Pokémon Champions arrived on iOS and Android on June 17, 2026, bringing the free-to-play competitive battle simulator to mobile two months after its Nintendo Switch debut. Every player who logs in before September 1 gets a free Mega Raichu, and a season reset puts mobile players level with Switch veterans from day one.
Pokémon Champions is a free-to-play competitive battle simulator developed by The Pokémon Works. The gameplay centers on head-to-head battles using full movesets and held items, with players climbing the ranked ladder by earning victory points (VP) through ranked and casual battles. Pokémon from Pokémon HOME and Pokémon GO can be imported, and no Nintendo Switch Online subscription is required.
The mobile version is free on the App Store (iOS 16 or higher) and Google Play, with optional in-game purchases and a starter pack for new players. It launched alongside Version 1.1.0, which added 11 new Mega Evolutions and activated Regulation Set M-B and Season M-3. Cross-save and cross-play work through a linked Nintendo Account across Switch, Switch 2, iOS, and Android.
Every player can claim a free Raichu, Raichunite X, and Raichunite Y from the in-game mailbox between June 17 and September 1. Mega Raichu X has Electric Surge, setting Electric Terrain for an Electric-type boost, while Mega Raichu Y has No Guard, making every move land. Only one form can be used per team.
You can play Pokémon Champions on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 by downloading it free from the Nintendo eShop, where it launched on April 8, 2026. No Nintendo Switch Online subscription is required for online competitive play, and your save data syncs with the mobile version through a linked Nintendo Account.
Yes. The official Pokémon Champions app is free on the App Store and Google Play. It offers ranked and casual battles, a seasonal Battle Pass, cross-save and cross-play via Nintendo Account, Pokémon HOME and Pokémon GO import support, and Mystery Gift rewards. No Nintendo Switch Online subscription is needed for online play.
Pokémon Champions offers a free and premium Battle Pass, daily login rewards, and a launch gift of Raichu with Raichunite X and Raichunite Y available through September 1. Optional premium purchases unlock cosmetics, account boosts, and a starter pack, though all competitive content stays free for every player.
Pokémon Champions is a video game, while the Pokémon Championship Series is the official tournament circuit. The two are now linked, as the 2026 Pokémon World Championships use Pokémon Champions as the official VGC platform, replacing the cartridge format and lowering the barrier to competitive entry since the game is free and on mobile.
In the mainline Pokémon RPGs, Champions are the final League opponents, such as Blue and Lance, Cynthia, and Leon, each with a powerful team and signature Pokémon. Cynthia and her Garchomp are often called the toughest in series history. Full lists live on Bulbapedia and Serebii, the most authoritative Pokémon reference databases.
You can find reviews of Pokémon Champions at Polygon, Kotaku, Nintendo Life, and IGN, plus player ratings on the App Store and Google Play. For competitive analysis and tier lists rather than general reviews, community sites like Smogon and Game8 track the evolving Regulation M-B meta.
You can join the Pokémon Champions community through the official subreddit r/PokemonChampions, dedicated Discord servers for competitive battling, and the broader VGC community on X and YouTube. Smogon forums host in-depth strategy discussion, while Twitch is where ranked ladder streams and tournament broadcasts live.
Each platform serves a different purpose. Reddit and Discord are best for team-building advice, Regulation M-B discussion, and finding practice partners. The competitive VGC scene on X shares tournament results and meta shifts in real time, and with the 2026 World Championships running on Champions, official Pokémon channels are publishing more community content than ever. For newcomers, the Discord servers offer the fastest route to matchmaking with players at a similar skill level.
You can find a complete list of all Pokémon Champions on Bulbapedia and Serebii, the two most comprehensive Pokémon reference databases. Both maintain full pages listing every regional League Champion across the mainline games, including their teams, signature Pokémon, and the order in which they are faced.
For the competitive battle game specifically, the in-game roster and Regulation Sets are documented on community sites like Game8 and Smogon, which track every eligible Pokémon and Mega Evolution by season. If you are looking for the League Champions of the RPG series, Bulbapedia's dedicated Champion page is the most authoritative single source, covering everyone from Blue and Lance through Cynthia, Leon, and the most recent generations. For the evolving Pokémon Champions competitive meta, the official in-game encyclopedia and Regulation M-B documentation are updated with each new season.
Olivia Blake · Editor
Editor
