Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Stratagem, competitive Pokémon VGC, and Champions mode.
What is Stratagem?
Stratagem is a free, browser-based tactical companion for competitive Pokémon VGC (Video Game Championships). It provides team discovery, a full team builder, matchup analysis heatmaps, lead recommendations, speed tier comparisons, a damage calculator, and a turn-by-turn battle simulator — all in one tool. No account or download is required.
Is Stratagem free to use?
Yes, Stratagem is completely free. It runs entirely in your browser with no subscription, premium tier, or login required. The project is supported by ads via Google AdSense.
Is Stratagem affiliated with Nintendo, Game Freak, or The Pokémon Company?
No. Stratagem is an unofficial fan project. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Nintendo, Game Freak, Creatures Inc., or The Pokémon Company. Pokémon and related media are trademarks of their respective owners. All game data is used under fair use for commentary and analysis.
How do I import a team?
Go to the Load tab and paste your team in standard Pokémon Showdown Pokepaste format. You can import a team as your own team or as the opponent's team. Alternatively, browse the Discover tab to find pre-built teams and import them with a single click.
What is the difference between Standard and Champions mode?
Standard mode uses the full Pokémon roster and movepool data from PokeAPI, following the current VGC Regulation rules. Champions mode restricts the roster and movepool to the rules of Pokémon Champions, uses a 0–32 stat point system instead of traditional EVs, and applies Champions-specific ability effects like Mega Sol and Dragonize.
How does the battle simulator work?
The battle simulator lets you play out full VGC doubles battles turn by turn. Select leads, choose moves and targets for each Pokémon, and watch the turn resolve with accurate damage calculations (powered by @smogon/calc), speed-based move ordering, weather, terrain, abilities, and items. You can also enable AI control for the opponent's team.
How accurate is the damage calculator?
Damage calculations use the @smogon/calc library, the same engine behind Pokémon Showdown's damage calculator. While the core calculations are accurate, some edge cases involving complex ability or item interactions may be simplified. The simulator is in beta and is continuously being improved.
How are the pre-built teams selected?
Pre-built teams are sourced from major VGC tournaments including EUIC, Regional Championships, Victory Road events, and Smogon sample teams. Each team includes a full Pokepaste, strategy summary, three-phase gameplan (opening, mid-game, end-game), and a highlighted star player. Teams are categorized by archetype: Balance, Tailwind, Trick Room, Weather, and Hyper Offense.
Can I use Stratagem on mobile?
Yes. Stratagem is fully responsive and works on mobile browsers. The interface adapts to smaller screens with touch-friendly controls, scrollable panels, and compact layouts.
Does Stratagem store my data?
No personal data is stored on any server. All team data, preferences, and session state are stored locally in your browser's localStorage. Stratagem does not require an account and does not use analytics that track individual users. See the Privacy Policy for full details.
What languages does Stratagem support?
Stratagem is available in 10 languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese (Brazil), Japanese, Korean, Italian, Arabic, and Hebrew. The interface automatically adapts to right-to-left layout for Arabic and Hebrew.
How can I give feedback or report a bug?
Use the Feedback button in the top-right corner of the app to submit suggestions, bug reports, or feature requests. Your feedback helps improve Stratagem for the entire community.
What is the Team Library?
The Team Library is a collection of 45+ competitive VGC teams, each with expert strategy analysis, a three-phase gameplan, and a full Pokepaste export. Browse teams by archetype, read detailed strategy guides, and import any team directly into Stratagem for analysis or battle simulation.
Will more teams and guides be added?
Yes. The team library and guides section are updated as new teams emerge in the competitive metagame. New educational content is also added regularly to help players of all skill levels improve their VGC understanding.
What Pokémon are available in Champions mode?
Champions mode uses a curated roster of approximately 200 species drawn from across all generations. The roster includes competitive staples like Incineroar, Garchomp, and Wash Rotom alongside Pokémon that have received new Mega Evolutions in Champions. Mega forms are accessed via Mega Stones on the base species, not as separate roster entries. When building a team in Stratagem's Champions mode, the builder automatically validates legality against this roster.
How do Stat Points work compared to EVs?
Pokémon Champions uses a Stat Points system instead of traditional EVs. Each stat can receive 0–32 Stat Points, where 1 Stat Point equals 8 EVs. So 32 Stat Points in a stat is equivalent to 256 EVs, and the total budget mirrors the standard 510 EV cap when converted. Natures still apply on top of Stat Points. Stratagem's Champions builder lets you enter Stat Points on the 0–32 scale and handles the conversion internally for damage calculations.
Which Pokémon can Mega Evolve in Champions?
Champions features both classic Mega Evolutions and brand-new Mega forms. Returning Megas include Charizard Y (Drought), Tyranitar (Sand Stream), Gengar (Shadow Tag), Kangaskhan (Parental Bond), Gardevoir (Pixilate), Scizor (Technician), and Aerodactyl (Tough Claws). New Champions-exclusive Megas include Starmie (Huge Power), Floette (Fairy Aura), Meganium (Mega Sol), Blastoise (Mega Launcher), Froslass (Snow setting), and Delphox (Levitate). Each team is limited to one Mega Evolution per battle.
Where do the Champions pre-built teams come from?
The Champions pre-built teams in Stratagem's Discover tab and Team Library are sourced from Game8's competitive guides for Pokémon Champions doubles. Each team is transcribed with exact Pokémon, moves, items, natures, and Stat Point distributions from the original guides. One additional custom team is included to cover the Tailwind archetype. All teams include a three-phase gameplan written by our team.
Can I use the Battle Simulator in Champions mode?
Yes. The battle simulator fully supports Champions mode. Mega Evolution, Champions-specific abilities like Mega Sol and Dragonize, Stat Point-based stats, and the restricted movepool are all applied automatically. Toggle to Champions mode in the header, import or build your teams, and simulate full doubles battles with accurate Champions mechanics.
How does the damage calculator handle Champions abilities?
The damage calculator (powered by @smogon/calc) applies Champions-specific ability effects automatically in Champions mode. Abilities like Huge Power on Mega Starmie, Fairy Aura on Mega Floette, Mega Sol on Mega Meganium, and Shadow Tag on Mega Gengar are all factored into damage calculations. The calculator also uses Stat Point-based stats and the Champions movepool for accurate results.