Pokémon Champions Counters: How to Beat the Top Meta Threats
The most-used Pokémon you'll face in Champions ranked, ordered by usage — and for each one, its weaknesses and the cleanest ways to beat it. Type matchups stack with two types (up to 4x), so use these as your starting read at team preview.
How to beat Staraptor-Mega
Fighting Flying ◆ Mega 52.9% usage
dominant Contrary attacker: Close Combat becomes a snowballing Defense/SpD boost while Brave Bird pressures redirection and Grass/Fighting cores
How to beat it
Electric/Ice/Flying/Psychic/Fairy x2 do not feed it repeated Close Combat turns; double-target early before Contrary boosts stack Haze, Clear Smog, Encore/Taunt pressure, strong special Fairy/Psychic/Electric attacks and fast revenge killers are the cleanest answers Ghosts dodge Close Combat but must respect Brave Bird/coverage Why it's a threat
Contrary turns Close Combat drops into defensive boosts, so passive pivoting lets it snowball Fighting/Flying STAB pressures Kingambit, Incineroar, Sneasler, Grass supports and many Steel cores Roost sets convert defensive boosts into endgame staying power pre-Mega Intimidate gives immediate physical mitigation
How to beat Garchomp
Dragon Ground 43.5% usage
Scarf revenge killer + spread Earthquake/Rock Slide
How to beat it
Fairy ×2 (Moonblast) Ice ×4 (Icy Wind/Blizzard!) Grass ×2 (Giga Drain) Intimidate Pelipper/Dragonite and Flying-types are immune to Earthquake Why it's a threat
punishes Charizard with Rock Slide punishes Steels with Earthquake revenge killer with Choice Scarf
How to beat Basculegion
Water Ghost 44.5% usage
late-game sweeper/cleaner: Last Respects scales with fallen allies
How to beat it
priority Ghost moves (Shadow Sneak) Dark ×2 (Sucker Punch/Kowtow Cleave) Grass ×2 and Grassy Glide Electric ×2 sun halves its Water moves don't give it free KOs: every fallen ally charges up Last Respects Why it's a threat
Last Respects = 50 + 50 for EVERY fallen ally (150 with 2 down), devastating with Adaptability Aqua Jet cleans up with priority Ghost: can't be trapped and immune to Fake Out threatens anything that doesn't resist Water/Ghost, especially late game with teammates down monstrous in rain
How to beat Kingambit
Dark Steel 42.5% usage
late-game anchor: comes in last and punishes Intimidate
How to beat it
Fighting ×4: Close Combat/Aura Sphere/Low Kick = death (Chople Berry blocks ONE) Ground ×2 Fire ×2 Sucker Punch fails against Protect/status/switches Body Press ×4 (Archaludon/Corviknight) Why it's a threat
Supreme Overlord: more fallen allies = more damage Defiant punishes Intimidate (+2 Atk) Sucker Punch: priority against anything attacking (mind game) Dark ×2 on Ghosts/Psychics and frail targets immune to Psychic: walls Hatterene/Gardevoir/Delphox/Indeedee/Espathra/Oranguru
How to beat Charizard-Mega-Y
Fire Flying ◆ Mega 31.81% usage
weather engine + special spread nuke
How to beat it
ROCK ×2: Rock Slide everywhere is its executioner Electric ×2 steal its weather by bringing in your own setter AFTER it Thermal Exchange (Baxcalibur) gets pumped up by its Fire moves Why it's a threat
instant Solar Beam in sun surprises Water-types special spread nuke (Heat Wave + Weather Ball in sun)
How to beat Sinistcha
Grass Ghost 24.4% usage
redirects single-target hits with Rage Powder, heals, optional Trick Room
How to beat it
SPREAD moves (they ignore the redirect) Fire ×2 Flying/Ice/Dark/Ghost ×2 Grass-types ignore its Rage Powder Why it's a threat
Rage Powder redirects single-target hits Matcha Gotcha heals immune to Fake Out (it's a Ghost)
How to beat Whimsicott
Grass Fairy 20.6% usage
priority speed control + Encore/Taunt
How to beat it
Fire/Ice/Steel/Poison/Flying ×2 (frail, the Sash blocks 1) Armor Tail blocks its priority Why it's a threat
priority Tailwind (Prankster) Encore: locks targets into Protect/setup Taunt as a Grass-type it's immune to opposing powder moves
How to beat Charizard
Fire Flying 19.18% usage
pre-Mega sun attacker; covers users who search the base preview sprite
How to beat it
Rock Slide ×4 Power Gem ×4 Thunderbolt ×2 Wave Crash ×2 Hydro Pump ×2 Why it's a threat
Fire/Flying coverage punishes Grass, Bug, Steel and Fighting picks usually previews as the path into Mega Charizard Y sun
How to beat Sneasler
Fighting Poison 38.6% usage
