Regulation Set M-A explained: the Champions roster and Mega Evolutions

Regulation Set M-A is the current format for competitive Pokémon Champions VGC. It launched in June 2026 around a fixed roster of roughly 200 species and introduced the return of Mega Evolutions as the format's headline mechanic.

Core rules

Matches are Double Battles played at Level 50 with Open Team Sheets, meaning both players see each other's team before selecting their four. Each player brings six Pokémon and selects four for each game. Series are Best-of-three in most official events, so adaptation between games matters as much as the team list itself.

The Champions roster

The format is built on a fixed roster of around 200 species with no restricted legendaries. Every team is constructed entirely from that roster, so role compression and type coverage matter more than raw offensive ceilings. Species like Incineroar, Gengar, Dragapult and Whimsicott anchor the meta, and their forms and Mega Evolutions share the same learnsets.

Mega Evolutions return

Regulation Set M-A allows a specific list of Mega Evolutions, including Charizard, Venusaur, Blaziken, Metagross, Gengar, Lucario and others from the roster. Mega Stones take the held item slot, so these Pokémon cannot hold items like Focus Sash or Sitrus Berry. The trade-off is a significant stat boost and, in some cases, an improved ability.

Building for M-A

When building, decide whether your win condition is a fast cleaner, a Trick Room sweeper or a weather attacker, then build the other five slots to support that plan. Balance cores built around Incineroar plus speed control remain the safest starting point, while weather and Trick Room archetypes offer more explosive, higher-variance lines.