried Rillaboom and Sneasler in my Rain team except now this build has two mons that can OHKO Mega Charizard Y in Sun, and anti-Venusaur measures are no longer as essential since Electric Terrain blocks Sleep Powder).
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a funny thing about this team is that the same team layout, but different raichu mega, was the worst performing team in this regional

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CynicalGiant said:
a funny thing about this team is that the same team layout, but different raichu mega, was the worst performing team in this regional

View attachment 870949View attachment 870948
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Good for Raichu X. They deserved to be the new hotness. Also feel kinda vindicated since I did think that Raichu X had potential in MC when the terrain setters and seeds came back and Louisville and Nice are kinda showing that potential. Now to see if Ursaluna Mega Scovillain will make a good duo
 
Flamestorm6 said:
Good for Raichu X. They deserved to be the new hotness. Also feel kinda vindicated since I did think that Raichu X had potential in MC when the terrain setters and seeds came back and Louisville and Nice are kinda showing that potential. Now to see if Ursaluna Mega Scovillain will make a good duo
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Scovillain would always die in one hit unless you purposely make Ursaluna have less Attack EVs and invest that into something else
 
MC Squared said:
Scovillain would always die in one hit unless you purposely make Ursaluna have less Attack EVs and invest that into something else
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ursaluna wont have the guts boost because it doesnt have the burn when it clicks facade into scovillain
32+ Atk Ursaluna Facade vs. 32 HP / 10+ Def Scovillain-Mega: 67-79 (38.9 - 45.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
i am assuming this is the scenario you are referring to
 
Vengeance417 said:
I'm certain the idea is to have Ursaluna use Earthquake to side-proc Spicy Spray so Ursaluna can then use a different item besides Flame Orb.
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Assuming whatever item it's running isn't boosting its Attack,
252+ Atk Ursaluna Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 76+ Def Scovillain-Mega: 135-160 (40.4 - 47.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
Had to use the regular calculator so the damage is slightly off
(For context Facade came out to: 252+ Atk Ursaluna Facade vs. 252 HP / 76+ Def Scovillain-Mega: 127-151 (38 - 45.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO)

It is survivable, even on a crit (even in singles for that matter), you have to remember that Earthquake gets weakened in Doubles.
 
What if the bigbrain though is to use Bulldoze. There were times when people would use bulldoze tech for weakness policy metagross while also providing speed control. With Ursaluna not exactly being the fastest pokemon on the planet, even invested, I could tecnically see that being a option. Ursa only really needs Facade + High Horsepower anyway + Protect.

....that said, I am not confident that'll ever be a gimmick. You're investing so much into getting Ursaluna burned, both your mega AND a setup turn where Ursaluna is tecnically open to be attacked, intimidated or whatever. And you're running M-Scov + Ursa lead, meaning you are not using Trick Room either.
There's probably ways around it as well, like using M-Scov as redirector for a TR sweeper that can set up TR (es, Hatterene or male Indeedee) but kinda feels like ladder gimmick more than something reliable in tournament play with OTS.

Also re: Raichu X.
I'm glad it's having some success, I always knew that *eventually* it'd get something done. That said, I am not confident this will stay. Raichu X to me feels a lot similar to Garchomp Z (and you heard me complain about it enough), it's an anti-meta solution that's only as good as the actual meta it counters...
...we're never going to get rid of Charizard Y until restricted are we.
 
Worldie said:
What if the bigbrain though is to use Bulldoze. There were times when people would use bulldoze tech for weakness policy metagross while also providing speed control. With Ursaluna not exactly being the fastest pokemon on the planet, even invested, I could tecnically see that being a option. Ursa only really needs Facade + High Horsepower anyway + Protect.

....that said, I am not confident that'll ever be a gimmick. You're investing so much into getting Ursaluna burned, both your mega AND a setup turn where Ursaluna is tecnically open to be attacked, intimidated or whatever. And you're running M-Scov + Ursa lead, meaning you are not using Trick Room either.
There's probably ways around it as well, like using M-Scov as redirector for a TR sweeper that can set up TR (es, Hatterene or male Indeedee) but kinda feels like ladder gimmick more than something reliable in tournament play with OTS.

Also re: Raichu X.
I'm glad it's having some success, I always knew that *eventually* it'd get something done. That said, I am not confident this will stay. Raichu X to me feels a lot similar to Garchomp Z (and you heard me complain about it enough), it's an anti-meta solution that's only as good as the actual meta it counters...
...we're never going to get rid of Charizard Y until restricted are we.
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I mean, Raichu X will only get better as more Pokemon that can take advantage of Electric Terrain get added, and probably won't get unseated as the main Electric Terrain setter until Tapu Koko gets added. Unless gen 10 introduces a new one that gets added first anyway.
 
Worldie said:
...we're never going to get rid of Charizard Y until restricted are we.
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I only see that happening if they legalize the Primals + Mega Ray alongside the other restricteds.

Say they delay legalizing the giga Hoenn ubers. While Zard Y will have to contend with Groudon + Koraidon as sun setters, I can see Zard Y still having a place, primarily in rulesets with only one restricted allowed. It doesn't take a restricted slot, it's not slowed down by Intimidate unlike the restricted sun setters, it opens the door for Zard Y + restricted comps, and it can override Kyogre's Drizzle with Mega Evolution like it can vs Pelipper and Politoed. Zard Y + Venu, I can see still being great vs Kyogre rain structures. Could even run both Koraidon AND Zard Y to effortlessly keep the sun up for Venu in the face of opposing weather lmao

All that said, Zard Y becomes a harder sell once two restricteds are allowed, since you can run Groudon or Koraidon as your sun setter + another restricted, even potentially a mega restricted, and then Zard Y really falls off once the Primals and Mega Ray arrive, since it can't change their weathers, and Primal Groudon is in contention for best mon ever made.

Ultimately, it depends on what they legalize when they start adding the restricteds, but in a non-Primal world, I wouldn't count Zard Y out just yet. In a Primal world, however, that's when we really stop seeing it.
 
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