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Top ranked-ladder builds published at season end — most include full sets and the original build article.
The author built around Mega Mawile, a favorite that hadn't seen play in seven years. The core is Mega Mawile plus Hydreigon and Gholdengo, three mons whose typings complement each other while covering cycling, wallbreaking, and one-on-one matchups. Scarf Hydreigon does damage and pivots, while a bulky Nasty Plot Gholdengo shreds walls like Venusaur and Corviknight. Hippowdon is the physical cushion versus Blaziken, and Mega Staraptor is a selection lure, stomping mid-speed threats like Garchomp and Archaludon with Close Combat while baiting out Mimikyu and Aegislash so Mawile can sweep. The last slot is a Focus Sash Meowscarada laying Toxic Spikes to raise Staraptor's cleaning power. The author admits Fairy types like Sylveon and Primarina are the weak spot, but reached Champion rank by minimizing coinflips and applying selection pressure.Build article →
Source: バトルデータベース チャンピオンズ · GameWith
This ladder snapshot only includes the roster; see the author’s original post for the full set.
The author built around Starmie and Conkeldurr, finishing 142nd in Champions M-1 at 2622 rating. Mega Starmie is a powerful physical attacker running Aqua Jet and Quick Turn, whose presence essentially guarantees Archaludon will be brought by opponents. Conkeldurr is built specifically to exploit those Archaludons, plus the dark-types and big physical threats that Starmie struggles with — the author calls it the MVP. Mega Clefable uses its pre-evolution's Unaware to wall setup attackers, then stacks Cosmic Power for a fortress mode that handles dark-types and Mimikyu. Archaludon runs White Herb for Sturdy-guaranteed action and can one-shot Florges with Steel Beam. Corviknight in HD spread uses Mirror Armor to bounce back stat drops from Florges, then stacks Bulk Up. Scarf Meowscarada handles speed control and pivoting. Key weaknesses are the absence of ground-types, making Slowbro and Bellibolt quite painful.Build article →
The author starts from the observation that Champions' shallow item pool makes Garchomp extremely common, so a Focus Sash Garchomp serves as both the Stealth Rock setter and the Garchomp answer, with Dragon Tail giving an edge in the mirror. Since the format now ends in draws instead of the old timer rules, Mega Gengar becomes the main Mega — Shadow Tag closes games once it lands safely. Kingambit with Black Glasses handles ghost/psychic spam like Mimikyu, Skeledirge and Aegislash via Sucker Punch. To bring Gengar in cleanly, Primarina absorbs grass/electric hits and uses Sparkling Aria + Aqua Jet to chip Barbaracle, while Corviknight blanks ground-types and stalls losing games into draws with Roost. A second Mega slot goes to Delphox, whose Magical Flame + Nasty Plot punishes opposing steel Megas and Kangaskhan cores. The author's main weakness is Mega Mawile's Swords Dance Megaton Kick and a general lack of electric coverage.Build article →
This ladder snapshot only includes the roster; see the author’s original post for the full set.
Public ladder roster; no detailed set is available for this team.
