Pokemon Champions Adds More Pokemon in 3 Months as 200-Plus Roster Stays Limited

3 articles · Updated · Nintendo Everything · May 31

This summer, Pokemon Champions plans to expand its roster and lift some held-item restrictions, producer Masaaki Hoshino said, marking the first announced gameplay broadening since launch.
About 200 Pokemon are currently usable, and Hoshino said the team kept that pool limited so newcomers could grasp battles more easily, especially with Mega Evolutions already in the mix.
The next priority is the smartphone version, with additions paced cautiously to avoid overwhelming first-time players who may still be learning abilities, items and special traits.
Three-month update cycles could eventually rotate which Pokemon are legal, Hoshino said, with future rule sets potentially allowing Legendary Pokemon without guaranteeing permanent availability.

Will new Pokemon be locked behind a paywall, or will players have a fair path to unlock them?

How will the summer update affect the competitive integrity of the ongoing 2026 Video Game Championships?

Is the limited roster a beginner-friendly choice or a long-term monetization strategy?