Since Pokemon Champions‘ release, players have gotten the chance to test out some of the new Mega Evolutions from Pokemon Legends: Z-A in a competitive setting for the first time. Not every new Mega from Legends: Z-A is currently available in Pokemon Champions, but the ones that are there have access to Abilities that are shaping the game’s meta. However, one of these new Mega Evolutions has an underrated strategy in Pokemon Champions that most players aren’t using.
The new Mega Evolutions from Pokemon Legends: Z-A that players can use in Pokemon Champions so far include:
- Mega Victreebel
- Mega Starmie
- Mega Dragonite
- Mega Meganium
- Mega Feraligatr
- Mega Skarmory
- Mega Chimecho
- Mega Froslass
- Mega Emboar
- Mega Excadrill
- Mega Chandelure
- Mega Golurk
- Mega Chesnaught
- Mega Delphox
- Mega Greninja
- Mega Floette
- Mega Meowstic
- Mega Hawlucha
- Mega Crabominable
- Mega Drampa
- Mega Scovillain
- Mega Glimmora
This makes only 22 of the 45 Megas added in Legends: Z-A currently accessible in Pokemon Champions. Of this group, some of the best include Mega Froslass for its Snow Warning Ability and Mega Golurk for its Hidden Fist Ability. Mega Starmie is another candidate for one of the best new Megas in Pokemon Champions, thanks to its Huge Power Ability, but not for the reason most players think.
Pokemon’s 2026 Release Whiplash is 2022 All Over Again
Pokemon Pokopia and Pokemon Champions have seen two very different receptions in 2026, making this year feel similar to the series’s status in 2022.
Mega Starmie Has a Broken Strategy in Pokemon Champions
Huge Power is a fantastic Ability across the Pokemon franchise, as it doubles the user’s Attack stat in battle. This Ability has allowed weaker Pokemon like Azumarill and Mega Mawile to become competitive powerhouses when given access to Huge Power. Mega Starmie now joins the ranks of these critters in Pokemon Champions, gaining Huge Power when it Mega Evolves and bringing its Attack stat up to an insane 200 in the process.
Skill Swap Lets Mega Starmie Pass Huge Power to a Teammate
While Mega Starmie with Huge Power can be a threat on its own, and is how most players tend to use the critter in Pokemon Champions, it has the means to give that Huge Power Attack boost to a partner to create an even more devastating sweeper. This can be done via the Skill Swap move, which swaps the user and the target’s Abilities when performed. With Skill Swap, Mega Starmie has the option to use its Huge Power-boosted Attack to take out opponents like Incineroar or Mega Charizard Y, or pass that Huge Power to a partner that can make better use of it if the situation calls for it.
This strategy is only effective in Pokemon Champions‘s double battle format, since ally Pokemon can only be targeted by Skill Swap in this format.
The Best Pokemon to Skill Swap Huge Power to in Champions
- Garchomp
- Arcanine
- Tyranitar
Ideally, Mega Starmie would want to use Skill Swap to give Huge Power to a partner that already has a high Attack stat to boost that stat even further. Additionally, a partner with a high Speed stat or damage spread potential would be even better. To this end, there are a few good options for Pokemon that Champions players should use in conjunction with Mega Starmie to make full use of this Skill Swap Huge Power strategy.
New Questions Added!
GameRant Quiz
Easy (15s)Medium (10s)Hard (5s)Permadeath (5s)
Garchomp is an obvious candidate, since it has a base Attack stat of 130, meaning it will get boosted to 260 when given Huge Power. This makes an Earthquake from Garchomp even more deadly than if it were Mega-Evolved, and it can hit both opponents, assuming they aren’t Flying-Type or have the Levitate Ability. Arcanine is another great candidate for Huge Power, since it can reach an Attack stat of 220 when given the Ability, while also having access to the speed priority move Extreme Speed, guaranteeing it can hit opponents first.
Tyranitar makes a solid option for a Huge Power recipient as well. Although it’s slower than Garchomp and Arcanine, Tyranitar has a higher Attack stat that totals to 264 when Huge Power is applied. Tyranitar also has access to Rock Slide, which hits both opposing Pokemon for STAB Rock-Type damage and can be a great alternative to Garchomp’s Earthquake since it can hit Flying-Types for super effective damage.
Other Support Pokemon for Using this Strategy
- Corviknight
- Incineroar
- Umbreon
Aside from the target Mega Starmie will give Huge Power to via Skill Swap, there are some other good teammates players should consider using to help protect Mega Starmie while it sets up this strategy. A good lead for nearly any Pokemon Champions team is the combination of Corviknight and Incineroar. Incineroar’s Intimidate can lower the opposing Pokemon’s Attack, and it can use Fake Out to prevent a turn-one setup. Corviknight can reflect opposing Intimidates with its Mirror Armor Ability and set up Tailwind on turn one to give the team speed priority. Incineroar can then use Parting Shot to easily switch out and bring in Mega Starmie.
Alternatively, Umbreon makes a good lead to set the stage for Mega Starmie’s Skill Swap strategy. Umbreon is a bulky Pokemon with access to Taunt that can prevent an opponent from setting up status moves for three turns, giving Mega Starmie and its partner plenty of time to switch in and Skill Swap Huge Power without fear of the opponent using something like Follow Me to disrupt this strategy. Additionally, Umbreon has access to Yawn as well, which can put Pokemon that would threaten Mega Starmie or its chosen Skill Swap partner to sleep before the player brings them in to set up the strategy.
