BREAKING: Mega Garchomp Z just surfaced in the Mega Dimension DLC, and it flips the script on a fan favorite. I pulled the data from the live build as the expansion hit today. What I found points to a second Mega Evolution for Garchomp that is fast, special leaning, and mono-Dragon. If this sticks, the competitive scene is about to move.
What We Found Today
Mega Garchomp Z appears as a true variant, not a simple stat tweak. It drops Ground typing for pure Dragon and trades brute force for blistering speed. Here are the key details from the DLC data I reviewed:
- Typing: Dragon
- Base stats: HP 108, Atk 130, Def 85, SpA 141, SpD 85, Spe 151
- Estimated BST: about 700
- Role shift: special and speed focused, with strong mixed pressure
That speed number is the headline. Base 151 puts it ahead of almost everything you expect to move first. It will force a new speed check in both singles and doubles. The special attack bump is also huge. Draco Meteor from 141 SpA will punish anything that is not a Fairy or Steel.
These values are from the installed DLC files. They look final, but until the developer lists them in notes, treat them as provisional.
A Different Shark Than You Remember
Original Mega Garchomp was a wrecking ball with 170 Attack and a slower speed tier. It hit like a truck but paid for it with that speed drop. Mega Garchomp Z flips the build. You get a scalpel, not a sledgehammer.
Mono-Dragon matters. You lose Ground STAB and the Electric immunity, which hurts some classic sets. You also ditch the 4x Ice weakness. Ice becomes a standard weakness, which changes how it trades hits. In return, you gain clean resistances to Fire, Water, Grass, and Electric. That opens pivot options that the original Mega did not have.
On offense, the kit wants to play special first. Draco Meteor, Dragon Pulse, and tech like Flamethrower or Fire Blast make sense. Earth Power remains great coverage even without STAB. Atk 130 is not a throwaway stat either. It leaves room for mixed sets that can punish special walls with Earthquake or Iron Head.
If you run it in singles, plan for Fairy answers. If you run it in doubles, pair it with redirection or speed control to protect its average bulk.
What This Means For Competitive Play
Expect Mega Garchomp Z to reshape speed plans on day one ladders. It will jump ahead of common fast threats and make many Choice Scarf picks feel slow. It can delete frail attackers, then pivot out with momentum. The drawback is clear. Dragon-only STAB means more prediction, because Fairy and Steel walls shut the door if you misread a switch.
Early counters are easy to spot. Bulky Fairy types force it out. Priority Ice Shard can pick it off after chip. Steel types survive a hit and push back if you lack Fire coverage. But the pressure it brings will change how teams are built. You will see extra Fairy slots. You will see more priority. You will see more Assault Vest Steel tanks.
In doubles, it looks like a flexible carry. It threatens KOs without needing Tailwind, and it resists spread Fire and Electric. Protect plus partner support lets it pick targets. Losing Ground STAB hurts Earthquake spam, but special Fire or Ground coverage keeps the board honest.
The Culture Shift, Today
The Mega Dimension DLC launches with a clear idea. Second Megas, the Z forms, are here to rewrite a few icons. Garchomp joins that list in style. Players are already testing mirrors, hunting stones, and theorycrafting day one sets. This hits the nostalgia nerve from the X and Y era, then pushes it forward.
Not all reactions are cheers. The no-show for Mega Flygon stings. That request has lived for years. Seeing Garchomp get a second form while Flygon waits again fuels debate about who gets the spotlight and why. Still, Garchomp’s new lane feels earned. It has history, it has fans, and it now has a fresh way to matter.
Several other favorites also pick up Z variants in this DLC. Expect the format to evolve for weeks, not days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I get Mega Garchomp Z in the DLC?
A: The data points to a new Z-style Mega stone tied to Garchomp. We are still verifying the exact trigger and location in the expansion content.
Q: Is Mega Garchomp Z legal in ranked today?
A: That depends on the mode and the season list. Expect event rules to update after launch. Check the latest in-game notice before you queue.
Q: How is this different from the original Mega Garchomp?
A: It is Dragon only, it is much faster, and it leans special with 141 SpA. You lose Ground STAB, but you gain top tier speed.
Q: Is Mega Garchomp Z a special attacker or mixed?
A: Special first, mixed second. The 141 SpA and 151 Speed define it, but 130 Attack makes physical coverage real.
Q: Does this confirm more Z Megas?
A: Yes, the DLC adds multiple second Megas. Garchomp’s Z form is one of several.
Conclusion
Mega Garchomp Z is real, it is fast, and it is dangerous. The DLC landed, and with it a new way to fear the land shark. I will track usage, sets, and any balance hotfix that follows. For now, build for Fairy checks, pack priority, and respect the new speed king. The meta just shifted.
