The meta of Pokémon Champions is getting a new look. Since September 9, 2026, Update 1.2 and the new Regulation M-C have been in place, with one big addition: the Mega Evolutions Z, first seen in the Mega Dimension DLC for Pokémon Legends: Z-A, are coming to Ranked Battles for the first time.
Mega Lucario Z, Mega Garchomp Z and Mega Absol Z take top billing
Announced at the close of the 2026 Pokémon World Championships in San Francisco, the three Mega Evolutions Z are now playable: Mega Lucario Z, Mega Garchomp Z and Mega Absol Z. They give these three Pokémon an alternative form to their standard Mega Evolution.
They’re not alone. Regulation M-C adds six Mega Evolutions in total: in addition to the Z trio, Mega Salamence, Mega Golisopod and Mega Baxcalibur also make their entrance.
24 new Pokémon allowed
Regulation M-C makes 24 additional Pokémon usable in Ranked Battles. Among them are Baxcalibur, the three Galar starters (Rillaboom, Cinderace and Inteleon), as well as Salamence, Golisopod, Sirfetch’d, Toxtricity, Pawmot, Mabosstiff, Arboliva and Indeedee. All Pokémon allowed under previous regulations remain playable.
Regulation M-C replaces Regulation M-B as the official format for in-game Ranked Battles and upcoming competitive events. It remains in effect until December 2, 2026.
What Update 1.2 changes
Beyond the new Pokémon, version 1.2 brings several quality-of-life and balance changes:
- a battle history;
- a summary of type advantages and disadvantages when choosing your Pokémon;
- seven new music tracks;
- balance adjustments: Politoed can no longer learn Pound, Archaludon loses Mirror Coat and Metal Burst, Slash becomes usable, while Wish and Strength Sap go from 12 to 8 PP.
The new M-6 Battle Pass, meanwhile, offers outfits inspired by Pokémon Legends: Z-A as well as the Mega Stones for Eelektross, Metagross and Starmie.
Online competitions and Heatran on the horizon
To celebrate the new format, two online competitions are being held. The September Monthly Challenge rewards its participants with an Indeedee (registration September 11 to 21). The Global Challenge 2027 I, in Doubles Battles, offers an Archaludon and Championship Points (registration September 18 to 28).
And that’s not all: at the World Championships, The Pokémon Company also announced that Heatran is coming soon to battles.
Available for free on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 and on mobile since June 17, Pokémon Champions has plenty to keep strategists busy until the end of the year. So, who has already taken their Mega Garchomp Z into Ranked?
Sources: The Pokémon Company International, Serebii.net.
