Pokémon Champions Beginner Guide: Modes, VP and Recruiting
November 9, 2026 · 6 min read
On this page
- Pokémon Champions basics
- Battle modes
- Mega Evolution and the Omni Ring
- Victory Points (VP) explained
- How to recruit Pokémon
- How to train your Pokémon
- Bringing Pokémon from Pokémon HOME
- What's free and what costs money
- Champions in official tournaments
- Tips for new players
- Frequently asked questions
- Is Pokémon Champions free?
- Can you catch Pokémon in Pokémon Champions?
- Can you buy VP in Pokémon Champions?
- Does Pokémon Champions connect to Pokémon HOME?
- Is Pokémon Champions cross-platform?
- Is Pokémon Champions used for VGC?
Pokémon Champions is a free-to-start battle game for Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, iOS and Android. You don't catch Pokémon in it: you recruit them with Victory Points (VP) earned from battling, train them with VP, and battle in Ranked, Casual or Private matches in singles or doubles. It's also the official software for the Pokémon Video Game Championships (VGC). This guide covers what a new player needs to know, based on the official Pokémon Champions site and Wikipedia.
Last checked: November 9, 2026.
Pokémon Champions basics
| Released | April 8, 2026 on Nintendo Switch, June 17, 2026 on iOS and Android |
| Platforms | Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, iOS, Android |
| Price | Free to start, with optional paid items, passes and a membership |
| Cross-play | Yes, mobile players battle Switch and Switch 2 players |
| Developer | The Pokémon Works, a joint venture of The Pokémon Company and ILCA |
| Pokémon HOME | Yes, Pokémon can visit from HOME |
Champions is a spin-off built only around battling, in the style of the older Pokémon Stadium games. There's no region to explore and no wild Pokémon.
Battle modes
There are three modes, and each one offers both Single Battles and Double Battles:
| Mode | What it's for |
|---|---|
| Ranked Battles | Battle players worldwide. Your rank rises and falls with results, and you earn VP after matches. |
| Casual Battles | Relaxed battles away from the ranked ladder, handy for testing teams. |
| Private Battles | Battles you set up yourself, for example with friends. |
Ranked Battles run in seasons. Results are tallied at the end of each season for your final placement and season rewards. Every few seasons, a new regulation changes which Pokémon and rules are allowed. The latest one on the official site is Regulation M-C, with an overview posted on October 22, 2026.
Mega Evolution and the Omni Ring
Mega Evolution was part of the very first Ranked ruleset, though each regulation sets which mechanics are allowed. Your character wears an Omni Ring, which works like the Mega Ring in the main games, and the developers say more features may be added to it later. The official site also announces Mega Dragonite, one of the new Mega Evolutions from Legends: Z-A, for Champions.
Victory Points (VP) explained
VP is the main currency, and you'll spend it on almost everything:
- Earning VP: mainly from Ranked Battles, plus other sources in the game.
- Spending VP: recruiting Pokémon permanently, training them, and buying some items such as Mega Stones in the Shop.
- Buying VP: you can't. VP can't be bought directly with real money, so the only way to get more is to play.
Because VP is limited, decide which Pokémon form your core team before spending it on training.
How to recruit Pokémon
Instead of catching Pokémon, you recruit them from the Roster Ranch, which offers a random lineup:
- New lineup: a fresh set of Pokémon appears every 22 hours without spending VP.
- Trial Recruitment: once a day, a Pokémon can join for a trial period without VP. You can battle with it straight away to see if it suits your team, but you can't train it during the trial.
- Permanent Recruitment: spend VP to keep a Pokémon for good.
Two items speed this up, and they come mostly from in-game missions:
| Item | What it does |
|---|---|
| Quick Coupon | Cuts the wait for a new recruit by one hour per coupon |
| Teammate Ticket | Permanently recruits a Pokémon without spending VP |
How to train your Pokémon
Training lets you shape a Pokémon for battle. Using VP, you can raise stats such as Attack and Defense, and change its Ability and moves. A Training Ticket brings the VP cost of a training session down to zero.
In the main series games, the same job is done by natures and EVs and IVs. Knowing how those work still helps you understand what a good stat spread looks like.
Bringing Pokémon from Pokémon HOME
You can link Champions to Pokémon HOME and bring in Pokémon from games like Legends: Z-A, Scarlet and Violet or Pokémon GO. They come in as visitors. A few rules apply:
- Only Pokémon that exist in Champions can visit.
- Pokémon you recruit in Champions can't be sent to HOME.
- If a visitor knows moves that Champions doesn't use, you change them through training.
- Training done in Champions doesn't carry over to HOME, but it's saved if the same Pokémon visits again.
- If a visitor leaves and returns in a different form, its Champions training is lost.
There's a bonus for Legends: Z-A players too. Send a Chesnaught, Delphox, Greninja or Eternal Flower Floette you befriended in Z-A to visit, and you can claim its Mega Stone (Chesnaughtite, Delphoxite, Greninjite or Floettite) in Champions. For step-by-step HOME transfers, see our Pokémon HOME transfer guide.
What's free and what costs money
The core game is free, including all three battle modes. The paid options are:
| Option | What you get |
|---|---|
| Premium Battle Pass | Extra season rewards, including exclusive clothing, on top of the free Battle Pass |
| Pokémon Champions + Starter Pack (Switch) | Makes it easier to obtain and train Pokémon early on |
| Membership | More Box space, more Battle Teams at once, members-only missions and battle songs |
| In-game items | Optional purchases in the Shop |
Every player has a Battle Pass. You fill it with Season Points (SP), earned from Ranked Battles and other activities, for both wins and losses. The pass and your SP reset each season.
Champions in official tournaments
From 2026, Champions is the game used for the VGC at the Pokémon World Championships and the Championship Series events leading up to it. The first events on Champions were held in May 2026. In some regions, Scarlet and Violet may still be used for Championship Series events. The official site also lists online competitions such as the 2027 Global Challenge series.
Tips for new players
- Use your free Trial Recruitment every day. It's the cheapest way to test Pokémon before spending VP.
- Bring Pokémon from HOME. If you've played Z-A or Scarlet and Violet, your old team can visit for free.
- Pick a core team first. Spread VP across too many Pokémon and none of them get fully trained.
- Learn the type matchups. Champions uses the familiar types, Abilities and moves from the main games. Keep our Pokémon type chart or the type calculator open while you build teams.
- Practice in Casual Battles. Test a new team there before taking it into Ranked.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pokémon Champions free?
Yes, it's free to start on Switch, iOS and Android. Optional purchases include a Premium Battle Pass, a membership, in-game items and, on Switch, the Pokémon Champions + Starter Pack.
Can you catch Pokémon in Pokémon Champions?
No. You recruit Pokémon from the Roster Ranch using VP, tickets or a free daily Trial Recruitment, or bring them in as visitors from Pokémon HOME.
Can you buy VP in Pokémon Champions?
No. VP can't be bought directly. You earn it mainly from Ranked Battles and other in-game activities, and spend it on recruiting and training.
Does Pokémon Champions connect to Pokémon HOME?
Yes. Pokémon from HOME can visit Champions if they appear in the game, and you can send them back later. Pokémon recruited in Champions can't be sent to HOME.
Is Pokémon Champions cross-platform?
Yes. Players on iOS and Android can battle players on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.
Is Pokémon Champions used for VGC?
Yes. Since 2026, Champions has been the official game for the Pokémon World Championships and the Championship Series events leading up to it, though some regions may still use Scarlet and Violet.
Pokémon artwork and card images © Nintendo, Creatures, GAME FREAK and The Pokémon Company. mgame.gg isn't affiliated with or endorsed by them.
