01What happened

The story, straight

The Pokémon Company is adding both Mega Raichu X and Y to Pokémon Champions when the new season launches alongside the mobile version on June 17. The X variant was featured in trailers but missing at launch, drawing player frustration. Every player can claim a free Raichu and both Raichunite X and Y stones through their in-game mailbox from June 17 through September 2, though only Kantonian Raichu can Mega Evolve — not the Alolan Electric/Psychic form. Because Champions restricts teams to one Pokémon per species, players must choose between the two Mega variants.

the pokémon company put mega raichu X in the champions trailers, shipped the game without it, and is now adding both X and Y forms tonight when the mobile version drops. every player gets a free raichu plus both raichunite stones via the mailbox starting june 17 through september 2. heads up: only kantonian raichu works, not alolan. and since champions limits you to one pokémon per species, you're picking one or the other.

02Spread timeline

Where it actually started

Jun 16, 2026Origin
Kotaku publishes breakdown of both Mega Raichu X and Y ahead of the season launch.kotaku drops the mega raichu breakdown before the season goes live
source
Jun 16, 2026
Gamer Geek News shares the Kotaku article via Mastodon feed.the article circulates on mastodon
source
Jun 17, 2026
New season launches with mobile version; both Mega Raichu stones available in mailbox.season goes live, both stones hit everyone's mailbox
source

03Source receipts

Every claim, linked

KotakuFull guide by Kenneth Shepard breaking down Mega Raichu X vs. Y stats, how to claim the free stones, and Kantonian-only restriction in Pokémon Champions
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MastodonGamer Geek News reshare of the Kotaku article with summary and source link
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04What's solid, what isn't

What's solid and what isn't

Confirmed
  • Both Mega Raichu X and Y are being added to Pokémon Champions on June 17.
  • Every player receives a free Raichu and both Raichunite stones via in-game mailbox.
  • Only Kantonian Raichu can use the Mega Stones — Alolan Raichu is excluded.
  • Champions restricts teams to one Pokémon per species, so players must choose one variant.
Disputed
  • The exact stat differences between Mega Raichu X and Y (article body is truncated in the source).

05Why it matters

The editorial take

The rollout resolves a notable launch omission — Mega Raichu X was heavily marketed but absent from the game. Making both stones free to all players ensures the competitive meta isn't paywalled behind which variant you pulled, a point of friction in other Pokémon battle sims.

trailer bait-and-switch resolved for free. the real question is which mega raichu becomes the meta pick — and whether kantonian raichu stock finally goes up over alolan.