One unexpected pokemon suddenly sets a new record in 2026

2026 is already poised to be a big year for the company Pokemon series. Not only is it the franchise's 30th anniversary, but all signs point to that Pokemon Gen 10 is finally coming out this year. The new year is just beginning, but one Pokemon already kicked off a watershed moment in franchise history by setting a new streak record, albeit in an unconventional way.

Alongside the rumored Gen 10 release, reportedly titled Pokemon wind and wavesthe series is also set to release a brand new spin-off in the form of Pokemon Pokopia. If this cozy life sim isn't enough Pokemon fans in 2026, we will also see a release this year Pokemon Champions as a new battle simulator available for Nintendo Switch, Switch 2 and mobile devices. While more about the series' plans for 2026 will likely be revealed in the coming months, it's the Hisuian Electrode that stole the spotlight earlier in the year for its role in achieving the first series.

Hisuian Electrode breaks mainstream Pokemon lore and kicks off the year 2026

Mobile spin-off game Pokemon Masters EX is home to some of the most unconventional trends in the franchise. As a mobile gacha game, Pokemon Masters EX pairs iconic characters from across the series with partner Pokémon that players can recruit as a sync pair to use in battle. In a break from the franchise's traditional battles, Pokemon Masters EX All battles are 3v3 and allow the use of exclusive Buddy Moves, giving the game a different feel from the rest of the franchise and creating an opportunity to break with the traditions found in the core series.

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Sygna Suit Ball Guy and Hisuian Electrode join Pokemon Masters EX

Synchronize the pair	Role	Type	Role EX
Sygna Suit Ball Guy & Hisuian Electrode	Field	Grass	Sprint
Ropes and shiny Dondozo	Support	Dragon	Field

Source PokemonThe record event in 2026 comes from Pokemon Masters EX and new addition Sygna Suit Ball Guy and Hisuian Electrode as a sync pair added on January 1st for the Fishing Up and New Year event, which also includes Lana and Shiny Dondozo as potential banner pullers. Ball Guy was a recruitable character Pokemon Masters EX in the past sports partners of Amoonguss and Voltorb before. However, Sygna Suit Ball Guy Hisuian Electrode's partner has the ability to do something mon has never been able to do before.

Lt. Surge was available with Electrode as a sync pair Pokemon Masters EX before, but this is the first time the Hisuian Electrode has been made available.

Hisuian Electrode marks the first instance of a pokemon introduced after Sword and Shield was Dynamax capable

What makes this Hisuian Electrode so special is its Dynamax ability during battle. Dynamax mechanics were introduced in Gen 8 Pokemon Sword and Shieldand is a phenomenon canonically exclusive to the Galar Region thanks to the Power Spots that appeared after the defeat of Eternat during the Darkest Day thousands of years ago. As such, only Pokemon are available Sword and shield they are capable of Dynamax in the base series, with no pets introduced to Hisuian Electrode after those games.

A bunch of wild Pokemon in the first area of the game - Pokemon Legends Arceus

Despite being canonically available from the 150 year old setting Pokemon Legends: ArceusHisui Region, the Hisuian Electrode game in which she debuted, was released afterwards Sword and shieldafter removing the Dynamax mechanic from the main games. As such, Hisuian Electrode breaks the tradition of new mons lacking the Dynamax ability by being the first post-Sword and shield Pokemon have this ability.

Although Duraludon was introduced in Sword and shield and has the Dynamax ability, its evolution, Archaludon, introduced in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Indigo Disk DLC, cannot Dynamax.

Hisuian Electrode is the 4th instance of a Pokémon that is not available in Sword and Shield and has the Dynamax ability

Breloom
Eelektross
Camerupt
Hisuian electrode

Although Hisuian Electrode is the first pokemon released after that Sword and shield gain the Dynamax ability through Pokemon Masters EXthree other mons that were not available in Sword and shield they got access to the mechanic in the mobile spin-off as well. Breloom and his Sync Partner Greta were the first to debut an unobtainable Pokémon Sword and shield with Dynamax capability as early as July 2024. In November of that year, the Sygna Suit Emmet and Eelektross were released, with this Eelektross being the first of its kind with Dynamax capability. Most recently, Academy Kabu and Camerupt with Dynamax ability were released in November 2025.

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Hisuian Electrode Sygna Suit Ball Guy made history as the first post-Sword and shield animal to gain the Dynamax ability, the door was wide open for other newer mons to follow. While nature Pokemon Masters EX fits well with these types of tradition breaks, upcoming release Pokemon Champions could give Dynamax more mons power. The game is already confirmed to include both Mega Evolution and Terastalization, two other battle tricks like Dynamax, so it's likely that Dynamax, Gigantamax and Z-Moves will also return. For now, Hisuian Electrode shines as an unlikely moon to break the series' first tradition in 2026, more likely to come as the franchise's 30th anniversary approaches.