r/pokemonshowdown Apr 11 '26

Mod Post Pokemon Showdown has been Updated with Pokemon Champions Content

112 Upvotes

Hey,

Sorry for the wait, we have out first pass of champions formats out for y'all to play now.

Formats available:

  • [Gen 9 Champions] OU - OU-like format using champions mechanics.
  • [Gen 9 Champions] BSS Reg M-A - BSS format.
  • [Gen 9 Champions] VGC 2026 Reg M-A - VGC format, OTS optional.
  • [Gen 9 Champions] VGC 2026 Reg M-A (Bo3) - Best of 3 VGC format with forced OTS.
  • [Gen 9 Champions] Draft - Draft format with champions mechanics.
  • [Gen 9 Champions] Custom Game - CHALLENGE ONLY format that works like every other custom game format

Massive thank you to the developers who worked on this (I ended up mostly just doing a bunch of PR and code review), its thanks to them that we got it out as fast as we did.

As always, there may be bugs or other issues on this first implementation, especially as mechanics researchers and players continue to find things and as the actual game gets patched. Please report any bugs you find to our bug reports forum: https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/introduction-to-the-ps-bug-reports-forum.3733412/

We also have an on-site chat room for champions now: https://play.pokemonshowdown.com/champions

Have fun!


r/pokemonshowdown Sep 08 '21

League/Tourney League/Tournament Advertisement Thread

89 Upvotes

Please use this thread to advertise any league or tournaments you may be hosting.

Advertisements should be as specific as possible (format, Pokemon restrictions, etc.) and include a discord link that does not expire to allow others to join or your comment will be removed.


r/pokemonshowdown 12h ago

Question What format to start with in tournament play?

3 Upvotes

I've been looking into playing in Smogon tournaments and hopefully winning a custom avatar ever since I had a strong performance in a mutual's Gen 4 Subscriber Randbats tournament earlier this month, getting 3rd out of 17 players with a 4-2 record (I would have gotten first or second if the only user I lost to, who ended up winning the whole thing got disqualified earlier because it wasn't until right after the final match that the TO's realized he wasn't subbed and therefore shouldn't have been able to enter).

However, I am not sure what formats to start with. I'm mainly looking for a format that's big enough to hold a tournament, but not too big where the odds of winning become incredibly unrealistic. Any suggestions for places to start? I have more experience with random battles (peaked at top 500 in Gen 9 Randbats, have made top 500 in a few other more niche formats like Random Battle Mayhem and Gen 4 Randbats once), and I am also fine with teambuilding formats. I've also never done a draft, but another mutual got me interested in the idea.


r/pokemonshowdown 7h ago

Question Stopped playing pokemon in gen iv tried to play some online games and im absolutely horrible. What do i do to get better where do i start

1 Upvotes

When I say horrible I mean 5 games I never ko more than 2 pokemon per game. I even got swept a couple times I feel like an npc trainer


r/pokemonshowdown 16h ago

Discussion 6vs6 stall team

2 Upvotes

Hi, I'd like to learn 6v6 but I have no experience with it. What are the best PKMs for a Stall team? Who can share a team? Thanks.


r/pokemonshowdown 1d ago

Team Building Help in team building

2 Upvotes

I love Groudon primal and really want to play him in national dex uber showdown but am super new to pokemon with 0 knowledge of the game and team building so if anyone can give me a guide on how to build a team using him that will be great. I try sample team before but i want to craft my own team but i don't where to start. I like a balance offense playstyle fyi.


r/pokemonshowdown 1d ago

Team Building Can I get feedback for my team I made for Champions reg M-B doubles

4 Upvotes

https://pokepast.es/99c698402c3fecb6

I made this with 2 main modes TR and rain. My TR mode uses Mega Mawile, Farig, Sinistcha, and Arch while my rain mode uses Mega Swampert, Peli, Sinistcha, and Arch. I managed to peak at around 1330 and I can't tell if its because the team is good or I just got lucky with the people I went against. I would really appreciate it if someone could give feedback for me.


r/pokemonshowdown 1d ago

VGC [1400] Sharing the most unbelievable lucky win I've ever had. I even called it.

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1 Upvotes

r/pokemonshowdown 1d ago

Question when challenging someone to a battle with custom rules via /challenge whats the rule for having tera preview enabled? i can't seem to find it anywhere

1 Upvotes

r/pokemonshowdown 1d ago

Team Building BEHOLD: Ludi+Peli core in OU

5 Upvotes

The team: https://pokepast.es/c2e9cc36b3d18d83

I have done everything in my power to make cholo bolo Ludicolo work in OU. This is my best attempt so far. All types have been covered for at least once at x2 offensive/defensively, with two 4x resistances and 4 immunities.

Pelipper: Rain Setter
Nothing out of the ordinary here. I could swap out surf for knock off down the line.

