Yet another season is done in the Go Battle League, and yet another begins anew! With the Rising Heroes update to the GBL about to strike, it's time to begin the climb once again to achieve all of the rewards on offer and complete the new Avatar set inspired by Palmer, the leader of the Battle Tower in the main series.
Season Schedule
Pick Up the Pass!
Before we even get started: a Go Battle League Timed Research pass will be available in the shop for free that will track your wins. Players will be able to claim additional rewards including a Fast Elite TM and a Charged Elite TM at 400 and 500 wins respectively alongwise many other rewards, so this should be your first priority for the season.
- March 1-8
- Great League
- Fantasy Cup: Ultra League
- March 8-15
- Great League*
- Color Cup: Great League
- March 15-22
- Ultra League
- Psychic Cup: Great League
- March 22-29
- Ultra League*
- Mountain Cup: Great League
- March 29-April 5
- Master League
- Little Cup
- 3x Stardust in Win Rewards for both
- April 5-12
- Master League*
- Spring Cup: Great League*
- 3x Stardust in Win Rewards for both
- April 12-19
- Great League
- Ultra League*
- Master League
- Evolution Cup: Great League
- April 19-26
- Great League
- Weather Cup: Ultra
- April 26-May3
- Great League*
- Master Premier Cup
- May 3-10
- Ultra League
- Little Cup
- May 10-17
- Ultra League*
- Sunshine Cup: Great League
- May 16-24
- Master League
- Element Cup: Little Edition
- 3x Stardust in Win Rewards for both
- May 24-June 1
- Master League
- Catch Cup: Rising Heroes
*: Items marked with an asterisk are currently in doubt as to which league they will represent. On Niantic's official announcement page, they say the leagues listed above, but show the icon for different leagues as of this post.
Go Battle League Cups
Fantasy Cup: Ultra League
- Only Dragon, Steel, and Fairy Types are allowed to enter
- Galarian Stunfisk and Cobalion are banned
Color Cup: Great League
- Only Fire, Water, Grass, or Electric Types are allowed to enter'
Mountain Cup: Great League
- Only Ice, Ground, Rock, and Steel Types are allowed to enter
- Swampert is banned
Spring Cup: Great League
- Only Water, Grass, and Fairy Types are allowed to enter
- Toxapex is banned
Sunshine Cup: Great League
- Only Normal, Fire, Grass, and Ground-Types are allowed to enter
- Charizard is banned
Psychic Cup: Great League
- Only Psychic Types are allowed to enter
- Mew is banned
Little Cup
- Only Pokkemon with a CP of 500 or below that can evolve but have not evolved are allowed to enter
Evolution Cup: Great League
- Only Pokemon that have evolved at least once and can still evolve again are allowed to enter
Weather Cup: Ultra League
- Only Ice, Fire, Water, and Rock Types are allowed to enter
Catch Cup: Rising Heroes (Great League)
- Only Pokemon caught during this cup are allowed to enter
- Mychical Pokemon are banned
Season Rewards
This season, players will be able to fight their way up to Legend rank in order to earn avatar items based on Palmer from Pokemon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum.
Palmer has a great design, so a lot of people will want to aim for this set, I'm sure. Note that all pieces of this set are available through season ranking rewards save his gloves, which can be earned on Go Battle Day: Palmer, which we will cover later in this article.
Guaranteed Rank-Up Encounters
- Rank 1: Dragonair
- Rank 6: Mareanie
- Ace: Axew
- Veteran: Noibat
- Expert: Goomy
- Legend: Pikachu Libre
Rank 1 Rewards and Encounters
Rank 6 Rewards and Encounters
Rank 11 Rewards and Encounters
Rank 16 Rewards and Encounters
Rank 19 Rewards and Encounters
- Charged Elite TM and Fast Elite TM as End-of-Season Rewards
Rank 20 Rewards and Encounters
- The current Five Star Raid Boss
Ace Rank Rewards and Encounters
- Palmer Top
Veteran Rank Rewards and Encounters
- Palmer Shoes
Expert Rank Rewards and Encounters
- Palmer Pants
Legend Rank Rewards and Encounters
- Palmer Avatar Pose
Go Battle Days
Go Battle Days are unique, themed Go Battle League events that allow players to tackle up to 20 sets per day in order to obtain unique rewards. 4x Stardust from Win Rewards will also be available, but this bonus will not stack with the 3x Stardust from master League rotation weeks.
