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Pokemon Champions is now available to play on the Switch and Switch 2, ahead of a wider 2026 mobile release, and a number of limitations regarding multiplayer battles and online requirements appeared. The game requires someone to always play online and limits fights to matches against other people on the internet. It also only offers Single and Double battles, with no 6v6 fights in its Casual, Private, and Ranked modes. The first Premium Battle Pass is also live, as is the first Mystery Gift.
This title is intended to be a means of taking part in battles, with Play! Pokemon tournaments intending to use Pokemon Champions as a platform starting with Global Challenge I on May 1, 2026. Ahead of launch, 1v1 and 2v2 battles were confirmed, as were the three modes. The always-online specification wasn’t necessary confirmed, though it was always referred to as an online game. If someone wants to play against other people, they must add them in-game and can’t rely on their Switch or Switch 2 friends lists. Sites like Serebii are also reporting that, at launch, there are under 190 Pokemon available to use in-game.
As for Pokemon to get for free and earn, we now know the first Pokemon Champions mystery gift identity, first Premium Battle Pass characters, and an event that rewards a free character. We knew at launch that Dragonite would be an Early Download Bonus for anyone who downloads it by August 31, 2026. Machamp can be claimed by going to the Mystery Gift option and entering “CHAMP10N” before August 31, 2026 as well. The Warm-Up Challenge event, which runs until April 13, 2026, is a way to get Gardevoir and 100 Quick Coupons via 2v2 fights. Finally, folks who pay for the Premium Battle Pass for Season M-1 Get Emboar, Emboarite, Feraligatr, and Feraligite.
Pokemon Champions will come to the Switch and Switch 2, on April 8, 2026, but while both Apple iOS and Android mobile versions are also in the works, there’s no release date for those two versions yet.
