The AI-powered battle analysis tool Pokémon Battle Scope (PBS) is returning to the Pokémon Japan Championships 2026 (PJCS2026) for another year, following successful appearances at the 2024 and 2025 editions. The tournament is scheduled for June 6 (Saturday) and 7 (Sunday) at Pacifico Yokohama, where PBS will again be used to enhance the viewing experience for audiences.
What Is Pokémon Battle Scope?
Pokémon Battle Scope is a battle analysis AI developed jointly by HEROZ Inc. and The Pokémon Company, specifically designed for Pokémon battles. It first appeared at the Pokémon Ryuuou Tournament 2024 in February 2024, making use of technology developed through HEROZ's work on AI-powered shogi applications, including the Japan Shogi Association-certified Shogi Wars app.
PBS was built to address challenges commonly experienced by battle viewers:
- It can be difficult for newcomers to assess whether a player's move was a good one.
- Even when the venue and commentary are buzzing with excitement, viewers without background knowledge can struggle to understand why.
- Joining a match midway often makes it hard to grasp the current state of play.
To address these issues, PBS analyzes the rapidly changing conditions of a Pokémon battle in real time — including Pokémon types, abilities, moves, held items, in-battle weather, and field effects — and displays predictions for the most likely winning next move. This allows audiences to follow and enjoy the action regardless of how much they know about competitive Pokémon.
At PJCS 2024 and PJCS 2025, PBS was met with positive responses from viewers, with many noting that being able to see the battle situation visually in real time made watching matchups far more thrilling.
Updated for Pokémon Champions
Starting from PJCS2026, Pokémon Champions has been adopted as the target software for the tournament's game division. In response, PBS has been retuned to align with the updated rules, including adjustments for eligible Pokémon and Mega Evolution mechanics.
Event Overview
Pokémon Japan Championships 2026
- Official Website: https://www.pokemon.co.jp/ex/pjcs/2026/
- Dates: June 6 (Saturday) – June 7 (Sunday), 2026
- Venue: Pacifico Yokohama
- Organizer: The Pokémon Company
©Pokémon/Nintendo/Creatures/GAME FREAK
Pokémon, ポケットモンスター, and Pocket Monsters are registered trademarks of Nintendo, Creatures Inc., and GAME FREAK inc.
