Trainer Battle (GO)
Trainer Battles (Japanese: トレーナーバトル Trainer Battle) are a feature in Pokémon GO that allow players to challenge other players to a 3-on-3 battle. This feature was first introduced on December 12, 2018.
Battle Challenge
Players can challenge any player in close proximity by scanning another player's Battle Code which can be accessed from the Nearby screen. These Battle Codes are different to the QR codes used to add Friends, with a new one being generated every time the player signs into the game.
Players can also challenge Ultra Friends and Best Friends without having to be in close proximity. These Trainer Battles can be initiated by sending a Battle Challenge through the Friend List. The Battle Challenge feature can be disabled via the settings page.
Battling also counts as a daily activity that may increase Friendship level.
Leagues
Players can choose to battle from three different Leagues:
| League | Max CP per Pokémon | Requirement to unlock |
|---|---|---|
 Great League |
1,500 | None |
 Ultra League |
2,500 | 3 Pokémon with 1,500+ CP |
 Master League |
No limit | 3 Pokémon with 2,500+ CP |
Each player selects three Pokémon to battle with. Pokémon will automatically be recommended based on their CP in relation to a League’s criteria. Preset teams can also be made for each League from the Party screen.
Ditto and Shedinja cannot be used in Trainer Battles.
Battle Sequence
Similar to battling a Gym, the player can command a Fast Attack by simply tapping the screen. Fast Attacks charge up energy for the Charged Attack meter.
Once the Charged Attack meter is full, the player is able to activate the Charged Attack. Once initiated, the player can tap the screen repeatedly for three seconds to amplify the power of the Charged Attack. Whenever a player activates a Charged Attack, the opponent also has the option to use a Protect Shield to protect the Pokémon from any damage. Each player can use up to two Protect Shields per battle.
When a Pokémon faints, the player has 12 seconds to decide their next Pokémon to send out. If the player has not already selected a Pokémon after this time, the second Pokémon in the party will automatically be sent out to battle. Players are also able to switch Pokémon mid-battle. Afterwards, the player cannot switch out again for 60 seconds.
The battle has a four-minute timer and the last 20 second countdown is displayed. If the time runs out, the player who has the most Pokémon remaining is declared the winner. If both players have the same number of Pokémon remaining, the player who has less damage to their remaining Pokémon wins the battle.
Damage calculations in Trainer Battles are slightly different than that in Gym and Raid Battles. Moves often have separate power values and energy costs, and all attacks have a 30% damage boost in this mode, and weather bonuses are ignored. Since February 15, 2019, certain Charged Attacks may increasing the user's stats after use. On March 19, 2019, Charged Attacks that may decrease the target's stats were also introduced.
Battle Training
Using the same mechanics as Trainer Battles, players can also challenge Blanche, Spark, or Candela in Battle Training from the Nearby screen. Each of their Pokémon will have moves randomly selected from the current move pool.
Team leaders will never use their Protect Shields. They will always send out their Pokémon in the same order and never switch out their Pokémon in battle.
Blanche
| League | Pokémon | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Great League |
|
|
|
| Magikarp | Feebas | Squirtle | |
Ultra League |
|
|
|
| Alolan Ninetales | Glalie | Lapras | |
Master League |
|
|
|
| Lapras | Gliscor | Articuno | |
Spark
| League | Pokémon | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Great League |
|
|
|
| Magnemite | Mareep | Pikachu | |
Ultra League |
|
|
|
| Alolan Raichu | Magneton | Manectric | |
Master League |
|
|
|
| Manectric | Milotic | Zapdos | |
Candela
| League | Pokémon | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Great League |
|
|
|
| Slugma | Vulpix | Charmander | |
Ultra League |
|
|
|
| Alolan Marowak | Houndoom | Infernape | |
Master League |
|
|
|
| Infernape | Electivire | Moltres | |
Rewards
After a battle, both players will receive a randomly-selected reward bundle. Each day, players can only receive rewards from Trainer Battles three times and training against a team leader once. There is also a 10% chance to receive a second reward bundle, regardless of outcome. Losing against a team leader always yields 
300 instead of a random reward, but outcome does not affect the reward from battles against other players.
Rates for training against team leaders have been approximated based on empirical data.[1]
| Potential rewards | Quantity | Probability | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great League Training |
Ultra League Training |
Master League Training |
PvP | |||
 |
Stardust | ×300 ×400 ×500 |
93% | 90% | 83% | 67% |
 |
Sinnoh Stone | ×1 | 5% | 6% | 10% | 15% |
 |
Rare Candy | ×1 | 1% | 3% | 5% | 15% |
 |
Fast TM | ×1 | 0.5% | 0.5% | 1% | 1% |
 |
Charged TM | ×1 | 0.5% | 0.5% | 1% | 2% |
Medals
Trainer Battles
Winning a certain number of Trainer Battles will reward the player with a medal.
| Name | Requirement | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Great League Veteran |  Win 5 Trainer Battles in the Great League. |
 Win 50 Trainer Battles in the Great League. |
 Win 200 Trainer Battles in the Great League. |
| Ultra League Veteran |  Win 5 Trainer Battles in the Ultra League. |
 Win 50 Trainer Battles in the Ultra League. |
 Win 200 Trainer Battles in the Ultra League. |
| Master League Veteran |  Win 5 Trainer Battles in the Master League. |
 Win 50 Trainer Battles in the Master League. |
 Win 200 Trainer Battles in the Master League. |
Battle Training
Successfully defeating a Team Leader a certain number of times will also reward the player an Ace Trainer medal.
| Name | Requirement | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ace Trainer |  Train 10 times. |
 Train 100 times. |
 Train 1,000 times. |
References
|
This article is part of Project Sidegames, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon Sidegames. |
