With the 2026 World Championships about to start really soon I am wanting to brainstorm and predict some anti meta Pokemon that might make a splash at worlds 2026.
Anti meta choices within the game are a huge part of why I love this game. Finding out a Pokemon others have missed and utilizing a niche no one else has discovered yet is always so fun during teambuilding. I remember 2014 worlds and Sejun's Pachirisu were the primary reasons for why I started playing the game in the first place so as the 2026 VGC World Championships unfolds over this weekend I have to honor that part of my own story with this post.
The Metagame: Best Chances To Win
This metagame feels like it has been explored through and through. This is probably the first time since Regulation I in Scarlet and Violet that I fully understand what every part of the metagame brings. From the handful of solid Charizard Y compositions termed either as Big 6, a collection of the best Pokemon in the game at this point to sub variants like Toxapex, Incineroar cores stitched within with Venusaur, this archetype is probably on everyone's S tier to take the world championship title home for a player.
However on the other hand, the Italian Ice archetype, a team that was discovered during the late parts of Regulation M-A uses the solid core of Sneasler, Kingambit and Basculegion rounding things out with a dual mega selection between Froslass and Scovillian and Lycanroc Dusk as the final Pokemon on the roster has been consistently performing extremely well.
A few sub variants of this archetype with Mega Dragonite and Garchomp over Mega Scovillian and Lycanroc Dusk have also appeared to solve the Fire type resistance issues with this team and have been doing well consistently.
Then a huge new discovery has been Mega Blastoise and Mega Delphox triple setup balance core. Pairing these two with a swords dance Kingambit, Incineroar, Sinistcha and Sneasler has performed extremely well throughout the regulation M-B format.
Mega Staraptor and Mega Raichu Y were huge points of interest with the newly announced Regulation M-B roster, but soon were seen as parts of the new toy syndrome and dropped. Mega Staraptor was found alongside charm, fake tears Whimsicott or Screens Parting Shot Grimmsnarl and Mega Raichu was a part supportive set on Ceruledge and Milotic setup teams, though recently these two have combined to roll in with their own metastuffs archetype alongside Hisuian Arcanine, Farigaraf, Sylveon and Kingambit. The newest team that has given life to both of these Pokemon in a way that makes their chances of winning worlds quite high.
Speaking of Mega Staraptor, it has also sneaked itself into a Sand team alongside the ever loving Excadrill and Mega Tyranitar combination paired with Gholdengo, Sinistcha and Milotic. A team that has been going around for a while now. Similarly a 'Whim-Glim' duo with Mega Staraptor is picking up in popularity alongside Sneasler, Torkoal and Farigaraf, a tailroom team that is showing its face at reasonable results.
With rain being all the rage, being a solved archetype with Mega Swampert, Archaludon, Pelipper, Grimmsnarl, Sinistcha and Kingambit, people had perhaps perfected playing it and given the popularity of Mega Charizard Y its been the least favorable one to pick up going into this world championships but a dual weather team with Mega Charizard and Pelipper combining both these modes into 1 has been around and its only reasonable that we will see it atleast somewhat to be played at the world championships.
Michael Derbeste also recently popularized a Mega Gengar composition alongside Ninetales, Incineroar, Sneasler, a physical Life Orb Superpower Dragonite and the last slot being usually a Kingambit and when not, a regular Swampert as a team that has been rising in popularity so I wouldn't count it out as part of the worlds metagame either. Similarly a team by Eduardo Cunha with Perish Song Mega Gengar, rain and Vivillon has also been going around.
What Anti Meta Pokemon To Expect
While I certainly don't believe there is anything that has gone unnoticed completely under the sun for its potential going into this World Championships, there are a few Pokemon that have been used in and out that never found solid footing into the metagame but can slot on popular archetypes or teams to favor some matchups or be used for their unique niches alone.
The Few Far Forgotten Category:
Mega Glimmora:
This option is one on the fence for sure, Glimmora itself has been around since regulation M-A but going into Worlds Mega Glimmora is sitting in a reasonably favorable position for its very positive matchup into Charizard Y compositions. Being able to spread passive damage via Toxic Spikes or getting a huge power 'spike' when Mega evolved due to adaptability, I would expect to see a few teams with it.
As for the overall compositions, the teams always pair them with a Whimsicott, its best supporting partner with a solid ice type as a Garchomp counter, perhaps its biggest enemy. and a Ground or Fighting type like Garchomp, Mamoswine or even Kommo-o for the latter to deal with steel types like Kingambit and Archaludon. Its not a meta breaker by any means but it can certainly perform in the right hands.
Mamoswine:
Mamoswine's biggest perk has been its ability to deal with Garchomp with swift ease as well as having a stronger single target ground move in High Horsepower. being able to avoid Intimidate with the Oblivious ability is another added bonus, the reason it falls off track is because of its inability to resist alot of moves unlike Garchomp that carries the Dragon typing. However for an offense loving player its a very favorable pokemon to put on their team.
Kommo-o:
This armored warrior has been teetering around the metagame for a while even taking a regional championship to its name but it has fallen off recently. The best setup pokemon outshine it in terms of commitment when setting up and damage potential leaving it in a bad spot however it still has a good defensive dragon typing (don't tell fairies) the soundproof ability making it immune to Sylveon's hyper voices or Parting Shots and the ability to do specially offensive fighting type STAB with Aura Sphere and even a niche priority option in Vacuum wave, a very important niche to have in this metagame. Whether it is the setup sweeper combination OR the 3 attacks one, either way it can be a reasonbale bring on the right team.
