Competitive Stage

Competitive Stage (Japanese: ランキングステージ Ranking Stage) is a unique kind of Special Stage in Pokémon Shuffle that usually features Mega-Evolved Pokémon. The cost per play is usually 1 Heart. In each Competitive Stage, the player battles an opponent with infinite HP, with the goal of obtaining as high a score as possible. Once the stage ends, the player's score is uploaded to the game's servers (if it beat their previous record) and compared to the scores of other players in their region (3DS) or of all other players (Mobile). Once the event period ends, the player will receive prizes based on their final ranking, potentially including a Mega Stone for the Pokémon featured in the stage. As of early 2017, some opponents have not been Mega Evolved Pokémon, such as Meloetta in Aria Forme and Shiny Rayquaza.

Competitive Stages have been both move-limited and time-limited stages. Before playing a Competitive Stage or checking the leaderboard, the player must agree to connect to the Internet. Once a connection is confirmed, the player may select Pokémon and items as usual. On the Ranking screen, which is unique to this type of stage, players can view their personal high score, current placement, and information on the five players currently on top of the leaderboard (in their region on 3DS), including the Pokémon used to acquire their score. From version 1.3 (3DS)/1.6 (Mobile) onwards, this screen was adjusted to include the Pokémon the player used to achieve their current score and the score cutoffs for each prize tier, as well as which prize tier the player is currently in.

Though the available prizes usually include a Mega Stone (or equivalent prize if the player has already obtained that specific Mega Stone), the other prizes vary. The specific prizes for each Competitive Stage are listed in the tables below. As of 2017, many recent events have used a Skill Swapper as a main prize and have included items like Mega Speedups and Raise Max Levels, offering larger numbers of the additional prizes to higher tiers of scoring.

While the Mega Stones in these competitions were initially event exclusive, some of them have since been made available via other means. For instance, Lucarionite, Charizardite Y, Absolite, Blastoisinite, Venusaurite, Blazikenite, and Swampertite have all been released using the Mission Card feature, suggesting that the competitions using these stones may not be rerun or, if rerun, would include a different reward. Other Mega Stone rewards from competitive stages, as of May 2017, remain exclusive to those competitions.

3DS
So far, there have been fifteen unique timed Competitive Stages. Only the initial events for each featured Mega Pokémon have been time-limited stages, though not every Mega Pokémon debuted with a timed stage. Timed stages usually only have the Complexity -1 and Disruption Delay available, with the Attack Power ↑ item also being available starting with Mega Manectric's stage. However, the Disruption Delay item was not available for the Mega Gardevoir stage.

In the update to v1.2.0, updates were made to detect cheating in Competitive Stage submissions in light of scores submitted during the Mega Banette competition.

Other prizes
Every timed event starting with Mega Manectric's has also given a Mega Speedup as a bonus prize for scoring a very high score and placing in a much smaller range at the top of the leaderboard. The rewards given had additional variations in later competitions. They are all listed as follows:


 * Mega Manectric


 * Mega Blaziken


 * Mega Garchomp


 * Mega Sharpedo


 * Mega Charizard Y


 * Mega Absol


 * Mega Gardevoir


 * Mega Steelix


 * Mega Swampert


 * Mega Abomasnow


 * Mega Charizard X


 * Rayquaza

Mobile
In Pokémon Shuffle Mobile, the first Competitive Stage was Mega Charizard Y, which ran at the same time as the one on the 3DS version. Rankings were determined separately from the 3DS version, but were not divided by region.

Other prizes
In the Mobile version, a consolation prize was offered in addition to the Jewel received for players who were close enough to the initial ranking.


 * Mega Charizard Y

3DS
So far, move-limited Competitive Stages have featured twenty different Mega Evolved Pokémon, with one Mega Stone being available for each. Though the event stages featuring and  have only appeared as move-limited stages, many of these stages have only appeared as repeats. The ranking range is generally increased for repeat stages, allowing more players the opportunity to place and obtain the Mega Stone prize. The available for use tend to vary with the stage.

