The provided source material details a mobile strategy game, Pokémon Duel, which was a free-to-start application available for download on iOS, iPadOS, Android, and Fire OS devices. The game was developed by HEROZ and published by The Pokémon Company. It was a spin-off title that utilised a board game format, where players collected and deployed Pokémon figures to compete against opponents. The game was initially released in Japan in April 2016 and was later launched in North America, Europe, and Australia, including the United Kingdom, on 24 January 2017. The official service for Pokémon Duel was discontinued on 31 October 2019, rendering the game unplayable through official channels. Following its discontinuation, a community-driven project named Kaeru Duel was developed to provide custom servers that restore functionality for the game, though this is only compatible with Android devices.
Game Overview and Core Mechanics
Pokémon Duel was a strategy board game that used Pokémon figures as its primary gameplay elements. The objective of the game was for a player to be the first to move one of their Pokémon figures to the goal located in their opponent’s territory. Gameplay was turn-based, with players and their opponents taking turns to move their figures across the board. Success required careful planning of routes, strategic formation of the deck, and the use of various tactical options such as attacking opponents or blocking their path.
The game featured a deck-building system where players assembled a team of six Pokémon figures. Each figure possessed distinct strengths and a set number of steps it could take, necessitating strategic planning. Figures could engage in battles when adjacent to an opponent’s figure. Battles were resolved by spinning a Data Disk associated with each Pokémon, which determined the attack used. The outcome could result in knocking out the opposing figure or forcing it to move aside. In addition to movement and battling, players could utilise plates at the start of their turn. These plates provided various effects, including swapping the positions of Pokémon in play or granting temporary enhancements.
To strengthen their teams, players could acquire more powerful Pokémon figures and raise their levels through a process called fusion. Fusion involved using a Pokémon figure not in the active deck to enhance one on the main team, increasing the damage of attacks and reducing the chance of missing. Players could also collect items, plates, and Pokémon figures by visiting the Training Center, where they could duel against a predetermined team led by an instructor to learn about different Pokémon capabilities and improve their skills.
Online Play and Progression
The game included online functionality, allowing players to compete against real opponents. The "League Match" feature on the home screen automatically matched players with others worldwide, with matching based on skill level to ensure competitive fairness. Achieving victory in League duels rewarded players with Time Boosters from the Booster case. These boosters contained various items, including Pokémon figures. Players could also earn Key Fragments regardless of the match outcome, which could be used to open Booster Keys, providing an additional method to collect figures and strengthen their decks. As players continued to play and win League matches, their rating would increase.
The game’s artificial intelligence (AI) was developed in partnership with HEROZ, known for the app Shogi Wars, which could challenge and defeat professional players. This AI served as a reliable ally, capable of determining good moves and taking turns for the player, especially in single-player modes.
Availability and Discontinuation
Pokémon Duel was a free-to-start single-player game that featured online battles. It required an internet connection to play. The game was released on specific platforms: for iOS and iPadOS devices (iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch) running iOS 7 or later, and for Android devices running Android Jelly Bean (4.1) and up. It was also available on Amazon devices from 2 October 2017.
The release strategy for Europe was notable. Unlike other Pokémon mobile games, Pokémon Duel was not released in French-, German-, Italian-, or Spanish-speaking parts of Europe. This included regions such as Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, and Switzerland. The game was, however, available in the United Kingdom, which falls under the English-speaking European release.
The official service for Pokémon Duel ended on 31 October 2019. Following the discontinuation, the game was delisted from the App Store and the Google Play Store. Consequently, new users could no longer download the game unless they had previously added it to their account before it was removed. For users who still possess the game on their devices, the official servers no longer function, making the game unplayable without external intervention.
Community Revival: Kaeru Duel
In response to the official discontinuation, a community project called Kaeru Duel was developed. Kaeru Duel Alpha provides custom servers that are compatible with the discontinued mobile game, aiming to restore original features so that players can enjoy the game beyond 2019. The service is currently only compatible with Android devices, though it can be set up on physical devices or via Android emulators such as Nox, with physical devices prioritised in development.
To use Kaeru Duel, a player must possess a legitimate copy of the Pokémon Duel game. Since the game is delisted, users can only download it if it was previously added to their account. A specific link for redownloading the game on Android devices is provided: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.pokemon.pokemoncomaster. Once the latest version of Pokémon Duel is installed, users must download the Kaeru Patcher and select the 'Kaeru Duel Stable' patch. Kaeru Duel is available to the public free of charge. For support and to arrange matches, a Discord community is available at https://discord.kaeru.world.
Technical and Data Management
Players had the ability to transfer their game data to another device. This was managed within the Options menu by setting a transfer password, which generated a transfer ID. By entering the password and ID into the Game Data Transfer option on another device, the player's save data and Gems could be moved. The game included a Deck Case that held Figures, Plates, and saved deck configurations. Decks and Figures had maximum capacities that could be expanded by spending Gems, with the deck limit increasing by one and the Figure limit by 10 for 10 Gems each. A maximum of 2,000 Figures was allowed.
Conclusion
Pokémon Duel was a free-to-start mobile strategy game that offered a unique board game experience within the Pokémon universe. It featured deck building, strategic movement, and online competition. The game was available to UK consumers from January 2017 until its official discontinuation in October 2019. While the official service is no longer active, the Kaeru Duel project provides a means for dedicated players on Android devices to continue accessing the game's features through community-managed servers.