Pokémon Champions - releasing April 8, 2026

[R_N]

Not letting them talk about base stats is funny considering the games themselves have no issues with that. Vitamins have referred to increasing the "base stat" for ages, "potential" has been on IV Judges since their inception, bottle caps in general, guide books even from nintendo get to talk about the whole process (albeit vaguely and with diagrams)

I guess the thing they want to obscure is how a stat is composed of 3 aspects, but seems easier to throw out a bunch of distinct terms instead

 

[ant4456]

I kinda fuck w it. I think some are gonna hate this take but I think, as an artistic creation, it's better to not acknowledge these meta game things.

The reason most of these were created were to breathe life into the Pokemon creatures in the first place. They are supposed to be background bits and give more character to the world and believability.

They are trying to have their cake and eat it too, and while that may be kinda awkward, I think it's fair. I don't think this is about "brand" or control or anything, I think to TPC/Game Freak it's really as simple as that.

I think there's that term of like "kayfabe" and some games/developers really like to lean into that, and I think it's fair. I think this is part of Pokemon's kayfabe. They know how the stats work, we as competitive players know how the stats work, Little Timmy or people that casually play and don't want to know about it don't.

edit: You can kinda tell it's mostly a Game Freak thing because other developers who have made spinoffs like Go/PMD/etc. basically either don't have these things or put them right in your face. On every catch screen in Go you have appraise and in two clicks you can dump a shitmon.

In PMD if I recall the way it works is just every Pokemon gets a certain stat curve and how many stat points they get with each level or smth, I don't think it's the same over time but it basically evens out.

I'm not sure how Conquest does it, lol

 

[Worldie]

If I'm not mistaken, in some random interview, they said IVs were originally created with the idea to simply give a bit of uniqueness to each pokemon you encounter, making sure that my Pikachu and your Pikachu wouldn't be exactly identical.

This would have honestly been fine if this was just a single player game. As soon as the competitive scene actually picked ground, it just became "max or bust" (or, min or bust for specific cases).
Their purpose pretty much stopped existing as soon as VGC became a real thing and not just childhood playground challenges.

 

[tentaghost]

the idea of an IV slider really bugs me though since, i think i mentioned in an earlier comment how it just makes ivs no different from evs which to me just kinda proves that they dont have much of a mechanical purpose anymore.


Like you have a slider that can raise a pokemons stats by a certain amount and then... another slider that does the same thing but with different values? That feels kinda redundant to me, espically since ivs are supposed to be permanent and extremely variable, having ways for the players to just.. ditch that aspect entirely makes ivs have no real meaning.

 

[ant4456]

Their purpose pretty much stopped existing as soon as VGC became a real thing and not just childhood playground challenges.

The thing is that those childhood playgrounds still exist and while competitive Pokemon is popular, if there are a million competitive Pokemon players, hell, 5 million people who know the ins and outs of EVs/IVs, they are like 1/6th of the people that bought Scarlet and Violet lol

I do think IVs still serve a purpose and the even hotter take is Pokemon post-games are basically singleplayer-ish MMOs. And do you know what most MMO endgames are? Grinding that shit to get the ultra rare items and gear for PVP

That's why I think Champions still makes you do some grind. The grind isn't supposed to be a barrier to entry it's supposed to be part of the appeal, and some *do* like it. For me I think I like it as long as it's not that much work, but I find it more satisfying having made some competitive ready Pokemon myself.

Except... 0IVs! Those are actually the most inaccessible part of the entire process and take the endgame from like spending at max an hour to make one (maybe two, maybe even more tbh) competitive ready Pokemon, to needing to breed and therefore take many hours per one Pokemon.

Personally I think the amount of work without 0IVs in the equation is a good balance in moderngen. I don't think they'll ever fully disconnect Pokemon from its roots as a bug catcher semi-MMO weird mix game.

