Rule variants

Rule variants are different sets of regulations players have to follow when engaging in Pokémon battles. Rule variants typically restrict the species, levels, items, and moves of, or place time limits on battles.

Rules are employed in official settings (such as in-game content and officially organized tournaments), as well as unofficial settings.

Rules
While normally banning unreleased and/or illegitimate Pokémon, moves, items, and Abilities, there are other sets of rules set to be followed by players in varying contexts, may they be official or otherwise.

Most rule variants employ certain restrictions, which are known as clauses in the fandom. The following clauses have seen considerable usage:


 * Species clause: Each Pokémon on a player's team must be of different species or National Pokédex number.
 * Item clause: Each Pokémon on a player's team must be holding different items.
 * Self-KO clause: The player automatically loses if his last Pokémon uses or .  and  also fail when used by the last Pokémon.
 * Event clause: Pokémon and items that have only been released through events, such as, are ineligible. This is often unheard of due to the Pokémon (and sometimes items) banned being specified.
 * Sleep clause: Each player can only have one Pokémon asleep at a time (Pokémon that are put to sleep due to do not count).
 * Freeze clause: Each player can only have one Pokémon frozen at a time.
 * Evasion clause:, , BrightPowder, and Lax Incense are banned. This is sometimes expanded to include less direct measures to increase evasion, such as , , , and.
 * One-hit KO clause:, , , and are banned.
 * Sleep trapping clause: Followed mainly in Generation II competitive play, -inducing moves cannot be used in conjunction with moves that trap the opposing Pokémon, such as.

There are other rules normally followed only by official tournaments, such as:
 * No two or more Pokémon can have the same nickname.
 * Pokémon cannot be nicknamed with the name of another Pokémon (e.g. an named "Pidove" or "Arbok").

In addition, official Generation V tournaments have required the use of the feature introduced by.

Tiers
In unofficial multiplayer play, Pokémon are typically divided into tiers. A Pokémon's tier placing depends on several factors, including its base stats, type, Abilities, movepool, and usage.

Tiers also serve as banlists. Battles take place according to tier, with all Pokémon in a higher tier banned. In the most common metagame, the Standard or Overused metagame, all Pokémon in the Uber tier are banned. In the Underused metagame, all Pokémon in the Borderline or higher tiers are banned.

As a variation of tiers, in certain communities, players are only allowed to use a maximum of one Pokémon out of a select group of Pokémon. This group of Pokémon is usually limited to and pseudo-legendary Pokémon.

Pokémon Stadium (Japanese)
The game, which was only released in Japan on August 1, 1998,  features a tournament mode with two divisions: the L1-30 division, based on Nintendo Cup '98, and the L50-55 division, based on Nintendo Cup '99. The finalists from the Nintendo Cup '97 appear as opponents in the L50-55 Division.

Each division features a set of rules that would become standard for all console games:
 * The species, self-KO, sleep, and freeze clauses are in effect.
 * Both teams are shown before the battle, and each player must select three Pokémon to battle.

The game also features a Free Battle mode where players can customize the rules.

Pokémon Yellow
The Cable Club in Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue feature no rule regulations. However, features an exclusive battle arena, Colosseum 2, with three Cups.

Each player can only use three Pokémon, and no additional rules are in effect, with the exception of level limitations. These Cups would later be used in the international 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 and future international tournaments.

Pokémon Stadium


The second Pokémon Stadium game, which was released internationally as 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, features tournaments called Stadium Cups.

All versions of Pokémon Stadium featured the Pika and Petit Cups from Pokémon Yellow Version's Colosseum 2, along with the Prime Cup, a no-holds barred tournament based on the normal Cable Club battles.

The Japanese version, known as Pokémon Stadium 2, also features three Nintendo Cups based on the first three Japanese tournaments, Nintendo Cups '97, '98, and '99. In-game representatives of its real-life participants appear as opponents in Nintendo Cup '98, while Nintendo Cup '99 and the Prime Cup each have four divisions. All three cups follow the species, self-KO, sleep, freeze, and event clauses.

In the international versions, the Nintendo Cups were replaced with the Poké Cup from Yellow's Colosseum 2. The Poké Cup features the four divisions and the arena of Nintendo Cup '99. All four Cups follow the species, self-KO, sleep, and freeze clauses, while only the Pika and Poké Cups follow the event clause.

