Is Gholdengo viable in Gen 9 Champions VGC 2026 Reg M-B Best of 3?

Gholdengo is ranked #17 in Gen 9 Champions VGC 2026 Reg M-B Best of 3 with 10.99% usage according to Smogon May 2026 - Jul 2026 data.

What beats Gholdengo in Gen 9 Champions VGC 2026 Reg M-B Best of 3?

Kingambit has the strongest conservative score in this observed May 2026 - Jul 2026 sample. The target was knocked out or switched out in 50.9% of 37.71927369891557 relevant encounters. Standard error is 8.1 points. Sets and switch conditions can change the result.

How are Gholdengo matchup checks ranked in Gen 9 Champions VGC 2026 Reg M-B Best of 3?

They are ranked by p minus four standard errors. Here, p is the observed fraction of relevant encounters where Gholdengo was knocked out or switched out. This is not a set-specific battle guarantee.

Gholdengo counters

Gen 9 Champions VGC 2026 Reg M-B Best of 3 · Sorted by p − 4 standard errors · Smogon source period May 2026 - Jul 2026 · Generated 2026-08-05

#1000 Gholdengo

SteelGhost

USAGE 11.0% #17

BASE STATS

HP 87

ATK 60

DEF 95

SPA 133

SPD 91

SPE 84

BST550

TYPE MATCHUPS

2×

FireGroundGhostDark

½×

GrassIceFlyingPsychicRockDragonSteelFairy

¼×

Bug

0×

NormalFightingPoison

Moves

Make It Rain 99.6% Shadow Ball 96.4% Protect 93.3% Nasty Plot 84.4% Power Gem 13.4% Trick 5.5% Hex 3.5% Thunderbolt 1.7%

Items

Life Orb 61.1% Metal Coat 14.4% Spell Tag 6.8% Choice Scarf 6.5% Leftovers 4.5% Focus Sash 4.3% Sitrus Berry 1.1% Kasib Berry 0.5%

Common Teammates

Browse Gen 9 Champions VGC 2026 Reg M-B Best of 3 teams using Gholdengo →

Explore Gholdengo + Kingambit teams 18 score Explore Gholdengo + Basculegion teams 10 score Explore Gholdengo + Incineroar teams 6 score

Leading observed checks

Open a matchup for a separate set-based damage estimate, or browse uploaded teams with both Pokémon.

Team core to explore

Gholdengo + Sinistcha 42.8% teammate usage Explore teams →

Checks & Counters

Observed target KO or switch rate is upstream p: the fraction of relevant encounters where the target was knocked out or switched out. Standard error is upstream d. The conservative score is p − 4d. These ladder observations do not prove a set-specific counter.

How to read this table

Use encounter count and standard error to judge the sample. Damage estimates below use inferred sets and remain separate from the observed ladder metric.

# Checker Encounters Conservative score Target KO or switch rate

Kingambit

DarkSteel SOFT CHECK View matchup

37.719

18.3

50.9% Standard error 8.14 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Black Glasses Kingambit Kowtow Cleave vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 206-246 (106.1 - 126.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Kingambit counters → Teams with Kingambit →

Charizard-Mega-Y

FireFlying OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

25.927

17.4

56.3% Standard error 9.74 points

DAMAGE CALCSun

252+ SpA Charizard-Mega-Y Overheat vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gholdengo in Sun: 326-386 (168 - 198.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Charizard-Mega-Y counters →

Basculegion

WaterGhost SOFT CHECK View matchup

22.048

9.5

52.1% Standard error 10.64 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Mystic Water Adaptability Basculegion Wave Crash vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 170-202 (87.6 - 104.1%) -- 25% chance to OHKO

View Basculegion counters → Teams with Basculegion →

Garchomp

DragonGround SOFT CHECK View matchup

29.393

7.7

44.3% Standard error 9.16 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Life Orb Garchomp Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 257-304 (132.4 - 156.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Garchomp counters →

Incineroar

FireDark SOFT CHECK View matchup

46.843

5.7

33.2% Standard error 6.88 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Incineroar Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 218-258 (112.3 - 132.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Incineroar counters → Teams with Incineroar →

Floette-Mega

Fairy SOFT CHECK View matchup

21.544

-9.9

29.4% Standard error 9.81 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Floette-Mega Light of Ruin vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gholdengo: 57-68 (29.3 - 35%) -- 14.3% chance to 3HKO

View Floette-Mega counters →

Sinistcha

GrassGhost SOFT CHECK View matchup

23.704

-13.8

17.3% Standard error 7.77 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Sinistcha Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gholdengo: 110-132 (56.7 - 68%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Sinistcha counters → Teams with Sinistcha →

Ranked #17 with 10.99% usage. Sorted by conservative score.