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

Gholdengo is ranked #6 in Gen 9 Champions VGC 2026 Reg M-C Best of 3 with 23.91% usage according to Smogon Sep 2026 data.

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

Incineroar has the strongest conservative score in this observed Sep 2026 sample. The target was knocked out or switched out in 40.4% of 42.253695572773324 relevant encounters. Standard error is 7.6 points. Sets and switch conditions can change the result.

How are Gholdengo matchup checks ranked in Gen 9 Champions VGC 2026 Reg M-C 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-C Best of 3 · Smogon source period Sep 2026

#1000 Gholdengo

SteelGhost

USAGE 23.9% #6

ABILITYGood as Gold

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

Shadow Ball 99.9% Make It Rain 99.9% Protect 97.5% Nasty Plot 95.2% Power Gem 4.1% Trick 2.0% Thunderbolt 0.4% Focus Blast 0.2%

Items

Life Orb 86.4% Grassy Seed 6.4% Leftovers 2.6% Choice Scarf 2.4% Spell Tag 0.7% Focus Sash 0.6% Metal Coat 0.4% Kasib Berry 0.2%

Abilities

Good as Gold100.0%

Common Teammates

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 + Rillaboom 87.2% 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

Incineroar

FireDark SOFT CHECK View matchup

42.254

10.2

40.4% Standard error 7.55 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 →

Sneasler

FightingPoison SOFT CHECK View matchup

25.497

5.0

44.4% Standard error 9.84 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Sneasler Rock Slide vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 25-29 (12.8 - 14.9%) -- possible 7HKO

View Sneasler counters → Teams with Sneasler →

Rillaboom

Grass SOFT CHECK View matchup

28.409

4.2

41.2% Standard error 9.23 points

DAMAGE CALCGrassy Terrain

252+ Atk Rillaboom High Horsepower vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 122-144 (62.8 - 74.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery

View Rillaboom counters → Teams with Rillaboom →

Gholdengo

SteelGhost SOFT CHECK View matchup

20.672

2.2

46.1% Standard error 10.96 points

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Life Orb Gholdengo Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gholdengo: 151-182 (77.8 - 93.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Gholdengo counters →

Ranked #6 with 23.91% usage. Sorted by conservative score.