Pokémon Champions Tier List: Regulation M-C

Regulation M-C has shaken up Pokémon Champions more than any update so far. Salamence is back and already winning, Rillaboom has arrived and changed the pace of every game, and Charizard, the Mega that sat on top of every tier list for months, is no longer the automatic pick it used to be.

This tier list ranks every relevant Pokémon for doubles (VGC) after the Baltimore and Frankfurt Regionals, the first two big events of the format. 

The S tier in one line

Mega Salamence, Mega Raichu Y, Rillaboom and Sneasler shaped the first two Regionals of the format, and right now every competitive team needs a plan against all four of them.

How we rank

We built this list starting from results rather than opinions. The base is the official usage from the Baltimore and Frankfurt Regionals, both day one and day two, together with the teams that finished at the top of each event. We then cross checked everything against the tier lists of some of the best players in the game, adding some of our personal taste.

On top of that, we add something only PokeFeed has: real community teams for each Pokémon, with replica codes you can paste straight into the game. The list will be updated after every major event.

S tier

Mega Salamence

Mega Salamence is the Mega that won Baltimore, the first Regional of the format, where Joseph Ugarte took the title with it next to Mega Tyranitar. At Frankfurt it lost some ground: it was the second most used Mega on day one at 25.5%, behind Raichu Y, and it dropped to 20.9% on day two, down from 37.2% and 31.6% at Baltimore. It still reached the top 13 on two teams, the ones that finished ninth and twelfth, and it stays in S tier because of what it does in a game. What makes it so strong is that it works even when it does not Mega Evolve, which makes it the ideal second Mega on double Mega teams: it brings Intimidate before the Mega, and big spread damage after.

• Winning set: Hyper Voice, Draco Meteor, Flamethrower, Protect.
• Best partners: Mega Tyranitar and Excadrill in sand, or Mega Floette as a second Mega.
• Watch out for: Hisuian Arcanine, whose Head Smash knocks it out, and Mega Raichu Y.

Teams with Mega Salamence

Mega Raichu Y

For some top players, Mega Raichu Y is the best Mega in the game right now, and Frankfurt proved them right. It was the most used Mega on day one at 29.7%, ahead of Salamence, its usage grew to 32.5% on day two, and it was one of the two Megas on the team Eric Rios used to win the event with an undefeated 17-0 record. Five of the top 13 teams brought it. It outspeeds both Salamence and Sneasler, its Fake Out comes before anything else, Focus Blast takes care of Incineroar and Kingambit, and Zap Cannon doubles as speed control. Only hard Trick Room and sand teams can afford not to worry about it.

• Common set: Zap Cannon, Focus Blast, Fake Out, Protect.
• Ability: Lightning Rod before Mega Evolving, No Guard after.

Copy a Mega Raichu Y team

Rillaboom

Rillaboom was the most used Pokémon at both Regionals so far. At Frankfurt it was on 55.4% of teams on day one and 56.4% on day two, it appeared on seven of the top 13 teams, and it changed the format almost by itself. Grassy Terrain heals the whole field every turn and slows games down, while Grassy Glide gives Rillaboom priority and its terrain activates Grassy Seed for partners like Sneasler. Since there is no Assault Vest in Champions, most players run it with a Miracle Seed or a Sitrus Berry. The winning team at Frankfurt used Miracle Seed with Grassy Glide, Wood Hammer, Fake Out and U-turn.

• Common moves: Fake Out, Grassy Glide, Wood Hammer, High Horsepower or U-turn.
• Best partners: Incineroar, Milotic and Mega Gengar.

Browse Rillaboom teams

Sneasler

Sneasler is the best Fighting type in the game, and many players go further and call it the best Pokémon in the format. At Frankfurt it was the second most used Pokémon on day one at 37.1%, it held 35.0% on day two, and it was on six of the top 13 teams. The key is Unburden: once its Grassy Seed or Psychic Seed activates, its speed doubles, and under terrain it outspeeds almost everything, even on Tailwind teams.

• Core moves: Dire Claw, Close Combat, Protect, plus Fake Out or Coaching.
• Options: Throat Chop, Rock Slide, Rock Tomb.
• Items: Grassy Seed, Psychic Seed, White Herb or Focus Sash.

Sneasler teams with replica codes

A tier

The A tier is where most competitive teams find their core. The first six Pokémon in this list came very close to S tier, while the others are strong picks that shine when the team around them is built with them in mind.

