The latest Pokemon Go Battle League is underway during the Season of Light bringing new changes, rewards and plenty more for trainers who like to test their battle skills against otehr players. As we approach the final weeks there are some interesting challenges and restrictions to test your fighting abilties and this guide will run down all the information including the schedule of the various formats, new cups, rewards changes, moves and more. So let's get to it!
Pokemon Go Battle League Season of Light Start Date
The Go Battle League Season of Light begins Thursday, September 1 at 4 p.m. EDT.
End-of-season rewards will be available on the battle screen once the new season starts and trainers’ Go Battle League rank will reset.
It should also be noted that Rank-up requirements will remain the same as the prior season.
Pokemon Go Battle League Season of Light Schedule
The schedule for the Go Battle League Season of Light will have the usual formats trainers have come accustomed to and some holiday favorites (hello, Halloween Cup). Here’s the full schedule of the Season of Light Battle League.
- Sept. 1-8: Great League and Little Jungle Cup Remix
- Sept. 8-15: Great League and Psychic Cup
- Sept. 15-22: Ultra League and Weather Cup
- Sept. 22-29: Ultra League and Ultra Premiere Classic
- Sept. 29-Oct. 6: Master league and Master Premier Classic
- Oct. 6-13: Master League and Evolution Cup
- Oct. 13-20: Great League, Ultra League and Master League
- Oct. 20-27: Great League and Halloween Cup
- Oct. 27-Nov. 3: Great League and Halloween Cup: Ultra League Edition
- Nov. 3-10: Ultra League and Pokémon GO Willpower Cup
- Nov. 10-17: Ultra League and Ultra Premier
- Nov. 17-24: Master League and Element Cup Remix
- Nov. 24-Dec. 1: Master League and Catch Cup: Season of Light Edition
Go Battle League Season of Light Rewards
This season, the guaranteed rank-up rewards will have a mix of the usual suspects like Pikachu Libre and some new encounters based on Pokemon that Guzman, the leader of Team Skull, uses.
Here are the guaranteed encounters for this season:
- Rank 1 - Pinsir
- Rank 6 - Mienfoo
- 2000 - Axew
- 2500 - Noibat
- 2750 - Goomy
- 3000 - Pikachu Libre
Standard encounters during this season will give trainers a mix of different Pokemon. These Pokemon are usually Pokemon that can help trainers in various Cups and Leagues so players should try and get as many as possible.
- Rank 1+ encounters: Poliwag, Wingull, Meditite, Woobat, Litwick
- Rank 6+ encounters: Skarmory, Frillish, Minefoo
- Rank 11+: Onix, Lickitung, Hitmontop, Ralts, Phantump
- Rank 16+: Espeon, Umbreon, Miltank
- Rank 20+: Five-Star Raid Boss
- 2000+: Axew
- 2500+: Noibat
- 2750+: Goomy
Pokemon Go Battle League Season of Light: Battle Days
There are two Battle Days this season where trainers can pick up cool avatar items and exclusive items. The first Battle Day will be based on the Team Skull leader, Guzma.
Go Battle Day: Guzma will take place Saturday, Oct. 1 from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. local time. In that time, trainers will enjoy four times the Stardust from wins in the Go Battle League. The maximum number of sets trainers can play per day will be increased from five to 20 (100 battles total) during the entire day.
There will also be a Timed Research that will give trainers more XP, Rare Candy, Guzma’s watch and bracelet and an Elite Charge TM .
Go Battle Day: Miltank will feature the Pokemon that gave trainers hell in the Gold and Silver games.
This special event starts Sunday, Nov. 6 from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. local time. Similar to the Guzma Battle Day, trainers will receive four times the Stardust and be able to battle for a total number of 100 times.
During this time, Miltank will be a guaranteed reward encounter and each first win in the Basic track will have this reward. Trainers will also have a chance at encountering a Shiny Miltank.
Pokemon Go Battle League Season of Light Move Changes
Every season, new moves are added to Pokemon Go while some existing ones get changed. The Season of Light Battle League is no different.
Double Kick is a new Fighting-type Fast Attack that deals eight damage in trainer battles and 10 damage in Gyms/Raids.
Fairy Wind is a new Fairy-type Fast Attack that deals three damage in trainer battles and nine damage in Gyms/Raids.
As for changes, here are the revisions to already existing moves.
- Zap Cannon: Lowering opposing Pokemon’s attack is no longer guaranteed
- Icicle Spear: Energy cost increased
- Rollout: Energy generation decreased
- Ancient Power: Power increased from 45 to 60 but Attack and Defense increase is lower
- Ominous Wind: Attack and Defense increase is lower
- Silver Wind: Power is increased from 45 to 60 and Attack and Defense increase is lower
- Quick Attack: Energy generation increased
- Tackle: Energy generation increased
Certain Pokemon will now have access to various moves. Here’s the list of changes.
- Nidorina: Can learn Thunderbolt
- Nidorino: Can learn Ice Beam
- Nidoking: Can learn Double Kick
- Arcanine: Can learn Psychic Fangs
- Tentacruel: Can learn Scald
- Galarian Rapidash: Can learn Fairy Wind
- Haunter: Can learn Ice Punch
- Marowak: Can learn Rock Slide
- Hitmonlee: Can learn Double Kick
- Galarian Weezing: Can learn Fairy Wind
- Dragonair: Can learn Body Slam
- Dragonite: Can learn Superpower
- Ledian: Can learn Dynamic Punch
- Lanturn: Can learn Surf
- Jumpluff: Can learn Fairy Wind
- Espeon: Can learn Psychic Fangs
- Girafarig: Can learn Psychic Fangs and Double Kick
- Dunsparce: Can learn Rollout
- Steelix: Can learn Psychic Fangs
- Miltank: Can learn Rollout
- Mawile: Can learn Fairy Wind
- Manectric: Can learn Psychic Fangs
- Camerupt: Can learn Incinerate
- Lopunny: Can learn Double Kick
- Swoobat: Can learn Psychic Fangs
- Florges: Can learn Fairy Wind
- Slurpuff: Can learn Fair Wind
- Incineroar: Can learn Double Kick
- Golisopod: Can learn Shadow Claw
- Nihilego: Can learn Poison Jab
- Dubwool: Can learn Double Kick
- Runerigus: Can learn Shadow Claw
