The Stars of the 2023 Pokémon World Championship
The 2023 Pokémon World Championships brought a big mix of Pokémon. Fans saw new faces from Paldea like Gholdengo and old favorites such as Amoonguss. Yet, two Pokémon stood out: Flutter Mane and Urshifu. They were the kings of the whole Regulation D meta.
Shohei Kimura won the championship on August 13. He used both Flutter Mane and Rapid Strike Urshifu in his team. His victory in the finals was no shock. Flutter Mane has been a top pick since its debut. Urshifu’s Unseen Fist makes it incredibly strong.
The tweet from @playpokemon shows the top 12 Pokémon on Day 2 at Worlds. Flutter Mane and Urshifu were game-changers.
Flutter Mane: The Unstoppable Force
Flutter Mane was everywhere at the Worlds, used by 71.7% of players. It also dominated at the North America and Europe International Championships. It played a huge part in many regional events too. Despite other Ghost Pokémon like Dragapult trying to shine, Flutter Mane kept its top spot.
Urshifu: The New Threat on the Block
Urshifu, introduced to Gen IX with Regulation D, quickly made its mark. On day two of Worlds, 46.9% of players chose Rapid Strike Urshifu. It tied with Iron Hands for the second most-used Pokémon. Its other form, Single Strike, was also a threat. This form was 12th in usage. Urshifu’s Unseen Fist ability is a key reason for its popularity. It lets Urshifu hit targets even if they use Protect. More players picked Rapid Strike Urshifu for their teams.
Looking Ahead
Even though the World Championships are over, Flutter Mane and Urshifu will keep leading in Regulation D. They will likely dominate the upcoming regionals next month. A possible format change in October might mix things up. But for now, Flutter Mane and Urshifu rule the meta.