This Pokemon Champions starter guide covers everything you need to hit the ground running in one of the most competitive Pokemon experiences ever made. There are no gyms here, no wild encounters, and no drawn-out story to sit through. Pokemon Champions is built entirely around competitive battles, and that means the decisions you make from day one actually matter. Here is everything a new player needs to know before stepping onto the battlefield.

What Makes Pokemon Champions Different From Other Pokemon Games?

Starting Pokemon Champions for the first time can feel like a completely different game from what most players are used to. A few core differences stand out right away:

• No gyms, story modes, or wild Pokemon encounters
• You pick a starter Pokemon that immediately unlocks a full team of six
• Everything from moves to stats to abilities can be changed using a currency called Victory Points (VP)
• Competitive battles are the entire game, including ranked, casual, private, and tournament modes

It is a sharper, more focused experience. Once you understand how the systems fit together, it becomes extremely rewarding. This Pokemon Champions guide will walk through each one.

How to Get Pokemon in Pokemon Champions

Instead of catching Pokemon in the wild, everything in Pokemon Champions runs through a system called the Roster Ranch. There are three main ways to scout Pokemon:

Trial Scout – This is the most important feature for any Pokemon Champions new player guide to cover. Every 22 hours, you get one free trial that lets you test a Pokemon without spending anything. Use it to understand how a Pokemon plays before committing VP to it. Always be using this every day.

Regular Scout – This uses VP to permanently recruit a Pokemon to your roster. The smart move is to always trial scout first, then spend VP only once you know a Pokemon fits your team.

Ticket Scouting – Missions hand out Regular Tickets and Fast Coupons. Regular Tickets recruit Pokemon without spending VP, while Fast Coupons reduce wait time by one hour each. Save these for strong or meta picks rather than using them early.

Pokemon HOME Import – Pokemon Champions also connects to Pokemon HOME, which allows transfers from Pokemon GO and other main series games. A few important notes:

• Transfers are one-way only and cannot be reversed
• Some moves from older games may not exist in Champions and will need to be replaced
• Always check your moveset immediately after importing to avoid wasting VP fixing it later

All Pokemon Champions Starter Teams

When starting Pokemon Champions, the first major choice is picking a starter Pokemon. This is bigger than it sounds. Choosing a starter does not just give you one Pokemon. It unlocks a full pre-built team of six. Each starter comes with five specific teammates that have been designed to work together from the start.

Later on, you can swap moves, change abilities, adjust stats, or replace teammates entirely. But for most new players, knowing which team you are getting upfront makes the choice much easier. Here is every starter and their full team:

It is also worth noting that if you recruit a starter later through the Roster Ranch or bring one in through Pokemon HOME, you only receive that single Pokemon. The full pre-built team only unlocks at the start of the game.

Best Starter to Choose in Pokemon Champions

The best starter depends entirely on how you want to play. Here is a quick breakdown by playstyle:

Best for Single Battles: Pikachu

Pikachu’s team is built around fast and aggressive physical damage. Garchomp brings raw speed and power, Azumarill hits incredibly hard with Huge Power, Gyarados provides Intimidate support to lower the opponent’s Attack, and Kingambit closes out late-game situations with strong finishing power. If you prefer taking the fight straight to the opponent, this team keeps constant offensive pressure going.

Best for Double Battles: Tyranitar

Tyranitar shines in Double Battles because of how well his team works together. Sand Stream activates a sandstorm automatically when Tyranitar enters battle. Arcanine’s Intimidate cuts both opposing Pokemon’s Attack at once. Sylveon’s Pixilate Hyper Voice hits both opponents at the same time. Whimsicott controls the pace of battle with Tailwind for speed boosts or Prankster moves for priority disruption. This team is ideal for players who enjoy controlling the battlefield.

Best for Balanced Play: Charizard or Gardevoir

Both of these teams offer well-rounded compositions that are easier to manage early on. Charizard’s team brings fast offensive pressure with solid type coverage. Gardevoir’s team leans on strong special attacking power with multiple defensive pivots to fall back on. Either of these is a solid pick as a Pokemon Champions newbie guide recommendation.

