2025’s yearly February Pokemon Presents focused mostly on updates for known games, but there was one major new title in the bunch.Pokemon Championsis a continuation of thePokemon StadiumandPokemon Battle Revolutiongames, allowing players to import their favorite teams fromPokemon Homeand battle with them in a new environment. The selection of modesPokemon Championswill offer isn’t known yet, but the game will come to both Nintendo Switch and mobile devices, and, despite this being new for the latter, offer the authentic mainlinePokemonbattling experience.
It only exists as a teaser trailer and a short description right now, butPokemon Championssounds very promising. This is the sort of experience that only dedicated fans playing the latest mainlinePokemongame, or anyone matchmaking in thePokemon Showdownfangame, have been able to enjoy previously. IfPokemon ChampionsincludesStadiumandBattle Revolution’srental Pokemon and single-player modes, it will open the competitive environment up for everyone, especially if it ends up being free-to-play. Only one other detail aboutPokemon Championsexists right now, and while it’s enticingly unique, it’s also ground thePokemonfranchise has never trodden before.
Mega Evolution’s Return in Pokemon Champions is a Big Deal
Bringing A Dropped Gimmick Back Is New For Pokemon
EachPokemongeneration, from the sixth generationPokemon XandYonward, has included one major mechanic that exists on top of the regular battle system.Pokemon XandYintroduced Mega Evolution, and it lingered in Generation 7 before Gen 8 dropped it, but the Gen 9 titlesPokemon Legends: Z-AandPokemon Championshave brought Megas back. After that, each generation’s one-off gimmick was Z-Moves in Gen 7, Dynamaxing and Gigantamaxing in Gen 8, and Terastallization in Gen 9. The items or conditions necessary, and various other details like whether they were universal or for specific Pokemon, changed with each mechanic.
Mega Evolution was the most popular of these, appearing prominently in spin-offs and even thePokemonanime for years after its first era had passed. Its return inLegends: Z-AandChampionsis evidence enough of that, and there’s a good chance new Pokemon will gain Mega forms as part of this movement.Whether Mega Evolution will penetratePokemon’s tenth generationand onward is up in the air since it’s a story-relevant power that requires special items, butPokemon Homeintegration means it’s possible. That would makePokemon Championsa preview of things to come, as Mega Evolutions are not alone this time.
Pokemon Champions’ Use of Mega Evolution And Terastallization Is Unprecedented
Working off of thePokemon ScarletandVioletbattle rules,Pokemon Championsalso employs Terastallization. Although only Terapagos benefits from a bespoke form and base star increase from Terastallization like it was Mega Evolution, every Gen 9 Pokemon has a Tera Type, so everything can benefit from its effects. This isn’t a surprisegivenPokemon Champions’ timing, but what is surprising is that Mega Evolutions are also usable.Pokemonhad only ever mixed battle gimmicks before in the Generation 7 games, and even there, Z-Moves were emphasized over Mega Evolutions and the two had meaningfully different effects.
Mega Evolution And Terastallization’s Coexistence In Pokemon Champions Must Be Explained
Like the introduction of fully real-time traditionalPokemonbattles inLegends: Z-A, the use of two battle transformation mechanics inPokemon Championsis a bold new move for the franchise. It also raises a lot of questions thatPokemon Championswill need to answer, including whether entire teams will need to pick one or the other,whether a Mega Evolved Pokemon can Terastallize, and whether any balance adjustments have been made to accommodate each mechanic’s presence. Such an unusual decision for turn-basedPokemon’s most competitive simulator yet is bold, andPokemon Championsshould take advantage of the attention it brings going forward.