The Competitive Stage featuring Mega Sceptile was the first stage to use the Fast Match stage type, a variant of move-limited stages where every match in a combo receives a 1.5x multiplier if a match is made within a few seconds of the stage starting or the previous combo ending. To date, only Competitive Stages have used this stage type.

The Competitive Stage featuring Shiny Mega Gyarados introduced the first Type-restricted stage.

In some events, if the player already has the primary prize (usually a Mega Stone), they will receive an alternate prize instead.

Other prizes
Starting with Mega Venusaur's repeat stage, additional prizes have been available like with timed events. The rewards were as follows:

Players who already have a Lucarionite receive 2 Jewels instead.
 * Mega Lucario (2015)

Players who already have a Lucarionite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Lucario (2018)

Players who already have a Venusaurite receive 1 Jewel instead.
 * Mega Venusaur

Players who already have a Banettite receive 1 Jewel instead.
 * Mega Banette (2015)

Players who already have a Banettite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Banette (2016)

Players who already have a Banettite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Banette (2017)

Players who already have a Manectite receive 1 Jewel instead.
 * Mega Manectric (2015)

Players who already have a Manectite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Manectric (2016)

Players who already have a Manectite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Manectric (2017)

Players who already have a Garchompite receive 1 Jewel instead.
 * Mega Garchomp (2015)

Players who already have a Garchompite receive 1 Raise Max Level instead.
 * Mega Garchomp (2016)

Players who already have a Meteorite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Garchomp (2017)

Players who already have a Sharpedonite receive 1 Jewel instead.
 * Mega Sharpedo (Jan 2016)

Players who already have a Sharpedonite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Sharpedo (Nov 2016)

Players who already have a Charizardite Y receive 1 Jewel instead.
 * Mega Charizard Y

Players who already have an Absolite receive 1 Jewel instead.
 * Mega Absol


 * Mega Sceptile

Players who already have a Blazikenite receive 1 Mega Speedup instead.
 * Mega Blaziken

Players who already have a Swampertite receive 1 Mega Speedup instead.
 * Mega Swampert

Players who already have an Abomasite receive 1 Raise Max Level instead.
 * Mega Abomasnow (May 2016)

Players who already have a Sharpedonite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Abomasnow (Dec 2016)

Players who already have a Gardevoirite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Gardevoir (2016)

Players who already have a Gardevoirite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Gardevoir (2017)


 * Mega Gyarados (2016)

Players who already have a Gyaradosite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Gyarados (2017)

Players who already have a Steelixite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Steelix (2016)

Players who already have an Steelixite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Steelix (2017)

Players who already have a Charizardite X receive 1 Raise Max Level instead.
 * Mega Charizard X (2016)

Players who already have a Charizardite X receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Charizard X (2017)


 * Mega Alakazam (2016)

Players who already have an Alakazite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Alakazam (2017)


 * Mega Beedrill (2016)

Players who already have a Beedrillite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Beedrill (Aug 2017)

Players who already have a Beedrillite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Beedrill (Dec 2017)


 * Mega Pidgeot


 * Mega Camerupt (2016)

Players who already have a Cameruptite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Camerupt (2017)

Players who already have a Mewtwonite X receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Mewtwo X


 * Mega Houndoom (Jan 2017)

Players who already have a Houndoominite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Houndoom (Apr 2017)

Players who already have a Meteorite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Shiny Mega Rayquaza (Feb 2017)

Players who already have a Meteorite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Shiny Mega Rayquaza (Jul 2017)


 * Meloetta (Aria Forme)


 * Hoopa (Hoopa Unbound)


 * Decidueye


 * Incineroar


 * Primarina

Players who already have a Gyaradosite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Shiny Mega Gyarados

Players who already have a Tyranitarite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Shiny Mega Tyranitar

Players who already have a Mewtwonite X receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Shiny Mega Mewtwo X (2017)


 * Zygarde (Complete Forme)

