To excel in competitive Pokémon, you need to know the rules. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s upcoming Ranked Battle series will definitely keep players on their toes.
What’s New in Ranked Battles
Starting Feb. 1, the next chapter, Ranked Battle Series 2, for Gen IX Pokémon games launches. It runs until March 31. This marks the beginning of Season 3 in online battles. For the first time, players can use Paradox Pokémon from both Scarlet and Violet.
The Ban on Paradox Pokémon
Initially, the Pokémon Company banned these past and future Pokémon in Ranked Battle Series 1. This move blocked players from unleashing these strong creatures in early online matches.
Why the Ban?
Game Freak and TPC often hide story spoilers after releasing a new Pokémon game. This approach applies to both the Pokémon TCG and the video games. The ban likely happened because of the Paradox Pokémon’s near Legendary stats. Pokémon like Great Tusk, Iron Valiant, Roaring Moon, and Iron Treads already dominate other game formats. Their addition to Ranked Battles will surely shake up team strategies. Watch out for Flutter Mane.
Get Ready for Series 2
You’ve got a whole month to prepare. Season 2 is still going on, sticking to the Series 1 rules. This means no Paradox Pokémon yet. But starting Feb. 1, new rules apply, and some Pokémon will still be off-limits. Here’s the full list of banned Pokémon for Ranked Battles Series 2:
– Charmander, Charmeleon, and Charizard
– Galarian Meoth and Perrserker
– Wooper and Quagsire
– Scorbunny, Raboot, and Cinderace
– Wo-Chien
– Chien-Pao
– Ting-Lu
– Chi-Yu
– Koraidon
– Miraidon
Conclusion
As players eagerly await the kick-off of Season 3, strategies are bound to change. With the inclusion of Paradox Pokémon, the battles will get more intense and interesting. Make sure you’re ready to adapt and dive into this exciting new phase of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s Ranked Battles.