Ranked Battle Series 12 (April 2022) | Rules and Legal Pokemon

This guide explains all the rules of Ranked Battle Series 12 for April 2022, 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 12 Information

Duration	February 1, 2022 (Tue.) 9:00 PM PDT - August 31, 2022 (Wed.) 4:59 PM PDT
Available Pokemon	・Galar Pokedex No. 1 - 397 ・Isle of Armor Pokedex No. 1 - 210 ・Crown of Tundra Pokedex No. 1- 210 ・National Pokedex No. 150 - 806
Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokemon	All Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokemon Allowed

Starting February 1, a new ruleset will take effect for Ranked Battle Series 12! Legendary Pokemon are once again available to use in competitive play but with a restriction of two Legendary Pokemon per team.

Additionally, Season 12 continues Ranked Battle Series 11's rule and once again allows the use of Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokemon!

Series 12 Legal Pokemon

Complete Galar Pokedex

Majority of the Pokemon reintroduced in the Crown Tundra Pokedex have been made legal for Ranked Battle. Consult the full list later on the page for details of which Legendary Pokemon are allowed.

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

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.

Gigantamax and Dynamax Are Allowed

All currently available Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokemon are useable in Ranked Battle Series 12.

Two Legendary Pokemon Per Team

Series 12 allows players to use two Legendary Pokemon per team for competitive play. These include the following:

Mewtwo	Lugia	Ho-oh	Kyogre
Groudon	Rayquaza	Dialga	Palkia
Giratina	Reshiram	Zekrom	Kyurem
Xerneas	Yveltal	Zygarde	Cosmog
Cosmoem	Solgaleo	Lunala	Necrozma
Zacian	Zamazenta	Eternatus	Calyrex

Mythical Pokemon are Excluded

Mythical Pokemon cannot be used in Series 12. These include the following:

Mew	Celebi	Jirachi
Victini	Keldeo	Genesect
Diancie	Volcanion	Magearna
Marshadow	Zeraora	Meltan
Melmetal	Zarude

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 12 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

Pokemon Sword and Shield Related Guides

Ongoing Events

Event	Description
Ranked Battles Series 13	Description: New Rule for Ranked Battles: Legendaries and Mythicals allowed! Duration: September 1 ~ October 31, 2022