Update, October 12, 2026: the Scroll Cup: Great League Edition ended on August 25, 2026. We rewrote this page with the verified rules (the earlier version had several type-matchup errors and wrong weekdays) and turned it into a guide to building teams for any themed cup. For the current format, see our Great League meta report.
Recap: What Happened
The Scroll Cup: Great League Edition was part of the Forever Forward season of the GO Battle League. According to Niantic’s season schedule it ran from 1:00 p.m. PDT on August 18, 2026 to 1:00 p.m. PDT on August 25, 2026, in the Great League slot of that week.
| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| CP limit | 1,500 CP or lower |
| Eligible types | Only Water-, Fighting- and Dark-type Pokémon |
| Banned Pokémon | Primarina |
A Pokémon with two types qualifies if at least one of them is Water, Fighting or Dark. For example, a Water/Fairy Pokémon fits the type rule because of its Water typing. Primarina is the one exception named by Niantic.
What To Do Now That It Has Ended
The specific list of eligible Pokémon no longer matters for ranked play, but the skill of building around a restriction does. The same method works for any cup.
What a themed cup is
The standard Great League only limits CP to 1,500. A themed cup adds a second filter, such as a type list, an evolution requirement or a banned list. Niantic’s own battle primer gives another example, a single-type cup from an earlier season. The restriction removes many familiar Pokémon and raises the value of ones that normally sit outside the top picks.
A repeatable team-building method
- Write down the rule. CP cap, allowed types, banned Pokémon and any other conditions, straight from the season announcement.
- List the eligible pool. Search your storage by type and check each Pokémon’s CP, so you know which candidates you actually own.
- Find the shared weaknesses. When only a few types are allowed, opponents’ weaknesses overlap with yours. In the Scroll Cup, for instance, Fighting-type attacks hit Dark Pokémon super effectively, and Fairy-type attacks hit both Fighting and Dark types, so check your picks against those matchups. Use the type chart guide or the type chart tool to see what hits your picks.
- Spread your weaknesses. Avoid three Pokémon that lose to the same type. In battle, your team is three Pokémon: a lead and two in reserve. Switching is limited to once every 60 seconds, so a safe switch matters.
- Test it. Enter your picks in the team builder and compare them in the PvP calculator. PvPoke’s Team Builder, which is also a good resource, grades a team’s coverage, bulk, safety and consistency, and lists potential threats and alternatives. Cups appear in its Quick Fill menu, but we could not confirm which specific cups are loaded, so check for the one you need.
- Check your IVs and CP. Cups use the same 1,500 CP cap, and IV spreads matter. See IVs explained and the CP calculator.
This post does not rank Pokémon for the cup. Meta rankings change, and the cup is over. For the current open formats, see our Great League meta report.
Will It Return?
The Scroll Cup has run before. A GBL schedule listing dated March 18 to March 25, 2025 shows the same ruleset: 1,500 CP, Water, Fighting and Dark types only, and Primarina not allowed. So it has been repeated at least once. Niantic announces cup schedules on its own timetable, so no return date is known.
Related Guides
- Great League meta report 2026
- Great vs Ultra vs Master League
- Team builder
- PvP calculator
- Type chart guide
- IVs explained
- Pokémon GO PvP hub
Sources: Pokémon GO: GO Battle League, Forever Forward; Dittobase: Master League and Scroll Cup (March 2025); Pokémon GO: PvP basics; PvPoke Team Builder.
