Season M-3 Week 2 Meta Report: the data-driven tier list
By ChampTeams Editorial
We’re about two weeks and 2,400 tournament entries into Reg M-B, which is enough real data to start trusting results over preseason hype. So here’s the data-driven tier list from the first 43 events, plus what’s actually defining the meta, what’s overrated, and the sleeper almost nobody is using.
Computed from every 30+ player Champions tournament on Limitless (win rate and usage, log-scaled), and refreshed as more results land.
The tier list
| Pokémon | Tier | Usage | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|
 Basculegion | S | 30.3% | 55.0% |
 Pelipper | S | 22.8% | 54.7% |
 Garchomp | S | 35.9% | 51.1% |
 Archaludon | S | 19.9% | 54.9% |
 Kingambit | S | 22.1% | 54.0% |
 Charizard-Mega-Y | A | 18.1% | 55.0% |
 Swampert-Mega | A | 18.7% | 54.8% |
 Metagross-Mega | A | 18.1% | 54.6% |
 Sinistcha | A | 33.4% | 50.3% |
 Incineroar | A | 28.7% | 50.6% |
Mega Floette has the highest win rate in the whole format at 62.9% on just 1.9% usage, and it has already shown up on a major-winning team. Fairy Aura plus Light of Ruin is quietly the most efficient Mega in M-B, and almost nobody is on it yet.
It looks the part at 17.5% usage, but the 48.1% win rate tells the real story. It’s flashy and it loses slightly more than it wins, so it lands in A rather than S. The version that actually performs leans on a Prankster Charm Whimsicott to grind physical attackers down first.
A couple of things to keep in mind while reading the list. Most-used does not mean best. The most common Pokémon (Garchomp, Sinistcha and Incineroar, all around 50 to 51%) are glue that holds teams together, while the real win-rate leaders are the rain pieces sitting near 55%. Rain is the defining archetype right now, and the main thing keeping it honest is Trick Room. A Farigiraf, Mega Mawile and Torkoal core flips the speed war and runs frail rain teams over before they get going.
Mega Metagross is the big riser, climbing toward S on the back of Tough Claws priority. On the spicier end, Mega Scrafty is the pick doing the rounds on YouTube. It gets Intimidate on entry and a second one when it Mega evolves, which buys a free turn to set up Dragon Dance before it cleans with Drain Punch and Knock Off. It’s under 50% win rate for now, so it’s more fun than proven, but it punishes physical teams hard.
S Tier — meta defining
S · 55% WRBasculegion
AdaptabilityThe best win rate in the format. Almost everyone runs Choice Scarf with Last Respects, which gets stronger for every teammate that has already fainted, so Basculegion turns the late game into a sweep. It’s immune to Fake Out, and on a Pelipper rain team its Aqua Jet and Wave Crash become a genuine nuke.
S · 55% WRPelipper
DrizzleThe rain button. Drizzle switches on Swift Swim and rain-boosted Water the second it lands, and it still finds room for Tailwind and Wide Guard. Pelipper next to Archaludon is the rain core everyone is copying right now.
S · 51% WRGarchomp
Rough SkinThe most-used Pokémon in the format. It’s fast, it hits hard, and it fits on almost anything, but the standard Earthquake and Rock Slide set is easy to read by now. Treat it as glue rather than your win condition.
S · 55% WRArchaludon
StaminaTen resistances and the Stamina ability make it a wall that hits back. Electro Shot fires instantly under rain for huge special damage, which is exactly why it lives next to Pelipper. A true rain staple.
S · 54% WRKingambit
DefiantDefiant turns the Intimidate that is everywhere this format into a free Attack boost. With nine resistances and two immunities it gets plenty of room to set up Swords Dance, then cleans the late game with priority Sucker Punch.
A Tier — strong
A · 55% WRCharizard-Mega-Y
DroughtSun on demand. Its Flying typing dodges the Ground moves that punish other sun setters, and Heat Wave plus Solar Beam pressure the whole field at once. The cleanest sun lead going.
A · 55% WRMetagross-Mega
Tough ClawsThe riser of the week and already knocking on S. Tough Claws turns Meteor Mash and Bullet Punch into priority-backed offense off a fast 110 base Speed. A returning VGC monster that punishes passive teams.
A · 53% WRFarigiraf
Armor TailThe premier Trick Room setter. Armor Tail switches off the opponent’s Fake Out and priority while it flips the speed war. The Farigiraf, Mega Mawile and Torkoal shell is the Trick Room core rain teams keep losing to.
A · 51% WRIncineroar
IntimidateThe most-used support in the game by a mile. Fake Out, Intimidate and Parting Shot do the quiet work that wins games, even though its own win rate is only average. If you don’t have a reason not to, you run it.
A · 52% WRWhimsicott
PranksterPrankster Tailwind, Encore and Helping Hand make it premium speed control off a Focus Sash. The newer wrinkle is Prankster Charm, which pairs with Mega Staraptor to grind physical attackers down to nothing.
A · 50% WRSinistcha
HospitalityA Trick Room support that heals its partner the moment it switches in through Hospitality, then tops itself off with Matcha Gotcha. It’s one of the most-used picks in the format, and it’s easy to see why.
A · 54% WRTorkoal
DroughtThe slowest sun setter, which is the whole point. Under Trick Room it moves first, and a full-HP Eruption in sun simply deletes the field. The classic Farigiraf Trick Room partner.
Cores worth stealing
- Pelipper + Archaludon + Basculegion: the rain core carrying the top of the tier list, built on instant Electro Shot and a Last Respects finisher.
- Farigiraf + Mega Mawile + Torkoal: the Trick Room answer to rain, slow and bulky enough to flip the speed war and run faster teams over.
- Mega Staraptor + Prankster Charm Whimsicott: the defensive-stacking core people are building around Staraptor’s Contrary.