Pokopia events take place pretty regularly in the adorable Pokemon life game, and they all offer some great, event-exclusive items and rewards, while others even let you invite new Pokemon to move in.

During both the More Spores for Hoppip and Sableye's Gem Hunt events, players were tasked with collecting items from Dream Islands to unlock new habitat items and invite these new Pokemon to stay forever. This time, though, Jirachi is asking for something a little different, so here's what you need to know about the Pokopia Jirachi event and how to get Shining Wish Notes.

Pokopia Jirachi event dates

The Wish Upon a Jirachi Pokopia event takes place between June 23 and July 8, 2026, when it will end at 5am local time. During the event, you can meet Jirachi and invite them to live in any of your towns.

To do so, you'll need to talk to Jirachi at the Withered Wasteland Pokemon Center, where they will ask you for some Shining Wish Notes.

• Jirachi Lamp - 1 Shining Wish Note
• Moon Clock - 1 Shining Wish Note
• Star Mat - 1 Shining Wish Note
• Star Wall Decoration - 1 Shining Wish Note
• Star Shaped Dresser - 1 Shining Wish Note
• Cloud Table - 1 Shining Wish Note
• Starry-Sky Bed - 1 Shining Wish Note
• Star Closet - 1 Shining Wish Note
• Telescope - 1 Shining Wish Note
• Cloud Cannon - 1 Shining Wish Note

As you can see from the list above, you can get every item available for just ten Shining Wish Notes, so it shouldn't take you too long to complete the Jirachi Pokopia event. What's more, you may already have a Telescope in your inventory, though it won't be the same pretty color as this one as standard.

If you want more of these items, you can keep complete as many favors as you have Pokemon throughout the week-long event.

Pokopia Jirachi habitat information

The items you need to create the Surrounded by Stars Jirachi habitat in Pokopia are:

• Star Closet
• Cloud table
• Starry-sky bed
• Jirachi Lamp

Place these items anyway you wish, as long as they are in a five-block area, and ensure that the lamp is powered on by inviting a Pokemon with the Generate ability to follow you to it. Once the lamp is powered, the habitat will activate.

However, you won't be able to invite Jirachi to move in until the event is over, as they'll be too busy trading in the Pokemon Center.

Be sure to check out our Pokopia Mystery Codes guide for other limited-time items.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

The first look at Aardman's upcoming Pokemon animated series is here.

At the Annecy Animation Film Festival over the weekend, Aardman chief creative director Sarah Cox and The Pokemon Company's director of original animation Phil Rynda took the stage and revealed the first real look at Pokemon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d & Pichu. The poster, which has since been posted on Twitter, gives us our first look at Sirfetch’d and Pichu. Check out the image below.

Despite Aardman teasing the show in 2025, this is the first time we have seen the characters in full. As reported by Variety, the duo also gave audience members a sneak peek at the show's first episode and a closer look at how Aardman brought Sirfetch’d and Pichu to life using claymation and cutting-edge special effects. The series, which is still in development, is expected to be released sometime in 2027.

"This project gives us a unique opportunity to tell stories from the point of view of Pokemon, made possible by Aardman’s extraordinary craft," said Rynda. Cox added, "Director Tom Parkinson and his team have created a hand-crafted spin on the wonderful Pokémon we all know and love, with comedic storytelling that celebrates the quirks, eccentricities, and charms of our heroes as they explore Galar on a delightfully offbeat Quest."

However, the most interesting detail is that the series will be set in Pokémon’s Galar region, which shares many similarities with the UK, where Aardman is based. The panel also revealed that the Pokémon show will adapt the same British sense of humor as Aardman's other works, such as Wallace and Gromit and Chicken Run, with Gromit's 'signature move' even incorporated.

From the official synopsis, it sounds as though the series will take a page from The Lord of the Rings, as both Sirfetch’d and Pichu are notably small Pokémon, but they are mighty. The synopsis reads, "Our heroes embark on a gallant quest to help and protect Pokémon across the region. Their missions rarely go as planned, but their noble deeds forge their friendship as they step bravely into the unknown. Peril, alliances, rivalries, extraordinary Pokémon, and endless laughs await them."

For more, check out our guide on how to watch Pokémon movies and shows in order, and keep up with new anime shows heading your way.

If you have a nagging feeling that the Pokemon card hobby isn't what it used to be, you're not alone – fans are letting their frustrations out at the prevalence of grading culture. The general consensus? It really, really sucks.

I spend a lot of my time reporting on the best card games, and I'm seeing this take crop up more each month. In a reddit thread with 3K upvotes so far, that feeling has boiled over. "Are there still collectors out there who just buy cards because they like them?" Poster deckdossier writes in a thread venting irritation at those who are chasing the most valuable, highest-graded Pokemon cards. "Honestly, the market has become a lot less enjoyable because of this mindset."

Judging by the rest of the thread, this isn't an unpopular take. The top response (with 1.2K upvotes and counting) from SuchSoup4335 reads, "I never liked it, it feels like a huge detriment to the hobby." They're not alone in that assessment; a wealth of comments from the same thread share that sentiment.

I'd have to agree. I never want to yuk anyone's yum, but it feels as though those in deep with the grading game occupy a similar space to resellers (who are arguably ruining the hobby for everyone else – just look at how hard it is to buy Pokemon TCG Pitch Black for an example). In other words, they couldn't give a hoot about the hobby itself and are purely there for profit. It's aggressively transactional, which is off-putting for both newcomers and more established players alike. It's certainly not a pleasant atmosphere; it often feels more like the stock exchange than the easy-going retreat Pokemon should be. When everyone rolls their eyes at a new expansion with comments like "this would be great if I could actually find any cards in store," something's wrong.

Will this change as the 'craze' runs out of steam? I'd like to hope so, but it feels like a self-sustaining loop now. Grade-chasing isn't a new phenomenon, just like resellers aren't a modern blip. The wild popularity of Pokemon cards (along with nostalgia for the franchise) leads to high demand, and high demand leads to opportunities like this for those who just see dollar signs. While the Pokemon TCG remains as popular as it is, I don't see that changing.

Anyway, enough of my thoughts – what do you think? Let us know in the comments below.

For more tabletop, why not check out the best board games? You can also get your fill of Pokemon with the best Pokemon merch.

The Paradox Drive Espeon card in Pokemon TCG Pocket is incredibly good as a central pillar of various Sleep decks, used with Darkrai to knock foes out and then have them take continous chip damage in the early game. This deck is a modification of the continously powerful Altaria deck build, one that focuses less on Altaria dependence, but still keeps it in reserve. For more details, here's everything you need to know about the best Espeon deck in Pokemon TCGP.

For more deck builds, find out the best decks in Pokemon TCGP here!

Best Espeon deck build in Pokemon TCGP

Yet another variant of the Altaria deck, the addition of Espeon from Paradox Drive makes it all the more focused on the initial sleep.

• Darkrai (Mega Shine) x2
• Swablu (Sing Variant) x2
• Mega Altaria ex x1
• Igglybuff x2
• Eevee (Mega Rising) x2
• Espeon (Paradox Drive) x2
• Cyrus x1
• Copycat x1
• Lisia x2
• Area Zero x1
• X Speed x1
• Poke Ball x1
• Professor's Research x2

Energy: Psychic

Doubling down on the power of Sleep, Espeon's ability to put foes to sleep with a 1-energy attack means that you can potentially do 80 damage on your first turn (assuming that you also have both Darkrai cards out), as well as leaving them unable to react. That's a devastating opening play, and buys you plenty of time to set up Altaria before coming in with major damage later on.

We've reduced the number of Altaria cards on the board to 1, as Area Zero allows you to draw more frequently and the upped attack power in the early game balances it out.

• Pros
  • Incredibly powerful early game
  • Very good draw abilities
  • Altaria ex remains as powerful as ever
• Cons
  • Can be ruined by status immunity
  • Low health pools in many cards

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission

The Giratina ex deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket has been one of the standout templates since the card first debuted, with dozens of builds and angles to get the most out of the card. For a while Giratina was an almost mandatory card in PTCGP, in part because of its ability to generate its own energy without any input from the player, and while it's not quite as essential to the meta as it used to be, that doesn't mean it can't still hold its own. Here's the best Giratina ex deck build in Pokemon TCGP today, and what you need to know about running it when it comes to strategies, weaknesses, and more.

For more high level and meta-busting deck builds, check out our Pokemon TCG Pocket best decks list here!

Best Giratina ex deck build in Pokemon TCGP

This Giratina ex deck folds in Darkrai ex and Greninja, for a collection of some of PTCGP's most infamously powerful cards.

• Froakie (Mega Rising) x2
• Greninja (Genetic Apex) x2
• Iron Jugulis x2
• Darkrai ex x2
• Giratina ex x2
• Rare Candy x2
• Cyrus x1
• Giant Cape x1
• Area Zero x1
• Copycat x1
• Poke Ball x2
• Professor's Research x2

Energy: Dark

Arguably as much a Darkrai deck as a Giratina deck build, this one runs exclusively Dark energy because of Giratina's ability to empower itself. Meanwhile, Greninja's on the bench to target opponents with chip damage every turn, so while this is a deck with a weaker early game, cards like Darkrai and Iron Jugulis serve to whittle down the opponent and discourage them from really exploiting that early opportunity.

Given enough time, this deck can then come out swinging. Either Giratina is doing 130 damage per turn, or Darkrai is doing 80-100 damage depending on whether you keep putting energy on it. It's not quite as powerful as it used to be now that there's a greater selection of cards with equal (or more) power output, but it's still very strong and worth considering in the meta.

• Pros
  • Good at punishing opponents
  • Versatile strategies
  • Strong late game
• Cons
  • High energy dependence
  • Weak early game

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission

Iron Valiant and Iron Crown in Pokemon TCG Pocket are in many ways the only viable Future focused deck to emerge from the Paradox Drive booster set expansion. Like many deck builds, this is a modification of the Mega Altaria ex build, but this one focuses on a more directly damage focused early game and overt aggression with some of the advantages that come with the Future tag. If that sounds appealing to you, here's how to make the ideal Iron Valiant and Iron Crown deck build in Pokemon TCGP.

For more deck builds, find out the best decks in Pokemon TCGP here!

Best Iron Valiant and Iron Crown deck build in Pokemon TCGP

Taking advantage of the Future card mechanics, this modified Mega Altaria build focuses on a stronger earlier game.

• Mega Altaria ex x2
• Swablu (Mega Rising) x2
• Iron Valiant x2
• Iron Crown x2
• Sabrina x1
• Cyrus x1
• Copycat x2
• Peculiar Plaza x2
• Future Booster Energy Capsule x2
• Poke Ball x2
• Professor's Research x2

Energy: Psychic

The advantage this build has over the standard Altaria build that combines with Igglybuff is that it's a bit more flexible, if arguably slightly less effective than the Iggly/Darkrai combo at its peak. If you start with Crown in the active spot and Valiant on the bench, you can do real damage from turn 1, or just discourage the opponent from putting Pokemon down. Then, of course, it's simply a matter of holding out until Altaria can be ready to go for major damage.

• Pros
  • Strong early game
  • Flexible build and strategies
  • Good durability
• Cons
  • Requires a full hand to really make the most out of
  • No healing or status prevention

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission

The Suicune ex deck build in Pokemon TCG Pocket comes in many forms, but this one has been a staple since it debuted, as Suicune's scaling damage, ability to dissuade opponents from putting out Pokemon, and passive draw abilities make it one of the strongest openers in all of Pokemon TCGP. Here, combined with Baxcalibur for energy generation and Chien-Pao ex for bench targeting, the result is a very strong Water deck build that remains durable and versatile, and will probably hold to the PTCGP meta for a while.

For more deck builds, find out the best decks in Pokemon TCG Pocket here!

Best Suicune ex deck build in Pokemon TCGP

This Suicune deck teams up with Baxcalibur and Chien-Pao to target the opponent's bench with devastating effects, with a strong control focus to boot.

• Chien-Pao ex x1
• Suicune ex x2
• Frigibax x2
• Baxcalibur x2
• Giant Cape x1
• Cyrus x1
• Mars x1
• Pokemon Center Lady x1
• Rare Candy x2
• Inflatable Boat x1
• Copycat x1
• Starting Plains x1
• Poke Ball x2
• Professor's Research x2

Energy: Water

This deck build makes use of Chien-Pao's frankly terrifying ability to hit a benched Pokemon for 130 damage, at the cost of discarding all the energy on it. The set-up is relatively simple though: Suicune ex comes out first to help fill your hand and provide a strong opening, while you build up Baxcalibur on the bench. It then uses the Ice Maker ability to quickly provide Chien-Pao with energy once you bring it forward. If you like to gamble, try added Misty to this build for those quick energy summons.

• Pros
  • To do 130 damage to a benched target is terrifying
  • Suicune ex is a very strong opening play
  • Baxcalibur is a solid tank and incredible energy generator
• Cons
  • Chein-Pao's energy discard means it's hard to be continuously effective
  • Baxcalibur requires Stage 2 evolution
  • Suicune ex is always weakened by an empty bench

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission

Our electric Oricorio deck build in Pokemon TCG Pocket makes full use of the Pom-Pom variant's Safeguard ability, which renders it immune to Ex type Pokemon and thus some of the most powerful foes in the entire meta. Oricorio literally changed the whole meta of PTCGP when it first appeared, as otherwise it could disrupt whole decks and leave them ineffectual on its own. Below I'll lay out how to make the best possible Oricorio deck in Pokemon TCGP, which doubles as one of the most powerful electric type decks.

For more deck builds, find out the best decks in Pokemon TCG Pocket here!

Best Oricorio deck build in Pokemon TCGP

The Electric Oricorio has been a powerhouse since it debuted, as has various sorts of Magnezone. Both combine here for a strong deck build based around defensive immunity.

