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In Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet, Battle Stadium is the in-game hub for online Casual Battles, Ranked Battle, Online Competitions, and borrowed Rental Teams. You need Nintendo Switch Online to use its online features. Scarlet/Violet Ranked Battle has reached its final season: Season 41 follows Regulation Set I until service ends, with no final monthly rankings or ranking-based rewards. Nintendo’s setup guide explains how to connect, while The Pokémon Company’s Season 41 notice gives the current ladder status.
How to access Battle Stadium
Open Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet, connect to the internet, then open the in-game menu and choose Poké Portal > Battle Stadium. Nintendo Switch Online is required for online play. The exact connection and multiplayer setup steps are in Nintendo’s Scarlet/Violet online multiplayer instructions.
Battle Stadium offers several distinct ways to play. Choose Casual for lower-stakes battles, Ranked to climb the ladder while it remains available, Online Competitions for event-specific rules, or Rental Teams to borrow another player’s Battle Team.
Which Battle Stadium mode should you choose?
| Mode | What it does | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Casual Battles | Online battles that do not record wins and losses, according to the official feature description. | Trying a team, learning online battles, or running a team check. |
| Ranked Battle | A rank ladder where results affect your rank and matchmaking pairs you with players of similar rank. | Structured ladder play. Season 41 is the final Scarlet/Violet season. |
| Online Competitions | Official events with special rules, plus Friendly Competitions players can host or join. | Playing under a particular event’s schedule and rules. |
| Rental Teams | Borrow a Battle Team by entering an ID shared by its author; players can also publish their own teams. | Trying a ready-made team without building every Pokémon yourself. |
Mode descriptions are from The Pokémon Company’s Scarlet/Violet Battle Stadium feature page and the official Season 41 notice.
#1 Best Overall
- New Pokémon to Discover - Learn new details about Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly—the three Pokémon from which you’ll choose your first partner—along with other wonderful new Pokémon, including the Legendary Pokémon Koraidon and Miraidon!
- The World of Pokémon Has Evolved - Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet offer an open-world experience that only the Pokémon series can deliver—one welcoming even to newcomers to the series.
- You can experience a new style of adventure, with a world that you’re free to explore at your leisure and not in an order dictated by the story. You will, of course, journey to hone your skills as a Pokémon Trainer, but many more discoveries and stories await you. Meet a variety of people and Pokémon, and adventure in the world of Pokémon the way you want to.
- A Deeper Experience with Multiplayer* Gameplay - Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet allow multiplayer gameplay with up to four players. Along with series staples, such as trading and battling Pokémon, you will be able to explore the various locations of the region in these games with other players. You can discover new Pokémon and explore unfamiliar areas with your friends and family, opening the door to an adventure more precious and fun than ever!
- Meet the characters - As one of the main characters, you’ll set off on your adventure. Your outfit will vary depending on whether you play Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet. Who knows what kind of story awaits you? For the first time in the series, one of two different professors will appear in your game depending on the version you choose to play.
Casual Battles: practice without a recorded win-loss record
Casual Battles are the practical starting point if you want to test a team or learn the flow of online play without adding wins and losses to a record. They can also be used as an electronic team legality check in the context of sanctioned VGC: the 2026 Play! Pokémon handbook describes running a Scarlet/Violet Battle Team through a Battle Stadium Casual Battle for that purpose. This check does not turn a ladder battle into a tournament, and event rules still govern sanctioned play. See the Play! Pokémon Video Game Tournament Handbook for its competition requirements.
Ranked Battle: Season 41 is the final season
As of October 8, 2026, Season 41 is the final Ranked Battles season for Scarlet and Violet. It follows Regulation Set I until service ends. The Pokémon Company says there will be no final monthly rankings or ranking-based rewards for this season. Check the official Season 41 notice for service and season information; those details can change.
Rank #2
- If you purchase either the physical or digital double pack, you will receive a 200 Poké Ball bonus via download codes* that can be entered in the Mystery Gift** feature in your game!
- The packaged version of the double pack includes 1 physical Pokémon Scarlet game and 1 physical Pokémon Violet game
- Catch, battle, and train Pokémon in the Paldea Region, a vast land filled with lakes, towering peaks, wastelands, small towns, and sprawling cities
- Choose either Sprigatito, Fuecoco, or Quaxly, to be your first partner Pokémon before setting off on your journey through Paldea
Regulation Set I rules
Regulation Set I began January 5, 2026, and is listed as continuing until service ends. It determines which Pokémon are eligible for this Ranked format; its published list includes eligible Pokémon from Scarlet/Violet and The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, as well as eligible Pokémon transferred from Pokémon HOME, subject to exclusions. Rather than rely on an old team list, confirm each Pokémon against the official Regulation Set I eligibility list before registering.
