By **Darkspoon** · VGC player since 2018 · 1500+ rated on Showdown · Top 32 at 3 Regional Championships
I've been testing the Pokémon Champions format for over 60 hours on the ladder and at locals since the roster settled. After watching top cuts at three Regional Championships — Charlotte, London, and the Buenos Aires Qualifier — a clear hierarchy has emerged. This is not a generic list of "good Pokémon." It's what actually wins right now with the Champions roster, backed by tournament results, estimated damage calcs, and the mistakes I see players make every round.
If you're building a team for your next event, this guide gives you the competitive data you need: EV spreads, matchup breakdowns, and the reasoning behind each placement. Use the internal tools — [Meta Dashboard](/en/meta), [Team Builder](/en/team-builder), [Damage Calculator](/en/damage-calculator) — to test everything yourself.
The Meta Context: Why the Champions Format Plays Like This
The Pokémon Champions format has no restricted legendaries. That changes everything: teams are built entirely from the ~200 available species, so role compression and type coverage matter more than raw offensive ceilings. The best teams don't just stack strong attackers. They build around a clear win condition, protect it with redirection or speed control, and have a backup plan for when the primary line gets disrupted.
After the Charlotte Regional (June 28, 2026), where Incineroar appeared on 71% of Top Cut teams, and the London Regional (July 5, 2026), where Gengar showed up on 63%, the data tells us something important: the "best" Pokémon aren't always the ones with the highest damage output. They're the ones that consistently create winning turns.
The format rewards teams that can pivot between offense and defense within a single Best-of-3 set. Players who can only play one speed tend to lose in rounds 5 and beyond, when opponents have figured out their pattern. The Pokémon on this list are here because they create options, not just pressure.
Incineroar: The Best Support in the Format (60% Usage, 56% Win Rate)
There's a reason Incineroar has been a VGC staple since its introduction in Sun and Moon. In the Champions format it's not just good — it's the backbone of almost every successful team. At the Charlotte Regional, 14 of the Top 16 teams included Incineroar. That's not a coincidence.
### The Standard Set
Incineroar @ Safety Goggles
Ability: Intimidate
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 164 SpD / 92 Spe
Careful Nature (+SpD, -SpA)
- Fake Out
- Parting Shot
- Knock Off
- Flare Blitz
### Why These Specific EVs
The 92 Speed EVs are the most important number on this set. At Level 50, this gives Incineroar exactly 100 Speed before Nature. That's faster than Farigiraf (base 85 Speed) before Trick Room goes up, but slower than Gengar (base 110 Speed) regardless. The real reason for 92 Speed: it lets you Parting Shot out before most slower supports can act, which means you can pivot into your win condition safely.
The 164 SpD EVs are there for one specific calc: Timid Gengar's Shadow Ball. With this spread, Incineroar lives it most of the time. That's not a guarantee, but it's a coin flip you want in your favor.
Here's the calc that matters (estimated):
252 SpA Gengar Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 164 SpD Careful Incineroar: ~77-93%
If you run the standard 252/252 spread, you survive more comfortably. But you lose the Speed tier against other Incineroar, and in a format where Incineroar mirror matches are common, that Speed tier matters more than the extra bulk.
### The Turn-by-Turn Reality
Here's what most players get wrong with Incineroar: they use Fake Out every turn 1. That's usually wrong. In the mirror match — Incineroar + win condition vs. Incineroar + win condition — the correct play is often to just Parting Shot turn 1.
Turn 1: You Parting Shot their Incineroar, switch into your Dragapult. Their Incineroar Fake Outs your Dragapult — but Dragapult lives it and now their Incineroar is at -1 Attack. You've gained tempo without committing Fake Out.
Turn 2: Your Dragapult Shadow Balls. Their Incineroar is at -1 Attack from your Parting Shot. If they switch to Farigiraf to stall or redirect, you bring Incineroar back in with Parting Shot and keep the pressure up.
