12-08-2018, 02:52 PM
Guide: How Player Vs. Player Trainer Battles Work in Pokémon GO
<div><div class="media_block"><a href="http://images.nintendolife.com/00d4e32bc481a/large.jpg"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/00d4e32bc481a/small.jpg" class="media_thumbnail"></a></div>
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<div class="img"><a title="Trainerbattles" href="http://images.nintendolife.com/00d4e32bc481a/trainerbattles.original.jpg"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/00d4e32bc481a/trainerbattles.900x.jpg" alt="Trainerbattles" /></a></div>
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<p>PvP is <em>finally</em> coming to <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/mobile/pokemon_go">Pokémon GO</a></strong>, a feature fans have been desperate for since it launched back in 2016. When it launches <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/12/pokemon_go_introduces_player_vs_player_battles_this_month_all_details_revealed">later this month</a>, you’ll be able to challenge friends and strangers alike to see who has the most powerful Pokémon. Do so and you’ll earn a bunch of new rewards and probably have a bunch of fun in the process.</p>
<p>In this guide, we’re going to explain how PvP works in Pokémon GO and what you can get for doing it. We’ll also provide a few tips and tricks here and there to help you have a much better time.</p>
<nav role="navigation" class="table-of-contents">
<h2>On this page:</h2>
<ol>
<li><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/12/guide_how_player_vs_player_trainer_battles_work_in_pokemon_go#how-to-challenge-someone-to-a-pvp-battle-in-pokemon-go">How to Challenge Someone to a PvP Battle in Pokémon GO</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/12/guide_how_player_vs_player_trainer_battles_work_in_pokemon_go#how-pvp-battles-work-in-pokemon-go">How PvP battles work in Pokémon GO</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/12/guide_how_player_vs_player_trainer_battles_work_in_pokemon_go#what-rewards-do-you-get-for-participating-in-pvp-in-pokemon-go">What Rewards do you get for Participating in PvP in Pokémon GO?</a></li>
</ol>
</nav>
<h2 id="how-to-challenge-someone-to-a-pvp-battle-in-pokemon-go">How to Challenge Someone to a PvP Battle in Pokémon GO</h2>
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<div class="img"><a title="Screenshot 2018 12 07 At 11.56.24" href="http://images.nintendolife.com/4a412fc7d3c35/screenshot-2018-12-07-at-11-56-24.original.jpg"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/4a412fc7d3c35/screenshot-2018-12-07-at-11-56-24.900x.jpg" alt="Screenshot 2018 12 07 At 11.56.24" /></a></div>
</aside>
<p>It’s actually surprisingly easy to initiate a battle against a nearby opponent. All you have to do is hit the button on the bottom right of your map screen (the one beneath the research tasks button) and choose the ‘Battle’ tab.</p>
<p>You’ll then see the nearby players that you can battle. To initiate one, simply get your opponent to scan your QR code and you’re good to go.</p>
<p>If you’re either Ultra or Best Friends with your opponent, you don’t even have to be near them. That’s just one of the many perks of having friends, we guess!</p>
<p>Feeling shy? You can get some practice in against the leaders of Team Valor, Mystic, and Instinct instead. That way you can try out strategies before you test your skills against a <em>real</em> player.</p>
<h2 id="how-pvp-battles-work-in-pokemon-go">How PvP battles work in Pokémon GO</h2>
<aside class="picture strip">
<div class="img"><a title="Screenshot 2018 12 07 At 11.56.44" href="http://images.nintendolife.com/914c31027f95d/screenshot-2018-12-07-at-11-56-44.original.jpg"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/914c31027f95d/screenshot-2018-12-07-at-11-56-44.900x.jpg" alt="Screenshot 2018 12 07 At 11.56.44" /></a></div>
</aside>
<p>PvP battles are quite different from the gym and raid battles you’ve experienced so far in Pokémon GO. You pick three Pokémon, rather than the traditional six, and you can swap between them mid-battle at any point.</p>
<p>Battles remain rooted in real time though, which is good news, and you still hammer the screen to attack, unleashing your charge move when it’s, erm, <em>charged</em>. Speaking of charge moves, you now have two of them, opening up a lot more options in attack.</p>
<p>You have to unlock this second charge move on a Pokémon, when it will be selected from the pool of available moves. It costs Candy to do so, but not a lot. This feature will eventually roll out to gym and raid battles, too.</p>
<p>However, the <em>big</em> new change is Protect Shields, which you can deploy at any moment to temporarily defend against the most powerful Pokémon or attacks. You only have a limited number of these though, so you can’t just spam them and walk away with a victory.</p>
<p>PvP battles take place in a variety of different leagues too, including the Great, Ultra, and Master leagues. Aside from the Master, each league has a CP cap so you can’t just use your most powerful Pokémon and wipe the floor with everyone. Instead, you have to be smart and pick a Pokémon that you think will dominate the league with that CP cap in mind.</p>
<p>Finally, battles are timed, with the winner being the trainer with the most Pokémon left at the beginning of the battle if neither loses all Pokémon during the battle. If the number is equal, the trainer with the most HP left will win the battle instead.</p>
<h2 id="what-rewards-do-you-get-for-participating-in-pvp-in-pokemon-go">What Rewards do you get for Participating in PvP in Pokémon GO?</h2>
<p>Whether you win or lose, participate in a PvP battle in Pokémon GO and you’ll earn some Stardust and get a chance at an evolution item or Sinnoh Stone.</p>
<p>You can only get these rewards three times per day from PvP though, and only once if played against one of the AI team leaders. Of course, you’ll also make progress in the Ace Trainer medal track.</p>
<p><em>Have you been enjoying PvP battles in Pokémon GO? What’s your favourite feature? Do you have any requests for future features? Let us know in the comments section below.</em></p>