Mega Staraptor

Mega Staraptor won a Victory Road event next to Mega Raichu Y, and last season it was one of the strongest Megas at Worlds. At Frankfurt it was the third most used Mega on day one, at 16.3%, and it was on the team that finished thirteenth, with Close Combat, Brave Bird and Tailwind. It comes in with Intimidate before Mega Evolving, and once it does, Contrary turns the defense drops of Close Combat into boosts, so every attack makes it harder to take down. As the best physical Flying attacker in the format, it puts real pressure on Kingambit, Rillaboom and Sneasler. The only reason it sits below Salamence is that the two fill a similar role, and Salamence currently does it a little better.

Teams with Mega Staraptor

Mega Gengar

Mega Gengar is better now than it has ever been in Champions. Perish Song teams gained a lot from the arrival of Rillaboom, which gives them a second Fake Out, a U-turn to pivot and a Grassy Terrain that weakens Earthquake. On top of that, Psychic Terrain from Indeedee protects Gengar from Kingambit's Sucker Punch, which used to be one of its biggest problems. The results followed: a Gengar Perish team reached the top four at Baltimore, and at Frankfurt a Mega Gengar Perish team with Politoed and Vivillon finished fifth.

Mega Gengar teams

Kingambit

Kingambit came very close to S tier. After receiving an intimidate going +2 atk, its Sucker Punch threatens half the format, and its stats let it take hits that would knock out most other attackers. It handles Mega Floette and Salamence well and fits naturally into Salamence, Rillaboom and Gengar teams. What holds it back is Sneasler, which is a real problem for it, and a flexibility that is not quite at the level of the S tier Pokémon. At Frankfurt its usage climbed from 22.9% on day one to 25.2% on day two, and it was on four of the top 13 teams, including the one that finished third.

Teams with Kingambit

Gholdengo

Gholdengo is one of the big winners of Regulation M-C. Its ability, Good as Gold, makes it immune to other Pokémon's status moves, and it walls or beats Sneasler, Salamence, Mega Floette and Rillaboom, which covers a large part of the current meta. It was part of the team that won Frankfurt, it appeared on four of the top 13 teams, and its usage went from 29.0% on day one to 30.7% on day two. The winning set paired Nasty Plot and Make It Rain with Shadow Ball, Protect and a Life Orb, but keep in mind that Make It Rain now has 95% accuracy, and a miss at the wrong moment can cost you a game.

Gholdengo teams to copy

Incineroar

Incineroar remains one of the best supports in the game. Fake Out and Parting Shot fit almost any archetype, from Perish to balance, and Intimidate softens every physical attacker on the other side. Next to Rillaboom it can build long Fake Out cycles, and it works very well alongside setup Pokémon like Mega Delphox and Mega Floette. Frankfurt showed how central it still is: its usage rose from 28.2% on day one to 35.0% on day two, and it was on eight of the top 13 teams, the most of any Pokémon. The winning team ran it with a Sitrus Berry, Fake Out, Parting Shot, Flare Blitz and Darkest Lariat.

Incineroar teams

Archaludon

Archaludon completes the three Steel pillars of the format, together with Kingambit and Gholdengo. It survives Salamence's Draco Meteor and fires back with Electro Shot, and after the first Electro Shot the pressure it puts on the opponent is huge. Sneasler remains its main problem. Many rain players are busy trying the new Pokémon right now, but Archaludon still entered the day two top 12 at Frankfurt with 17.8%, and it was on the team that finished eleventh, next to Pelipper.

Teams with Archaludon

Mega Tyranitar

Mega Tyranitar is half of the team that won Baltimore, and at Frankfurt it was the eighth most used Mega on day one, at 8.0%. The team that finished twelfth there used the same sand core that won Baltimore: Mega Tyranitar, Mega Salamence and Excadrill. It sets sand, which lets it take the weather away from opposing teams, and its stats allow it to take super effective hits and keep going. The price is a long list of weaknesses, including a double weakness to Fighting, so it needs a team designed around it. Next to Salamence and Excadrill it forms a sand core in which each Pokémon covers the weaknesses of the others, and that core won the first Regional of the format and reached the top 13 at the second.

Mega Tyranitar teams

Mega Charizard Y

Mega Charizard Y is no longer the automatic pick it was last season. Salamence and Hisuian Arcanine pushed it down, and the amount of Arcanine around forces many players to run it Timid. Even so, it keeps showing up at the top: it reached the final at Baltimore, and at Frankfurt it was on 16.0% of teams on day two and on the teams that finished third and sixth, the second one next to Venusaur. It is still at home on sun teams with Venusaur and on double weather teams with Politoed, and it remains one of the two strongest Megas in the format.

