Beginner's Guide to Competitive Pokemon Champions
Just downloaded Champions on iOS or Android? Everything you need to go from your first battle to climbing the ranked ladder.
0Day One: Claim Your Free Stuff
Before anything else, finish every tutorial. They teach the basics and pay out heavily: a free Mega Stone, plus VP, Quick Coupons, and Training Tickets to spend on your first team.
Then log in to grab the launch gift: a free Raichu and two brand-new Mega Stones, Raichunite X and Raichunite Y. Mega Raichu X sets Electric Terrain; Mega Raichu Y is a fast special attacker — both are real, usable picks worth building around.
Know your resources: VP recruits and trains Pokemon, Quick Coupons skip the recruit timer for free, and Training Tickets let you change moves, ability, nature, and stat points without spending VP. Spend tickets, not VP, while you are still experimenting.
To see what is winning, open Battle Data → Ranked Battles in-game for the most-used Pokemon, then cross-reference the live meta rankings here for sets, spreads, and counters.
1Start with a Replica Team
Don't build from scratch on day one. Grab a replica team — these are pre-built, tournament-tested compositions that work out of the box. Play 10-20 games to learn how teams function in doubles before you start customizing.
Replica teams cover the main archetypes: Rain, Trick Room, Tailwind, Balance, and more. Pick one that matches your playstyle and focus on learning the matchups. (Champions calls rentals “Replica Teams” — same idea, official name.)
2Understand the Meta
Check the Meta Snapshot to see what Pokemon are winning right now. These are the threats your team needs to handle. If you can't beat the top 5, you'll struggle to climb.
Current top picks:
3Learn the VP Economy
Victory Points (VP) are earned from ranked battles and spent to recruit Pokemon, change moves, and add stat points. You can't build everything at once — prioritize one strong core of 2-3 Pokemon first.
Read the full VP Economy Guide for exact costs and tips on efficient spending.
4Build Your First Custom Team
Once you've played enough games to know what you like, head to the Team Builder. Start with a proven archetype from Archetypes and customize from there.
Key things to check: type coverage (the Coverage tab shows gaps), speed tiers (use Speed Tiers to know who moves first), and damage output (verify KOs with the Damage Calculator).
5Track Your Progress
Use the Battle Journal to log your wins and losses. Over time, patterns emerge — you'll see which matchups you struggle with and where to adjust. Reviewing your games is the fastest way to improve.