</div>
<div><div class="media_block"><a href="http://images.nintendolife.com/00d4e32bc481a/large.jpg"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/00d4e32bc481a/small.jpg" class="media_thumbnail"></a></div>
<aside class="picture strip">
<div class="img"><a title="Trainerbattles" href="http://images.nintendolife.com/00d4e32bc481a/trainerbattles.original.jpg"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/00d4e32bc481a/trainerbattles.900x.jpg" alt="Trainerbattles" /></a></div>
</aside>
<p>PvP is <em>finally</em> coming to <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/mobile/pokemon_go">Pokémon GO</a></strong>, a feature fans have been desperate for since it launched back in 2016. When it launches <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/12/pokemon_go_introduces_player_vs_player_battles_this_month_all_details_revealed">later this month</a>, you’ll be able to challenge friends and strangers alike to see who has the most powerful Pokémon. Do so and you’ll earn a bunch of new rewards and probably have a bunch of fun in the process.</p>
<p>In this guide, we’re going to explain how PvP works in Pokémon GO and what you can get for doing it. We’ll also provide a few tips and tricks here and there to help you have a much better time.</p>
<nav role="navigation" class="table-of-contents">
<h2>On this page:</h2>
<ol>
<li><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/12/guide_how_player_vs_player_trainer_battles_work_in_pokemon_go#how-to-challenge-someone-to-a-pvp-battle-in-pokemon-go">How to Challenge Someone to a PvP Battle in Pokémon GO</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/12/guide_how_player_vs_player_trainer_battles_work_in_pokemon_go#how-pvp-battles-work-in-pokemon-go">How PvP battles work in Pokémon GO</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/12/guide_how_player_vs_player_trainer_battles_work_in_pokemon_go#what-rewards-do-you-get-for-participating-in-pvp-in-pokemon-go">What Rewards do you get for Participating in PvP in Pokémon GO?</a></li>
</ol>
</nav>
<h2 id="how-to-challenge-someone-to-a-pvp-battle-in-pokemon-go">How to Challenge Someone to a PvP Battle in Pokémon GO</h2>
<aside class="picture strip">
<div class="img"><a title="Screenshot 2018 12 07 At 11.56.24" href="http://images.nintendolife.com/4a412fc7d3c35/screenshot-2018-12-07-at-11-56-24.original.jpg"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/4a412fc7d3c35/screenshot-2018-12-07-at-11-56-24.900x.jpg" alt="Screenshot 2018 12 07 At 11.56.24" /></a></div>
</aside>
<p>It’s actually surprisingly easy to initiate a battle against a nearby opponent. All you have to do is hit the button on the bottom right of your map screen (the one beneath the research tasks button) and choose the ‘Battle’ tab.</p>
<p>You’ll then see the nearby players that you can battle. To initiate one, simply get your opponent to scan your QR code and you’re good to go.</p>
<p>If you’re either Ultra or Best Friends with your opponent, you don’t even have to be near them. That’s just one of the many perks of having friends, we guess!</p>
<p>Feeling shy? You can get some practice in against the leaders of Team Valor, Mystic, and Instinct instead. That way you can try out strategies before you test your skills against a <em>real</em> player.</p>
<h2 id="how-pvp-battles-work-in-pokemon-go">How PvP battles work in Pokémon GO</h2>
<aside class="picture strip">
<div class="img"><a title="Screenshot 2018 12 07 At 11.56.44" href="http://images.nintendolife.com/914c31027f95d/screenshot-2018-12-07-at-11-56-44.original.jpg"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/914c31027f95d/screenshot-2018-12-07-at-11-56-44.900x.jpg" alt="Screenshot 2018 12 07 At 11.56.44" /></a></div>
</aside>
<p>PvP battles are quite different from the gym and raid battles you’ve experienced so far in Pokémon GO. You pick three Pokémon, rather than the traditional six, and you can swap between them mid-battle at any point.</p>
<p>Battles remain rooted in real time though, which is good news, and you still hammer the screen to attack, unleashing your charge move when it’s, erm, <em>charged</em>. Speaking of charge moves, you now have two of them, opening up a lot more options in attack.</p>
<p>You have to unlock this second charge move on a Pokémon, when it will be selected from the pool of available moves. It costs Candy to do so, but not a lot. This feature will eventually roll out to gym and raid battles, too.</p>
<p>However, the <em>big</em> new change is Protect Shields, which you can deploy at any moment to temporarily defend against the most powerful Pokémon or attacks. You only have a limited number of these though, so you can’t just spam them and walk away with a victory.</p>
<p>PvP battles take place in a variety of different leagues too, including the Great, Ultra, and Master leagues. Aside from the Master, each league has a CP cap so you can’t just use your most powerful Pokémon and wipe the floor with everyone. Instead, you have to be smart and pick a Pokémon that you think will dominate the league with that CP cap in mind.</p>
<p>Finally, battles are timed, with the winner being the trainer with the most Pokémon left at the beginning of the battle if neither loses all Pokémon during the battle. If the number is equal, the trainer with the most HP left will win the battle instead.</p>
<h2 id="what-rewards-do-you-get-for-participating-in-pvp-in-pokemon-go">What Rewards do you get for Participating in PvP in Pokémon GO?</h2>
<p>Whether you win or lose, participate in a PvP battle in Pokémon GO and you’ll earn some Stardust and get a chance at an evolution item or Sinnoh Stone.</p>
<p>You can only get these rewards three times per day from PvP though, and only once if played against one of the AI team leaders. Of course, you’ll also make progress in the Ace Trainer medal track.</p>
<p><em>Have you been enjoying PvP battles in Pokémon GO? What’s your favourite feature? Do you have any requests for future features? Let us know in the comments section below.</em></p>
</div>