Finally, "Pokemon Champions" arrived on Android and iOS on June 17. This means that more Pokemon are also arriving for the new regulation. Some that felt average in the main RPGs suddenly feel broken in the new battle simulator. One of the biggest surprises is Mega Staraptor.
This Pokémon was introduced through "Pokémon Legends: Z-A's Mega Dimension DLC." At first, it didn't even have an Ability because the Legends format removes passive effects. That already made it feel a bit underwhelming.
Contrary Ability Turns Mega Staraptor Into a Battle Beast
Mega Staraptor now comes with the Contrary Ability, and this completely flips how it works in battle. Instead of stat drops hurting it, they actually boost it. This alone sets the tone for the once-struggling bird from the Sinnoh region.
The new contrary bird genuinely scares me pic.twitter.com/AKxobcLPX8
— Yisuno ⚝ | SKARM BELIEVER (@TheYisusOne) June 17, 2026
Moves that normally come with heavy drawbacks suddenly become advantages. The biggest example is Close Combat. In most battles, it lowers Defense and Special Defense after use. But with Contrary active, Mega Staraptor gains those stats instead.
So instead of weakening itself, it just gets stronger and harder to take down. That's where things start to get scary.
Doubles Battles Make It Even Worse
In doubles play, Mega Staraptor becomes even more unpredictable.
There was a match where it was paired with Incineroar. The plan was simple: use Intimidate and Parting Shot to weaken it and slow it down.
But things didn't go as expected.
One misplay changed the tide of the battle even if it hadn't started yet. Parting Shot hit Mega Staraptor at the wrong moment. Instead of lowering its stats, Contrary flipped the effect. It boosted its stats instead.
Just like that, the momentum was gone, creating a space for Mega Staraptor to take over the match.
Here's another clip of how Staraptor wrecks most meta teams.
Mega Staraptor is absolutely broken. It can one-shot a Chople Berry Kingambit. 💀
— Light (@Light_88_) June 17, 2026
This thing is diabolical. Easily top tier in this regulation. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/SqGTFtNgdF
Why the 'Pokémon Champions' Meta Is Struggling With It
This is why players are starting to fear Mega Staraptor in the "Pokémon Champions" meta. According to Kotaku, it doesn't just hit hard. It also becomes harder to stop the longer the battle goes on.
Most teams rely on stat control moves like Intimidate, debuffs, or pivot skills. But against Contrary, those tools can backfire fast. Still, it isn't unbeatable.
Speed control is one of the best answers. Paralysis, Tailwind disruption, or Trick Room setups can help slow it down. Strong special attackers also work well since their boosts mainly come from physical interactions.
But if you let it build momentum, things get out of control quickly.
Mega Staraptor Is Changing How Players Think
What makes Mega Staraptor interesting isn't just its power. If you have this scary bird in your team, people will be forced to think of new strategies to avoid the Contrary trigger.
You can't blindly use support moves anymore. You have to think twice before applying buffs or debuffs. If you're currently dealing with it in almost all your matches, every action matters more when Contrary is involved.
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