Pokemon Champions’ First Tournament Was Dominated By One Pokemon

If you’ve played Pokemon Champions in the two days since its slightly wonky launch, you’ve almost certainly run into a team containing Incineroar. The game has already been dubbed by some as the “Incineroar and Sinistcha Simulator” due to the prevalence of the two Pokemon.

Now, the game’s community has held its first major tournament, featuring a $500 prize pool, and, unsurprisingly, Incineroar dominated, at least in terms of how many times it was chosen.

Incineroar Was The Most Popular Pokemon By Far In Pokemon Champions’ First Big Tournament

Pokemon Champions’ first major tournament featured over 500 six-Pokemon teams. The tournament’s winner scooped a healthy $120, with second place getting $100, and prizes were dished out all the way to eighth place.

As one might expect, given the current state of the game, Incineroar was the most-picked Pokemon by a long shot, appearing on almost 54 percent of teams. Sneasler was second, appearing in 37 percent of teams, 17 percent less than Incineroar, and Sinistcha was third, appearing in 36 percent.

You can check out the full top ten via Limitless TCG below:

1. Incineroar – 53.76 percent
2. Sneasler – 36.84 percent
3. Sinistcha – 36.28 percent
4. Garchomp – 31.77 percent
5. Basculegion – 24.06 percent
6. Kingambit – 22.37 percent
7. Pelipper – 21.80 percent
8. Whimsicott – 20.30 percent
9. Archaludon – 16.54 percent
10. Tyranitar – 14.66 percent

Interestingly, though, while Incineroar was by far the most popular Pokemon, it wasn’t the most successful. None of the top-three-ranked teams in the tournament used the Fire- and Dark-type starter; instead, Sneasler was the Pokemon to feature in those three teams.

Of the Pokemon that had a more than one percent selection rate, Aerodactyl surprisingly came out on top, featuring in 2.26 percent of teams, winning 60.92 percent of its match-ups. Floette was the second most successful, appearing in 5.08 percent of teams, winning 59.09 percent of its matches, and Hisuian Typhlosion was third, being picked in 2.26 percent of teams and winning 58.57 percent of matches.

The top ten most successful Pokemon (featuring in more than one percent of teams) can be found below:

1. Aerodactyl – 60.92 Percent Wins
2. Floette – 59.84 Percent Wins
3. Hisuian Typholosion – 59.57 Percent Wins
4. Mega Floette – 57.31 Percent Wins
5. Kommo-o – 55.49 Percent Wins
6. Crabominable – 55.36 Percent Wins
7. Mamoswine – 55.10 Percent Wins
8. Mega Starmie – 55.00 Percent Wins
9. Orthworm – 54.55 Percent Wins
10. Araquanid – 53.19 Percent Wins

Naturally, given these Pokemon were picked far less, the win percentages skew more easily in their favor, but it shows that you don’t need to pick the “meta” Pokemon to find success.

Of the top ten most picked Pokemon, Kingambit won most of its match-ups, with a 52.77 percent win rate. Sneasler was second, certainly buoyed by being in the top teams, winning 51.38 percent of its matches, and Basculegion was third, winning 51.26 percent of its matches.

It’s still early days in Pokemon Champions, and players are still finding unique ways to dominate, but it’s an interesting peek at how the meta is beginning to unfold.

Systems

Released

April 8, 2026

ESRB

Everyone / Mild Fantasy Violence

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

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