A dedicated Snow team usually stacks multiple Ice-type Pokémon, so it must cover their shared weaknesses while taking advantage of the snow’s Defense boost, reliable Blizzard, and Aurora Veil support.
Even without an Icy Rock, Pokémon Champions offers several options to bring out the best in your Ice-type Pokémon. This guide was made for Regulation M-A, and may require updates in future seasons.
1. What Snow Does in Pokémon Champions
Snowscape causes snow to blanket the battlefield for five turns. One unique move, Chilly Reception, does the same while also serving as a pivot. All Pokémon with the Snow Warning Ability instantly summon snow when sent out.
Slowking uses Chilly Reception to set up the snow in Pokémon Champions.
Snow modifies Ice-type bulk, move reliability, recovery, and a few weather-based attacks.
- Boosts the Defense of all Ice-type Pokémon by 50%
- Blizzard never misses (except through Protect or semi-invulnerable moves)
- Allows Aurora Veil to be used, cutting all incoming damage in half (in Single Battles) for five turns
- Changes Weather Ball’s Type to Ice and boosts its base Power to 100
- Synthesis, Morning Sun, and Moonlight restore one quarter of their users’ maximum HP instead of half
- Halves Solar Beam and Solar Blade’s damage
2. How Snow Fares Against Other Weather
Like all weather conditions, snow is subject to a concept called ‘weather wars‘. This occurs when two players with different weather teams constantly fight for control of the battlefield. Other weather conditions are dangerous because they remove snow, shutting off the team’s weather-dependent Defense boost, Blizzard accuracy, and Aurora Veil access.
Ninetales summons harsh sunlight with its Drought Ability in Pokémon Champions.
When facing another weather team, use Team Preview and switch your moves to make sure snow is the weather that stays active.
- Use Team Preview to determine if you are pitted against another weather team, then plan your strategy.
- If two Pokémon with different weather-setting Abilities are sent out simultaneously (i.e., the start of a battle), the one with the lower Speed immediately overrides the faster one.
- Mega Evolution occurs after switching. You can Mega Evolve Abomasnow in a turn you predict a weather-setter will be switched in to undo their effort.
3. All Snow Warning Setters
Snow Warning users are the most abundant of all weather setters available in Champions. Because five Pokémon have Snow Warning, choose the setter that best fits your team’s needs. Every option takes extra Stealth Rock damage, so bring a teammate that can remove entry hazards.
Mega Froslass conjures a snowstorm in Pokémon Champions.
3.1. Best Abomasnow Builds
Choose the Trick Room set for slow Singles teams, or the Aurora Veil set if you want early screen support in Doubles. No matter its build, it has a 4x weakness to Fire-type attacks. After Mega Evolving, the only weather-setter slower than Abomasnow is Torkoal.
- Stats: 90 HP / 92 Atk / 75 Def / 92 Sp. Atk / 85 Sp. Def / 60 Spe
- Mega Stats: 90 HP / 132 Atk / 105 Def / 132 Sp. Atk / 105 Sp. Def / 30 Spe
- Types: Grass / Ice
Mega Abomasnow smothers its opponents with Blizzard in Pokémon Champions.
Mega Abomasnow Trick Room Attacker for Singles
Mega Abomasnow wreaks havoc with a movepool that hits 10 out of 18 Types super-effectively while Trick Room is in effect.
- SP Allocation: 32 HP, 32 Atk, 1 Def, 1 Sp. Def
- Nature: Brave
- Held Item: Abomasite
- Moves: Wood Hammer, Ice Hammer, Earthquake, Ice Shard
- Strategy: Switch in after Trick Room, Mega Evolve, then use Wood Hammer or Ice Hammer on neutral targets and Earthquake on Fire- and Steel-types.
Mega Abomasnow Aurora Veil Support for Doubles
Mega Abomasnow sets up Aurora Veil to reduce all incoming damage by roughly 33% for five turns.
- SP Allocation: 32 HP, 32 Sp. Atk, 1 Def, 1 Sp. Def
- Nature: Modest
- Held Item: Abomasite
- Moves: Aurora Veil, Blizzard, Leaf Storm, Protect
- Strategy: Lead with Protect against Fake Out. Mega Evolve next turn, set Aurora Veil, then spam Blizzard. Use Leaf Storm only for single-target pressure before switching out.
3.2. Best Aurorus Builds
How you use Aurorus depends on whether you need Refrigerate or Snow Warning more. If you already have enough snow setters, Refrigerate turns its Normal-type moves into Ice-type with a 20% buff. Either way, it has a 4x weakness to Fighting and Steel-type attacks.