Pokémon Stadium also introduced a Gym Leader Castle, where the player has to defeat the eight Gym Leaders and the Elite Four of the Generation I games. While the Castle features no level restrictions, all of the opposing Pokémon will be at level 50 by default. If the player uses a higher leveled Pokémon, all of the opponents' Pokémon would be at the same level as the player's highest-leveled Pokémon. A similar auto-leveling feature would appear in the battling facilities such as the Generation III Battle Frontier. The Castle features the same clauses as the Stadium Cups.

Pokémon Stadium was also the first Pokémon game that allowed more than two players to battle at a time. Up to four players can compete in the Free Battle mode; if two players are on a team, each player can only select and control three Pokémon. A similar mode of play, Multi Battle, was introduced in the Generation III main series games.

Nintendo Cup '97
A series of annual tournaments sponsored by Nintendo began in 1997, taking place in various locations across Japan. These tournaments, which would later be referred to as Nintendo Cups in the Japanese version of the Pokémon Stadium series, established the first set of rule variants that would pave the way for future tournaments and Pokémon games.

In the first of these tournaments, Nintendo Cup '97, Full Battles did not take place due to time constraints. Instead, each player selected three Pokémon to battle after showing their party of six to their opponent.

The finalists in the tournament appeared as opponents in the 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Japanese Pokémon Stadium games released. In addition, most of the Pokémon that appeared in Pokémon Stadium were selected due to their tournament performance.

Nintendo Cup '98
In Nintendo Cup '98, which made use of the newly released game, only Pokémon that were available in the said game were allowed to participate, limiting the selection to only a few Pokémon.

Nintendo Cup '99
Nintendo Cup '99 combined aspects from the previous two tournaments.

In addition to the legendary Pokémon and, the Pokémon used by the finalists in Nintendo Cup '98 were also banned from the tournament.

???
A North American tournament was held during the Pokémon 2000 Stadium Tour, which took place to promote 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿. Competitors were separated into three skill groups: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. Each skill group featured three divisions from Pokémon Stadium: the Pika Cup, Poké Cup, and the Prime Cup.

Pokémon 2000 World Championship
Thunder for Down Under, a worldwide qualifier, took place in North America, 2000. In this tournament, players from Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States all competed in regional championships, with the winners heading for the Pokémon 2000 World Championship, the first Pokémon World Championship, in Sydney, Australia.

Pokémon Stadium 2
The final Pokémon Stadium game, Pokémon Stadium 2, features four Stadium Cups. The Poké and Prime Cups returned from the original; however, the Prime Cup only had one division. The Little Cup and the Challenge Cup were added, with the latter featuring four divisions. The moves and  are banned in the Little Cup, making it the first rule variant to prohibit certain moves. In the game, players can customize and save various sets of rules. Still, all cups follow the species, item, self-KO, sleep, and freeze clauses; only the Prime Cup follows the event clause. With a total limit of 155, only the Poké Cup has a total level limit.

Pokémon Crystal
introduced the first, a special battling facility. The Battle Tower's rules are similar to Pokémon Stadium's, and this was later followed by future Battle Towers:
 * Players must select three different Pokémon to battle.
 * All Pokémon must be holding different items.

A change from the Pokémon Stadium games, a draw will end the player's streak, even if the opponent's Pokémon causes the draw with a move such as Explosion. Also, items cannot be used from the Bag.

Unlike future Battle Towers, event Pokémon can be used in the level 70 and higher divisions.

Nintendo Cup 2000


In Japan, a fourth tournament for a Pokémon game, Nintendo Cup 2000, was held using. Similar to Nintendo Cup '97, the tournament took place using Pokémon from levels 50-55, with a total limit of 155.

Mobile Cup 2001


Mobile Cup 2001, was a tournament with 1000 players that used the Pokémon Mobile System GB, a feature exclusive only to Japanese games.

Each battle had a ten-minute time limit; if a decision was not made by that time, tournament officials would decide the outcome. Unlike previous tournaments, there were no limits on the number of Pokémon that could be asleep or frozen or moves that the last Pokémon could use.

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire
introduced Double Battles, where each player battles with two Pokémon at a time. In Double Battles, certain attacks affect multiple Pokémon and certain Abilities, such as and, only take effect in Double Battles. This format has been used in almost every tournament since the one held in Pokémon Festa 2004 and is the main format in the story modes of Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness.

In the Cable Club, four players can play a Double Battle variant called the Multi Battle. Similar to Pokémon Stadium, each player can only select and control three Pokémon at a time.

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire featured a similar to. However, only two divisions are available: the Level 50 and the Level 100 division. Also, Double Battles can not be conducted.

