- Primary Subject: Pokémon Champions (Launch Version 1.0.0 / Season 1)
- Key Update: Since the April 8 launch, the game remains purely PvP-focused, forcing players to use "Casual Queue" for all team testing as there is currently no offline AI battle mode or training room.
- Status: Confirmed (Missing Feature)
- Last Verified: April 17, 2026
- Quick Answer: Pokémon Champions currently lacks a practice or AI mode, forcing players into live PvP for all testing, which critics argue increases pressure and discourages casual players.
For a long time, fans have been wanting an official game that allows them to focus on the battling aspect of Pokemon, without the tediousness of having to play through an entire campaign and other stuff like EV training and leveling up. With Pokemon Champions, there is now, and people could not be happier.
Trainers from all around the globe can experience the competitive side of the series in the most accessible and legitimate way possible, and they have been duking it out since its release. The game certainly serves its purpose and is quite enjoyable, but that doesn't mean it's not without its problems.
At launch, players have complaints regarding certain decisions of what is and isn't in Pokemon Champions. The usual things being pointed out are the lack of a six-versus-six mode, incomplete items, the roster limitation of only fully evolved Pokemon, etc. They are all valid concerns, but there is a particular one that I think needs to be addressed as soon as possible: the lack of practice or versus AI modes.
Some fans may think that their exclusion isn't much of a big deal, but having them would have greatly enhanced the overall experience. One reason I believe so is that it would have made the game much more inviting to the casual players.
Not everyone who has been playing the mainline entries has touched the multiplayer side, much less the competitive aspect. Perhaps they'd rather not deal with the fear and pressure of having to fight against human opponents, or they simply have no interest in doing so. Regardless of the reason, it's clear that they're casual Pokemon fans who are unfamiliar with the competitive scene, which would make it understandable that they'd stay away from Pokemon Champions.
However, that would have changed if the game had a practice or versus AI mode. By adding those two, even the most casual fan can have fun, as it means not having to deal with serious trainers who would clobber them with competitive strategies for easy wins. That, and they can jump straight into the battling part and adjust the difficulty according to their skill level, ensuring it's as easy or as hard as they want it to be for their best experience.
Allowing casual players to go against AI or enter a practice mode is also great for exposing them to competitive strategies without actually having them take on human opponents. They can fight as they please and learn something along the way that will help build their skills and knowledge. If done right, it may even convert them into becoming competitive players, which would have been very beneficial for ensuring the growth of Pokemon Champions' community.
Stepping away from the casual fans, those who take battling seriously also stand to benefit from having a versus AI and practice mode being added. For one, it's a way for them to try out different strategies without exposing them to everyone.
When it comes to competitive Pokemon battling, one of the best things that you can do is to catch your opponent by surprise. While it's hard to keep a particular plan to yourself for so long, given that you'd have to try it out on others eventually, a practice or versus AI mode could help with that. With them, you can try out whatever you like without exposing what you have planned, ensuring you have the element of surprise on your side should you ever wish to use it against a real opponent.
Yes, there's a chance it might not be as effective against a human trainer, but at least there's the possibility that it could still work, given that you've tested it without having anybody learn about the countermeasures to it. The other reason why having the two modes would be great for competitive players is that it's a way to give them some sort of break.
Whether it's casual or ranked, the fact that you have to face a human opponent who can think can actually lead to a lot of stressful and tiring matches. There are times when even the most serious of battlers would not want to deal with that, which is why the practice or versus AI mode would have been perfect.
Having them can give these types of players a way to have fun and destress. This is especially important for those who haven't exactly been doing very well in their rank-up journey, as giving them an alternative outlet to vent out their frustration reduces the risk of them ruining the experience for up-and-coming newbies.
With Pokemon Champions getting more updates in the future, there is a possibility that we could see the implementation of a practice or versus AI mode. It would be to the game's benefit if it did, so there's a good chance that they could come in the future.
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