Pokkén Tournament
Officially Pokkén Tournament DX
Fighting game (Bandai Namco + Pokémon Company, arcade 2015 / Wii U 2016 / Switch 'DX' 2017) using Tekken engine — 1v1 Pokémon battles alternate between Field Phase (3D movement) and Duel Phase (2D fighting) with 21 playable Pokémon.
What is Pokkén Tournament?
Pokkén Tournament is a fighting game developed by Bandai Namco Studios (Tekken team) + The Pokémon Company — released to Japanese arcades July 2015, Wii U March 2016 (global), and Nintendo Switch as 'Pokkén Tournament DX' September 2017 with all 21 fighters + support Pokémon unlocked. Distinct from standard fighting games: rounds alternate Field Phase (open 3D movement) and Duel Phase (2D fighting plane) triggered by Phase Shift attacks. Synergy Burst mechanic acts as super mode once per round. Featured at EVO Championship Series 2016 + 2017; Pokémon World Championship added Pokkén division 2016-2019 (discontinued after). Combined Wii U + Switch DX sales ~3.5M as of 2020.
Quick facts
Category
Video Games
Type
Individual
Players
2–2
Duration
~5 min
Where played
indoor
Country of origin
🇯🇵 Japan
Estimated origin
Arcade 2015; Wii U 2016; Switch DX 2017; EVO featured 2016-2017; Pokémon Worlds 2016-2019
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
Reduce opponent's HP to zero across best-of rounds; use Synergy Burst once per round.
Match structure
Best-of-3 or best-of-5 rounds; each round 90 sec. Rounds alternate Field Phase (3D) and Duel Phase (2D) triggered by Phase Shift attacks.
Rules
Basic rules
Alternating Field + Duel Phase
Phase Shift attack transitions between 3D and 2D combat planes.
Synergy Burst once per round
Super mode transformation available once per round.
Support Pokémon selection
Choose 1 of 2 pre-selected support Pokémon per round.
Advanced rules
Universal defense (counter, grab, block)
Rock-paper-scissors defense system across all characters.
Phase Shift juggle timing
Frame-perfect combos link damage across phase transitions.
Scoring
Best-of rounds; damage-based KO or higher HP at time out; Synergy Burst mechanic (super mode) once per round.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Round win (KO) | 1 round |
| Round win (HP at time-out) | 1 round |
Win condition · KO opponent, higher HP at time-out, or 2 round wins (Bo3) / 3 round wins (Bo5).
Equipment
Nintendo Switch (DX version)
Current console version; Wii U original 2016 release now unsupported for online.
Pokkén Tournament Pro Pad
Official 8-button arcade-style controller.
Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
Standard competitive option for Switch DX.
Positions & roles
Fighter (Trainer)
×1Player controlling 1 Pokémon fighter + 2 support Pokémon (choose 1 per round).
Officiating
Play! Pokémon certified tournaments; regionals fed into Worlds qualification.
- Play! Pokémon Tournament Organizer
- Head Judge
- Floor Judges
- Stream Referees
Penalties & fouls
Penalties
Timeout
Higher HP wins the round when 90-sec timer expires.
Tournament rule violation
Play! Pokémon rules — collusion, unsportsmanlike conduct = DQ; illegal controller = round loss.
Strategies
Phase Shift juggle
Land Phase Shift attack in Duel Phase, continue combo in Field Phase for extended damage.
Support Pokémon zoning
Deploy support (Sylveon healing, Fennekin fire pillar) to force corner or wake-up pressure.
Burst timing
Save Synergy Burst for round-2/3; use during opponent's whiffed super or after successful block.
Terminology
- Field Phase
- Open 3D movement plane
- Duel Phase
- 2D fighting plane
- Phase Shift
- Attack that transitions between phases
- Synergy Burst
- Once-per-round super mode transformation
Major competitions
Pokémon World Championships (Pokkén)
annual (2016-2019) · global · since 2016
EVO Championship Series
annual · global (Pokkén featured 2016-2017) · since 1996
Regional Video Game Championships (VGC/Pokkén)
monthly · North America, EU, LatAm, Oceania · since 2016
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Bandai Namco Entertainment
Founded 1955 · Tokyo, Japan
The Pokémon Company International
Founded 1998 · Bellevue, Washington, USA
Play! Pokémon
Founded 2003 · Bellevue, Washington, USA
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- AZ Hayamiya (Japan) — 2016 first Pokkén World Champion
- Bogaboo (Mexico) — 2019 Pokkén World Champion
Records
First Pokémon fighting game at EVO
EVO Championship Series — Pokkén at EVO 2016, 2017; official Pokémon Worlds 2016-2019 (2016)
Most Pokémon Worlds titles (Pokkén)
Various — Pokkén World Champion crowned annually 2016-2019, then discontinued (2019)
Wii U + Switch lifetime sales
Nintendo / Bandai Namco — ~3.5 million combined worldwide (2020)
Learn this sport
beginner
- 1
Movement + Phase Shift basics
Y/X/A/B button roles, phase shift attack recognition, defensive counter.
intermediate
- 1
Character mastery + support Pokémon
Frame-perfect combos, phase shift juggles, universal defense.
advanced
- 1
Tournament meta + Burst timing
Match-up chart, Burst Attack conversion, adaptation to opponent patterns.
Frequently asked
How is Pokkén different from Smash Bros?+
Pokkén is a 1v1 fighting game with health bars, blocks, throws, and rounds — closer to Tekken. Smash is platform-fighter with percentages + stock lives.
How many Pokémon are playable?+
21 fighters in Pokkén Tournament DX (Switch), including Charizard, Pikachu, Lucario, Machamp, Chandelure, Weavile, Gardevoir, Mewtwo, Blastoise, Aegislash, Empoleon, Braixen, Gengar, Sceptile, Garchomp, Scizor, Darkrai, Decidueye.
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Pokkén Tournament— Wikipedia