Honestly, it’s kinda weird that we don't talk about Pokkén Tournament DX Nintendo Switch more often.
Think about it. Most Pokémon games are about math. You’re crunching numbers, checking IVs, and praying to the RNG gods that your Move actually lands. But Pokkén? It’s about punching a Charizard in the face in real-time. It’s visceral. It’s fast. Developed by the legendary Bandai Namco team—the same folks behind Tekken—this game remains one of the most polished experiences on the hardware, even years after its 2017 debut.
If you missed the Wii U era (don't worry, most people did), you might have overlooked this gem. But let's get one thing straight: this isn't just a port. It's the definitive way to play a fighter that bridges the gap between casual button-mashing and frame-perfect competitive play.
What Makes Pokkén Tournament DX on Nintendo Switch Actually Different?
The "DX" stands for Deluxe, and it’s not just a fancy marketing label. On the Wii U, the game felt a little thin. You had a decent roster, but the hardware struggled to keep up with the chaotic particle effects. On the Switch, things just click.
You get the base roster plus five additional fighters right out of the gate: Darkrai, Scizor, Empoleon, Croagunk, and the heavy-hitting Decidueye. Later, DLC added Aegislash and Blastoise. But the real magic is the Phase Shift mechanic. This is what throws people off at first. You start in "Field Phase," moving in 3D like a traditional arena fighter. Land a big hit or a specific combo, and boom—the camera snaps to the side. Now you're in "Duel Phase," playing a 2D fighter like Street Fighter or Tekken. It’s a rhythmic tug-of-war that keeps your brain from going on autopilot.
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A Roster That Ignores the "Popularity Contest"
One thing I love about this game is the roster selection. Sure, you have the icons like Pikachu and Mewtwo. But then the developers threw in Chandelure. A haunted chandelier. Why? Because it has a unique "Zoning" playstyle that uses long-range ghostly flames to frustrate opponents.
- Standard Types: Lucario and Blaziken. These are your "Ryu" equivalents. Balanced, reliable, great for learning the ropes.
- Power Types: Machamp and Garchomp. They move slow, but if they grab you, your health bar basically deletes itself.
- Speed Types: Sceptile and Weavile. High-intensity pressure. You’re dashing, you’re poking, and you’re driving the other player crazy.
- Technical Types: Braixen and Mewtwo. These require a high IQ to pilot because they rely on specific setups and meter management.
The balance is surprisingly tight. Unlike some fighting games where top-tier characters make the rest of the cast irrelevant, a skilled Croagunk player can absolutely dismantle a "top-tier" Shadow Mewtwo if they know the matchup.
The Synergy Gauge and the Art of the Support
In Pokkén Tournament DX Nintendo Switch, you aren't just controlling one monster. You pick a Support Set. These come in pairs, like Snivy and Lapras or Eevee and Frogadier. You can't just spam them. They charge over time, and picking the right one is basically your "insurance policy."
Then there’s the Synergy Gauge. When that bar fills up, you tap L+R and go into a Mega Evolution or a powered-up state. This isn't just a cosmetic change. Your moves gain new properties, you take less chip damage, and you get access to your Burst Attack. These are cinematic finishers that look like they were pulled straight out of a high-budget anime. Seriously, watching Rayquaza fly through the screen during a Burst move never gets old.
Is the Online Community Still Alive?
You’d be surprised. While it’s not pulling Smash Ultimate numbers, the dedicated Pokkén community is incredibly resilient. You can usually find a match in Ranked or Group play within a minute or two, especially during peak hours in North America and Japan.
The netcode is delay-based, which is a bit of a bummer in the era of Rollback, but if both players have a decent connection (get a LAN adapter, seriously), it’s remarkably smooth. The "Daily Challenge" mode also gives you a reason to log in, offering specific scenarios that help you farm skill points to level up your Pokémon’s stats.
Why People Get Frustrated (and How to Fix It)
A common complaint is that the tutorial is too long. Yeah, it’s a bit of a slog. But here’s the truth: if you skip it, you’re going to get destroyed. Pokkén uses a "Triangle System" that is the foundation of every interaction.
- Normal Attacks beat Grabs.
- Grabs beat Counters.
- Counters beat Normal Attacks.
If you're just mashing Y, a player who knows how to use the Counter Attack (X+A) will eat you alive. The game visually cues this with colors. Blue flashes mean a counter is active. Red flashes mean an unblockable grab is coming. Green means a normal strike. Once you start "reading" the colors rather than just looking at the character models, the game opens up. It becomes a high-speed game of Rock-Paper-Scissors.
Graphics and Performance: Does it Hold Up?
For a game that started in Japanese arcades and moved to the Wii U, it looks stunning on the Switch. The texture work on the Pokémon is hyper-realistic—you can see individual feathers on Decidueye and the leathery skin of Garchomp. It runs at a locked 60 frames per second in both docked and handheld mode.
The resolution does take a slight dip in local split-screen, though. To maintain that 60 FPS, the game has to work harder. If you’re playing on one Switch with a friend, the frame rate is the priority, so expect some jagged edges. But honestly, when a Shadow Mewtwo is dropping a literal moon on your head, you aren't exactly counting pixels.
The Hidden Depth of Skill Points
In the single-player Ferrum League, you earn Skill Points. You can dump these into Attack, Defense, Synergy, or Strategy. Most beginners ignore this, but it actually changes the "math" of your fighter.
Want a "Glass Cannon" Pikachu? Max out Attack. Want a Blastoise that simply refuses to die? Pump those points into Defense. While these stats are usually standardized in competitive "fated" battles, they add a nice layer of RPG progression to the solo grind.
The Verdict on Pokkén Tournament DX
This is the only game where you can watch a Suicune use Aurora Beam to zone out a luchador-costumed Pikachu. It’s weird. It’s experimental. It’s also one of the most mechanically sound fighting games on the market.
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Nintendo and The Pokémon Company haven't announced a sequel yet, which is a crime. But Pokkén Tournament DX Nintendo Switch is so feature-complete that it doesn't necessarily need one to be worth your time today. It’s a complete package with no predatory microtransactions—a rarity in the modern gaming landscape.
Actionable Next Steps for New Players
If you’re ready to jump in, don’t just head into Ranked immediately. Do these three things first:
- Complete the Action Dojo: Not just the tutorial. The Action Dojo teaches you the specific combos for your chosen Pokémon. It’s the difference between flailing and actually playing.
- Find Your Archetype: Don’t just pick your favorite Pokémon from the anime. If you hate slow movement, stay away from Machamp, even if you love him. Try a Speed type like Weavile to get a feel for the game's pacing.
- Learn the Phase Shift Triggers: Every character has specific moves that force a transition from 3D to 2D. Learn them. Controlling the "Phase" is how you control the tempo of the match.
- Join the Discord: The "Pokkén Arena" community is the hub for frame data, matchup guides, and finding players of your skill level. It’s the best resource for moving beyond the casual "mash" phase.
Whether you're a Pokémon fan who wants to see their favorites in high-fidelity combat or a fighting game veteran looking for something different, Pokkén Tournament DX is a mandatory play. It’s fast, it’s flashy, and it’s surprisingly deep. Just watch out for that Chandelure—it’s smaller than it looks, and it hits like a truck.