Kinda Funny Gamescast: Video Game Podcast · Kinda Funny

We Played Pokemon Champions - Kinda Funny Gamescast!

·55 min·5 clips

Pokemon Champions removes IVs, a controversial change that could redefine competitive battling.

This episode features hosts Greg Miller, Tim Gettys, and Blessing Adeoye Jr. alongside guest Jake Dekker from GameSpot discussing their hands-on preview of the upcoming competitive game *Pokémon Champions*. The game is positioned as a streamlined platform for official Pokémon battles, launching April 8th for Nintendo Switch and mobile, and will become the primary platform for the 2026 Video Game Championships. Jake Dekker's preview notes the game shatters the barrier to entry for competitive play while aiming to retain strategic depth, a point the panel explores. A major focus is how *Pokémon Champions* simplifies complex systems like IVs (Individual Values), EVs (Effort Values), natures, and abilities that traditionally require extensive grinding. The developers confirmed IVs are removed entirely, and EV training is replaced with a system where 66 stat points can be directly allocated. Players can instantly change a Pokémon's moves, nature, and ability using an in-game currency called Victory Points (VP). Recruitment involves choosing one Pokémon for free daily from a lineup of ten, with VP used to permanently recruit others or to import creatures from Pokémon Home. The panel expresses uncertainty about the VP economy and potential costs, with Tim Gettys voicing concern it could become predatory. The game launches with a roster of only fully-evolved Pokémon, excluding unevolved forms that sometimes see competitive use with items like Eviolite. Notable mechanical changes include reduced PP (Power Points) for certain moves, like Protect reportedly dropping from 16 to 8. The preview build featured Double Battles as the emphasized competitive format, with unique battle music and visual customizations for trainers, including different Pokéball throwing animations. During their session, Blessing battled Jake, who used a strategy involving the move Tailwind to win decisively, highlighting the skill gap. A surprising insight was the developers' openness to adding past mechanics like Terastallization alongside the confirmed Mega Evolutions in future updates. The panel found it interesting that the game displays the player's HP as a number but the opponent's HP as a percentage, maintaining some strategic mystery. Greg Miller shared his personal journey of only grasping concepts like IVs through difficult raids in *Pokémon Scarlet and Violet*, underscoring the need for a more accessible competitive entry point. The tone is conversational, enthusiastic, and educational, with Jake Dekker often explaining competitive mechanics in detail, earning him the playful title "Professor Jake." The hosts engage in lighthearted banter while dissecting the game's potential impact on the Pokémon community. This episode is ideal for Pokémon fans curious about competitive play but intimidated by its traditional complexity, or for existing players interested in a more accessible battle format. Listeners seeking a deep critique of monetization or those exclusively interested in the single-player, creature-collecting aspects of mainline games might find less value here.

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