Pokémon Champions Regulation M-C has officially begun, bringing one of the game’s biggest roster updates since launch. The new regulation introduces returning Pokémon such as Rillaboom, Cinderace, Indeedee, Salamence, and Baxcalibur. There will also be six newly available Mega Evolutions and several held items that could significantly change Ranked Battles.
However, the update is about more than simply adding Pokémon. Version 1.2.0 also introduces new Abilities, moves, balance adjustments, and quality-of-life features designed to give players more information during battle. Regulation Set M-C began on September 9 and will remain active until December 2, 2026. Here is everything players need to know about the latest Pokémon Champions update.
New Pokémon Join Pokémon Champions
Regulation M-C adds a sizable collection of Pokémon to the existing roster, ranging from established competitive threats to Pokémon that have traditionally seen much less play.
The Pokémon added with Regulation M-C include:
- Wigglytuff
- Persian
- Alolan Persian
- Farfetch’d
- Mr. Mime
- Swalot
- Salamence
- Gogoat
- Golisopod
- Rillaboom
- Cinderace
- Inteleon
- Thievul
- Toxtricity
- Grapploct
- Perrserker
- Sirfetch’d
- Pincurchin
- Indeedee
- Pawmot
- Arboliva
- Squawkabilly
- Mabosstiff
- Baxcalibur
Several Pokémon also have alternate forms available. Indeedee can be used in its male and female forms, Toxtricity has both Amped and Low Key forms, and Squawkabilly has its different plumage variations.
Of all these additions, Rillaboom and Indeedee could have some of the largest immediate effects on competitive play. Rillaboom has access to Grassy Surge, automatically creating Grassy Terrain when it enters battle. Indeedee can similarly use Psychic Surge to establish Psychic Terrain. With several terrain-related held items arriving alongside them, terrain control could become much more important during Regulation M-C.
Players also shouldn’t overlook Pawmot. Alongside its Electric/Fighting typing, Pawmot brings Revival Blessing into Pokémon Champions. The move has only one PP but allows the player to revive a fainted Pokémon and restore half of its maximum HP, potentially giving teams another chance to bring an important Pokémon back into a battle.
Six Mega Evolutions Enter Regulation M-C
Mega Evolution continues to play a major role in Pokémon Champions, and Regulation M-C expands the mechanic with six additional choices.
The newly available Mega Evolutions are:
- Mega Absol Z
- Mega Salamence
- Mega Garchomp Z
- Mega Lucario Z
- Mega Golisopod
- Mega Baxcalibur
Players can still only Mega Evolve one Pokémon per battle, meaning these new additions will have to compete with the Mega Evolutions already available when building a team. More importantly, several of the newcomers bring Abilities that dramatically change how their base forms function.
Mega Absol Z – Sharpness
Mega Absol Z becomes Dark/Ghost and gains Sharpness, which increases the power of slicing moves by 50 percent. Sharpness gives Mega Absol Z a clear offensive identity. Instead of simply relying on Absol’s naturally high offensive potential, players can build around slicing attacks to take advantage of the substantial damage increase provided by its Ability.
Mega Salamence – Aerilate
Mega Salamence returns with Aerilate, an Ability longtime competitive Pokémon players will likely recognize immediately. Aerilate changes Normal-type moves used by Mega Salamence into Flying-type moves while also increasing their power by 20 percent.
Combined with Mega Salamence’s strong offensive stats, the Ability gives it access to extremely powerful Flying-type attacks without necessarily needing to rely on traditional Flying moves.
Salamence can also provide value before Mega Evolving thanks to Intimidate, allowing players to lower an opposing Pokémon’s Attack when Salamence enters the field before transforming later in the battle.
Mega Garchomp Z – Levitate
Mega Garchomp Z is particularly interesting because it changes considerably from regular Garchomp. The new Mega becomes a pure Dragon-type and gains Levitate, making it immune to Ground-type attacks. Levitate also prevents it from being affected by hazards such as Spikes, Toxic Spikes, and Sticky Web.
That Ground immunity could create some interesting combinations in Doubles. A partner can use certain Ground-type attacks without damaging Mega Garchomp Z, giving players additional options when positioning their Pokémon.
Mega Lucario Z – Aura Guard
Mega Lucario Z introduces an entirely new Ability called Aura Guard. Aura Guard reduces damage Mega Lucario Z receives from contact moves by half. That is an enormous defensive benefit against physical attackers that depend heavily on moves that make contact.
Mega Lucario Z also becomes substantially faster and more focused on Special Attack than regular Lucario. Combined with Aura Guard, it creates a very different version of Lucario that can potentially survive attacks players might normally expect to knock it out.