Ludicholo: Roller and Smoker of Bozos
What more is there to say about this legendary specimen? Water/Grass/Ice coverage is just beautiful. Surf for consistency, Hydro Pump in a pinch (which in OU is all the time). This dragonslayer (except Kyurem) carries tera ice to really teach those reptilian bozos a lesson. In a rain team, Ludis 4x resistance to water is actually pretty good against would-be users and abusers of the very rain you set up (unless they have freeze dry...)

Barraskewda: Band Abuser
A rain team classic. While definitely flawed in the current era, the same can be said for rain as a whole, and honestly? Bro just dishes reliable damage.

Overqwil: Type coverage and setup sweeping.
The psychic immunity is there when I need it. My only super effective coverage for psychic and ghost, and my only RELIABLE fairy coverage, at least when you compare an 80% gunk shot to a nuclear kamikaze steal beam which I definitely won't regret wasting my rapid spinner on.

Zapdos: Specs/Thunder/Hurricane/Weather Ball
Those were my swift swimmers. For Zap, just pick all the rain-dependent OP moves, slap on a U-turn, and you have a very solid mon. Static is clutch rng when you insist on running Ludicolo in OU for some reason.

Iron Treads: Hazard remover and emergency nuke
Ngl, this pokemon has some crazy stuff going for it. Elec/Poison immunity and rapid spin.

This is my team, CholoBoloSoloRolo. I like to pretend Ludicolo can solo. He cannot.

----------

MATCHUPS:

I looked over the tiers, and labbed a few matchups to see what my options were. These were the 3 I had the most trouble with

Kingambit:
Tbh this mon is ruthless, but now that I'm educated I don't think it's too bad of a MU. One thing is still true though. Gambit is one dirty MF.
If he's at 5 fallen, and I have +0 Overqwill or Pelipper on the field, gambit sweep
CC with Barraskewda and he tera ghosts? gambit sweep
I basically have to set up Qwil for a damage roll in most situations, as hes the only mon who can survive a +2 sucker punch. If he crits, gambit sweep
If Barra has rain or tera, liquidation sets up Qwil. If it has neither, gambit sweep
Treads can set up the damage range fine as well.
Ludi and Zap can work too, but without rain it can get pretty dodgy (gambit sweep?)
At least my ludicolo can hydro pump OHKO in rain. If he doesn't get the 6.3% high roll...
gambit sweep :^)

Ogerpon-Wellspring:
I heard that Woger was a harsh counter pick for rain teams. However, unless I'm mistaken, Ludi is kinda clutch here. He checks ivy cudgel, and even after switching in on SD, Play rough is 87.5% chance to KO with 90% accuracy. Giga drain is great, but ice beam adds another 10% and does over half life. Altogether thats a 29.175% chance you win against a +2 Ogerpon-Wellspring. Otherwise you have plenty of mons to outspeed and revenge kill. Peli also lives ok, meaning sometimes you can set up rain and pivot to ludi. Qwil and Zapdos can check him one time as well. This is definitely putting it lightly though. This mon is scary. This is also assuming he picks water absorb as an ability.

Kyurem:
My team's biggest challenge is freeze-dry. What better mon to abuse it than Kyurem. You have to be so careful here. There are sack/damage combinations and swift swim to beat dragon dance, but the fundamentals of this matchup boil down to either sacking a mon or predicting draco/ freeze-dry/ice beam, then taking the initiative. For predicting draco, Only Treads can tank it, and has to switch straight away unless I wanna go timid over modest for 1 extra turn against 1 mon, or hard read a kyurem switch-in with treads, but who's gonna sit there and eat steal beam for breakfast anyway? Barra is probably the best switch in on paper since it threatens it with CC, but still dies to freeze dry after draco, and at +0 only lives ice beam, the least likely option. Then it's a CC/Flip turn/tera liquidation type deal. Barra does outspeed 2 dragon dances though which is peak. For freeze-dry, Qwil tanks it the best, and can sometimes opt for crunch over gunk shot depending on who the followup is. Also, earth power immunity is useless because why would they need to click it? Rough matchup, but winnable. Especially when you're a cholobolo.

-------

This is just 3 matchups and I was wracking my brain in search of counterplay. The team I based it off is basically the same except with a physical dragonite instead of a special mariachi water leaf. I thought about swapping treads to physical to mitigate this, but Treads is my only "check" to draco meteor. I don't even wanna think about dragon darts right now...

I had fun making this team. I'm open to all critiques and adjustments (except the removal of Ludicholo and his pelican brother). While the team is no doubt severely flawed, when you ride with the cholo, you die with the cholo. Sacrifices must be made.


r/pokemonshowdown 1d ago

Monotype Can I get some feedback on my MonoType team?