- Stats: 123 HP / 77 Atk / 72 Def / 99 Sp. Atk / 92 Sp. Def / 58 Spe
- Types: Rock / Ice
The dust has yet to settle after Aurorus finishes Dragonite off in Pokémon Champions.
Aurorus Stealth Rock Support for Singles
Aurorus has too many weaknesses to function as a true wall, but Snow Warning boosts its Defense enough for it to support teams.
- SP Allocation: 32 Def, 31 HP, 3 Sp. Def
- Nature: Bold
- Held Item: Chople Berry
- Moves: Stealth Rock, Thunder Wave, Aurora Veil, Freeze-Dry
- Strategy: Set Aurora Veil first. Switch out as soon as a Steel-type threat appears. Use Stealth Rock or Thunder Wave next, and save Freeze-Dry for Water- or Flying-type targets.
Aurorus Choice Scarf Attacker for Doubles
Aurorus achieves a respectable 181 Speed with a Choice Scarf, letting it fire deceptively strong Refrigerate-boosted attacks.
- SP Allocation: 32 Sp. Atk, 32 Spe, 2 Def
- Nature: Timid
- Held Item: Choice Scarf
- Moves: Hyper Voice, Ancient Power, Earth Power, Hyper Beam
- Strategy: Use Hyper Voice for spread damage. Use Ancient Power or Earth Power against Fire- and Steel-types. Use Hyper Beam only when you want maximum damage and can afford the recharge turn.
3.3. Best Mega Froslass Builds
Mega Froslass fits Snow teams because it combines top-tier Mega Evolution power with the fastest Aurora Veil setup in the game. Unfortunately, its base form has little competitive use. Opponents will easily anticipate it holding its Mega Stone.
- Stats: 70 HP / 80 Atk / 70 Def / 140 Sp. Atk / 100 Sp. Def / 109 Spe
- Types: Ice / Ghost
Froslass Mega Evolves in Pokémon Champions.
Mega Froslass Wallbreaker for Singles
Froslass’ Special Attack becomes massive after Mega Evolution, making it perfect as a wallbreaker.
- SP Allocation: 32 Sp. Atk, 32 Spe, 2 HP
- Nature: Timid
- Held Item: Froslassite
- Moves: Aurora Veil, Blizzard, Shadow Ball, Thunderbolt
- Strategy: Use Mega Froslass to set Aurora Veil early, then pressure the opponent with Blizzard or Shadow Ball depending on the matchup. Thunderbolt grants coverage against Water-types since it can’t learn Freeze-Dry, while Aurora Veil helps Froslass survive long enough to keep attacking.
Mega Froslass Aurora Veil Attacker for Doubles
This spread trades maximum Speed for HP investment, letting Froslass survive longer once Aurora Veil is active for it and its teammate.
- SP Allocation: 32 HP, 32 Sp. Atk, 2 Def
- Nature: Modest
- Held Item: Froslassite
- Moves: Aurora Veil, Blizzard, Shadow Ball, Protect
- Strategy: Since Froslass is immune to Fake Out, set up Aurora Veil immediately. Use whichever STAB attack is unresisted, occasionally shielding Froslass with Follow Me or Rage Powder.
3.4. Best Alolan Ninetales Builds
Alolan Ninetales is the fastest non-Mega Aurora Veil setter, making it the better choice when another Pokémon needs the Mega slot. Unfortunately, it has little else going for it. Regardless of its build, it has a 4x weakness to Steel-type attacks.
- Stats: 73 HP / 67 Atk / 75 Def / 81 Sp. Atk / 100 Sp. Def / 109 Spe
- Types: Ice / Fairy
Alolan Ninetales is sent out in Pokémon Champions.
Alolan Ninetales Aurora Veil Support for Singles
Alolan Ninetales is given just enough defensive bulk to guarantee it survives Mega Scizor’s Bullet Punch long enough to set up Aurora Veil in Single Battles.
- SP Allocation: 32 HP, 27 Spe, 7 Def
- Nature: Timid
- Held Item: Babiri Berry
- Moves: Aurora Veil, Blizzard, Moonblast, Encore
- Strategy: After setting up Aurora Veil, use either STAB attack to exploit a Type weakness or Encore to lock an opposing Pokémon into a setup move. If this is impossible, switch to an appropriate counter.
