NianticThe Pokemon Go Catch Cup isn’t just another quirky ruleset; it’s a full reset button on the Go Battle League, stripping away your comfort picks and forcing you to build a team on the fly.
Veteran trainers may be used to reading the Battle League meta like a book, but the Catch Cup flips every page upside down.
With strict restrictions and a fresh-catch requirement, this end-of-season format pushes you to adapt fast, rethink your strategy, and prove you can win without your usual powerhouses. So, before you dive in, here’s everything you need to know.
What is the Catch Cup in Pokemon Go?
The Catch Cup is one of the most unique formats in the Pokemon Go Battle League, as it limits eligibility to only the Pokemon caught during the current season. That single rule flips the meta on its head and forces trainers to build teams from whatever they can grab in time.
With such a tight restriction, long-term planning goes out the window. You’ll need to catch, power up, and optimize your team in record time, which can make building a competitive lineup pretty tough. Fortunately, we’ve rounded up the best Pokemon to help you thrive in the Catch Cup.
NianticPokemon Go Catch Cup rules & restrictions
The Catch Cup can be divided into two different tiers: Catch Cup Little Edition and Catch Cup Great League Edition. Here are their rules:
- Only Pokemon caught during the current season can take part.
- For the Little Edition, Pokemon must be below the 500 CP limit to enter.
- For the Great League Edition, Pokemon must be below the 1500 CP limit to enter.
This means only Pokemon under 500 or 1500 CP can compete, and all of them must have been captured – in this case – after September 2, 2025, when the current Tales of Transformation season kicked off.
While Mythical and Legendary Pokemon are not allowed, you can widen your options with catches from Raids, Field Research tasks, and Egg hatches.
Related
Pokemon Go Catch Cup start & end date
The latest Battle League season is underway, running from September 2, 2025, until December 2, 2025. For the rest of its run, the Catch Cup will appear on:
November 25 – December 2, along with the Ultra League* & Master League*
*x4 Stardust from win rewards (not including end-of-set rewards)
That’s all you need to know about the Catch Cup in Pokemon Go. Don’t forget to stay updated with the Go Battle League schedule and the best competitive Pokemon, as well as other events such as the Spotlight Hour and Community Day.