An upcomingPokémongame seems to be streamlining the process of training Pokémon.Pokémon Championsis a new game for battling Pokémon which also allows you to recruit and train them. While the game has some interesting training mechanics, there is one aspect of the game that could potentially ruin all the good aspects of it.
Pokémon Championscan also beconnected toPokémon Home, so you’re able to use Pokémon that you’ve already stored there to battle. Battles in the game are similar to the oldPokémon Stadiumseries, though there is also an option to do double battles inPokémon Champions. In general, the game looks like a great new way to battle against other real players, but I can’t help butworry about one aspect of the game that wasn’t well-described in its recent preview.
Pokémon Champions' New Training Mechanics Look Amazing
Pokémon Champions Lets You Adjust Pokémon Stats Easily
Part of the reason I’m a little worried aboutPokémon Championsruining its training mechanics is that they look like an exciting innovation for the series. As seen in the preview from themost recent Pokémon Presents,Pokémon Championsallows you to directly change your Pokémon’s EVs. This is a much easier process than having to EV train your Pokémon to boost specific stats.
Another great feature inPokémon Championsis theability to change a Pokémon’s nature. Typically, natures are static when a Pokémon is caught or bred, and can’t be changed. You can also pick from a list of moves that you want your Pokémon to know, giving you a huge range of options for crafting your perfect battle partner.
By allowing players to fully customize their Pokémon,Pokémon Championsis streamlining the process of battling. No more grinding away at EV training, or breeding for hours to get a Pokémon with the right nature. Now, you’re able to simply create the exact team you want and hop into a battle.At least, if the game allows you to get in-game currency easily.
Pokémon Champions' In-Game Currency Could Hurt The Training Mechanic
Pokémon Champions Requires The Use Of A Currency Called VP To Train
One major concern I have regardingPokémon Champions' training mechanics isthe need to use in-game currency to make changes to a Pokémon’s stats. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as it makes sense to make players work towards making their Pokémon stronger. However, the issue is that we don’t know how players will earn this in-game currency, simply represented by the letters VP.
If VP can be easily earned in-game by completing tasks or battling, then I don’t see it as an issue. However, it could really hurt the game if VP is a currency that players can buy using real money, and is difficult to acquire otherwise. This would potentially create a pay-to-win situation, where players need to buy VP to not fall behind the competition.
There is currently no price given forPokémon Champions, which will likely be an indication of how heavily microtransactions will play a role in the game. If it ends up being free, thenI am pretty confident VP will be a currency that you can purchase with real money. If that’s the case, then the game’s awesome training mechanics will be a lot harder to enjoy.
EV Training Might Still Be Less Of A Grind
EV Training Could Be Easier Than Farming VP
IfPokémon Championsdoes make VP something players can buy, and only rarely gives it away for free,then it may actually be easier to just continue EV training Pokémon the traditional way. Because you can connectPokémon ChampionstoPokémon Home, you can train your Pokémon in a different game before battling inPokémon Champions. Although this will take significantly more time to do than simply changing the Pokémon’s stats on a slider bar, it will at least not cost any money. And it could still take less time than grinding inPokémon Champions, depending on how VP is earned.
Typically, when a game allows you to buy in-game currency,that currency is drip-fed over long stretches of time to players who don’t pay for it. This incentivizes players to purchase the in-game currency to avoid the frustration of waiting. If this is the case withPokémon Champions, then it is nice to know there is an alternative in the form of traditional EV training. That said, hopefullyPokémon Championswill just simply avoid having any predatory monetization practices that make its coolest feature less appealing.
As of now, it’s too early to know for sure howPokémon Championswill handle the distribution of V, and whether it will be monetized. That said,Pokémon TCG Pocket’s trading fiascodoes make me a little nervous about how training will be handled in the new game. If it meansPokémon Championis free, it might be worth the trade, especially since you can use thePokémon Homeworkaround. We’ll have to wait until closer to the game’s release to find out if it will be the future ofPokémonbattling, or another game with frustrating monetization tactics.
