Meta Report: Early M-C

Rillaboom returned at the top of the usage list. Grassy Surge sets up its priority Grassy Glide and heals grounded Pokémon each turn. Joseph Ugarte’s teambuilding guide highlights its role as a pivot, switching in to reset terrain and support its partner with Fake Out 1:11.

Joseph Ugarte won Baltimore with a Salamence that could pressure Golisopod with Flamethrower even without Mega Evolving. That left him free to Mega Evolve it or Tyranitar depending on the matchup 20:35. The Tub Takes panel preferred the coverage of an all-attacking set to Tailwind sets relying on Draco Meteor and Hyper Voice 57:23. MichaelderBeste highlighted its Speed and Intimidate compared with Dragonite, but noted that it lacks Dragonite’s protection from Fake Out 47:22. Its Ice weakness also makes Ice Beam valuable on Pokémon like Lorenzo Arce’s Milotic 14:36.

Female Indeedee mainly supports its partners. Nearly every M-C set carries Follow Me and most have Trick Room, while very few use Expanding Force. The Tub Takes panel contrasted that role with the more offensive Male Indeedee 1:53:46. Its Psychic Surge sets terrain that boosts a partner’s Expanding Force and protects grounded Pokémon from opposing priority moves 1:28:34. A Rillaboom switching in replaces that terrain; MichaelderBeste suggested Skill Swap as a way to restore it 50:14.

Male Indeedee has more Special Attack and Speed than Female Indeedee. It uses Expanding Force in its own Psychic Surge terrain, which boosts the move and lets it hit both opponents. Choice Scarf is common, with Trick to pass it to an opponent. Joseph Ugarte led it beside Tyranitar on his way to the Baltimore title; the Tub Takes panel highlighted how that lead pressured teams carried over from M-B 56:40.

Mega Golisopod overtook Mega Swampert as the most common Mega on rain teams within M-C’s first week. Pelipper, Politoed and Archaludon remain common teammates.

Its Mega form is Bug/Steel, with high Attack and Defense but low Speed. Fire is its only weakness, and Joseph Ugarte’s Salamence pressured it with Flamethrower 20:49. It resists Rillaboom’s Grass moves: facing one whose only Grass move was Grassy Glide in Baltimore’s top cut, Aditya Subramanian said I have a [Golisopod] on my team that uses it as a health pack. — Aditya Subramanian · ck49 · 23 September 2026 · 1:11:46 Aditya also said his Golisopod and Politoed were hard to position without Trick Room, which Joseph kept him from setting up throughout the set 1:13:14.

Mega Garchomp Z is a fast special attacker with pure Dragon typing and Levitate. Its common moves are Draco Meteor, Power Gem and Flamethrower, with Earth Power and Dragon Pulse close behind. It appeared on both teams in the Frankfurt final. MichaelderBeste pointed to its Speed as an advantage over regular Garchomp, especially against Salamence 29:55. The Tub Takes panel noted that players were moving to the Z form as Ground types lost usage after Rillaboom arrived 1:45:28. It remains weak to Ice, Dragon and Fairy.

The Z Mega keeps Lucario’s Fighting/Steel typing and becomes a fast special attacker. It commonly runs Aura Sphere and Flash Cannon, while Aura Guard halves damage from contact moves. The Tub Takes panel highlighted a team pairing its Fighting attacks with Expanding Force to cover Dark types 49:43. It remains weak to Fire, Fighting and Ground. Its best finishes so far are at online events, with no top cuts at the regionals covered here.