Producer Masaaki Hoshino told reporters that Pokemon Champions will accept Pokemon from the main series, but it is not a permanent import. Instead, transfers happen through Pokemon Home as temporary sends. That means you can use your existing Pokemon in Champions without permanently moving them out of their original games.
How the temporary transfers work
When you send a Pokemon from the mainline games into Champions, the Pokemon keeps its stats, ability, and moves. However, not every move that exists in other games will appear in Champions. If a move is not part of Champions, it will not be available for that Pokemon while it is in the new game.
What stays and what can change
While a Pokemon is inside Champions, you can modify it just like you would normally. The important part is this: any changes you make in Champions remain on the Pokemon after you send it back to Pokemon Home. If you later bring that same Pokemon into Champions again, those edits will still be there.
Why this system exists
- Accessibility: Champions aims to make competitive play easier to reach. Players will also be able to rent Pokemon using in-game currency.
- No permanent swaps: Your carefully trained team from older games will not be locked out. Transfers are temporary and reversible via Pokemon Home.
- Balance and limits: The temporary model helps avoid permanent structural advantages tied to older titles. Also, moves that Champions does not include will be unavailable.
Hoshino noted that the preview build shown to the press is still under development, so details and specific mechanics may change before launch. In short, you can bring your favorites in, try them out, and take them back with your edits intact, while the game keeps control over which moves and options are allowed.