• Magneton (Genetic Apex) x2
• Oricorio (Electric/Pom-Pom Variant) x2
• Magnemite (Crimson Blaze) x2
• Magnezone (Crimson Blaze) x1
• Teal Mask Ogerpon ex x1
• Magnezone ex x1
• Giant Cape x1
• Cyrus x2
• Copycat x1
• Lisia x1
• Clemont x1
• Lucky Ice Pop x1
• Poke Ball x2
• Professor's Research x2

Energy: Electric

This deck build is all about leaving you as resilient to enemies as possible. Oricorio can't be hurt by ex Pokemon, Magnezone can negate half of all attacks that hit it, and Ogerpon provides the team immunity to all status effects, which is very valuable in the current meta that emphasizes sleep effects.

This is a deck that's pretty low on major hitters - the one exception being Magnezone ex - and is more about leaning on the defensive and reducing your foes' options. Play cleverly and use whatever strategies are available to limit your opponent, ensuring that all they can do is use the very systems that you're immune to.

• Pros
  • Oricorio can't be hurt by most of the game's most dangerous cards
  • Standard Magnezone's a strong mix of defense, offense, and energy efficiency
  • Ogerpon leaves you immune to the common Sleep meta
• Cons
  • No heavy hitters until the late game
  • Ogerpon has to take up the bench without serving a combat function

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission

The Mega Altaria ex deck build in Pokemon TCG Pocket has become a staple of the S-tier meta, and is easily one of the most powerful decks out there since it debuted in the Mega Rising expansion. It has all kinds of variations based around adding or subtracting certain cards, but ultimately a Stage 1 card capable of doing 130 damage on two energy is always going to be a powerhouse choice. Below I'll explain the best Mega Altaria ex deck built in PTCGP, how it works, and how you should be using it.

For more deck builds, find out the best decks in Pokemon TCGP here!

Best Mega Altaria ex deck build in Pokemon TCGP

Darkrai's power to drain sleeping opponents does passive damage until Altaria can come out and finish the fight.

• Darkrai (Mega Shine) x2
• Swablu (Mega Rising) x2
• Mega Altaria ex x2
• Igglybuff x2
• Leaf x1
• Rocky Helmet x1
• Cyrus x1
• Mars x2
• Copycat x1
• Lisia x1
• Training Area x1
• Poke Ball x2
• Professor's Research x2

Energy: Psychic

Darkrai might be Dark-type, but its energy needs are universal, so it can slot into this deck nicely. The goal here is simple enough: Use sleep effects from Swablu and Igglybuff to send foes to sleep and inflict chip damage through the Dark Dreams power, all while building up either to Mega Altaria or Darkrai itself. It's a very strong strategy, and we expect to see this build (or some variant of it) staying high in the meta for a while. There's already lots of Altaria builds that have emerged and this one remains the most universally powerful, but there are plenty of variants if you don't have all the cards above or just want to try something new.

• Pros
  • Strong early game
  • Flexible build and strategies
  • Good durability
• Cons
  • Requires a full hand to really make the most out of
  • No healing or status prevention
  • An empty bench leaves Altaria powerless

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission

Miraidon ex in Pokemon TCG Pocket is a powerful electric legendary Pokemon who's come out swinging as part of the meta in the Paradox Drive booster expansion, using Magneton and Magnezone as backups to hit the opponent as hard as possible and build a strong mid-game. Below I'll take you through how to make your own Miraidon ex deck, as well as how it operates in PTCGP and the strategy to apply with it.

For more deck builds, find out the best decks in Pokemon TCGP here!

Best Miriadon ex deck build in Pokemon TCGP

Miraidon's ability to drain energy and come out swinging for massive damage makes it unpredictably dangerous, especially when paired with energy generation.

• Magneton (Genetic Apex) x2
• Magnemite (Crimson Blaze) x2
• Magnezone (Crimson Blaze) x2
• Miraidon ex x2
• Cyrus x1
• Copycat x2
• Lisia x1
• Clemont x1
• Lucky Ice Pop x1
• Professor Turo x2
• Poke Ball x2
• Professor's Research x2

Energy: Electric

Magneton and Magnezone remain unshakeable in the meta for Electric decks, but now that generation pairs with Miraidon's ability to take energy from other Pokemon and immediately replace them in the active spot, with an attack that scales to how much energy it has on it. Meanwhile, Turo allows you to shuffle Miriadon back into your deck, stopping it from being KOd in a pinch and getting the chance to use its ability again later on.

There is some flexibility here in the build. You could lean into boosting Miraidon's low health with something like the Giant Cape, add Teal Mask Ogerpon for immunity to status effects, swap out Magnemite for a tougher variant if you find yourself getting hit too hard in the early game, or throw in the Electric Generator for increased energy output.

• Pros
  • Miriadon is a great, fast glass cannon
  • Turo gives you flexibility
  • Magnezone is a good damage/tank combo that can handle Oricorio
• Cons
  • Miraidon has pretty low health
  • Can be vulnerable in the early game
  • If you can't draw Magnemite, you're in trouble

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission

The Mega Blaziken ex deck build in Pokemon TCG Pocket is one of the simplest, strongest deck builds in the meta, as Blaziken is capable of doing massive fire damage and inflicting burns without much setup. The downside is that it discards an energy with every attack, but that's pretty easy to compensate for, as I'll reveal in our deck build below. Here's how to make the ultimate PTCGP Blaziken deck, and burn your way through your opponent's team in a fiery flash.

For more deck builds, find out the best decks in Pokemon TCG Pocket here!

Best Mega Blaziken ex deck build in Pokemon TCGP

This Mega Blaziken ex deck is all about hitting hard with fire damage, infused with Castform's early game strength.

• Torchic x2
• Mega Blaziken ex x2
• Castform (Sunny Form) x2
• Sabrina x1
• Cyrus x1
• Rare Candy x2
• Lillie x1
• Flame Patch x2
• Copycat x1
• Mesagoza x1
• Hiking Trail x1
• Poke Ball x2
• Professor's Research x2

Energy: Fire

Straightforward and to the point, this deck once featured Entei for quick card drawing, but that's been replaced with more powerful builds that allow you to impede your opponent's early game. Instead, you open with Castform for quick burns in the early stages, then use Mesagoza, Hiking Trail and Copycat to keep your hand full until you can get Blaziken on the field. Once Blaziken's out, you keep using Flame Patch to keep it energized until your opponent is taken down.

• Pros
  • Energy efficient in all respects
  • Strong glass cannon build
  • Burns whittle down foes rapidly
• Cons
  • You have to build up to a Stage 2
  • Castform isn't hugely tanky

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission

Mega Sceptile ex in Pokemon TCG Pocket is the centerpiece of one of the most powerful Grass type decks, capable of doing massive damage and inflicting Poison in a single attack. The downside is that it's burdened by an energy discard that makes sustained attacks expensive. Still, if you can make the best possible deck, Sceptile is very strong in the meta of best decks for Pokemon TCG Pocket, as I'll explain below.

For more ideas about how to make a powerful deck, check out the Pokemon TCG Pocket best decks list here!

Best Mega Sceptile ex deck build in Pokemon TCGP

Mega Sceptile ex basically serves as a Grass equivalent to the Mega Blaziken ex deck build, with similar attack and strategy.

• Pheremosa x2
• Nihilego x1
• Treecko x2
• Grovyle x1
• Mega Sceptile ex x2
• Erika x1
• Cyrus x1
• Rare Candy x2
• Poison Barb x2
• May x1
• Copycat x1
• Fragrant Forest x2
• Professor's Research x2

Energy: Grass

This is pretty straightforward: Pheromosa and Treecko buy time early on until you can have Mega Sceptile ex ready to do some significant damage and tear through as the heavy hitter of the deck later. Even before Sceptile is on the field, the inclusion of Poison Barb means that you can whittle down your opponents fairly significantly, or hold them back long enough to get Sceptile running without incident.

This is a deck with a pretty good draw power for Pokemon specifically, with cards like Fragrant Forest and May replacing the usual inclusion of Poke Balls. It's also a deck with a decent amount of survival built in, with Erika adding resistance to an already durable deck. You can swap cards like Erika and May out for Quick Grow Extract or Leaf Cape if you want to switch things up, or consider including the Memory Light tool card, as Grovyle's ability to attack the bench can be really effective in certain circumstances.

• Pros
  • Low energy requirements
  • Powerful poison use if done right
  • Good card draw options
• Cons
  • Dependant on Stage 2 evolution
  • Struggles against Poison-immune decks
  • Sceptile discards energy with every attack

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission

Mega Lucario ex and Lucario cards generally in Pokemon TCG Pocket have always led to powerful deck builds, and this particular style of fighting type deck is incredibly potent for raw damage in the early-to-mid game. Below I'll lay out how to make the ideal deck build for Mega Lucario ex, as well as what you need to know about strategy and play.

For more deck builds, find out the best decks in Pokemon TCG Pocket here!

Best Mega Lucario ex deck build in Pokemon TCGP

This Mega Lucario ex deck build in PTCGP is all about maximum damage as early as possible.

• Riolu (Space-Time Smackdown) x2
• Mega Lucario ex x2
• Hitmontop (Wisdom of Sea and Sky) x2
• Rocky Helmet x2
• Cyrus x1
• Pokemon Center Lady x1
• Copycat x2
• Korrina x1
• Arena of Antiquity x1
• X Speed x2
• Poke Ball x2
• Professor's Research x2

Energy: Fighting

This is a pretty straightforward deck wherein your cards build up early on and come out swinging, especially against ex Pokemon as there are multiple cards here that up your power against them. It's relatively straightforward as a strategy too: start with Hitmontop and use the cheap energy costs to start an immediately aggressive play, using the Rocky Helmets to dissuade opponents from attacking you back. Then, once Lucario is set up, bring it to the active spot and begin a series of heavy duty attacks that few opponents can withstand for long.

For clarity, Fighting Pulse, at full power with both Korrina and the Arena of Antiquity, can do an astonishing 190 damage to an opponent. Up to 210 if it's weak to Fighting attacks! That's enough damage to KO the vast majority of Pokemon in PTCGP in a single strike.

• Pros
  • High damage output, especially against ex Pokemon
  • Very strong early game
  • Very low retreat costs
• Cons
  • Not much durability
  • Predictable strategy
  • Struggles if you don't draw Lucario

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission

Our Mega Scizor ex deck builds for Pokemon TCG Pocket focuses on the exploits of low retreat costs to get the most out of its Bullet Slugger attack, having Scizor bungee in and out of the active zone to keep doing maximum damage on every attack. Below I'll take you through the best build and deck for Scizor in Pokemon TCGP, as well as what you need to know about its very specific strategy.

Our Pokemon TCG Pocket best decks tier list has plenty more options to pick from. Check it out to see all the meta-beating options there!

Best Mega Scizor ex deck build in Pokemon TCGP

This Mega Scizor ex deck uses Revravroom's free swap ability and some careful tools for the best impact.

• Varoom (Promo B or Shining Revelry) x2
• Revravroom (Mega Shine) x2
• Orthworm x1
• Scyther (Mega Shine) x2
• Mega Scizor ex x2
• Sabrina x1
• Cyrus x1
• Steel Apron x1
• Metal Core Barrier x2
• Copycat x2
• Poke Ball x2
• Professor's Research x2

Energy: Metal

The plan here is that you open with either Orthworm or Varoom if possible, quickly building up energy or setting up your board while putting energy on Scyther and Scizor on the bench. Then, once you're ready, Revravroom can freely swap Scizor in and out of the battlefield to keep making use of its Bullet Slugger attack with maximum damage. Tools like the Metal Core Barrier and the Steel Apron ensure a greater level of endurance than you'd normally get from a deck like this, while Sabrina and Cyrus give you a greater degree of control that allows you to target specific Pokemon.

If you want some ideas for variations, Skarmory is a good option to fold in for the early game, especially with the Tools involved. You can also add zero retreat costs energy generators like Pichu and Mantyke.

• Pros
  • Scizor can one-shot most targets
  • Orthworm and Varoom are strong early game cards
  • Good durability deck
• Cons
  • Scizor has somewhat high energy needs
  • If Scyther is KO'd, you've probably lost

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission

Mega Absol ex and Hydreigon in Pokemon TCG Pocket have been two of the most powerful Dark type cards in the meta since they were added, both for different reasons. Absol does moderate damage, but has a lot of health and causes opponents to discard Supporter cards with every attack, while Hydreigon is a self-damaging energy generator who can do 130 damage per turn, and it's not even an ex Pokemon! Between them they make up one of the most powerful decks in PTCGP, as I'll lay out below.

For more deck builds, find out the best decks in Pokemon TCG Pocket here!

Best Mega Absol ex and Hydreigon deck build in Pokemon TCGP

Several variants of the Mega Absol deck have been going around, but this variant is Hydreigon and a secondary poison effect.

• Mega Absol ex x1
• Nihilego x1
• Deino x2
• Hydreigon x2
• Cyrus x1
• Rare Candy x2
• Poison Barb x2
• Copycat x2
• Pokemon Center Lady x1
• Lucky Ice Pop x1
• Hiking Trail x1
• Poke Ball x2
• Professor's Research x2

Energy: Dark

This pure dark deck is highly aggressive, using cheap energy attacks and poison to go in hard from the outset, as well as using the Fantastical Parade's Lucky Ice Pop item to help alleviate the damage done to Hydreigon by itself, or just to keep Mega Absol from being KO'd and losing you the game. This is a deck where you can't let up on the offence for a moment, and it works because it can tear through opponent's strategies before they have a chance to set up combos or counters to what you're doing.

Put simply, the strategy is to get Absol or Deino out there early, softening up the opponent with whatever cards you have in the active zone before building up to Hydreigon and unleashing its full power. You don't even have to be particularly protective over it, as Hydreigon's absurd damage output somehow doesn't make it a Pokemon ex, so even if it falls you don't give your opponents many points.

