A significant bug has emerged in Pokémon Champions, allowing the Fire/Dark-type Pokémon Incineroar to exploit its abilities in unintended ways. The issue centers around Incineroar's signature move, Parting Shot, which normally allows the Pokémon to switch out of battle while lowering the opponent's attack and special attack stats. However, a glitch permits players to have Incineroar use Parting Shot and then immediately re-enter the battle, effectively creating a loop.
This exploit is particularly potent due to Incineroar's Intimidate ability, which lowers the opponent's attack stat whenever Incineroar switches into play. By chaining Parting Shot with the subsequent re-entry, Incineroar can potentially trigger Intimidate up to three times within a single turn. This allows players to drastically reduce an opponent's offensive capabilities before the opponent can even make a move. Normally, pivot moves like Parting Shot are designed to allow a Pokémon to retreat to safety while enabling a strategic switch-in, but this bug circumvents that intended mechanic.
Incineroar is already a highly regarded Pokémon in the competitive scene due to its disruptive support moves and its ability to weaken opponents. The Intimidate ability alone is considered one of the most powerful in the game, giving players an immediate advantage. This bug amplifies that advantage exponentially, potentially creating an insurmountable lead early in a match. Players who frequently face Incineroar may consider using Pokémon with abilities like Mirror Armor, which reflects stat debuffs back to the user, as a countermeasure against this specific exploit.
The bug was reportedly reproducible even after a maintenance period on July 8, 2026, suggesting it is a persistent issue that may require a dedicated patch to resolve. The competitive integrity of Pokémon Champions could be significantly impacted if this glitch remains unaddressed, as it allows for an unfair advantage that goes against the strategic depth of the game.