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Seeing Mega Scolipede's stats in ZA, the author was sure that with Speed Boost it would be strong no matter its ability, and started the team from it. Shell Armor pairs perfectly with screens, and with Light Clay unbanned this season, Aurora Veil Alolan Ninetales plus Scolipede became the core. Screen teams like to grab numbers and info advantage in one-on-ones before setting screens, so easy leads Mimikyu and Ceruledge got the nod. Scolipede snowballs off Speed Boost, Swords Dance, and Drain Punch recovery, while Focus Sash all-out Ceruledge is the best Sash mon in MB. Life Orb Mimikyu carries Curse and Trick Room, Mega Blastoise handles Metagross, Corviknight and Fire types, and Mega Scovillain specifically fights the Metagross-plus-Primarina-plus-Hippowdon combo. Maushold was the offline-event slot for breaking Umbreon-plus-Hippowdon stall, and it won the offline event. The author sayBuild article →

Returning since USUM, the author's idea was to stack high-BST mons and then tune moves and EVs to the meta so there's a win path against anything. The Mega slot is 700-BST Mega Dragonite to answer M-3's strong new Fighters (Blaziken, Staraptor, Annihilape) and combos like Hydreigon-plus-Metagross, backed by Mega Starmie for absurd damage off Huge Power. A Will-O-Wisp Quiver Dance Volcarona, near-max in Defense, works into both physical and special and was the team MVP, racking up 3HKOs. A Choice Scarf Jolly max-Speed Garchomp serves as stopper and sweeper. A Substitute plus Sheer Cold Vanilluxe specifically breaks stall cores. The last slot is Aegislash aimed at Staraptor and Floette, later switched to Life Orb physical but rarely brought. Dragonite must lead or Stealth Rock kills Multiscale. The author says special-leaning Archaludon stayed a problem all season, and lead Glimmora and GrBuild article →

This whole team was borrowed wholesale from another player, so the author skips build reasoning and just shares impressions from reaching Champion rank for the first time — it became a rain team after a random scout pull turned out far stronger and faster than expected. Garchomp, Meowscarada, and Metagross get picked together about 80% of the time; against Aegislash or Gholdengo, which trouble Metagross, the author leans on that pair instead, with Garchomp also Taunting Archaludon, its own worst matchup, to set Metagross up. Mega Gengar, Sylveon, and especially Mega Floette (which both preferred leads are weak to) were rough, often needing Garchomp to chip damage before the back line could close it out. The author credits the result mostly to the borrowed team and is aiming for a top-99 finish next season.Build article →

The author gave up on Mawile and split the Mega slot into Mega Starmie and Mega Floette, picking two fast, hard-hitting Megas that don't overlap in role and hold up against top-meta threats. The core plan is to lead bulky Archaludon for Stealth Rock, then bulldoze with the Megas. Choice Scarf Paldean Tauros (Fire) cleans up whatever the Megas can't KO, especially last-slot Mimikyu, and blows past Mega Gyarados and Mega Metagross while enabling pivoting with Intimidate and Starmie's Flip Turn. Lum + Swords Dance Garchomp pairs with Floette to break the common Mega Dragonite + Aegislash core, and Archaludon's Dark Pulse chips Aegislash and Metagross into Mega KO range, which the author says was huge for opening lanes. Focus Sash Meowscarada handles Basculegion and Mimikyu. The author raves about Tauros as the MVP; the weak points are Garchomp folding to Meowscarada, Lopunny and Mimikyu, and no clean answer to Scovillain or Corviknight.Build article →

The team revolves around Archaludon plus Mega Florges as the core pair, backed by Basculegion and Garchomp for offensive coverage. Florges added Baby-Doll Eyes as a key move that unexpectedly converts Aegislash and Kingambit into setup fodder, while Calm Mind handles special attackers; Archaludon carries an Oran Berry and Mirror Coat to eliminate special Mega leads immediately, with Stealth Rock plus Dragon Pulse plus Tail Slap plus Mirror Coat proving to be the season's essential combination. Garchomp with a Choice Scarf and Basculegion with a Focus Sash were swapped from the standard configuration to create mutual threat misreading — opponents expecting a Scarf on Basculegion encounter Scarf Garchomp instead. Scizor runs HD plus Swords Dance plus Roost to complement Florges in breaking tough matchups. Vivillon's Compound Eyes Sleep Powder acts as a deterrent that discourages opponents from bringing two defensive walls; it was used four times with three wins. The author cites HD Mirror Armor Corviknight, Mega Scovillain, and Mega Aerodactyl as the team's worst matchups.Build article →

This team prioritizes fast game-states and avoiding draws, centering on Mega Starmie after abandoning Hippowdon-Charizard late in the season. Archaludon runs Thunder Wave and Stealth Rock, leveraging its move-set variety to let Gengar and Greninja overextend. Garchomp carries a Haban Berry with Swords Dance and Rock Tomb for pivot play and reliable damage against leading Charizard; the author replaced Draco Meteor with Ice Fang after too many misses. Primarina with a Lum Berry and Sleep Talk neutralizes Toxic Spikes and Umbreon poison. Mega Heracross was added the final day as a direct counter to Mega Lopunny, and un-evolved Guts activation punishes Scovillain. Snorlax with Thick Fat, Leftovers, and Yawn-Protect closes Ghost-type and Ice-type coverage gaps and provides a reliable Basculegion counter. The author values Starmie as the team's consistent performer; Mega Lopunny and Stamina Archaludon remained the clearest structural weaknesses through the final day.Build article →

The author built around their favorite Typhlosion, finishing 140th in Champions M-1. The core idea is a Focus Sash Typhlosion running Inferno Overdrive plus Flail-style moves, with its Blaze ability enabling big damage at low HP. Mega Dragonite is the primary mega, mopping up opponents that Typhlosion chips down; Mega Lucario handles fairy-types that pressure Dragonite. Corviknight with Defog and U-turn maintains field control and enables the offensive duo to perform. Scarf Samurott (Hisui) handles fast megas like Starmie and Gengar, and also counters the Basculegion that Lucario tends to invite. Mimikyu covers the Garchomp + Florges + Basculegion core as a versatile safety net. The author notes the team's central weakness is electric-type coverage since there's no ground-type, making Bellibolt particularly threatening.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 →