Pokemon Scarlet & Violet online Battle Stadium explained: Casual & Ranked Battles

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet players can enter the Battle Stadium and enjoy Casual Battles and Ranked Battles with players from around the world. So we’ve provided a full explainer of what you need to know and do.

Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet players with an active Nintendo Switch Online membership can access the Battle Stadium where they can challenge players from around the world to battle.

Following the release of Pokémon Legends Arceus and Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shinning Pearl, online play has taken a backseat. Luckily, fans who love the battling aspect of Pokemon games will be delighted that competitive play has returned to the spotlight in Scarlet and Violet.

Here’s what you need to know to prepare for exciting online battles in the Paldea region using the Battle Stadium.

• Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Casual Battles
• Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Ranked Battles
• What are Rental Teams in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet?
• Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Battle Series 2 Season 3
• How to check Scarlet & Violet Ranked Battle data with Pokemon Home

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Casual Battles

Casual Battles allow players to engage in low-stakes contests that do not count toward any record or achievement. There are very few restrictions in this Battle Stadium mode, and there is a lot of flexibility to let players use any Pokemon they wish.

Intense competitive play is certainly not for every Pokemon fan. Given the depth of strategy required with new Scarlet and Violet Pokemon, items, and abilities in the mix, top players can truly punish the inexperienced.

Not to mention there’s no making up for the major advantage that comes with the knowledge of IVs and EVs, also known as hidden stats, which casual players simply don’t possess. This makes Casual Battles perfect for new players honing their skills or anyone looking to test out new strategies.

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Ranked Battles

Ranked Battles are perfect for players who can’t get enough of Pokemon battles and want the most intense experiences possible. Each trainer will be given a rank from the lowest Beginner Tier to the highest Master Ball Tier rank.

Your rank will move up and down depending on your Scarlet and Violet Ranked Battles results. For example, more wins than losses will help you move up the ranks, but if you go on a significant losing streak, then your rank will plummet.

Ranked Battles are great because they allow you to test your skills against opponents of the same tier, all while allowing you to move up the ranks. This section of the Battle Stadium will have a refined ruleset that players must follow in terms of which Pokemon and items they are allowed to use.

Official Competitions​

Aside from Ranked Battles, you’ll also be able to participate in Official Competitions. These special events will have their own specific ruleset and players will attempt to finish as high in the rankings as they can.

Friendly Competitions​

This type of battle format will allow you to join a competition that is set up by other trainers. In addition, you can also set up your own competition that other players can join.

What are Rental Teams in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet?

Rental Teams are perfect for trainers who want to enjoy competitive play in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, but simply don’t have the time to catch and train their Pokemon into top-tier battling shape.

Scarlet and Violet players will be able to input Battle Team IDs that have been shared online, to gain access to Rental Teams. This will essentially allow all players to join in on the Battle Stadium fun.

If you’re one of the adept players who enjoy crafting their own teams to perfection, then you’ll be able to share your own Battle Team with other trainers around the world for them to use.

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Ranked Battle Series 2 Season 3

The Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Battle Series 2 Season 3 will take place from February 1 to March 31. The devs have the opportunity to make adjustments to the rules with each new Season.

In Season 3, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet players are finally able to use Paradox Pokemon in Ranked Battles. Previously these Pokemon had been banned in Ranked Battles since launch.

Legendary Pokemon like Koraidon and Miraidon, as well as the Ruinous Quartet, remain banned.

How to check Scarlet & Violet Ranked Battle data with Pokemon Home

Serebii Update: The Pokémon HOME maintenance is over and the new features are now live in appDetails on all the new features are being added @ https://t.co/gDbXkHT3ar pic.twitter.com/xLOqW5hiqs

— Serebii.net (@SerebiiNet) February 1, 2023

Thanks to a February 1, 2023 update to Pokemon Home, Scarlet and Violet players can now use the application to analyze their battle data.

Not only can you check out data from your previous battles, but players will have access to data showing the game’s top players, items, movesets, teams, abilities, and Tera Types. This should be a huge help when getting your team in battle-ready shape.

To check your Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Battle data with Pokemon Home, you simply need to link your Scarlet and Violet account to your Pokemon Home application.

Unfortunately, players still can’t use Pokemon Home to transfer Pokemon from Scarlet and Violet as connectivity is set for release in Spring.

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If you want a ton of other useful Pokemon Scarlet & Violet guides to help you on your quest, then check out everything below:

How to get Gimmighoul Roaming Form in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet | Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Tera Raid Battles explained | Every new Pokemon in Scarlet & Violet | How many Pokemon are there? | Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Terastal Phenomenon explained | How to catch Shiny Pokemon in Scarlet & Violet | How does EXP Share work in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet? | How to catch all Legendaries in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

Image Credit: The Pokemon Company / Game Freak