In Pokémon Sword & Shield, the Pokémon League challenge was replaced with the Champion Cup. The Champion Cup, unlike the Elite 4’s system of going forward battle to battle until you reach the Champion, is set up in a tournament style. Both methods have their positives, and today we’re going to be looking at the pros and cons of both.
10 Elite 4: The Mystery
One of the fun parts of having an Elite 4 is that you never know who you’re going to get, unlike the Champion Cup. Is it going to be made up of people who you’ve met on your journey, or new characters altogether? That’s part of the mystery of the Elite 4, you never know who you’re going to get. The Champion Cup is a known quantity.
9 Champion Cup: Characters You Already Know
Then again, one of the best parts of the Champion Cup is that you get to battle against characters that you’ve already met, making the battles that much more impactful. How much have you grown in comparison to all of your allies and rivals? Well, the Champion Cup rematch is your chance to find out, when everyone is at their best, all going for the glory.
8 Elite 4: Brand New Characters
While it’s great to fight your friends and rivals in the Champion Cup, sometimes the surprise of a brand new character can be tons of fun. Who would have ever expected an older woman like Agatha to be a powerful member of the Elite 4? No one saw it coming!
Kahili of the Alola Elite 4 was another great example of a character who you’d never expect to be a part of the Pokémon League, but she was a great addition nonetheless.
7 Champion Cup: The Arena
While the arena wasn’t exclusive to the Champion Cup in Sword & Shield, as they made appearances in the gym battles as well, it was still a fantastic part of the Champion Cup, Having a live audience be a part of the battle really cranks the energy up to 11. The energy of an empty room with just you and the Elite 4 members simply can’t replicate that same feeling.
6 Elite 4: The League Facility
The arena was great, sure but the Pokémon League facilities are always a sight to behold. While they’re all varying levels of extravagant, the Pokémon X & Y one was absolutely stunning, and while the Champion Battle itself wasn’t all that difficult, it took place in a fantastic setting that really elevated things.
5 Champion Cup: Makes The World Feel More Lived In
The tournament style of the Champion Cup, along with it all being a televised event with a live audience, really helps to make the world feel more lived in. Everyone looks forward to it, it’s an event, something that Wyndon is known for.
The interruption battle from Bede is a great twist too. The layout of the Champion Cup overall really makes it feel more real, and it is a lot more interesting than the normal Pokémon League style.
4 Elite 4: Victory Road
The lead up to the Champion Cup isn’t as great as the usual Pokémon League because the Galar Region doesn’t feature Victory Road, the usual huge route that precedes the league. Victory Road always tests the player on everything they’ve learned on their journey. If you can’t make it through Victory Road, then you don’t have what it takes to challenge the Elite 4, or, in the case of Sinnoh, not enough HMs. Hopefully, we see Victory Road return every once in a while in the future.
3 Champion Cup: The Tournament Style
As previously mentioned, the tournament style of the Champion Cup is a ton of fun, it feels a lot more real, as everyone is in it to win, they’re not just there as a roadblock for you to overcome.
Beyond that, as previously mentioned, the Champion Cup is an event that fans flock to, and is the thrilling conclusion to the Gym Challenge that just feels right. The Galar Region paints the league as a pro sport that fans love to watch, and it just works. The Champion Cup is a perfect ending to it.
2 Elite 4: Tradition
Defeating the Elite 4 before being allowed to take on the Champion is tradition, it’s something that has been done for over 20 years, and many fans are attached to this progression. It’s familiar. It makes sense. People just get how it works. However, does having a legacy really make something better?
1 Champion Cup: It’s New
The Champion Cup is new, it’s different. It doesn’t stray all too far from the Elite 4 while still being different enough to stand on its own. The arena adds to the dramatics of things, Gigantamaxing raises the stakes, it all feels more real. The Champion Cup does all that’s needed to be a fun competition that’s different from the Elite 4. And, in the end, maybe it’s even better than its predecessor?
NEXT: Pokémon Sword & Shield: 7 Things That Make The Game Too Easy (& 8 That Keep It Challenging)