 

[Sulfurian]

The thing is that those childhood playgrounds still exist and while competitive Pokemon is popular, if there are a million competitive Pokemon players, hell, 5 million people who know the ins and outs of EVs/IVs, they are like 1/6th of the people that bought Scarlet and Violet lol

I do think IVs still serve a purpose and the even hotter take is Pokemon post-games are basically singleplayer-ish MMOs. And do you know what most MMO endgames are? Grinding that shit to get the ultra rare items and gear for PVP

That's why I think Champions still makes you do some grind. The grind isn't supposed to be a barrier to entry it's supposed to be part of the appeal, and some *do* like it. For me I think I like it as long as it's not that much work, but I find it more satisfying having made some competitive ready Pokemon myself.

Except... 0IVs! Those are actually the most inaccessible part of the entire process and take the endgame from like spending at max an hour to make one (maybe two, maybe even more tbh) competitive ready Pokemon, to needing to breed and therefore take many hours per one Pokemon.

Personally I think the amount of work without 0IVs in the equation is a good balance in moderngen. I don't think they'll ever fully disconnect Pokemon from its roots as a bug catcher semi-MMO weird mix game.

I’ve played too much ditto iv roulette to really miss that they’re gone, the amount of times I’ve had the right iv but wrong ability, or just being one iv off was too much

 

[Ironmage]

I kinda fuck w it. I think some are gonna hate this take but I think, as an artistic creation, it's better to not acknowledge these meta game things.

The reason most of these were created were to breathe life into the Pokemon creatures in the first place. They are supposed to be background bits and give more character to the world and believability.

They are trying to have their cake and eat it too, and while that may be kinda awkward, I think it's fair. I don't think this is about "brand" or control or anything, I think to TPC/Game Freak it's really as simple as that.

I think there's that term of like "kayfabe" and some games/developers really like to lean into that, and I think it's fair. I think this is part of Pokemon's kayfabe. They know how the stats work, we as competitive players know how the stats work, Little Timmy or people that casually play and don't want to know about it don't.

edit: You can kinda tell it's mostly a Game Freak thing because other developers who have made spinoffs like Go/PMD/etc. basically either don't have these things or put them right in your face. On every catch screen in Go you have appraise and in two clicks you can dump a shitmon.

In PMD if I recall the way it works is just every Pokemon gets a certain stat curve and how many stat points they get with each level or smth, I don't think it's the same over time but it basically evens out.

I'm not sure how Conquest does it, lol

At the same time, there are examples of data like base stat numbers being cool artistic things in their own right. Ultra Beasts' primes are well-known, but there's also minor examples like Spiritomb's best stats being 108 or Archeops' BST seeming to reference a library index for feathered dinosaurs. I feel like these things should be officially visible, not always buried below the adjustments natures/ivs/evs make to stats.

 

[Eriorguez]

The problem with allowing players to directly edit IVs is that it would require Game Freak to acknowledge they exist. iirc a stream commentator at an official competitive event once got reprimanded for bringing up Absol's base Attack value because GF doesn't want to be transparent about how the inner systems of the games work.

It's really stupid how bullheaded they are about this stuff while simultaneously trying to support the existence of VGC.

And that's why officially endorsed game tournaments will always be inferior to grassroot movements, specially if they forego open discussion of inner workings and enforce their own ruleset.

Not letting them talk about base stats is funny considering the games themselves have no issues with that. Vitamins have referred to increasing the "base stat" for ages, "potential" has been on IV Judges since their inception, bottle caps in general, guide books even from nintendo get to talk about the whole process (albeit vaguely and with diagrams)

I guess the thing they want to obscure is how a stat is composed of 3 aspects, but seems easier to throw out a bunch of distinct terms instead

Remember how Pokemon Go doesn't numerically show LEVEL, ATTACK and DEFENSE, and instead uses the bullshit metric known as CP that factors those and HP. Game ended up having an IV judge function, but still, you don't see the actual numerical attack and defense, despite the game having PvP.