Charizard Y teams

Mega Floette

Mega Floette is a two time world champion Mega, and it keeps winning Victory Road events online, even if its tournament numbers are lower than they used to be. At Frankfurt it was the sixth most used Mega on day one, at 11.7%, yet it was on the teams that finished fourth and eighth, both times next to Mega Dragonite. The fourth-place team ran it with Calm Mind, Draining Kiss and Dazzling Gleam. Fairy type damage is very strong right now, and the lower number of Charizard in the format helps it a lot. Its main problems are Gholdengo and Metagross, which is why Kingambit, able to handle both, is one of its best partners. It also works very well next to Salamence on double Mega teams.

Mega Floette teams

Milotic

Milotic is the perfect answer to all the Intimidate in this format: its ability, Competitive, raises its Special Attack by two stages every time an opponent lowers one of its stats. Only Rillaboom knocks it out easily, and funnily enough Rillaboom is also its best partner. It shines in the Salamence mirror, where it can make the opposing Salamence very uncomfortable. Common sets run Scald or Muddy Water with Ice Beam and Icy Wind, or go for Coil with Hypnosis.

Milotic teams

Hisuian Arcanine

Hisuian Arcanine reached 28.4% on day two at Baltimore. At Frankfurt it took a step back, from 20.6% on day one to 16.0% on day two, but it still made the top 12 on both days and was on two of the top 13 teams, and it is easy to see why. Head Smash knocks out Salamence and Flare Blitz knocks out Rillaboom, while Rock Head saves it from recoil and Extreme Speed gives it priority. With Charizard less common, it is one of the few strong Fire attackers left in the format. Since it does not bring Intimidate, it also pairs perfectly with Salamence, which already covers that job.

Hisuian Arcanine teams

Farigiraf

Farigiraf is the best Trick Room setter in the format. Its ability, Armor Tail, stops opponents from using priority moves against it and its partner, which shuts down Fake Out, Sucker Punch and Grassy Glide at once. That makes it useful in many different strategies, from hard Trick Room to double weather. At Frankfurt it was on 16.6% of teams on day one, and it was part of the teams that finished second and eleventh.

Farigiraf teams

Indeedee (F)

Female Indeedee sets Psychic Terrain as soon as it enters the field, and that alone enables a whole archetype. Follow Me draws attacks away from its partner, Trick Room flips the speed order, and Helping Hand boosts attackers like Mega Gardevoir and its Expanding Force. It was on 20.1% of teams on day one at Baltimore. Compared to the male form, it is less offensive but a better fit for Trick Room and Follow Me teams.

Indeedee (F) teams

Sylveon

Sylveon is the best non Mega Fairy type in the game, and the arrival of Salamence only made it better, since it is one of the best ways to hit Dragon types. Its main issue is Sneasler. It entered the day two top 12 at Baltimore at 16.1%, and at Frankfurt it was on the teams that finished second and sixth, the second one next to Mega Charizard Y.

Sylveon teams

Basculegion (M)

Basculegion is weaker than it used to be, mostly because Rillaboom gets in its way. Last Respects still makes it dangerous, though: the move gains 50 power for every fainted Pokémon on its team, so Basculegion gets stronger as the game goes on. It remains the best Water type in the format and fits next to almost any Mega. It was on 17.4% of teams on day one at Baltimore. At Frankfurt it did not make the top 12 on either day, but it was on the team that finished seventh, running Choice Scarf with Wave Crash, Last Respects, Flip Turn and Aqua Jet.

Basculegion teams

Whimsicott

Whimsicott was S tier last format. Prankster lets it use Encore and its other support moves before most opponents can act, and that is always useful. This season, though, seeded Sneasler outspeed it even without being full speed investement, and its usage dropped. Top players expect it to come back as soon as someone finds the right hyper offense team for it.

Whimsicott teams

B tier

The B tier is full of Pokémon that can win games and even tournaments, but that need a more specific team or a particular matchup to show their best.