• Pros
  • A strong early game
  • Good at disrupting opponents' strategies
  • Versatile with a decent draw rate
• Cons
  • Not hugely tanky, especially with Hydreigon's self destructive tendencies
  • Poison won't do much to survival-orientated decks or those with cheap retreats

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission

A Zoroark ex deck build in Pokemon TCG Pocket is a powerful Dark type deck that's all about rapidly setting up the early game in what's a general "good cards" build for all things Dark type, with cards like Absol and Nihilego backing up your strategy. Below I'll take you through how to make the best possible Zoroark deck in the current Pokemon TCGP meta, including strategy and pros and cons about how best to handle this sort of deck.

For more deck builds, find out the best decks in Pokemon TCG Pocket here!

Best Zoroark ex deck build in Pokemon TCGP

This Pulsing Aura Zoroark ex deck build is focused around generally powerful Dark types in PTCGP, and is composed of the following cards:

• Nihilego x1
• Absol (Wisdom of Sea and Sky) x1
• Mega Absol ex x1
• Zorua (Pulsing Aura) x2
• Zoroark ex x2
• Bombirdier x1
• Sabrina x1
• Cyrus x1
• Poison Barb x2
• Copycat x2
• Lucky Ice Pop x1
• Hiking Trial x1
• Poke Ball x2
• Professor's Research x2

Energy: Dark

This deck is an assortment of general "good card" Dark type Pokemon where Zoroark ex acts as your primary damage dealer from the early game, needing only one energy. Not only that, but Zorua's one attack is about instantly pulling it from the deck to evolve, setting you up from a very early phase to be ready for combat (though damage scales by how full your own bench is).

From that point on the strategy varies depending on what's available to you. This is a pretty flexible deck build, though one that lacks a decisive "heavy hitter" to win you the game. Generally you want to use regular Absol or Zoroa as your opening active card, while keeping Bombirdier and Nihilego on the bench where they're most effective. Poison chip damage from the Barb should whittle down opponents enough to finish them off with Absol ex or Zoroark, and the former's ability to get them to discard Supporter cards should ensure that they have less options than normal.

• Pros
  • Versatile options
  • Strong early game
  • Decent resistance and survival, in part due to a mix of weaknesses
• Cons
  • No major damage dealers
  • Weaker late game

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission

Mega Manectric ex in Pokemon TCG Pocket is the foundation of a very powerful early game electric deck, in which the lightning hound comes out swinging and only gets more powerful with successive victories. Those who run a Manectric deck build in PTCGP are running a glass cannon deck that's invested everything in damage output, but can't necessarily be relied upon for durability and survival. Still, it's a strong deck in any tournament, so here's how to make the best possible Mega Manectric ex deck build in Pokemon TCGP.

Want to know where this sits on our list of Pokemon TCG Pocket best decks? Check out the details at the link!

Best Mega Manectric ex deck build in Pokemon TCGP

The best Mega Manectric ex deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket is all about rapid energy generation and aggression.

• Electrike (Promo-B) x2
• Mega Manectric ex x2
• Zeraora x2
• Sabrina x1
• Cyrus x1
• Elemental Switch x1
• Rocky Helmet x2
• Pokemon Center Lady x1
• Electric Generator x1
• Copycat x2
• Training Area x1
• Poke Ball x2
• Professor's Research x2

Energy: Electric

This deck is a pretty straightforward one when it comes to strategy: rapid energy generation to push you into aggressive play as early as possible and before your opponent can really get a grounding. Zeraora's ability to create energy on itself can get you a good foothold, and Electric Generator and Elemental Switch let you create more energy and move it around. And with Manectric - your main source of damage - only being a Stage 1 that requires two energy to function, you can set up for significant damage before many decks have even got off the ground.

• Pros
  • Good energy generation and early game
  • Straightforward strategy
  • Zero retreat cost on Manectric
• Cons
  • Evolution dependant
  • Glass cannon build means low health pools
  • If Electrike is KO'd, you're finished

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission

Meowscarada ex in Pokemon TCG Pocket is focused on a grass deck that's all about sly control play and cheap energy costs, as well as some punishment against players who bring in certain common strategies. Meowscarada in all forms has been something of a troublemaker since it entered PTCGP, being generally unpredictable, and this deck build folds all the best elements of that so you can apply it to you advantage in Pokemon TCGP.

For more high level and meta-busting deck builds, check out our Pokemon TCG Pocket best decks list here!

Best Meowscarada ex deck build in Pokemon TCGP

The Meowscarada ex deck build is low cost and disruptive, keeping opponents on the back foot from an early stage. Here's how to make it:

• Sprigatito (Shining Revelry) x2
• Meowscarada (Shining Revelry) x1
• Teal Mask Ogerpon x1
• Floragato (Paldean Wonders) x1
• Meowscarada ex x2
• Erika x1
• Cyrus x1
• Rare Candy x2
• Leaf Cape x2
• May x1
• Copycat x1
• Lucky Ice Pop x1
• Fragrant Forest x2
• Professor's Research x2

Energy: Grass

This is a deck build in which your choice of Meowscarada (regular or ex variant) should differ depending on what your opponent is doing. One is capable of doing massive damage to the opponent's ex Pokemon, while the other can hit the enemy bench, after a small delay.

This is what makes this deck so disruptive, as Meowscarada ex is constantly forcing the opponent to switch around and stay agile or else potentially lose Pokemon on the bench. And at a one energy cost, it's a strong attack - but the problem is that its not always building to something. Tanky or versatile decks can be difficult for Meowscarada to deal with, though ultimately this is a build that can wreck any deck that's too inflexible or lacking in health.

• Pros
  • Good durability and survival
  • Low energy requirements
  • Good at disrupting common strategies
• Cons
  • Small amounts of Pokemon to work with
  • Low damage output and weak late game
  • Requires Stage 2 evolution

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission

I've been an on-and-off Pokemon card collector for 13 years now, and while I've always enjoyed the collection aspect, there's no doubt that the hobby has... shifted slightly in the last few years. However, with a new goal and mindset, I'm now having more fun with it than ever before, and I'm once again feeling the magic for one of the best card games after the prominence of resellers killed my enthusiasm.

In the Pokemon trading card game (TCG) space, it's a universal experience to want to collect the rarest cards – not much beats the thrill of seeing something cool and sparkly at the back of a pack – but since around 2020, for many people, it's become less about the cards, and more about their value. It's extremely rare we see new TCG sets release these days without being immediately resold to oblivion at launch and beyond, with folks buying as much stock as possible to either resell it sealed, or rip open the packs to resell the hits, all at ridiculously inflated prices. Look, I think Ascended Heroes's Mega Gengar secret illustration rare is as cool as the next person, but you can't tell me that a new card that's still being printed could possibly be truly worth over $3,000.

You now see this monetary-focused mentality in a lot of TCG content, even if it's not from resellers. There's nothing inherently sinister about it, but content creators listing the value of all the cards they pull drives the normalization of the idea that the potential resale value is the most important aspect of collecting, and more money equals a better pull.

I don't think there's anything particularly wrong with this if that's how you enjoy the hobby most, but for me, it's honestly sucked a lot of the joy out of it. I mean, for a start, the level of reselling means it's not all that often you even see packs in stores at regular prices, and as a casual collector, I'm definitely not about to start paying triple or more for them.

Beauty in bulk

Simply, I realized I'm not cut out for how many people seem to be engaging with TCG these days, so I needed to find a different way to enjoy the hobby. Well, what better way than appreciating my stacks of bulk?

Bulk – the common, non-hits that make up the majority of the cards you'll get in a pack – aren't usually worth much. They're the ones listed as being worth pennies on those aforementioned videos, and many hit-chasers skip over them entirely just to look at the last few cards to see if they got anything rare. Anyone who's opened packs over the years will inevitably have a lot, and looking at mine, a thought crossed my mind – how much of the complete Pokedex might I have collected over the years? How many more would I need to get to complete a full (and enormous) Pokedex binder?

I'm not the first to have this idea, of course, but as soon as I set about figuring out how many Pokemon I had, I was already looking at my collection in a whole new light. Obviously, there are multiple different cards for every Pokemon, but I decided it made sense to make my Dex as personal as possible by picking only my favourite artwork for each one. It makes for an eclectic mix of cards, and it's somewhat odd to see a common from Plasma Blast alongside one from Perfect Order, but that didn't matter – I was assembling a collage of favorites, built on years of love for the franchise.

As for what I had already, well, I'm certainly not close to done. While I have a significant amount of the Kanto, Hoenn, and Unova 'mons, overall I'm only around a third of the way there. But honestly? I'm glad this is the case.

That's because it's already affecting the way I think about my new cards as I open them. I recently did my first opening of the latest TCG set, Chaos Rising, and my new goal gave me a surprising chase card.

Stunky is one of my favorite Pokemon. I think real-life skunks are adorable, and as someone who grew up with Pokemon Pearl and Platinum, the existence of the little Diamond-exclusive Poison-type was flaunted in my face for years, despite me never being able to use one. I was thrilled to finally play Diamond in my adulthood and put a Stunky on my team, and I've had a soft spot for it ever since.

A new goal

Alas, there are not many Stunky cards. Up to now, nine existed, and none from sets I'd opened. But looking through the card list for Chaos Rising, I saw something – my beloved skunk was a common card, and not only that, this one had the cutest art out of all the previous Stunky cards that have ever existed.

Needless to say, I had a goal. Looking at the illustration and secret illustration rares in the set, I was also eyeing up the adorable Cinccino SIR, but Stunky had to come home, and nothing else mattered.

Over the course of 17 packs, I was lucky enough to open a gorgeous Crobat illustration rare, as well as an ultra rare Mega Floette ex, but it was only in the last three packs that it finally happened. There it was, the common Stunky – immediately followed by an uncommon Skuntank to complete the evolutionary line. It was like it was meant to be, and I can honestly say that those two cards sparked way more joy than any of the objectively rarer hits I pulled during the course of the opening.

Although Stunky was a highlight, it was a joy for every pack to see what new Pokemon I could add to my physical dex, and it once again makes me glad that I still have so many missing. It'd be easy to get carried away and commit to buying all the missing cards I need right now, but I've decided I want this to be a long-term project. I can't imagine how long it's going to take, but I'm looking forward to slowly building it up each time I get my hands on new packs, something I suspect I'm probably more likely to do more often now that I'm not chasing the unlikely hits alongside everyone else. My chase cards now just got weirder, and I can't wait to find out who my next underrated hit is.

For suggestions of what to play next, why not check out the best board games or the best tabletop RPGs?

As a kid, there were few job titles more appealing than ‘Pokemon Trainer’. Thanks to Pikachu and pals, tufts of tall grass quickly became an all-consuming obsession for me in the ‘90s. Whether roaming the Essex countryside on family walks, or peering wistfully out of car windows, my synapses sparked with imagination whenever I saw flashes of foliage, picturing weird and wonderful creatures scuttling just out of sight. Yet, while I partially lived out that fantasy by battling monsters on my monochromatic Game Boy screen, I still secretly dreamed of one day befriending my very own Pokémon.

25 years later, Lego has made my childhood wish come true. Unlike the purely collectible adult-focused recent Kanto models (one of which made its way onto our list of the best Lego sets overall), the next wave of brick-tastic Pokémon sees the cutesy creatures roaring to life. Infused with Lego’s new Smart Brick, slotting one of the tech-stuffed bricks inside your chosen ‘mon - one of 19 - suddenly turns these static toys into gurgling creatures. As Pikachu greets me with an enthusiastic ‘Pika!’ before chowing down on a berry-shaped brick I place in front of him, it elicits an immediate grin from this grumpy 35 year old.

When it was first unveiled in January, I struggled to understand what a Smart Brick actually did. It turns out, this shiny tech transforms your grandad’s Lego brick into a toy that detects motion, has flashing LEDs, and a speaker. Part Buzz Lightyear, part Tamagotchi, these build-able buddies respond whether you rub their belly or decide to train them for battle. However, I quickly discovered that Pikachu wasn’t mine to rope into adventures just yet - I’d have to catch him. After chucking a tiny lego Pokéball at a target built into the playset - hidden behind lego-made tall grass, of course - my yellow friend was ready to journey alongside me. Yet I’m surprised to learn that initially, forming this kind of bond with your Legomon wasn’t actually on the cards - until some kids steered Lego’s designers in the right direction.

“We spent a lot of time with children…they come in for play tests… and they give us input and feedback,” explains Siddharth Muthyala, Lego Pokémon designer, “The biggest thing they've been telling us about is about the Pokémon trainer journey, they want to catch Pokémon, they want to nurture them, train them, battle them. That's something we've heard over and over again. ”

Each Smart Brick recognises the individual Pokémon you've connected it to, embodying their unique personality. When you move Charizard through the air he soars with an authentic ‘wooshing’ sound. Place three Pokémon next to each other and they all begin to chat, vocalising enthusiastically in grin-inducing Poké gibberish. You can feed them either berries or sandwiches, with each ‘mon having their own meal time preferences. Place a Pokémon on their side and they even begin to snore in their own specific way. It’s a surprisingly fun magic trick,.

Still, this is Pokémon after all - and it wasn’t long before these creatures were made to do battle. Once you’ve got your new bricky buddy on side, you can have them hit a target built into the background of the Lego environment that comes with your chosen ‘mon, and their stats will slowly increase, making them stronger for their next battle.

Despite clearly being made for children, I’m surprised to learn that they’ve also catered to the Pokemon nerds out there. Each Pokémon’s stats are based on the video games, with Pokedex-accurate numbers powering their Lego counterparts, even using Type weaknesses to determine attack damage. I’m told that initially, each Pokémon’s digital criteria were far more basic, with this extra depth coming - once again - as a request from young trainers.

“We noticed the kids actually being very, very knowledgeable about the stats,” explains Mike Anderson, smart brick interaction design lead. “They had this social currency system going of 'I know a tonne about this, and I'm gonna tell you everything I know,' and that was really cool! So, we wanted to build that in. I would say it's not 100% one to one with the Pokédex, but we are very inspired by it and the video games.”

