Pokemon Champions arrives on Nintendo Switch on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, and according to development director Masaaki Hoshino, the game will carry a significant restriction: Champions only features fully evolved Pokemon at launch.
That limitation cuts deeper than it might initially appear. Fully evolved Pokemon are generally better, but the held item Eviolite can power-up unevolved Pokemon, making some viable in competitive play. For example, Murkrow holding an Eviolite can be an excellent support Pokemon while Chansey is a veritable brick wall. These creatures have shaped competitive meta strategies for years; Pokemon like Chansey, Porygon2, Rhydon, and Dusclops rely on Eviolite to boost their defensive stats, making them competitive forces despite their unevolved forms.
The decision carries major implications for the Video Game Championship circuit. From 2026, all VGC tournaments will be played on Pokemon Champions, replacing Scarlet and Violet. This means competitive players will face a forced reset. Established team compositions built around these non-evolved staples simply won't exist in the new system.
Hoshino confirmed the approach during a roundtable with journalists, though he offered little explanation for the restriction. When asked if earlier evolutionary forms might appear later, he stated, "[...but] at some point they might consider earlier evolutions." It wasn't until after a "heated discussion with [Shigeki] Morimoto," one of Pokemon's original designers, that the team decided to cut IVs in order to make the experience more approachable.
Nintendo Switch 2 players will be able to download a free update to the game that allows you to enjoy the action with even clearer graphics. The game launches as a free-to-start title, with optional purchases including additional Pokemon storage and battle passes. A mobile version of Pokemon Champions is also on the way, and you'll be able to battle cross-platform between Nintendo Switch and mobile devices.
For Australian players, Pokemon Champions will launch on April 8th for Nintendo Switch and a Nintendo Switch 2 version is also on the way offering enhanced visual performance. The mobile release is scheduled for later in 2026.
Competitive players now face a difficult transition. The loss of Eviolite Pokemon removes entire strategic archetypes from the meta. Some have welcomed the move as a chance for competitive Pokemon to finally operate as a dedicated platform, separate from the story-driven mainline games. Others see it as an unnecessary restriction that limits team-building diversity at launch.