The author runs a pure matchup-based team: lead with a Mega to grab a numbers advantage, then close with two mons that dominate one-on-one. The trio of Mimikyu, Kingambit, and Basculegion could handle almost any matchup by picking two, so he stacked three Megas to widen coverage. The three Megas are Blaziken, Mega Blastoise, and Mega Victreebel, mix-and-match as long as the coverage is there; Mega Victreebel had the highest usage, guaranteeing at least one trade with Grassy Glide and trading blows with Archaludon. Kingambit is the team's strongest piece, running Focus Sash with Kowtow Cleave, Guillotine, and Metal Burst, oppressive whenever it drops in; Basculegion sweeps after Kingambit clears out Dark and Ghost types. The author says Corviknight and Slack Off Hippowdon are the toughest, but the team is highly patterned and stable, netting his best-ever result.Build article →
The author, a professional Pokemon Trading Card Game player, finished 145th in Champions M-1 at 2621 on their first ever ranked ladder. The approach was iterative: just run ranked games and add a counter whenever an unfixable matchup showed up, without deep analysis. Archaludon was the near-mandatory lead, using Mirror Coat and Roar to pressure almost every opponent, including Mega Florges trying to set up Moonblast. Scarf Garchomp with Adamant nature can reverse-sweep Basculegion more reliably after Stealth Rock damage, and Iron Tail gives a chance to OHKO Florges. Mimikyu holds Scope Lens for a 50% critical hit rate on Shadow Claw, letting it chip through walls like Corviknight over multiple tries and never left the team since day two. Primarina is only selected into Hippowdon matchups, carrying a Lum Berry to sleep-proof against the Hippowdon and Meowscarada core. Mega Lopunny breaks stall and counters Mega Scizor. Weaknesses include ghost-type coverage and stall teams.Build article →
The author finished 146th in Champions S1 with a face-forward team built around Mega Dragonite. Mega Dragonite's Multiscale plus wide coverage defeats most opponents head-on; main vulnerabilities are Triple Axel users like Mega Lopunny and Meowscarada, and Mega Florges. Mega Lucario runs HP and Speed max without Bullet Punch but with Swords Dance, letting it break through opponents that Dragonite would rather avoid, while surviving Meowscarada's kicks and Basculegion's Wave Crash. Scarf Meowscarada joined the last day to check leads. Corviknight with full physical bulk and Iron Head, Body Press, Iron Defense, and Roost defeats almost every physical attacker, with Iron Head added late to give more options into Florges. Primarina uses Sparkling Aria, Moonblast, Aqua Jet, and Encore in a balanced special spread, with Encore specifically denying setup plays — the author calls it co-strongest on the team. Scarf Basculegion handles speed control but faced dedicated answers in high ladder. Slowbro and Bellibolt remain unaddressed weaknesses.Build article →
The whole team is built around Mega Dragonite, a partner the author has raised since the RS era. The core is Mega Dragonite plus Gholdengo, complementing each other: Gholdengo covers the Fairy and Ice types Dragonite fears, while Dragonite handles the Ground and Fire Gholdengo dislikes. Dragonite's twist is Dragon Pulse over Draco Meteor: no Special Attack drop lets it spam attacks, and paired with Roost its longevity is huge, grinding down opposing lead Charizard or Hippowdon. Hisuian Samurott lays spikes while attacking with Ceaseless Edge and packs Encore, beating Basculegion, Mega Metagross, and stall teams. After tweaks, Focus Sash Mamoswine became the Ground lead, pressuring Garchomp, Glimmora, and Archaludon, and bulky Mega Scizor walls Mega Metagross while pairing with Dragonite. The author says rain teams and Archaludon setting up first are the hardest matchups.Build article →
The team builds on the author's previous Bellibolt + Mega Starmie + Hydreigon core, but needed answers to Archaludon and Scarf Meowscarada, which led to Gardevoir. With Gengar and Mega Lopunny popular, Mega Aerodactyl was chosen as a fresh Mega sweeper. Gardevoir runs Pixie Plate + Trace, copying Archaludon's Sturdy to survive Flash Cannon, then KOing with Moonblast + Vacuum Wave; Substitute baits Hippowdon's Yawn and Stealth Rock and even cracks stall cores. Mega Aerodactyl (Tough Claws, Adamant) cleans with Dual Wingbeat / Earthquake / Ice Fang / Dragon Dance after Hippowdon and Bellibolt set up favorable matchups. Bellibolt is the physically bulky cushion linking everything via Volt Switch. Weaknesses: Gardevoir has no answer to Mega Gengar, Mega Blastoise, Mega Charizard, Aegislash, Glimmora, Ceruledge, and Sylveon-type Fairy spam, with Floette being especially annoying.Build article →
