Pokemon Champions does not use catching like other games. Instead, you get Pokemon from a place called the Roster Ranch. The Ranch is run by a character named Kitt. You can try out Pokemon first or add them to your team for good. This is where you get all your Pokémon.
How to Recruit Pokemon in Pokemon Champions
The Roster Ranch gives you a selection of Pokemon to pick from, and you can see their moves and current stats before making any decision. The lineup refreshes every 22 hours, so you get a fresh batch of options almost every day.
You can also recruit Pokemon by importing them from Pokemon HOME, specifically from Pokemon Legends: Z-A and Pokemon GO. Just keep in mind that any Pokemon you recruit inside Pokemon Champions cannot be sent back to HOME. That transfer only goes one way
Now there are three main ways to recruit Pokemon at the Roster Ranch, and each one fits a different situation:
Trial Recruitment (Free)
Trial Recruitment is the free option. You get one trial per day, and it lets you borrow a Pokemon for 7 days without spending anything. It's a great way to test how a Pokemon performs before committing to it.
However, the Pokemon obtained through Trial Recruitment cannot be edited, so you're working with whatever moves and stats it comes with.
If you decide you want to keep it after the trial, you can convert it into a permanent recruit by spending VP (Victory Points) before the 7 days run out. Don't wait too long, because once the rental expires, the Pokemon is gone.
Permanent Recruitment (VP or Tickets)
If you already know you want a Pokemon, you can recruit it permanently right away. This lets you edit the Pokemon however you want in Training mode, which is a big deal for competitive play.
Here's what each option costs:
| Recruitment Method | Cost | Is it Editable? |
|---|---|---|
| Convert Trial to Permanent | 2,500 VP | Yes |
| Permanent Recruitment | 1,000 VP or 1 Quick Ticket | Yes |
Ticket Scouting
Tickets are a separate currency that comes mainly from completing missions. There are two types worth knowing about:
| Ticket Type | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Quick Coupon | Cuts the recruitment wait time by 1 hour per coupon |
| Teammate Ticket | Lets you permanently recruit a Pokemon without spending VP |
If you're running low on VP, stacking mission rewards to get Teammate Tickets is a smart way to keep building your roster without draining your resources.
Tips for Recruiting Pokemon
Here are some tips you need to remember before you recruit Pokemon in Pokemon Champions:
- Don't skip your daily Trial Recruitment. Even if you don't plan to keep the Pokemon, testing it for a few battles helps you understand how different roles and move sets work, which makes you a better player overall.
- Prioritize Pokemon you're unfamiliar with during trials. If you already know a Pokemon well, the 7-day window won't teach you much.
- Save your VP for permanent recruitment rather than spending it to refresh the Ranch or pull extra Pokemon on the same day.
- Check the Ranch every day. Since the lineup refreshes every 22 hours, logging in consistently means you never miss a rotation.
Once you permanently recruit a Pokemon, head to Training mode to customize its moves and stats. Trial recruits can't be edited, but permanent ones are fully yours to shape however you want. That's where the real team building begins in Pokemon Champions. Are you ready to recruit your first Pokemon before you battle it out?
