Pokkén Tournament | Nintendo Wii U

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Pokémon battles under your direct control

Pokkén Tournament brings Pokémon into an arena fighting game on Wii U, where movement, attacks and defensive decisions happen in real time. Set in the Ferrum region, it pairs a trainer with a chosen Battle Pokémon and turns that partnership into a series of direct contests. The goal is to wear down the opponent's health while protecting your own, but each encounter changes shape as it moves between two battle phases. Familiar creatures and spectacular moves supply the identity; learning distance, timing and the opponent's habits supplies the continuing challenge.

Find a Pokémon that suits your approach

The fighters give you different ways to approach that challenge. Pikachu brings electric attacks and quick movement, Machamp emphasizes close-range power, and Charizard combines its size and strength with fiery moves. The cast also includes choices such as Lucario, Gengar and Weavile, with distinctive attacks and rhythms to learn. Trying several Pokémon is useful because a preference for keeping an opponent at a distance can call for a different toolkit from constantly closing in. Their recognizable abilities become practical fighting-game options, so choosing a favorite is also the start of learning how that character creates an opening.

Every match begins in Field Phase, where you can move around an open three-dimensional space. This gives you room to reposition, avoid projectiles and look for a way into the opponent's defense. Landing certain attacks shifts the action into Duel Phase, a side-on contest with movement along a two-dimensional plane. Close exchanges and combos become more prominent there, before the battle eventually shifts back. The changing viewpoint is tied to changing decisions: an approach that worked across open ground may need to become tighter defense or a quick attack once both fighters are confronting each other directly.

Read attacks, counters and support choices

The Attack Triangle is a useful foundation for understanding those exchanges. Normal attacks overcome grabs, grabs overcome counters, and counters overcome normal attacks when the opposing actions meet under that system. Grabs can also catch a defending opponent. Knowing that relationship helps explain why repeatedly choosing the same response leaves an opening for the other player. Special moves use approachable directional and button inputs, but deciding when to use them still matters. As you become familiar with a matchup, you can spend more attention on what the opponent is likely to do and which response gives you the better chance.

Support Pokémon add another decision around your main fighter. You choose a support set before battle and select which member to use for the upcoming round. When the Support Gauge is ready, that Pokémon can be called in to help. The effects vary, including attacking the rival, interfering with them or helping your own Pokémon recover and improve its situation. A support choice can reinforce something your fighter already does well or supply help at an awkward moment. Because the gauge has to recharge, deciding when to ask for assistance is part of managing the round.

Synergy Burst gives a filled Synergy Gauge a dramatic use. Activating it temporarily strengthens your Pokémon, boosting attack and defense and restoring a little health. During that powered state, you can attempt a character-specific Burst Attack once per activation. It is a separate opportunity to manage, with a limited period in which to make the stronger state count. The large animations give these moments a strong visual identity, but preparing a useful opening still matters. Having the gauge ready gives you an option; finding the moment to turn it into damage is the next decision.

Build confidence through solo play and practice

Ferrum League supplies the main solo progression. You work through league matches, qualify for tournaments and face promotion tests as you climb, with the story of Shadow Mewtwo unfolding around the competition. This gives repeated battles a continuing objective beyond a single result. Your Pokémon can also earn skill levels and points to distribute among Attack, Defense, Strategy and Synergy. Between matches, My Town provides settings for your partner and trainer appearance. The combination makes it possible to develop a regular fighter while giving the trainer representing you a look of your own.

Practice mode offers several useful ways to learn. Tutorials introduce the systems, Action Dojo works through individual moves, Combo Dojo demonstrates sequences to reproduce, and Free Training lets you adjust the opponent and battle conditions. Those tools help turn a problem from a recent match into something you can examine at your own pace. Single Battle provides another option, letting you choose an opponent and configure rules for a CPU fight. Together, these modes support both a brief experiment with a new Pokémon and a more focused session spent improving a particular action.

Local battles and the Wii U setup

Local Battle supports two people on one Wii U with separate views of the fight. Player one uses the Wii U GamePad and watches its screen, while player two uses another compatible controller and watches the television. Supported choices include the Wii U Pro Controller, Wii Remote with Nunchuk, and Wii Remote with a Classic Controller or Classic Controller Pro. The specialist Pokkén Tournament Pro Pad is also supported. Plan the controllers around that GamePad-and-TV arrangement so both players have the required view and input device before starting a local match.

The original Wii U release included online Rank and Friendly Matches, but Nintendo ended Wii U online play on April 8, 2024. Those official online modes are no longer available. Ferrum League, Single Battle, Practice and the local battle setup provide the ways to enjoy this edition today. Its lasting focus is the interaction between two chosen Pokémon: finding a comfortable fighter, recognizing what the other side is trying to do, and putting your attacks, support calls and Synergy opportunities together over the course of a bout.