The author built from Mega Gyarados, which can sweep almost anything given the right setup. Gyarados runs Dragon Dance to flip good/bad matchups and steal games with flinches; the key trick is holding the Mega Evolution as long as possible, using the typing change to keep forcing the opponent into guesses. For support, Volcarona covers the Grass, Fairy, Corviknight, and Umbreon that Gyarados fears, while Mimikyu handles Garchomp and Primarina. Two leads: Focus Sash Serperior was the season MVP, spamming Contrary Leaf Storm to crush Stealth Rock plus screens setups and Glimmora while pressuring Espathra and Vivillon; Garchomp sets Stealth Rock anonymously and uses Dragon Tail to bait setup mons. The final slot became Mega Raichu Y, forcing the opponent to keep a non-Mega and discouraging Primarina and Staraptor. The author says Meowscarada and Mamoswine heavily pressure the leads, and onlBuild article →
This team is built to read the opponent's leads and steamroll with high-value one-on-one pieces. In build order came Mega Delphox to menace the new Megas, then Kingambit for the Mega Starmie and Basculegion that Delphox hates, plus the Focus Sash Swords Dance three-attack Garchomp used since M-1. With leads too weak to Primarina and mirror Garchomp being silly, HB Leftovers Gyarados went in, followed by Life Orb Mimikyu as a flex piece and finally Mega Floette. In practice they almost never lead a Mega, picking three non-Megas with Gyarados usually leading and Garchomp sometimes. Gyarados uses Thunder Wave for Speed control, paralyzing enemy Dragon Dance Gyarados on the switch then pivoting to Garchomp to handle Mega Gyarados reliably. Mimikyu swaps Shadow Sneak for Wood Hammer to crush Hippowdon, a boosted hit KOing over half the time. The author says leads read easily here, but Mega Fl
The author expanded last season's Archaludon plus Banette core by adding Swampert, letting four mons form two complete cores. One is Banette plus Archaludon plus Pelipper: Banette trades one-for-one so Archaludon can handle various Megas, with Pelipper backing up Archaludon. The other is a Swampert rain core, where Swampert is a Ground rain sweeper that Archaludon can't easily wall. Both cores struggle against Alolan Ninetales, so the third Mega slot is Greninja as a safety valve, also pressuring Garchomp and Delphox. Finally, Kleavor fills the Focus Sash role, laying Stealth Rock to discourage Fire types and pressuring the opponent's own Sash lead. Archaludon runs a wide-coverage, Sitrus special-bulk build, and now often leads since Swampert joined. The author says selection and play are harder than last season: think it through and you win, but sloppy play tanks your rating fast.Build article →
The author finished 150th in Champions M-1 with a peak of 2660, building around Mega Florges, Garchomp, and Corviknight. Mega Florges is the centerpiece, using Moonblast coverage, Drain Kiss sustain, and Substitute stalling to defeat most lower-durability opponents outright. Garchomp enters with Rock Tomb to slow opponents, Dragon Tail to cycle out threats, and Stealth Rock plus Rough Skin for residual damage, pressuring the defensive cycling that counters Florges. Taunt-plus-Bulk Up Corviknight is called the real MVP: Taunt shuts stall loops, and accumulated Bulk Up turns it into an offensive threat that also handles physical opponents like Meowscarada that Florges cannot manage. Scarf Basculegion handles fast high-power attackers but met prepared opponents in upper ladder. Mega Delphox is self-described as a misfit — water-type coverage pierces the whole team and its role was too niche. Kingambit deals with Mega Dragonite, Aegislash, and ghost-type coverage threats. Key weaknesses are water-type coverage going unchecked and the supplementary slots not being cohesive.Build article →
