Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
All three matches in this video ended in a forfeit. It works a bit differently in Pokémon Champions than in previous Pokémon games in that you are allowed to firfeit at any time, even during your opponent’s turn, by pressing the Minus button. During a battle, you can see the “run” icon on the upper left at all times, and pressing that and confirming the onscreen prompt will end the game with a loss for you.
Personally, this is an interesting change, one I hadn’t thought of, but it makes sense to be able to concede at any time. Both of the Pokémon TCG simulators, Live and Pocket, already allow this, but I hadn’t considered the regular battles allowing this too.
00:00 - Battle #1
Type: Double Battle
Opponent: LOR
Battle Court: Battle Arena
Music: Trainer (Sun and Moon)
My Pokémon: Mac (Mudsdale), Rigel (Manectric), Paolo (Quaquaval), Lamar (Aurorus)
Opponent’s Pokémon: Kangaskhan, Lucario, Charizard, Vaporeon
Remember the infamous Mega Kangaskhan, who was th “K” in the Generation VI “CHALK” strategy? It’s in this game, and they fight fiercely. The other members are not here in this team though (or in Pokémon Champions at all: Cresselia, Heatran, Amoonguss, or Landorus), but I remember Mega Kangaskhan being a big enough problem that they had to nerf Parental Bond such that the second hit deals 1/4 damage instead of 1/2. This is a new and high-risk strategy I’d never seen before: Lucario uses Coaching to Mega Kangaskhan, and Mega Kangaskhan does an Attack-boosted Earthquake, with Lucario prevented from a knockout with Focus Sash.
For the record, if a move hits multiple opponents, as is this case with Earthquake, Parental Bond does not activate, and the attack only hits once.
04:10 - Battle #2
Type: Double Battle
Opponent: Dai
Battle Court: Battle Arena
Music: Trainer (Scarlet and Violet)
My Pokémon: Rigel (Manectric), Abner (Absol), Paolo (Quaquaval), Mac (Mudsdale)
Opponent’s Pokémon: Venusaur, Charizard, Blastoise, Pikachu
The three original Kanto first-partner Pokémon in their fully evolved forms, plus the mascot of the whole franchise, Pikachu. The Venusaur-Charizard combo start is something I ought to get used to seeing, with Charizard Mega Evolving to Mega Charizard Y to activate Drought and thus Venusaur’s Chlorophyll. Whether Venusaur then uses Solar Beam, Sleep Powder, or something else is still up in the air though. I also need to figure out what my best possible start ought to be with this team; there is no outrunning that Venusaur, though Mega Manectric can withstand Earth Power from Venusaur, as it seems.
07:49 - Battle #3
Type: Double Battle
Opponent: V
Battle Court: Battle Arena
Music: Gym Court
My Pokémon: Mac (Mudsdale), Lamar (Aurorus), Abner (Absol), Rosalyn (Roserade)
Opponent’s Pokémon: Pelipper, Archaludon, Maushold, Basculegion (Female)
My opponent picked up on things very well: they noticed the turn order being unusual when Roserade turned up and decided to focus entirely on blocking Dazzling Gleam with Wide Guard on Pelipper. The downside to this, of course, is that Pelipper is no longer attacking, leaving things entirely to its partner. I used Sucker Punch twice in a row and figured my opponent was expecting that and switched over to using Throat Chop, maybe to knock out Maushold. Instead, they switched to Basculegion (the rarer female one), who fell immediately to the move, which set them back a lot.
I thought during the battle that Maushold was faster than Mega Absol, but it’s the other way around: Mega Absol’s Speed is 115 while Maushold’s is 112. My opponent probably knew that and realized that losing Archaludon and Basculegion, with Pelipper and Maushold both at low HP, meant Abner (Absol) was free to knock out anything I wanted.
What I wonder is why Beat Up on Maushold over Population Bomb. That move is a very painful one for somthing of Maushold’s size and attack power. That Archaludon also has incredible lasting power for something with a base Sp. Defense of 65.
This battle also puts me into the Great Ball Tier: I get the “Great Trainer” title and an extra 5 box spaces.