 

[Cuddly]

Nintendo also pulls this crap with Mario Kart and making important stats hidden.
At least when Disney has strict rules about costumes for both employees and guests, it makes sense. Seeing Elsa smoke some camels would scar little kids. Does Nintendo think a toddler is gonna piss and shit themselves seeing IVs or Mini Turbo? They were gonna do that anyways.

 

[Karxrida]

I kinda fuck w it. I think some are gonna hate this take but I think, as an artistic creation, it's better to not acknowledge these meta game things.

Yeah that's cool and all but refusing to talk about these things at officially sanctioned and hosted tournaments is still supremely stupid.

They need to pick a lane.

I do think IVs still serve a purpose and the even hotter take is Pokemon post-games are basically singleplayer-ish MMOs. And do you know what most MMO endgames are? Grinding that shit to get the ultra rare items and gear for PVP

I've played MMOs and Pokémon is frankly an extremely shit one. The grind and content go hand in hand usually, instead of Pokémon where the content is locked behind the grind.

 

[MC Squared]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2039134953523343805

Possible Champions datamine info?!

 

[RoyalDispenser]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2039134953523343805

Possible Champions datamine info?!

Can't wait to see mega starmie get slow start right after april fools!

 

[MC Squared]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2039134953523343805

Possible Champions datamine info?!

For us westerners this is tomorrow at 5 PM PDT / 8 PM EDT

 

[reaverz]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2039134953523343805

Possible Champions datamine info?!

At least for the abilities of the new Megas, I think it's inevitable. The Pokédex in HOME shows the abilities of all Pokémon you view, including Megas. So if Legends Z-A is now able to connect, then there should presumably now be a Dex page for each new Mega, which means a listed ability. It would be strange for the new Megas to be the only pages without one. Though I guess I wouldn't be surprised if they do just blank their ability out...

No mention of connectivity to FRLG or Champions, huh? I would have guessed that there would a single HOME update for all three games, even if Champions isn't out yet.

 

[MC Squared]

At least for the abilities of the new Megas, I think it's inevitable. The Pokédex in HOME shows the abilities of all Pokémon you view, including Megas. So if Legends Z-A is now able to connect, then there should presumably now be a Dex page for each new Mega, which means a listed ability. It would be strange for the new Megas to be the only pages without one. Though I guess I wouldn't be surprised if they do just blank their ability out...

No mention of connectivity to FRLG or Champions, huh? I would have guessed that there would a single HOME update for all three games, even if Champions isn't out yet.

This could include FRLG as well, heck even Champions because as of tomorrow it'll only be a week till the release

 

[Delibird is Amazing]

Does home have descriptions for the abilities or just the names? It would be funny if there were a bunch more new abilities that we wouldn't properly know for another week.

 

[TastieGaming]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2039134953523343805

Possible Champions datamine info?!

Mega Scrafty… you will soon be unleashed…
The abilities we’ve gotten so far look somewhat promising, I’m really hoping we get solid ones.
(GF PLEASE GIVE MEGA GALLADE SHARPNESS IM BEGGING YOU ILL DO ANYTHING)

 

[Yung Dramps]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2039134953523343805

Possible Champions datamine info?!

God please give Mega Golurk a busted ability I NEED the Mazinger Z Pokemon to not be on the lower rung of Megas

 

[reaverz]

Does home have descriptions for the abilities or just the names? It would be funny if there were a bunch more new abilities that we wouldn't properly know for another week.

The mobile app has descriptions. You can tap on an ability from either a Pokédex page or from a Pokémon's summary and a pop-up will show the most current description text for the ability. It bodes very well for all abilities for new Megas to be revealed, especially because it is now confirmed that this HOME update contains connectivity support for Champions ahead of its release.

 

[ant4456]

I've played MMOs and Pokémon is frankly an extremely shit one. The grind and content go hand in hand usually, instead of Pokemon where the content is locked behind the grind.

This is entirely a matter of perspective. Personally I think SV especially has a great gameplay loop where you go through several systems that otherwise don't have much reason to be touched if you do it efficiently.

