Ranked Battle Rules and Legal Pokemon | Pokemon Sword and Shield

This guide explains all the rules of the current series of Ranked Battle, including the Pokemon that can be legally used in Ranked Battle, all legal Gigantamax Pokemon, as well as all legal Pokemon available via Pokemon HOME.

Series 5 Information

Duration	Tuesday, June 30, 2020 (Wed.) 9:00 PM PDT - August 31st, 2020 (Tues.) 4:59 PM PDT
Available Pokemon	・Galar Pokedex No.1 - 397 ・Isle of Armor Pokedex No.1 - 210 ・Cobalion, Terrakion, Virizion ・Rowlet, Dartrix, Decidueye ・Litten, Torracat, Incineroar ・Popplio, Brionne, Primarina
Gigantamax Pokemon	All current Gigantamax Pokemon

Starting on July 1st, all the Series 5 ruleset has come into official use for Ranked Battle. Over 100 new Pokemon have been made available from the Isle of Armor DLC, marking the largest addition to the number of legal Pokemon yet. Check the complete list below to find out what new Pokemon will be shaking up the metagame!

All information in this article is courtesy of Play! Pokemon's official ruleset.

Series 5 Legal Pokemon

All Pokemon which are included in the Galar Pokedex, #001-397, excluding Zacian, Zamazenta, and Eternatus may participate in Ranked Battles.

Complete Galar Pokedex

In addition, the entire Isle of Armor Pokedex has been made legal for Ranked Battle. Consult the full list later on the page for details of which Pokemon have been newly added.

Some Pokemon which are only available via Pokemon HOME, including Cobalion, Terrakion and Virizion, as well as the Alolan Starters and their evolutions are legal for Ranked Battle. There are still a number of other Pokemon available via Pokemon HOME which remain disallowed in Ranked Battle.

All regional variations of Pokemon included in the above list of Pokemon are also legal.

List of Legal Pokemon by Pokedex Number

• Galar Pokédex numbers: #001–397
• Isle of Armor Pokédex numbers: #001-#210
• National Pokédex numbers #638-640 (Cobalion, Terrakion, and Virizion)
• National Pokédex numbers #722–730 (Alolan starters)

Legal Gigantamax Pokemon

All currently available Gigantamax Pokemon are available for Ranked Battle.

Details of Legal Teams & Pokemon

• A player’s team cannot contain two Pokémon with the same Galar Pokédex number.
• Two Pokémon cannot hold the same item.
• Pokémon must have the black Galar symbol on their summary screen to signify that they originated in the Galar region, or the battle-ready symbol.
• Hidden Abilities are legal.
• Moves and Abilities passed via the Pokémon Nursery by a Pokémon brought in using Pokémon HOME are legal.
• Moves and Abilities made available through an official Pokémon event or promotion are legal.

All Legal Pokemon from The Isle of Armor

These Pokemon were not previously available in Ranked Battle, and have been made legal for the first time on July 1st, 2020.

Sandshrew	Alolan Sandshrew	Sandslash	Alolan Sandslash
Jigglypuff	Wigglytuff	Psyduck	Golduck
Poliwag	Poliwhirl	Poliwrath	Abra
Kadabra	Alakazam	Tentacool	Tentacruel
Slowpoke	Galarian Slowbro	Slowbro	Magnemite
Magneton	Exeggcute	Exeggutor	Alolan Exeggutor
Cubone	Marowak	Alolan Marowak	Lickitung
Chansey	Tangela	Kangaskhan	Horsea
Seadra	Staryu	Starmie	Scyther
Pinsir	Tauros	Porygon	Igglybuff
Marill	Azumarill	Politoed	Slowking
Dunsparce	Scizor	Heracross	Skarmory
Kingdra	Porygon2	Miltank	Blissey
Whismur	Loudred	Exploud	Azurill
Carvanha	Sharpedo	Shinx	Luxio
Luxray	Buneary	Lopunny	Happiny
Magnezone	Lickilicky	Tangrowth	Porygon-Z
Lillipup	Herdier	Stoutland	Venipede
Whirlipede	Scolipede	Petilil	Lilligant
Sandile	Krokorok	Krookodile	Zorua
Zoroark	Emolga	Foongus	Amoonguss
Mienfoo	Mienshao	Druddigon	Bouffalant
Larvesta	Volcarona	Fletchling	Fletchinder
Talonflame	Skrelp	Dragalge	Clauncher
Clawitzer	Dedenne	Klefki	Rockruff
Lycanroc (Midday Form)	Lycanroc (Midnight Form)	Lycanroc (Dusk Form)	Fomantis
Lurantis	Comfey	Sandygast	Palossand
Kubfu	Urshifu Rapid-Strike Style	Urshifu Single-Strike Style

The Isle of Armor Pokedex

All Legal Pokemon from Pokemon HOME

The following Pokemon and regional variants are available for usage in Ranked Battle, but can only be obtained by transfering to the Pokemon Sword and Shield from a previous game in the series via Pokemon HOME. These Pokemon became legal for Ranked Battle on March 1st, 2020, except for Cobalion, Terrakion, and Virizion, which became legal on July 1st, 2020.

Some of these Pokemon, such as Alolan regional variants, as well as Bulbasaur and Squirtle, are also available in The Isle of Armor DLC.

Zigzagoon	Linoone	Alolan Vulpix	Alolan Ninetales
Alolan Diglett	Alolan Dugtrio	Alolan Meowth	Alolan Persian
Alolan Raichu	Farfetch'd	Stunfisk	Corsola
Weezing	Ponyta	Rapidash	Darumaka
Darmanitan	Bulbasaur	Ivysaur	Venusaur
Squirtle	Wartortle	Blastoise	Cobalion
Terrakion	Virizion	Rowlet	Dartrix
Decidueye	Litten	Torracat	Incineroar
Popplio	Brionne	Primarina

New Pokemon, Abilities, and Moves Available through Pokemon HOME

How to Use Transferred Pokemon

Get a Battle-Ready Mark at the Battle Tower

Although Pokemon caught or hatched outside the Galar Region were previously disallowed for play, these Pokemon can now be used in Ranked Battle once they receive a battle-ready mark. In the Battle Tower, talk to the man standing next to the far door, and you'll be able to receive the mark on a transferred Pokemon – however, it will need to forget any moves not appearing in Pokemon Sword and Shield before it can be marked legal for Ranked Battle.

Series 5 Rules

1. Rankings for Single and Doubles are separate.
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. An Internet connection is required in playing Ranked Battles. You will need an Nintendo Switch Online Subscription to participate in all online activities in Pokemon including Ranked Battles.

Single Battle

Double Battle

Related Links