Pokémon Champions adds Z Mega Evolutions and legendary Pokémon in September update

The Pokémon Company announced a major update for Pokémon Champions during the 2026 Pokémon World Championships closing ceremony, revealing that Z Mega Evolutions will arrive in the free-to-play title on 9th September 2026. The new Regulation Set M-C, which begins on that date, will introduce alternative Mega Evolutions for Lucario, Absol, and Garchomp, alongside a tease for the game's first legendary Pokémon.

Z Mega Evolutions, which debuted in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, are making their first appearance in a turn-based Pokémon game. While their exact mechanics in Champions have not been fully detailed, they are expected to follow standard Mega Evolution rules, meaning players will only be able to Mega Evolve one Pokémon per match. Typically, Mega Evolutions boost a Pokémon's base stat total by 100 points and grant new abilities.

Each of the three Z Mega Evolutions comes with a distinct ability and stat spread, differing from their existing Mega forms. Mega Absol Z gains the ability Sharpness, which increases the power of cutting moves by 1.5 times, making attacks like Night Slash and Psycho Cut particularly potent. Mega Lucario Z receives Wave Shield, which halves damage from contact moves, an interesting choice given that Lucario is typically built as a special-attacking glass cannon. Mega Garchomp Z gets Levitate, granting immunity to Ground-type moves, which could offer strategic flexibility.

In terms of typing, Mega Absol Z is a Dark and Ghost type, leaving it weak only to Fairy attacks. Mega Lucario Z remains a Fighting and Steel type, while Mega Garchomp Z is a pure Dragon type. The ability pairings have sparked discussion among fans, with Mega Absol Z's Sharpness considered the strongest at first glance, while Mega Lucario Z's Wave Shield may help it survive in key situations. Mega Garchomp Z's Levitate is solid, but its base form is already powerful, so its competitive viability remains to be seen.

Beyond the Z Mega Evolutions, the update will also add Rillaboom and Baxcalibur, which were previously announced for Regulation Set M-C. Rillaboom was a dominant force in the Scarlet and Violet competitive meta, though its move set in Champions has not yet been revealed. The M-B regulation set introduced nearly 40 newcomers when counting Mega Evolutions, suggesting that M-C may bring a similar number of additions.

The trailer also teased Mega Heatran, though it has not been officially confirmed for the M-C set. According to the leaker Centro Leaks, Mega Heatran may instead debut in Regulation Set M-D in December. If it does arrive, it would mark the first legendary Pokémon to appear in Pokémon Champions, and its impressive stat spread suggests it could be a formidable addition, particularly on Trick Room teams.

The Pokémon Company has not yet disclosed the full roster of Pokémon coming in the update, but the announcement signals continued support for the free-to-play title on both the Switch eShop and mobile platforms. Players can expect more details to be shared in the lead-up to the 9th September release.