Circle City Gaming

Competitive format · Pokémon GO

GO — Pokémon Championship Series

The standard Play! Pokémon GO Championship Series format used at CCG League Cups and Challenges, documented in the Pokémon GO Tournament Handbook (§3.1). Great League rules, no type restrictions — most in-game Pokémon are legal except for the official banned list below.

Game
Pokémon GO.
League / CP cap
Great League — Pokémon must be at 1,500 CP or below.
Team composition
3 to 6 Pokémon, locked at registration (species, CP, and move set). Bring any 3 of them to each battle; you may re-choose between games.
Best Buddy boost
At most one Pokémon on the team may use the Best Buddy CP boost. That choice is locked for the tournament.
Mega / Primal
Pokémon currently Mega Evolved or with Primal Reversion active cannot be used.
National Pokédex
No two Pokémon on a team may share the same National Pokédex number.
New-release legality
New Pokémon and new attacks become eligible at 00:00 UTC on the Tuesday two weeks after release. Quarterly Seasonal attack updates (March, June, September, December) are eligible immediately.

In-game restrictions

Per handbook §3.1.1, these Pokémon can't be on a competitor's team because of in-game restrictions.

  • Ditto
  • Shedinja
  • Xerneas
  • Yveltal

Championship Series banned list

Pokémon on the official Championship Series Banned Pokémon List are not legal at any Championship Series event, including CCG League Cups and Challenges.

  • Mimikyu
  • Cobalion
  • Terrakion
  • Virizion
  • Reshiram
  • Zekrom
  • Landorus (all forms)
  • Kyurem (all forms)
  • Tapu Koko
  • Tapu Lele
  • Tapu Bulu
  • Solgaleo
  • Lunala
  • Zacian (all forms)
  • Zamazenta (all forms)
  • Enamorus (all forms)
  • Groudon
  • Kyogre
  • Dialga (all forms)
  • Palkia (all forms)
  • Thundurus (all forms)
  • Tornadus (all forms)
  • Mewtwo
  • Shadow Ponyta
  • Shadow Rapidash
  • Shadow Kabuto
  • Shadow Kabutops
  • Purified Giratina Altered Forme
  • Volcanion
  • Mudbray
  • Mudsdale

Banned Pokémon × move combinations

Pokémon Banned move
Grimer, Muk, Koffing, Weezing Acid (fast)
Chansey Psybeam (charged)
Staryu, Starmie, Porygon, Pichu Quick Attack (fast)

Limited Metas

Some Premier events (e.g. Regionals, Internationals) use a Limited Meta format that further restricts the eligible pool — for example, a type-restricted Cup. Per handbook §3.1.1.2, Limited Metas require explicit approval from The Pokémon Company International, so CCG League Cups and Challenges do not use them. The Championship Series banned list always applies on top.

Account requirements

To earn Championship Points at a GO event, your Pokémon GO account must be linked to your Pokémon Trainer Central account with a Play! Pokémon Player ID attached, and you must have opted in to the Play! Pokémon program. Link the accounts well before the event; CCG can't fix linkage on tournament day.

Sources

Last verified by Circle City Gaming: May 20, 2026.

This page is a Circle City Gaming summary maintained for reference. If anything here disagrees with the official Pokemon.com handbook or banned list, the official source wins.