Pokémon Rankings
A roundup of the Smogon Gen 9 OU Top 50 usage stats for July 2026, the Pikalytics VGC/Champions Top 20 most-used picks, and the Top 15 fan favorites, complete with comparison tables, tier breakdowns by format, and a draggable Pokédex template.
How the rankings are organized
Data cutoff 2026-08-06There is no single "best" Pokémon list. This article presents three parallel public sources: Smogon / Pokémon Showdown's Gen 9 OU usage stats (July 2026, using the gen9ou-0 weight class); Pikalytics' Pokémon Champions VGC 2026 (Regulation Set M-B) popularity rankings; and a fan-favorite Top 15 list for 2026. Pikachu has long held the top spot in popularity, yet its OU usage rate doesn't always crack the top fifty.
| Sources | Snapshot | Data methodology | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smogon Stats: gen9ou-0 (July 2026) | 2026-07 | Showdown OU usage; roughly 654,000 battles that month | Primary basis for this article's OU Top 50 |
| Smogon Stats index | Continuously updated | Monthly, tier-weighted data files | Cross-reference with higher-Elo weight classes |
| Pikalytics | Time of data capture | Champions VGC 2026 Regulation M-B Popularity Rankings | Doubles / Official Rules Top 20 |
| Ravaver: Top 15 Fan-Favorite (2026) | 2026 Year in Review | Aggregate Voting and Media Popularity Narrative | Popularity Trends; Commercial Site Overview for Comparison |
Gen 9 OU Usage Top 50
From Smogon, July 2026 gen9ou-0.txt(All-weighted sample). Great Tusk leads with roughly 28.2% usage, followed by Gholdengo and Kingambit. The table includes regional forms and Paradox Pokémon; form names are retained as in the original English data.
| Rank | Chinese Name | English Name | Usage Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great Tusk | Great Tusk | 28.18% |
| 2 | Gholdengo | Gholdengo | 20.86% |
| 3 | Kingambit | Kingambit | 20.33% |
| 4 | Dragonite | Dragonite | 14.61% |
| 5 | Corviknight | Corviknight | 14.19% |
| 6 | Iron Valiant | Iron Valiant | 14.17% |
| 7 | Ogerpon-Wellspring | Ogerpon-Wellspring | 13.69% |
| 8 | Dragapult | Dragapult | 13.64% |
| 9 | Gliscor | Gliscor | 12.59% |
| 10 | Galarian Slowking | Slowking-Galar | 12.43% |
| 11 | Zamazenta | Zamazenta | 12.35% |
| 12 | Raging Bolt | Raging Bolt | 11.81% |
| 13 | Hatterene | Hatterene | 10.94% |
| 14 | Cinderace | Cinderace | 10.88% |
| 15 | Alomomola | Alomomola | 10.68% |
| 16 | Kyurem | Kyurem | 10.63% |
| 17 | Samurott-Hisui | Samurott-Hisui | 9.46% |
| 18 | Iron Treads | Iron Treads | 9.43% |
| 19 | Glimmora | Glimmora | 9.21% |
| 20 | Landorus-Therian | Landorus-Therian | 8.74% |
| 21 | Ting-Lu | Ting-Lu | 8.64% |
| 22 | Darkrai | Darkrai | 8.18% |
| 23 | Ceruledge | Ceruledge | 8.06% |
| 24 | Iron Moth | Iron Moth | 7.10% |
| 25 | Pecharunt | Pecharunt | 6.76% |
| 26 | Walking Wake | Walking Wake | 6.51% |
| 27 | Zapdos | Zapdos | 6.41% |
| 28 | Rillaboom | Rillaboom | 6.28% |
| 29 | Garchomp | Garchomp | 6.20% |
| 30 | Clefable | Clefable | 6.14% |
| 31 | Garganacl | Garganacl | 5.77% |
| 32 | Deoxys-Speed | Deoxys-Speed | 4.89% |
| 33 | Pelipper | Pelipper | 4.85% |
| 34 | Ogerpon | Ogerpon | 4.80% |
| 35 | Dondozo | Dondozo | 4.65% |
| 36 | Moltres | Moltres | 4.64% |
| 37 | Primarina | Primarina | 4.48% |
| 38 | Scizor | Scizor | 4.47% |
| 39 | Tyranitar | Tyranitar | 4.39% |
| 40 | Galarian Weezing | Weezing-Galar | 4.38% |
| 41 | Meowscarada | Meowscarada | 4.05% |
| 42 | Iron Head | Iron Crown | 4.00% |
| 43 | Tornadus-Therian | Tornadus-Therian | 3.93% |
| 44 | Enamorus | Enamorus | 3.84% |
| 45 | Toxapex | Toxapex | 3.77% |
| 46 | Heatran | Heatran | 3.51% |
| 47 | Torkoal | Torkoal | 3.32% |
| 48 | Hoopa-Unbound | Hoopa-Unbound | 3.28% |
| 49 | Clodsire | Clodsire | 3.27% |
| 50 | Excadrill | Excadrill | 3.17% |
VGC / Champions Top 20 Most Used
Pikalytics page "Pokemon Champions VGC 2026 · Regulation Set M-B" ranked by usage (as of time of capture). The doubles format differs greatly from OU singles: Garchomp, Sinistcha, Basculegion, Whimsicott, and others rely more on weather and support cores; Incineroar remains a classic disruptor.
