This article is part of a directory: Pokemon GO: Full Game Guide | Tips, Tricks, and Events
Table of contents

Niantic's Pokemon Go has now introduced a Battle League, where trainers can battle in random pair-ups (usually) and compete to rank up in the league. Depending on a Trainer's rank, they can battle in a league with a CP limit per Pokemon or the Master League, which has no limit and allows any Pokemon in. Obviously, this is the hardest league of all, unless Trainers are Level 40 with Pokemon at the highest CP they possibly can be.

RELATED: Pokemon Go: The Most Difficult Pokemon To Raid Against, Ranked

Since the Battle League is filled with power-hungry Trainers furiously tapping at their screens, it can be difficult. But bearing some tips in mind will help Trainers dominate Pokemon Go battles.

Updated on 21 March 2022 by Rhenn Taguiam: With Pokemon Go having introduced online Trainer battles in 2018, the game mode has received constant improvements and changes to enhance this new experience. And with GO Battle League in 2020 finally allowing players to fight other Trainers around the world, Pokemon Go has reached the peak of its online battle experiences. While the upcoming Pokemon Go Tour 2022 is set to occur on May 13, 2022 in Spain, some players are still aspiring to dominate the Go Battle League Leaderboard. However, just how could aspiring champions rise to the top of the pyramid?

How To Win Pokemon Go Battles

In a Pokemon Go battle, players are given three Pokemon to fight against someone else. Once each of these three Pokemon has fainted, a player loses. Here are other things to consider:

  • Attacks work by tapping on the screen or holding, depending on if players want to use a Fast Attack or Charged Attack (which requires many Fast Attacks first!).
  • Players are also given three Protect Shields which you can use to protect your Pokemon from a Charged Attack but once they're gone, they're gone. When the other Pokemon is using a Charged Attack, they'll be warned, and will be given the option to protect their team if they have shields left.

How Pokemon Go League Battles Work

  • The game has a Great League, Ultra League, and Master League. Players will start off at Rank 1 in whichever league they choose and can go as high as rank 10.
  • By completing battles, players will also be given rewards. Players take on battles in a set of five, and their reward depends on how many of the battles they win.
  • Each league, except the Master League, has a capped Pokemon CP: 1500 for Great and 2500 for Ultra.
  • Players will want to pick a balanced team when entering league battles.

Remember Type Advantages

A Pokemon being affected by a Super Charged Attack

Similar to the core games, it helps to remember that Pokemon Go also has its fair share of advantages and disadvantages when Pokemon of a certain type fight other Pokemon. It also helps to remember that since Pokemon may have two types, their strengths and weaknesses may add up.

In a general sense, a Pokemon of a type stronger than their enemy will likely deal double damage to that Pokemon. This happens on the opposite side as well. Perhaps more dangerous is when double Typing affects types in general, where strengths and weaknesses can cancel each other out. However, a Pokemon of two types that have the same weakness can take four times as much damage from said type.

Get Another Charged Attack

Pokemon using a Charged Attack

Unlike in other Pokemon games, Pokemon Go will have each Pokemon learn a Quick Attack and a Charged Attack, with the latter charging up slower but dealing more damage. For Trainers who want to keep a competitive edge in combat, perhaps they should take advantage of the ability to learn another Charged Attack.

Given how expensive Charged Attacks are, it’s important to be strategic as to which Pokemon should learn them. It’s recommended to teach a second Charged Attack of a type that matches their chosen Pokemon. Moreover, it helps to prioritize a Pokemon players would use in a lot of battles, such as Trainer Battles, Gyms, and Raids.

Both Attack And Defense Matter

A player looking at Pokemon Go interface

While the essence of a Pokemon Go battle is to outlast the opponent’s Pokemon, there’s a lot that happens behind the scenes – particularly with how each player prioritizes their defensive and offensive elements. Aside from Attacks, players need to take note how many Protect Shields they have and how often their Charged Attacks arrive.

For instance, limited Protect Shields exist that can defend a Pokemon from a Charged Attack. However, it helps to only use Protect Shields for Pokemon vital to the player’s success. Likewise, it helps to force opponents to use their own Protect Shields by using as many Charged Attacks as possible.

Pay Attention To Other Stats

A Chikorita in the player's screen

At its core, a Pokemon in Pokemon Go has their Combat Power or CP as probably the best stat to determine their overall prowess, especially against other Pokemon and even Raid Bosses. However, it’s important to remember that CP combines the basic characteristics of a Pokemon – Attack, Defense, and HP/Stamina. Thing is, players need to take note of a few hidden stats as well.

