Pokemon Champions needs this item back, and it needs it now

When Pokemon champion first came out, I, like many other fans interested in VGC at various levels and even non-VGC players, were quick to think that the game should have had more Pokemon and items at launch. I think my perspective has changed a bit over time, and I think a smaller list of Pokemon is actually very good for an evolving meta, while for items it depends on what's added next and when. The current selection made room for a very specific meta, like Aerodactyl in Pokemon champion become a prime attacker to counter Mega Charizard Y, use Tailwind to speed up allies and prevent opponents from eating berries.

Of course, in a Berry-dominated meta, Aerodactyl's Unnerve is extremely useful, while it may decrease in use once more and better items are added. With the likes of Assault Vest, Rocky Helmet, Choice Band and Choice Specs, not to mention the many other Mega Evolutions in Pokemon Legends: ZA By being added and given new abilities, Unnerve can become less powerful, and so Aerodactyl itself. The meta is inevitably tied to the type of Pokemon and items available, and what's good now can change dramatically in the future. Still, I think an item should have been in the game on day one, and its absence fosters a pretty toxic meta.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Covert Cloak instantly became a staple in VGC, as it prevents all secondary effects from opposing moves. For example, Fake Out will deal damage to a Pokémon with Covert Cloak, but it won't flinch. The reason Pokemon champion needed this item at launch and still desperately need it now is very simple: jerky.

The current meta is as follows:

• Sneasler enters Pokemon champion offers incredible speed, Fake Out support and powerful STAB moves like Close Combat and Dire Claw.

• Kingambit is an Incineroar disk i Pokemon champion with Defiant, it raises its attack when startled, and it gains very powerful attacks to counter Ghost-type, Psychic-type, and Fairy-type Pokémon.

• Basculegion is a beast in the endgame thanks to the adaptability that increases its Last Respects damage, and can also deal massive damage with Water moves. It is also perfect for rainy weather Pokemon champion.

• Incineroar is the most popular Fake Out and Intimidate user, with good bulk to survive enemy attacks while doing decent damage and having more utility via Parting Shot.

• Garchomp in Pokemon champion offers very good damage and speed, with incredible coverage and various sets available, such as Choice Scarf, Citrus Berry, Soft Sand and White Herb.

• Aerodactyl offers Tailwind support, high damage, incredible speed, and Unnerve. Aerodactyl i Pokemon champion is one of the main abusers of Rock Slide's flinching effect.

• Mega Charizard Y and Venusaur form an overpowered duo for solar team i Pokemon championwhich increases Charizard's damage and makes Solar Beam instant, while doubling Venusaur's speed to use sleep powder or attacking moves.

• Mega Floette is perhaps the best Mega Evolution in Pokemon championas it has great stats, Fairy Aura to increase its damage, and has access to powerful moves like Dazzling Gleam, Moonblast, and Light of Ruin.

• Farigiraf is the best animal to set up Trick Room teams Pokemon champion for victory, as it has low resistance, great bulk, good moves, and an ability that makes it and its allies immune to Fake Out.

• Archaludon is the best attacker in rain teams, as it gets a powerful electric type move that also boosts its special attack, while also having great bulk, stats in general, and type combo.

• Whimsicott is one of the best Grass-type Pokémon ever and has the combination of Prankster plus Tailwind to activate it even faster than Aerodactyl.

• Tyranitar allows sand teams to enter Pokemon championhas a very powerful Mega Evolution, and together with Excadrill makes it one of the strongest and most dangerous leads in the game, thanks to double Rock Slide.

• Milotic and Corviknight both counter Incineroar and serve the same purpose as bulky attackers that can survive well in messy endgame sections. Their increased use goes hand in hand with Incineroar dropping in Pokemon champion.

• Aegislash is a great attacker that can OHKO Mega Floette with Iron Head, deal massive damage to Basculegion with Poltergeist if not OHKO it, potentially OHKO both Tyranitar and Kingambit with Close Combat, and more.

• Pokemon champion' Mega Froslass is one of the best Megas available for snow teams, but also as a standalone attacker.

• Rotom Wash is a great attacker with speed control options via Electroweb and Choice Scarf, damaging opponents and reducing their speed by one step.

There are more Pokemon in the meta that deserve a shout-out, like Dragonite, Maushold, Talonflame, and Sinistcha, but there is a pattern among several of the ones I've already mentioned: secondary effects on attacks. One of the most frustrating things that can happen to you Pokemon champion is an opponent that uses two relatively fast attackers that can click Rock Slide at the same time, which can then jerk your Pokemon very easily.

In fact, Rock Slide is one of the most abused moves in the game right now, and a big part of the reason Pokemon like Tyranitar, Excadrill, Aerodactyl, and Garchomp are on every team—sometimes even two or three of them. Rock Slide has an accuracy of 90%, base power of 75, and its secondary effect is that it can jerk an opponent 30% of the time. With two fast Rock Slide users, the odds of folding against Pokemon are extremely high, resulting in games where you can't do anything. This has happened to me several times, and it's upsetting.

How Covert Cloak can help with luck problems in Pokemon Champions

Covert Cloak wouldn't completely solve the problem, as only one Pokémon can use it, but having a Pokémon like Whimsicott, or a Pokémon that relies on self-healing or whose job is to support its ally, wearing Covert Cloak would ensure that something always goes right on a turn. Likewise, Covert Cloak stops twitching from Fake Out, which is also a big reason why Sneasler and Incineroar are so prevalent right now. Covert Cloak would prevent:

• Receding from Fake Out, Rock Slide, Iron Head and similar moves

• Burn from Scald, Flare Blitz, Heat Wave and similar moves

• Freezes from Blizzard, Ice Beam and similar moves

• Sneasler's Dire Claw Effects (Poison, Sleep, and Paralysis)

• Paralysis from Thunderbolt and similar moves

• Confusion from Hurricane and similar moves

• Speed ​​reduction from Electroweb, Icy Wind and similar moves

• Attack reduction from Trop Kick and similar moves

• Special attack reduction from Snarl and similar moves

• Special defense reduction from Shadow Ball and similar moves

• Psychic Fang and Brick Break ability to break screens

• Accuracy reduction from Muddy Water and similar moves

• The inability to use sound-based moves from Throat Chop

Also, the Blastoise and Farigiraf duo can be very painful to deal with at times, as the former can use Fake Out to make one of your Pokémon flinch while the latter sets up Trick Room. Then Mega Blastoise uses Water Spout or some other move to deal massive damage, and Farigiraf either attacks or uses moves like Rain Dance and Helping Hand to support Mega Blastoise. These are just some of the best Pokemon in the Pokemon Masters or the best combos at the moment, and Covert Cloak would provide some relief in teambuilding for their consistent presence in the meta.

There are a lot of things that Cover Cloak would block, and I desperately want a meta where it's not so easy and free to click Rock Slide to gouge the opponents. It turns the game into a very luck-based engine, and any way to stop that would be great.

Pokemon champion

System

Released

April 8, 2026

ESRB

All / Mild Fantasy Violence

Publisher

Nintendo

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

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