Here’s how Pokemon Champions’ new Z-Mega Evolutions will change the game

What the report says

Submit a news tip☰ Posted on September 6, 2026 by Ethan in Features, Switch, Switch 2Pokemon Champions just revealed that the three Z Mega Evolutions from Pokemon Legends: Z-A are coming to the game on September 9. And two of them are probably going to be really good! So today, we’re taking a look at their stats, movepools, and abilities, giving some example movesets, and evaluating how they’ll perform in the current metagame. Mega Absol ZAll three Z Mega Evolutions share something in common: they’re all extremely fast. So fast, in fact, that almost no Pokemon currently in Pokemon Champions can outspeed them.

Mega Absol Z has a blazing-fast 151 Speed – it can only be outsped by opponents boosted by Tailwind, Choice Scarf, or Chlorophyll, if applicable. The next fastest Pokemon, Mega Aerodactyl and Mega Alakazam, aren’t seen too often and are base 150 Speed. Mega Absol Z also has an absurdly high base 154 Attack stat, which means it’s going to deal a ton of damage especially if it’s boosted by Swords Dance. And that’s not even factoring in its newly-confirmed ability, Sharpness, which grants a further 50% power boost to slicing moves. This means Mega Absol Z’s Shadow Claw, Night Slash, and Psycho Cut to nuclear levels.However, Absol is extremely frail even when Mega Evolved, and will often find itself losing almost all of its health from just one priority move.

Its Dark/Ghost typing means it is immune to Mach Punch and neutral to Sucker Punch and Aqua Jet, but it’s still going to take a lot of damage. Thankfully, Absol itself has access to Sucker Punch, and while it’s not boosted by Sharpness, it’s still going to hurt. Sucker Punch is a near-guaranteed KO on fully offensive Basculegion, which is considered one of the best Pokemon in the game. Mega Charizard Y needs a bit of chip damage to go down to a Shadow Claw or Night Slash, whereas Mega Floette can live a Shadow Claw at full health and strike back and KO with Moonblast.Overall, Mega Absol Z is looking really good – for singles.

Key details

In doubles, it doesn’t have any multi-target moves that benefit from Sharpness, though it does get the dreaded Rock Slide for the flinch chance. Its frailty is more of a problem in doubles where two opponents can potentially attack it, so you’ll have to use Protect very well to keep Absol safe.Mega Lucario ZMega Lucario Z shares the same ultra-fast base 151 Speed as its fellow Z Mega Evolutions, and it’s also got a super-high base 164 Special Attack stat. Its ability, Aura Guard, halves the damage it takes from contact moves, which sounds really good in theory.

In practice, though, it’s still going to crumple to a Garchomp’s Earthquake. But Aura Guard does have some value – for example, it can live any of Basculegion’s Water-type moves even in the rain, and it can also live Last Respects boosted by one fallen teammate.Unfortunately, none of Lucario’s moves can one-hit KO Basculegion back without a boost, not even Dark Pulse. The special moves Lucario gets right now, including Dark Pulse, are Aura Sphere, Dragon Pulse, Flash Cannon, Psychic, Shadow Ball, Steel Beam, Vacuum Wave, and Water Pulse. None of these pose any major threat to Mega Charizard Y, but it does learn Rock Slide.

You’d have to run a mixed set to truly threaten it, then. Flash Cannon deals heavy damage to Mega Floette but does not one-hit KO it, and of course Lucario is a huge threat to Kingambit thanks to its Fighting-type STAB. It can set up Calm Mind or Nasty Plot boosts, however, and that might make it better in singles.In singles, Mega Lucario Z does have some potential. It’s fast, strong, and has a few good matchups, though it isn’t guaranteed to KO the best Mega Evolutions in the game unless they’re weakened beforehand.

More from the announcement

It also struggles to do anything about Garchomp, who is extremely common. In doubles, Lucario will really struggle against Rillaboom and Grassy Seed Sneasler teams; Sneasler’s Close Combat still one-hit KOs Mega Lucario Z despite its ability. Lucario does threaten Incineroar with Aura Sphere, and it doesn’t care about Intimidate anymore, so that’s a bonus. Overall, there’s definitely some potential here.Mega Garchomp ZNot a ton of potential here, unfortunately. Any Mega Evolution of Garchomp has a very tough task: being better than regular old Garchomp with a Life Orb. Right now, Mega Garchomp Z certainly is not better.

It loses its Ground type, which does mean it’s less weak to Ice, but it also loses its extra power on Earthquake and High Horsepower.