For instance, Pokemon have a “level” that appears as a white semicircle above their icon in the stats page. This bar progresses and slowly improves CP whenever the Pokemon powers up and can only exceed its limit whenever players level up. There are also ways to manually backtrack the computation for a Pokemon’s Attack, Defense, and Stamina, but the consensus here is that a higher-CP Pokemon is likely superior in these hidden stats compared to others.

Switching Out Has Benefits

Trainer facing off against Team Rocket

Some players might think that needing to switch out a Pokemon puts them at an advantage as this essentially encourages the opponent to attack them further. However, when used strategically, switching out Pokemon can give players the time they need to pull off a counter-attack to win the match.

RELATED: Pokemon Go: The Cutest Outfit Items, Ranked

Players who know their Pokemon is weak to the opponent’s should switch out to a neutral type or a type stronger than the opponent’s. A good way to time switch-outs is to switch just before the opponent’s Charged Attack is full, making sure that the player’s Pokemon won’t receive the brunt of the damage.

Tap As Fast As You Can

pokemon go battle league

The Fast Attack is going to be the Trainer's best friend in a battle. Tapping the screen will make the Pokemon attack using their Fast Attack, and it'll power up their Charged Attack. Tapping rapidly means more damage and your Pokemon's Charged Attack powering up faster, so it can be used much sooner.

People often make the mistake of thinking damage taken is what's powering up the Charged Attack, but it's not.

Don't Use Protect Shields Right Away

Pokemon GO Battle Raid

Trainers get Protect Shields to use that will nullify the opponent's Charged Attack. Although most trainers will use these right away to block the first two Charged Attack, it's worth considering if that's a wise move. For example — would players want to use a Shield to protect a Pokemon that has one HP left from a Charged Attack, when the next Fast Attack would force it to faint anyway? Is it worth protecting their Gyrados from a Vaporeon's Aqua Tail that wouldn't do too much damage anyway?

Use TMs Until Satisfied With Your Attacks

Pokemon GO TM Datamine

Before players even enter the battle, pick a Pokemon and use TMs over and over until they are satisfied with the attacks they have. For example, Tyranitar can have Crunch that's only a 70 for power. But it can also have Stone Edge which is 100, and even Fire Blast which is a whopping 140. It's worth cycling through the attacks if players have the TMs to do so until they have the most powerful attack they prefer.

Multiple Moves Are Worth It

pokemon go community day battle

If players are willing to spend the stardust and candy, Pokemon can have multiple Charged Attacks. Although when one is used, they both power back down to zero and have to recharge, it's very worth having two because of type advantages.

RELATED: Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: Real-Life Places That May Inspire Locations In The New Region

For example, Gyarados can have Hydro Cannon which is a Water-type move, but also a Dragon-type such as Dragon Rage. Players can pick which move to use based on your opponent, which might come in real handy later.

Time Your Charged Attacks

Pokemon Battling with Pokemon Go logo

It's also worth timing Charged Attacks. If players aim a Charged Attack at a trainer who has no Protect Shields left, why use it on their current Pokemon who would die in a couple more Fast Attacks anyway?

Unless they're about to fire their own Charged Attack, the best strategy is usually to wait until the next Pokemon is released, because by then players will have the ability to take out more HP.

Train With The Leaders If You Need Practice

Pokemon GO Supereffective Week Details

If players are really struggling, they can scroll down to the bottom of the battle page and train with the team leaders. This is a good idea because it lets players practice Charged Attacks (since they require a mini game to see how effective they are). It also lets a player's team learn about type advantages you may not have thought about.

Power Up Your Friendships

pokemon go eggs

Players can power up their friendships to battle with Ultra and Best Friends without being anywhere near them! This is great practice and will definitely feel like a more personal version of battling next to battling random people. The final two levels of friendship are the ones that allow this.

Don't Overpower Pokemon

Pokemon go battle league grengar nidoking

If Trainers have an awesome Pokemon that has 2499 CP, maybe it's best not to power them up. They'll only be able to compete in the Master League and if they were their favorite Pokemon to use in the Ultra League. As such, players should think twice before powering them up. Once a Pokemon is above 2500, however, go nuts — there are no limits above this, so from there on in, it's a good idea to just spend all stardust on repeat powering.

Pokemon Go will go to Spain for its Pokemon Go Tour 2022 series on May 13, 2022 and will last until May 15, 2022 at the Parque del Alamillo, marking the first-ever Safari Zone event in the country.

MORE: Pokemon Go: The Best Regional Exclusives, Ranked