Pokémon champions: the roster reveal & what's missing

The competitive Pokémon scene has a new home, but access isn’t quite as open as players hoped. Pokémon Champions, the eagerly awaited platform for serious battling, has launched, but with a significant caveat: a limited roster of Pokémon available at launch. While the platform promises a dedicated space for high-level play, understanding which creatures are—and aren't—present is crucial for any aspiring champion. Let's dive into the details of what's available, and more importantly, what's conspicuously absent.

Legendary and mythical pokémon: a notable exclusion

The most immediate and impactful restriction? Legendary and Mythical Pokémon are currently locked out of the regulated M-A (Match-A) environment. This means iconic powerhouses like Zapdos, Moltres, Articuno, Mewtwo, and Mew are unavailable for selection. While previous iterations of competitive Pokémon games have eventually expanded access to these restricted Pokémon, the initial limitations will undoubtedly shape early strategies and team compositions. This decision, presumably made by the development team under Masaaki Hoshino, has sparked considerable debate within the community, with many questioning the rationale behind excluding such impactful species.

Non-evolved forms (nefs): a strategic conundrum

Beyond the headline exclusions, Pokémon Champions also launches without access to Non-Evolved Forms (NEFs), often referred to as pre-evolutions. Generally considered less desirable than their evolved counterparts, these forms nonetheless hold a niche appeal. The standard logic dictates evolution equals power, but certain NEFs—like Clefairy, Porygon2, and even Murkrow—have historically proven surprisingly effective in competitive play. Their absence adds another layer of complexity to team building, forcing players to adapt to a less diverse pool of options.

The unexplained omissions: a developer's choice

Perhaps the most perplexing aspect of Pokémon Champions’ roster is the inclusion of some Pokémon while excluding others with seemingly comparable stats and movepools. The criteria used by the development team—a closely guarded secret—remain opaque. Numerous seemingly viable Pokémon have been left out, fueling speculation and frustration among players eager to build teams around their favorites. The lack of transparency surrounding these decisions only intensifies the community's curiosity and anticipation for future roster updates.

A work in progress: expect changes

It's important to remember that this list represents the state of affairs immediately preceding the official launch. As with any new game, Pokémon Champions is likely to evolve, and the roster may expand over time. We'll continue to update this article with any new information that emerges, so stay tuned. The initial restrictions, while disappointing to some, are simply the starting point for what promises to be a dynamic and evolving competitive landscape.

Current roster breakdown (as of launch)

Below is a breakdown of Pokémon available, categorized by generation, with notations regarding Mega Evolutions. Please note: this list is subject to change.

Generation i

• Venusaur
• Charizard
• Blastoise
• Beedrill
• Pikachu (Mega Evolves)
• Raichu
• Raichu of Alola
• Clefable
• Ninetales
• Ninetales of Alola (Mega Evolves)
• Arcanine
• Arcanine of Hisui
• Alakazam
• Victreebel
• Slowbro
• Slowbro of Galar
• Gengar
• Kangaskhan
• Starmie
• Pinsir (Mega Evolves)
• Tauros
• Gyarados
• Ditto
• Vaporeon
• Jolteon (Mega Evolves)
• Flareon
• Aerodactyl
• Snorlax (Mega Evolves)
• Dragonite (Mega Evolves)

Generation ii

• Meganium
• Typhlosion
• Typhlosion of Hisui
• Feraligatr
• Ampharos (Mega Evolves)
• Azumarill
• Politoed
• Espeon
• Umbreon
• Slowking
• Steelix (Mega Evolves)
• Scizor (Mega Evolves)
• Heracross (Mega Evolves)
• Skarmory (Mega Evolves)
• Houndoom (Mega Evolves)
• Tyranitar (Mega Evolves)

Generation iii

• Pelipper
• Gardevoir (Mega Evolves)
• Sableye (Mega Evolves)
• Aggron (Mega Evolves)
• Torkoal
• Altaria
• Milotic
• Castform
• Absol (Mega Evolves)
• Metagross (Mega Evolves)

Generation iv

• Torterra
• Infernape
• Empoleon
• Lopunny (Mega Evolves)
• Spiritomb
• Garchomp
• Lucario (Mega Evolves)
• Hippowdon
• Abomasnow (Mega Evolves)
• Weavile (Mega Evolves)
• Rhyperior
• Leafeon
• Glaceon
• Gliscor
• Mamoswine
• Gallade
• Froslass
• Rotom (Mega Evolves)

Generation v

• Serperior
• Emboar
• Samurott
• Excadrill (Mega Evolves)
• Audino (Mega Evolves)
• Conkeldurr
• Whimsicott
• Krookodile
• Garbodor
• Zoroark
• Zoroark of Hisui
• Vanilluxe
• Emolga
• Chandelure
• Stunfisk (Mega Evolves)
• Golurk (Mega Evolves)
• Hydreigon
• Volcarona

Generation vi

• Chesnaught
• Delphox (Mega Evolves)
• Greninja (Mega Evolves)
• Diggersby
• Talonflame (Mega Evolves)
• Vivillon
• Floette (*)
• Furfrou
• Meowstic
• Aegislash (Mega Evolves)
• Clawitzer
• Tyrantrum
• Aurorus
• Sylveon
• Hawlucha (Mega Evolves)
• Goodra
• Klefki
• Trevenant
• Gourgeist
• Noivern

Generation vii

• Decidueye
• Decidueye of Hisui
• Incineroar (Mega Evolves)
• Primarina
• Toucannon
• Crabominable
• Lycanroc (Mega Evolves)
• Toxapex
• Mudsdale
• Araquanid (Mega Evolves)
• Tsareena
• Oranguru
• Mimikyu
• Drampa
• Kommo-o (Mega Evolves)

Generation viii

• Corviknight
• Appletun
• Sandaconda
• Polteageist
• Hatterene
• Grimmsnarl
• Mr. Rime
• Runerigus
• Alcremie
• Morpeko (Mega Evolves)
• Dragapult
• Glimmora (Mega Evolves)
• Palafin
• Orthworm
• Glimmora
• Dondozo
• Tatsugiri (Mega Evolves)
• Farigiraf
• Kingambit
• Sinistcha
• Archaludon
• Hydrapple (Mega Evolves)

Generation ix

• Meowscarada
• Skeledirge
• Quaquaval
• Pawmot
• Maushold
• Garganacl
• Armarouge
• Ceruledge
• Scovillain
• Tinkaton (Mega Evolves)
• Palafin
• Orthworm
• Glimmora
• Dondozo
• Tatsugiri

The initial lineup of Pokémon Champions presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities for competitive players. Only time will tell how the restrictions reshape the meta, and whether the promised roster expansions will alleviate the current limitations. For now, the chase for championship glory begins with a carefully curated, but undeniably incomplete, selection of Pokémon.