Pokémon Colosseum
In Pokémon Colosseum, the Stadium Cups were replaced with Colosseums. While the general clauses remain from the Pokémon Stadium series, the Colosseums have no special rules in place, with the exception of level divisions. Each Colosseum can be challenged in a single or Double Battle format.

Pokémon Colosseum also introduced Poké Coupons, which are rewarded to the player upon completing portions of Mt. Battle. Poké Coupons can be traded in for various TMs or items; however, the player receives a 15% penalty for each legendary Pokémon used.

Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen
In these games, a Battle Tower is not present; instead, Trainer Tower took its place.

While the Battle Tower values winning streaks, Trainer Tower prioritizes speed. In the Japanese version, players can scan e-Cards to change the floor layouts; in international versions, the e-Reader support was removed, and many of the card layouts were incorporated into the Tower.

Trainer Tower features four modes of play: Singles, Doubles, Knockout, and Mixed. In a Knockout Battle, the player has to defeat three Trainers in a single battle consecutively. The Mixed mode incorporates battles from the other three layouts.

Unlike the Battle Tower, no clauses are in effect, items can be used from the Bag, and the player can interrupt their challenge to use the Pokémon Center in the lobby at any time.

In addition, a special battle format is present in the Union Room. Each Trainer can select two Pokémon up to Level 30 in a Single Battle format.

Pokémon Emerald
Pokémon Emerald introduced the first. In addition to the Battle Tower, it features six other facilities with special rules, similar to the Stadium Cups.

Each facility can be challenged in a Single Battle or a Double Battle format. In addition, two players can team up in a Multi Battle format, where each player can control two Pokémon at a time. Players can battle in a Level 50 division or an Open Level division where all of the opponent's Pokémon will be at the same level as the player's highest-leveled Pokémon.

Unlike the previous Battle Tower, players do not receive items after winning a streak. Instead, players receive Battle Points. Like Poké Coupons, Battle Points can be saved and traded in for certain items or moves; however, there is no penalty for using legendary Pokémon.

Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness
Unlike, does not feature a Battle Mode. However, after completing the game, the player may challenge the Orre Colosseum, which has similar regulations to the Colosseums in Battle Mode.

Like almost all of the battles in the game, the Colosseum uses the Double Battle format.

???
The first tournament of Generation III took place during Pokémon Festa 2003. Unlike previous Japanese tournaments, two divisions were available: a Level 50 and a Level 100 Division. The tournament used the Single Battle format, and only Pokémon from the Hoenn Pokédex could be used.

???
The following tournament took place at Pokémon Festa 2004. This tournament used the Double Battle format. Unlike single battles, each player selected four Pokémon for battle. In addition to the previous rules, new restrictions were placed on nicknames: no vulgarities are to be used nor any Pokémon could be named after another Pokémon (e.g. a Smeargle nicknamed "KYOGRE").

As were released earlier that year, almost all of the Pokémon in the National Pokédex were available for use.

???
The tournament of Pokémon Festa 2005 featured nearly identical restrictions; however, and  were also banned.

Pokémon Masters 2005
, Pokémon Masters 2005 was organized by French fansites and sponsored by the likes of Nintendo and Bandai.

Pokémon Emerald Ultimate Frontier Brain Battle
A small competition called the Pokémon Emerald Ultimate Frontier Brain Battle took place in 2005 to commemorate the international release of.

The tournament used the Single Battle format. Unlike other Generation III tournaments, all items were banned.

???
Following the Pokémon Emerald Ultimate Frontier Brain Battle, another North American tournament took place during the Journey Across America tour in 2006 commemorating Pokémon's 10th anniversary.

The rules were similar to the Pokémon Festa 2004 rules; however, only event Pokémon were banned.

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl
In, six Cups were introduced for wireless battles in the Pokémon Colosseum Club Colosseum, many of which are similar to those in the Pokémon Stadium series. In addition, players can set the levels of all Pokémon to 50 or 100 during Wi-Fi battles.

Mix Battles were also introduced, wherein players swap one Pokémon with each other from a team of three, then battle.

Unlike Pokémon Emerald, Diamond and Pearl does not have a Battle Frontier, only a. In addition, a level cap of 50 is established.

Pokémon Battle Revolution
Colosseums made their return in Pokémon Battle Revolution; however, like the Stadium Cups, each Colosseum features a special rule. Each battle takes place in a Level 30 or a Level 50 mode, and can eventually be challenged in a Single or a Double Battle format. Players may use Rental Passes or Custom Passes in any Colosseum except for the Gateway Colosseum, which restricts the player to Rental Passes.