All three matches in this video ended in a forfeit. It works a bit differently in Pokémon Champions than in previous Pokémon games in that you are allowed to firfeit at any time, even during your opponent’s turn, by pressing the Minus button. During a battle, you can see the “run” icon on the upper left at all times, and pressing that and confirming the onscreen prompt will end the game with a loss for you.
Personally, this is an interesting change, one I hadn’t thought of, but it makes sense to be able to concede at any time. Both of the Pokémon TCG simulators, Live and Pocket, already allow this, but I hadn’t considered the regular battles allowing this too.
00:00 - Battle #1
Type: Double Battle
Opponent: LOR
Battle Court: Battle Arena
Music: Trainer (Sun and Moon)
My Pokémon: Mac (Mudsdale), Rigel (Manectric), Paolo (Quaquaval), Lamar (Aurorus)
Opponent’s Pokémon: Kangaskhan, Lucario, Charizard, Vaporeon
Remember the infamous Mega Kangaskhan, who was th “K” in the Generation VI “CHALK” strategy? It’s in this game, and they fight fiercely. The other members are not here in this team though (or in Pokémon Champions at all: Cresselia, Heatran, Amoonguss, or Landorus), but I remember Mega Kangaskhan being a big enough problem that they had to nerf Parental Bond such that the second hit deals 1/4 damage instead of 1/2. This is a new and high-risk strategy I’d never seen before: Lucario uses Coaching to Mega Kangaskhan, and Mega Kangaskhan does an Attack-boosted Earthquake, with Lucario prevented from a knockout with Focus Sash.
For the record, if a move hits multiple opponents, as is this case with Earthquake, Parental Bond does not activate, and the attack only hits once.
04:10 - Battle #2
Type: Double Battle
Opponent: Dai
Battle Court: Battle Arena
Music: Trainer (Scarlet and Violet)
My Pokémon: Rigel (Manectric), Abner (Absol), Paolo (Quaquaval), Mac (Mudsdale)
Opponent’s Pokémon: Venusaur, Charizard, Blastoise, Pikachu
The three original Kanto first-partner Pokémon in their fully evolved forms, plus the mascot of the whole franchise, Pikachu. The Venusaur-Charizard combo start is something I ought to get used to seeing, with Charizard Mega Evolving to Mega Charizard Y to activate Drought and thus Venusaur’s Chlorophyll. Whether Venusaur then uses Solar Beam, Sleep Powder, or something else is still up in the air though. I also need to figure out what my best possible start ought to be with this team; there is no outrunning that Venusaur, though Mega Manectric can withstand Earth Power from Venusaur, as it seems.
07:49 - Battle #3
Type: Double Battle
Opponent: V
Battle Court: Battle Arena
Music: Gym Court
My Pokémon: Mac (Mudsdale), Lamar (Aurorus), Abner (Absol), Rosalyn (Roserade)
Opponent’s Pokémon: Pelipper, Archaludon, Maushold, Basculegion (Female)
My opponent picked up on things very well: they noticed the turn order being unusual when Roserade turned up and decided to focus entirely on blocking Dazzling Gleam with Wide Guard on Pelipper. The downside to this, of course, is that Pelipper is no longer attacking, leaving things entirely to its partner. I used Sucker Punch twice in a row and figured my opponent was expecting that and switched over to using Throat Chop, maybe to knock out Maushold. Instead, they switched to Basculegion (the rarer female one), who fell immediately to the move, which set them back a lot.
I thought during the battle that Maushold was faster than Mega Absol, but it’s the other way around: Mega Absol’s Speed is 115 while Maushold’s is 112. My opponent probably knew that and realized that losing Archaludon and Basculegion, with Pelipper and Maushold both at low HP, meant Abner (Absol) was free to knock out anything I wanted.
What I wonder is why Beat Up on Maushold over Population Bomb. That move is a very painful one for somthing of Maushold’s size and attack power. That Archaludon also has incredible lasting power for something with a base Sp. Defense of 65.
This battle also puts me into the Great Ball Tier: I get the “Great Trainer” title and an extra 5 box spaces.
