Summary
There were some exciting updates on Pokemon Day this year, even though fans haven’t had a first look at Gen 10 just yet.Pokemon Championsis a new title coming to mobile and Nintendo Switch, presumably Nintendo Switch 2 as well, and it was just announced with a teaser trailer that reveals very little about gameplay, features, monetization, and more. From a glance,Pokemon Championsdoesn’t seem too different from concepts like the official but outdatedPokemon Stadiumor even the unofficialPokemon Showdown. This is a great addition to the franchise ifPokemon Championsis a dedicated battling gamelike it seems, and it’s already breaking a huge tradition from mainline titles.
Currently, both casual and competitive battles are tied to the most recent mainline games in the series, which means Gen 9 titles until Gen 10 is officially released. This means that each mainline game comes with its respective combat gimmick, such as Terastallization for Gen 9, Dynamaxing or Gigantamaxing for Gen 8, and so forth. One can’t Dynamax their Pokemon in Gen 9, for example, as the only supported generational mechanic is Terastallization. However, this doesn’t apply to the upcomingPokemon Champions, breaking a longstanding tradition.
Pokemon Champions Will Allow Multiple Battle Gimmicks
There are various reasons why having a single combat gimmick can work and make sense inPokemongames. This approach streamlines battles and makes them simpler to understand for all players, creates a framework for a given game to allow certain rulesets within in-game battles and competitive, and makes it so each generation feels unique thanks to its dedicated gimmick.Pokemon Championscan offer a different approach to rankedand the competitive-legal format of double battles, as it allows different generational gimmicks to be used at once, which the trailer shows as Terastallization from Gen 9 and Mega Evolution from Gen 6.
It’s worth noting thatnot all Pokemon will be available in Pokemon Championson launch.
Given how popular some battle gimmicks have been and still are over others, it would only make sense forPokemon Championsto offer all of them to players and let them choose whichever ones they prefer or make the most sense with their team build. This could take competitive battling to the next level in various ways, both creating a sense of anticipation due to the possible unexpected nature of the chosenPokemonbattle gimmickfor one’s opponent, for example, as the selection would likely include everything the series has offered so far. Even then, being able to swap between multiple gimmicks could be a great way to entice new players and veterans alike to try the game and battling in general.
Why Pokemon Champions Allowing Multi-Generational Battle Gimmicks Matters
Considering thatcombat mechanics like Dynamaxand Terastallization have never been usable together in a single game, this may call for adjustments to the various gimmicks and their effects before pitting them against one another. For example, Mega Evolutions could be extremely strong for some Pokemon in particular, Terastallization could offer a much-needed surprise element, and Dynamaxing could make some critters much more menacing thanks to the increased HP and powered-up moves. Since these elements have never been available together, with the exception of Z-Moves and Megas in Gen 7 after beating the main story, it’s hard to tell how battles may evolve inPokemon Champions.
Very little is currently known aboutPokemon Championsand things may change over time as the game is developed, but showing bothPokemon’s Mega Evolutionsand Terastallization is a clear statement about what this title is meant to achieve. Breaking away from the usual single-gimmick formula may be for the best, and it may make casual and competitive battles all the more alluring in the long run.
