Pokemon Champions' Limited Pokedex and Performance Leave Some Fans Disappointed

Pokemon Champions was released just a few hours ago, but it’s being met with criticism over its limited Pokedex, performance issues, and cut VGC items. Despite VGC not being the core aspect of the series, there was a lot of hype going into Pokemon Champions‘ release, to the point that some tournaments had hundreds of participants even before the game came out. With a game fully dedicated to battling, many fans were under the impression that this would be the new hub for competitive Pokemon.

This seemed especially plausible after the last season of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet was announced for April 1, making it seem that Pokemon Champions‘ April 7/8 release date was all but coincidental. However, the game has been out for just a few hours, and it’s already getting flak for several reasons, including the fact that it only has 187 Pokemon. With 1,026 critters total, only having 187 on launch day of a big title seems a strange choice, which becomes even worse when considering that many staple items have been cut.

Answering Your Burning Questions About Pokemon Champions

Pokemon Champions FAQ: Answers to your burning questions about the new Pokemon Videogame Championship platform, including compatibility with Pokemon Home, microtransactions, and more.

Pokemon Champions Has Only 187 Pokemon, Runs at 30 FPS, Cuts Staple VGC Items

Based on early reports and what is accessible within the game, it soon became clear that not all the Pokemon shown in Pokemon Champions‘ trailers were included. Notably, fan-favorite and VGC powerhouse Ursaluna was cut, and others followed, like Dondozo and Tatsugiri. Furthermore, Mega Evolution is the only gimmick currently supported in the game, with Z-Moves, Dynamax, and Terastallization supposedly coming in the future. However, only a small percentage of the new Mega Evolutions in Pokemon Legends: Z-A are actually available in the game. The Pokedex goes as follows:

