A writer has returned to competitive Pokémon battles after more than a decade away, thanks to the new game Pokémon Champions. The experience allowed use of personal favorite monsters instead of meta choices.
The player began with a team featuring Raichu, Torterra, Houndoom, Corviknight, Starmie, and Garchomp. Early matches against common opponents like Incineroar and Pelipper-Archuladon combinations led to key adaptations using abilities such as Mirror Armor and Lightning Rod for surprise advantages.