Standard Battle Regulations Return to Video Game Battles in May

Competitions using Ranked
Battles Series 8 are just getting started, but it’s not too early to start
planning for Ranked Battles Series 9, starting on May 1, 2021. The new
competitive video game format will be a return to the more standard regulations
of play identical to Ranked Battles Series 7, with the more powerful Legendary
Pokémon not permitted in battle. Mythical Pokémon will continue to be
restricted. It might be a familiar format, but it’s always exciting to see what
new strategies will emerge!

Ranked Battles Series rules are the basis for core Pokémon
video game competitions, whether they are Ranked Battles, Players
Cup events, or in-person Championship Series tournaments. Some competitions
and Ranked Battles Seasons can have modified or completely different rules, but
these are the standard regulations for all Pokémon video game competitive play.

For a summary of all video game tournament rules, see below.
You can also check out the Play!
Pokémon Rules & Resources page to see complete Play! Pokémon VG rules
and formats.

• Pokémon need to have either the Galar symbol—showing that they were caught, received, or hatched in the Galar region—or the battle-ready symbol, showing that they were transferred from another game and adapted to battles in the Galar region.

• All Pokémon from the Galar Pokédex, the Isle of Armor Pokédex, and the Crown Tundra Pokédex, excluding the following Pokémon:

  Mewtwo

  

   

  Lugia

  

   

  Ho-Oh

  

   

  Kyogre

  

   

  Groudon

  

   

  Rayquaza

  

   

  Dialga

  

   

  Palkia

  

   

  Giratina

  

   

  Reshiram

  

   

  Zekrom

  

   

  Kyurem

  

   

  Xerneas

  

   

  Yveltal

  

   

  Zygarde

  

   

  Cosmog

  

   

  Cosmoem

  

   

  Solgaleo

  

   

  Lunala

  

   

  Necrozma

  

   

  Zacian

  

   

  Zamazenta

  

   

  Eternatus

  

   

  Calyrex

  and all Mythical Pokémon.

• Pokémon with the Gigantamax Factor are permitted.

• All Pokémon will be set to Lv. 50, including Pokémon below Lv. 50.

• Duplicate Pokémon are not allowed.

• Duplicate held items are not allowed.

• Each battle begins with a 90-second Team Preview phase.

• In each battle, players have the following time limits:

  • 7 minutes of Your Time

  • 45 seconds of Move Time

  • 20 minutes of Game Time

Look forward to battles using Ranked Battles Series 9 regulations starting May 1, 2021!