Ceruledge:
Ceruledge also suffers from its most solid archetype being not as relevant. Its ability to wall Charizard and KO Kingambit and Basculegion under the right positioning is HUGE for a metagame like this, but it requires support. Players have moved away from this Pokemon and have focused on making their Megas the center point of their teams than Pokemon like Milotic and Ceruledge both of which complimented each other beautifully. Though all of its potential still isn't lost so I would expect someone to bring this guy to Worlds.
Hydreigon:
It seems to have completely disappear off of the face of this metagame but it still carries 90% of its useful perks with its defensive and offensive capabilities. A good choice scarf Hydreigon can punch holes into the most common teams spread across the metagame so I would still give it a high chance of being featured to great success at this World Championships
Mega Camerupt:
The last guy on this category has been the kingpin of the Hard trick room Archetype, its offensive typing with fire and ground with rock coverage for Charizard and getting a further power boost with sheer force in invaluable. Its just that the archetypes featuring it are not as relevant. there's ought to be 1 or 2 Hard trick room players at the world championships that place their bets on this beast and if they do I am sure it can perform well.
The Lesser Known the Lesser Seen Category
Tsareena:
Another one of those Pokemon that has so much going for it but never really found a solid footing in the metagame. Priority spam whether it be fake out or sucker punches, or aqua jet or Accelerock is everywhere in the metagame, the Queenly Majesty ability allowing it to negate all of those is a blessing.
Its not a simple type swap over Farigaraf either as offensive Grass, Fighting and Ice coverage, with the newly introduced Wide lens item and lower accuracy moves like Power whip, Triple Axel or Hi Jump Kick (or the perfect accuracy Low Kick) can cover key threats of the metagame alongside extremely useful utility in moves like taunt or U turn for a slow pivot option Tsareena can do alot.
Tsareena's biggest deterrent is the type of team it can be slotted on. Farigaraf often provides the ability to set up trick room which certain teams prefer more over plain offense. where Tsareena has shown up is teams with niche Mega Pokemon like Mega Chandelure and Mega Raichu Y to be a solid switch in ground resist and a ground answer to protect these two megas. I have alot of confidence that someone or a few people bring this beauty to the battlefield.
Mega Chandelure:
Chandelure in its base form shares its typing and ability with Ceruledge a very solid option within this metagame. When it mega evolves it retains or depending on how you put it, regains one of its base form abilities in Infiltrator. This allows it to bypass Screens or Aurora Veil and when supported with the right options like a Sun setter either manually or through Whimsicott, this guy can get on rolling. I messed around with this idea a little bit and found it amusing, especially given its ghost typing is favorable in being fake out immune and Staraptor's close combat and Sneasler are also walled by it. I would say there's good chances someone brings it to Worlds this year.
Primarina:
This format loves its fairy types with Sylveon and Floette taking the top sports however we shouldn't be counting out this diva either. A bulky water type has always been a staple of competitive Pokemon and pairing it with the ability to take out dragons for itself? count me in! Primarina can carry moves to either setup with Calm mind or disrupt with things like Encore or Perish Song or just an Aqua Jet for some dire situation's priority chip. Primarina can slot in easily to patch weaknesses in a team or become a star itself.
Hisuian Samurott:
It has been around as well. Being a water dark type resisting STAB attack options from Basculegion and Kingambit, ability to hit Archaludon through defense boosts with Sacred Swords boosting all of its attacks with the Sharpness ability. All of these perks are quite useful and make a good case for this Hisuian Form to be featured on a team.
Weavile:
Weavile being a dark type with a faster fake out than Sneasler, the ability to OHKO Garchomp and do great damage into Basculegion, ability to OHKO Kingambit with Low kicks, or run some utility move like Feint, Weavile can do ALOT in this metagame. It just hadn't found the right team yet. I bet someone at the World Championships is going to keep this Pokemon in their back pocket.
Honorable Mentions (esqe) Category
Mega Lopunny:
It has been around, the faster fake out option in the game yet and has the ability to hit Ghost types due to its Scrappy ability alongside avoiding Intimidate based attack drops. It has use cases but I doubt its a hidden tech someone would save up for worlds.
Gallade:
Though personally I am not extremely confident in this guy, the Sharpness Boosted coverage options and particularly Sacred Swords make a compelling case. it has worked its way onto some Hard Trick Room teams alongside Mega Kangaskhan as well so it might be on the radar for World Championships for someone this year.
Mimikyu:
A ghost type that can take any hit guaranteed with offensive physical fairy type move coverage, ghost type coverage, ability to set up trick room or use the move taunt. All of these are nice benefits to have in this metagame. It is favorable to be used? not likely but it can provide useful niches at this World Championships for a VGC team.
Tinkaton:
She has taken a regional Championships this year already with the unique ability to use fake out through Faigaraf's armor tail, provide absurd physical steel type damage into opposing fairy types and using utility moves like Knock off and Feint are good use cases, but its not particularly beaming with potential to take over in my opinion.
Altaria:
Altaria became a solid point of discussion after the dal weather teams were starting to pick up because of its cloud nine ability that negates all weather effects. Altaria can also carry very useful utility moves in Will-o-Wisp, Tailwind, Haze, Perish Song, Cotton Guard and more but right now I don't think its a super serious World's Contender type of a Pokemon
And that would be all. I don't know if someone could tell that I am writing this at the time of the Worlds stream starting so I hope you forgive any typos along the way. I love discussing this game and I wrote this is a burst of excitement I have for this weekend (and my very obvious love for the anti meta). Hope you all enjoyed!
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