| Event Start | Event End |
|---|---|
| 12:00 a.m. local time | 11:59 p.m. local time |
Battle-themed Timed Research will be available that will reward a pair of gloves based on Palmer, finishing the avatar item set obtainable for the season.
| Event Start | Event End |
|---|---|
| 12:00 a.m. local time | 11:59 p.m. local time |
Moveset Updates
Exploud and Shadow Exploud will gain access to the Normal Type Charged Move Boomburst
Flygon and Shadow Flygon will gain access to the Normal Type Charged Move Boomburst
Whimsicott will gain access to the Fairy Type Fast Move Fairy Wind
Full Announcement
Click to View
Trainers,
GO Battle League: Rising Heroes is almost here!
GO Battle League: Rising Heroes start date, rank resets, and end-of-Season rewards
GO Battle League: Rising Heroes will start on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. PT.
The following will occur at the beginning of the Season.
- End-of-Season rewards will be available on the battle screen.
- Your GO Battle League rank will be reset.
- Rank-up requirements will remain the same as the prior Season.
GO Battle League: Rising Heroes schedule
The following leagues will begin and end at 12:00 p.m. PT on the dates listed below.
Starting with this Season, the schedule below will also be visible on the in-game GO Battle League Page!
March 1 - March 8
Great League
Fantasy Cup: Ultra League Edition
March 8 - March 15
Great League
Color Cup: Great League Edition
March 15 - March 22
Ultra League
Psychic Cup: Great League Edition
March 22 - March 29
Ultra League
Mountain Cup: Great League Edition
March 29 - April 5
Master League*
Little Cup*
* 3× Stardust from win rewards (this does not include end-of-set rewards)
April 5 - April 12
Master League*
Spring Cup: Great League Edition*
* 3× Stardust from win rewards (this does not include end-of-set rewards)
April 12 - April 19
Great League
Ultra League
Master League
Evolution Cup: Great League Edition
April 19 - April 26
Great League
Weather Cup: Ultra League Edition
April 26 - May 3
Great League
Master Premier Cup
May 3 - May 10
Ultra League
Little Cup
May 10 - May 17
Ultra League
Sunshine Cup: Great League Edition
May 17 - May 24
Master League*
Element Cup: Little Edition*
* 3× Stardust from win rewards (this does not include end of set rewards)
May 24 - June 1
Master League*
Catch Cup: Rising Heroes Edition*
* 3× Stardust from win rewards (this does not include end of set rewards)
Rising Heroes: GO Battle Days
GO Battle Day: Palmer
Saturday, March 25, 2023, from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. local time
Free, battle-themed Timed Research will be available. Rewards include gloves inspired by Palmer (Diamond/Pearl/Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl).
* Trainers who have already received the avatar item from the rank 20 rewards will not receive another.
GO Battle Day: Stardust
Sunday, May 14, 2023, from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. local time
Paid, battle-themed Timed Research awarding increased Stardust will be available for US$1.00 (or the equivalent pricing tier in your local currency).
* Trainers who have already received the avatar item from the rank 20 rewards will not receive another.
Bonuses
- 4× Stardust from win rewards. (This does not include the end-of-set rewards and will not stack with the 3× Stardust bonus from Master League rotation weeks.)
- The maximum number of sets you can play per day will be increased from five to 20—for a total of 100 battles—from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. local time.
GO Battle League: Rising Heroes rewards
Guaranteed rank-up encounters
You can encounter the following Pokémon once per season at the designated ranks.
Dragonair
Mareanie
Axew
Noibat
Goomy
Pikachu Libre
If you’re lucky, you may find a Shiny one!
Ace Rank
Veteran Rank
Expert Rank
Legend Rank
Standard Encounters
You can encounter the following Pokémon in reward encounters throughout the Season at the ranks shown in the image below.
Poliwag
Ponyta
Electabuzz
Wingull
Meditite
Skarmory
Frillish
Onix
Lickitung
Lapras
Dratini
Mareanie
Snorlax
Hisuian Sneasel
Scraggy
Five-star Raid Boss
Axew
Noibat
Goomy
If you’re lucky, you may find a Shiny one!
The Pokémon currently appearing in five-star raids has a chance of appearing as a reward encounter after you reach rank 20.
Ace Rank
Veteran Rank
Expert Rank
GO Battle League Timed Research Pass
For our most dedicated battlers, a pass to access battle-themed Timed Research will be available in the in-game shop at no cost once GO Battle League: Rising Heroes begins.
