On Friday, Pokemon GO fans the world over received a pleasant surprise when Niantic took to Twitter to announce that Trainer Battles, a much-requested feature, would finally be coming to the mobile game. While the company did not provide a specific date for the new Player vs. Player system's implementation, they did confirm that, with Trainers Battles, three distinct Battle Leagues will be added to Pokemon GO.

Battle Leagues are a new mechanic that puts restrictions on the Combat Power of the Pokemon that can be taken into Trainer Battles. Thus, trainers will need to keep these limitations in mind when assembling their battle parties, and Niantic encourages players to prepare by reviewing their Pokemon before PvP is introduced.

The Battle Leagues are as follows:

  • Great League: 1,500 CP limit per Pokemon
  • Ultra League: 2,500 CP limit per Pokemon
  • Master League: No CP limit per Pokemon

"When designing Trainer Battles, we wanted to create an experience that everyone can enjoy and ensure that different kinds of Pokemon can show their strengths," a Tweet from the official Pokemon GO Twitter account reads. That is, while players participating in the Master League may benefit from bringing their most powerful Pokemon to the battle arena, the limitations established by the Great and Ultra Leagues will require a different level of strategy.

pokemon go trainer battles

Under this system, trainers will have the opportunity to play with their favorite Pokemon, even if they are not the strongest. Additionally, Battle Leagues will allow new players to jump into Trainer Battles quickly, giving them the chance to experience PvP without facing the high CP Pokemon that will be relegated to the Master League.

The addition of Trainer Battles to Pokemon GO is no surprise. In 2017, Niantic CEO John Hanke indicated that a new Battle Mode would be coming to the game, and, only months ago, the company's European Head of Marketing confirmed that a PvP mode was in the works. While there are still many unanswered questions about exactly how Trainer Battles will function, Battle Leagues are a good indication that Niantic is committed to making them varied and dynamic.

Pokemon GO is available now for Android and iOS.