As my bricky ‘mon roars to life powered by a microchip, I can’t help but be reminded of yet another sacred artifact of my ‘90s childhood - Small Soldiers. Yet mercifully when Lego’s tech-powered toys do battle, nothing around me erupts into flames. Battling with these Lego ‘mon is simple, but super effective. To trigger a Pokémon battle, trainers need to shake two Smart Brick-powered Pokémon next to each other, and the classic Pokémon battle sound indicates the fight’s begun.

Players can then take on their foe with a fast attack or a charged attack (triggered by a small or large wobble) and then you can dodge and defend by pulling your ‘mon out of the reach of your foes’ attacks. Pokémon's strengths are derived from their stats in the games - meaning that if you have a Mewtwo you’re likely to wipe the floor with Pikachu. The exception is if players have trained the mon, with type weaknesses also being taken into account. As the battle escalates, led lights on their protruding smart bricks indicate their health via three colours. As I soon learn, If you over-shake your Pokemon while attempting to do a charged attack, it can also backfire, stunning your Pokémon and leaving them defenceless. It’s fun, silly stuff - but almost ends in tears. During my first battle, our two Pokemon accidentally collide, with several chunks of poor Pikachu sent flying during the ruckus.

“It’s why these sets are a bit more durable…” says Muthyala, “ the design team spends a lot of time stress-testing to ensure that if they do break, they break in chunks, so for kids it should always be fairly easy to put back together and get back to playing.”

It helps that Lego's second attempt at recreating these iconic creatures look far closer to their original designs. While the chunky, oddly square-looking previous set of Pokemon looked oddly uncanny - we’re looking at you, swollen Pikachu - these 21 new kid-focused bricks look a lot rounder and closer to their cutesy counterparts. Weirdly elongated Umbreon aside, the designs of this new range are far stronger.

The Smart Brick then, makes a great first impression. I’m told that its battery lasts for 45 minutes of intense play, with each stat boost from training reset after each play session, and that these smart bricks will be regularly updated, offering improvements- and potentially new features - in the future. An obvious update would of course be dual Pokémon battles. At launch, battles are limited to 1v1, but I’m told that this is not a technical limitation, but a current design choice.

Of course, this is Lego, and each toy can simply be played with, the old fashioned way. Squirtle comes with a water-projectile firing car, for example, and Gengar’s tongue can be waggled as he defends a spooky forest. Yet it’s the way that the analogue Lego of old and this new found tech collide that the company believes will really inspire a new generation of children.

“I think it's been amazing to see how for children, this smart tech is seamless,” says Muthyala, “ it's not a digital experience or an analogue experience, it's just 'yes, of course the toy comes to life'. For us unlocking that has been really fun…there's been no questions from kids of ‘why?’ it's more like, ‘what more can it do?’”

The tech and Pokémon are undoubtedly a perfect match, and if I had this when I was ten, you can better believe that I would have taken my Lego Pokémon with me absolutely everywhere.

For more collectibles, don't miss the best toys or the best Pokemon merch.

The latest Nintendo Direct has unveiled some exciting news and given us a sneak peek at what's in store for the Switch 2 – including a huge Pokemon Pokopia update as well as new paid DLC for the adorable 2026 banger.

That's right, cozy gamers – we're eating good this summer, as Nintendo has a bubbly underwater update in store for Pokopia... and it's coming in August. There's more in store than just that, however. Not only will we get to take our Dittos into the sea to terraform, build, and expand, but we're getting expansions, too.

An expansion pass is dropping today, in fact, and it'll include Bubbly Basin – an (unsurprisingly) underwater-themed DLC – in August, as well as "additional new features" sometime in late 2026 and an "additional new town" later down the line in 2027.

Bubbly Basin itself boasts a new town, with fresh outfits, furniture, and friends – emphasis on the "friends" bit, y'all. That means new Pokemon, and I'm so ready to see Ditto potentially transform into other cute 'mons.

In the trailer, we already see Mudkip and Popplio, for example, which are exciting enough as it is. Who else is coming? I'm not sure, but I can't wait to see.

Thankfully, there's not long left to wait now until the free watery update and the paid DLC start rolling out in August – so we'll see then. I've got my fingers crossed for all the mermaid vibes with outfits and furniture, so I'll be holding on with bated breath.

Searching for something else to wishlist? Here are the best new games coming this year and beyond to look forward to.

The pixel Pikachu plush that we collectively lost our minds over earlier this year is now available to buy. I expect nothing less than a stampede to grab one, so brace yourself - or join the queue before it's gone, I guess.

Following its reveal at a Pokemon 30th Anniversary merch event, the 'Pikachu 1996 Style Plush' just became available for $29.99 at the Pokemon Center (or £24.99 if you're based in the UK). Considering how positively feral the community, including me, went for this thing, I feel honor-bound to let you know that it's now up for grabs.

Because there's so much anticipation surrounding this little guy, I have absolutely no doubt that it'll sell out quickly. If you want to guarantee one for your own collection, I'd suggest running - no, sprinting - to the Pokemon Center as soon as you can. I don't mean to sound alarmist, but I've spent a long time tracking both the best Pokemon merch and the card game, and gear as cool as this almost never stays in stock for long; they get snapped up alarmingly fast. I may be wrong, but I suspect the same will be true here.

If you want to grab a nostalgic Pikachu plushie of your own, I'll keep my fingers crossed you get through. Good luck, trainers.

• See today's Pokemon merch deals at Amazon

For more collectibles, why not check out the best toys?

Tech brand Anker, known for its portable chargers designed for everything from your smartphone to your gaming laptop, announced a new range of Pokémon-themed products, including a set of adorable Pikachu and Eevee earbuds.

These best gaming earbud contenders were unveiled as part of the Anker Power Conference 2026 on May 27, and are inspired by Pikachu and Eevee, going as far as to include subtle silhouettes of the classic Gen 1 Pokemon on their charging cases. Their Pokemon inspirations don't stop there, as the Pikachu earphones sport a contrasting yellow and black color palette and the Eevee version a metallic brown, which matches that of the Pokemon themselves. Yet as cute as they are, I'm disappointed that these new Pokemon 30th Anniversary items remain exclusive to Japan.

We're not starved of Pokemon audio tech in the US and UK. It wasn't that long ago that I tested the official Razer Pokemon Gengar Kraken Kitty V2 headset, which goes all out with its Pocket Monster inspirations. However, I'd love to be able to dig into some Pokemon Pokopia with these compact in-ear phones instead, especially as their 6.2 x 3.1 x 4.1 cm size would make them more likely to fit inside my Switch 2 case.

The Soundcore C50i buds aren't just compact, but share an open-back acoustic design, similar to the Asus ROG Cetra Open wireless gaming earbuds I reviewed earlier this year. Alongside their large 12mm-sized dyanmic audio drivers, that means the soundstages to games, Pokemon and otherwise, should sound pretty grand, which only makes me want them more.

They also feature a cuff design, which means that these hook onto the side of your ear, rather than traditionally sitting inside. That makes these far easier to show off than traditional earphones, which is exactly what I'd do if these were to be released here in the UK. The light and dark brown two-tone colorway of the Eevee Soundcore C50i buds is particularly striking, and includes a slight shimmer to its paint job if the official Anker Japan product page is to be believed. As a lover of a good bit of licenced tech, I also can't help but gawk over the inclusion of the tiny Poke Ball icon above the USB-C port of the charging case, or the tiny Eevee on the opposite side.

The Soundcore C50i buds weren't the only pieces of Anker Pokemon tech announced during the same Anker Power Conference. Anker also unveiled an official Pokemon Anker 70W USB Fast Charger and an Anker Travel Adapter, both set to release in Japan in early July, with no signs of a US and UK availability. (Sorry, fellow Pokemon fans.)

The ¥7,990 (roughly $49.98) Fast Charger includes a yellow Pikachu design this time around and includes two USB-C and one USB-A port to keep your tech powered up and ready to go. It also comes with a wrapped charging cable and a Pikachi-themed cable tidy.

Meanwhile, the ¥5,990 (roughly $37.48) Anker Travel Adapter plays host to an AC outlet, two USB-A ports, and two USB-C ports, and features a Pokeball design that lights up when in use. Both have Pikachu silhouette designs of their own, and can be stored in the Pikachu Anker Travel Pouch, which is available to purchase separately from the Anker Japan online store.

If you have access to import shopping services, both the Pikachu and Eevee are available for ¥13,990 at Anker Japan alongside the chargers, which is approximately $89 each, and a pretty reasonable price for open-ear buds. For now, I just have to hope my pleas for a US and UK release spark Anker into releasing these worldwide.

We've also rounded up the best Nintendo Switch 2 cases, the best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers, and the best Nintendo Switch headsets if you're on the hunt for the best ultimate Ninty setup for playing your favorite Pokemon games.

After teasing a new expansion that no-one seemed to understand a few months back, the Pokemon TCG has finally revealed its full 30th Celebration set alongside a brand-new rarity.

Unveiled in a flashy promo video that shows off cards both old and new, the Pokemon TCG 30th Celebration launches on September 16, 2026 and tips its hat to all eras of the franchise. As an example, it brings back 30 classic cards that fans are sure to recognize along with introducing 30 new Pikachu foil cards… not to mention the new 'Futuristic Rare' rarity tier. Considering how vehemently fans of the best card games chase existing rarities, I can only imagine how feral folks are going to be for those.

Because this set celebrates three decades of the Pokemon franchise, no expense seems to have been spared; every single booster will contain 100% foil cards, and a guaranteed unique Pikachu (one of the 30 mentioned earlier) can be found in each pack. As for those Futuristic rare cards, they feature illustrations from renowned Japanese artist YOSHIROTTEN that the press release says is "evocative of hope toward an unknown future."

However, fans are already doubting they'll be able to find any in stock thanks to resellers. The Twitter/X announcement is full of comments bemoaning existing availability issues and doubting it'll be any different here. Even as a glass-half-full kinda guy, I don't blame them for being cynical in this case. Pokemon cards are notoriously hard to find in the wild as is, never mind when you're introducing a celebratory set with an all-new rarity everyone wants to chase.

Speaking of which, I think I agree with dizzie07 on reddit and their 2K upvoters that the 'Pikachu squishes his face through stair banisters' card by Okacheke deserves to be this set's chase. It's painfully adorable and is much too cute for this world.

Anyway: brace yourself for when pre-orders go live. I suspect there's gonna be a stampede for 'em.

• See today's Pokemon card deals at Amazon

For something else to play, why not try the best board games or the best tabletop RPGs?

The Pokemon Company has announced that the lifetime sales of all Pokemon games exceed 515 million, with 26 million sold in the last year.

Don't know if anyone out there knew this, but that Pokemon thing is pretty popular. The franchise as a whole is already firmly the highest-grossing media franchise of all time, and the games consistently rank near the top of the best-sellers list on every Nintendo platform they're on (or the top overall on Game Boy and Game Boy Advance). And despite some setbacks in the games' perception after the disastrous launch of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, the series continues to sell well.

According to The Pokemon Company in its latest financial report, the "total shipments of all Pokémon-related software" have reached over 515 million units by the end of March 2026. And looking at the Wayback Machine, that marks a jump of 26 million from last year's reported number of 489 million units.

October saw the release of Pokemon Legends Z-A, the first Pokemon game on Switch 2. Of course, earlier this year, we also got Pokemon Pokopia, which became a phenomenon in its own right, and the Switch ports of Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen led to another 4 million copies sold for that effort, placing those games in the top 10 best-selling Pokemon games. What's more impressive is that these numbers only cover up until the end of March 2026, meaning Pokopia has probably sold even more, and with Nintendo announcing it sold over 4 million copies by the end of its release month.

With Pokopia's continued popularity and the release of Gen 10 with Pokemon Winds and Waves in 2027, it feels very likely that next year's gain could be even higher.

"The biggest time save in nearly a decade of Pokemon speedrunning" has been discovered thanks to the new FireRed and LeafGreen Switch ports, and all it takes is the press of a button.

Nintendo has reportedly failed to secure another patent relating to monster-capturing mechanics, all while its lawsuit against Palworld developer PocketPair continues to rumble on.

Nearly two years ago, the Nintendo-owned Pokemon Company filed a lawsuit against Palworld developer Pocketpair for patent infringement – a legal battle that is still ongoing.

It's been quite a while since it all began to fall into place when Nintendo took its first step in the legal battle back in September of 2024, with Pocketpair allegedly having breached three different patents with Palworld.

The developer has dropped updates that distance its survival game from Pokemon over the years, but the lawsuit is still in progress, and the situation as a whole is far from over.

After securing new patents that don't just affect creature collectors that resemble Pokemon, but various turn-based games, Nintendo is attempting to snag another – this time relating to touchscreen-based monster-catching mechanics… mechanics that are likely relevant to phone games or apps like the still-in-progress project from Pocketpair, Palworld Mobile.

According to Games Fray, though, Nintendo hasn't convinced the Japan Patent Office.

Put simply – because this entire debacle is anything but simple – the JPO examiner who reviewed Nintendo's new application (no. 2026-019762, for anyone wondering) didn't find any "inventive step" over "prior art."

They conclude that the rejected patent, itself a divisional of the prior one regarding monster-catching mechanics, is just a general rule set with nothing technologically original about it.

As for the patent, its only standout quality – at least, when compared to Nintendo's previous filings – is its mention of touchscreen usage, or "a game program executed by a computer of an information processing apparatus equipped with a touch panel." Now, this doesn't mean the company can't have another go at securing the patent.

As the Games Fray analysis reads, Nintendo had "already amended the claims in February and can try to amend them again."

It's all a bit of a mind-boggler if you ask me, but I'd argue that one thing is pretty clear: Nintendo isn't a company that easily backs down, and its ongoing push to secure new patents proves as much.

There's no telling what the future holds, but it's all a bit worrying – doubly so as we've not gotten any word on Palworld Mobile for quite some time. If anything did go forward via the JPO, I suppose the project (and others) could be affected.

