Pokémon Go Battle League Season 23 release date, changes, plus Season 23 rank rewards, dates and rules

Pokémon Go Battle League Season 23 encounter rewards

Rank	Guaranteed Pokémon encounter	Pokémon added to encounter pool
Legend Rank	Pikachu Libre	No new Pokémon
Expert Rank	Dreepy	Dreepy
Veteran Rank	Frigibax	Frigibax
Ace Rank	Morpeko	Morpeko
20	None	Current five-star raid boss
16	None	Alolan Raichu Alolan Marowak Pancham
11	None	Barboach Feebas Inkay Cetoddle
6	Vullaby	Skorupi Vullaby
1	Mienfoo	Paldean Wooper Spoink Spheal Mienfoo Bunnelby

Encounter eligibility follows progression hierarchy – prioritized species unlock after surpassing specific tiers. Upon reaching Rank 20, trainers gain access to the current legendary raid boss through victory rewards.

Competitive Structure Overview

Niantic’s global PvP system transforms trainer battles into seasonal competitions across multiple tiers. Participants progress through 24 seasonal tiers, facing rotating CP-limited formats every fortnight. Recent modifications introduced elite titles (Ace, Veteran, Expert, Legend) for top competitors achieving specific skill ratings.

Key competitive elements include:

Five-match series with free/premium reward tracks
Daily maximum of 30 engagements across six sets
Team composition restrictions preventing duplicate species
Dynamic move prioritization based on attack stats

Seasonal Event Calendar

The current competition cycle features rotating formats from June through September, including specialty cups like Fossil Cup and Summer Cup variations. Critical dates include:

Master League with Summer Cup: 17th-24th June
Triple League rotation phases: 24th June-1st July
Element Cup: Little Edition: 1st-8th July
Stardust bonuses periods: 17th June-1st July

Progression Mechanics

Advancement through tiers combines participation requirements and skill benchmarks:

Ranks 1-20: Progress via battle participation
Elite tiers (21-24): Require specific ELO ratings (2,000-3,000)
Key checkpoints reward TMs, rare candies, and avatar customizations

Premium Battle Passes enhance reward acquisition paths, though victory remains essential for optimal gains. Seasonal resets require annual requalification for top-tier positions.