• Mega Delphox is the king of balance teams. It outspeeds the top Megas, Justin Tang took it to a top 16 finish at Worlds, and at Frankfurt it was on the team that finished tenth, with Nasty Plot. Few players are using it right now, but top players still rate it among the ten best Megas in the format.
• Mega Froslass is a great answer to Staraptor and Sneasler, and one of the few sources of Ice damage in the format. Between Aurora Veil and Blizzard it can be very dangerous: it reached the top eight at Baltimore, and at Frankfurt it led the team that finished seventh.
• Mega Metagross got better as Charizard usage dropped, and it matches up well against both Salamence and Sneasler. A Psychic Terrain team with Mega Metagross reached the top four at Baltimore.
• Mega Aerodactyl is one of the best partners for Charizard, thanks to a very fast Tailwind, Rock Slide and Wide Guard to block spread moves. The many Steel types in the format are what keeps its usage low.
• Excadrill is one of the best Ground types in the format, but it only really works in sand. It was part of the team that won Baltimore, and of the sand team that finished twelfth at Frankfurt.
• Politoed improved in this format. It fits both Perish teams and double weather teams, and Encore gives it a role that Pelipper cannot fill. At Frankfurt it was on the team that finished fifth, next to Mega Gengar.
• Corviknight ran Bulk Up and Power Trip on the winning Baltimore team, precisely to beat Gholdengo. It can swing a matchup on its own, but only in specific builds like sand, and the twelfth-place sand team at Frankfurt ran it with Tailwind, Taunt and Roost instead.
• Garchomp is hurt badly by Rillaboom, since Grassy Terrain weakens Earthquake, but it keeps coming back: it rose from 17.6% on day one at Frankfurt to 25.2% on day two, sixth overall, often holding a Choice Scarf.
• Pelipper is a bit weaker than last format, and Politoed now competes with it for the rain setter slot. Wide Guard still makes it useful against teams built on spread moves, and at Frankfurt it was on the team that finished eleventh, next to Archaludon.
• Indeedee (M) is the more offensive of the two Indeedee. It enables hyper offense, works great next to Sneasler and converted very well at Baltimore. At Frankfurt it was on 17.4% of teams on day one, and on the teams that finished third and twelfth.
• Sinistcha lost ground, because many balance teams replaced it with Rillaboom, but Trick Room and Rage Powder still give it a clear support role, and that is exactly how the tenth-place team at Frankfurt used it.
• Grimmsnarl uses screens and Parting Shot to act as a strong pivot that can also win weather wars, and it was part of the team that finished second at Baltimore.
• Mega Glimmora is much stronger than its base form, and it hits both Salamence and Rillaboom hard. It was on the team that finished seventh at Frankfurt, with Sludge Bomb, Power Gem and Earth Power.
• Mega Golisopod combines huge defenses with Leech Life, so it trades damage while healing itself. A support team built around it finished second at Baltimore, and at Frankfurt it was the fourth most used Mega on day one, at 12.9%, ahead of Charizard and Floette.
• Mega Dragonite survives hits that knock out Salamence thanks to Multiscale, and Inner Focus makes it immune to flinching. It sets Tailwind on double Fake Out teams, won a Victory Road event, and at Frankfurt it was on the teams that finished fourth and eighth, both times next to Mega Floette.
• Mega Garchomp Z has great coverage in Flamethrower, Fire Blast, Power Gem and Earth Power, which lets it hit Salamence and Charizard hard. At Frankfurt it was the seventh most used Mega on day one, at 9.0%, it was the second Mega on the team that won the event, running Dragon Pulse, Earth Power, Power Gem and Protect, and it was also on the team that finished second.
• Mega Blastoise suffers against Rillaboom, but it is still strong on Indeedee teams and reached the top four of a Victory Road event.
• Mega Gardevoir got everything it needed from Indeedee, which gives it Follow Me support and Psychic Terrain for Expanding Force. Rillaboom, Hisuian Arcanine and Gholdengo remain its big problems.
• Armarouge walls Charizard and Delphox thanks to Flash Fire, and it is surprisingly bulky. It fits naturally on the Trick Room teams built around Indeedee.
• Tyranitar sets sand without taking the Mega slot, so when Salamence gets the Mega, Tyranitar can hold an item like Chople Berry or Focus Sash.
• Vivillon is very annoying on Gengar teams, with Sleep Powder, Rage Powder and Tailwind, but it is frail and rarely seen anywhere else. At Frankfurt it was on the Mega Gengar team that finished fifth.
• Venusaur is still oppressive thanks to sleep, because there are no Safety Goggles in the format. You will mostly see it on sun teams, like the one with Mega Charizard Y that finished sixth at Frankfurt.
• Torkoal is the sun setter that pairs with Venusaur, and a staple on hard Trick Room teams. At Frankfurt it was on the team that finished second, next to Farigiraf.
• Kommo-o runs either Throat Spray with Clangorous Soul or Life Orb with Tailwind. It is strong on the right team, but very situational. Frankfurt showed how strong that right team can be: Kommo-o was on three of the top 13 teams, the ones that finished third, fifth and tenth, often with Leftovers, Clangorous Soul and Clanging Scales.
• Volcarona can set up with Quiver Dance or play support with Rage Powder and Tailwind, and it survives Salamence's Hyper Voice. It was on the team that won Frankfurt as a support, with Rocky Helmet, Rage Powder and Tailwind, and on the team that finished seventh as a Quiver Dance sweeper, and it entered the day two top 12 at 16.6%.
• Dragapult is one of the fastest attackers in the format, and Life Orb with Infiltrator lets it hit through screens and substitutes.

