Trainers, Season 15 of the GO Battle League is upon us and you know the drill (you’ll see why I used the word drill). Will this Season grace us with interesting buffs and nerfs, unlike the last Season? You will find out about that and more as you read along! Meanwhile, you can check out all about the Season of Hidden Gems here.
There’s nothing like a fresh start. Each and every season seems to get more and more competitive, whether that may be from trainers adapting to a new meta, more in-person Pokémon Championships, or even the fact that trainers are showcasing more talent and skill each season.
Introduction
From the official announcement:
Trainers,
GO Battle League: HIDDEN GEMS is almost here!
That’s right, Hidden Gems will be the name of this new season. Let’s dive into this announcement and break down the information so that you can be prepared for what’s to come.
Date, Time, Rank Resets & Rewards
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GO Battle League: Hidden Gems will start on Thursday, June 1, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. PDT (GMT -8)
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End-of-Season rewards will be available on the battle screen.
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Your GO Battle League rank will be reset.
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Rank-up requirements will remain the same as the prior Season.
GO Battle League Season 15 Schedule
The following leagues will begin and end at 1:00 p.m. PDT (GMT −8) on the dates listed below.
| Dates | Active Leagues and Cups |
|---|---|
| June 2 – June 9 |
|
| June 9 – June 16 |
|
| June 16 – June 23 |
|
| June 23 – June 30 |
|
| June 30 – July 7 |
|
| July 7 – July 14 |
|
| July 14 – July 21 |
|
| July 21 – July 28 |
|
| July 28 – August 4 |
|
| August 4 – August 11 |
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| August 11 – August 18 |
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| August 18 – August 25 |
|
| August 25 – September 2 |
|
(*) 3x Stardust from win rewards (this does not include end of set rewards)
Hidden Gems: GO Battle Events
GO Battle Weekend: Clay
Date & Time
Saturday, July 1, 2023, at 12:00 a.m. to Sunday, July 2, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. local time.
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.
- Free battle-themed Timed Research will be available. Rewards include the Clay-Style Hat.
- Paid battle-themed Timed Research* awarding Stardust will be available for US$1.00 (or the equivalent pricing tier in your local currency). IMPORTANT: Please note that Timed Research expires. To receive the rewards, the tasks associated with this Timed Research must be completed and the rewards claimed before Sunday, July 2, 2023, 11:59 p.m. local time.
*Trainers will be able to purchase and gift tickets to any of their Pokémon GO friends that they have achieved a Friendship level of Great Friends or higher with. Please note that purchases—including those made for other Trainers—are non-refundable (subject to applicable law and the exceptions set forth in the Terms of Service). Tickets cannot be purchased with PokéCoins.
Active Leagues:
- Master League Premier*
- Single-type Cup: Great League Edition*
Pokémon GO World Championships event
Date & Time
Friday, August 11, 2023, to Tuesday, August 15, 2023
Celebrate the World Championship finals with a battle-focused event! Stay tuned for more details as we get closer to this event!
Active Leagues:
- Great League*
- Ultra League*
- Master League*
GO Battle League: Hidden Gems Rewards
Guaranteed rank-up encounters
You can encounter the following Pokémon once per Season at the designated ranks.
| Rank | Guaranteed reward |
|---|---|
| Rank 1 |
Excadrill
|
| Rank 6 |
Skwovet
|
| Ace Rank |
Axew
|
| Veteran Rank |
Gible
|
| Expert Rank |
Goomy
|
| Legend Rank |
Pikachu (Libre)
|
Standard encounters
You can encounter the following Pokémon in reward encounters throughout the Season at the ranks
Rank 1+
Rank 6+
Rank 11+
Rank 16+
Rank 20+
Active Raid Boss in five-star raids
Ace+
Veteran+
Expert+
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: Hidden Gems 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 reward 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!
The Timed Research can be claimed between Thursday, June 1, 2023,at 1:00 p.m. and Thursday, June 15, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. PDT.
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 Clay, the Gym Leader of Driftveil Gym in the Unova region in the Pokémon Black and Pokémon White games!
- At Ace rank, you’ll receive a Clay-Style Hat and Clay-Style Shoes.
- At Veteran rank, you’ll receive Clay-Style Pants.
- At Expert rank, you’ll receive a Clay-Style Shirt.
- At Legend rank, you’ll receive the Clay-Style Pose.
At rank 19, you’ll receive an Elite Charged TM. You’ll also receive an Elite Fast TM as an
end-of-Season reward.
GBL Season 15 Cups
You can look forward to the following new 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 League Premier
- No CP Limit.
- Legendary Pokémon, Mythical Pokémon, and Ultra Beasts are not eligible.
Summer Cup: Great League Edition
- Pokémon must be at or below 1,500 CP to enter.
- Only Normal-, Fire-, Water-, Grass-, Electric-, and Bug-type Pokémon are eligible.
Summer Cup: Ultra League Edition
- Pokémon must be at or below 2,500 CP to enter.
- Only Normal-, Fire-, Water-, Grass-, Electric-, and Bug-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.
- Only Pokémon that are able to evolve and have not evolved even once are eligible.