Mega Golisopod – Tough Claws
Regular Golisopod is known for Emergency Exit, which forces it to switch out when its HP falls to half or below. Mega Golisopod abandons Emergency Exit in favor of Tough Claws, increasing the power of moves that make contact by 30 percent.
It also changes from Bug/Water to Bug/Steel when it Mega Evolves. Combined with its enormous defensive stats and increased Attack, Mega Golisopod could become a very difficult physical Pokémon to remove while still threatening significant damage.
Removing Emergency Exit may be just as important as gaining Tough Claws. Players no longer have to worry about Mega Golisopod automatically leaving the field after dropping below half health.
Mega Baxcalibur – Thermal Exchange
Mega Baxcalibur retains one of Baxcalibur’s signature strengths through Thermal Exchange. The Ability prevents Baxcalibur from being burned. Additionally, whenever it takes damage from a Fire-type attack, its Attack increases by one stage.
Mega Baxcalibur already has tremendous physical Attack, so opponents will need to think carefully before targeting it with Fire-type moves. Preventing burn is equally important for a Pokémon that relies heavily on physical damage.
Regulation M-C Adds 18 Held Items
The update also adds 18 held items, although six of those are Mega Stones required for the newly available Mega Evolutions.
The full list is:
- Leek
- Rocky Helmet
- Air Balloon
- Red Card
- Binding Band
- Eject Button
- Normal Gem
- Terrain Extender
- Electric Seed
- Psychic Seed
- Misty Seed
- Grassy Seed
- Salamencite
- Absolite Z
- Garchompite Z
- Lucarionite Z
- Golisopite
- Baxcalibrite
While the Mega Stones serve an obvious purpose, several of the other additions could become important parts of the Regulation M-C metagame.
Rocky Helmet
Rocky Helmet damages an attacker whenever it hits the holder with a contact move. The attacker loses one-sixth of its maximum HP each time the effect activates. This makes Rocky Helmet particularly useful on bulky Pokémon that are expected to absorb physical attacks. It can punish opponents for repeatedly using contact moves and slowly wear down physical attackers without the holder having to attack.
Air Balloon
Air Balloon gives its holder immunity to Ground-type moves while the item remains active. The effect disappears once the holder takes damage from an attack. That temporary Ground immunity can be extremely useful on Pokémon that would otherwise struggle against Ground attacks. It can also force opponents to first remove the Balloon before using their preferred Ground-type move.
Red Card
Red Card activates after its holder takes damage and forces the attacking Pokémon to switch out. The item is consumed after one use, but forcing an opponent off the field at the right moment can disrupt setup strategies or remove a Pokémon that has accumulated stat boosts.
Eject Button
Eject Button works in the opposite direction. When its holder takes damage, the holder switches out instead. The item is then consumed for the remainder of the battle.
This can provide valuable momentum by allowing a player to absorb an attack before immediately bringing another Pokémon onto the field. It could be especially interesting on Pokémon with Abilities that activate whenever they enter battle, allowing those effects to potentially be used again later.
Binding Band
Binding Band increases the residual damage caused by binding effects. Normally, a bound Pokémon loses one-eighth of its maximum HP from the effect. Binding Band increases that damage to one-sixth, making trapping strategies more punishing over multiple turns.
Normal Gem
Normal Gem provides a one-time 30 percent power increase to a Normal-type move before being consumed. Unlike items that continuously increase damage, Normal Gem is about creating one particularly powerful attack at the right moment.
Leek
Leek is specifically designed for Farfetch’d and Sirfetch’d. When held by either Pokémon, it increases their critical-hit ratio by two stages. This makes critical-hit-focused strategies much more consistent and gives Sirfetch’d in particular another offensive item option.
Terrain Becomes Even More Important
Four different Seeds have also been added to Pokémon Champions: Electric Seed, Psychic Seed, Misty Seed, and Grassy Seed. Each activates when its corresponding terrain is present. Electric Seed and Grassy Seed increase the holder’s Defense by one stage, while Psychic Seed and Misty Seed increase Special Defense by one stage. Each Seed is consumed after activating.
These additions are particularly noteworthy because Regulation M-C introduces more ways to establish terrain. Rillaboom’s Grassy Surge creates Grassy Terrain when it enters battle, while Indeedee’s Psychic Surge does the same for Psychic Terrain. Pincurchin can also create Electric Terrain through Electric Surge.
That means players can potentially activate a teammate’s Seed immediately simply by sending the appropriate terrain setter into battle. Terrain Extender pushes these strategies even further. When its holder creates terrain through a move or Ability, Terrain Extender increases its duration by three additional turns, bringing the total duration to eight turns.
