Pokemon Go Battle League Season 2 has been announced. The new season will run from May 1, 2020, with some major changes. Season 2 brings, the first-ever GO Battle League Cup called Premier Cup. Great League, Master League, and Ultra league will be available along with the Premier Cup during the course of season 2.
Niantic hasn’t shared any details about the leagues’ rotation but, they have provided the whole rundown of Season 2. Check it below:
- The Great League will run from Friday, May 1, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. to Monday, May 25, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7).
- The Ultra League will run from Monday, May 25, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. to Monday, June 15, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7).
- The Master League will run from Monday, June 15, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. to Monday, June 29, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7).
- Additionally, the first-ever GO Battle League Cup—the Premier Cup—will run concurrently with the Master League! Like the Master League, the Premier Cup won’t have a limit on Combat Power. However, Legendary and Mythical Pokémon won’t be eligible to participate. Otherwise, everything else about the format will stay the same, including the way ranks and ratings are determined. We hope the Premier Cup will add a fun flavor to Season 2!
- All three leagues and the Premier Cup will be available from Monday, June 29, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. to Monday, July 6, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7).
- Season 3 will begin Monday, July 6, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −7).
What’s new in Season 2?
GO Battle League Season 2 brings a few significant changes to the overall Trainer Battles flow. First, the following changes have been made to the match up process:
- Trainers will be able to initiate Trainer Battles via QR Code from anywhere, regardless of the Trainers’ Friendship level or distance.
- For Trainer Battles with friends, the Friendship level requirement will remain lowered so you can send battle invites to Good Friends and Great Friends. Originally, you could send battle invites only to Ultra Friends and Best Friends.
Additionally, the reward structure has changed as well:
- The GO Battle League reward system has been changed slightly. You can now earn a Pokémon reward encounter after your third win on the basic rewards track or after your first win on the premium rewards track.
- The ranking system has been adjusted. More wins are now required to get to ranks 4, 5, 6, and 7.
- Some of your guaranteed reward encounters will be different for Season 2. You’ll encounter these Pokémon at each listed rank:
- Stunfisk starting at rank 4
- Rufflet starting at rank 8
- Scraggy starting at rank 9.
- If you reach rank 10, you’ll earn a new avatar pose!
- Trainers who finish Season 2 at rank 7 or higher will receive an Elite Fast TM rather than an Elite Charged TM. Other than that, end-of-season rewards will stay the same as in Season 1.
Updates to Trainer Battles
We’re excited to announce some additional updates to Trainer Battles.
- Trainers will be able to initiate Trainer Battles via QR Code from anywhere, regardless of the Trainers’ Friendship level or distance.
- For Trainer Battles with friends, the Friendship level requirement will remain lowered so you can send battle invites to Good Friends and Great Friends. Originally, you could send battle invites only to Ultra Friends and Best Friends.
The following existing attacks have been updated in Trainer Battles.
- Drill Run: Its energy requirement has been reduced.
- Moonblast: Its energy requirement and damage have both been reduced, and it now has a chance to lower the opponent’s Attack stat.
- Wild Charge: Its energy requirement has been reduced, its damage has been increased, and it will sharply lower the user’s Defense stat.
Along with these updates to existing attacks, the following Pokémon will be able to learn an attack it couldn’t before.
- Palkia and Aqua Tail: Aqua Tail gives Palkia a powerful Water-type Charged Attack that charges quickly, helping Palkia stand out from the other Legendary Dragon types in the Master League and making Protect Shield decisions tougher for opponents.
