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Pokémon Champions Introduces Smaller Roster to Recruit From

Pokémon Champions has released an additional roster to recruit from in-game, with a smaller selection of more competitively viable Pokémon.

This optional recruitment roster of 31 Pokémon will be available for a limited time and makes it much easier for non-Home users to recruit powerful options.

However, some obvious meta picks are missing from the list, like Sneasler and Sinistcha.

Still, players can still recruit from the usual roster of all 187 Pokémon of Set M-A if there is a different Pokémon they’re still chasing.

This is part of the Pokémon Champions 2026 Global Challenge, an online VGC competition which starts in the game next week.

Those who participate in the challenge and complete three battles will receive a free Venusaur and 100 Quick Coupons.

Registration is available until the event ends on May 4 2026, 01:59 UTC (21:59 EDT) via the in-game battle menu.

And the Global Challenge will take place from May 1 to May 4.

Every Pokémon in the Pokémon Champions 2026 Global Challenge Special Roster

There are some very good options to pick up in this smaller roster.

Charizard will work brilliantly with the free Venusaur from the challenge thanks to Drought, which has made the pairing one of the most common in the meta.

Excadrill and Tyranitar together can make a very strong sand team as well to help you win the weather wars.

Similarly, Pelipper, Achaludon, and Basculegion (Male) make a very strong rain team.

And in the rain, Meganium with its new Mega Evolution has proved to be very effective too.

A fun pick is Oranguru, which can set up Trick Room and then use its signature move “Instruct” to allow its teammate to perform a spread move twice in one turn.

The full list of the Pokémon Champions Global Challenge roster is:

  • Abomasnow
  • Alolan Ninetales
  • Archaludon
  • Aurorus
  • Basculegion (Female)
  • Basculegion (Male)
  • Charizard
  • Emboar
  • Excadrill
  • Farigiraf
  • Feraligatr
  • Hippowdon
  • Incineroar
  • Lycanroc (Midday Form)
  • Maushold (Family of Four)
  • Maushold (Family of Three)
  • Meganium
  • Meowstic (Female)
  • Meowstic (Male)
  • Ninetales
  • Oranguru
  • Pelipper
  • Politoed
  • Sandaconda
  • Talonflame
  • Torkoal
  • Tyranitar
  • Vanilluxe
  • Venusaur
  • Volcarona
  • Whimsicott

What team are you running in Pokémon Champions? Share with us on the Insider Gaming Discord.

And find out when Pokémon Champions will add more Pokémon to freshen up the meta.

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