This Timed Research will keep track of your victories throughout the Season. Each research page will require 100 wins to complete, and doing so will award you with a small amount of Stardust and items, such as an Elite Fast TM (at 400 wins) and an Elite Charged TM (at 500 wins). Keep at it throughout the Season to see how far you can get!
Avatar items and other rewards
Avatar items will be awarded to Trainers who reach certain ranks.
Trainers will be able to earn the following avatar items. They’re all inspired by Palmer, the leader of the Sinnoh region’s Battle Tower in the Pokémon Diamond, Pokémon Pearl, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, and Pokémon Shining Pearl games!
At Ace rank, you’ll receive a top inspired by Palmer (Diamond/Pearl/Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl).
At Veteran rank, you’ll receive shoes inspired by Palmer (Diamond/Pearl/Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl).
At Expert rank, you’ll receive pants inspired by Palmer (Diamond/Pearl/Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl).
At Legend rank, you’ll receive the pose inspired by Palmer (Diamond/Pearl/Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl).
At rank 19, you’ll receive an Elite Charged TM. You’ll also receive an Elite Fast TM as an end-of-Season reward.
Cups
You can look forward to the following cups this season.
Great League
- Pokémon must be at or below 1,500 CP to enter.
Ultra League
- Pokémon must be at or below 2,500 CP to enter.
Master League
- No CP Limit.
Master Premier
- No CP Limit.
- Legendary Pokémon, Mythical Pokémon, and Ultra Beasts are not eligible.
Fantasy Cup: Ultra League Edition
- Pokémon must be at or below 2,500 CP to enter.
- Only Dragon-, Steel-, and Fairy-type Pokémon are eligible.
The following Pokémon will not be allowed.
Galarian Stunfisk
Cobalion
- Pokémon must be at or below 1,500 CP to enter.
- Only Fire-, Water-, Grass-, and Electric-type Pokémon are eligible.
- Pokémon must be at or below 1,500 CP to enter.
- Only Ice-, Ground-, Rock, and Steel-type Pokémon are eligible.
The following Pokémon will not be allowed.
Swampert
- Pokémon must be at or below 1,500 CP to enter.
- Only Water-, Grass-, and Fairy-type Pokémon are eligible.
The following Pokémon will not be allowed.
Toxapex
Sunshine Cup: Great League Edition
- Pokémon must be at or below 1,500 CP to enter.
- Only Normal-, Fire-, Grass-, and Ground-type Pokémon are eligible.
The following Pokémon will not be allowed.
Charizard
Psychic Cup: Great League Edition
- Pokémon must be at or below 1,500 CP to enter.
- Only Psychic-type Pokémon will be eligible.
The following Pokémon will not be allowed.
Mew
Little Cup
- Pokémon must be at or below 500 CP to enter.
- Only Pokémon that are able to evolve and have not evolved even once are eligible.
Evolution Cup: Great League Edition
- Pokémon must be at or below 1,500 CP to enter.
- Only Pokémon that have evolved at least once and can evolve again will be eligible.
Weather Cup: Ultra League Edition
- Pokémon must be at or below 2,500 CP to enter.
- Only Fire-, Water-, Ice-, and Rock-type Pokémon are eligible.
Element Cup: Little Edition
- Pokémon must be at or below 500 CP to enter.
- Only Fire-, Water-, and Grass-type Pokémon are eligible.
Catch Cup: Rising Heroes Edition
- Pokémon must be at or below 1,500 CP to enter.
- Only Pokémon that have been caught during this Catch Cup are eligible.
- Mythical Pokémon are not eligible.
Attack availability updates
Exploud
Exploud will now be able to learn the Charged Attack Boomburst.
Flygon
Flygon will now be able to learn the Charged Attack Boomburst.
Kommo-o
Kommo-o will now be able to learn the Charged Attack Boomburst.
Whimsicott
Whimsicott will now be able to learn the Fast Attack Fairy Wind.
Jellicent
Jellicent will now be able to learn the Charged Attack Surf.
Please be aware of your surroundings and follow guidelines from local health authorities when playing Pokémon GO. Upcoming events are subject to change. Be sure to follow us on social media, opt in to receiving push notifications, and subscribe to our emails to stay updated. For the latest on in-game events and feature updates, be sure to check this help center article.
—The Pokémon GO team