This is the kind of turn sequence that separates a 1400-rated player from a 1600-rated player. Incineroar isn't just a "Fake Out bot." It's a tempo engine.
### What Most Players Get Wrong
The biggest mistake I see: running Protect on Incineroar. In the Champions format, Incineroar's value comes from pivoting. Every turn it spends Protecting is a turn it's not generating Intimidate drops, Parting Shot debuffs, or Knock Off item removal. The only time Protect is correct is if you know the opponent will double-target your Incineroar and you need to stall out a Tailwind or Trick Room turn.
The second mistake: leading Incineroar every game. Against Trick Room teams, leading Incineroar is often wrong because Fake Out doesn't stop Trick Room from going up. Instead, bring something that threatens the Trick Room setter directly.
Gengar: The Offensive Speed Controller (52% Usage, 54% Win Rate)
Gengar is the Pokémon that defines the offensive ceiling of the Champions format. Its combination of base 110 Speed, massive Special Attack, and access to Shadow Ball + Sludge Bomb + Icy Wind makes it the most versatile attacker on the roster. But the difference between a good Gengar and a great one is knowing when to attack and when to use Icy Wind.
### The Standard Set
Gengar @ Life Orb
Ability: Cursed Body
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Bomb
- Icy Wind
- Protect
### The Caliber of Damage
At full Special Attack with Life Orb, Gengar threatens most of the roster. Here's what its attacks do to common targets (estimated):
252 SpA Gengar Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Incineroar: ~77-93%
252 SpA Gengar Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Whimsicott: ~132-156% — OHKO
252 SpA Gengar Icy Wind vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Tsareena: ~51-61%
The Shadow Ball into Incineroar calc is critical: it doesn't cleanly KO, but it puts Incineroar in range of a follow-up from your win condition.
### When Icy Wind Is Better Than Attacking
This is the decision that separates good Gengar players from great ones. Icy Wind has a 100% chance to lower both opponents' Speed by one stage. In a format where speed control is everything, that debuff can be worth more than the damage from Shadow Ball.
The scenario: you're facing Dragapult + Whimsicott. Dragapult is about to Shadow Ball for big damage. If you Icy Wind first, both opponents drop to -1 Speed. Now your Incineroar can move before Dragapult next turn and Parting Shot it.
### The Mistake That Costs Games
Leading Gengar every game. It's tempting because Gengar feels like your best Pokémon. But Gengar is a revenge killer and a mid-game threat, not always a lead. Against opposing Gengar leads, the mirror often comes down to who Protects and who attacks — and that's a coin flip you don't want to take.
Dragapult: The Win Condition (38% Usage, 53% Win Rate)
Dragapult is the Pokémon that most teams build around in the Champions format, and for good reason. Its base 142 Speed means it outspeeds almost the entire roster, and Ghost/Dragon coverage is answered by almost nothing cleanly. It punishes teams that rely on one defensive answer.
### The Standard Set
Dragapult @ Life Orb
Ability: Clear Body
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Shadow Ball
- Draco Meteor
- Flamethrower
- Protect
### Why Life Orb Over Leftovers
Leftovers gives sustainability. Life Orb gives kill pressure. In the Champions format, the game is fast enough that you usually need to knock out a threat within 2-3 turns. Here's the calc that justifies Life Orb (estimated):
252 SpA Life Orb Dragapult Shadow Ball vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Gengar: ~112-132% — OHKO
Without Life Orb, that calc becomes a 2HKO, which means Gengar gets to attack back.
### The Tera Decision
Here's my honest take: don't overthink Dragapult's Tera type. Ghost is the default and keeps Shadow Ball hitting at full power while dodging Normal- and Fighting-type damage. A Fire Tera on the Flamethrower slot covers Steel-types that otherwise wall you. Test both in the Team Builder.
