Pokémon Champions Faces a Rocky Launch
Like many live-service titles before it, the launch of Pokémon Champions has been a bit rocky. This free-to-start battle simulator, available now on Switch and Switch 2 (with a mobile version on the way), is riddled with bugs that disrupt essential battle mechanics — not ideal for a game centered around combat. Fortunately, some of these issues are already being addressed. However, Champions faces a more significant challenge: in its quest to cater to a wide range of players, it risks leaving everyone unsatisfied.
Following the release of Pokopia, a charming spinoff devoid of battles, Champions takes a starkly different approach. There’s no substantial single-player narrative; players simply collect Pokémon, assemble teams, and engage in battles against others. Aside from the thrill of climbing the ranks, battling primarily rewards you with in-game currency to acquire more Pokémon and items for continued combat. For those serious about competition, Champions is set to be featured in official tournaments, including this year’s World Championships.
In essence, Champions is designed for hardcore battle enthusiasts. As one of those enthusiasts, I’ve found enjoyment in the game despite its bugs — the competitive battles offer a consistently engaging challenge, and the core mechanics remain intact. However, Champions also introduces significant changes aimed at making battling more accessible, which creates a bit of tension.
Making the game more approachable isn’t inherently negative; competitive Pokémon battling has desperately needed it. The official competitive circuit, known as VGC, has long been notorious for its steep learning curve and high entry barriers. A decade ago, players would spend countless hours grinding to train a single Pokémon for a six-member VGC team. Thankfully, the VGC has evolved, thanks in part to a series of quality-of-life improvements that have streamlined the process of obtaining and training viable Pokémon.
Champions takes this a step further, allowing me to assemble my first functional team in mere minutes — a far cry from the painstaking team-building experiences I’ve had over the years in VGC. This efficiency is partly due to Champions clearly presenting previously hidden information, such as stat allocations during Pokémon training. This transparency is a significant enhancement that benefits both veterans and newcomers alike.
However, my ease in team-building stemmed from already having the necessary Pokémon at my disposal. With over 2,500 Pokémon stored in Pokémon Home, plus additional ones in Scarlet and Legends: Z-A, I had a wealth of options. The shiny Sylveon I caught in Scarlet three years ago was fully trained and ready to go; I simply transferred it to Pokémon Home and then to Champions.
For new players wanting to replicate my Sylveon’s training, they first need to acquire their own in Champions. This process isn’t straightforward. Players without a backlog of Pokémon in Pokémon Home must rely on the game’s gacha-style “recruit” feature, which offers a random selection of Pokémon from a larger pool, allowing them to choose one to add to their collection temporarily or permanently. Recruiting more than once a day requires in-game currency, as does permanently adding a Pokémon. Thus, players not only have to grind battles for currency but also depend on luck to obtain specific Pokémon like Sylveon.
This setup isn’t very welcoming for newcomers. While Champions tries to ease new players into the experience, some of its efforts fall short. For instance, the initial selection of held items lacks many crucial tools found in VGC, while including some that are practically useless. The absence of Throat Spray, which I typically equip on Sylveon to boost its damage after using Hyper Voice, is notable, especially when the item shop offers the Oran Berry — a weak healing item that no serious player would choose over the more effective Sitrus Berry. This oversight can hinder new VGC players, who might end up selecting ineffective items that put them at a disadvantage, and it’s equally frustrating for experienced players who come in with specific strategies only to find their preferred tools missing.
Making competitive Pokémon more accessible is beneficial for the game’s health and its expanding community, but only if Champions can achieve this without alienating its dedicated competitive players. Currently, the battle simulator finds itself in a precarious position, trying to balance the needs of both seasoned players and newcomers, and it’s falling short on both fronts. However, it’s not beyond hope. As a live-service game, there are plans for more items, Pokémon, and features in the future. Champions has the potential to significantly enhance the competitive scene, but its success will hinge on how well it navigates this balance moving forward.
