Trainers, Get ready to put your skills to the test in Pokémon GO Battle League Season 21: Dual Destiny! The new season kicks off on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. PST (GMT −8). Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming season, from schedule and rewards to attack changes and new cups.
Infographic
Season Start Details
At the start of GO Battle League: Dual Destiny, the following changes will take place:
- End-of-Season rewards will be available on the Battle screen.
- Rank resets for all Trainers.
- Rank-up requirements will remain unchanged from the prior season.
GO Battle League: Dual Destiny Schedule
The Dual Destiny season promises a mix of fresh formats and familiar favorites, keeping every week unpredictable. Whether you’re crafting a new team for themed cups like Fantasy or Color Cup or sticking to your favorites in the main leagues, there’s always a reason to jump in and battle. With 4× Stardust bonuses sprinkled throughout the schedule, it’s a prime chance to maximize rewards while sharpening your strategies
All changes occur at 1:00 p.m. PST (GMT −8) on the listed dates.
| Dates | Active League/Cup |
|---|---|
| December 3 – December 10 |
|
| December 10 – December 17 |
|
| December 17 – December 24 |
|
| December 24 – December 31 |
|
| December 31 – January 7 |
|
| January 7 – January 14 |
|
| January 14 – January 21 |
|
| January 21 – January 28 |
|
| January 28 – February 4 |
|
| February 4 – February 11 |
|
| February 11 – February 18 |
|
| February 18 – February 25 |
|
| February 25 – March 4 |
|
(*) 4× Stardust from win rewards during these leagues (does not include end-of-set rewards).
Cups
Fantasy Cup: Great League Edition
- CP limit: 1,500
- Eligible types: Dragon, Steel, Fairy
Holiday Cup: Little Edition
- CP limit: 500
- Eligible types: Normal, Grass, Electric, Ice, Flying, Ghost
Color Cup: Great League Edition
- CP limit: 1,500
- Eligible types: Fire, Water, Grass, Electric
Jungle Cup: Little Edition
- CP limit: 500
- Eligible types: Normal, Grass, Electric, Poison, Ground, Flying, Bug, Dark
- Banned Pokémon:
Love Cup: Great League Edition
- CP limit: 1,500
- Eligible Pokémon: Red or pink-colored
Master League: Mega Edition
- No CP limit
- Mega-Evolved Pokémon are allowed
GO Battle Week: Dual Destiny
From Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 12:00 a.m. to Sunday, January 26, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. local time, enjoy special bonuses during this event!
Event Bonuses
- 4× Stardust from win rewards (excludes end-of-set rewards).
- The daily maximum sets increase to 20 (100 battles total).
- A battle-themed Timed Research with rewards, including Grimsley-inspired avatar shoes.
- Pokémon encountered via GO Battle League rewards will have wider IV spreads.
The increased daily set limit to 20 battles (100 battles total) offers more chances to climb the ranks and secure additional rewards. Trainers can also take on a battle-themed Timed Research for exciting prizes, including exclusive Grimsley-inspired shoes for their avatar. Additionally, Pokémon encountered through GO Battle League rewards during this event will have wider IV spreads.
GO Battle League: Dual Destiny Rewards
Guaranteed Rank-Up Encounters
Special Pokémon await Trainers at certain ranks. Stay tuned for a detailed reward chart closer to the season’s start.
| Rank | Guaranteed reward |
|---|---|
| Rank 1 |
Scraggy
|
| Rank 6 |
Sandile
|
| Ace Rank |
Jangmo-o
|
| Veteran Rank |
Deino
|
| Expert Rank |
Frigibax
|
| Legend Rank |
Pikachu
Libre
|
Standard Encounters
Catch various Pokémon in battle rewards, with increased shiny chances for lucky Trainers. Rank 20+ players will also encounter Pokémon or Ultra Beasts featured in current 5-star raids.
Get ready for exciting encounters in GO Battle League: Dual Destiny! Special Pokémon await at key ranks, and at Rank 20+, you can meet powerful 5-star raid Pokémon. With shiny opportunities in the mix, every battle could bring a rewarding surprise.
Rank 1+
Rank 6+
Rank 11+
Rank 16+
Rank 20+
Active Raid Boss in five-star raids
Ace+
Veteran+
Expert+
Legend
Timed Research Pass
For dedicated Trainers, a free battle-themed Timed Research Pass will be available in the shop. The timed Research pass requires 100 wins per page to complete. Rewards include Stardust, Rare Candy XL, and Elite TMs:
- 400 wins: Elite Fast TM
- 500 wins: Elite Charged TM
For those who love a challenge, a free battle-themed Timed Research Pass will be available in the shop, offering a chance to track your progress throughout the season. With each research page requiring 100 wins, the rewards are well worth the effort. Along with Stardust and Rare Candy XL, you’ll earn Elite TMs as you reach milestones.
Avatar Items and Rank Rewards
This season, rewards are inspired by Grimsley, a member of the Unova Elite Four from Pokémon Black and White!
- Ace Rank: Grimsley’s shoes
- Veteran Rank: Grimsley’s pants
- Expert Rank: Grimsley’s top
- Legend Rank: Grimsley-inspired pose
Grimsley is a member of the Unova Elite Four, specializing in Dark type Pokémon. First introduced in Pokémon Black and Pokémon White. Known for his sharp fashion sense and calm demeanor. His attire is sure to inspire Trainers to push for those higher ranks this season.
Combat System Updates
50 Second Timer remains
The switch timer will remain at 50 seconds, impacting all battle types, including Team GO Rocket and Trainer Battles. The continuation of the 50-second switch timer has been met with positive feedback from the community, as it keeps battles fast-paced and adds an extra layer of strategy to every encounter.
By maintaining this timer across all battle types, including Team GO Rocket and Trainer Battles, it ensures a consistent and dynamic experience. It’s also thrilling to watch players at Play Pokémon! Tournaments using the 50-second timer to their advantage.
Attack Updates
| Move | Update |
|---|---|
|
Increased energy generation |
|
Increased power (3 → 4) |
|
Increased power (55 → 60) |
|
Reduced power (80 → 45), lower energy cost, and now has a chance to decrease the opponent’s Defense. |
New Attack Availability
| Pokémon | New moves |
|---|---|
Dragalge
|
Dragalge will now be able to learn the Charged Attack Focus Blast Fighting |
Bibarel
|
Bibarel will now be able to learn the Fast Attack Rollout Rock |
Gliscor
|
Gliscor will now be able to learn the Fast Attack Sand Attack Ground |
Starmie
|
Starmie will now be able to learn the Fast Attack Psywave Psychic and Surf Water. |
These attack updates are a great addition to the game, offering some nice buffs and adjustments to several moves that could enhance gameplay.
However, with the major move changes introduced in Season 20, it’s good that these updates don’t drastically shift the gameplay. Instead, they fine-tune the combat system and enhance the depth of the meta without causing major disruptions. Overall, these adjustments offer fresh opportunities while maintaining the balance that many players appreciate.
Stay tuned for updates, and as always, stay safe and have fun battling!
GLHF
–Adam ‘avrip’
