Honestly, if you're still looking at a Pokemon Masters EX tier list from six months ago, you’re basically playing a different game. The meta in early 2026 has shifted so aggressively that some of our old "must-haves" are currently gathering dust in the Daycare. It’s kinda wild. Remember when just having a strong striker was enough? Now, if your team doesn't have a specific Arc Suit or a Master Fair unit that manipulates the new status breaks, you're going to have a rough time in the Ultimate Battles.
The power creep is real. But it's not just about bigger numbers. It’s about how many "roles" a single pair can compress into one slot.
The God Tier: The Units That Broke the Game
Right now, if you aren't rerolling for or saving every single gem for Arc Suit Cynthia & Garchomp or Arc Suit Steven & Metagross, you're making a mistake. These aren't just "strong" pairs; they are fundamentally broken.
Arc Suit Cynthia basically rewrote the book on Ground-type damage. She doesn't just hit hard; she sets the Ground Zone and provides sustain that makes her nearly unkillable in the Champion Stadium. Then you’ve got Arc Suit Steven. He’s the ultimate "glue" unit. He buffs, he tanks, and he ensures your physical attackers never miss a crit. If a unit is in Tier 0 right now, it’s because they don't need a team to win—they are the team.
- Arc Suit Cynthia & Garchomp: The undisputed queen of Ground-types.
- Arc Suit Steven & Metagross: The best support in the history of the game. Period.
- Neo Champion Blue & Zapdos: Even in 2026, his ability to paralyze, heal, and buff remains top-tier.
- Sygna Suit Red (Thunderbolt) & Pikachu: Still the king of Electric terrain and off-type clearing.
The Rise of the Support Meta
You've probably noticed that the top of every Pokemon Masters EX tier list is increasingly crowded with Support units. There’s a reason for that. Striking is the easy part. Survival and gauge management? That’s where most players fail.
New Year's Lana & Drampa (Dragon) have recently become a massive deal. Why? Because Dragon-type content has traditionally been dominated by glass cannons. Lana provides the "Dragon Zone" support that actually lets your strikers stay on the field long enough to use a sync move.
🔗 Read more: Tempest Rising: Deluxe Edition and the Return of the Classic RTS Grime
Then we have the weird stuff. Sygna Suit Ball Guy & Hisuian Electrode. Yeah, it sounds like a joke. But his ability to set EX Grassy Terrain and then basically "explode" to give your team a massive sync countdown reduction is a legit strategy for speed-clearing some of the hardest content in the game. It’s goofy, but it works.
Strikers: Do They Even Matter Anymore?
Okay, they matter, but they are replaceable. If you have Anniversary 2025 Red & Charizard (the Dragon Tera version), you basically have a delete button for any stage. But if you missed him, you can usually piece together a win with a Tier 1 striker and the right supports.
The big shift lately is the Tera mechanic and Status Move Breaks.
🔗 Read more: Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle: Why This Weird Crossover Is Actually a Strategy Masterpiece
Units like Irida (Anniversary 2025) & Typhlosion and Gloria (Anniversary 2025) & Cinderace use the Tera feature to change their type mid-battle, which is a literal lifesaver in the high-tier Gauntlet runs. If your striker can't adapt to the opponent's changing weaknesses, they're sliding down the tier list fast.
Why Your Favorite Pair is Probably B-Tier
It hurts to say, but many of the "classic" Sygna Suit pairs have fallen off. Sygna Suit Red & Charizard (the original) is still okay for most story content, but in the current meta? He’s slow. He needs too much setup.
The game now rewards "compression." A B-Tier unit does one thing well. An S-Tier unit sets weather, buffs the entire team's speed, lowers the enemy's special defense, and hits like a truck. If your favorite pair requires two other specific units just to function, they aren't top-tier anymore. Sorta sad, but that's gacha life.
How to Actually Use a Tier List Without Getting Fooled
Don't just look at the shiny S+ rank and cry because you don't have the gems. Use the list to find synergy.
If you have a top-tier striker like Sygna Suit Serena & Zygarde, you don't need another striker. You need a "Zone" setter. Look for units in the A or B tiers that specifically enable your S-tier carry. Hassel & Baxcalibur might not be the highest-ranked damage dealer, but his ability to set Dragon Zone makes him more valuable than a second "strong" striker.
- Check the Role: Do you have at least one Tier 0 or Tier 1 Support? If not, stop pulling for Strikers.
- Type Coverage: You don't need five S-tier Fire pairs. You need one for each type.
- The "Wait and See" Rule: Never pull on the first day of a banner. Wait for the math nerds on Reddit to calculate the "nuke" potential.
Actionable Steps for Your Roster
Stop spending your gems on "Variety" scouts unless you’re a whale. They are almost never worth it. Instead, focus on the Master Fairs and the new Arc Suit banners. These have a 1% pull rate for the featured pair, but the overall 5-star rate is usually higher, helping you fill out your general pool.
🔗 Read more: Poco Heart of the Night: Why This Mobile Classic Still Hits Different
Next, look at your Move Candies. Don't waste them on units that are "fine" at 1/5. Save them for the Master Pairs that unlock their "broken" passives at 3/5. For example, Arc Suit Steven is great at 1/5, but at 3/5, he becomes a literal god.
Lastly, actually play the Legendary Gauntlet. It’s the best way to test if your "tier list" is actually working. If you can't clear at least 10-12 rounds, your roster balance is off, regardless of how many S-tier units you own.
Go check your current roster. If you’re missing a "Zone" or "Terrain" setter for your main team, that’s your next priority. Forget the hype—pull for the utility.