Pokémon Champions Tier List: Best Pokémon for Regulation M-C
Our Pokémon Champions tier list for Regulation M-C: Sneasler, Rillaboom, Incineroar and Garchomp lead doubles, Garchomp tops singles. Updated November 2026.
In Pokémon Champions doubles right now, Sneasler, Rillaboom, Incineroar and Garchomp are the four Pokémon you’ll face most and the four we rank highest. In singles, Garchomp leads by a wide margin. This Pokémon Champions tier list covers Regulation Set M-C, the official ruleset running from September 9 to December 2, 2026, and uses usage data checked in early November 2026. When M-C ends on December 2, expect this list to shift.
Champions is the free-to-play battle game that launched on Nintendo Switch on April 8, 2026 and reached mobile on June 17, according to The Pokémon Company. It’s also the official VGC platform this season, so these rankings matter for ranked ladder and for local tournaments alike.
Key takeaways
What changed in Regulation M-C
Per The Pokémon Company’s announcement, Regulation M-C kept every Pokémon from M-A and M-B and added more, including Rillaboom and Baxcalibur. It also introduced the first Z Mega Evolutions: Mega Absol Z, Mega Lucario Z and Mega Garchomp Z. Mega Evolution still works only once per battle, and only for Pokémon holding their Mega Stone. The official regulation page also adds Mega Baxcalibur, Mega Golisopod and Mega Salamence.
Two of those additions moved the format immediately. Rillaboom jumped straight to second in doubles usage, and Mega Garchomp Z gave an already popular Pokémon a new top-end option.
How we built this tier list
Ranks are our opinion, informed by two kinds of data. For usage, we used Showdown Tier’s M-C figures, which come from Pokémon Showdown simulator battles rather than the in-game ladder. For tournament performance, we used Pokémon Zone’s results tracker, which covered 543 M-C tournaments as of its November 1 update.
We weighed, in order: how often a Pokémon wins games at high levels, how many teams it fits into, and how hard it is to answer. Usage alone isn’t the criterion. A Pokémon can be popular because it’s easy to use, not because it’s best.
Doubles (VGC) tier list
Doubles is the official competitive format, so this is the main list.
| Tier | Pokémon | Why |
|---|---|---|
| S | Sneasler, Rillaboom, Incineroar, Garchomp | Format-defining; you must plan around each |
| A | Kingambit, Archaludon, Pelipper, Sinistcha, Floette, Raichu | Top-tier in the right core |
| B | Basculegion, Charizard, Torkoal, Tyranitar, Excadrill, Golisopod, Salamence | Strong weather or Mega pieces with clear counters |
| C | Farigiraf, Venusaur, Staraptor | Niche picks that need a specific partner |
S tier
Sneasler: the most-used doubles Pokémon in Showdown Tier’s M-C data at 30.8%. Teams that ignore it lose to it.
Rillaboom: new to M-C and already at 30.3% usage. It slotted into existing teams instantly, which tells you how flexible it is.
Incineroar: the classic doubles support, back at 26.6% usage. Pokémon Zone has it on 32.3% of M-C tournament teams.
Garchomp: 26.4% in doubles, plus a new Z Mega option. It’s also the top singles pick, so practice against it either way.
A tier
Kingambit: 18.1% doubles usage and a regular late-game closer.
Archaludon: 18.1% usage; Champions Lab notes its rain pairing with Pelipper guarantees Electro Shot.
Pelipper: 16.9% usage as the rain setter for both Archaludon and Basculegion teams.
Sinistcha: down from its M-B peak (10.1% usage in Showdown Tier’s M-C data), but still a strong Trick Room support.
Floette: sits in Pokémon Zone’s top “Meta” group by tournament results, despite lower usage than the S picks.
Raichu: 20.1% usage. Popular and fast, but easier to plan around than the S tier.
B and C tiers
Basculegion: the rain nuke in Pelipper cores.
Charizard: Mega Charizard Y’s Drought powers sun teams with Venusaur.
Torkoal: the other sun setter, used in both Chlorophyll and Trick Room builds.
Tyranitar and Excadrill: the sand core, still effective at 9.6% and 6.7% usage in Showdown Tier’s data.
Golisopod and Salamence: new Megas in M-C; good, but each costs your one Mega slot.
Farigiraf, Venusaur, Staraptor (C): each is strong inside one archetype (Trick Room, sun, and fast offense) and weak outside it.
