I watched the timer tick down on a Ranked match and felt a small jolt of regret—my opponent had just spent the last of their Victory Points on a stat tweak I hadn’t predicted. A friend pinged me: “Are you buying the Battle Pass?” I realized then that this season’s choices in Pokemon Champions matter more than they look.
Pokemon Champions Battle Pass: Price and cadence
At a Switch demo event I saw players compare receipts from the Nintendo eShop like trading cards.
I’ll be blunt: the standard Battle Pass tier is free; the Premium Battle Pass costs $9 USD (≈ €8). It runs on a monthly cycle—each season lasts 31 days—so purchases don’t carry over. Buy Premium today, enjoy the bonuses this season, and then choose again next month if you want to keep them. The Premium pass is a short bridge to extra conveniences and marginal power; whether that bridge is worth walking depends on how much you play Ranked Battles and how much you value immediate resource gains on Switch or future mobile ports.
When does Season 1 of Pokemon Champions Battle Pass start?
Season 1 begins on April 8, 2026, for Nintendo Switch (both generations). Android and iOS players should expect to wait: mobile release is scheduled later in 2026, which means you may miss a few seasons if you don’t own a Switch now.
Season 1 rewards: a quick map of what’s on offer
At launch I watched a teammate trade a Teammate Ticket like it was contraband—players notice the little things.
Rewards are split across levels. Each level costs 150 Season Points (SP) to progress, and SP is how you move down the pass track. Some rewards live on the free lane; others require Premium. There’s also a shop where certain Battle Pass (BP) rewards can be purchased with Victory Points (VP), the in-match currency you earn in Ranked play.
| BP Level | Rewards | Premium Battle Pass Required? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1x Dragoninite (Dragonite Mega Stone) |
No |
| 2 | 1x Emboar | Yes |
| 3 | 12x Quick Coupon | No |
| 4 | 1x Emboarite (Emboar Mega Stone) |
Yes |
| 5 | 1x Teammate Ticket | No |
| 6 | Item for Emboar | Yes |
| 7 | TBA | TBA |
Author Note: We will update this list as Nintendo, GAME FREAK, and The Pokemon Company release more Season 1 details.
How to get Battle Pass rewards in Pokemon Champions?
The short answer: grind Ranked Battles for Season Points. Matches award SP for wins and for close losses—the system credits activity and effort. Once you collect enough SP to pass a BP level (150 SP per level), you gain that level’s reward. You can also spend VP in the in-game Shop for some BP items, which makes VP another strategic resource to manage.
Where Season Points come from (and how to prioritize them)
At launch I noticed players who focused on Ranked streaks climbed the pass faster than casual grinders.
Right now Ranked Battles are the primary SP source. SP is awarded not only for wins but for competitive matches that run long or end narrowly—so steady play and smart match choices pay off. SP and VP reset each season, so if you chase a specific BP reward, plan your matches inside the 31-day window.
Should you buy the Premium Battle Pass?
In a store demo I watched two players spend the same $9—one swear it was worth every cent, the other said they’d wait to see if future seasons improved.
I’ll put it this way: if you play a lot of Ranked matches and you want early access to certain Pokemon and Mega Stones, Premium gives a steady stream of value through exclusive rewards and convenience items. The rewards act like a breadcrumb trail that nudges your roster and training ahead of players who stick strictly to the free lane.
If you prefer to test a game before spending, the free tier gives a valid, competitive experience; you won’t be locked out of core content. There’s also a Starter Pack on the Nintendo eShop that’s priced lower than Premium and can accelerate your early collection without a recurring monthly choice.
How much does the Pokemon Champions Premium Battle Pass cost?
The Premium pass is priced at $9 USD (≈ €8) per season and is purchased inside the game via the Nintendo eShop on Switch; mobile pricing and availability will follow later when Android and iOS builds arrive.
If you want my rule of thumb: buy Premium if you play enough to recoup the value in VP and items within the 31 days—if not, enjoy the free path and wait to see how Season 2 shapes up. Which side are you on: consistent spender or patient grinder?