Final Evolutions Only at Launch
By the letter of a new rule, even Pikachu might not make the cut for Pokémon Champions at launch. Producer Masaaki Hoshino told a roundtable of journalists, as reported by Hypebeast, that "At launch, only final evolutions will be available... After we introduce a lot of the final evolutions, we might consider earlier evolutions as well. For now, this approach is more accessible for new players."
That clarity sets a firm baseline: if a Pokémon can evolve, it won’t be usable on day one. Hoshino’s reasoning follows a familiar line. New players could get lured into battles with unevolved favorites and end up underpowered without understanding why. Locking the roster to fully evolved forms reduces that confusion and keeps the field more consistent out of the gate.
Accessibility comes with a tradeoff. Cutting earlier evolutions removes a chunk of identity from both casual play and competitive tinkering—parts of the series that many fans relish.
What That Means for Pikachu and Eevee
Here’s the awkward part: Pikachu evolves into Raichu. Under the stated rule, that would sideline the franchise mascot. Yet Pikachu appears in official artwork for Champions, and the game’s opening movie points to Eevee getting the spotlight, too. That suggests exceptions are on the table even if they aren’t confirmed publicly.
There’s precedent for a carveout. The original Japanese release of Pokémon Stadium featured a limited roster focused on fully evolved monsters—plus Pikachu. The later global version expanded to include every Pokémon available at the time. Champions may follow a similar arc: start strict, then open up as the roster fills out and the community gets comfortable.
Until The Pokémon Company clarifies, questions linger. Will Pikachu be the lone exception at launch? Does Eevee join because of its multiple evolutions and mascot-adjacent status? Or will Champions stick to a hard rule and let the marketing art do some heavy lifting while Raichu takes center stage?
Competitive Fallout: Eviolite and Meta Diversity
Beyond mascots, the decision yanks a staple from competitive teambuilding: Eviolite. The held item raises a Pokémon’s Defense and Special Defense if it can still evolve. Over the years, that single mechanic gave staying power to picks like Dusclops, Chansey, Clefairy, and Porygon2—unevolved or mid-stage options that could wall threats and reshape matchups.
With only final evolutions available, Eviolite loses purpose on day one, and those classic sets vanish. While fully evolved Pokémon usually dominate anyway, the loss narrows creative lines of play and removes a safety valve for teambuilders who prefer bulk and utility over raw power. It also rules out quirky formats beloved by some fans, like baby-only battles or theme teams built around pre-evolutions.
Casual players feel this change too. If your favorite happens to evolve—think Munchlax, not Snorlax—you won’t be queuing into Champions with it at launch. That’s a small heartbreak for folks who enjoy personality picks as much as laddering up.
Release Timing and What Comes Next
Pokémon Champions launches April 8 on Nintendo Switch, with a mobile version planned for later this year. Once it’s out, Champions becomes the primary competitive venue for official Pokémon tournaments, including the Pokémon World Championships. Given that spotlight, a trimmed roster emphasizing final evolutions mirrors the developers’ priority: simple onboarding and a clean ruleset while the ecosystem settles.
Hoshino left the door open to change. His comment about "consider[ing] earlier evolutions" after many final evolutions arrive reads like a roadmap hint—stability first, flexibility later. If that’s the plan, expect gradual roster updates that reintroduce pre-evolutions alongside balance passes and item tweaks.
For now, build around final forms, stash your Eviolite in the storage box, and keep an eye on official channels for roster clarifications—especially where Pikachu and Eevee are concerned. If Champions follows history, today’s guardrails won’t last forever, and the meta could get messier, more expressive, and a lot more fun once the training wheels come off.
