Takuma Yamazaki has become the first Pokémon World Champion of the Pokémon Champions era, winning the grand final after more than a decade of competition. His victory also delivered a major piece of franchise history: Dragonite claimed its first World Championship title while finally displacing the tournament’s most feared Charizard strategy.
For Australian fans following competitive play, the result is a reminder that even a well-established metagame can be disrupted by the right team, preparation and battle plan. You can find more gaming coverage in the RETROCADE Arcade Blog.
Dragonite and Charizard: Pokémon’s original dragon rivals
Charizard and Dragonite have occupied a similar cultural space since the first generation. Charizard was not officially a Dragon-type Pokémon until Mega Charizard X appeared in Pokémon X and Y, but its design and reputation made the dragon comparison inevitable.
Dragon-type Pokémon were exceptionally uncommon in the early games. The Dragonite evolutionary line was the only Dragon-type family in the original generation. Gold and Silver later added Kingdra, but the type remained so limited that Clair, the Dragon-type Gym Leader, used three Dragonair and a Kingdra as her strongest Pokémon. For several years, Dragonite and Charizard were the roster’s defining dragon-like figures.
How Charizard ruled Pokémon Champions
Since Pokémon Champions launched in April, Mega Charizard Y had been one of competitive play’s most oppressive choices. Its Drought ability creates strong sunlight, boosting Fire-type attacks, reducing the danger posed by incoming Water-type moves and allowing Solar Beam to fire without a charging turn.
That combination lets Mega Charizard Y threaten Water- and Rock-type opponents that might otherwise check it. Rock Slide can potentially remove it, but the attacker still needs enough speed and power to land the knockout before Charizard takes control of the battle.
Going into the World Championships, Charizard looked almost certain to appear on the winning roster. Hiroshi Onishi brought one to the final, while Yamazaki relied on Dragonite to help overturn those expectations. In a close series, Yamazaki and Dragonite secured their first World Championship victories.
Mega Dragonite silences the doubters
Mega Dragonite debuted in Pokémon Legends: Z-A and was widely mocked for its unusual head-wing design. Many players also questioned whether it could succeed in serious competition. Leading Yamazaki’s championship-winning team has now given its supporters a powerful answer.
Dragonite is 30 years old and just won Worlds for the first time… you’ve still got time, unc.
That sentiment captured the online reaction, with fans celebrating Dragonite’s long wait for a title and the reversal of predictions that its Mega Evolution would be ineffective. Other reactions pointed out the remarkable sequence: Mega Dragonite was requested for years, dismissed by some players after its reveal, and then immediately became a World Champion after entering Pokémon Champions.
Fans also noticed the awkward timing of promotional material showing Mega Dragonite being knocked out shortly after its tournament triumph. The jokes were affectionate, but the competitive result was clear: the once-questioned Mega Evolution had just led a team through the world’s biggest test.
Charizard still made the final
Charizard’s reign is not necessarily over. It ranked second among the tournament’s most-used Pokémon, behind Kingambit, and reached the Masters final with Onishi. Missing out on the title, however, made the result more remarkable, particularly after Charizard had appeared to be the safest path to victory.
Competitive Pokémon often rewards players who follow a narrow group of proven choices. Four of the six Pokémon used by Yamazaki and Onishi in the final were shared, showing how concentrated the current metagame can be. Yamazaki’s win nevertheless demonstrates that a favourite can succeed against the most established competitive threats.
For players building a collection of classic gaming favourites, the lesson extends beyond Pokémon: familiar icons remain popular, but unexpected contenders can create the most memorable matchups. Browse RETROCADE’s arcade machines, explore options with the Arcade Machine Buying Guide, or consider a compact setup among the available bartop arcades.
Congratulations to Takuma Yamazaki and Dragonite for overturning the expected script and giving one of the original 151 Pokémon its first World Championship title.
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