Is Pokemon Champions For You? – Investment Policy

So, I’ve been playing Pokemon Pokopia for about a month now, and honestly, I’m already itching for something new. The next big games, Pokemon Winds and Pokemon Waves, aren’t coming out until 2027! Thankfully, Pokemon Champions just dropped on the Switch, which is awesome because it’ll also work on the Switch 2 when I finally get my hands on one. Plus, they’re planning a mobile version for sometime in 2026, which is great news for playing on the go!

Okay, so this isn’t your typical free-to-play Pokemon game – it actually has some interesting core gameplay stuff going on. But just because it’s free doesn’t mean everyone will love Pokemon Champions. Let me break down what the game is all about and who I think might really get into it.

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How Do Battles Work?

Getting Into The Meat Of The Game

If you enjoyed playing Pokemon Stadium on the Nintendo 64, you’ll likely feel comfortable with Pokemon Champions. The game doesn’t involve any open-world exploration; everything is done through menus. The core of the game is battling other players online, either in one-on-one or two-on-two matches.

As a fan, I’ve been checking out Pokemon Champions, and it’s really focused on battling other players online. In a one-on-one battle, you pick a team of three Pokemon, but in double battles, you get to choose four. What’s cool is you can see all six of your opponent’s Pokemon before the match, but you don’t know which three (or four) they’ll actually use, which keeps things interesting! There’s also a timer during battles, so you have to make quick decisions. Basically, if you’re looking for a Pokemon game centered around competitive online fights, this is it.

How Do You Get Pokemon?

Two Ways Of “Catching” Pokemon

At the beginning of the game, players select a starter Pokémon from a set introduced during the tutorial. Along with their chosen Pokémon, players automatically receive a backup team. Starter options might include Pokémon like Charizard or Lucario, with supporting Pokémon such as Gyarados and Froslass. From the main menu of Pokémon Champions, players can choose ‘Recruit’ to view a random selection of Pokémon. They can then rent these Pokémon for a week or purchase them permanently using VP, the game’s primary currency.

Players can bring Pokémon in from Pokémon Home, but not all Pokémon are compatible, and some players have reported losing Pokémon during the transfer process, making it a potentially risky option. Building a team in Pokémon Champions often feels a little bit random, whether you transfer, buy, or rent Pokémon. If you enjoy taking chances, this system might be for you.

Do Pokemon Level Up In Pokemon Champions?

Go Into Training Instead

Unlike the main Pokémon games, your Pokémon won’t gain levels during battles in Pokémon Champions. Instead, you’ll need to visit the Train menu on the game’s homepage to explore training options. However, even within that menu, you won’t be able to directly level up your Pokémon.

Players can adjust their Pokémon’s strengths and teach them new moves, letting them build a team with the abilities they prefer. For instance, a Squirtle might initially only know Water-type attacks, making it less versatile. While Pokémon don’t gain levels in Pokemon Champions, players can still truly own and customize them.

Pokemon Champions Has Character Customization

Do You Like To Dress Up?

For over ten years, players have expected to be able to customize their characters in Pokémon games. Even smaller games like Pokémon Pokopia and Pokémon Champions let you personalize your avatar – in Pokémon Champions, you can choose your character’s gender and then adjust things like hair and eyebrow color with a lot of different options.

You can change your character’s appearance at any time through the Style menu on the main screen. This is where you’ll find all the clothing and accessories you’ve unlocked or bought. The Shop, also on the main screen, offers even more options, which you can purchase using VP. If looking your best is important to you, Pokemon Champions has you covered – though it may cost a bit!

Earning VP And What It Is Used For

The Pokemon Economy

In Pokemon Champions, VP is the main currency we talked about earlier, but you can also find other one-time-use items, such as tickets that help you get rewards. You earn VP by playing matches and completing achievements. The game tracks your progress with stats, like how many battles you play each day. While achievements don’t always give you VP, any prize you receive is valuable.

In the game, players will use in-game currency (VP) to train and purchase Pokémon, as well as outfits for their character and items for their Pokémon to use in battle. These items can include powerful Mega Stones, which can significantly swing the outcome of a fight – almost like an instant win. Because Mega Stones are available for purchase, players should be aware that some may have an unfair advantage due to the game’s economy, a common feature in free-to-play games.

There Are Reasons To Log In Daily

The More You Play, The More You Get

Players who download Pokemon Champions on their Switch or Switch 2 should plan to play it every day. While playing a match daily is great, simply logging in each day will earn you rewards. The longer you keep playing consistently, the better those rewards will become, just like with other popular free-to-play games.

We don’t yet know exactly what rewards players will get for consistent play, but we’re basing this on how similar free-to-play games work. Starting to play a new game when it launches can be great, but it does require remembering to log in regularly – it’s not as simple as opening an app on your phone.

There Are Paid Options

What Does The Starter Pack Or Battle Pass Get You?

Pokemon Champions is a game you can start playing without spending any money, though there are a couple of ways to spend if you choose. You can buy a Starter Pack or sign up for a subscription. Both options give you access to special missions where you can earn extra rewards and in-game currency. Spending money can also give you more storage space for your Pokemon, but this isn’t essential to enjoy Pokemon Champions.

Similar to other Pokemon games, building a well-rounded team of six Pokemon is more valuable than having a large number of them. However, if you’re really dedicated to Pokemon Champions and want to earn extra rewards, a subscription might be worth considering.

Verdict

You May Want To Wait Or Skip If You Aren’t Into The PvP Scene

Pokemon Champions is specifically made for players who enjoy competitive Pokemon battles. It’s for those who love building strong teams and testing them online or at tournaments. If you prefer playing solo or don’t enjoy player-versus-player (PvP) battles, you might want to wait for a different Pokemon game, as this one doesn’t offer much for single-player fans.

Unlike some other Pokémon games, this one doesn’t include things like mini-games or taking care of Pokémon to build relationships. The focus is entirely on battling, and even that isn’t flawless – the developers are still fixing some issues with features like Pokémon Home. While the game isn’t unplayable, it’s clearly designed for a specific kind of Pokémon fan and won’t likely appeal to everyone.

2026-04-11 10:05