Single-type Cup: Great League Edition
- Only Pokémon under 1,500 CP with only one type are eligible. For example, Wobbuffet—who is only a Psychic-type Pokémon—is eligible. However, Swampert, being a Water- and Ground-type Pokémon, is not permitted.
The following Pokémon will not be allowed:
Retro Cup: Great League Edition
- Pokémon must be at or below 1,500 CP to enter.
- Dark-, Steel-, and Fairy-type Pokémon are not eligible
Fossil Cup: Great League Edition
- Pokémon must be at or below 1,500 CP to enter.
- Only Water-, Rock-, and Steel-type Pokémon are eligible.
Great League Remix
- The 20 Pokémon that are most used by Trainers ranked Ace and above in the Great League will not be eligible in the Great League Remix.
The following Pokémon will not be allowed:
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:
Catch Cup: Hidden Gems Edition
- Pokémon must be at or below 1,500 CP to enter.
- Only Pokémon that have been caught during this Season (Hidden Gems) are eligible.
- Mythical Pokémon are not eligible.
New Attacks
Liquidation (Charged Attack)
- Trainer Battles: 70 power and a chance to lower the opposing Pokémon’s Defense by one stage
- Gyms and raids: 70 power
Leafage (Fast Attack)
- Trainer Battles: 6 power
- Gyms and raids: 9 power
Attack Changes
Icicle Spear Ice
- Trainer Battles:
60 power→ 65 power
Poison Fang Poison
- Trainer Battles:
40 power→ 45 power
Rollout Rock
- Trainer Battles:
4 power→ 5 power
Mud Bomb Ground
- Trainer Battles:
55 power→ 60 power
Seed Bomb Grass
- Trainer Battles:
55 power→ 60 power - Energy cost increased
Attack availability updates
Dewgong
|
Dewgong will now be able to learn the Charged Attack Liquidation Water |
Sandslash (Alola)
|
Alolan Sandslash will now be able to learn the Charged Attack Drill Run Ground |
Clefable
|
Clefable will now be able to learn the Fast Attack Fairy Wind Fairy |
Wigglytuff
|
Wigglytuff will now be able to learn the Charged Attack Disarming Voice Fairy |
Golduck
|
Golduck will now be able to learn the Charged Attack Liquidation Water |
|
Dewgong
|
Dewgong will now be able to learn the Charged Attack Drill Run Ground |
Cloyster
|
Cloyster will now be able to learn the Charged Attack Liquidation Water |
Vaporeon
|
Vaporeon will now be able to learn the Charged Attack Liquidation Water |
Togetic
|
Togetic will now be able to learn the Fast Attack Fairy Wind Fairy |
Quagsire
|
Quagsire will now be able to learn the Charged Attack Mud Bomb Ground |
Tyranitar
|
Tyranitar will now be able to learn the Charged Attack Brutal Swing Dark |
Cradily
|
Cradily will now be able to learn the Charged Attack Rock Slide Rock |
Armaldo
|
Armaldo will now be able to learn the Charged Attack Liquidation Water |
Floatzel
|
Floatzel will now be able to learn the Charged Attack Liquidation Water |
Drifblim
|
Drifblim will now be able to learn the Charged Attack Mystical Fire Fire |
Snover
|
Snover will now be able to learn the Fast Attack Leafage Grass |
Abomasnow
|
Abomasnow will now be able to learn the Fast Attack Leafage Grass |
Probopass
|
Probopass will now be able to learn the Charged Attack Zap Cannon Electric |
Heatran
|
Heatran will now be able to learn the Charged Attack Earth Power Ground |
Samurott
|
Samurott will now be able to learn the Charged Attack Liquidation Water |
Whimsicott
|
Whimsicott will now be able to learn the Charged Attack Seed Bomb Grass |
Carracosta
|
Cradily will now be able to learn the Charged Attack Liquidation Water |
Emolga
|
Emolga will now be able to learn the Charged Attack Acrobatics |
Eelektross
|
Eelektross will now be able to learn the Charged Attack Liquidation Water |
Litwick
|
Litwick will now be able to learn the Charged Attack Mystical Fire Fire |
Beartic
|
Beartic will now be able to learn the Charged Attack Liquidation Water |
Rowlet
|
Rowlet will now be able to learn the Fast Attack Leafage Grass |
Dartrix
|
Dartrix will now be able to learn the Fast Attack Leafage Grass |
Decidueye
|
Decidueye will now be able to learn the Fast Attack Leafage Grass |
Primarina
|
Primarina will now be able to learn the Charged Attack Disarming Voice Fairy |
Fomantis
|
Fomantis will now be able to learn the Fast Attack Leafage Grass |
Lurantis
|
Lurantis will now be able to learn the Fast Attack Leafage Grass |
Golisopod
|
Golisopod will now be able to learn the Charged Attack Liquidation Water |
Ursaluna
|
Ursaluna will now be able to learn the Charged Attack Ice Punch Ice |
Parting Words
After the disappointing GBL updates of Season 14, this one looks exciting! These move updates are sure to shake up the meta and make battles more thrilling for trainers. Our writers and analysts are going to deliver the goods regarding the GBL meta soon. So watch this space!
Best of luck in Season 15, trainers.
See you out on the battlefield. Wish you loads of GGs all around!