Unburden cleaner: Close Combat + White Herb trigger the Speed double
How to beat it
PSYCHIC ×2: it dies Flying ×2 (Brave Bird) Ground ×2 paralysis ruins Unburden Close Combat and Fake Out do 0 to Ghosts extremely frail: punish it when it's left exposed Why it's a threat
Close Combat drops its defenses → White Herb restores them and gets consumed → Unburden DOUBLES its Speed Dire Claw: 50% poison/paralysis/sleep Fake Out on top
How to beat Incineroar
Fire Dark 33.7% usage
glue support: Intimidate on every switch-in, Fake Out, Parting Shot pivot
How to beat it
ignore it and beat the rest of the team Water/Fighting/Ground/Rock ×2 an Incineroar as the last mon is nearly harmless Encore on the Fake Out locks it down its OWN Fake Out does 0 to Ghosts Why it's a threat
Intimidate on every switch-in Parting Shot: debuff + pivot, BYPASSES trapping wins positioning, not trades (almost zero direct damage)
How to beat Floette-Mega
Fairy ◆ Mega 23.92% usage
late-game special Calm Mind sweeper
How to beat it
ONLY physical attacks (Calm Mind doesn't raise physical Defense): Iron Head ×2, Sludge Bomb/Dire Claw ×2, Gigaton Hammer double-target it before it stacks boosts the Perish timer ignores boosts Why it's a threat
after Calm Mind, SPECIAL hits bounce right off it
How to beat Sylveon
Fairy 17.9% usage
special spread nuke: Pixilate Hyper Voice ignores redirection
How to beat it
PHYSICAL Steel/Poison: Iron Head, Bullet Punch, Sludge, Dire Claw (low physical Defense) Soundproof blocks Hyper Voice Why it's a threat
Hyper Voice = Fairy spread (Pixilate) that ignores redirection (sound + spread)
How to beat Archaludon
Steel Dragon 17.43% usage
snowballing wall (Stamina) + Electro Shot cannon in rain
How to beat it
Fighting ×2 (Close Combat/Low Kick) Ground ×2 WITHOUT rain Electro Shot needs a charge turn (sun cripples it) kill it within 2 turns or it snowballs Why it's a threat
in RAIN Electro Shot fires instantly (+1 SpA on every use) with Stamina it becomes an ever-growing wall Stalwart ignores redirection Body Press ×4 on Kingambit/Corviknight
How to beat Farigiraf
Normal Psychic 16.12% usage
Armor Tail blocks all enemy priority; TR setter that can't be Fake Outed
How to beat it
Dark ×2 with NON-priority moves: Kowtow Cleave/Crunch yes, Sucker Punch no (it's priority → blocked by Armor Tail) Bug ×2 a non-priority Taunt shuts it up Why it's a threat
ARMOR TAIL blocks ALL enemy priority (Fake Out, Sucker Punch, Extreme Speed, Prankster) TR setter that can't be Fake Outed Thunderbolt for Water-/Flying-types
How to beat Aerodactyl-Mega
Rock Flying ◆ Mega 12.19% usage
the fastest Tailwind setter in the game + Rock Slide flinches
How to beat it
Water/Electric/Ice/Rock/Steel ×2 frail Why it's a threat
the fastest Tailwind setter in the game Rock Slide flinches Wide Guard blocks spread moves designated Charizard-Y killer
How to beat Pelipper
Water Flying 12.15% usage
rain setter with Tailwind and Wide Guard
How to beat it
Electric ×4 (Thunderbolt = death) Rock ×2 frail steals/loses the weather on every switch-in (setter war) Why it's a threat
Drizzle sets rain on switch-in
How to beat Tyranitar
Rock Dark 13.32% usage
pre-Mega sand setter and Rock Slide pressure
How to beat it
Close Combat ×4 Aura Sphere ×4 Low Kick ×4 Earthquake ×2 Iron Head ×2 Moonblast ×2 Wave Crash ×2 Why it's a threat
Sand Stream flips weather on entry Rock Slide pressures Charizard, Talonflame and Froslass Dark STAB threatens Ghost/Psychic teams
How to beat Sableye
Dark Ghost 8.84% usage
Prankster disruption: priority Taunt/Quash/screens
How to beat it
Fairy ×2 is the only weakness that hits it (Moonblast) passive: ignore it or Moonblast it Why it's a threat
Prankster: priority Taunt/Quash/screens QUASH: the target moves last (anti-redirect tech)
How to beat Dragonite-Mega
Dragon Flying ◆ Mega 7.92% usage
do-it-all Mega pivot with Multiscale
How to beat it
Ice ×4! Rock/Dragon/Fairy ×2 (Moonblast) spread moves to break Multiscale Why it's a threat
Multiscale tanks one hit from full HP Hurricane has 100% accuracy in rain do-it-all pivot
How to beat Maushold
Normal 7.9% usage
redirector support: Follow Me + Friend Guard + Helping Hand
How to beat it
Fighting ×2 its Population Bomb does 0 to Ghosts Follow Me doesn't redirect spread or sound moves Why it's a threat
Friend Guard reduces damage to its ally Follow Me redirects single-target hits
