Niantic have given the rulesets for the upcoming GO Battle League.

Current rules in the ruleset:

Battles will take place in all three leagues: Great League, Ultra League, and Master League. However, only one league will be available at a time, and they will all rotate throughout a season. This means that in order to be the best, you need to be able to win in all three formats!

However, only one league will be available at a time, and they will all rotate throughout a season. This means that in order to be the best, you need to be able to win in all three formats! As you win battles throughout the season, your rank will increase, even as GO Battle League rotates between leagues. You will start at Rank 1 and work your way up to the top rank, Rank 10. Once you reach a new rank, you cannot drop below it for the rest of the season. Higher ranks mean better rewards!

You will start at Rank 1 and work your way up to the top rank, Rank 10. Once you reach a new rank, you cannot drop below it for the rest of the season. Higher ranks mean better rewards! The higher the rank the better the reward and once you reach a rank you can’t be removed from it for the season.

Once you reach Rank 10, measure against the best with your battle rating. Wins increase your battle rating, while losses will cause it to drop.

Wins increase your battle rating, while losses will cause it to drop. You can’t have more than one of the same species at the same time.

They also have plans changed the battle system to come soon. Here, when two Charge Attacks go off at the same time, the Pokémon with the highest Attack stat will go first.

Switching removes any stat buffs/debuffs

As we get closer to the release of GO Battle League in early 2020, you can look forward to more information on how GO Battle League works.

Updates to the combat system

There are some exciting updates coming to the combat system.

When two Pokémon use Charged Attacks at the same time, the Pokémon with the higher Attack stat will go first. If two Pokémon have the same Attack stat, a random Pokémon will go first. We want to ensure Charged Attack ties are broken fairly. Restrictions in Great and Ultra League currently put a focus on trying to get low-Attack Pokémon to maximize CP. While maximizing Defense and HP is a great strategy against most opponents, in close matchups, the Attack stat can now become a deciding factor. We hope this will help deepen team building! Switching Pokémon now clears any changes to its Attack and Defense stats. As more attacks are added to the game that affect Attack and Defense, we want to ensure these effects have clear counterplay opportunities. Debuffs should encourage players to switch Pokémon and buffs should make switching less appealing. There’s more to consider now when to use these attacks and when to switch Pokémon.

They have also changed the following moves for Trainer Battles:

Night Slash – Now has a chance to increase the user’s Attack

Icy Wind – Now lowers the opponent’s Attack

Hydro Cannon – Has decreased damage

Frustration & Return – Has increased damage but take longer to chrge

Mud-Slap – Damage has been increased for Trainer Battles and Gyms

Sand Tomb – Charges quicker and decreases opponent’s Defense. Can now be learned by Forretress, Torterra, Garchomp and Gliscor

Earthquake – Increased damage in Gyms and Raids

Overheat, Draco Meteor and Psychic Boost charge quicker but lower your Attack two stages after use. Damage has been lowered

Close Combat – Charges quicker but decreases your own Defense

Some new moves have also been added: Octazooka – Learned by Octillery & Kingdra – May lower opponent’s Attack 2 stages

Mirror Shot – Learned by Forretress, Magnezone, Ferrothorn, Klinklang – May lower opponent’s Attack

Fell Stinger – Learned by Beedrill, Qwilfish, Vespiquen & Dragpion – Increases user’s Attack

Aura Sphere – Learned by Lucario

Superpower – Learned by Pinsir, Snorlax, Hariyama, Rhyperior & Melmetal – Lowers user’s Attack and Defense

The following Pokémon can now learn more moves:

Cloyster – Icy Wind

Feraligatr – Ice Fang

Porygon 2 & Porygon-Z – Lock-On

Celebi – Seed Bomb

Shiftry – Snarl

Kyogre – Surf

Lickilicky – Shadow Ball

Tangrowth – Power Whip

Heatran – Flamethrower

Stoutland – Ice Fang

They are also adding back some classic moves that Pokémon stopped knowing in the past:

Arcanine: Flamethrower

Poliwrath: Mud Shot

Machamp: Cross Chop

Golem: Ancient Power

Gengar: Shadow Claw

Exeggutor: Confusion

Pinsir: Fury Cutter

Gyarados: Dragon Breath, Twister

Snorlax: Body Slam

Dragonite: Dragon Breath, Dragon Claw

We’re excited to see the teams you build with these changes, Trainers. Stay tuned, as we’ll be sharing more updates like these in the future. Good luck on the battlefield!