How to Build Your Pokemon Using VP in Pokemon Champions

Building Pokemon in Pokemon Champions is done entirely through Victory Points. This system covers stats, moves, and abilities.

• Stat Training
  

Each Pokemon has six stats that can be freely adjusted: HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed. Each Pokemon gets 66 extra stat points to distribute, with a maximum of 32 points allowed per stat. Simple frameworks to start with:

• Offensive builds: pour points into Attack or Special Attack and Speed
• Defensive builds: focus on Defense, Special Defense, and HP
• Balanced builds: mix offense and defense with room for coverage

Natures also influence stats by boosting one while lowering another. Common competitive natures include Adamant, Modest, Bold, Timid, and Jolly.

• Move Configuration

Moves can be changed at any time using VP. A few things worth understanding early:

• Special moves break through physical walls more effectively
• Priority moves like Bullet Punch and Fake Out can outspeed faster opponents
• Coverage moves handle type matchups that your main moves cannot reach

• Ability Selection
  

Abilities are passive effects that can completely change how a battle goes. Some boost specific damage types, others trigger weather conditions automatically, and some create situations that favor your whole team. Picking the right ability is often the difference between winning and losing before a single move is made.

• Held Items
  

Held items give Pokemon additional advantages during battle. Some useful ones to know:

• Leftovers: restores a small amount of HP every turn
• Choice Scarf: raises Speed significantly but locks the user into one move
• Safety Goggles: prevents effects from moves like Spore
• Covert Cloak: blocks the secondary effects of opposing moves

All Game Modes in Pokemon Champions Explained

Once your team is ready, there are four ways to battle in Pokemon Champions. Consider them as the different ‘game modes’. They are as follows:

Ranked Battle: This is the main competitive mode. Winning earns ranking points and losing costs them. Ranked Battles follow seasonal rules, which means certain Pokemon or items may be restricted each season. Staying updated on the current ruleset matters here.

Casual Battle: No ranking, no pressure. This is the best place to test new teams, learn type matchups, and understand how your lineup performs before taking it into ranked. Always test in casual first.

Private Battle: Custom rules, played against friends. Great for testing specific matchups or running small tournaments with people you know.

Online Competitions: In-game tournaments for players who want higher-level competition. These are structured events with more serious opponents.

Battle Basics Every Pokemon Champions New Player Should Know

Before every match, both players can see each other’s full team. This is called the team preview phase. Use it to read what the opponent might lead with, predict their strongest Pokemon, and decide which of your six Pokemon to actually bring into the match. Match formats work as follows:

• Single Battle: choose 3 Pokemon from your team of 6
• Double Battle: choose 4 Pokemon from your team of 6

Double Battles are the primary competitive format in Pokemon Champions. Speed determines turn order most of the time, but some moves change priority. Weather conditions like Rain, Sun, and Sandstorm also change which moves deal more or less damage depending on the setup.

Team Building Tips for Starting Pokemon Champions

Building a good team in Pokemon Champions is less about having the strongest individual Pokemon and more about making sure the team works together.

• Cover type weaknesses across your team so no one element shuts you down
• Do not build around a single carry Pokemon because good players will target it first
• Have more than one win condition so the team can adapt mid-match
• A basic starting structure of one attacker, one defensive pivot, and one support covers most situations

Quick Tips for Pokemon Champions Beginners

• Use Trial Scout every 22 hours without fail. It costs nothing and teaches you the game faster than anything else
• Do not spend VP until you have tested what you want with Trial Scout first
• Check seasonal rules before building a team for ranked play, since restrictions change
• Study the team preview phase every match and think about what your opponent might lead with
• Fix imported Pokemon movesets immediately after transferring, since delays mean wasted VP later
• Never build a team that relies on just one Pokemon to win

Players can enjoy Pokemon Champions even more on a bigger screen of their PC or Laptop with keyboard and mouse via BlueStacks for an elevated gameplay experience.