The author hit Champion rank for the first time (final 151st, 2434) with a double-wall core: Mega Slowbro soaks physical hits, Hisui Goodra takes special ones, and four hard hitters clean up. Slowbro's Shell Armor blocks crits while White Herb Goodra uses Acid Spray to break walls, making the two a complementary backbone. Choice Scarf Staraptor is the fast sweeper, its Reckless one-shotting Charizard Y and Delphox; Primarina answers Hydreigon plus Metagross cores; Mamoswine sets Stealth Rock and hunts Dragonite; Mega Gengar patches the Fairy weakness. The author flags Charizard Y, Ceruledge, and especially non-Scarf item Basculegion as the hardest matchups.Build article →
The author rebuilt the Gen 7 Hippowdon/Garchomp/Aegislash/Greninja core for this format, with a rule of avoiding any inaccurate moves—only Dragonite's Air Slash slips through. Mega Greninja is the MVP: outspeeds Mega Lopunny, picks a move pre-Mega via Protean, then evolves on the predicted switch to fire the right STAB. Because Floette and Dragonite are also on the team, opponents rarely read Greninja as the Mega, giving it huge deception. Hippowdon handles physical attackers and often sweeps games alone after Greninja or Meowscarada flop. Mega Dragonite is the team's only Fire move, mandatory vs. Scizor, and at max Speed creeps Vivillon and Adamant Garchomp. Aegislash tanks special hits, though Close Combat loses to Calm Mind fairies and Iron Head got destroyed by Torrent Greninja in tests. Scarf Adamant Meowscarada keeps offensive pressure, and Mega Floette runs Psychic over Draining Kiss after drawing three straight games against Umbreon and Gengar.Build article →
The author built around the newly added Mega Mawile (final 152nd, 2434), an offense-leaning team. Huge Power Mawile spamming Play Rough is the star, backed by Mimikyu for Trick Room setup and matchup control, and Hippowdon as a cushion that sets Stealth Rock and clicks Yawn. Mega Delphox is the second Mega for wall breaking and games where Mawile can't be brought, its bulk letting it tank a hit and revenge Mega Blaziken, Mega Venusaur, and Metagross. Choice Scarf Hydreigon covers Mawile's typing and targets Mega Metagross; a Sash special Meowscarada spreads Toxic Spikes and baits Charizard or Archaludon leads for the kill. The author notes Primarina alone squeezes their team choices, and late Mega Gyarados plus Mega Meowstic are rough.Build article →
The author finished 152nd in Champions M-1 at 2617, building around Mega Victreebel as a toxic spikes setter who keeps fighting after laying entry hazards. The core problem with traditional toxic spikes teams — losing the setter and immediately being down a Pokémon — is solved here: Mega Victreebel uses Wrap, Encore, Leech Seed, and its ability to force casualties in return, meaning giving it up always costs the opponent something. Against physical and slow opponents it can solo entire games through Wrap-lock plus Encore plus Leech Seed drain; special attackers are the main weakness since they break through before the drain loop can activate. Kingambit runs Attack-Speed max without Bullet Punch, outspeeding most Corviknight, Skeledirge, and Scizor to clean up as the team's other MVP. Primarina is heavily invested in HP and Special Defense to tank Archaludon and other special threats, with Encore providing extra pressure against setup moves and Fairy typing blocking Dragon Tail. Hippowdon serves as a second Archaludon check, with Earthquake, HD investment, and Sitrus Berry allowing it to absorb even White Herb-boosted Steel Beam. The author admits the last two team slots were never optimally filled and that Mega Gengar, Mega Dragonite, and Mega Charizard remain problematic.Build article →
Image is from the author's public post and may be outdated; the original post is authoritative. Source post →
The team is built around Mega Lopunny and Mega Gengar in a cycle structure, with the author reasoning that an aggressive, pressure-first style suits an unsettled first season. Mega Lopunny leads almost every game, using Fake Out to scout and chip, then Jumping Kick or Triple Axel to score KOs with its wide Normal/Fighting coverage. Mega Gengar waits in the back; U-turn and Flip Turn from teammates create a free switch-in, after which Shadow Tag lets it trap and dismantle opponents one by one. Corviknight buffs with Stealth Body Press, Primarina handles Hippowdon and provides Flip Turn support, Garchomp sets Stealth Rock, and Hydreigon with Choice Scarf provides a consistent U-turn pivot into Gengar. The author flags Aegislash's King's Shield punishing Jumping Kick and Scizor's matchup as the team's two main weaknesses left unresolved.Build article →