Considering the past, it certainly wouldn't be the first time. Palworld already tweaked its original ball-throwing creature-capturing system to appease the lawsuit, for example, and it's not over yet.

All of this – coupled with the egregious Palworld and Pokemon clone that is Pickmos (originally titled "Pickmon") – makes the future particularly difficult to read. I'd wager we'll just need to keep our eyes on Nintendo for its next move.

As wait for Palworld 1.0 has fans in frenzy, lead says don't expect any "sudden announcement on Discord" as "it's a bit too big of a moment."

Nintendo has confirmed that Pokemon Pokopia has sold over four million copies in its first five weeks, placing it in the top five best-selling Pokemon spin-off titles of all time.

In its latest earnings report, where Nintendo also confirmed that the Switch 2 ports of Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen sold a four million copies (now placing the RPGs among the top 10 best-selling Pokemon games ever at 16 million) the company says: "Pokemon Pokopia, released for Nintendo Switch 2 on March 5, 2026, had global cumulative sell-through exceeding 4 million units in the first five weeks."

Nintendo comments on the success, saying it "is being picked up by a broad range of players regardless of gender, and many are using the features, such as GameShare, that are exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2." It adds, "By continuing to release these kinds of compelling titles for Nintendo Switch 2, we aim to convey the appeal of the platform to our consumers who play on Nintendo Switch."

Serebii's Joe Merrick breaks down the sales numbers of other Pokemon spin-off titles, and while the early years of Pokemon still reign supreme with the first Mystery Dungeon, Stadium, and Pinball games leading the pack, Pokemon Pokopia is now firmly in the top five, with Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Darkness taking the fourth place spot.

Here's the full top 10 for reference:

• Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red/Blue Rescue Team (5.85 million)
• Pokemon Stadium (5.46 million)
• Pokemon Pinball (5.31 million)
• Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time and Darkness (4.8 million)
• Pokemon Pokopia (4 million)
• Pokemon Trading Card Game (3.72 million)
• Pokemon Snap (3.63 million)
• Pokemon Ranger (2.93 million)
• New Pokemon Snap (2.74 million)
• Pokemon Stadium 2 (2.54 million)

Although, at the rate it is selling, Pokopia really doesn't have long to go to become the best-selling Pokemon spin-off ever as Mystery Dungeon Red/Blue sit up top with 5,850,000 copies sold, meaning after another 1,850,001 copies, Pokopia will be the top of the mountain. Plus this is only taking into account its first five weeks, so there's a chance it could already be there.

What's also notable is that with just under 20 million Switch 2 consoles sold, we can calculate nearly one in every five Switch 2 owners picked up a copy of Pokopia. That also places it as the third best-selling Switch 2 game, with Donkey Kong Bananza only just keeping its second-place spot with 4,520,000 copies sold to date.

Pokopia has already passed the Switch 2 Edition sales of Pokemon Legends Z-A (although that game has sold 8,850,000 on the original Switch on top of that). Considering that Nintendo is releasing a Pokemon Pokopia Switch 2 bundle in some regions, it feels like only a matter of time until it passes Bananza, too.

"The biggest time save in nearly a decade of Pokemon speedrunning" has been discovered thanks to the new FireRed and LeafGreen Switch ports, and all it takes is the press of a button.

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen have rocketed way up the list of the best-selling Pokemon games of all time, and it's all thanks to their recent Nintendo Switch ports.

Nintendo today released the company's financial results for the fiscal year that ended in March, and – surprise, surprise – those pocket monsters have been doing quite well. Pokemon Pokopia managed to move over four million copies within five weeks as a Switch 2 exclusive, and perhaps even more impressively, the over 20-year-old Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen sold upwards of four million units since being re-released on Switch.

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen first debuted on the GBA as colorful remakes of the original GameBoy classics, and while the duo performed amazingly well the first time around and sold 12 million copies in their initial run, they were promptly kicked out of the series' top 10 list as the years went on. (Pokemania didn't stop, you see.)

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen's total sales now sit at around 16 million, including those mighty Switch numbers, bumping the duo up to ninth place on the list of best-selling Pokemon games. (Thanks to Serebii's Joe Merrick.)

Here's the full top 10 for reference:

• Pokemon Red/Blue/Green (31.3 million)
• Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (28.2 million)
• Pokemon Sword and Shield (27.1 million)
• Pokemon Gold and Silver (23.7 million)
• Pokemon Diamond and Pearl (17.6 million)
• Pokemon X and Y (16.8 million)
• Pokemon Sun and Moon (16.3 million)
• Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire (16.2 million)
• Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen (16 million)
• Pokemon Black and White (15.6 million)

Unless The Pokemon Company decides to drop more of its classic games onto the Nintendo Switch, FireRed and LeafGreen will almost definitely shoot up this list even further. The RPGs only need to sell another 1.6 million to crack into the series' top five, and with how things are currently going, that's almost as certain as a Master Ball catch.

"By continuing to release these kinds of compelling titles for Nintendo Switch 2, we aim to convey the appeal of the platform to our consumers who play on Nintendo Switch," the company writes of Pokopia's success.

"The biggest time save in nearly a decade of Pokemon speedrunning" has been discovered thanks to the new FireRed and LeafGreen Switch ports, and all it takes is the press of a button

If, while playing Pokemon Pokopia and perusing the best Pokemon merch online, you thought to yourself, "I wish I could own the bizarre human-Ditto amalgamation as a plushie" then do I have good news for you. There's not one, but two official plush versions of Pokemon Pokopia Ditto, which include that two-dotted eye'd stare that feels like it's reaching into your soul.

The best part isn't how unnerving they look, but the fact that they've both finally landed at the US and UK official Pokemon Center online stores for $29.99 (Pokemon Center) / £24.99 (Pokemon Center) each. They're even dressed in some accessories that you can find in-game - including the adorable Poke Ball printed hat and little backpack, and aren't just plushies, but keychains that you can attach to your very own real-life backpack. The two are joined by a Castform Weather Charm Plush, which is a faithful recreation of the one you can find in Pokopia, though don't expect it to alter the weather and bring out the sun this summer.

These official plushies have been a long time coming. I've seen photos of Pokemon Pokopia fans in Japan with these for months now, and had been dreaming of when I could finally add them to my own personal collection. I've got almost 100 hours in the game, but the only "official" plush of sorts I own is the tiny Ditto one that was given out as a freebie to those who pre-ordered the Switch 2 game straight from the online Pokemon Center stores. It's cute, but not the same.

Finally, both the US and UK Pokemon Centers are pilling on the official merch, and these plushies are a great place to start. As strangely unnerving as I find the human-Ditto, the plush keychains are pretty adorable. While made from fabric, the squishy hairstyles look perfectly recreated, and I adore that there's even a little embroidered Ditto patch on top of their heads - one that matches the collectible stickers you can gain as you progress through the game.

The 8-and-a-half-inch-tall Castform Weather Charm Plush that's available for $19.99 (Pokemon Center) / £17.99 (Pokemon Center) is even cuter, and as shared by the official Pokemon site, you can flip it over if you want to display its Rainy Form instead. I personally prefer the Sunny Form as we have plenty of rain here in Scotland as it is, as I wouldn't want to jinx anything. However, combining both options into one piece of merch is a bit of a stroke of genius if you ask me, especially as it saves fans a bit of extra cash.

My only qualm is that the entire range of Pokemon Pokopia plushies has yet to make an appearance. It's not just the human-Ditto and Castform plushies I've been envying up in fans' photos on the likes of Instagram for months now, but there's an official plush of Peakychu, Mosslax, and Professor Tangrowth. Fortunately, the official Pokemon X (Twitter) account shared on March 16, 2026, that they'll be "coming this summer from Pokémon Center" so I shouldn't have to wait long. Which is great news, as I've already spent time cultivating the perfect habitat that should make the moss-covered Snorlax plush happy and humid.

• View all Pokemon plushies at Pokemon Center

Check out our guides to the best Lego sets and best Nintendo gifts for more Pokemon merch and collectibles.

Now that the new set's launch is almost exactly a month away, fans are starting to ask where they can buy Pokemon TCG Pitch Black. Is it available anywhere, or has stock been snapped up by resellers?

That's what I'm here to help with. I've spent a very long time tracking stock and prices for the best card games, so have picked up a trick or two along the way. Want to know where to buy Pokemon TCG Pitch Black without spending an absurd amount on inflated costs? Not a problem - you can steal all my secrets in this guide, including which stores to prioritize or avoid.

Tip one: move quickly. I'd recommend checking the following stores each day, and if you see that it's possible to buy Pokemon Pitch Black, don't hesitate. Stock isn't gonna stay available for long (as proven when it appeared at Miniature Market, then vanished again), so move fast to secure those cards. Tip two: don't give up just because a store says it's out of stock. I've known plenty to get new units in unexpectedly, so it pays to make a return visit later. Keep the stores listed below on your bookmarks.

Where to buy Pokemon TCG Pitch Black in the US

Even though Walmart is still your best bet for variety if you want to buy Pokemon TCG Pitch Black, it's worth checking out smaller indie retailers like Miniature Market as well - its stock is usually cheaper, though gets snapped up fast as a result.

Miniature Market

Walmart

Best Buy

TCGPlayer

eBay

Amazon

Target

Where to buy Pokemon TCG Pitch Black in the UK

Honestly, I'm amazed at how little movement there is if you're trying to buy Pokemon TCG Pitch Black in the UK; I'm not seeing it in stock anywhere, even at the retailers which usually get it in early. I'd keep a very close eye on the following as a result, because they could spit out cards at a moment's notice.

Smyths Toys

Wayland Games

Amazon

Magic Madhouse

Zatu Games

Where to buy other Pokemon TCG sets

Although Pitch Black is the newest expansion for the Trading Card Game, it's gonna be hard to get your hands on for a hot minute. Fortunately, the same isn't true for slightly older (but still recent) Pokemon TCG sets. To help you get your Poke-fix, I've set up our price-matching software to find the best prices on everything from Ascended Heroes to Perfect Order. You can see its findings below, updated up to the minute.

Pokemon TCG Pitch Black FAQ

Want to know exactly what's happening with Pokemon TCG Pitch Black? Don't worry, I've got you covered with this bite-size TL:DR lowdown on the expansion.

• See all Pokemon TCG deals at Amazon

If you want something to play while you wait for stock, don't miss the best board games or the best tabletop RPGs.

The detail on display with Razer's Gengar Collection is sublime. From the glowing silhouettes of the ghostly apparition on the headset to the subtle background pattern on the mouse that features iconography of not just Gengar, but tiny little Poke Balls too - it's hard not to be obsessed as an old school Pokemon fan.

If I had to point out an issue however, it'd definitely be the price. At launch, you were mostly paying for the Pokemon aesthetic, as is often the case with any licensed gaming tech. That's why I was grinning ear to ear like Gengar itself when I saw it had all been discounted for Amazon Gaming Week. As of now, you can grab the Razer Gigantus V2 XXL Gaming Mouse Pad for just $39.99 (Amazon) and the matching headset for $111.99 (Amazon), the lowest prices I've seen for them yet. Even the mouse has dropped in price, but if you're after the whole lot, I recommend getting there quickly, as these kind of savings are god-pack level rare.

I'm a sucker for a good set of licensed gaming accessories, and Razer's Gengar Collection is so good that it still haunts my dreams and my PC setup. The official accessories range is not the first of Razer's attempts at launching a wealth of goodies with Pokemon slathered all over them, but it's undoubtedly the best - well, so long as you're a Ghost-Type fan.

f you're questioning grabbing any of these discounted goodies today, I'd recommend being a big fan of Gengar, as it's the star across the whole range. That may sound obvious, but some of the products go so ham into the theming that I can't foresee casual Pokemon fans appreciating their splendour.

Take, for example, the glorious Razer Kraken Kitty V2 USB Wired Headset, which has never been this cheap before. It doesn't just feature some overused artwork, but the headband replicates the ears and spikes of hair on Gengar's head. It's basically a 'what-if a pair like the Razer Kraken Kitty V3 Pro was Gengar themed'. Cosplayers might want to take note.

The Razer Kraken Kitty V2 USB Wired Headset isn't a wireless headset, though, so you are still paying a bit more for style over substance with today's deal. Alternatives like the Razer Barracuda X Chroma, available for $89.99 at Amazon, are plenty more featureful, but won't scratch that Pokemon itch. While you aren't getting the most high-end features here, this headset still sounds fantastic as it's equipped with Razer's iconic 40mm Triforce audio drivers, which are found in a range of my favorite older headsets from the brand.

It's a similar situation with the Razer Cobra Wired Gaming Mouse. If I were to ask the hardware team's resident rodent expert, Tabitha Baker, for the best gaming mouse out there, she'd likely recommend the Razer Deathadder V4 Pro or the Logitech G203 Lightsync and not this bad boy. However, it's still going to be a nice touch to any Pokemon-themed setup. The Razer Chroma-powered RGB lighting can sync up to the Gengar headset too, which is a really nice touch.

Can you find a more featureful range of accessories that match (or are even cheaper) than today's Razer Gengar Collection Amazing Gaming Week savings? Absolutely. Even with these record-low price drops, you're still paying more for the Pokémon-ness of it all, rather than what the tech can do.

Yet if you're after a spooky and cozy look to your gaming space, this range is ideal for Pokemon nerds - so much so that my partner has 'borrowed' the entire range from me, and I don't expect I'll see it returned to me any time soon.

• View all Razer Pokemon gaming accessories at Amazon

Our team has also rounded up the best PC headsets for gaming, the best PC controllers for gaming, and the best gaming chairs if you're looking to give your setup an upgrade.

The next expansion set for the Pokemon TCG, Pitch Black, has been revealed. As the name would suggest, things are taking a darker turn here… quite literally.