Players who already have a Gardevoirite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Shiny Mega Gardevoir


 * Kyurem

Players who already have a Charizardite X receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Shiny Mega Charizard X

Players who already have a Salamencite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Salamence

Mobile
In Pokémon Shuffle Mobile, the first move-limited Competitive Stage was Mega Manectric. Unlike the 3DS version, almost all Competitive Stages are move-limited stages. Mega Venusaur was the first stage released as a Fast Match stage in the Mobile version, a Competitive Stage-exclusive limited-move format that multiplies every match in a combo by 1.5 if a match is made within a few seconds of the stage beginning or a combo ending. This format comes irregularly.

Mega Lucario's stage did not allow items and required 2 Hearts per play.

In some events, if the player already has the primary prize (usually a Mega Stone), they will receive an alternate prize instead.

Other prizes
In the Mobile version, a consolation prize was offered in addition to the Jewel received for players who were close enough to the initial ranking, along with bonus prizes. The types and amounts of prizes were adjusted over time, and are listed as follows:


 * Mega Manectric (2015)

Players who already have a Manectite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Manectric (2016)

Players who already have a Manectite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Manectric (2017)

Players who had already a Lucarionite receive 1 Jewel instead.
 * Mega Lucario (2015)

Players who already have a Lucarionite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Lucario (2018)


 * Mega Garchomp (2015)

Players who already have a Manectite receive 1 Raise Max Level instead.
 * Mega Garchomp (2016)

Players who already have a Meteorite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Garchomp (2017)


 * Mega Banette (Jan 2016)

Players who already have a Banettite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Banette (Oct 2016)

Players who already have a Banettite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Banette (2017)


 * Mega Sharpedo (Jan 2016)

Players who already have a Sharpedonite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Sharpedo (Nov 2016)


 * Mega Blastoise


 * Mega Venusaur

Players who already have a Charizardite Y receive 1 Jewel instead.
 * Mega Charizard Y


 * Mega Absol


 * Mega Sceptile


 * Mega Blaziken


 * Mega Swampert


 * Mega Abomasnow (May 2016)

Players who already have a Sharpedonite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Abomasnow (Dec 2016)


 * Mega Gardevoir (2016)

Players who already have a Gardevoirite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Gardevoir (2017)


 * Mega Gyarados (2016)

Players who already have a Gyaradosite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Gyarados (2017)


 * Mega Steelix (2016)

Players who already have an Steelixite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Steelix (2017)


 * Mega Charizard X (2016)

Players who already have a Charizardite X receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Charizard X (2017)


 * Mega Alakazam (2016)

Players who already have an Alakazite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Alakazam (2017)


 * Mega Beedrill (2016)

Players who already have a Beedrillite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Beedrill (Aug 2017)

Players who already have a Beedrillite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Beedrill (Dec 2017)


 * Mega Pidgeot


 * Mega Camerupt (2016)

Players who already have an Cameruptite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Camerupt (2017)


 * Rayquaza

Players who already have a Mewtwonite X receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Mewtwo X


 * Mega Houndoom (Jan 2017)

Players who already have a Houndoominite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Houndoom (Apr 2017)

Players who already have a Meteorite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Shiny Mega Rayquaza (Feb 2017)

Players who already have a Meteorite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Shiny Mega Rayquaza (Jul 2017)


 * Meloetta (Aria Forme)


 * Hoopa (Hoopa Unbound)


 * Decidueye


 * Incineroar


 * Primarina

Players who already have a Gyaradosite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Shiny Mega Gyarados

Players who already have a Tyranitarite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Shiny Mega Tyranitar

Players who already have a Mewtwonite X receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Shiny Mega Mewtwo X


 * Zygarde (Complete Forme)

Players who already have a Gardevoirite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Shiny Mega Gardevoir

Players who already have a Charizardite X receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Shiny Mega Charizard X

Players who already have a Salamencite receive 1 Level Up instead.
 * Mega Salamence