What can you do as a free member?

Member benefits illustration

Create your free account today and unlock all our premium features and tools to enhance your gaming experience.

Member benefits illustration

Create your free account today and save articles to your watchlist and get notified when they're updated with new information.

Member benefits illustration

Create your free account today and save your favorite games for quick access later, synced across all your devices.

Member benefits illustration

By creating a Game8 account and logging in, you'll receive instant notifications when someone replies to your posts.

Comment rating feature illustration

By creating a Game8 account and logging in, you can make use of convenient features in the comments section, such as rating and sorting comments.

Premium archive feature illustration

By creating a Game8 account and logging in, you can access Premium articles that are exclusively available to members.

Site Interface

Guest
Free Member
Article Watchlist
Game Bookmarks
Cross-device Sync
Light/Dark Theme Toggle
User Profiles
Direct Feedback
Comment Rating

Game Tools

Guest
Free Member
Interactive Map Access
Interactive Map Pins
Interactive Map Comments
Interactive Map Pins Cross-Device
Check List
Event Choice Checker
Deck Builder Cross-Device
Message Board Notification
Message Board Cross-Device
Build Planner
Stat Calculator
Diagnostic Tool
Weapon/Armor Wishlist

Want more information?Learn more

Pokemon Legends: Z-A

Ranked Battle Events and Schedule

Add to Watchlist (1)

★ Join the Shiny Pikachu Giveaway on Dec. 10!
Mega Lucario Z revealed!
Project M Side Mission: Catch Mewtwo!
Interactive Map: Screws, TMs, Mint Shops
★ Climb Ranked Season 3 to get the Chesnaughtite!
☆ Browse the Trading Board for your desired Pokemon!

Pokemon Legends Z-A - Ranked Battles

Ranked Battle is the main competitive format for Pokemon Legends: Z-A, replacing VGC in the main turn-based format. Check this complete guide for Ranked Battles, possible rewards you can get for participating, and a list of past and upcoming seasons and their rewards.

Ranked Battles
Ranked Season 3 Details Ranked Battles Tier List

Current Ranked Season

Season 3 is Live!

Ranked Battle Season 3
Start Date November 27, 2025 (Thu) at 06:00 UTC
End Date December 18, 2025 (Wed) at 05:59 UTC
Available Pokemon Lumiose Pokedex (001~232), including Xerneas, Yveltal, and Zygarde
Alolan Raichu
Galarian Slowpoke line
Galarian Stunfisk
All Available Mega Evolutions
Diancie and Mega Diancie
Mewtwo, Mega Mewtwo X, Mega Mewtwo Y
Banned Pokemon ・None Announced

Season 3 of Ranked Battles is now live and will run until December 18, 2025. This Ranked Battle event feature the Chesnaughtite Mega Stone, which allows you to get Mega Chesnaught, and Safari Balls if you reach a high ranking during the season.

Ranked Battles Season 3: Rules and Rewards

Version 1.0.2 Ranked Battle Changes

Version 1.0.2

A new feature in the Version 1.0.2 update was added in the game where losing a match will not result in point deductions. More rewards will also be available after completing a match.

Version 1.0.2 Update and Patch Notes

Upcoming Ranked Seasons

Upcoming Ranked Battle Events
Event Description
Mega Baxcalibur Ranked Battle Season 4Ranked Battle Season 4 Featured Item:
BaxcalibBaxcalibrite and other Rewards

Season 4 Duration: TBA

Past Ranked Seasons

All Past Seasons and Rewards

Past Seasons Dates Past Rewards
Pokemon SV - Season 1 Banner Season 1 Oct. 17~Nov. 5, 2025 Greninjite
Sport Ball
Ranked Battle Season 2Season 2 Nov. 6~26, 2025 Delphoxite
Dream Ball

Here’s a list of all past Ranked Battle seasons in Pokemon Legends: Z-A. Participating in Ranked Battles rewards you with Mega Stones, specifically for the Kalos starters!

Kalos Starter Mega Stones

What are Ranked Battles?

Main Competitive Mode for Legends Z-A

Pokemon Legends Z-A - Z-A Battle Club.png

Ranked Battles the main competitive feature that allows four Trainers to compete in real-time battles with other Trainers. Trainers start at Z Rank and can rank up to the highest A Rank.

You can earn points based on their actions during the battle and how many Pokemon you Knocked Out, and as they accumulate points, their rank increases.

Z-A Battle Club Features

How to Make a Team for Ranked Battle

Create Your Team With the Battle Box

Pokemon Legends Z-A - Box Battle Team

To register your battle team. Head to the main menu and open Box, press the X button twice to switch your selection to Held then to Battle Team. Select three Pokemon from your box that you want to use in ranked battles and create a team.

You cannot add Pokemon from your current party, so make sure to add the Pokemon and their held items you want to register to your box beforehand.

Bring Strong Pokemon to Climb Easily

While there's nothing wrong with using your favorites, some Pokemon will let you climb the ranked ladder easier than others. Check out our Best Pokemon for Ranked Battles Tier List to understand which Pokemon are strong in the current meta!

Best Pokemon for Ranked Battles Tier List

How to Unlock and Join Ranked Battles

Unlocked After Completing Mable's Research in Main Mission 3

Mable

To unlock Ranked Battles, you first need to complete Mable's section in Main Mission 03: "A New Life in Lumiose City". This involves catching atleast five different species of Pokemon for the Pokedex.

