The Pokemon Company launched Pokemon Champions on April 8, 2026, pitching it as the long-term home for competitive Pokemon battling. Now, with the game barely a week old, details on the second Battle Pass reward track have surfaced, giving players a reason to look past the game's rocky launch reception and toward what's coming next.
What the second Battle Pass is bringing
The second Battle Pass builds on the existing Premium Battle Pass structure, which launched at $9.99 and offered additional rewards alongside exclusive clothing cosmetics. The second pass is expected to follow the same pricing model while expanding the type of rewards on offer, including new trainer outfits and customization items that weren't available at launch.
Here's the thing: for a game that currently has a fairly limited cosmetic pool, the Battle Pass is one of the few meaningful ways players can stand out. The first pass leaned heavily on clothing unlocks, and early indications suggest the second continues that trend while adding more variety to the reward tiers.
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The Premium Battle Pass is a separate purchase from the $49.99 annual membership and the $6.99 Starter Pack. You'll want to budget these independently if you're planning to invest in multiple options.
What the free track includes
Not everything is locked behind the premium tier. Pokemon Champions follows the standard live-service model of offering a free reward track alongside the paid one, meaning players who don't purchase the pass can still progress and earn some items by completing battles and missions.
The key here is that the free track tends to serve as a preview of what the premium tier offers in full. Players on the free track get a taste of the cosmetic pool, while premium buyers unlock the complete set across all tiers.
The broader context: a game still finding its footing
Pokemon Champions launched with only 185 available Pokemon species out of more than 1,025 in the franchise, no 6v6 battle format, no local wireless play, and no single-player or AI practice mode. On Switch 2, players reported 30fps performance even while docked, with slow menu navigation drawing particular frustration.
ResetEra user MessyLessy summed up the general feeling shortly after launch: "This really feels like a beta test. I like a lot of the stuff that I'm seeing, but the performance issues, the missing content, etc etc are just so odd."
Against that backdrop, the second Battle Pass reveal is a signal that The Pokemon Company is moving forward with its live-service content schedule regardless, treating Champions as a long-term platform rather than a finished product. The game is still planned to launch on smartphones later this year, and regional tournaments plus the annual Pokemon World Championships are on the horizon for this summer.
Paid options already in play
For reference, here's a quick breakdown of the current paid offerings in Pokemon Champions:
What most players miss is that the membership and Battle Pass serve different functions. The membership is about expanding your functional capacity in the game, while the Battle Pass is purely cosmetic progression.
What comes next
The Pokemon Company has been clear that Champions is intended to grow significantly over time, with the long-term vision reportedly including the possibility of eventually supporting up to 10,000 Pokemon species. That's an ambitious target, and the second Battle Pass is a small but concrete step in demonstrating that post-launch support is active.
For players currently grinding through the first pass or holding off entirely, the second pass details give a clearer picture of the game's content rhythm. Keep an eye on official Pokemon Champions channels for the full reward list confirmation. For the latest on what's worth your time across gaming, browse the latest gaming news as the Champions rollout continues to develop. Make sure to check out more:
