TL;DR
- EV training is now called the Stat Point system in Pokemon Champions.
- You get 66 Stat Points to spread across 6 stats, with a cap of 32 per stat.
- Each Stat Point costs 5 VP to assign. Maxing everything out costs 330 VP.
- Nature is now called Stat Alignment and costs 500 VP to change.
- You can use Training Tickets to skip the VP cost entirely.
- Trial Recruitment Pokemon cannot be trained until permanently recruited.
Pokemon Champions changes how EV training and Natures work — in a really good way. No more grinding battles for hours. No more buying Mints and hoping you got the right one. Everything is done through a simple training menu, and it all costs Victory Points (VP).
This guide covers everything you need to know. How Stat Points work, how to change your Pokemon’s Nature (Stat Alignment), what it costs, and how to save VP along the way.
You can download the game for free from the Nintendo eShop and read the official game guide on the Pokemon Champions website.
What Replaced EV Training in Pokemon Champions?
In older Pokemon games, EV training meant defeating specific wild Pokemon or feeding vitamins to build up Effort Values. It took time, consumables, and a lot of patience.
Pokemon Champions replaces all of that with a Stat Point system.
Instead of 510 EVs spread across stats in groups of four, you now have 66 Stat Points to distribute however you like. You open the training menu, allocate points to HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, or Speed, and that’s it.
The cap is 32 Stat Points per stat. This mirrors the old EV cap of 252, just scaled down.
It works the same way strategically. You still want to put points into the stats your Pokemon actually uses. A physical attacker gets points in Attack and Speed. A special wall gets points in HP and Special Defense. The logic is identical — the process is just faster and cleaner.
You can check the full Pokemon Champions item list to see what other resources can help you build a strong team.
How to Assign Stat Points (EV Train) in Pokemon Champions
Here is how to do it step by step:
- Go to your Pokemon Box or the main menu.
- Select the Pokemon you want to train.
- Open the Training screen.
- You will see sliders or point allocations for each of the six stats.
- Move points into the stats you want to boost.
- Review the total VP cost shown at the bottom.
- Press + to confirm and pay the VP.
Removing Stat Points is free. You can reset a stat allocation without spending any VP. Only assigning new points costs VP.
Stat Point Costs
| Action | VP Cost |
|---|---|
| Assign 1 Stat Point | 5 VP |
| Fully max one stat (32 points) | 160 VP |
| Max out all Stat Points (66 total) | 330 VP |
So building a full competitive spread from scratch costs about 330 VP. That is very affordable compared to what it used to take in older games.
Need more VP? Read our guide on how to get Victory Points in Pokemon Champions.
What Is Stat Alignment? (Nature Explained)
In Pokemon Champions, Natures are called Stat Alignment.
It is the same mechanic with a new name. Every Stat Alignment boosts one stat by 10% and reduces another by 10%. There are also neutral alignments that have no effect on stats at all.
The most common ones used competitively are:
- Adamant — Boosts Attack, lowers Special Attack
- Modest — Boosts Special Attack, lowers Attack
- Jolly — Boosts Speed, lowers Special Attack
- Timid — Boosts Speed, lowers Attack
- Impish — Boosts Defense, lowers Special Attack
- Calm — Boosts Special Defense, lowers Attack
The training menu shows all alignments in a clear chart. You can see exactly which stat goes up and which goes down for every option. This is much easier than memorizing the old Nature chart.
How to Change Nature (Stat Alignment) in Pokemon Champions
You do not need Mints anymore. You just change it directly in the training menu.
Here is how:
- Open the Training screen for your Pokemon.
- Find the Stat Alignment section.
- Select the alignment you want.
- You will see a 500 VP cost appear next to it.
- Press + to confirm and apply the change.
That is all. No item hunting. No hoping your Pokemon has the right Nature when you recruit it.
Pro tip: Before you change Stat Alignment, press Y on the Stat Alignment menu to open Battle Data. This shows which alignments other players are using for that Pokemon and the percentage breakdown. It is a great way to confirm you are picking the right one for competitive play.
How to Change Ability in Pokemon Champions
While you are in the training menu, you can also change your Pokemon’s Ability — including its Hidden Ability.
In past games, getting a Hidden Ability required Max Raids, Ability Patches, or other special methods. In Pokemon Champions, you just select it from the menu and pay approximately 500 VP.
