During the closing ceremony of the Pokémon World Championships 2026 in San Francisco, The Pokémon Company announced a new feature for the free-to-play Switch and mobile game Pokémon Champions: So-called Z-Mega Evolutions will be introduced to the game starting in September.
What Are Z-Mega Evolutions in Pokémon Champions?
With the new Regulation Set M-C, several well-known Pokémon will receive a special Mega Evolution form that can be further enhanced with a Z-Crystal. Mega Lucario Z, Mega Absol Z, and Mega Garchomp Z have been confirmed so far. Additionally, new playable Pokémon like Rillaboom will be added with the update. The Pokémon Company has not yet released precise stats or the complete list of all new forms – further details are expected in the coming weeks.
For fans of the series, the concept itself isn't entirely new: Mega Evolutions first appeared in 2013's Pokémon X and Y, followed by Z-Moves in 2016 with Sun and Moon. However, a combination of both mechanics, as seen now in Pokémon Champions, has not yet been featured in the mainline games – making this update a genuine novelty even for long-time fans.
When Does the Update Launch, and What Does it Mean for Players?
According to the announcement from The Pokémon Company President Tsunekazu Ishihara, the update will be available starting September 9, 2026. Competitive players should start thinking about their teams now: Z-Mega Evolutions are likely to significantly shift the power balance in ranked play, as three already popular competitive Pokémon – Lucario, Absol, and Garchomp – will receive additional boosts.
Pokémon Champions itself launched earlier this year and positions itself as a successor to classic Pokémon battle formats on Nintendo Switch and mobile devices. This announcement is part of a wave of news released by The Pokémon Company surrounding this year's World Championships – from a new movie to further TCG innovations.
Source: Nintendo Life
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