Belly Drum doesn't do damage, attack on the same turn after boosts, and it doesn't even guarantee a KO in some cases, that is NOT the best way to explain it... but I do agree, it's not going to be broken. Bullet Punch, Protecting, Taunt, etc. easily stops this. It's mostly the surprise factor and the cheese.
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Pokémon Champions - releasing April 8, 2026
- Thread starter Codraroll
- Start date
True, but once they start adding more viable mons that learn ohko moves it’s definitely more viable than you’d think. M-Hawlucha has base 118 speed, takes one move and mon to set up, and vgc has ran teams with more than one dedicated mega user. Definitely something to look out for in doubles
I'm not bothered.
There's already plenty worse and instant-impacting issues this game has, one that requires a 2-3 mon setup with big inconsistencies is the least of the issue. May as well go back a few gens and complain about FEAR strats where if you didn't have an answer you insta lost to with 0 counterplay.
Same concept, dumb gimmick interaction that looks extremely op on paper (level 1 mon with sturdy that will always claim 1-2 KOs per game or get a free Trick Room up because you have to double into it or lose your lead, with bonus fake out mindgames from Togedemaru)
(Funny how that got accidentally nerfed when they added the QoL of auto-setting mons to 50 in PvP)
This setup is honestly less toxic and even more inconsistent than when Fissure TingLu/Dozo were an actual set because they were so bulky for the power level of early regulations that they unironically could afford to just fish for 30%s.
This is low ladder gimmicks that have 0 viability in actual tournaments (either due to open team sheets existing, or just because after the first rounds your strat will be known and this strat doesn't work without the surprise factor).
Call me when they delete Smeargle from the pokedex instead. Then we talking.
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I'm morbidly curious, but is there a list of all battle glitches/oddities found so far?
Given how much was found within just a few hours of the game coming out, someone's gotta be keeping track right?
Given how much was found within just a few hours of the game coming out, someone's gotta be keeping track right?
sylveon also got back mystical fire which it lost in sv, and i complained about that so much and im happy now
For the damage point, Entrainment doesn’t do damage either. It’s a 2-move combination but split between mons.
Stoutland crying in a corner.
Somehow Aurorus still doesn't get Power Gem but it got Ice Spinner lol
I wish they took more inspiration from Battle Revolution which had both a more dynamic camera with the attacks and the player character instead of it staying at the same corner shot we’ve had since X and Y.
And having an announcer call out stuff.
If this is going to be our ‘forever’ pvp game then at least make it interesting to look and listen to instead of being the exact same thing we’ve done for almost 15 years
Damn I miss having an announcer, really made things feel like a proper show
Hoping it gets Double Edge asap
Thinking about it more, the more apt thing to compare Entrainment No Guard to is Anger Point with an ally that uses Frost Breath, Storm Throw, Flower Trick, Surging Strikes, or Wicked Blow.
No Guard OHKO has the advantage of cleanly KOing everything that isn’t immune to the OHKO move, but Anger Point does have some sidegrade advantages such as Rock Slide / Earthquake double KOs. It also gives you the option to Salac Berry position depending on what pairing you use. I do remember early SV gimmick teams where the goal was to win in two turns by double KOing with Anger Point and a spread move two turns in a row.
Entrainment No Guard I don’t imagine is a whole lot better.
Seems some lines may have got crossed because that seems to be the effect of z-haze
So there are a lot of valid criticisms of Pokemon Champions. Just... Just look at that Haze clip, my god.
I do want to push back on one: the Pokedex size
I think for the sake of Pokemon battling, this is around the size of regional Pokedexes we've been getting for the last decade. We have around 182 different playable Pokemon, splitting forms up as different Pokemon. If we were to introduce all of their pre evolutions, that's about 207 extra Pokemon, about on par with the range of 300-400 we received with Alola, Galar, and Paldea. Most of them of course bringing basically 0 gameplay value; there are obvious exceptions there like Clefairy and Scyther, but most of them aren't super missed. I haven't prodded into previous generation's final evolution count for how they compare, but at a glance, the numbers aren't like insulting or anything.
I know it's funny to compare this to Pokemon Stadium 2 and see that we have less playable Pokemon there, I just don't want it levied as a headliner criticism when far more real problems like it not functioning are way, way bigger deals to my enjoyment of the game. I am totally happy to have Pokemon drip fed into the game like the mega stones in Gen 7. That's exciting! What isn't exciting is the menus feeling like complete ass to use every second I'm navigating them.
I do want to push back on one: the Pokedex size
I think for the sake of Pokemon battling, this is around the size of regional Pokedexes we've been getting for the last decade. We have around 182 different playable Pokemon, splitting forms up as different Pokemon. If we were to introduce all of their pre evolutions, that's about 207 extra Pokemon, about on par with the range of 300-400 we received with Alola, Galar, and Paldea. Most of them of course bringing basically 0 gameplay value; there are obvious exceptions there like Clefairy and Scyther, but most of them aren't super missed. I haven't prodded into previous generation's final evolution count for how they compare, but at a glance, the numbers aren't like insulting or anything.
I know it's funny to compare this to Pokemon Stadium 2 and see that we have less playable Pokemon there, I just don't want it levied as a headliner criticism when far more real problems like it not functioning are way, way bigger deals to my enjoyment of the game. I am totally happy to have Pokemon drip fed into the game like the mega stones in Gen 7. That's exciting! What isn't exciting is the menus feeling like complete ass to use every second I'm navigating them.
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Pokemon Stadium 2 also came with craptacular item selection FOR GEN II STANDARDS, and oh boy the rental movesets.
Champions' launch is lackluster, but there is potential if this is to be supported for years to come (HOME is on its 6th year after all, GO is turning 10 in July). But, I dunno, I only ever found the Battle Tower entertaining about the Frontiers (well, and the Factory, randoms are fun), and I just don't understand the entire glorification of the frontiers beyond nostalgia.
Champions' launch is lackluster, but there is potential if this is to be supported for years to come (HOME is on its 6th year after all, GO is turning 10 in July). But, I dunno, I only ever found the Battle Tower entertaining about the Frontiers (well, and the Factory, randoms are fun), and I just don't understand the entire glorification of the frontiers beyond nostalgia.
Come on. It can't be that bad and OH MY GOODNESS!
Yeah, at first looking at the freak out on r/Stunfisk I thought they were overreacting, and I will agree they still are, but there is no defending that. I know the Pokemon battle engine is probably a mess of spaghetti code, but that... just wow. Yeah, maybe ILCA does suck after all.
I mean it'll probably still be fun when I play it, but god the bugs...
I played a casual game against my friend. It was 2v1 remaining. I think my Arcanine hit her last Poke TTar with Bulldoze but Ttar retaliated and killed me. So I send out my Tyranitar... but I gave mine Tyranitarite.
Now you might think that a Mega Tyranitar at 100 vs a regular Tyranitar at 75% with -1 speed would be a sure win for me.
Nah I missed 3 Stone Edges in a row and all of hers hit, with the third critting.
I hate this game.
Now you might think that a Mega Tyranitar at 100 vs a regular Tyranitar at 75% with -1 speed would be a sure win for me.
Nah I missed 3 Stone Edges in a row and all of hers hit, with the third critting.
I hate this game.