New ‘Pokémon Champions’ Trailer: Competitive Pokémon Lives On!

Today at the Pokémon Presents, The Pokémon Company introduced Pokémon Champions, a battle-focused game coming to Nintendo Switch and Mobile devices. This game is the company’s answer to the future of competitive Pokémon following the removal of turn-based battles in the upcoming Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Watch the Pokémon Champions trailer below.

What Is ‘Pokémon Champions’ About?

Pokémon Champions is a battle-focused entry in the series similar to that of Pokémon Stadium. This game intends to keep the turn-based battle system fans have grown accustomed to over the years. In addition to Abilities, this game will introduce classic mechanics such as Mega Evolution (first seen in Pokémon X & Pokémon Y) and modern mechanics such as Terastallizing (first seen in Pokémon Scarlet & Pokémon Violet). Read the full description below.

Get ready to experience everything you love about Pokémon battles all in one place—in Pokémon Champions. This new, battle-focused game will feature familiar mechanics such as Pokémon types, Abilities, and moves, creating an environment conducive to rich and varied strategies for new and experienced Trainers alike.

It’s not just familiar mechanics—you’ll be able to bring in classic Pokémon from Pokémon HOME, too! Look forward to cross-platform battles alongside your favorite Pokémon on Nintendo Switch and mobile, with a variety of different modes available for your desired experience.

In addition to the announcement we got a first look at the upcoming title. You can view the trailer here:

What Happens In The ‘Pokémon Champions’ Trailer?

The trailer opens with two kids having a Pokémon battle on their Gameboys, we transition to other trainers having battles on various Nintendo consoles such as the Nintendo 64, Gameboy Advanced, Wii, 3DS and Nintendo Switch before we cut to someone on a bench playing Pokémon Champions on their phone. We see a battle between Charizard, Hisuian Samurott, Aegislash and Dondozo. We see numerous signals bouncing to and from a satellite indicating many Pokémon battles occurring before we cut to someone playing Pokémon Champions on the Nintendo Switch. We learn that they’re battling the trainer who’s playing on their phone indicating cross-platform battles.

As the battle continues on we see Charizard mega evolve into Charizard X and Dondozo become a Water Tera Type showing that Mega Evolution and Terastallizing will be supported in this title. Z-Moves and Dynamaxing / Gigantamaxing however, are noticeably absent during the trailer. 

Which Features Are In ‘Pokémon Champions’?

With Pokémon Champions being battle focused you can expect a number of battle mechanics from various games to return in this title. Here are all the features in this game:

• Turn-Based Battles – The Pokémon Legends: Z-A trailer revealed that turn-based battles will be removed in favor of real-time ones. Pokémon Champions however, will keep the turn-based battle system and by extension the competitive Pokémon alive.
• Mega Evolution – Mega Evolution not only returns in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, It’s also coming to Pokémon Champions. This mechanic increased the stats of your Pokémon for a limited time in battle.
• Terastallization – This phenomenon introduced in Pokémon Scarlet & Pokémon Violet allows Pokémon to gain a Tera type which boosts the power of moves corresponding to that type.
• Cross-Platform Battles – With Pokémon Champions coming to both Nintendo Switch consoles and Mobile, trainers can battle each other regardless of their platform.
• Pokémon Home Functionality – Players will be able to use any Pokémon they’ve encountered on Pokémon Go and other mainline titles in Pokémon Champions by transferring them to Pokémon Home.

Pokémon Champions is currently in development for Nintendo Switch systems and mobile devices.

Thanks for reading this article about the Pokémon Champions announcement trailer. If you enjoyed it, consider checking out the rest of our Pokémon Presents coverage and our Gaming section.