5 tips to quickly rank up in Pokemon GO PvP

Pokemon GO's GO Battle League PvP is the apex of player-vs-player combat within Niantic's mobile title. Rising through each league's ranking system can be tough. However, since new ranks yield new rewards for trainers, many continue to grind their way through it. Some trainers may be wondering if there are any tips to keep in mind while taking on the rank-up process in the game's PvP formats.

Players are always free to use the strategies that produce the best results for them, but it doesn't hurt to keep some tips in mind while they climb the ranking ladder in the GO Battle League.

Note: This list is subjective and solely reflects the opinions of the writer

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Tips for ranking up in Pokemon GO PvP in the GO Battle League

1) Know which league is the most suitable

It isn't necessary to climb the ranks in all of Pokemon GO's Battle Leagues (Image via Niantic)

While Pokemon GO fans are free to climb the rankings in the Great, Ultra, and Master Leagues, this isn't always the best tactic for reaching high ranks. Trainers should try out each league extensively and determine which one suits them best. If players don't have a ton of high-CP Pokemon, they're likely a better fit for the Great League instead of the Master League.

If a trainer has a certain degree of success in one specific league over others, then they may want to stick to that PvP format until they reach the ranking they're aiming for. This is especially true if they feel as though they're being outclassed at higher levels of competition.

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2) Count opponents' energy economies

Knowing an enemy's energy gains is crucial in Pokemon GO PvP strategy (Image via Niantic)

This tip takes a ton of knowledge and time to learn in Pokemon GO PvP, but once players have the hang of it, they can have an idea of what their opponent's next move might be so they can react accordingly. "Counting" is defined by knowing the Fast and Charged Moves of an enemy Pokemon, including the energy that the Fast Moves generate and the energy required to use a Charged Move.

By counting an opponent's Fast Move strikes, trainers can know how much energy their opponent is gaining and when their Charged Moves will be ready to fire. Obviously, this doesn't guarantee that an opponent will use the Charged Move right away, but players can at least know whether the threat of one is present or not.

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3) Use as many outside sources as possible

A nearly infinite trove of knowledge awaits Pokemon GO players who are willing to seek it out (Image via Pokebattler)

Learning the nuances of the Pokemon GO PvP meta is a long process regardless of the league being played in. However, trainers can speed up the process by doing some reading. Sites like PvPoke, Pokebattler, and GO Hub provide a wealth of information about the PvP meta including team compositions, type/Pokemon matchups, and the best movesets worth investing in.

Figuring out the meta matchups and the best possible Pokemon or moves for each league takes time, but there is a nearly infinite collection of resources to make the studying process much more bearable.

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4) Practice catching and sac swapping

Understanding catching and sac swapping can result in more Pokemon GO PvP wins (Image via Niantic)

These two strategies are some of the most pivotal in Pokemon GO PvP, and they work well in tandem with counting an opponent's moves. If trainers know their opponent is about to let loose a powerful Charged Move, they can "catch" the move by swapping to a Pokemon that resists the Charged Move's elemental type. This forces the opponent to waste energy and puts them at a disadvantage.

Additionally, there's the practice of "sac swapping", where the same tactic is used but trainers instead swap to a Pokemon with low health to absorb the damage of the Charged Move and "sacrifice" it. This helps keep a crucial Pokemon in the fight at the expense of one that wouldn't have contributed as much. It's a drastic move, but the line between victory and defeat can often hinge upon it.

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5) Use the right PvP IVs in the Great/Ultra League

Having the right IVs on a Pocket Monster can make a huge difference in Pokemon GO's Great/Ultra League (Image via PvPivs.com)

In Pokemon GO, IVs are values that determine a Pokemon's growth in their Attack, Defense, and Stamina stats as they power up. While it might sound plausible to use a Pocket Monster with maxed IVs in all categories in the Great or Ultra Leagues, this is actually counterproductive. A critter's Attack IVs calculate heavily into its combat power (CP), and the Great/Ultra League has CP limitations.

With that in mind, it's wiser to catch/evolve/trade for Pokemon with incredibly low Attack IVs while having their Defense and Stamina IVs as close to 15 as possible. This way, when a Pocket Monster is powered up, it doesn't overtake the CP limit and is incredibly bulky and resilient, allowing it to lean into the PvP preference toward defensive stats/HP without being disqualified for the Great/Ultra League.

The exception to this rule is the Master League which has no CP cap. If trainers are dedicated to ranking up in the Master League, they should have the highest IVs on all of their Pokemon as often as possible to ensure maximum durability and firepower.