Pokmon Champions just made its Android and iOS debut, and theres two Mega reasons you need to log in and play it now
Date:
Sun, 21 Jun 2026 08:00:00 +0000
Pokmon Champions was great on my Nintendo Switch 2, but the iOS and Android version is better -- I couldnt get enough of Pokmon Champions
at launch . The Nintendo Switch 2 pokmon battler was a game Id been waiting for
since its announcement and it was close to everything I hoped for but after a couple of weeks I fell off.
Between a mixture of other games releasing, not always having my Switch 2 on me, and several real life commitments taking up my time, my quest to climb up through Mater rank petered out.
Now Champions has hit smartphones launching on iOS and Android earlier this week and the game feels more at home here than it ever did on Nintendos hardware. The quest to be the very best is back on.
Theres something somewhat surreal playing an official full-on
Pokmon battling game on mobile, especially a mobile game thats so microtransactions light compared to other Android and iOS releases from the franchise its possible to spend real money on more storage space, teams and
a Battle Pass for premium rewards, but nothing beyond cosmetics is exclusive
to
folks who pay up and the free-to-play experience is fantastic especially
if you have transferred in critters from Pokmon Go or a mainline entry via Pokmon Home . Despite this strangeness, Pokmon Champions works so well
because any time your phone is connected to the internet (via wi-fi or a cell network) you can boot into a battle. Ive battled on London tube while
commuting
to work, when kicking back in bed, while sat at a restaurant
waiting for friends to arrive, and I might have snuck a game or two from my work desk.
Because this is all on a device you can slip into your pocket its super
easier to pick up an impromptu game or two when the moment arises theres no prior thought or prep required compared to playing on a Switch. Wile the graphics are a little tuned down compared to what youll get on Switch 2, my experience so far has been very smooth on mobile.
I started out using my Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
with the tablet-like inner display giving me a great view of battles even
with menus sharing the screen, however I didnt feel the experience was especially cramped when I switched to its smaller front display, or the
screen of my Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra .
In fact, there was a strange nostalgia to using the Ultra, with the S Pen stylus making me feel like I was back in 2005 playing Pokmon Diamond on Nintendo DS.
No matter what Android or iOS device you have, the Pokmon Champions
experience should feel like a delight and much more fulfilling than other
free mobile games out there, but if my words so far arent enough to convince you to hop onto the ladder The Pokmon Company is sweetening the deal.
To celebrate the Android and
iOS launch all players (who log in by September 1) will receive a free gift: Raichu and both of its Pokmon Legends Z-A DLC Mega Stones to mega
evolve it into either Mega Raichu X or Mega Raichu Y.
Having fallen down the ladder in my hiatus I decided to climb back up to
Master
Rank using Raichu, and as some expected ahead of its debut Raichu Y
and its No Guard ability is an absolute beast. A speedy special attacker with 100% accurate Zap Cannon and Focus Blast is a force to be reckoned with, and this pocket monster pairs very well into many of Champion s biggest threats.
Life Orb Garchomp, or Raichu itself (with its un-mega evolved Lightning Rod ability), are two solid counters if youre struggling against it on other
teams,
but Ive found its a lot more fun to ride the Mega Raichu Y wave than try to fight it.
Mega Raichu X is nothing to sniff at, though in Champions current doubles
meta which is low on sleep control or future paradox pokmon its ability to set up electric terrain isnt super impactful. If/when the future paradoxes
and threats like Amoonguss rear their head I see Raichu X finally emerging
from
hibernation.
Thats the joy of Champions approach so far. Slowly rolling out new mons and items to mix things up often enough to keep the game fresh, but not yet so often to feel overwhelming for more casual fans.
If youre still here Im not sure what excuse you have. Go download Pokmon Champions , theres nothing better you could be doing with your phone.
Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/gaming/mobile-gaming/pokemon-champions-just-made-its -android-and-ios-debut-and-theres-two-mega-reasons-you-need-to-log-in-and-play -it-now
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