This means you can freely switch between standard and hidden abilities whenever your strategy changes. Check our guide on Mega Stones in Pokemon Champions as well, since having the right ability matters especially for Mega Evolution builds.
How to Change Moves in Pokemon Champions
The training menu also handles moves. You can pick any four moves from your Pokemon’s full moveset — you are not locked to what it currently knows.
Move changes cost VP as well, though the exact amount depends on which moves you are selecting. It is a small cost compared to changing Stat Alignment.
Training Tickets: How to Skip VP Costs
Training Tickets are one of the most useful items in the game.
When you use a Training Ticket at checkout in the training menu, it reduces the VP cost to zero — no matter how many changes you are making. That means you could reassign all 66 Stat Points, change Stat Alignment, switch abilities, and swap all four moves in one session, and it costs nothing if you have a Ticket.
Where to get Training Tickets:
- Complete in-game challenges
- Progress through the Battle Pass (ranks 31 and above)
- The Starter Pack includes 50 Training Tickets
Use Training Tickets when you are doing a full rebuild of a Pokemon — that is when they save you the most VP. For small tweaks like adjusting a couple of stat points, spending a few VP is fine.
You can also find useful resources through Pokemon Champions Mystery Gift Codes which sometimes include training-related rewards.
What You Cannot Train in Pokemon Champions
There are a few important limits to know.
Trial Recruitment Pokemon cannot be trained. When you rent a Pokemon for the free 7-day trial, you can battle with it to test it, but you cannot touch its stats, alignment, ability, or moves. You need to permanently recruit it with VP or a Teammate Ticket first.
IVs do not exist in Pokemon Champions. Every Pokemon in the game has its Individual Values set to 31 across the board. You never need to worry about breeding for good IVs or checking spreads. This removes a huge barrier for new players.
Form changes reset training. If your Pokemon changes form, its training may need to be redone.
Training Pokemon Transferred from Pokemon HOME
If you transfer Pokemon from Pokemon HOME into Champions, there are some things to keep in mind.
Pokemon trained in another game carry over their Nature and EV data on the first transfer. After that first visit to Champions, the game locks in a snapshot of that Pokemon’s stats. If you retrain it in another game and transfer it again, Champions will not update the stats.
However, any training you do inside Champions stays in Champions. It does not overwrite the data in HOME.
This means if you plan to bring a Pokemon from another game, make sure its EV spread and Nature are exactly right before that first transfer. You can read our full guide on how to transfer Pokemon HOME to Pokemon Champions for more details.
One big advantage: IVs are always 31 in Champions regardless of what the Pokemon has in HOME. A Pokemon with 0 Speed IVs in HOME will still battle with 31 Speed IVs inside Champions.
Tips to Build an Efficient EV Spread
Not sure where to put your Stat Points? Here are some general rules that work well.
Max two stats, ignore the rest in most cases. Most competitive Pokemon max out 32 points in two stats, for example Speed and Special Attack on a sweeper. This mirrors the old “max max” EV strategy.
Think about your Pokemon’s role first. Sweepers want Speed and their primary attack stat. Tanks want HP and a defensive stat. Support Pokemon may want HP and Speed for utility.
Check the Battle Data. Open the Stat Alignment menu and press Y to see what other players are running on that Pokemon. Do the same analysis for Stat Points if build guides are available.
Do not waste points on bad stats. If a Pokemon has a very low base Attack, putting points there gives almost no benefit. Always invest in stats that match your Pokemon’s base stat strengths.
Full Training Checklist
Before you lock in your training, run through this list:
- Stat Points assigned to the right stats
- Stat Alignment matches your attack style (physical or special)
- Ability selected (Hidden Ability if needed)
- Four moves chosen from full moveset
- Training Ticket used if you are doing a full rebuild
- Held item equipped before battle
For a full list of Pokemon available to build your team around, see our complete Pokemon Champions Pokemon list and our guide on how to get more Pokemon in Pokemon Champions.
Final Thoughts
EV training and Nature changes in Pokemon Champions are the best they have ever been. The Stat Point system is fast, clear, and accessible. Changing Stat Alignment no longer requires item hunting. Everything is done in one menu with a simple VP cost.
It costs 330 VP to max out Stat Points and 500 VP to change Stat Alignment. That is very manageable if you battle regularly. Use Training Tickets for big rebuilds to save your VP for recruiting new Pokemon.
If you enjoy the competitive side, also check out our guides on Shiny Hunting and Titles in Pokemon Champions for more ways to customize your experience.