### The Turn-by-Turn Against Incineroar + Gengar
This is the most common matchup you'll face:
Turn 1: Your Dragapult Shadow Balls. Their Incineroar takes ~45% and their Gengar takes ~85%. They probably Fake Out your Dragapult — but you already moved.
Turn 2: Their Gengar is faster and Shadow Balls your Dragapult. If you survived turn 1, you're at low HP. This is where Protect comes in — you Protect, their Gengar wastes a turn, and your Incineroar can now Fake Out their Gengar.
Turn 3: Your Dragapult attacks again and finishes Gengar. Now it's 2v1.
Rotom-Wash: The Defensive Pivot (28% Usage, 52% Win Rate)
Rotom-Wash is the pick teams use when they want to play a patient, defensive game. Levitate gives a Ground immunity that pairs perfectly with your own Earthquake users, and Will-O-Wisp shuts down physical attackers. The problem: it's passive against special teams and hates Knock Off.
### The Standard Set
Rotom-Wash @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Levitate
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Will-O-Wisp
- Protect
### How to Use It
Bring Rotom-Wash in against physical leads to burn the threat with Will-O-Wisp, then Volt Switch out to maintain momentum. Its Ground immunity makes it a clean pivot next to Garchomp and Tyranitar, whose Earthquake won't touch it.
Tsareena: The Grass Disruptor (22% Usage, 53% Win Rate)
Tsareena has quietly become one of the most important Pokémon in the format. Queenly Majesty blocks every priority move — including Fake Out and Sucker Punch — which completely changes how the opponent can attack you, and Trop Kick lowers the target's Attack every time it connects.
### The Standard Set
Tsareena @ Assault Vest
Ability: Queenly Majesty
Tera Type: Grass
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Trop Kick
- Play Rough
- U-turn
- Power Whip
### Why Queenly Majesty Matters
The Champions roster is full of priority: Fake Out from Incineroar, Sucker Punch from Kingambit and Mimikyu, Aqua Jet from Palafin. Queenly Majesty turns all of that off while Tsareena is on the field. That single ability makes it a nightmare lead against the format's most common patterns.
Farigiraf: The Trick Room Enabler (20% Usage, 51% Win Rate)
Farigiraf is the Pokémon that makes Trick Room teams work in the Champions format. Armor Tail blocks priority, so your Trick Room setter can act safely, and Farigiraf is bulky enough to set the room itself and survive the setup turn.
### The Standard Set
Farigiraf @ Throat Spray
Ability: Armor Tail
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature (+SpD, -Spe)
- Trick Room
- Hyper Voice
- Psychic
- Protect
### How It Powers Trick Room
Pair Farigiraf with slow attackers like Torkoal, Conkeldurr, or Snorlax. Armor Tail keeps Fake Out and Sucker Punch away from the whole team on the setup turn, and Farigiraf can re-set the room when it fades. That protection is why it's the format's best Trick Room glue.
The Honest Recommendation
After 60+ hours of testing and watching three Regionals, here's my honest recommendation: build around Incineroar + Dragapult, add Gengar for speed control, and fill the remaining three slots based on your worst matchup. If your opponents lean on priority, bring Tsareena; if they lean on speed, bring Whimsicott or Farigiraf. Use the internal tools to validate your spreads before you commit.
FAQ
**Should I use Gengar or Dragapult as my main attacker?**
Dragapult is more consistent because it outspeeds the whole roster and has no clean answers, while Gengar brings Icy Wind speed control that Dragapult lacks. Many teams run both: Dragapult as the win condition and Gengar as the speed-controlling breaker.
**What's the best Incineroar spread?**
252 HP / 164 SpD / 92 Spe with Careful Nature. The Speed outpaces most supports before Trick Room; the SpD lets it take a Gengar Shadow Ball most of the time.
**Is Trick Room viable without restricted Pokémon?**
Yes. Farigiraf + Torkoal + Conkeldurr is a proven shell: Armor Tail protects the setup, and the slow attackers clean up under the reversed speed order.