Pokémon Champions has launched with a range of technical issues, prompting the developer to acknowledge several bugs and confirm that fixes are already in progress. The devs have outlined multiple gameplay and interface problems affecting the newly released competitive battle simulator.
Among the confirmed issues is an incorrect description for the Parasite Seed status effect. The in-game text states that it deals damage equal to 1/16 of a Pokémon’s maximum HP, while the correct value is 1/8. The developer clarified that despite the error in description, the proper calculation is already being applied during battles.
Other reported problems include unintended ordering when both players trigger Mega Evolution at the same time, as well as incorrect gender displays for certain Pokémon in both the tutorial and published Coordination Teams. Additional gameplay concerns involve the Lightning Rod ability not activating correctly when a Pokémon is under Encore status, and a bug that prevents players from selecting moves under specific menu interactions. According to the developer, this latter issue can be temporarily resolved by opening and closing the surrender window using the minus button.
The update also notes a previously identified communication error tied to Pokémon HOME, which could prevent players from sending or retrieving Pokémon during expeditions. This issue has now been resolved, with the developer stating that measures have been implemented to prevent it from recurring.
“We have confirmed that the following issues are currently occurring,” the developer said in its official notice, adding, “We plan to address the issues listed above in a future data update or maintenance.”
Pokémon Champions launched on April 8, 2026, as a free-to-play competitive battle platform for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, with a mobile release planned for iOS and Android later this year. Developed by The Pokémon Works, the title serves as the official hub for the Play Pokémon competitive circuit, combining mechanics such as Mega Evolution, Z Moves, Dynamax, and Terastallization into a unified system.
