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.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness — factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame.
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 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Power Shot | A charged shot that travels faster and is harder to return. |
| Core Gear | Speed Boost power-ups, Curve Ball for angles | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Movement Speed, Stamina, Return Accuracy | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | arcade sports | Sports use simplified controls — one button to shoot/hit, one for special moves, one for power-ups. |
How to Play Speed Runner
Extend rallies to build speed passive, use court coverage to return everything, tire out opponents.
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.
What makes this role work: The synergy between Power Shot and arcade sports creates a gameplay loop that outperforms other options. Core gear like Speed Boost power-ups, Curve Ball for angles amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Clear stat priority (Movement Speed, Stamina, Return Accuracy) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Speed Boost | Temporarily increases movement speed by 40% for 5 seconds. |
| Core Gear | Power Shot power-ups, Super Strike ultimate | Maximizes build potential |
| 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.
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.
What makes this role work: The synergy between Speed Boost and character abilities creates a gameplay loop that offers reliable performance. Core gear like Power Shot power-ups, Super Strike ultimate amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Clear stat priority (Shot Power, Serve Speed, Ultimate Charge) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Shield Block | Creates a temporary barrier that automatically returns the next incoming shot. |
| Core Gear | Any power-ups (adaptive passive copies opponent's) | Maximizes build potential |
| 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.
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.
What makes this role work: The synergy between Shield Block and tournament brackets creates a gameplay loop that offers reliable performance. Core gear like Any power-ups (adaptive passive copies opponent's) amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Clear stat priority (Balance across all stats) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Curve Ball | Applies extreme curve to your next shot, bending it around defenders and into corners. |
| Core Gear | Shield Block power-ups, defensive positioning | Maximizes build potential |
| 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.
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.
What makes this role work: The synergy between Curve Ball and power-ups creates a gameplay loop that provides a unique approach. Core gear like Shield Block power-ups, defensive positioning amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Clear stat priority (Defense, Return Accuracy, Stamina) makes gearing straightforward
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Super Strike | Each champion's ultimate ability charged through gameplay. |
| Core Gear | Curve Ball enhancement, Teleport power-up | Maximizes build potential |
| 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.
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.
What makes this role work: The synergy between Super Strike and multiplayer modes creates a gameplay loop that provides a unique approach. Core gear like Curve Ball enhancement, Teleport power-up amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Clear stat priority (Shot Placement, Curve Control, Deception) makes gearing straightforward
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- 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
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first — 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
See our tier list for current meta rankings, or the beginner's guide if you're just getting started.
