Pokémon Champions: Complete Guide to Mega Evolutions 2026

Released on April 8, 2026 on Nintendo Switch and arriving on mobile on June 17, Pokémon Champions has placed Mega Evolution at the heart of its competitive identity. Where the main games alternate between gimmicks (Dynamax, Terastallization, Z-Move), Champions returns to this iconic mechanic introduced with X and Y, expands it with brand-new forms, and locks it in for the entire season. Regulation M-B, active from June 17 to September 2, 2026, is the first major international event of this new format and will serve as the foundation for the 2026 World Championships. Here's everything you need to know to understand, prepare for, and make the most of Mega Evolutions in Champions.

The Mega Evolution system in Pokémon Champions

The principle stays true to Generation VI, but Champions tightens and clarifies the rules for the competitive scene. Every Mega Evolution requires two conditions to be strictly met:

• A compatible Pokémon, holding its associated Mega Stone (Blazikenite for Blaziken, Metagrossite for Metagross, etc.). Without the right stone, no activation is possible.
• Only one activation per battle. In Champions, the limit is even stricter than in standard VGC: only one Pokémon on the team can Mega Evolve, and this Mega Evolution is triggered manually by the trainer when selecting a move.

In practice, during battle, the dedicated button appears when choosing a move for the eligible Pokémon: the transformation happens before the action and immediately changes the type, ability, and stats for the rest of the battle. The Pokémon's original ability is overwritten by that of its mega form, which makes some choices obvious (Mega Gengar and Shadow Tag) and others far more subtle (Mega Tyranitar and Sand Stream).

Important point: the Mega Stone cannot be swapped out for another berry or item during battle (Trick, Thief, and Knock Off don't work on it). It's also specific to each Pokémon: it's impossible to have Blazikenite held by any other carrier.

As for progression, Mega Stones can be obtained through several channels in Champions: the event shop paid for with League Points, weekly seasonal missions, or automatic unlocking when a compatible Pokémon is added to the Box. Nearly all of the classic Mega Stones are available right after the tutorial; the new Mega Evolutions exclusive to the game (Mega Kingambit, Mega Baxcalibur, Mega Ceruledge, Mega Hexadron…) require reaching Champion rank in Ranked Battle before appearing in the event rotation.

Team building tip: think from the moment you select the three Pokémon sent into battle about the “right time” to Mega Evolve. A Mega triggered too early in an unfavorable matchup is wasted tempo; held back too long, it never has an impact on the battle.

The 15 brand-new Mega Evolutions exclusive to Pokémon Champions

Champions' biggest creative selling point is these brand-new forms that expand an already rich roster. Here's the official list, with the final type and the ability gained after transformation:

• Mega Raichu X — Electric — Ability Surge Surfer: sets a Electric Terrain upon entry, boosting allied Electric-type attacks and preventing sleep.
• Mega Raichu Y — Electric — Ability No Guard: makes every attack never miss, including low-accuracy moves like Fissure.
• Mega Tsareena — Grass/Dragon — Ability Lightning Rod: absorbs Electric-type attacks for a +1 boost to Special Attack.
• Mega Infernape — Fire/Fighting — Ability Speed Boost: gains a Speed boost at the end of every turn, a historic reference within the roster.
• Mega Swampert — Water/Ground — Ability Slush Rush: doubles its Speed in rain, a pillar of Rain teams.
• Mega Klefki — Steel/Fairy — Ability Pure Power: doubles its Attack stat, making it one of the most brutal physical attackers in the format.
• Mega Metagross — Steel/Psychic — Ability Tough Claws: boosts all contact moves (Meteor Mash, Thunder Punch, Ice Punch).
• Mega Staraptor — Fighting/Flying — Ability Defiant: turns stat drops into boosts, punishing Intimidate and "inverted" Dragon Dance.
• Mega Scolipede — Bug/Poison — Ability Shell Armor: immune to critical hits, backed by enormous defenses.
• Mega Krookodile — Dark/Fighting — Ability Intimidate: lowers opponents' Attack upon entry, extremely strong in doubles.
• Mega Zeraora — Electric — Exclusive Ability Eelevate: converts its Normal-type moves into Electric-type moves, a nod to Pixilate/Aerilate.
• Mega Pyroar — Fire/Normal — Exclusive Ability Fire Mane: combined STAB boost for Fire and Normal, unique to the format.
• Mega Malamar — Dark/Psychic — Ability Defiant: the second user of Defiant, able to turn Skull Bash or Superpower into a net gain.
• Mega Terrakion — Rock/Fighting — Ability Tough Claws: Head Smash, Rock Slide, and Close Combat gain an extra offensive layer.
• Mega Drapion — Poison/Dragon — Ability Regenerator: heals 33% of its HP on every switch, king of Bulky-Offense defensive teams.
• Mega Passimian — Fighting — Ability Defiant: every stat drop triggers a +2 boost to Attack, extremely relevant against Intimidate.