They need to pick a lane.

Nah

 

[R_N]

This could include FRLG as well, heck even Champions because as of tomorrow it'll only be a week till the release

FRLG wont be here, they would have said as much to begin with and I think they were just saying "later in 2026" for it.

Champions, at least, isn't even out yet so pointing out it's getting compatibility isn't as needed. Especially when you're not properly taking things in/out of it. I kind of wonder if all of that is handled on the Champions side, rather than the Home side.

At least for the abilities of the new Megas, I think it's inevitable. The Pokédex in HOME shows the abilities of all Pokémon you view, including Megas. So if Legends Z-A is now able to connect, then there should presumably now be a Dex page for each new Mega, which means a listed ability. It would be strange for the new Megas to be the only pages without one. Though I guess I wouldn't be surprised if they do just blank their ability out...

When L:A got added in we didn't get to see any of the non-L:A data for the new Pokemon and moves, so while I imagine that as the lead up to Champions that information would be here there is technically a shot there just isn't.

 

[MC Squared]

Champions, at least, isn't even out yet so pointing out it's getting compatibility isn't as needed. Especially when you're not properly taking things in/out of it. I kind of wonder if all of that is handled on the Champions side, rather than the Home side.


When L:A got added in we didn't get to see any of the non-L:A data for the new Pokemon and moves, so while I imagine that as the lead up to Champions that information would be here there is technically a shot there just isn't.

With Champions only a week away, it's a very high chance the Z-A Megas will be added in with their abilities

 

[ant4456]

i dont think there's like an incentive for them to not let people datamine shit, remember when everyone freaked out at otherwise accurate leaks about swsh dlc movesets and then they took out the tapus getting their terrain moves?

besides tapu fini ig

they clearly watch for major reactions and given the timing, they can gauge that for the inevitable first balance patch

 

[Cuddly]

Ok last minute predictions:
Aerilate
Gulp Missile but for the move Belch
Star Power (Huge Power but renamed)
Good as Gold
Sand Rush
Tinted Lens
Shield Dust
Wind Power
Shadow Tag
Fire type version of like Dragon’s Maw or Gale Wings or something
Magic Guard
Trick Room setting ability
Dazzling
Black Sludge as an ability
Stamina
Aura Break
Mega Sol for Rain
Something similar to Beat Up but as an ability
Galvanize and Volt Tackle just gives +1 Atk only if this Mega uses it
Electric Surge
Levitate or something that has to do with sound moves
Sharpness
Tough Claws
Sets Tailwind
Filter
Earth Eater
Compound-Eyes
Life Orb as an ability
Psychic Surge
Fur Coat
Guard Dog PLEASE I HAVE $20,000 ON POLYMARKET
Misty Surge
Iron Fist
Grassy Surge
Toxic Debris
Something similar to Order Up
Sharpness

 

[ant4456]

Ok last minute predictions:
Aerilate
Gulp Missile but for the move Belch
Star Power (Huge Power but renamed)
Good as Gold
Sand Rush
Tinted Lens
Shield Dust
Wind Power
Shadow Tag
Fire type version of like Dragon’s Maw or Gale Wings or something
Magic Guard
Trick Room setting ability
Dazzling
Black Sludge as an ability
Stamina
Aura Break
Mega Sol for Rain
Something similar to Beat Up but as an ability
Galvanize and Volt Tackle just gives +1 Atk only if this Mega uses it
Electric Surge
Levitate or something that has to do with sound moves
Sharpness
Tough Claws
Sets Tailwind
Filter
Earth Eater
Compound-Eyes
Life Orb as an ability
Psychic Surge
Fur Coat
Guard Dog PLEASE I HAVE $20,000 ON POLYMARKET
Misty Surge
Iron Fist
Grassy Surge
Toxic Debris
Something similar to Order Up
Sharpness

i am begging for the baxcalibur mega to be the next mega garchomp i hate that guy and its stupid min-maxxed design so bad