Battle Stadium

The Battle Stadium is a feature of the in Pokémon Sword and Shield that allows players to participate in Link Battles over the internet. It is the successor to the Battle Spot in the Generation VI and VII games. To use the Battle Stadium, the Nintendo Switch Online subscription is required.

Ranked Battle
Ranked Battles determine the player's ranking, which increases or decreases after each battle depending on whether the battle was won or lost and the rating of the opponent. Ratings are decreased at the end of each season before being carried over to the next season. Special Pokémon are prohibited. Rankings can be viewed in Pokémon HOME. It replaces the Rating Battle feature of the Battle Spot.

Casual Battle
Casual Battles allow players to freely battle other players online. Unlike Ranked Battles, players can use special Pokémon. It replaces the Free Battle feature of the Battle Spot.

Online Competitions
There are two types of Online Competitions: Official Competitions and Friendly Competitions.

Official Competitions
Official Competitions are competitions held with special battles with different regulations and formats. It replaces the Online Competitions of the Battle Spot. Players can receive Championship Points from certain competitions to qualify for the World Championships.

Friendly Competitions
Players can host or participate in Friendly Competitions through the Battle Stadium.