All you need to know to start playing Pokemon Champions
Pokemon Champions is a new Pokemon title focused entirely on competitive battling. It is currently available on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, with a mobile version launching later in 2026. The game serves as the new home for competitive play and aims to lower the barrier to entry for new players. The primary in-game currency is VP, which can be earned through gameplay but cannot be purchased via microtransactions.
Recruitment and Pokemon Home
Since there is no traditional catching, players obtain Pokemon through recruitment or transfers. The recruitment pool offers 10 different Pokemon that refresh every 22 hours. These Pokemon come with pre-trained stats, though they are not always optimized. You can speed up the refresh timer using Quick Coupons or by paying 100 VP per hour skipped.
There are two ways to recruit from this pool. Trial Recruitment is free and lasts for 7 days, but the Pokemon cannot be retrained during this period. Permanent Recruitment costs 2500 VP or one Teammate Ticket, allowing you to keep the Pokemon forever and customize it. Recruited Pokemon can be shiny or have marks, which are indicated by a special animation in the lineup.
The most efficient way to build a roster is via Pokemon Home. Transferring Pokemon from Home costs no VP and preserves moves, abilities, and training. These Pokemon technically remain in Home but are locked while visiting Champions. Changes made to a Pokemon within Champions do not affect the original version in Home. Box space is limited to 30 slots for free players, 80 for Starter Pack owners, and 1,000 for members.
Training and Customization
Training in Pokemon Champions is different from previous games. Adjusting stats is inexpensive, costing 5 VP per point (330 VP for a full build). However, changing moves is the most expensive aspect at 250 VP per move. Natures and abilities can be changed for 500 VP each.
Replica Teams have replaced the old Rental Team system. Unlike previous games where you could use a team instantly with a code, a Replica Team requires you to already own the six Pokemon and necessary items. Once you have them, you can match the team's exact stats and moves with a single button press, though it still consumes your resources.
Earning Rewards and Missions
Players receive 500 VP and 24 Quick Coupons daily by logging in, recruiting one Pokemon, and completing one ranked battle. Weekly missions provide additional currency for completing objectives like using specific move types or landing critical hits. Starter missions help new players earn rewards for reaching basic milestones like ranking up or changing outfits.
Battle Modes
Ranked Battles: The primary mode where players earn VP and climb the ladder from Pokeball tier to the new Champion tier (above Master Ball). Each tier has four stages. Casual Battles: Identical to ranked but with no ladder progression or VP rewards. Private Battles: Used for playing against friends in preferred formats. Online Competitions: Periodic ladder-style events similar to Grand Challenges.
Battles can be Singles (3v3) or Doubles (4v4), which is the official competitive format. There is currently no 6v6 single battle mode available.
Items and Shops
All items are bought with VP. Held items generally cost between 700 and 1,000 VP, while Mega Stones are 2,000 VP. Essential berries cost 400 VP. The shop also sells cosmetics, throwing styles, and battle music from previous mainline games for 5,000 VP. At launch, the item pool is smaller than in past games, missing staples like the Assault Vest and Choice Band.
Monetization Packages
Starter Pack ($6.99): A one-time purchase including 50 Training Tickets, 30 Teammate Tickets, 50 extra box spaces, and exclusive music. Battle Pass ($9.99): A seasonal pass where players earn Season Points (SP) to unlock Mega Stones, tickets, and Pokemon. Membership ($4.99/month or $49.99/year): Provides 1,000 extra box spaces, 15 battle team slots, and exclusive missions and music.
Current Competitive Rules
The game is currently under Regulation M-A, which runs until June 16, 2026. This regulation features a specific list of permitted Pokemon and is unique due to the currently limited item pool. The following season, Regulation M-B, will be the format used for the 2026 World Championships.