The Most-Used Pokémon in the First Pokémon Champions Tournament
Pokémon Champions’ competitive debut confirmed concerns about the game’s metagame diversity. The Switch battle simulator’s first major organized online tournament launched on April 8, 2026—the same day the game released—attracting over 700 players in a $500 VGC event hosted by content creators Joel ‘NinoPokeBros’ Nin and Himmyturner.
Incineroar, the fire/dark-type Pokémon introduced in Sun and Moon, completely dominated the event, appearing in more than 50% of competitors’ teams—the only Pokémon to surpass the 50% pick rate threshold. The monster’s dominance stems from its exceptional utility: the Intimidate ability combined with support moves like Parting Shot and Fake Out, alongside strong offensive coverage through Flare Blitz and Darkest Lariat.
While Incineroar’s overwhelming presence was largely anticipated by competitive players, the tournament revealed some diversity in team compositions, with competitors deploying varied strategies beyond the top pick. However, the results underscore broader concerns about Pokémon Champions’ stated goal of serving as an accessible entry point for new competitive players. The same established metagame strategies that dominated previous generations continue to overshadow the new game’s competitive scene, suggesting that even with a fresh title, the fundamentals of the Pokémon competitive landscape remain largely unchanged.