Pokémon Tier List 2026: ESA Space Week & Legends Z-A

Our S–D Pokémon tier list for Oct 2026, ranked on popularity and power, with a boost for ESA Space Week stars and Legends Z-A’s Oct 29 return.

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Pokémon Tier List 2026: ESA Space Week & Legends Z-A

October 2026 makes the argument louder than usual. Pikachu just came back from space, and Mega Evolution is about to return to shelves. So here is my tier list of 20 Pokémon, explained by three things: Ability, Moves and Recent change.

If you disagree with my picks, good. I built a Pokémon tier list template so you can drag the Pokémon into your own order and see how your list compares to mine. Tell me in the comments where you’d move things around.

Quick note: Every Pokémon is loved by someone, so no ranking is fair. Abilities and moves are main-series ones and may differ in other games. This is my view as of October 9, 2026.

The Tier List at a Glance

  • S Tier: Pikachu, Charizard, Mewtwo, Rayquaza, Lucario, Gengar
  • A Tier: Greninja, Eevee, Mimikyu, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Starmie
  • B Tier: Clefairy, Magnemite, Cosmog, Lunatone, Solrock
  • C Tier: Minior, Blipbug
  • D Tier: Munna

Why This Month Matters

  • ESA x Pokémon: A Pikachu plush spent 67 days on the International Space Station for World Space Week (October 4–10). Pokémon GO runs a space event at museums until April 30, 2027.
  • Legends Z-A returns Oct 29: A physical Switch 2 Edition + Mega Dimension bundle puts the game and DLC on one cartridge.
  • Champions meta: Regulation M-B opened on June 17, 2026, and Mega Charizard Y and Mega Gengar are among its most talked-about picks.

S Tier: The Icons I'd Defend Anywhere

Pikachu: The Mascot Who Went to Space

Nothing else matches its mix of popularity and timing.

  • Ability: Static, which can paralyze attackers.
  • Moves: Thunderbolt, Volt Tackle.
  • Recent: Astronaut Pikachu stars in the Pokémon GO event, and its evolution Raichu has a Mega form, Mega Raichu Y, in Pokémon Champions.

Charizard: The Fan Favorite With Real Power

The clearest winner of the competitive scene right now.

  • Ability: Blaze, or Drought on Mega Charizard Y.
  • Moves: Flamethrower, Heat Wave, Air Slash, Dragon Claw.
  • Recent: Mega Charizard Y is S tier in Regulation M-B guides. Pikalytics data shows teams with it finishing first at the 2026 North America International Championships and the Indianapolis Regional.

Mewtwo: The Legend With a Huge Fanbase

A safe S-tier pick on stats and reputation.

  • Ability: Pressure, or Unnerve.
  • Moves: Psystrike, Aura Sphere, Recover.
  • Recent: No major balance change I could confirm. Its Mega X and Mega Y forms keep it relevant.

Rayquaza: The Sky Legend That Feels Like Space

It lives above the clouds, so it fits the theme better than most.

  • Ability: Air Lock, which removes weather.
  • Moves: Dragon Ascent (unlocks its Mega form), Dragon Dance.
  • Recent: No change I could confirm. Its pull is thematic.

Lucario: The Community Favorite

One of the most loyal fanbases in the franchise.

  • Ability: Inner Focus or Steadfast, and Adaptability on Mega Lucario.
  • Moves: Aura Sphere, Close Combat, Extreme Speed.
  • Recent: No specific change I could confirm. Z-A's Mega Evolution focus keeps it in the spotlight.

Gengar: The Personality Pick

The best grin in the game, and a real competitive pick this year.

  • Ability: Cursed Body, or Shadow Tag on Mega Gengar.
  • Moves: Shadow Ball, Sludge Bomb, Destiny Bond.
  • Recent: Mega Gengar is A tier in Regulation M-B guides, and Pikalytics shows a Mega Gengar team finishing first at the 2026 Turin Special Championships.

A Tier: Strong Favorites

Greninja: The Stylish Competitor

Fast, flashy and loved by competitive players.

  • Ability: Torrent, or Protean (hidden).
  • Moves: Hydro Pump, Dark Pulse, Ice Beam, U-turn.
  • Recent: It appears in A-tier lists for Pokémon Champions, and it is a Kalos Pokémon, the region of Z-A.

Eevee: The "Choose Your Own Adventure" Pokémon

Everyone has a favorite evolution.

  • Ability: Run Away or Adaptability.
  • Moves: Last Resort, Take Down.
  • Recent: Pokémon Champions only includes fully evolved Pokémon, so its evolutions carry the competitive side.

Mimikyu: The Heartbreaking Disguise

Popularity alone keeps it in A tier.

  • Ability: Disguise, which blocks the first hit.
  • Moves: Play Rough, Shadow Claw, Swords Dance.
  • Recent: Since Generation 8, breaking the disguise costs a small amount of HP, which made it slightly less reliable.

Bulbasaur: The Nostalgia Pick

For many fans, the first partner they ever chose.

