Pokemon Scarlet & Violet online Battle Stadium explained: Casual & Ranked Battles
Game Freak / The Pokemon CompanyPokemon Scarlet and Violet Ranked Battles season 18 has started, and players can participate in Single and Double combats against other trainers. Here’s all you need to know about Pokemon Battle Stadium Season 18, including new Regulations G, and banned Pokemon.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet players with an active Nintendo Switch Online membership can access the Battle Stadium, where they can challenge players from around the world to battle.
After the release of Pokemon Legends Arceus and Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shinning Pearl, online play took a backseat. Luckily, fans who love the battling aspect of Pokemon games will be delighted that competitive play has returned to the spotlight in Scarlet and Violet.
Here’s what you need to know to prepare for exciting online battles in the Paldea region using the Battle Stadium.
- Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Casual Battles
- Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Ranked Battles
- What are Rental Teams in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet?
- Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Season 18
- How to check Scarlet & Violet Ranked Battle data with Pokemon Home
Game Freak/The Pokemon CompanyPokemon Scarlet & Violet Casual Battles
Casual Battles allow players to engage in low-stakes contests that do not count toward any record or achievement. There are very few restrictions in this Battle Stadium mode, and there is a lot of flexibility to let players use any Pokemon they wish.
Intense competitive play is certainly not for every Pokemon fan. Given the depth of strategy required with new Scarlet and Violet Pokemon, items, and abilities in the mix, top players can truly punish the inexperienced.
Not to mention there’s no making up for the major advantage that comes with the knowledge of IVs and EVs, also known as hidden stats, which casual players simply don’t possess. This makes Casual Battles perfect for new players honing their skills or anyone looking to test out new strategies.
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Ranked Battles
Ranked Battles are perfect for players who can’t get enough of Pokemon battles and want the most intense experiences possible. Each trainer will be given a rank from the lowest Beginner Tier to the highest Master Ball Tier rank.
Your rank will move up and down depending on your Scarlet and Violet Ranked Battles results. For example, more wins than losses will help you move up the ranks, but if you go on a significant losing streak, then your rank will plummet.
Ranked Battles are great because they allow you to test your skills against opponents of the same tier, all while allowing you to move up the ranks. This section of the Battle Stadium will have a refined ruleset that players must follow in terms of which Pokemon and items they are allowed to use.
Official Competitions
Aside from Ranked Battles, you’ll also be able to participate in Official Competitions. These special events will have their own specific ruleset and players will attempt to finish as high in the rankings as they can.
Friendly Competitions
This type of battle format will allow you to join a competition that is set up by other trainers. In addition, you can also set up your own competition that other players can join.
What are Rental Teams in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet?
Rental Teams are perfect for trainers who want to enjoy competitive play in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, but simply don’t have the time to catch and train their Pokemon into top-tier battling shape.
Scarlet and Violet players will be able to input Battle Team IDs that have been shared online, to gain access to Rental Teams. This will essentially allow all players to join in on the Battle Stadium fun.
If you’re one of the adept players who enjoy crafting their own teams to perfection, then you’ll be able to share your own Battle Team with other trainers around the world for them to use.
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Ranked Season 18 Regulations G
The Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Battle Season 18 takes place from May 1 to May 31, 2024. The devs often make adjustments to the rules with each new Season, and Regulation G will be the first to enable 1 Restricted Pokemon per team, which includes legendaries such as Miraidon, Terapagos, and Zacian.
In Season 18, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet players are allowed to use all the available Pokemon in the National Dex, plus the Pokemon available on the Kitakami Pokedex from Pokemon Scarlet and Violet: The Teal Mask DLC, even those transferred from Pokemon Home.
Keep in mind that Nintendo has introduced a series of auto-ban features that automatically detect suspicious Pokemon (Genned) and penalize players. Even if your Pokemon manage to go through the Pokemon Home filters, always double-check the origin of the Pokemon you trade and trust only reputable traders.
The Pokemon CompanySingle Combat Rules
Pokemon restrictions will be according to the National Pokedex. Players’ team build will be of 3 to 6 Pokemon at Level 1-100, which is set to 50 by default. The maximum wait time is set to 10 min during a battle, while the team preview is set to 90 seconds. Finally, the turn time before forfeit is set to 60 seconds.
Doubles Combat Rules
Pokemon restrictions will once again be according to the National Pokedex. This time, the team build will be comprised of 4 to 6 Pokemon, each from Level 1-100, set to 50 by default. The maximum wait time is set to 10 min, and the team preview is set to 90 seconds. Just like single battles, the turn time before a forfeit is set to 60 seconds.
Restricted Pokemon
The following Legendary Pokemon will be Restricted, which means that players can include only one per team:
- Mewtwo
- Lugia
- Ho-Oh
- Kyogre
- Groudon
- Rayquaza
- Dialga
- Dialga Origin
- Palkia
- Palkia Origin
- Giratina Origin
- Giratina Altered
- Reshiram
- Zekrom
- Kyurem
- Cosmog
- Cosmoem
- Solgaleo
- Lunala
- Necrozma (Regular form)
- Zacian
- Zacian Crowned Sword
- Zamazenta
- Zamazenta Crowned Shield
- Eternatus
- Calyrex
- Calyrex Ice Rider
- Calyrex Shadow Rider
- Koraidon
- Miraidon
- Terapagos
Banned Pokemon
The other Legendary and Mythical Pokemon like Mew are banned. Here’s a full list of Banned Pokemon for these Regulations. The * indicates that any alt-forms, Mega Evolutions, and similar forms are banned too:
- Mew
- Arceus
- Meloetta*
- Greninja (Battle Bond form)
- Diancie
- Hoopa*
- Volcanion
- Megearna
- Zarude
- Pecharunt
- Phione
- Manaphy
- Jirachi
- Keldeo
- Darkrai
- Shaymin *
Ogerpon, Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti are not banned and are available for picks with the new regulations, as they are not considered Legendaries.
How to check Scarlet & Violet Ranked Battle data with Pokemon Home
Thanks to a February 1, 2023 update to Pokemon Home, Scarlet, and Violet players can use the application to analyze their battle data.
Not only can you check out data from your previous battles, but players will have access to data showing the game’s top players, items, movesets, teams, abilities, and Tera Types. This should be a huge help when getting your team in battle-ready shape.
To check your Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Battle data with Pokemon Home, you simply need to link your Scarlet and Violet account to your Pokemon Home application.
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