Due to launch on July 17, 2026, Pokemon TCG Pitch Black revolves around Mega Evolutions from Pokemon Legends: Z-A's Mega Dimension DLC. It features Mega Darkrai ex as its headliner and adds over 115 cards in total to one of the best card games, six of which are Mega Evolution Pokemon ex.

This set celebrates the more sinister side of Pokemon, which puts the likes of Mega Chandelure ex front and center alongside Mega Darkrai ex (which can be seen on the front of the Elite Trainer Box). However, it's not just about spooky pocket monsters; the electric-based Mega Zeraora ex also puts in an appearance, as does Mega Excadrill ex.

Here are some other noteworthy inclusions from Pokemon TCG Pitch Black.

• Six Mega Evolution Pokemon ex
• Four Pokemon ex
• 11 illustration rare Pokemon
• 18 ultra rare Pokemon and Trainer cards
• Six special illustration rare Pokemon and Supporter cards

As per usual, you'll be able to get Pitch Black in booster packs, an Elite Trainer Box, and a variety of collections.

Want to go hands-on with the expansion early? You can take part in pre-release events at independent retailers from July 4, 2026.

• See all Pokemon card deals at Amazon

For an idea of what to play next, why not check out the best board games or the best tabletop RPGs?

Unscrupulous Pokemon card resellers are finally getting their just desserts, and it's all thanks to a simple yet surprisingly effective workaround.

Folks scooping up the best card games to flog at an absurd markup have caused trouble for years, and it's been tough to tackle beyond limiting availability – until now. A clever technique in a Japanese store stops resellers dead in their tracks, largely because you have to be an actual fan to buy Pokemon cards.

Basically, you must answer mandatory questions about Pokemon to buy a single pack of Pokemon cards (thanks go to our friends at Dexerto for spotting this). Because so many resellers are just in it for the money, they don't know the first thing about this franchise… and completely fail to pass the test. Meanwhile, actual fans breeze through those same questions. It's a deliciously cunning comeuppance.

According to Ryo Saeba on Twitter/X, Japanese store Bic Camera Ikebukuro began running a "mandatory" Pokemon quiz with "15 basic questions on the Pokémon universe that must be answered correctly to be able to buy cards. According to testimonials, the resellers failed to pass the test."

I don't know about you, but that fills me with a great sense of joy. I love the smell of resellers getting screwed over in the morning. What's that noise? Why, I think it's the sound of justice served.

• See all Pokemon card offers at Amazon

For an idea of what you should play next, why not check out the best board games or the best tabletop RPGs?

No matter whether you play competitively or just collect them, I think we can all agree that Pokemon cards can be utterly freakin' adorable… and the four we can exclusively reveal here at GamesRadar+ demonstrate that fact quite nicely.

Taken from the upcoming Chaos Rising (which is due to launch on May 22), these four Pokemon cards follow the evolutionary journey of sugary-sweet Mareep through to the awesome Ampharos. Although they've all been illustrated by different artists, there's one thing they share: how gorgeously well done they are. I can't get over how cute Flaaffy is as it lies back in the flower meadow, for example, while the full-art Ampharos card has been given a beautiful, painterly style. Seeing as Pokemon is one of the best card games around, such lavish treatment isn't surprising… but still, these are particularly good.

Want a chance to secure these cards for yourself? Don't forget to check in on our guide for where to buy Pokemon TCG Chaos Rising, which tracks the best prices across a variety of retailers. In the meantime, you can increase your chances by visiting in-store prerelease events from May 9 ahead of the full May 22 launch.

• See all in-stock Chaos Rising at Walmart
• See all in-stock Chaos Rising at Miniature Market

For more tabletop recommendations, why not stop by our guides to the best board games or the best tabletop RPGs?

There are few glitches or issues worse than something that disrupts your progress. What do you mean the last several hours of gameplay are just gone? Sadly, some players of Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness have encountered just that, but it's now been remedied, thankfully.

The change was noted by Serebii, as the venerable Pokemon fansite states that an update has rolled out on the Nintendo GameCube Nintendo Classics app on the Switch 2 for this. According to the outlet, the bug forcefully quit the game, thus resulting in players losing whatever amount of time they'd spent since the last time they saved.

Frustrating, to say the least. But now it's all sorted, and not a moment too soon going by some of the replies. "This happened to ME! 5 hours GONE," says one player, who says they don't want to play any more - a feeling I'm familiar with, and can attest to subsiding after a little bit of time.

"Thankfully I was quick saving through the GC menu and not just in game, I only lost about 30 minutes when it happened to me," says another fan. "Otherwise it would've been about 10 hours gone." Another person reported the same for their sibling, who was also double-figures into their playtime before being shut out.

Ooft, that would've been rough. Games like Gale of Darkness are really made for long sessions, and although I'd always recommend saving wherever possible, sometimes you just get into a groove and don't. Whatever the case, if you can save scum a little bit, you probably should, even when there's less of a threat.

Pokemon Champions matches end in draws when the timer runs out, and no one can decide if that's a good thing

If you've spent any time playing Pokemon Champions since its launch, I'm confident you'll have encountered more than a few teams starring Incineroar, Sneasler, and Whimsicott. There's a reason for that – they're very good. However, in my first twelve hours with the game, I found far more success – and fun – as soon as I stopped trying to chase the meta, and embraced a supervillain identity to instead counter it head-on.

Pokemon Champions has broken down the barrier to entry to its competitive battling scene, making the series' Video Game Championships (VGC) more accessible than ever. By simplifying certain complex mechanics, now, anyone can quickly put together a powerful team with optimal stats. While its current state at launch is missing quite a lot of things – from the 6v6 single battle format to a whole load of items and Pokemon – it's not taken long for folks to start adapting to this new normal, and you can see precisely what that looks like by heading over to the game's Battle Data menu.

The very best

At the time of writing, the undisputed king of the 2v2 double battles format is Incineroar, running the Intimidate ability to lower its opponents' Attack stat, Fake Out to make a foe flinch (unable to move), Parting Shot to deliver a debuff before escaping back into the party, and Flare Blitz and Darkest Lariat to deal heavy damage. Combine that with a Whimsicott, which can instantly use Tailwind to make its whole team twice as fast, and throw in something like the absurdly strong Sneasler or Mega Charizard Y, the latter of which can set up the harsh sunlight weather condition to power up its Fire-type moves, and you've got yourself a powerful team that's rather frustrating to go up against, to put it lightly.

Obviously, things do vary a bit – Garchomp and Sinistcha are also super popular choices at the moment, and I've come across plenty of teams using rain-centric weather teams, too. But the Incineroar, Whimsicott, Charizard, and Sneasler combo is one that even I couldn't resist the temptation of as I first got myself more reacquainted with competitive battling, as admittedly, I'd not taken part in the VGC format regularly in years. And, wouldn't you believe it, it works, but where's the fun in pitting near identical teams against each other, trying to pull off the same strategy?

In a moment of clarity, tired of being amongst the masses constantly switching an Incineroar in and out of battle for the Intimidate and Fake Outs, I decided to leave the meta behind me, and in the hours that followed, began honing a squad purpose-built to shut down the very strategy I'd been using. Not only that, I wanted to make something so packed with relatively unpopular 'mons that opponents would be less likely to know how to deal with them. Well, at long last, I'm pleased to introduce you to my Slow Boys – a team of my favorite li'l freaks who've now caused so many forfeits that I've lost count, and frankly, I don't blame anyone who does.

The brains of the operation is a big, bulky Cofagrigus – a Ghost-type immune to being hit with Fake Out, and defensive enough that I've yet to see him be taken out in one turn. And one turn is all he needs, because he has a key job at the start of every battle: set up Trick Room.

Trick Room makes it so the speeds of the Pokemon on the field are essentially reversed, with the fastest going last and the slowest going first, so any Tailwind set up by his opponents in the first turn immediately works against them, and my own Pokemon – engineered to be as slow as they can possibly be – are suddenly able to outspeed everything against them. This is the essence of the Slow Boys, but – excuse the pun – Trick Room isn't the only trick up Cofagrigus' sleeve.

Once Trick Room is active and he's the fastest 'mon in the room, Cofagrigus has a number of options, all as nefarious as the last. He can either hit something with a Burn-inducing Will-O-Wisp to slowly deplete their health (and, more importantly, cut the power of any Physical-attacker in half for the rest of the match), or sacrifice some health to set up a Substitute and protect himself from damage until it's broken, keeping him alive on the field as he slowly recovers all his health with the Leftovers he's holding. While he can land Shadow Ball attacks on his foes, too, his main job is to stick around as long as possible and hopefully set up yet another Trick Room when the first one runs out – assuming the rest of the team hasn't already done enough damage to seal our opponent's fate.

After all, Cofagrigus would be nothing without his teammates. His partner in crime at the start of a battle is usually my Hisuian Goodra – lovingly named Oopy Goopy – who can use Protect on the first turn if a Fake Out is headed his way, or start causing chaos by using Knock Off to remove his opponents' held items, often ruining certain strategies in the process. With the Steel-type Heavy Slam, he can swiftly dispatch Fairy-types like Whimsicott, and Draco Meteor is a powerful Dragon-type move that can put a massive dent in – or completely knock out – many other foes.

The rest of the team composition varies depending on what I can see my opponent is bringing with them, but rounding out the offensive side of the Slow Boys are Drampa and Tyranitar (an admittedly more popular option for a team). Both of them are able to get rid of weather conditions like harsh sun and rain thanks to their respective Cloud Nine and Sandstream abilities, instantly making Pokemon like Mega Charizard Y less threatening. What's more, Tyranitar is also Charizard's public enemy number one thanks to his quadruple-effective Rock-type moves, while Drampa's Hyper Voice can attack both opposing Pokemon for some strong spread damage, or come in with a Thunderbolt to get rid of rain-setting Pokemon like Pelipper.

My Galarian Slowbro is a regular teammate, with the ability to set up Calm Mind to buff his Special Attack and Special Defense, heal with Slack Off, and unleash brutal Shell Side Arm and Psyshock attacks (the latter being brutal on Sneasler). He has the power to sweep a team if given the opportunity, with the Trick Room making him the speediest Slowbro alive.

Meanwhile, the most unusual (and easily the most situational) addition to the lineup is a shiny Appletun I was determined to use solely because I was thrilled to get him from Champions' gacha system. He doesn't slot into every quad quite as easily as the others, but when the circumstances are right, can exploit his Ripen ability to get massive heals from a single Sitrus Berry… which he can endlessly replenish thanks to his Recycle move, further supplementing the constant health sapping he pulls off with Leech Seed, forming an adorable apple pie wall.

My villain era

I'll be the first to admit that this could be an infuriating team to face if you're not prepared for it. In fact, so many people have hit forfeit against it that I almost feel bad. Almost. After all, my Slow Boys aren't completely unstoppable – there's many ways they can be (and have been) stopped in their tracks, and the alternative is submitting to an equally frustrating meta. Even so, each time a team full of popular 'mons concedes to my scrappy go-getters, I feel like I'm slipping further and further towards becoming some kind of Pokemon supervillain, with each win spurring me on to keep playing just one more match.

It should be noted that Trick Room teams are far from new, and even in Champions, I've occasionally seen other folks trying to pull off similar strategies using Pokemon like Farigaraf, so it's not like I've concocted something totally unheard of here. What's clear, though, is that by following the meta so closely right now, a lot of folks simply aren't prepared to deal with something that's a bit more out of the norm.

To put it into perspective, the official Battle Data at the time of writing shows that Cofagrigus – the undisputable MVP of my team – is only the 123rd most used 'mon in double battles right now, putting it far down the list of currently available Pokemon. Less experienced players won't be as familiar with it as a result, and even the veterans out there might not necessarily have the tools on their team to deal with it as effectively as possible given that it's not what most players are running.

It sounds cheesy to say it, but perhaps more importantly, it's not all about winning. Over my 12 hours of playing, assembling my wacky team of weirdos and fine-tuning their builds through trial and error has been the most fun I've had with Champions, and I'm excited to see how I'll be able to further improve things the more I play.

Truthfully, the Slow Boys aren't the faithful minions of a supervillain – I actually hope that folks running into something a bit different like this in their ranked battles could inspire them to try something new, too. After all, battles are about having fun with different strategies – weird, clever, or totally unexpected – and the more of those we see, the more interesting Champions' competitive landscape will be going forward.

Prefer Pokemon adventures to battling? Check out our best Pokemon games ranking for more reasons to explore the world of Pokemon!

Since most of the game takes place online, it's natural to wonder whether Pokemon Champions requires a Nintendo Switch Online membership.

Though it's considered a free game, Pokemon Champions has some paid content, but whether it is truly free-to-play depends on whether you need the separate NSO subscription. We've done some testing, and have all the answers right here.

Does Pokemon Champions require a Nintendo Switch Online subscription?

No, Pokemon Champions doesn't require a NSO subscription. You aren't even restricted to playing with friends, and can embark on online battles without a membership to the online service.

Pokemon Champions works in a similar fashion to Pokemon Unite, another free Nintendo game which doesn't require the subscription to play online. Since you don't need NSO to use Pokemon Home either, you can also recruit Pokemon to Champions from Home for free, as well.

The official Pokemon Champions website does state that a Nintendo Switch Online membership is required to access some Champions content, though we're yet to work out what that is. It could be referring the ability to participate in Online Competitions, which we'll confirm when the next one goes live.

As you're preparing for battle, don't forget to check out the latest Pokemon Champions Mystery Gift codes.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

Who would've thought a free-to-play online PvP game based on a beloved IP like Pokemon Champions could be so controversial? First, it was the bugs and performance issues, then it was all of those missing features, and then there's that alleged bug that traps Pokemon in limbo between Pokemon Home and Champions. Now, players are locked in heated discussion about whether a new change to the game's ruleset is a good thing or not.

As reported by Automaton, Pokemon Champions battles have a timer on them, and if it runs out, the battle ends in a draw, whereas before the winner would be decided based on how many active Pokemon they still have. If that number was the same, the player with the most HP would win. Now, no matter what, time out matches end in draws.