Alolan Ninetales Aurora Veil Attacker for Doubles
Alolan Ninetales focuses on offense after setting up Aurora Veil in Double Battles.
- SP Allocation: 32 Sp. Atk, 32 Spe, 1 HP, 1 Def
- Nature: Modest
- Held Item: Focus Sash
- Moves: Aurora Veil, Blizzard, Dazzling Gleam, Protect
- Strategy: Use Protect to avoid Fake Out, then set up Aurora Veil. Attack with Blizzard or Dazzling Gleam once screens are up. Make sure its partner can hit Fire and Steel-type Pokémon super-effectively.
3.5. Best Vanilluxe Builds
Vanilluxe has average stats across the board aside from its respectable Special Attack. It’s the only mono-Type Snow Warning user in Champions. Since Vanilluxe is seldom used competitively, it can be hard for opponents to predict its build.
- Stats: 71 HP / 95 Atk / 85 Def / 110 Sp. Atk / 95 Sp. Def / 79 Spe
- Type: Ice
Vanilluxe’s Snow Warning summons snow in Pokémon Champions.
Vanilluxe Mono-Ice Attacker for Singles
Maximized Speed is necessary to go before Mega Blastoise and Mega Feraligatr without a boost, which is easier to accomplish in Single Battles.
- SP Allocation: 32 Sp. Atk, 32 Spe, 2 Atk
- Nature: Naive
- Held Item: Never-Melt Ice
- Moves: Blizzard, Freeze-Dry, Ice Shard, Aurora Veil
- Strategy: Use Blizzard by default for maximum Ice-type damage. Use Freeze-Dry against Water-type Pokémon, and use Ice Shard to pick off weakened opponents regardless of Speed. Use Aurora Veil if pitted against anything that resists Ice-type attacks and switch out.
Vanilluxe Mono-Ice Attacker for Doubles
Unlike most Snow Warning builds, this one doesn’t use Aurora Veil because it focuses on offensive pressure in Double Battles.
- SP Allocation: 32 Sp. Atk, 32 Spe, 1 HP, 1 Def
- Nature: Modest
- Held Item: Focus Sash
- Moves: Blizzard, Freeze-Dry, Icy Wind, Protect
- Strategy: Use Blizzard for spread pressure, Icy Wind for Speed control, Freeze-Dry for Water-types, and Protect to preserve Focus Sash.
4. All Snow-Boosted Abilities
All Pokémon with a snow-related Ability are Ice-type (Castform becomes Ice-type), which limits Type diversity. Prioritize at least one non-Ice partner that covers Fire- and Steel-type pressure so these abilities can stay on the field longer.
Glaceon is sent out in Pokémon Champions.
Use Ice Body on support builds and Snow Cloak if your team can capitalize on evasion-based pressure.
| Ability | Effect | Compatible Pokémon |
|---|---|---|
| Forecast | The Pokémon’s Type becomes Ice. | Castform |
| Ice Body | 1/16 of the Pokémon’s maximum HP is restored at the end of every turn. | Avalugg (both forms), Glaceon, Glalie, Mr. Rime, Vanilluxe |
| Snow Cloak | Boosts the Pokémon’s evasiveness by 25%. | Beartic, Froslass, Glaceon, Mamoswine, Alolan Ninetales |
| Slush Rush | Doubles the Pokémon’s Speed stat. | Beartic |
5. Best Teammates for Snow Teams
Unlike hail from previous Pokémon generations, snow doesn’t hurt non-Ice-type Pokémon at the end of each turn. It’s much easier for teammates to cover each Ice-type weakness without the threat of residual damage.
Galarian Slowking can also use Chilly Reception in Pokémon Champions.
Treat these Pokémon as flexible switch-ins rather than fixed builds; pick the ones that best cover the Ice-type weaknesses your Snow core struggles with most.
| Teammate Options | Reasons |
|---|---|
| Slowking (both forms) | Access to Chilly Reception and Regenerator, resists Fighting-type attacks (Johtonian also resists Fire, Galarian has 4x resistance to Fighting) |
| Aegislash | Resists most Ice-type weaknesses, access to King’s Shield, effectively runs physical and special attacking builds |
| Starmie | Resists most Ice-type weaknesses, runs physical attacking builds with Mega Evolution, runs special attacking builds without it |
| Quaquaval | Resists most Ice-type weaknesses, hits all aforementioned Types super-effectively, Moxie boost with each KO |
| Hisuian Goodra | Resists most Ice-type weaknesses, incredible Special Defense, can use snow-boosted Weather Ball |