Under Colosseum battles, the sleep, freeze, species, item, and self-KO clauses are followed.

In addition, Pokémon Battle Revolution features a mode of online play against random players, a system that eventually carried on to Pokémon Black and White. Battles can be conducted in a single or Double Battle format, with each player selecting three or four Pokémon before battle. All Pokémon are set to level 50, Pokémon nicknames are not used, and Trainer quotes are set to default. Other than that, there are no further restrictions.

Pokémon Platinum
As with Pokémon Emerald, a new incorporated the Battle Tower and added four other battle facilities: the Battle Factory, Battle Arcade, Battle Castle, and Battle Hall. Each facility has a set of rules to be followed, all depending on the format of battle selected.

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
Flat Battle mode was introduced in HeartGold and SoulSilver at the Pokémon Communication Club Colosseum. Regardless of rule set, all Pokémon are set to level 50 for the duration of the battle. The exact same Battle Frontier from Pokémon Platinum also made a return.

???
The first tournament for Generation IV took place in Pokémon Festa 2006, wherein Pokémon only found in the original Sinnoh Pokédex were eligible. No Pokémon are allowed to hold Soul Dew, which remained a banned item throughout all Generation IV competitions from 2006 to 2010.

???
The Pokémon Festa 2007 tournament featured similar rules; however, Pokémon outside of the Sinnoh Pokédex were eligible.

Pokémon Video Game Showdown 2008
The Pokémon Video Game Showdown 2008 took place in the in-game Double Cup. For the first time it implemented the Junior and Senior age divisions on Pokémon Video Game tournaments that were originally from the TCG tournaments, so younger players would have a fairer chance on competition.

Pokémon Video Game Championships 2009
In 2009, the Pokémon Video Game Championships were included in the yearly Pokémon World Championships, which previously only featured the TCG. In the Video Game World Championships for 2009, players could only use, and the alternate forms introduced in Platinum were ineligible. The Double Cup rules were reinstated.

Pokémon Video Game Championships 2010
In 2010, powerful legendary Pokémon such as were allowed once again in the 2010 World Championships. These Pokémon, referred to as special Pokémon, were limited to two per battle, but four were allowed per team. Event-only Pokémon such as were still banned.

The tournament used only, and the rules followed the GS Cup rule set found in Flat Battle mode. All Pokémon above level 50 were leveled down to 50, while Pokémon below level 50 will retain their levels. Also, Pokémon that evolve at levels above 50 like and  could compete. While Item Clause was in effect, players could switch items between Pokemon in-between games.

Pokémon Black and White
introduced Triple Battles, Rotation Battles, and the Wonder Launcher were introduced, the last of which is only available on multiplayer. As with the introduction of Double Battles, these introduced a new set of rules to be followed when battling under these formats.

Black and White also brought about the Pokémon Global Link, with the Global Battle Union alongside it. Accessible in Pokémon Centers is the new Random Matchup mode wherein players may face random opponents over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection without Friend Codes. Any type of battle may be selected. Random Matchup follows its own set of rules for every format available, which updates at times. It also presents a ranking system, with worldwide ranks available on the Global Battle Union section of the Global Link.

Global Battle Union tournaments
The Global Battle Union hosts its own tournaments via the Battle Competition option on the game menu, and acts similarly to Random Matchup. These tournaments are participated entirely through Wi-Fi connection, and randomly match the player with an opponent. Players are not eliminated, but instead lose points for losing. Each tournament can be joined by anyone with the appropriate region set on their accounts on the Global Link if there is space, and these tournaments each have their own set of rules. All Pokémon used must be placed in the.

Pokémon Video Game Championships 2011
The 2011 Video Game Championships became the venue for the first Generation V tournament. As with the first tournaments of Generation III and Generation IV, only Pokémon in the Unova Pokédex may be used. The tournament continued to use the Double Battle format, and due to a glitch was banned in this format.

Pokémon Video Game Championships 2012
For the Pokémon Video Game Championships 2012, all Pokémon from the National Pokédex may be used rather than only those in the Unova Pokédex, but there are still some banned Pokémon. Most of the rules remain unchanged from the previous year, with the only difference with being banned.

Exernal links

 * International Pokémon Video Game Championships website
 * List of Nintendo Cup 2000 finalists
 * List of official battle rules (Japanese)
 * Pokémon Festa 2004 Finals
 * Pokémon Festa 2005 Finals
 * Pokémon Festa 2006 Finals
 * Video Game Championship 2010 Finals
 * Smogon's Introduction to Competitive Play

Règles