Z Evolutions are coming to Pokémon Champions, along with the return of a beloved character.

The Pokémon World Championships unfolded over the weekend, showcasing intense battles in Pokémon Champions, the Pokémon TCG, and more. As always, the event brought a wave of exciting announcements, particularly regarding the future of the competitive scene in Champions.

A new trailer for Pokémon Champions was unveiled, highlighting some of the fresh creatures set to join the game with the upcoming Regulation Set M-C, launching on September 9. Among the big news are Z Mega Evolutions for Lucario, Absol, and Garchomp, along with a sneak peek at the game’s first legendary Pokémon.

Z Mega Evolutions, which were first introduced in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, will make their debut in a turn-based Pokémon game with this update. They are expected to follow the standard Mega Evolution rules, allowing players to Mega Evolve a Pokémon only once per match. Typically, Mega Evolutions boast a base stat total that is 100 points higher than their original forms, along with new abilities.

While Lucario, Absol, and Garchomp already have their own Mega Evolutions, the Z Mega forms will feature different stat distributions and abilities. Mega Absol Z will have the ability Sharpness, enhancing the power of cutting moves by 1.5 times, making it likely that moves like Night Slash and Psycho Cut will be popular choices. Mega Lucario Z will gain Wave Shield, which reduces damage from contact moves by half. Meanwhile, Mega Garchomp Z will have Levitate, allowing it to dodge Ground-type attacks. In Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Mega Absol Z is a Dark and Ghost type (making it only vulnerable to Fairy moves), Mega Lucario Z is a Fighting and Steel type, and Mega Garchomp Z is a Dragon type.

At first glance, Mega Absol Z appears to have the most advantageous ability, given its access to powerful cutting attacks. Mega Lucario Z’s ability might seem unusual, as its stats suggest it’s a special-attacking glass cannon, but Wave Shield could provide the durability needed in critical moments. As for Mega Garchomp Z, while Levitate is a solid ability, it’s possible this version may not see much competitive play due to the strength of its base form.

Rillaboom and Baxcalibur were previously confirmed for the new set. Rillaboom was a top contender in the Scarlet and Violet meta, but details about its move set remain under wraps. It’s likely that more Pokémon will be added, as M-B introduced nearly 40 newcomers, including Mega Evolutions.

The trailer also hinted at Mega Heatran. However, there’s no official word on whether Mega Heatran will be part of M-C; some sources suggest it may debut in Regulation Set M-D in December. If true, this would mark the introduction of the first legendary Pokémon in the game, and given its impressive stat spread, it’s reasonable to expect it will be quite powerful, especially in Trick Room teams.

Unfortunately, shiny versions of these Pokémon will still be unavailable.