League Guide — Great, Ultra & Master League (CP Limits & Traits)
Updated 2026-08-19 · GBL Note guide
GBL's three leagues each set a different CP (Combat Power) ceiling on the Pokémon that can enter. That single cap makes each league's strategy and go-to Pokémon completely different.
Great League — CP 1500 or below
With the lowest cap, type matchups, movesets, and bulk matter more than total base stats. Pokémon with well-balanced stats within that low CP shine, and for IVs a spread with low Attack but high Defense and HP is often the stronger choice. The low barrier to entry makes it the league we recommend for beginners.
Ultra League — CP 2500 or below
Bigger base-stat Pokémon appear than in the Great League, and pseudo-legendaries and regional Pokémon get their time to shine. It's seen as an intermediate league, since it takes bulky Pokémon and a fair amount of Candy and Stardust investment.
Master League — no limit
With no CP cap, the highest base-stat legendaries take the lead. High-stat Pokémon such as Zacian, Dialga, Palkia, and Kyurem dominate the meta, and maxing out level, high IVs, and XL Candy investment translate directly into performance.
Which league first?
The active leagues rotate each season. We recommend beginners learn matchups and shield management in the Great League first, then branch out to the Master League once they have the resources to invest. You can check what's strong in each league right now on the GBL Note tier list.
The most players worldwide, and the top battlers and World Championship players all focus on the Great League, so the player base is deep and wide. Lots of strong players; 3200–3400 rating is achievable. Easy to get into, but full of experts.
Heavy candy and stardust investment into Pokémon that are useless in raids even after powering up — the league with the fewest players. On top of that, HP and defense run especially high, so timeouts are common and battles take long. Because few people play it, some players focus only on Ultra to hit Legend — if Legend is your only goal, focusing on the Ultra League is worth considering. My opinion.
The strongest legendaries show up, and it strongly favors players who have raided a lot. Since teams are built from max-CP Pokémon, it's a relatively good entry point for raiders who catch legendaries. Your powered-up Pokémon work in raids too. Fewer players than the Great League, but still moderately popular.