Pokémon Champions Beginner’s Guide: Teams, VP, and Battles

Build a six-Pokémon team, transfer eligible partners from Pokémon HOME, spend VP on customization, and prepare for online battles.

Availability: Pokémon Champions launched on Nintendo Switch on April 8, 2026, and on iOS and Android on June 17, 2026. It is free-to-start and supports cross-platform battles. See the official Pokémon Champions site for current updates.

The game was released on Nintendo Switch on April 8, 2026, while the iOS and Android versions are scheduled for June 17, 2026. If you're new to Pokémon Champions, here are some helpful instructions to get you started on the game more easily.

Pokémon Champions for Android

Pokémon Champions for iOS

Pokémon Champions beginner's guide

Get Pokémon from HOME or recruit them

Players can acquire Pokémon by transferring them from Pokémon HOME, or by recruiting Pokémon at Roster Ranch.

When recruiting Pokémon at Roster Ranch, you can choose to recruit them temporarily for free or spend VP to permanently unlock that Pokémon.

Build a team of six Pokémon

Gamers build a team of 6 Pokémon to bring into battles, with a familiar interface similar to the PC menu in traditional Pokémon games.

Based on the main Pokémon game series, Pokémon Champions may also apply some limitations on the types of Pokémon or items that can be used. These rules are likely to change each season.

Customize your favorite character with VP

Unlike previous Pokémon games, the entire process of building Pokémon in Pokémon Champions uses Victory Points (VP).

Skills, stats, and Abilities can all be changed by spending VP, and the cost will increase proportionally to the level of modification you make.

Join the match

After building and selecting your Pokémon, you can battle other Trainers through Ranked Matches, Casual Battles, Private Battles, and
Online Competitions.

• Ranked Battles has a ranking system for climbing the ranks.
• Casual Battles do not record achievements, making them suitable for practicing tactics and testing new team compositions.
• Private Battles allow you to challenge your friends.
• Online competitions function like in-game tournaments, aiming for a more competitive environment at a higher level.

Analyze the opposing team

When the battle begins, both you and your opponent can see each other's lineups. This allows both sides to adjust their strategies based on: Pokémon type weaknesses, Ability advantages, and the opponent's lineup. The number of Pokémon selected to participate in the battle will depend on the battle format.

Choose your Pokémon to participate in the battle

• In Single Battles, you can choose 3 Pokémon to battle against your opponent.
• In Double Battles, you can bring up to 4 Pokémon into the battle.

Try to choose Pokémon that can cooperate well with each other and compensate for each other's weaknesses.