Complete Story Walkthrough

Nintendo Switch Online is Required

Online Requirements

To join, go to the Multiplayer and Online option then Ranked Battle on the main menu. An internet connection and Nintendo Switch Online account is required, so please make sure you have these in place beforehand.

After entering ZA Battle Club, you can edit your battle team again, or prepare for battle. After selecting your team, you will begin matching with opponents of a similar rank.

Ranked Battle Tips and Tricks

Gain Points to Increase Rank

Pokemon Z-A - Z-A Battle Club Switch Pokemon

At the end of a battle, Trainers are ranked based on how many Pokemon they defeated. Additionally, points can also be earned by performing certain actions during the battle. These two factors determine your total points.

Once you reach the maximum number of points for your current rank, you advance to the next rank. You begin each season at Rank Z and can work your way up to Rank A. You cannot decrease in rank during a season.

Take Specific Actions for More Points

Action Requirement
Dealt First Attack Be the first to damage an opposing Pokemon in battle.
Dealt Last Attack Be the last to damage an opposing Pokemon in battle.
First to Mega Evolve Be the first to Mega Evolve in battle.
First To Claim an Item Be the first to collect an item in battle.
Scatter Attacker Defeat at least one of each of your opponent's Pokemon.
Super-Effective Fighter Use a Super-Effective attack at least five times.
Mega Evolution Destroyer Defeat a Mega Evolved Pokemon.
Most Active Attacker Land the most attacks in battle.
Fresh Opponent Hunter Attack full-HP opponents the most.
Mega-Evolving Master Defeat an opposing Pokémon with a Mega Evolved Pokemon.
Flawless Survivor None of your Pokemon were defeated in battle.
# Pokémon Defeater Based on the number of Pokemon you've defeated. More Pokémon defeated earn you more points.

Defeating the most amount of Pokemon during a battle isn't the only way to get more Points to increase your rank, you can also earn more points by performing certain actions during a match as listed above

Pick Up Glowing Items for Buffs

Item Color Effect
Green Restores the HP of all Pokemon on your team.
Red Temporarily increases the Attack and Special Attack of all Pokemon on your team.
Blue Temporarily increases the Defense and Special Defense of all Pokemon on your team.
Mega Power Orbs Gain additional Mega Energy.

Floating items will appear periodically during the battle, and picking these up grants you power-ups. In addition, some powerups will also allow your Pokemon to mega-evolve.

Understand the Ranked Battle Rules

  1. You will obtain Points depending on your Rank and Actions Taken. Even if you lose, you will receive points.
  2. You cannot go down a rank once your tier has been raised. No matter how many times you lose, your Tier will stay the same.
  3. If one of your Pokémon is Knocked Out, you return to your starting point on the battlefield, your team is healed, and you rejoin the battle.
  4. You can only switch out your Active Pokémon three times. This limit resets if one of your Pokémon is defeated.
Game Pokemon Legends: Z-A
Battle Format 4 Person Battle Royale
Pokemon in your current team or registered to your Battle Team From 3 to 6 Pokemon
All Pokemon will have their level automatically set to Lv. 50 during battles.
Battle Time Total Time: 3 minutes

Ranked Battle Rewards

Rank-Up Rewards: Starter Mega Stone!

Mega Kalos Starters

These rewards are based on Season 1 of Ranked Battles, we will update this list once we get more Seasons

For the first three seasons of Ranked Battles, you can get Mega Stones to Mega Evolve each of the Kalos starters. The Greninjite, Delphoxite, and Chesnaughtite items will be available as rewards upon reaching certain ranks during the season.

Kalos Starter Mega Stones: Ranked Battle Rewards

Season Rewards

Season Rewards

Players who have reached certain milestones during each season will receive rewards after each season ends and the results are announced and are based on the results of your battles.

Players need to finish at least one match with a win or loss during the season to be eligible for rewards.

Apriballs for First and Second Place

Ranked Battle Apriballs

Starting in Season 2, players who rank first or second during a match will have a chance to get an Apriball once the battle ends.

List of Apricorn Balls and How to Get

Pokemon Legends: Z-A Related Guides

Recommended Guides

Pokemon Legends Z-A - New Recommended Guides

Ranked Battles Best Starter Pokemon: Which Starter To Choose
Best Team for Story Progression Colorful Screw Locations and Where to Turn In
Which Canari Plush Should You Get? List of All Mable's Research Rewards
Choices, Missables, and One-Time Events Type Chart: All Strength and Weakness Matchups
Best Pokemon Tier List for the Story Post-Game Content: What to Do After Beating The Game
Best Pokemon for Ranked Battles Tier List Best Side Missions To Do First
Best Moves for Ranked Battles -

Author

    Please participate in our site
    improvement survey
    12/2025
    Would you assist in
    improving Game8's site?
    ×
    This survey will take about 1 minute.
    Your answers will help us to improve our website.
    We are listening to our users' valuable opinions and discussing how to act on them.
    The information collected through this survey will be used for the purpose of improving our services. In addition, the information will only be disclosed a part of a statistic in a format that will not allow identification of personal information.
    Begin Survey

    All rights reserved

    Guide Index