Pokemon Champions: Everything you need to know about the Nintendo game

Pokemon Champions is officially here and competitive creture collectors are locked in. I've personally been waiting for this launch since its reveal came alongside Pokemon Winds and Waves back in the first few months of 2026, as it's seemingly the last major Pokemon title until the next Gen comes out on the Switch 2.

However, this isn't your typical Pokemon formula, folks. Pokemon Champions lets trainers get competitive as a battle-focused experience, and instead of fighting NPC Gym Leaders, you battle your friends and family. The game is really for big Pokemon fans as it offers up the ability to fight with Pokemon from your collection across console generations using Pokemon HOME. So, if the concept of bringing all your favourite partners to the arena sounds like a dream scenario, then you're in the right place.

But, if you are unsure if this is the right title for you, or if you are after more infromation then don't worry, I also have got you covered. Here is our helpful overview of everything you need to know about Pokemon Champions before handing Ninty your hard earned cash.

Pokemon Champions Guides

We've got a couple of guides to help you get the most out of your Pokemon Champions teams. First up, take a look at the latest Pokemon Champions Mystery Gift codes to obtain new Pokemon for free. Then, check on how to transfer Pokemon between Champions and Pokemon Home so you can show off your best 'mons from over the years.

While you're using Home to build your best team, use our guide to the best Pokemon in Pokemon champions. We can also tell you whether you need to fork out on a Nintendo Switch Online subscription for Pokemon Champions.

Pokemon Champions release date

Pokemon Champions is out now, releasing worldwide on April 8, 2026! That's right, after the cryptic April launch window shown during the Pokémon Day 2026 stream for the series 30th anniversary, the new Nintendo game is finally here.

The game is free to play, but there is a starter pack available to purchase that includes the following:

• 50 more Pokemon in your storage box
• The Battle! (Trainer Battle) song from Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokemon: Let's Go, Eevee!
• 30 Teammate Tickets
• 50 Training Tickets

Pokemon Champions platforms

Pokemon Champions is on "the Nintendo Switch family of systems" as well as iOS and Android smartphones.

That means that you can play it on your Switch and Switch 2. There is also cross-play support between Switch and mobile devices, and Pokemon can be bought from Pokemon HOME in Champions as you work to assemble your dream team.

Pokemon Champions trailer

The first Pokemon Champions trailer shows off the overall vibe and aesthetic we might expect from the game. It begins with a blast from the nostalgic past, charting the best Pokemon games progression across console generations as players of all ages get in on the fun.

We see its humble origins on Game Boy, the Wii, Nintendo DS, and finally, a shot of a woman gazing in awe at a mobile device. The shot then changes to show a man sitting on his couch at home playing on the Nintendo Switch, and it's revealed that the two are locked into a real-time Pokemon Champions battle from across the globe.

Below is the most recent overview trailer as well, just in case you want to see some more gameplay depth. Be warned, it is six minutes long, though.

Pokémon Champions – Overview Trailer – Nintendo Switch - YouTube

Watch On

Pokemon Champions gameplay

Pokemon Champions is a PvP game that is mainly centred around battling in turn-based matches. You'll have to use a team of six Pokemon that will be slimmed down to four after you pick and examine your opponent's selection and vice versa.

Just like in the RPG series, players take turns during battles, and will need to try to get their opponents' team down to zero HP in order to win. It's the classic formula; however, Mega Evolutions are confirmed to be in the game, so that should spice things up for veterans.

Champions also has different battle formats for players. Single battles are one-on-one showdowns. Double battles have teams of two Pokémon fighting against each other. Then there are also three online battle modes to keep in mind as well: Ranked battles, Casual battles, and Private battles

In Ranked battles, you'll be matched with trainers at a similar level to you to try and work your way up the ranks. Casual battles don't record wins or loses, so if you aren't super competitive or want to practice your stuff, you have a safe space to do so. Finally, Private battles lets you create a private room where your friends can play against each other once you share the ID with them.

On top of all these modes, Champions will have online competitions that feature different rules each season, keeping things fresh and exciting for players. The more you battle in general, the more VP (Victory Points) you earn, which is essentially a currency to train up your Pokemon as well as swap out any moves from their arsenal.

VP can also be used to Recruit more than once per day, buy Mega stones, and a whole bunch of other useful bits. So there is a very big incentive to start raking those up.

How to recruit Pokemon in Pokemon Champions?

From the most recent trailer, we now know that there are two main ways to obtain "battle-ready" Pokemon. The first is via the Pokemon HOME app where you can transfer your pokemon from past games as well as Pokemon Go. You'll have to link the Pokemon HOME app to Pokemon Champions, but after doing so, all your past friends should be there waiting to brawl.

The second way to get Pokemon is via the "Recruit" feature. Once per day, you'll be able to pick a Pokemon from your team to recruit a random Pokemon that appears in Champions. However, recruited Pokemon can only be used for seven days. So, I'd personally suggest going down the Pokemon HOME route.

By using VP, you can permanently recruit a Pokemon if you really want to stick with the recruit function, but I'm guessing that will be pretty pricey, so keep that in mind as well.

Pokemon Champions developer

Pokemon Champions is developed by The Pokemon Works, which also developed Pokemon Sleep and is tasked with maintaining Pokemon HOME. It makes Pokemon Champions' built-in synergy with the cloud service make that much more sense, but the studio isn't going it alone.

Mainline franchise developer Game Freak is supporting The Pokemon Works by "carrying out the planning for this project," teaming up to deliver a confluent PvP online experience that still feels part of the broader Pokemon universe.

Check out our roundup of all of the new games on the way next. Or for more Nintendo, we also have lists of all the upcoming Switch 2 games on the horizon.