How to beat Aegislash
Steel Ghost 7.46% usage
Ghost attacker with Stance Change: tanky in Shield form until it attacks
How to beat it
Fire/Ground/Dark/Ghost ×2 (it's frail in Blade form) Poltergeist fails against itemless targets Why it's a threat
Shield form stays tanky until it attacks Sacred Sword ×4 on Kingambit/Tyranitar priority Shadow Sneak
How to beat Blastoise-Mega
Water ◆ Mega 7.45% usage
special setup sweeper with Shell Smash
How to beat it
Electric/Grass ×2 Encore the Shell Smash kill it before it sets up Why it's a threat
after a Shell Smash it becomes a sweep threat
How to beat Rotom-Wash
Electric Water 7.43% usage
annoyer with no ×4 weaknesses: burns physical attackers
How to beat it
ONLY Grass ×2 (Giga Drain!) no Grass on your team: neutral chip and ignore it Why it's a threat
no ×4 weaknesses Will-O-Wisp burns physical attackers Volt Switch pivot in some builds
How to beat Glimmora
Rock Poison 6.8% usage
hazard lead with Toxic Debris
How to beat it
Water/Ground ×2 Steel ×2 (Iron Head) Psychic ×2 Earth Power ×4 from a special Ground attacker Why it's a threat
Toxic Debris scatters hazards when it gets hit
How to beat Aerodactyl
Rock Flying 6.7% usage
non-Mega variant seen on the ladder; no dedicated entry in the source
How to beat it
Water/Electric/Ice/Rock/Steel ×2 (from the type chart, Rock/Flying) frail: see the Aerodactyl-Mega entry (rank 13) for the full plan
How to beat Corviknight
Flying Steel 7% usage
bulky Tailwind support that can snowball with Bulk Up or pressure with Brave Bird
How to beat it
Thunderbolt ×2 Overheat ×2 Heat Wave ×2 Flare Blitz ×2 Will-O-Wisp cripples Brave Bird/Bulk Up sets Why it's a threat
Tailwind support on a naturally bulky Steel/Flying body Mirror Armor can punish stat drops Bulk Up + Roost variants can become hard to remove
How to beat Blastoise
Water 6.61% usage
pre-Mega Water attacker with Fake Out/Shell Smash lines
How to beat it
Thunderbolt ×2 Grassy Glide ×2 Power Whip ×2 Energy Ball ×2 sun halves Water Spout and Hydro Pump Why it's a threat
Water Spout can overwhelm neutral targets from high HP Fake Out buys setup or positioning turns Aura Sphere/Ice Beam punish Steel, Dark, Dragon and Grass switch-ins
How to beat Talonflame
Fire Flying 6.2% usage
offensive Tailwind setter with Flying priority (Gale Wings)
How to beat it
Rock ×4! Water/Electric ×2 frail, kills itself with recoil Why it's a threat
Gale Wings: priority Brave Bird and Tailwind at full HP
How to beat Froslass-Mega
Ice Ghost ◆ Mega 6.1% usage
snow setter + Aurora Veil
How to beat it
Fire/Steel/Rock/Ghost/Dark ×2 screens do NOT stop status or Perish steal its weather Why it's a threat
SNOW + Aurora Veil: damage halved for 5 turns fast
How to beat Scovillain-Mega
Grass Fire ◆ Mega 6% usage
redirect+drain or dual Grass/Fire STAB; Chlorophyll speeds it up in sun
How to beat it
Flying ×2 (Hurricane) Rock ×2 Poison ×2 Dire Claw ×2 Why it's a threat
redirect (Rage Powder) + drain (Leech Seed) dual Grass/Fire STAB Chlorophyll speeds it up in sun
How to beat Scizor
Bug Steel 6.6% usage
Technician priority attacker with Swords Dance pressure
How to beat it
Heat Wave ×4 Flare Blitz ×4 Overheat ×4 Will-O-Wisp halves its physical pressure Armor Tail/Psychic Terrain block Bullet Punch priority Why it's a threat
Technician Bullet Punch gives immediate priority cleanup Swords Dance punishes passive turns Bug/Steel typing gives many useful resistances
How to beat Rotom-Heat
Electric Fire 2.9% usage
Levitate pivot with Overheat pressure, Volt Switch and burn support
How to beat it
Rock Slide ×2 Wave Crash ×2 Hydro Pump ×2 Power Gem ×2 Mold Breaker Earthquake bypasses Levitate if present Why it's a threat
Levitate removes the Ground weakness Overheat threatens Steel, Grass, Bug and Ice targets Volt Switch keeps momentum while Will-O-Wisp punishes physical attackers
How to beat Tsareena
Grass 2.1% usage
physical Grass attacker that blocks priority and pressures Dragons with Triple Axel
How to beat it
Heat Wave ×2 Flare Blitz ×2 Hurricane ×2 Sludge Bomb ×2 Bug Buzz ×2 Triple Axel accuracy can betray it Why it's a threat
Queenly Majesty blocks opposing priority into its side Triple Axel threatens Dragonite/Garchomp and other Ice-weak targets Grass STAB pressures Water/Ground/Rock teams
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