Teams built heavily around terrain now have considerably more tools available to them.
More Abilities Arrive With Regulation M-C
The new Pokémon also introduce several Abilities that were previously unavailable in Pokémon Champions.
Beyond Aura Guard and the Abilities attached to the new Mega Evolutions, Regulation M-C introduces options such as Grassy Surge, Psychic Surge, Punk Rock, Steely Spirit, Stakeout, Seed Sower, Guard Dog, Grass Pelt, Liquid Ooze, and others.
Punk Rock, available to Toxtricity, increases the power of its sound-based attacks by 30 percent while reducing damage it receives from sound-based moves by half. Perrserker can use Steely Spirit, which increases the power of Steel-type moves used by both Perrserker and its allies by 50 percent. That immediately creates potential for Steel-focused offensive combinations in Doubles.
Mabosstiff’s Guard Dog makes it immune to the Attack reduction from Intimidate. Instead, being affected by Intimidate increases its Attack by one stage. It also prevents effects from opposing Pokémon that would force Mabosstiff to switch.
Arboliva brings Seed Sower, creating Grassy Terrain whenever it takes damage from a move, while Thievul can use Stakeout, doubling the power of its moves when attacking a Pokémon that has just switched into battle. There is plenty here for players to experiment with beyond the obvious additions at the top of the competitive ladder.
New Moves Expand Team-Building Options
Regulation M-C also introduces several moves alongside the new Pokémon. These include signature or closely associated moves such as Pyro Ball, Drum Beating, Snipe Shot, Overdrive, Octolock, Meteor Assault, Double Shock, Glaive Rush, and Revival Blessing.
Cinderace’s Pyro Ball provides a powerful 120-base-power Fire attack with 90 percent accuracy, while Rillaboom’s Drum Beating deals damage and lowers its target’s Speed by one stage. Baxcalibur gains access to Glaive Rush, a massive 120-base-power Dragon attack. However, its power comes with a drawback, as Baxcalibur becomes vulnerable after using the move until it can act again.
Meanwhile, Pawmot’s Revival Blessing could create some of the update’s most unusual situations by allowing a fainted teammate to return to battle.
Version 1.2.0 Makes Additional Balance Changes
The Regulation M-C roster isn’t the only thing included in Version 1.2.0. Several moves received direct adjustments. Wish and Strength Sap have both been reduced from 12 PP to eight, limiting how frequently defensive Pokémon can rely on them during longer battles.
Politoed can no longer use Pound, while Archaludon loses access to Mirror Coat and Metal Burst. Slash has also been made available for use. While some of these changes are relatively small, the PP reductions to Wish and Strength Sap could matter in battles where players rely heavily on recovery and attrition.
View Log and Selection Support Come to Pokémon Champions
Two quality-of-life additions may end up being among the most useful parts of Version 1.2.0. The first is View Log, which allows players to view a history of actions that have occurred during the current battle.
Keeping track of everything that has happened can become difficult during a complicated match, especially when several stat changes, switches, Abilities, and other effects have occurred. View Log gives players an in-game way to look back at previous actions rather than having to remember everything themselves.
The second addition is Selection Support.
Selection Support displays battle data on the Pokémon selection screen to help players decide which Pokémon they should send into battle. For newer competitive players in particular, having additional information available while making one of the most important decisions of a match could make Ranked Battles more approachable.
These features do not change the fundamental mechanics of battling, but they make important information easier to access.
Regulation M-C Could Significantly Change Ranked Battles
There is a lot to unpack with Regulation M-C. Rillaboom and Indeedee immediately bring two established terrain setters into the format. Salamence brings Intimidate and the option of Mega Salamence. Pawmot introduces Revival Blessing, while Pokémon such as Cinderace, Baxcalibur, and Golisopod give players additional offensive options.
Then there are the new Mega Evolutions. Mega Lucario Z’s Aura Guard, Mega Garchomp Z’s Levitate, Mega Golisopod’s Tough Claws, and Mega Absol Z’s Sharpness all give players new strategies to explore, while Mega Salamence brings back one of the most recognizable Mega Evolutions in competitive Pokémon.
The addition of Rocky Helmet, Air Balloon, the four terrain Seeds, Terrain Extender, and other held items should also make team building considerably more flexible than it was during Regulation M-B.
Regulation Set M-C runs through December 2, giving Pokémon Champions players nearly three months to determine which of these additions will become competitive staples and which unexpected Pokémon might find their way onto successful teams. With new Pokémon, six more Mega Evolutions, additional held items, new Abilities, balance changes, and useful battle features all arriving at once, Regulation M-C feels like a substantial shake-up for Pokémon Champions Ranked Battles.
