One Unexpected Pokemon suddenly sets a new record in 2026

2026 is already poised to be a huge year for Pokémon series. Not only is it the franchise's 30th anniversary, but all signs are pointing towards it Pokémon Gen 10 is finally released this year. The new year has just begun, but one Pokémon has already started a landmark in franchise history by setting a new streak record, albeit in an unconventional way.

Alongside the rumored release of Gen 10, allegedly titled Pokemon wind and wavesthe series will also release a brand new spin-off in the form of Pokemon Pokopia. If this cozy life sim isn't enough Pokémon fans in 2026, this year will also be released Pokemon champion as a new battle simulator available for Nintendo Switch, Switch 2 and mobile devices. While more about the series' plans for 2026 are likely to be revealed in the coming months, it's Hisuian Electrode that has stolen the spotlight early in the year for its role in achieving a series first.

Hisuian Electrode breaks a major Pokémon tradition to start in 2026

The mobile spin-off game Pokemon Masters EX is home to some of the most unconventional trends in the franchise. As a mobile gacha game, Pokemon Masters EX pairs iconic characters from across the series with partner Pokemon that players can recruit as a Sync Pair to use in battle. In a break from the traditional battles of the franchise, Pokemon Masters EX Battles are all 3v3 and allow the use of exclusive Buddy Moves, giving the game a different feel from the rest of the franchise and creating the opportunity for traditions found in the core series to be broken.

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Sygna Suit Ball Guy and Hisuian Electrode join Pokemon Masters EX

Sync pairs	Role	Type	EX role
Sygna Suit Ball Guy & Hisuian Electrode	Field	Grass	Sprint
Lana & Shiny Dondozo	Support	Dragon	Field

The source of Pokémons record-breaking event in 2026 comes from Pokemon Masters EX and the new addition of Sygna Suit Ball Guy and Hisuian Electrode as a sync pair was added on January 1 for the Fishing Up a New Year event which also includes Lana and Shiny Dondozo as potential banner moves. Ball Guy has been a recruitable character in Pokemon Masters EX formerly, sporting partners of Amonguss and Voltorb formerly. However, Sygna Suit Ball Guy's partner Hisuian Electrode has the ability to do something mon has never been able to do before.

Lt. Surge has been available with electrode as a sync pair in Pokemon Masters EX before, but this is the first time the Hisuian Electrode has been made available.

Hisuian Electrode marks the first instance of a Pokémon introduced after Sword and Shield could Dynamax

What makes this Hisuian electrode so special is its ability to Dynamax during battle. The Dynamax mechanic was introduced in Gen 8's Pokemon Sword and Shieldand is a phenomenon canonically exclusive to the Galar region due to the patches of power that arose after the defeat of Eternatus during the Darkest Day thousands of years ago. As such, only Pokémon are available in Sword and shield can Dynamax in the core series, with no animals introduced after these games that have this ability until Hisuian Electrode.

A bunch of wild Pokemon in the first area of the game - Pokemon Legends Arceus

Despite being canon available since the 150-year setting of Pokemon Legends: Arceus' Hisui Region, the game Hisuian Electrode debuted in was released after Sword and shieldafter the Dynamax mechanic was retired from the main games. As such, Hisuian Electrode breaks the tradition of new mons lacking the ability to Dynamax by being the first post-Sword and shield Pokemon to have this ability.

Although Duraludon was introduced in Sword and shield and has the ability that Dynamax, its evolution, Archaludon, is introduced into Pokemon Scarlet and Violets Indigo Disk DLC, cannot Dynamax.

Hisuian Electrode is the 4th instance of a Pokémon not available in Sword and Shield that has the ability to Dynamax

Breloom
Electric power
Camerupt
Hisuian electrode

Although Hisuian Electrode is the first Pokemon released after Sword and shield to gain the ability to Dynamax via Pokemon Masters EXthree other mons that were not available in the Sword and shield gained access to the mechanic in the mobile spin-off as well. Breloom and its Sync Partner Greta were the first to debut an uncatchable Pokémon Sword and shield with the ability to Dynamax as early as July 2024. In November of that year, the Sygna Suit Emmet and Eelektross were released, with this Eelektross being the first of its kind with the ability to Dynamax. Most recently, Academy Kabu and Camerupt were released with the option of Dynamax in November 2025.

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With the Sygna Suit Ball Guy's Hisuian Electrode, history makes history as the first post-Sword and shield critter to gain the ability to Dynamax, the door has been thrown wide open for other newer mons to follow. While the nature of Pokemon Masters EX lends itself nicely to these types of tradition-breaking, the upcoming release of Pokemon champion could give more mons the power to Dynamax. The game is already confirmed to feature both Mega Evolution and Terastallization, two other battle tricks like Dynamax, so it's likely that Dynamax, Gigantamax, and Z-Moves will also return. For now, the Hisuian Electrode will shine as an unlikely moon to break the series' first tradition from 2026, more likely to come as the franchise's 30th anniversary approaches.