| Rank | Chinese Name | English Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Garchomp | Garchomp |
| 2 | Sinistcha | Sinistcha |
| 3 | Basculegion | Basculegion |
| 4 | Whimsicott | Whimsicott |
| 5 | Kingambit | Kingambit |
| 6 | Staraptor | Staraptor |
| 7 | Incineroar | Incineroar |
| 8 | Charizard | Charizard |
| 9 | Raichu | Raichu |
| 10 | Pelipper | Pelipper |
| 11 | Sneasler | Sneasler |
| 12 | Archaludon | Archaludon |
| 13 | Grimmsnarl | Grimmsnarl |
| 14 | Sylveon | Sylveon |
| 15 | Swampert | Swampert |
| 16 | Metagross | Metagross |
| 17 | Farigiraf | Farigiraf |
| 18 | Eternal Floette | Eternal Floette |
| 19 | Gholdengo | Gholdengo |
| 20 | Aerodactyl | Aerodactyl |
Fan-Favorite Top 15
The following list comes from a 2026 fan-oriented roundup (combining site polls and media rankings), measuring recognition and likability rather than competitive tier placement. Pikachu, Charizard, and Greninja remain the franchise's flagship faces.
| Ranking | Chinese Name | English Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pikachu | Pikachu |
| 2 | Charizard | Charizard |
| 3 | Greninja | Greninja |
| 4 | Lucario | Lucario |
| 5 | Mimikyu | Mimikyu |
| 6 | Gengar | Gengar |
| 7 | Umbreon | Umbreon |
| 8 | Eevee | Eevee |
| 9 | Gardevoir | Gardevoir |
| 10 | Rayquaza | Rayquaza |
| 11 | Sylveon | Sylveon |
| 12 | Garchomp | Garchomp |
| 13 | Bulbasaur | Bulbasaur |
| 14 | Mewtwo | Mewtwo |
| 15 | Arcanine | Arcanine |
Three-way comparison
Few names appear on both the popularity and competitive rankings; where they overlap, it’s usually a veteran that’s both good-looking and battle-ready.
| Pokémon | OU Top 50 | VGC Top 20 | Popularity Top 15 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garchomp | 29（6.20%） | 1 | 12 |
| Kingambit | 3（20.33%） | 5 | — |
| Gholdengo | 2（20.86%） | 19 | — |
| Charizard | — | 8 | 2 |
| Sylveon | — | 14 | 11 |
| Pelipper | 33（4.85%） | 10 | — |
| Pikachu | — | — | 1 |
| Greninja | — | — | 3 |
| Dragonite | 4（14.61%） | — | — |
| Great Tusk | 1（28.18%） | — | — |
Tier Lists by Format
Pick Pokémon based on your target format—it’s more practical than chasing one overall ranking. Rules and banlists change, so check the current season’s announcement before you commit.
| Format | Which Tier to Watch | Recent High-Frequency Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Showdown OU Singles Ladder | Smogon Monthly Usage Stats | Great Tusk, Gholdengo, Kingambit, Dragonite, Corviknight |
| Official / Champions Doubles | Pikalytics VGC Rankings | Garchomp, Sinistcha, Ursaluna, Incineroar, Minccino |
| Popular Merch and Beginner Impressions | Fan Popularity Polls | Pikachu, Charizard, Greninja, Lucario, Mimikyu |
| First Playthrough Story Picks | Starter Trio + Early-Route Pokémon | Classic teams built around starters from each generation, plus Hoenn/Sinnoh staples |
| Collection appeal and visual design | Popularity + personal taste | Eeveelution fans, legendary enthusiasts, and Paradox-form design lovers |
Editor's Quick Look
Combining July 2026 OU usage rates, VGC popularity, and long-term fan appeal, here's a quick tier breakdown for the names that come up most. Once bans or format shifts hit, the competitive tiers will reshuffle across the board.
| Tier | Pokémon | Summary Basis |
|---|---|---|
| S | Great Tusk, Gholdengo, Kingambit, Dragonite, Garchomp, Pikachu (popularity pick) | Top-tier OU usage or doubles/popularity flagship |
| A | Corviknight, Iron Valiant, Ogerpon-Wellspring, Dragapult, Gliscor, Zamazenta, Charizard, Incineroar, Greninja, Lucario, Mimikyu | High competitive usage or consistently strong popularity |
| B | Cinderace, Hisuian Samurott, Glimmora, Landorus (Therian Forme), Poltchageist, Iron Hands, Pelipper, Gardevoir, Gengar, and the Eevee family, among others | Common in the meta or perennial fan favorites |
| C | Obscure evolutions from various generations, box-filler picks outside restricted formats | Has a fanbase, but low competitive visibility |
| D | Unreleased legendaries / joke-tier picks for casual play | Depends on the ruleset whether they can even be used |
Online Ranked Battles
Below is an embedded Pokémon character encyclopedia template (roughly 1,200+ entries) — feel free to drag anything into S–E based on popularity, competitive strength, or sheer looks.
互动体验：拖拽排位《Pokémon Characters Tier List》
Pokémon Characters Tier List
Pokémon Characters Tier List
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