Pokémon Champions: Add Friends and Set Up Private Online Matches

If you want to unwind in Pokémon Champions by playing friendly matches with a friend, the game supports private online rooms—but it doesn’t offer local couch play. Here’s how to add friends, set up a private fight, and what that means for anyone hoping to play side-by-side.

Key takeaways

• You can add friends by using each other’s user ID.
• Your user ID is shown by pressing the “X” button from the Profile area in the secondary menu.
• Private matches are created from the main menu under Battles, then Private Battle.
• After creating a room, pressing “X” reveals the room ID so friends can join using it.
• Local (offline, same-room) multiplayer with friends isn’t available; you each need your own console or phone and an internet connection.

How to add friends in Pokémon Champions

To add someone in Pokémon Champions, you’ll need their user ID (or they’ll need yours). The game doesn’t rely on searching by name—friend requests are tied to IDs.

Follow these steps to send an invite:

• From the main screen, open the Secondary Menu and select Profile.
• Press the “X” button to display your User ID.
• Get your friend’s User ID (or share yours with them), then go to the Friends section in the Secondary Menu.
• Enter the ID into the on-screen Friend Request box and confirm to add them to your friends list.

How to create a private match with a friend

If your friend is already on your in-game friends list, you can set up a private online room so the two of you can battle. The option is available directly from the main menu.

Create the match like this:

• Select Battles, then choose Private Battle.
• Pick Create Room, set the battle rules, and accept to confirm.
• On the next screen, press “X” to show the Room ID.
• Share that Room ID with your friend so they can choose Search room by ID, enter the code, and jump into the room to fight you.

What about local multiplayer?

One notable absence in Pokémon Champions is local multiplayer with friends. The game does not provide a way to play together on the same device at the same time, so you’ll need separate consoles or mobile devices—and you must be connected to the internet to battle each other.

It’s also not known whether The Pokémon Company plans to add local play in the future, so players will need to watch for any announcements or updates that change that situation.