Rating Battles are where the Trainers of the world battle with their favored Pokémon to decide who’s the strongest Trainer of all. After becoming a member of the Pokémon Global Link and registering your Pokémon Sun or Pokémon Moon game, you’ll be able to use the website. There will be some changes in the battle formats and methods with the update for Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon. Details below!

The three existing sets of battle rules for Rating Battles (Single, Double, Special), will be increased to four with the addition of a new set of battle rules for the Championships Battle format.

Trainers send Pokémon into battle one at a time.

Trainers send Pokémon into battle two at a time.

Each season, a set of special rules takes effect, allowing Trainers to experience a form of battle different from the usual Single or Double Battles.

In a special Season 1, which will begin November 18, this special format is anticipated to be a Single Battle format where you’ll be able to participate with Pokémon that cannot take part under other battle rules: the Legendary Pokémon Solgaleo and Lunala, the Magearna that can be obtained through the QR Scanner, the Ash-Greninja obtainable through the Special Demo Version, and others!

The new fourth set of rules will allow Trainers to play year-round using the official rules set for the Pokémon World Championships, the competition that’s held every year to decide the world’s strongest Pokémon Trainers. You’ll be able to experience the WCS2017 rules right from the start.

The main points of the Pokémon WCS 2017 rules are

• Double Battle format is limited to Pokémon that appear in the Alola Region Pokédex (excluding some Legendary and Mythical Pokémon).
• Use of Mega Stones is not allowed.
• Only Pokémon that can be obtained in Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon may be entered.

A new system being introduced to the battle time settings is “Your Time.” When using this method of time accounting, players will have a maximum of 60 seconds each turn to select a move or Pokémon, and they will also each be awarded 10 minutes of “Your Time.” Under these rules, if a player runs out of their 10 minutes before the battle ends, that player loses the match. This will mean matches can be decided more quickly than in the past, allowing players to enjoy thrilling battles.

Note: The exclusion of certain Legendary and Mythical Pokémon from Single and Double Battle regulations remains the same as in the past.

Note: In addition to the Pokémon obtainable in Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, Pokémon obtainable in Pokémon X, Pokémon Y, Pokémon Omega Ruby, and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire will also become eligible to use under the regulations for Single and Double Rating Battles for a set time after the update to Pokémon Bank in January 2017.

Note: At a later date, special rules are anticipated for Rating Battles and Live Competitions that will allow the use of Pokémon brought into Pokémon Sun or Pokémon Moon from the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console software titles Pokémon Red, Pokémon Blue, and Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition.

Global missions are limited-time events that give Trainers around the world a shared mission via Festival Plaza in Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, and they will be held at regular intervals. The theme of the first global mission will be “Catch a lot of Pokémon!” It’s expected to go live in late November. What’s it all about? Why, this mission is about catching a lot of Pokémon—regardless of their species!

The number of Pokémon needed, along with other goals to achieve, will be announced on the Pokémon Global Link immediately before the mission goes live. Keep an eye peeled for the reward you can receive for completing the mission!

On the new PGL, you’ll be able to compete in official Online Competitions as in the past, but now there’s more! A new Friendly Competition feature has been constructed that will allow you to become a competition host yourself and host original competitions where you set the regulations. Friendly Competitions allow you to hold competitions in two different styles. Recruit your friends and enjoy climactic battles!

In these Internet competitions, you'll battle other participants you’ve been matched with and compete for the best rating. These competitions can be open to Pokémon Trainers all around the world, or they can be set to only allow pre-approved Trainers to enter. When the number of participants exceeds a certain number, Pokémon ranking will also be calculated, just as in official Online Competitions.

Live Competitions allow you to host a competition where you gather together with friends and others in the same space. The Digital Player ID that contains the regulations will be created as a QR Code, and by scanning in that QR Code, participants will be able to battle according to the competition’s regulations.