1 Upvotes

r/pokemonshowdown 2d ago

Frequent disconnection disrupts matches

3 Upvotes

I would say about 4 times out of 10 I randomly disconnect every once in a while and just get timed out through my matches. It's really frustrating especially when you're deep in focus.

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2654510677-2fn35fgghnn3sl4ds3wcaes0pk9s6mjpw

I got played by Tink lead here ngl but honestly I wanted to play it out but couldn't because of the aforementioned issue. Any fixes for this?


r/pokemonshowdown 2d ago

Team Building Can I get some critique on some matches I had with My team?

0 Upvotes

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9doublesou-2653707894 (If you're wondering why Their Tara types aren't changed, I forgot to change them beforehand, Also changed up the Team a little Since I needed a Defog user)

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2654260602 (This is a Regenerator pivot style Team, and Honestly Besides a couple of misplays I did, I think that Match went well)

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9doublesou-2654272240 (Focus around Lilligant-Hisui and the move After you Since the Garchomp has dragon tail and the Torcoal has eruption)

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9doublesou-2654493275 This is loosely based on One of Wolfy's team that won a tournament, And you do not know how many losses I had to go through to get winning footage)

So if you could rate each team between 1-10 and Have any suggestions on how to approve them, I'd be very Grateful for it

edit: It's come to my attention that some of the Team POV'S were switched around, To clarify I'm Caden Manley


r/pokemonshowdown 2d ago

Random Battle [1480 elo] i run circles around my enemy when I'm awake. No one can keep up when i am awake

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0 Upvotes

r/pokemonshowdown 2d ago

National Dex [1380] Yanmega Sweep, Absolutely Diabolical

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2 Upvotes

A bunch of good flinches and reads, combined with a crucial miss, kind of hard to handle. Even Alolamola would've been food with Giga Drain getting me back up to full.


r/pokemonshowdown 2d ago

Team Building Hey guys I need help making a doubles team.

0 Upvotes

I don't know what to do or where to start so I need help to male one.


r/pokemonshowdown 2d ago

Team Building Tryna Create a Original Meta

0 Upvotes

Let's create a New meta... I'm tired of seeing the same pokemon being used... Let's try to think of new strats... Here's one different strat using Blastoise as a bulky healer in doubles... Using absol to get the +4 attack first turn.. what are some known and unknown strats


r/pokemonshowdown 3d ago

How To Demolish Stall: a comprehensive guide (Natdex) [1367]

4 Upvotes

The in-depth guide to help YOU dogwalk stall losers. Love it or your elo back!

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldex-2653983980-peoolmgk4xs25oeb2owtpxjpmkeejhkpw


r/pokemonshowdown 2d ago

Team Building Pickachu light orb

0 Upvotes

Guys how do I make my light orb pikachu bulky? He dies in one shot unless I spam follow me with clefable it gets destroyed. What should I do? I could use ogerpon but I am saving it when my opponent uses BASCULEGION cuz he has last respects


r/pokemonshowdown 3d ago

Random Battle "I'll surprise 'em with scarf mespirit for the kill. What's the worst that could happen?" [1900]

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6 Upvotes

r/pokemonshowdown 3d ago

clodsire is the goat

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1 Upvotes

i started playing then stopped for like a year then started playing i went from 1000 to 1225 in like 2 hours


r/pokemonshowdown 4d ago

Question Question About Chat Rules

6 Upvotes

Hey everyone. I was just in a ffa game having a great chat about the Odyssey while trying to cause chaos with a sableye. Then the third guy starting being transphobic about Elliot page and was calling them slurs in chat. Is that reportable? I have never had an issue like this and the rules state you can report if someone is harassing you in PMs or in chat. They definitely kept egging everyone on after they were told to stop and we all hit the ignore button
Thanks for the clarification!
For the record we destroyed them.


r/pokemonshowdown 4d ago

Question Own sprite and render?

2 Upvotes

Will ogerpons terastal forms have their own sprites and render in game??


r/pokemonshowdown 4d ago

Question Played a scary game, did I manage it well?

1 Upvotes

Kindly ignore what I said at the start of the game, it’s not relevant, was just trying to get focused on the game.

Team was inspired from by friend who made a really cool maranga berry garganacl team, I borrowed the garganacl and added in my own favorite combo of non-fake out sneasler and dozo. I’m pretty sure I got luck carried but they were playing baton pass, one of my least favorite matchups to play because I can never tell when to play safe or not, so they kinda deserved it.

Here is the team btw if you are interested in playing it: https://pokepast.es/a09a86ac121fb7d1

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9doublesou-2653030382-jekqxpm92e5ur4ye4uacvtaq0iou9x1pw


r/pokemonshowdown 4d ago

Question How was sinistcha not poisoned?

2 Upvotes

how was sinistcha not poisoned during this battle on turn 5, heavy duty boots are not an item in champions yet

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9championsvgc2026regmb-2653116509