Our worked example: how concentrated is the doubles meta?
Usage percentages count how many teams include a Pokémon. Since every team has six slots, all usage numbers in a format add up to 600%. That lets us measure how much of the field the top eight eat up.
The eight bars add up to 187.3%. Divide by 600% and you get about 31%. In plain terms: nearly a third of every team slot in that sample goes to just eight Pokémon out of the whole legal roster. That’s why your team needs a plan for Sneasler, Rillaboom, Incineroar and Garchomp before it needs anything clever.
Singles tier list
Singles ranked play rewards different picks. Pokémon Zone’s Season 7 singles tracker, which runs October 7 to November 4, has Garchomp at number one, and Showdown Tier’s M-C singles data agrees.
| Tier | Pokémon | Why |
|---|---|---|
| S | Garchomp, Primarina | 39.6% and 29.4% usage; the two biggest threats |
| A | Archaludon, Mimikyu, Hippowdon | High usage with strong win rates in the sample |
| B | Golisopod, Basculegion, Corviknight | Each around 15-16% usage; good, more answerable |
Usage figures are Showdown Tier’s BSS Regulation M-C numbers. Mimikyu and Archaludon posted the best win rates of the group there, which is why they sit above Hippowdon’s higher raw usage in our eyes.
Is Pokémon Champions better on Switch or mobile?
The battles and the ruleset are the same, and Champions is free on both. Switch gives you a bigger screen and physical controls for long ranked sessions; mobile is better for quick ladder games. If you’re weighing a new console mainly for Pokémon, our late-2026 console buying guide covers the hardware side.
Playing Pokémon on mobile too? Our Eevee evolutions guide for Pokémon GO picks the best of all eight, the Palworld type chart maps a similar element system, and our Wild Rift tier list ranks another competitive meta.
FAQ
When does Regulation M-C end?
Regulation M-C runs until December 2, 2026 at 01:59 UTC, according to The Pokémon Company. A new regulation set takes over after that. New sets usually add Pokémon or Megas, so expect usage leaders and this tier list to change within days of the switch. Check the official announcement for the next set’s details.
Can you Mega Evolve more than once per battle?
No. Under Regulation M-C, only one Pokémon per battle can Mega Evolve, and it has to hold its matching Mega Stone. That rule applies to Z Mega Evolutions like Mega Garchomp Z too. Because you get one shot, pick the Mega that your other five Pokémon support best.
Is Showdown usage the same as in-game ranked usage?
Not exactly. Showdown Tier pulls from Pokémon Showdown simulator battles, while in-game ranked data comes from Champions itself. The two usually agree on the top threats, as both show Garchomp leading singles, but percentages can differ. Use them as a guide to what you’ll face, not exact odds.
Read the full ruleset in The Pokémon Company’s Regulation M-C announcement. Then build for the top four first. Clever teams that lose to Sneasler don’t climb.
Cassia Fenwick
Cassia Fenwick is a staff writer at Console Alley, covering console gaming from the latest hardware questions to the games players return to for years. Her work moves across news, practical guides, reviews, gaming gear, and the wider culture around games. Whether she is breaking down a new console feature or explaining a mechanic in a familiar favorite, she writes with a straightforward goal: help readers understand what matters and what to do next. She pays particular attention to the small details that shape the playing experience. A controller compatibility rule, a battery-life setting, a difficult-to-find resource, or a change introduced by a game update can make the difference between a frustrating evening and a rewarding one. Her published coverage includes Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 questions, Terraria, Stardew Valley, and The Sims 4, with explanations that welcome readers who may be discovering a game for the first time or returning after time away. Cassia's style is clear, patient, and grounded in practical examples. Rather than assuming readers already know the terminology, she begins with the question at hand, adds the context that genuinely helps, and keeps instructions easy to follow. She is interested not only in how a feature works, but also why its design matters—especially when a small interaction, interface decision, or unexpected mechanic changes how a game feels. Outside her gaming coverage, Cassia enjoys colorful postcards, making books, and noticing the shapes, colors, and details built into everyday objects. That curiosity carries naturally into her writing, where overlooked features and thoughtful design can provide a fresh way to look at a game. Her aim is for every article to be useful on its own: approachable enough for a newcomer, specific enough for someone looking for a quick answer, and enjoyable enough to leave readers with something new to explore.
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