  • Ability: Overgrow, or Chlorophyll (hidden).
  • Moves: Razor Leaf, Sleep Powder, Leech Seed.
  • Recent: No change to Bulbasaur itself. Its final form Venusaur has a Mega form.

Squirtle: The Classic Starter

Close to Bulbasaur, and I would not argue with a swap.

  • Ability: Torrent, or Rain Dish (hidden).
  • Moves: Water Gun, Withdraw, Bite.
  • Recent: No change to Squirtle itself. Its final form Blastoise also has a Mega form.

Starmie: The Event Pokémon That Earned Its Jump

Moved up from B tier on strength and timing.

  • Ability: Natural Cure, or Analytic (hidden).
  • Moves: Surf, Psychic, Ice Beam, Recover.
  • Recent: It spawns more often in the Pokémon GO ESA event.

B Tier: Solid Picks With an Event Boost

Clefairy: The Moon Pokémon

Moon theme and an ESA lineup spot.

  • Ability: Cute Charm, Magic Guard.
  • Moves: Moonlight, Moonblast, Metronome.
  • Recent: Spawns more often in Pokémon GO.

Magnemite: The Easy-to-Recognize Classic

Not a headline name, but a dependable one.

  • Ability: Magnet Pull, Sturdy.
  • Moves: Thunderbolt, Flash Cannon, Thunder Wave.
  • Recent: Boosted spawns in the ESA event.

Cosmog: The Nebula Cutie

A nebula look that fits the cosmic theme, though it is more about charm than power.

  • Ability: Unaware.
  • Moves: Splash, Teleport.
  • Recent: No change. It evolves into Cosmoem, then Solgaleo or Lunala.

Lunatone: The Moon Half of a Pair

A solid pick that benefits from the theme.

  • Ability: Levitate.
  • Moves: Psychic, Rock Slide, Moonlight.
  • Recent: Spawns more often in the ESA event.

Solrock: The Sun Half of the Pair

Same space appeal as its partner, so it sits in the same tier.

  • Ability: Levitate.
  • Moves: Solar Beam, Rock Slide, Morning Sun.
  • Recent: Spawns more often in the ESA event.

C Tier: Cute, Niche, or Still Growing

Minior: The Meteor That Rolls Around

A meteor look that fits the theme, but a niche pick.

  • Ability: Shields Down (tough Meteor Form until half HP, then a faster Core Form).
  • Moves: Shell Smash, Acrobatics, Earthquake.
  • Recent: No change I could confirm.

Blipbug: The Early-Stage Event Guest

On the ESA list, which moved it from D to C.

  • Ability: Shield Dust.
  • Moves: Struggle Bug.
  • Recent: Spawns more often in the ESA event. It evolves into Dottler, then Orbeetle.

D Tier: The One This Month Left Behind

Munna: The Sweet Design With No Hook

A lovely design with no link to this month's news. D tier here means "least tied to the news," not "worst Pokémon."

  • Ability: Forewarn, Synchronize.
  • Moves: Hypnosis, Dream Eater, Psychic.
  • Recent: No event tie-in or change I could confirm.

Two Questions Everyone Asks

1. Why is Pikachu in S tier when it isn't the strongest?

Because "best" doesn't only mean "strongest." Pikachu is the face of the franchise and the center of the ESA collaboration. If you rank on abilities and moves alone, you'd move it down, and that's a fair way to build your own list.

2. Should I buy the Oct 29 Legends Z-A bundle if I already own the game?

If you own both the game and the DLC digitally, you probably don't need it, unless you want a physical copy. If you own neither, it's the simplest way to get everything. It reportedly includes 100 Ultra Balls, and the price hadn't been confirmed when I wrote this, so check the official listing.

FAQ: Pokémon Tier List 2026

What is the ESA x Pokémon collaboration?

A World Space Week partnership between the European Space Agency and The Pokémon Company International, with a Pikachu plush on the space station, museum exhibitions across Europe and a Pokémon GO event.

How long does the Pokémon GO space event last?

Museum gameplay runs from October 4, 2026, to April 30, 2027. Field Research and boosted spawns run October 4–10, 2026.

Which Pokémon are boosted in the space event?

Pikachu, Clefairy, Magnemite, Starmie, Lunatone, Solrock, Elgyem and Blipbug.

What is the October 29 release?

Pokémon Legends: Z-A Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Mega Dimension, a physical bundle with the game and the DLC. It also runs on the original Switch, with Switch 2 enhancements locked.

Which Pokémon is best in the Champions meta?

Mega Charizard Y is one of the top-ranked picks, and Mega Gengar is a strong A-tier option. Tier lists differ by source, so treat any ranking as a guide.

Is this tier list official?

No. It's a fan opinion, so your own ranking may look different.

Final Thoughts

A ranking can't tell you which Pokémon is truly the best, but it can show why some feel like safe picks and others like surprises. Come back after October 29 to see what changed, and check [Internal link: best Mega Evolution Pokémon] for more rankings.

Your turn: Who is your number one, and who did I rank too low? Tell me in the comments. Is Pikachu the right call, or should Charizard take the top spot?

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