- Pokémon are set to Lv. 50 for battles.
- Duplicate held items are prohibited.
- A Battle Team may include no more than two of the restricted special Pokémon named in the regulation.
- The current notice lists a 20-minute total time, 7-minute player time, 45-second turn time, and 90-second preview time.
These are Regulation Set I rules, not permanent constants for every Scarlet/Violet battle or tournament. The Pokémon Company explains that “Regulations define the rules followed by Trainers around the world during Ranked Battles and official Online Competitions.” Read the full Regulation Set I notice for the eligible roster and its restrictions.
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- Embark on a new Pokémon adventure
- Catch, battle, and train Pokémon in the Paldea Region, a vast land filled with lakes, towering peaks, wastelands, small towns, and sprawling cities.
- Choose either Sprigatito, Fuecoco, or Quaxly, to be your first partner Pokémon before setting off on your journey through Paldea.
- Embark on an independent study called the Treasure Hunt to gain new experiences, meet new people, and find your very own treasure.
Rental Teams: how to find one that suits you
A Rental Team is an in-game borrowed Battle Team. Enter a team ID shared online to use it; the feature also lets players publish their own teams for others. The feature description explains the borrowing and publishing system, but does not provide a current recommended-code catalog or verified team win rates. Rental codes and legality can change, so a code described as “best” without current evaluation is not a reliable recommendation.
Check a rental before you commit
- Confirm the code works. Rental codes are published by individual players and may no longer be available.
- Match the format. Check whether the team is built for Singles or Doubles and whether that matches the battle or event you plan to enter.
- Check legality. Compare its Pokémon and restrictions with the regulation currently in effect for your chosen format.
- Read the author’s notes. If provided, look for lead choices, common matchups, win conditions, and when to Terastallize.
- Pick a team you can pilot. A strong team can still be difficult to use if its decisions and game plan are unfamiliar.
The official Battle Stadium feature page describes Rental Teams and team publication. It does not establish which current code is best.
Rank #4
![Pokémon Scarlet/Pokémon Violet Expansion Pass: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero (Retail Version) Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51n-a8y2QXL._SL160_.jpg)
- Only one code for a Hisuian Zoroark can be used in either the Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet game. Upon purchase of The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC, an email with your code will be sent to the email address registered to your Nintendo Account. From the in-game menu, go to the Poké Portal, then select Mystery Gift, select Get with Code/Password, and then enter your code.
- The Mystery Gift option can be found within the Poké Portal menu option in the X menu after you unlock the feature in the Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet game. (This occurs after about 1 to 1.5 hours of gameplay, though individual gameplay time may vary.) An internet connection and a Nintendo Account is required to redeem the item in game. A Nintendo Switch Online membership is not required. Each item can only be redeemed once.
Online Competitions: follow each event’s notice
Battle Stadium’s Online Competitions include Official Competitions, which use special rules, and Friendly Competitions that players can host or join. A competition has its own registration window, dates, format, and participation requirements; do not assume it uses the Ranked ladder’s current regulation.
Example: 2026 Grand Challenge V (past event)
The Grand Challenge V is a historical example, not an open event. Sign-up ran February 12–19, 2026, and battles ran February 20–22. It used Double Battles under Regulation Set F, required team registration during sign-up, and offered participation prizes after at least three completed matches. Its notice also limited participation to one user per Nintendo Account and one save-data set per Switch system; duplicate participation could lead to penalties. See the event notice for those past details. For any future or current competition, rely on that event’s own notice instead.
Battle Stadium and organized VGC in 2026
Battle Stadium’s online ladder is not the same thing as every in-person or sanctioned tournament. The 2026 Play! Pokémon VGC Tournament Handbook says local-level Cups and Challenges use Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet for the remainder of the 2026 season, while championship-level Regional, Special, International, and World Championships use Pokémon Champions. The handbook also sets competition-specific format and team requirements, including keeping a registered team and avoiding externally modified or created Pokémon or items. Consult the current handbook and the individual event’s guidance before competing.
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