Gen 1 Pokemon:
- Venusaur (+ Mega)
- Charizard (+ Mega X and Y)
- Blastoise (+ Mega)
- Beedrill (+ Mega)
- Pidgeot (+ Mega)
- Arbok
- Pikachu
- Raichu (+ Alolan form, no Mega X and Y)
- Clefable (+ Mega)
- Ninetales (+ Alolan form)
- Arcanine (+ Hisuian form)
- Alakazam (+ Mega)
- Machamp
- Victreebel (+ Mega)
- Slowbro (+ Mega)
- Gengar (+ Mega)
- Kangaskhan (+ Mega)
- Starmie (+ Mega)
- Pinsir (+ Mega)
- Tauros (+ Paldean Tauros, Aqua Breed, and Blaze Breed)
- Gyarados (+ Mega)
- Ditto
- Vaporeon
- Jolteon
- Flareon
- Aerodactyl (+ Mega)
- Snorlax
- Dragonite
Gen 2 Pokemon:
- Meganium (+ Mega)
- Typhlosion (+ Hisuian form)
- Feraligatr (+ Mega)
- Ariados
- Ampharos (+ Mega)
- Azumarill
- Politoed
- Espeon
- Umbreon
- Slowking
- Forretress
- Steelix (+ Mega)
- Scizor (+ Mega)
- Heracross (+ Mega)
- Skarmory (+ Mega)
- Houndoom (+ Mega)
- Tyranitar (+ Mega)
Gen 3 Pokemon:
- Pelipper
- Gardevoir (+ Mega)
- Sableye (+ Mega)
- Aggron (+ Mega)
- Medicham (+ Mega)
- Manectric (+ Mega)
- Sharpedo (+ Mega)
- Camerupt (+ Mega)
- Torkoal
- Altaria (+ Mega)
- Milotic
- Castform (+ variants)
- Banette (+ Mega)
- Chimecho (+ Mega)
- Absol (+ Mega, but no Mega Z)
- Glalie (+ Mega)
Gen 4 Pokemon:
- Torterra
- Infernape
- Empoleon
- Luxray
- Roserade
- Rampardos
- Bastiodon
- Lopunny
- Spiritomb
- Garchomp (+ Mega, but no Mega Z)
- Lucario (+ Mega, but no Mega Z)
- Hippowdon
- Toxicroak
- Abomasnow (+ Mega)
- Weavile
- Rhyperior
- Leafeon
- Glaceon
- Gliscor
- Mamoswine
- Gallade (+ Mega)
- Froslass (+ Mega)
- Rotom (+ variants)
Gen 5 Pokemon:
- Serperior
- Emboar (+ Mega)
- Samurott (+ Hisuian form)
- Watchog
- Liepard
- Simisage
- Simisear
- Simipour
- Excadrill (+ Mega)
- Audino (+ Mega)
- Conkeldurr
- Whimsicott
- Krookodile
- Cofagrigus
- Garbodor
- Zoroark (+ Hisuian form)
- Reuniclus
- Vanilluxe
- Emolga
- Chandelure (+ Mega)
- Beartic
- Stunfisk (+ Galarian form)
- Golurk (+ Mega)
- Hydreigon
- Volcarona
Gen 6 Pokemon:
- Chesnaught (+ Mega)
- Delphox (+ Mega)
- Greninja (+ Mega)
- Diggersby
- Talonflame
- Vivillon (+ variants)
- Floette (AZ Floette and Eternal Flower + Mega)
- Florges
- Pangoro
- Furfrou
- Meowstic (+ Mega)
- Aegislash
- Aromatisse
- Slurpuff
- Clawitzer
- Heliolisk
- Tyrantrum
- Aurorus
- Sylveon
- Hawlucha (+ Mega)
- Dedenne
- Goodra (+ Galarian form)
- Klefki
- Trevenant
- Gourgeist
- Avalugg (+ Hisuian form)
- Noivern
Gen 7 Pokemon:
- Decidueye
- Incineroar
- Primarina
- Toucannon
- Crabominable (+ Mega)
- Lycanrok (+ variants)
- Toxapex
- Mudsdale
- Araquanid
- Salazzle
- Tsareena
- Oranguru
- Passimian
- Mimikyu
- Drampa (+ Mega)
- Kommo-o
Gen 8 Pokemon:
- Corviknight
- Flapple
- Appletun
- Sandaconda
- Sinistea
- Hatterene
- Mr. Rime
- Runerigus
- Alcremie (+ variants)
- Morpeko
- Dragapult
- Wyrdeer
- Kleavor
- Basculegion (male and female)
- Sneasler
Gen 9 Pokemon:
- Meowscarada
- Skeledirge
- Quaquaval
- Pawmot
- Maushold (+ variant)
- Garganacl
- Armarouge
- Ceruledge
- Bellibolt
- Scovillain (+ Mega)
- Espathra
- Tinkaton
- Palafin
- Orthworm
- Glimmora (+ Mega)
- Farigiraf
- Kingambit
- Sinistcha
- Archaludon
- Hydrapple

On top of all the obvious issues with having a Pokedex with just 187 Pokemon total, the game is also performing poorly. There is a Nintendo Switch 2 free upgrade for Pokemon Champions, but it also runs at about 30 FPS. Not only that, but the game also has many glitches. From Pokemon World Champion Wolfe Glick not being able to play to a viral clip of a Dragapult’s Focus Sash triggering for an opposing Pokemon, Pokemon Champions‘ release is all but smooth.

Pokemon Champions Release Date Countdown

Some fans are calling Pokemon Champions the worst Pokemon game ever made, which shows how disappointing the final release has been so far. Others are unhappy with the animations of various moves, but more importantly, a lot of moves were changed. For example, Fake Out has been a mainstay in VGC teams for a long time, and it saw its best usage ever with Pokemon Scarlet and Violet‘s competitive battles, where Incineroar typically had Fake and Parting Shot to use Fake Out again later, and so did Rillaboom with U-Turn and Fake Out. However, Fake Out can now only ever be used once per battle.

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Last but not least, many competitive Pokemon held items were cut entirely. This is a puzzling decision, and one that Serebii founder Joe Merrick says could hurt VGC in many ways. Items like Assault Vest, Life Orb, Rocky Helmet, Choice Band, Choice Scarf, and Choice Specs are all gone, and it’s unclear whether they will be added in the future. Since these are items that are normally on every single team at least once, it’s very weird for Pokemon Champions not to feature them or even mention their existence. Eviolite is also not in the game, but it makes sense because Pokemon Champions doesn’t include unevolved Pokemon besides Pikachu, and fans are not pleased with this either. It remains to be seen what will be added or changed in the near future, but so far, Pokemon Champions is mostly disappointing.