- Primary Subject: Pokémon Champions (Launch Version 1.0.0)
- Key Update: Officially released on April 8, 2026, this standalone platform introduces a "Casual Battle" queue and cross-play between Switch and Switch 2, designed to bridge the gap between casual fans and pro-tier VGC.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: April 9, 2026
- Quick Answer: Casual players should try Pokémon Champions to discover new favorite Pokémon, master strategic combat depth, and carry over expert skills to future mainline RPG adventures.
For the most part, when people play Pokemon, it's to experience a unique world where both humans and fantastic creatures co-exist. Then enjoy the journey that comes with it. Those types are the ones who'd rather go through the games casually, and who'd likely stay away from the more competitive side as much as possible.
If you fit into that category of player, then you may not be as excited for the release of Pokemon Champions, given that it's a game that focuses solely on the battling aspect of Pokemon and nothing else. You have every right to skip the game, as there's a good chance it won't be your cup of tea, but I believe that every casual fan should still take the time to play it.
Doing so can be scary, especially to those who have never touched the competitive side of the games even once, but there are benefits to doing so. The first is that it allows fans to appreciate more Pokemon other than those they've come to heavily favor.
In casual playthroughs, especially repeated ones, there's a good chance that you've stuck with the same party members due to reasons like their designs, the power they have, or maybe something simple like they're of a color you like. Regardless, you've stuck with them and likely used nothing else but them, and while that's fine, doing so means missing out.
In Pokemon Champions, you get to pick whatever is available in its current roster, and there's a good chance that your favorites aren't there. When that happens, you'll want to try out different Pokemon, and when you do, there is a good chance that you may start to like what they have to offer.
The game provides you with the opportunity to branch out from your usual favourites, making you see that there are many other choices out there that would have made you enjoy playing Pokemon even more. Even if you lose with the new ones you've tried out, you'll likely still see their potential, which could end up with you becoming more of a diverse player since you know there's more out there for you to try.
Another benefit to be gained by casual fans for playing Pokemon Champions is that it can help them improve their combat skills. This is pretty much a no-brainer, given that the game is all about the multiplayer battling experience and trying to overcome every opponent, but there are layers of strategies that can be learned from taking on a human opponent over one that's only controlled by an AI.
For example, in most casual playthroughs, players only ever use attacking moves to try to get the win over enemies. Some take it up a notch by learning typings and only using super-effective moves against what they're facing, but that's likely the only strategy they know and follow.
However, in Pokemon Champions, these casual players will be exposed to things they've likely never seen or bothered trying. They could go up against someone who uses one Pokemon to set up entry hazards of different varieties. Thinking nothing of it, they take it down, only to have their own Pokemon suffer every time they're forced to switch in, putting them at a huge disadvantage.
If not that, then perhaps they face an opponent that understands how to use items or abilities effectively, like Leftovers on something tanky to heal up whatever damage it soaks, Sturdy to survive a fatal hit and counter with something more devastating, and so on.
Since the casual players have likely never thought to use or prepare for such a strategy during their playthroughs, they'll inevitably lose to their more competitive counterparts. Such an experience can be very devastating, but also extremely helpful, as it teaches you that there are many different ways to win battles aside from just using moves that deal damage.
What was learned can then be carried over to the single-player experience, and it can lead to many more ways to enjoy the journey. It doesn't mean that you have to make use of everything you gained from playing competitively, but it at least gives more options to take out even the toughest of challenges. Also, using what you've learned, you could even end up feeling like one of the Pokemon Champions in the games, because by utilizing them correctly, you can end up becoming too much for the in-game AI to deal with.
Again, it is understandable for casual fans not to even want to touch the game, given that touching the competitive side goes against the purpose of wanting an easygoing experience. Still, it would do some good to give it a shot, as even a small try provides benefits that can go a long way in helping anyone have more fun when playing any Pokemon game, both the ones that exist now and in the future.
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