However, it's crucial to point out that there are two timers: a personal one and an overall timer, which effectively prevents the losing player from simply idling for the rest of the game. They can idle during their turn and then lose that turn, but they can't idle through the full match, which seems like a solid safeguard against cheating to avoid losing rank.

Still, the ruleset change is proving controversial. In several discussions happening across Pokemon VGC communities, no one can agree whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. Genuinely, in most video game controversies I've covered, of which there have been many, there's usually an uneven split in opinion, but here it seems pretty 50-50.

"This only makes those slow paced teams even more annoying. This one torkoal kept putting my whole team to sleep, and I don't even get points for it," argues thezekroman.

On the other hand, some folks are "so glad this was added," like Individual_Paper80. "Had a legit 5 minute slogfest draw yesterday with a burned corviknight without flying type attacks and roost vs my sinistcha."

Other, less scrupulous players freely admit to stalling matches to avoid losses. "Me.. a Hoodra staller likes this very much," says Electrical_Active180.

As a non-competitive Pokemon player, I don't have a horse in this race, but it does seem sensical to award timeout wins to the player who, you know, did a better job in the battle. Even though the two separate timers prevent the sort of exploits that would otherwise be blatantly unfair, handing out draws when one player is clearly ahead still seems plainly wrong.

Pokemon Champions patches out strategies competitive players have been using for years, but hey, at least Freeze has finally been nerfed

You're going to need the very best Champions Pokemon in your team if you want to work your way up the various Pokemon Champions ranked tiers. With over 180 Pokemon to choose from in the battling game, it can be hard to decide who to recruit and who to add to your team. After just a few battles though, you'll soon see the same faces popping up.

Crafting the best Pokemon Champions teams requires a mixture of the best Pokemon, but also the best for countering those Pokemon when you face them on the opposing team. After all, you won't be the only person looking at this list. So, here are the best Pokemon to choose from in Pokemon Champions, including their synergies with other Pokemon and moves. And, if you want to know how to get all of these Pokemon quickly, check out our guide to linking Pokemon Champions to Pokemon Home.

The best Pokemon Champions Pokemon

The following Pokemon are currently some of the best and most powerful options in Pokemon Champions, for reason's we'll explain individually further down.

• Garchomp
• Charizard
• Gengar
• Sneasler
• Floette (Eternal Flower)

Garchomp

Garchomp is by far one of the best Pokemon in Pokemon Champions, and, as a result, you'll see it a lot in enemy teams. That doesn't mean you shouldn't bring one of your own into battle, though.

In Doubles matches, Earthquake is one of the best moves to have on Garchomp, but since this even damages ally Pokemon, consider who you pair it with. For singles (and doubles) train Garchomp in a wide range of move types, including Ground, Rock, and Dragon.

Finally, be sure to utilize Garchomp's Rough Skin Ability, which damages any Pokemon that inflicts damage unto them.

Charizard

While I have mentioned that Dragonite is a great consideration for Mega Evolution, there is another, more obvious choice: the iconic Mega Charizard Y. As a flying type, Charizard has many of the same benefits as Dragonite, Fire types are also pretty effective against a few types. Just be careful, as Charizard is going to be weak to a lot of the popular moves in Pokemon Champions. Ensure they're powered up and have the Drought ability, which increases the power of fire type moves.

Gengar

Gengar is better in Doubles than Singles, but it still shines in both thanks to its Shadow Tag ability, which prevents the opposing team members from switching out. Pair this with Perish Song and its high speed stat, and you've got a fantastic Pokemon.

You might struggle if you're an offensive player, as Gengar's play is all about preventing the enemy team from acting, but the essential move here is Perish Song, which causes opposing Pokemon to faint automatically after three turns. You've just got to be able to wait that out, which is where the likes of Disable come in clutch.

Of course, Gengar is also a great choice for Mega Evolution, too. So don't forget that Gengarite if you've got one.

Sneasler

A perfect partner for the above Gengar, Sneasler is a fast attacker, making them a great choice for both Singles and Doubles. Given Sneasler's natural affinity with Speed, lean into this with a Jolly Nature and a White herb held item. Paired with Sneasler's Unburden ability, the White Herb has an incredible impact, whether you need it or not.

Dire Claw is going to be the best move to pick for Sneasler, which you can then pair with any moves you like. Close Combat and Fake Out are great choices, but you might also want to get a few other move types in your build.

Eternal Flower Floette

Our last pick here is one of the game's best Pokemon right now, but is unfortunately a limited option, only available to those with Pokemon Legends: Z-A and Pokemon Home. the normal Floette isn't the same, and won't perform nearly as well as Eternal Flower Floette.

If you are lucky enough to have the Pokemon Legends: Z-A exclusive, you should definitely build it out as a huge Fairy attacker, able to combat many of the popular picks right now. Dazzling Gleam or Moonblast should be your main picks for this Pokemon.

For more great Pokemon to pad out your boxes, check out the latest Pokemon Champions Mystery Gift codes.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

Knowing how to work your way up the Pokemon Champions ranked tiers is one of the most important parts of the game - it is a game about battling, after all. Unfortunately, it's not that clear how much work it takes to become a champion, so I've detailed how many ranked tiers there are, and how to get through them right here.

In order to work your way through these Pokemon Champions ranks, you're going to need the very best Pokemon in Pokemon Champions, so check out our separate guide for that.

All Pokemon Champions ranks

There are six tiers to work through in Pokemon Champions Ranked mode, as confirmed by Cordy's dialogue during the tutorial, and we know what five of those are so far. Mostly named after Pokeball types, the Pokemon Champions ranks as follows:

• Beginner
• Poke Ball Tier
• Great Ball Tier
• Ultra Ball Tier
• Master Ball Tier
• Champion Tier

Aside from Beginner, which is basically just a tutorial tier, each Tier has four ranks, working up from 4 to 1. This means that you start on Poke Ball Tier, Rank 4, and are promoted to Great Ball Tier, Rank 4 upon winning Poke Ball Tier, Rank 1, and so on. Each rank itself requires at least three wins, but each loss sets you back, so completing each Tier requires a minimum of 12 wins with no losses. With that in mind, reaching Champion Tier requires over 50 wins - but it'll be much harder than that in reality.

Pokemon Champions Ranked Battle Seasons

You only have a limited time to reach Champion Tier, as Ranked Battles operate on a seasonal basis, and your progress is reset to Poke Ball Tier, Rank 4 at the start of each one. Based on Season M-1, these seasons last a little over a month.

If you need to flesh out with your team with some more powerful Pokemon in order to rank up, be sure to claim the latest Pokemon Champions Mystery Gifts and move some of your favorite 'mons from Pokemon Home to Pokemon Champions.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

Pokemon Champions' lousy launch is getting slightly less lousy thanks to a new bug fix that stops our beloved pocket monsters from being forever stuck in limbo on their way to or from Pokemon Home, the digital bank that lets you move 'mons between games.

The free-to-play PvP battler launched yesterday to largely mixed reviews aimed at Pokemon Champions' visuals, a lack of popular features, and the removal of competitive strategies that have been in use for years. But the most urgent problem came in the form of a bug that would trap Pokemon in transit between Champions and Home.

The Pokemon Company today detailed a list of known issues plaguing the game, alongside one single fix now preventing the communication error that many a trainer got when trying to send Pokemon over to the battler. Other in-progress bug fixes include a faulty description for Leech Seed, an error with how genders are displayed, the order of Mega Evolutions occurring, and more.

"We will continue to investigate any other issues," the developer writes in machine translated quotes, apologizing to players for any "inconvenience."

Competitive VGC player Justin Carris alerted everyone to the problem of trapped 'mons yesterday, explaining that the issue persisted across both the Switch and mobile versions of Pokemon Home.

Carris reported that an error message would halt the transfer of Pokemon traveling into Champions, but a separate error message would then also claim that those 'mons were still in the PvP game and were unable to be withdrawn, essentially meaning they were stuck in the middle. Removing those error message should mean those affected 'mon now have a route back from limbo.

Over 5 months since Pokemon Legends: Z-A's release, Home compatibility finally lets you offload your shiny-stuffed boxes ahead of Pokemon Champions

It's been over three weeks since Nintendo dropped its last big Pokemon Pokopia update, fixing early-game softlocking and more, but various issues have persisted in the cozy life sim since – some of which developers aim to now tackle in a brand-new patch.

If you haven't spotted the news yet, Pokemon Pokopia version 1.0.3 is out now – and as per the official update details from Nintendo, it's a chunky one compared to previous patches.

It addresses softlocking, from construction projects to more serious halts in story progression, over-rumbly vibrating controllers, and, perhaps most notably, bugs that would cost us our Pokemon. Because, you know… they're kind of important.

As Nintendo words the problem. "In some cases, Pokémon whose habitats have disappeared cannot be found even when searching for them using the 'Search' function in the Pokédex."

It's no small bug, really – as someone who spent ages collecting as many Pokemon as I could by going back and forth between the habitat Pokedex and my islands, I don't like the idea of losing my 'mon via an accidental pick-up or punch.

Pokémon Pokopia Version 1.0.3 is now available from r/Pokopia

I'm not the only one who feels this relieved, either. Over on Reddit, one fellow fan jokes, "Excellent, now removing the front door of a habitat accidentally won't send the inhabitants to the shadow realm." Indeed, it will not. A separate post sees folks dubbing the update's fix a "massive solve" – and I certainly agree.

Version 1.0.3 targets other lost 'mon, too, as "certain actions" could cause "seasonal Pokémon to disappear from the town and Cloud Island."

And, for anyone wondering how to update – which you must if you want to continue using the game's online features – simply navigate over to your Switch 2 home screen and select Pokopia without opening it. Then, press the + button or – button on your Joy-Con. The current version number will pop up, and you just need to select "Software Update" and "Over the Internet." You'll then be all set to explore version 1.0.3.

I'm personally hoping Nintendo continues its work on what might just be one of this year's biggest new games yet – and perhaps even addresses fans' requested features, like a better GameShare and multiplayer mode… I know my fingers are crossed, anyway.

Pokemon Pokopia speedruns are already a thing, and they somehow don't use the cozy life sim's fastest ability.

Pokemon Champions has launched to mixed reviews and all sorts of controversy from reports of performance issues to the removal of longheld competitive strategies, but arguably the most urgent issue is that it seems to be trapping some players' Pokemon "in limbo."

Competitive Pokemon VGC player Justin Carris (thanks, Kotaku) flagged the issue on Twitter, warning Pokemon Champions players of "a massive bug with transferring pokemon between Pokemon HOME & Champions."

Carris reports that he was trying to transfer Pokemon from the cloud-based Pokemon Home bank over to the new PvP game Pokemon Champions when he received an error message. The message persisted across the Nintendo Switch and mobile versions of Pokemon Home, returning Carris to the home screen and indicating that the transfer hadn't gone through. The thing is, the transfer seems to have been halted halfway through, as Carris was met with a message in Pokemon Home saying he can't trade Pokemon that are "visiting Pokemon Champions."

"They are basically trapped in limbo," he says.

Carris adds that he got a separate error code when trying to move the Pokemon he tried transferring to Champions back to Scarlet and Violet. That error code doesn't appear when trying to move around Pokemon that weren't involved in the failed Champions transfer, reports Carris.

"I spent hours and hours cultivating the pokemon I would be sending to my copy of champions so that I could start grinding the game, recording footage for videos, and getting a grasp of the meta for my coaching & consulting businesses," he says in a follow-up tweet. "This is an unacceptable setback."

Carris isn't alone in experiencing this issue, but it's unclear exactly how widespread it is. It's also unclear if there's a reliable workaround at the moment. One user suggested Carris uninstall and reinstall Pokemon Home, but Carris says he's done that to no avail. He also confirms none of his Pokemon are "genned," meaning modified using third-party software.

One Japanese-speaking player dealing with the same error received a response from Nintendo support advising them to clear the cache in Pokemon Home alongside several other steps, but the the player says none of that has worked.

I've reached out to The Pokemon Company for clarification, but in the meantime it's best to proceed with caution when transferring from Pokemon Home over to Champions, especially when dealing with your most treasured 'mons.

I made a competitively viable team in a matter of minutes in Pokemon Champions, and I'm confident this could open the door to high-level battles for newcomers galore

Pokemon Champions makes some surprising changes to staple mechanics and strategies fans have been using for years, and it's safe to say that they're going to take some getting used to.

As a PvP battle hub that'll soon be the purpose-built place for the official Pokemon Video Game Championships (VGC) and its tournaments, you'd largely expect battle mechanics to remain in line with what veteran players have been used to up to this point. Not so, apparently, as certain status effects have been significantly nerfed.

Paralysis (first introduced in Red and Green) may have faced some changes over the years, but one thing has remained consistent – any Paralyzed Pokemon has a 25% chance of being immobilized each turn. Champions nerfs this, bringing it down to a 12.5% chance, so if you Paralyze a foe, don't expect to get so lucky when it comes to stopping their attacks.

What's more, the Sleep status condition has been nerfed so that it now lasts for a maximum of three turns (with a 33% chance of waking up on the second), while the Freeze status similarly has a three-turn cap (with a 25% chance of thawing out each turn before that). That last one is bound to be a relief for anyone who's previously found themselves trapped for a seemingly endless number of turns, it's got to be said.

That's not all, though, as other changes may have a direct impact on certain PvP strategies. Even before Champions released, 2016 Pokemon World Champion and VGC superstar Wolfe 'Wolfey' Glick noted from an early-access preview session that the maximum number of Power Points (PP) for the move Protect had been halved, from 16 to just eight.

As Wolfey explains, Protect is commonly used in the VGC's standard double battle format, which sees you send out two Pokemon at a time. Not only can you use it to shield one Pokemon from damage while your other one takes out a threat on the field, but you can use the move to stall out incoming attacks like Sucker Punch and Thunderclap, which only land if you've used an attacking move. Notably, Sucker Punch and Thunderclap also each have a maximum of eight PP, so now that Protect has been made the same, players won't be able to use it as freely without worrying about running out of PP.