Looking for a team with one of these? Browse all the best Pokémon Champions Teams.

C tier

The C tier is made of Pokémon that can still win games, but only when the whole team is built around them. Many of them are specialists, like the sweepers of hard Trick Room teams, and they rarely fit anywhere else. On the right team, though, they can go far: at Frankfurt, Toxapex was part of the team that finished sixth, and Primarina was on the one that finished thirteenth.

Mega Swampert, Mega Scovillain, Mega Lopunny, Mega Lucario Z, Mega Baxcalibur, Mega Camerupt, Hatterene, Ceruledge, Pawmot, Aerodactyl, Klefki, Annihilape, Dragonite, Hydreigon, Salamence, Talonflame, Glimmora, Primarina, Alolan Ninetales, Maushold, Tsareena, Dusk Lycanroc, Basculegion (F), Toxapex.

D tier

The D tier collects Pokémon that are usable, but clearly outclassed by the options in the tiers above. You can make them work, but you will usually find a better choice for the same role. That said, the team that finished third at Frankfurt brought Mega Meowstic, proof that a good player with a clear plan can make almost anything work.

Mega Pyroar, Mega Blaziken, Mega Gyarados, Mega Garchomp, Mega Meowstic, Mega Abomasnow, Mega Starmie, Mega Scrafty, Mega Kangaskhan, Mega Pidgeot, Mega Mawile, Aegislash, Mega Manectric, Mega Charizard X, Mega Venusaur, Altaria, Raichu, Alolan Persian, Mamoswine, Kangaskhan, Gyarados, Snorlax, Hisuian Typhlosion, Blaziken, Azumarill, Swampert, Weavile, Vileplume, Ditto, Sableye, Metagross, Hippowdon, Wash Rotom, Heat Rotom, Hisuian Samurott, Scrafty, Vanilluxe, Mudsdale, Chandelure, Floette, Salazzle, Mimikyu, Meowscarada, Toxtricity, Kleavor, Tinkaton, Palafin, Orthworm, Houndstone, Baxcalibur.

Cheese tier

The Cheese tier is a different kind of list. These Pokémon are not strong in the usual sense, but they can be dangerous if you do not know what they do. They win games by surprise, mostly on ladder, and they rarely hold up once the opponent knows the trick.

• Mega Banette is known for a ladder trick: Prankster Swagger on a partner Sneasler holding a Persim Berry. It learns almost every status move, but it rarely justifies taking the Mega slot.
• Mega Chimecho is a Trick Room setter with Levitate, which makes it immune to Ground moves like Earthquake. It has a niche, but a very small one.
• Mega Hawlucha can surprise a Charizard with Stone Edge, and it also has Tailwind and Close Combat, but anyone who knows the matchup will see it coming.
• Mega Sableye only really works on stall teams built entirely around it.
• Mega Absol Z brings very fast Will-O-Wisp, Icy Wind and Rock Tomb. It can win on ladder, but with open team sheets opponents know exactly what to expect.
• Mega Slowbro is a very bulky Trick Room setter that can take hits other setters cannot, and Oblivious stops Taunt and Encore from shutting it down.
• Mega Pinsir and Paldean Tauros go together: Storm Throw is always a critical hit, and a critical hit triggers Tauros's Anger Point, which maxes out its Attack. The combo still shows up on ladder.
• Mega Raichu X benefits from Electric attacks getting stronger this format, and some players lead with it just to catch opponents off guard.
• Gengar, in its regular form, shows up with a Focus Sash next to Blastoise to surprise opponents.
• Staraptor, in its regular form, runs Choice Scarf and Final Gambit, sometimes leading next to Whimsicott.
• Krookodile relies on Anger Point, which maxes out its Attack after a critical hit. It is a gamble, but it catches unprepared opponents.
• Scolipede is easy to read: if you see one, it is probably trying to Baton Pass.
• Clefable and Oranguru work around Skill Swap, with Oranguru handing out abilities to partners like Clefable or Lucario.
• Audino uses Simple Beam to give a partner the Simple ability, which doubles its stat changes. On a partner that uses Minimize, a single click becomes a huge evasion boost. It is a trick more than a strategy.
• Glaceon raises its evasion in snow thanks to Snow Cloak, so opponents start missing. It is annoying when it works, but rarely worth the slot.
• Malamar sets Trick Room and punishes Intimidate with Contrary, and some players pair it with Maushold.
• Espathra stacks boosts with an Electric Seed setup, then passes them with Baton Pass to a partner like Arcanine.
• Overqwil uses Minimize to raise its evasion by two stages and tries to snowball while opponents miss. Moves like Body Slam and Heavy Slam ignore the boost and hit it for double damage, so it is far from safe.