Note that Champions has also brought back the classic Mega Evolutions already familiar to players (Mega Charizard X and Y, Mega Mewtwo X and Y, Mega Gengar, Mega Lucario…), made eligible for Regulation M-B for the first time on this generation of hardware.

The current meta: focus on Regulation M-B

Formalized by The Pokémon Company, the M-B Regulation is in effect from June 17 to September 2, 2026, for both the in-game Ranked Battle mode and official VGC tournaments, including the 2026 World Championships. The main rules:

• Teams of 3 to 6 Pokémon declared, 4 selected for a double battle, 3 for a single battle.
• Actual levels 1 to 100, adjusted to level 50 in battle.
• Doubles format as the official standard, but Singles remain available in Ranked.
• Only one Mega Evolution per team, to be activated only once during the battle.
• Open roster: Kanto, Hoenn, Kalos, and Paldea are widely represented, with a strong focus on new entrants (Hoenn starters, Jirachi, Metagross).

According to usage stats from the first month of the season, a few archetypes clearly stand out. Rain teams built around Bekipan and Mega Laggron remain a safe bet, while the Mega Mysdibule + Intimidate duo dominates Trick Room compositions. On more offensive maps, Mega Métalosse and Mega Braségali form the core of many "Bulky-Offense" teams. Usage rates reported by Pikalytics put Angoliath at around 18%, Gromago at 17%, while Mysdibule and Ohmassacre are climbing week after week and already surpass 5% presence in Master Ball ranked teams.

Mega Mysdibule: the offensive powerhouse of the format

With Pure Power, a base Attack of 105 effectively becomes 210 in practice. Add Guillotine, Machouille, Ice Punch and Foresight, and you get a threat that breaks through almost anything short of a dedicated physical wall. Its Steel/Fairy typing resists the Dragon/Dark spam of the format and lets it tank Dark Pulse or Head Smack without going down.

Mega Braségali: the speed race

Turbo turns Braségali into a "snowball" threat: as long as it survives one turn, its Speed climbs and it outpaces the whole meta. Combined with Flame Dance, Dazzling Gleam and Close Combat, it punishes every opposing switch mistake. The catch: it's extremely fragile on the first exchange, which requires a partner capable of protecting it (Detect, double Wide Guard).

Mega Métalosse: the versatile pillar

Tough Claws multiplies the power of contact moves by 1.3. Meteor Mash, Thunder Punch, Ice Punch and Bulldoze form a fearsome offensive moveset, while its Steel/Psychic typing and 130 base Defense make it very hard to knock out in one hit. Its only weakness: average Speed, which often forces reliance on priority Bullet Punch to compensate.

Mega Staraptor: the Intimidate counter

Mega Staraptor's true Ability is Reflect. Wait — no: it's Contrary. Every stat drop — Intimidate, Charm, Fake Tears — becomes a boost instead. In doubles, it literally shuts down strategies built around Intimidate Rillaboom or Excadrill. Its STAB Flying/Fighting moves, Acrobatics and Close Combat, do the rest.

Mega Toxapex: the regenerative wall

Regenerator heals 33% of its HP on every switch. Combined with a highly defensive Poison/Dragon typing and moves like Dragon Pulse, Sludge Bomb, and Toxic, Mega Toxapex is the best defensive pivot in the format, able to absorb hits and then dish them right back over several turns.

Meta tip: never build a team around a single Mega. The "one per battle" rule means that if your Mega is knocked out before it activates, you're playing 5 against 6 with no gimmick. A backup plan (speed control structure, entry hazards) is essential.

Match-up tip: against an unknown Mega, delay activating your own until turn 2. You rarely lose a battle by Mega Evolving one turn later; you lose plenty by revealing your form and Ability too early.

To go further

• Serebii — Pokémon Champions hub: detailed entries, exclusive Abilities, weekly updates.
• Poképédia — Mega Evolution: official French-language encyclopedia, FR names and lore.
• Stratadex — Regulation M-B: updated tier lists and Pikalytics usage stats.
• pokemon.com — FR news: official announcements and Championship schedule.

Regulation M-B will close on September 2, 2026. A Regulation M-C, which should open the door to new Megas, will then take over for the autumn-winter season. Pokémon Champions players therefore have a few weeks to fine-tune their teams before the 2026 World Championships, where several of these brand-new Megas will compete for their first major official title.