And, funnily enough, another anti-Sucker Punch and Thunderclap strategy has now been found dead since the game's launch earlier today. As highlighted on Twitter by @PokeMaineEvent, the move Fake Out now can't be selected at all unless it's the user's first turn in battle (or they just got switched back in). Those are the only circumstances the move actually lands – a trade-off for it being a high-priority attack that guarantees a flinch on its opponent – but previously, you could select it anyway and 'waste' a turn.

Except, it wasn't always a waste – it could similarly be used to bait out Sucker Punch and Thunderclap attacks from your foes. That's no longer an option, as Champions outright stops you from being able to throw away your turn using Fake Out if you're not using it as originally intended. At least you'll no longer be able to press it by mistake, I guess?

That Fake Out change also now means that if a Pokemon uses the move Encore on an opponent that just used Fake Out, instead of locking it into using a move that doesn't do anything, the Encored 'mon will instead use Struggle – letting it attack, but also forcing it to take recoil damage in the process (thanks for the spot, @shairaba).

Obviously, it's debatable if adjustments like this are necessarily a bad thing. Speaking in a group interview attended by GamesRadar+ ahead of Champions' launch, producer Masaaki Hoshino noted that the devs were "going to [pay] very close attention to how players are playing it, what the meta is like," and potentially "make balance adjustments accordingly." So, not only could all these things be changed further going forward, but we can probably expect more alterations to keep on coming, too.

The bigger question is what impact regular changes like that could have on the competitive scene, when large alterations have historically coincided with new generations of games, giving us years to get used to them. That's something we'll only be able to get a proper gauge of over time, but for now, between adjustments like these and the limitations Champions currently places on key aspects of battles (with many held items missing from the game at the time of writing, alongside hundreds of Pokemon), this might be the biggest shakeup VGC has had in years. Considering official tournaments are very soon going to be held in the game instead of the more familiar Scarlet and Violet, I can't imagine all players are thrilled.

If you're playing the new battle-focused game, be sure to check out our guide on how to link Pokemon Champions with Pokemon Home.

Linking Pokemon Champions to Pokemon Home is essential if you want to add the best Pokemon to your team. Champions is a game all about the most important part of the franchise - battling - but your default Pokemon Box is limited to just 30 monsters. Your selection, then, is important, and linking to Pokemon Home not only doubles your capacity in a roundabout way, but also lets you bring in any awesome, shiny, and powerful Pokemon you may already have caught elsewhere.

It's important to note that some things about your Pokemon might change when they're transferred to Pokemon Champions, and you might want to retrain some moves to better suit their purpose in this game. However, it's a great way to get the best Champions Pokemon into battle, including those special shinies. So, here's how to link Pokemon Champions with Home, and how to swap Pokemon between the two.

While you're at it, take a look at the latest Pokemon Champions Mystery Gift codes for another great Pokemon to add to your collection.

How to link Pokemon Champions to Home

To link Pokemon Champions and Pokemon Home, follow these steps:

• Log into Pokemon Home on your Nintendo Switch or mobile device.
• On the Switch, from the home screen, click on the Pokemon Champions icon in the bottom right-hand corner.
• On mobile, head to Options, then click on Send for a Visit in the Link with Pokemon Champions section.
• From here, check the Nintendo account shown is correct, then select any Pokemon that you wish to move from the boxes.
• Click Send for a Visit (from the bottom left-hand menu on mobile), and your Pokemon will be sent across to Pokemon Champions for collection.

It's worth noting that not all Pokemon can be moved between Home and Pokemon Champions. Any Pokemon that are not available in Champions yet won't be able to be moved, so if you're having trouble, try sending Pokemon individually. However, if this does work, you then need to collect each Pokemon in Champions before you can transfer any more.

How to bring Pokemon to Champions

To get your Pokemon out of Home and bring them into Pokemon Champions, you must head to the ranch by clicking Recruit from the main menu. Here, there's an option to Collect from Pokemon Home. Of course, your account must be connected first, and Pokemon must have been sent over, but you'll have already done this if you've followed my instructions above.

If and when your Box gets too full and you don't want to get rid of any Pokemon, you can then also send visiting Pokemon back to Home. Bear in mind that you cannot send Pokemon that were obtained in Champions to Home, though.

Pokemon can't visit Pokemon Champions

I had a problem with this at first, and Pokemon Home kept telling me that one or more of my Pokemon couldn't be sent to Champions. I still don't know what was causing this problem, as the selected Pokemon were all suitable, however, I did find a fix.

If you're having this problem too, the only thing I found that worked was to transfer a new Pokemon out of another game (anything but PoGO), into Home, and then into Champions. For example, I took an Abomasnow from Arceus and then sent it into Champions, which worked. From then on, I was able to send the other Pokemon to Champions too, as it seemed to 'unlock' the service. However, I was still unable to send more than one at a time.

Once you've got your best Pokemon out of Pokemon Home, I'm sure you'll be well on your way to working through all the Pokemon Champions ranked tiers.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

With Pokemon Champions Mystery Gift codes, you can unlock new, powerful Pokemon to add to your collection. That said, with a box limit of just 30 Pokemon in Champions, you want to choose your selection carefully. At least it seems The Pokemon Works have kept this in mind when choosing fighters to give away in Pokemon Champions, as the first reward is a must-have.

So, kick things off and add a new Pokemon to your party with this Pokemon Champions Mystery Gift, and I'll also instruct you on how to redeem it if you're having trouble.

All Pokemon Champions Mystery Gift codes

The current Pokemon Champions Mystery Gifts available right now are:

There has only been one Pokemon Champions Mystery Gift so far, but we can hope for more in the future. Whether they'll be for more Pokemon or other rewards like VP or battle items we don't know, but we'll add them here as soon as any more are announced.

When your box starts to get full, you can always send some of your team to the Pokemon Home app, doubling your capacity. I'll have a separate guide shortly on how to link Pokemon Champions to Home.

How to redeem Pokemon Champions Mystery Gift codes

To redeem Pokemon Champions Mystery Gift codes, you must first complete the brief tutorial. Next, from the main menu, click on Submenu, then scroll down to Mystery Gifts. You'll then be taken to the redemption page where you can enter the code above.

To claim your reward, return to the main menu and select your Mailbox, where your gifts will be waiting for you.

Expired Pokemon Champions Mystery Gift Codes

Unfortunately, the above code only lasted for a week, so if you missed it, you missed out.

If you're a big Pokemon fan, then you might also be interested in picking up the latest Pokemon Z-A Mystery Gifts as well as any current Pokopia Mystery Gifts, too. We've also got a handy rundown of the best Pokemon to use in Champions, and a guide to all of the Pokemon Champions ranked tiers.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

Pokemon Champions is finally here, but unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be a winner as far as players are concerned, with complaints about its visuals and limitations on the competitive battles it's made for.

Champions is a free-to-play, battle-focused game somewhat akin to the likes of Pokemon Stadium, serving as a PvP battle hub that allows you to use Pokemon you've trained in previous games, or brand new ones recruited via a gacha-like system in-game. It's also soon set to be the title used for official Video Game Championships (VGC) tournaments, including the massive World Championships, so it's a big deal, with a lot of pressure from fans hoping for either as good of a VGC experience as they can get in, say, Scarlet and Violet, or better.

Well, a few hours after Champions' launch, and it doesn't appear to have succeeded there yet. As Joe Merrick, owner of the unofficial Pokemon news site Serebii, puts it: "Going from the perfection of Pokopia to this...whiplash."

He's particularly disappointed about the lack of available items for Pokemon to use – per his own records on Serebii, there are currently only 30 items that aren't Mega Stones and Berries, and that list is missing popular staples like the Life Orb, Choice Band, Choice Specs, and Assault Vest. Needless to say, this is going to have a huge impact on players whose favorite teams relied on items that they no longer have access to.

"I've got to say, the lack of item options is going to hurt this game in the short term and I think very much damage VGC in general when VGC shifts over next month," Merrick writes. "What on earth were they thinking?"

And that's on top of a limited available pool of Pokemon available. Currently, there's reportedly a total of 185 to use – not even close to the series' full list of over 1,000 creatures. With that said, producer Masaaki Hoshino previously told me that "we want to include as many Pokemon as possible" in Champions, but that the current plan was to have "a limited selection available, but shifting over time" in order to keep the game from getting too complicated, especially going into the future when more and more Pokemon are created. So, we knew some sort of limit would be in place here, but the actual number seems to have come as a surprise to some.

Another major blow for many is the lack of 6v6 single battles. "No 6v6 single battles in Pokemon Champions makes me so sad," writes Pokemon content creator RaidAway+, while pokeaimMD writes: "How can you advertise this game as play the way you want to and not let me do 6v6 private lobbies."

What's more, there are also complaints about the way Champions looks and runs, even on Switch 2. "Why the fuck does it look like this. Why is it running at 30 fps," one writes, while another post reads: "WHY IS CHAMPIONS IN 30 FPS ARE WE SERIOUS BRO I HAVE A SWITCH 2 ITS 2026 HELLO?"

So, it's hardly a great start so far. Something that's well worth keeping in mind as a potential positive, though, is the fact that being a live service game means Champions is going to be continually updated, and therefore the devs will be able to (in theory) action feedback like this. Producer Hoshino also told me that the plan is to "keep Pokemon Champions going far into the future – basically forever, as long as the Pokemon series is continuing," so it's in the devs' interest to make players happy – we'll just have to see if they're able to turn things around from this shaky launch.

Pokemon Pokopia player decides Animal Crossing: New Horizons-style banishment isn't enough for their least favorite 'mons, straight-up jails them instead: "They are (mostly) comfortable."

I've been tracking Pokemon cards for long enough that the words "record low price" almost never pop up, so this Perfect Order deal is... well, a surprise. Actually, the fact that the Elite Trainer Box has hit a record low price on Amazon of $59.99 is enough to make me raise my eyebrows so high they're in danger of leaving my forehead.

Stock for one of the best card games has been dicey at best for a while now, and that makes any kind of (genuine) offer on Pokemon cards worth getting excited about. As the latest set to hit shelves, Perfect Order has been particularly difficult to come by - so I'm amazed to see its premier box set tumble down to something approaching a reasonable cost.

In terms of whether you should dive into Perfect Order, I'd say it's well worth a go regardless of whether you're new to the game or an old veteran at Poke-battles. Despite being a smaller set on the whole, there's gold hidden away in here. As our very own Poke-expert Christian notes, Perfect Order introduces a Pokemon card everyone will want to use. In addition, it adds new mechanics that set up "some intriguing design space for future expansions."

It also feels easier to find in stock than other expansions. It's still incredibly difficult to buy Pokemon TCG Chaos Rising, for example, and there was an alarming rush for the previous set - Ascended Heroes. Meanwhile, I've been able to find Perfect Order stock pretty regularly. Just see our guide on where to buy Pokemon TCG Perfect Order if you want to see for yourself.

Will this offer last? I sincerely doubt it. I'd move fast if you want to secure those cards for yourself as a result.

• See all Pokemon card deals at Amazon

Want more Poke-goodness? Be sure to visit our guide to the best Pokemon merch. For an idea of what to play next, though, don't miss the best board games.

I don't want to alarm anyone, but Pokemon Chaos Rising cards have just scurried up to us out of the long grass. Cue the classic battle music.

While I'll caveat this with a PSA that no offers on one of the best card games are reasonable right now because of resellers and sheer demand, the Pokemon Chaos Rising stock I've found is... well, not outrageously overpriced. Indeed, the listings over at Walmart and Miniature Market are better than I was expecting. Especially considering the fact that it's devilishly hard to track down stock right now anyway. In other words, I wouldn't hang around if you've got your eye on the set - it isn't likely to last long.

I mean, the irony isn't lost on me that I'm harping on about stock that's so far above MSRP. But the reality is, finding Pokemon cards at the original cost is nigh-on impossible. I track card stock as part of my work week, and it's exceedingly rare to find anything that hasn't been marked up.

The trick is knowing what's reasonable and what isn't. This is why the above offers caught my eye; they're pretty good so far as Pokemon cards go, especially because it's so tough to buy Pokemon TCG Chaos Rising anyway. As a result, I don't anticipate it all lasting very long.

• See all Pokemon card deals at Amazon

If you're looking for other Poke-goodies, don't miss the best Pokemon merch. As for an idea of what you should play next, be sure to stop by the best board games.

Pokemon Pokopia players have already figured out how to speedrun the cozy life sim, with the time to hit credits sitting at around three hours.

YouTube creator PulseEffects has shared a video detailing how its done, and while the point of the game obviously isn't to hit credits as fast as you can, it's certainly interesting to see how such a laid back game can be minmaxxed like this.

I won't go into all the details here for the sake of spoilers (that's what the video is for, if you wanna see 'em), but an early example includes not creating the biome for Slowpoke where I imagine almost everyone did (down near Magikarp), and instead building it near Hitmonchan, and thus making the act of escorting the slow Pokemon to the Pokemon Center way less tedious.

The most shocking aspect of the entire run is that the best ability in the game – Graveller's Rollout, which allows you to speed around as a ball and destroy terrain along the way – is completely skipped. A few powerups are skipped because most of them are "kinda unnecessary" or "take way too long to obtain to be worth it in a speedrun," with Rollout being an example of the latter.

If there's anything you would associate Pokemon Pokopia with, it's going fast and making sure you get to the ending, of course. Sure there's a Minecraft-inspired cozy game in there that has you rebuild nice communities with the power of Pokemon and friendship, but why would you do that when you can rush to the end as was obviously intended? At the very least, some have taken that approach, as the speedruns for Pokemon Pokopia are now down to three hours, which seems inconceivable to me who has put however many hours in and still not finished either of the second biomes or met the Snorlax or Pikachu variants.

Pokemon Pokopia sends monthly Switch 2 sales flying by 154% in the UK.