The rest of the Cheese tier is made of Hisuian Zoroark, Meowstic, Grapploct, Araquanid, Sirfetch'd, Mr. Rime, Perrserker, Midday Lycanroc and Bellibolt.

What changed from Baltimore to Frankfurt

Before the first Regional, some of the most watched tier lists still had Charizard, Basculegion and Mega Floette in S tier. Two Regionals later the picture is much clearer, and comparing the two events tells you more than either one on its own.

The biggest change is at the top of the Mega ranking. At Baltimore, Salamence was the most used Mega and won the event. At Frankfurt, Mega Raichu Y passed it on day one, 29.7% against 25.5%, and then won the whole tournament on Eric Rios's team, which went 17-0 with Raichu Y and Mega Garchomp Z as its two Megas. Salamence is still a top threat, but its usage fell from 37.2% to 25.5% on day one and from 31.6% to 20.9% on day two.

Charizard keeps telling the same story. At Baltimore it dropped out of the day one top 12, which led many players to say it was finished, and then it reached the final. At Frankfurt it was the fifth most used Mega on day one at 12.4%, it was on 16.0% of teams on day two, and it was on the teams that finished third and sixth. Mega Floette was only sixth among the Megas at 11.7%, but it still reached fourth and eighth place, both times paired with Mega Dragonite.

That said, Mega Charizard Y and Mega Floette are still the two strongest Megas in the format in terms of raw power, and last season they were the only two that stayed consistent at the top. Their drop in usage comes from the meta around them: Salamence, Hisuian Arcanine and Gholdengo are everywhere right now, and they make life harder for both. As soon as players adapt and those threats become less common, it is very likely that Charizard and Floette will climb back up in usage. MichaelderBeste himself admits that his Victory Road team, which also finished seventh at Baltimore, works well only as long as Charizard stays rare.

Some Pokémon moved more than others between the two events. Garchomp, which many had written off because of Rillaboom, went from 18.7% on day two at Baltimore to 25.2% at Frankfurt, and its Mega Z form was on 9.0% of teams on day one and on the winning team. Volcarona and Archaludon entered the day two top 12, Kommo-o showed up on three of the top 13 teams, while Hisuian Arcanine went the other way, from 28.4% to 16.0% on day two.

One pattern repeated at both Regionals. Kingambit, which had 90% usage in the Worlds top cut last season, started lower this time, but on day two bulkier Pokémon like Incineroar, Kingambit and Gholdengo rose again, while Sneasler and Salamence dropped. At Frankfurt, Incineroar went from 28.2% to 35.0% and ended up on more top 13 teams than any other Pokémon. The players who make it to day two seem to value bulk and support more than raw speed, and that is worth keeping in mind when you build your own team.

A living tier list for Regulation M-C

This is not a one time ranking. We will keep this tier list updated for the whole of Regulation M-C, until it ends on December 2, 2026. After every Regional, we will add the new official usage numbers and the teams that made top cut, and when a Pokémon rises or falls you will find the reason here, not just a new letter next to its name. The list covers doubles (VGC), the official competitive format.

One last thing: a tier list is a guide, not a rulebook. Pokémon Champions is a game, and some of the best moments come from bringing a Pokémon you love or an off meta team nobody expects. If your favorite sits in C tier or even in the Cheese tier, build around it and have fun with it. You will probably find other players on PokeFeed who had the same idea, and a team or two worth trying.