Pokémon Champions: a new take on competitive play

The road to competitive Pokémon play is a challenging one for many, full of lessons and discoveries. In this article, we look at one player’s recent return to the competitive Pokémon scene with the release of Pokémon Champions.

First steps into competitive play

The first time I played competitively was in middle school, when I finally took the plunge. With a team made up of my favorite Pokémon from Diamond and Pearl — Raichu, Palkia, Latias, Beautifly, Torterra, and Houndoom — I thought I was well prepared. Even though I had the type chart memorized, I often realized I didn’t understand many of the game’s nuances, such as optimizing stat spreads and the difference between physical and special attacks.

It was a learning experience when I found out that Palkia’s Aura Sphere was almost useless against my friend’s Blissey, which had massive special defense. That led to the shocking realization that even with a type advantage, I couldn’t break through Blissey’s defenses without the right moves. Even so, I asked for a rematch, but it never happened.

Competitive challenges

A year later, I got my second chance at competitive play, this time against another friend. While we were more evenly matched, I was often told that Pokémon like Raichu and Beautifly