Beat the Champions is an arcade sports game where you compete against AI champion athletes across multiple sport types with power-ups and special abilities. The game takes real sports (tennis, basketball, soccer) and adds Mario-style power-up mechanics creating a party game atmosphere. Each champion has a unique weakness that must be exploited to win, turning matches into puzzle-like encounters. The multiplayer mode supports local and online competitive play with seasonal rankings. It's a lighthearted sports game designed for quick matches and accessible fun rather than simulation realism.
New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Rankings
| Role | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed Runner | A | Extend rallies to build speed passive, use court coverage to return everything, tire out opponents. | Speed Boost power-ups, Curve Ball for angles |
| Power Hitter | S | End rallies quickly with powerful shots, build ultimate for guaranteed-score Super Strikes. | Power Shot power-ups, Super Strike ultimate |
| All-Rounder | A | Adapt to each opponent's playstyle, use the adaptive passive to mirror their best power-up. | Any power-ups (adaptive passive copies opponent's) |
| Defender | B | Play defensively, return everything, frustrate opponents into making errors, capitalize on mistakes. | Shield Block power-ups, defensive positioning |
| Trickster | A | Use extreme curve shots to wrong-foot opponents, teleport for surprise returns, keep opponents guessing. | Curve Ball enhancement, Teleport power-up |
For detailed meta rankings, see our Beat the Champions tier list.
A-Tier: Speed Runner
Excels at court coverage and fast returns. The passive speed boost after rallies makes Speed Runner stronger in long exchanges. Weak opening power but dominates through stamina and positioning.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Stat Priority | Movement Speed, Stamina, Return Accuracy | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | arcade sports | Sports use simplified controls. |
How to Play Speed Runner
Extend rallies to build speed passive, use court coverage to return everything, tire out opponents.
Why this role works: Power Shot does the damage and arcade sports keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. Core gear like Speed Boost power-ups, Curve Ball for angles pushes it further.
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Highest overall performance
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Clear stat priority (Movement Speed, Stamina, Return Accuracy) makes gearing straightforward
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Works in all content types
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Popular pick, resources may be contested
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Needs specific gear to reach full potential
S-Tier: Power Hitter
The most straightforward champion with the highest raw shot power. The Super Strike ultimate is nearly unreturnable without a Shield Block power-up. Dominates short rallies and serves.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Stat Priority | Shot Power, Serve Speed, Ultimate Charge | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | character abilities | Each champion character has a unique passive ability and an ultimate ability. |
How to Play Power Hitter
End rallies quickly with powerful shots, build ultimate for guaranteed-score Super Strikes.
Why this role works: Pair Speed Boost with character abilities and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. Core gear like Power Shot power-ups, Super Strike ultimate pushes it further.
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Most versatile option
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Clear stat priority (Shot Power, Serve Speed, Ultimate Charge) makes gearing straightforward
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Works in all content types
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Lower peak damage than S-tier
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Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: All-Rounder
Balanced stats with no significant weaknesses or strengths. The adaptive passive copies the last power-up used by the opponent. Flexible and good for learning matchups but lacks a dominant strategy.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Stat Priority | Balance across all stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | tournament brackets | The single-player mode is structured as a tournament bracket where you face increasingly difficult champions. |
How to Play All-Rounder
Adapt to each opponent's playstyle, use the adaptive passive to mirror their best power-up.
Why this role works: tournament brackets covers the gap Shield Block leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. Core gear like Any power-ups (adaptive passive copies opponent's) pushes it further.
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Best survivability
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Clear stat priority (Balance across all stats) makes gearing straightforward
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Works in all content types
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Slower clear speeds
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Needs specific gear to reach full potential
B-Tier: Defender
Excels at blocking and returning shots with enhanced defensive abilities. The Shield Block power-up lasts twice as long. Struggles to score offensively but frustrates aggressive opponents by returning everything.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Stat Priority | Defense, Return Accuracy, Stamina | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | power-ups | Items spawn randomly on the field: speed boosts, shield blocks, curve enhancers, and super strikes. |
How to Play Defender
Play defensively, return everything, frustrate opponents into making errors, capitalize on mistakes.
Why this role works: This one leans on power-ups rather than raw numbers, and Curve Ball is what makes that trade pay off. Core gear like Shield Block power-ups, defensive positioning pushes it further.
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Strong in group/team content
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Clear stat priority (Defense, Return Accuracy, Stamina) makes gearing straightforward
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Excels in its niche
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Weaker solo performance
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Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Trickster
Specializes in unpredictable shot placement and mind games. The Curve Ball ability is enhanced with sharper angles. The teleport power-up repositions instantly for impossible returns. High skill ceiling.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Stat Priority | Shot Placement, Curve Control, Deception | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | multiplayer modes | Local split-screen for 2-4 players and online ranked 1v1. |
How to Play Trickster
Use extreme curve shots to wrong-foot opponents, teleport for surprise returns, keep opponents guessing.
Why this role works: Super Strike and multiplayer modes pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. Core gear like Curve Ball enhancement, Teleport power-up pushes it further.
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Unique, rewarding playstyle
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Clear stat priority (Shot Placement, Curve Control, Deception) makes gearing straightforward
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Excels in its niche
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High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
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Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Power Hitter: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Speed Runner once you understand core mechanics and have access to Power Shot
- Keep a All-Rounder setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Trickster for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Follow our walkthrough for the optimal progression path through each area.
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first, since it gives the biggest power spike.
- Learn each champion's unique weakness before fighting them in tournament mode. Power Hitter is weak against long rallies, Speed Runner struggles against power shots.
- Power-up spawns follow a pattern. They appear every 15 seconds at one of 4 court positions. Positioning yourself near the next spawn gives a tactical advantage.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
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