Niantic has revealed Ultra League and Fantasy Cup: Great League Edition | Memories in Motion, a brand new Pokémon GO Go battle league event that’s set to be one of the highlights of May 2026. Here’s your ultimate guide to everything happening during this event.
The event runs from April 7, 2026 to April 14, 2026. Read on for our complete breakdown of bonuses, featured Pokémon, preparation tips, shiny chances, and strategies to maximize your rewards.
📅 Ultra League and Fantasy Cup: Great League Edition | Memories in Motion — Event Details
| 📛 Event Name | Ultra League and Fantasy Cup: Great League Edition | Memories in Motion |
| 🏷️ Event Type | Go battle league |
| 📆 Start Date | April 7, 2026 |
| 📆 End Date | April 14, 2026 |
| 🎮 Game | Pokémon GO |
| 🌍 Availability | Worldwide (local time) |
🎯 Ultra League and Fantasy Cup: Great League Edition | Memories in Motion — Complete Guide & Strategy
GO Battle League Season Update
This GO Battle League event brings important changes to the PvP landscape. Whether it’s a new cup format, rotating leagues, or special bonus rewards, this is a critical time for competitive trainers to adapt their strategies.
Team Building Guide
Building a strong PvP team requires understanding the current meta. Check each Pokémon’s PvP IV rankings on our Pokédex — in Great League and Ultra League, you want low Attack IVs and high Defense/HP IVs to maximize stat product under the CP cap. For Master League, perfect 15/15/15 IVs are optimal.
Recommended Movesets
The right moveset can make or break a battle. Visit our Moves Database to compare Fast and Charged move stats for PvP. Look for moves with high Damage Per Turn (DPT) and Energy Per Turn (EPT) for fast moves, and good damage-per-energy ratios for charged moves.
Climbing the Ranks
To climb effectively, focus on learning the meta matchups and practicing switch timing. The lead Pokémon sets the tone for the entire battle — choose one that has favorable matchups against common leads. Don’t be afraid to switch strategies if you’re losing consistently with one team composition.
🎒 How to Prepare for Ultra League and Fantasy Cup: Great League Edition | Memories in Motion
Proper preparation can make the difference between a good event and an incredible one. Follow these tips to ensure you’re ready for everything Ultra League and Fantasy Cup: Great League Edition | Memories in Motion has to offer:
✅ Check the event calendar in the game’s News section and set reminders for start times, bonus windows, and any special raid hours.
✅ Stock up on Poké Balls, Great Balls, and Ultra Balls before the event starts. Open gifts from friends and spin PokéStops during your daily routine to build your supply. Running out of balls mid-event is every trainer’s nightmare.
✅ Expand your Item Bag to at least 1,500 items if possible. Events often include special items, new research rewards, and bonuses that fill up your bag quickly.
✅ Save your Pinap Berries and Silver Pinap Berries for the event. Doubling candy on featured Pokémon can save you hundreds of catches worth of candy for evolving and powering up.
💰 Maximizing Your Rewards During Ultra League and Fantasy Cup: Great League Edition | Memories in Motion
Every event in Pokémon GO comes with special bonuses. Smart trainers know how to stack these bonuses for maximum efficiency. Here’s how to get the most out of this event:
💡 If the event features Egg pool changes, collect fresh 2km, 5km, and 7km eggs during the event period. Eggs picked up before the event will hatch the old pool.
💡 Coordinate with your local Pokémon GO community for raid trains and special meetups. Many trainers organize events through Discord, WhatsApp, or Facebook groups.
💡 Check your Special Research and Timed Research tabs frequently. New research often drops silently during events with valuable rewards like Rare Candy, Elite TMs, and exclusive encounters.
💡 Keep an eye on Raid Bosses — they often rotate to match the event theme. New or returning Legendary Pokémon are common during major events.
✨ Shiny Pokémon During Ultra League and Fantasy Cup: Great League Edition | Memories in Motion
Remember that shiny Pokémon from raids have a higher shiny rate (approximately 1/20 for Legendary raids). If the event features Mega Raids or Legendary raids, prioritize those.
New shiny Pokémon are frequently introduced during events. Keep your eyes open for any announcements about shiny debuts — being among the first to catch a newly released shiny is always exciting! For a complete list of all available shinies, check our Shiny Pokémon checklist.
Shiny Checking Tips: You can tell if a Pokémon is shiny from the encounter screen by looking for sparkles and a different color palette. If you see a shiny, use a Golden Razz Berry and an Ultra Ball to ensure the catch. Shiny Pokémon from raids and research have a 100% catch rate (as long as you hit them with the ball).
⚔️ PvP & GO Battle League Relevance
Events often feature Pokémon that dominate the GO Battle League meta. This is your chance to farm candy, find good PvP IV spreads (low Attack, high Defense/HP), and prepare teams for the current season.
When evaluating Pokémon for PvP during events, pay special attention to IVs. In Great League and Ultra League, the ideal PvP IVs are typically 0/15/15 or close to it — low Attack with high Defense and Stamina maximizes your stat product under the CP cap. Use our Pokédex to find specific PvP IV rankings for each Pokémon.
🏟️ Raid Guide for Ultra League and Fantasy Cup: Great League Edition | Memories in Motion
Raids are a core part of most Pokémon GO events. During Ultra League and Fantasy Cup: Great League Edition | Memories in Motion, expect changes to the raid boss rotation. Here’s what you need to know:
- 1-Star Raids: Great for solo trainers, often feature event-themed Pokémon
- 3-Star Raids: Soloable with strong teams, good rewards
- 5-Star Raids: Legendary Pokémon, need 3-6 trainers depending on counters
- Mega Raids: Mega-evolved Pokémon, excellent for farming Mega Energy
Remember to check the Type Chart for type advantages against raid bosses, and build your teams using the Best Attackers list for the most effective counters.
🏆 Pro Tips & Tricks for Ultra League and Fantasy Cup: Great League Edition | Memories in Motion
🎯 Buddy System: Set your buddy to a Pokémon that benefits from the event. If featured Pokémon are from a specific type, a Mega-evolved Pokémon of that type will give you extra candy for every catch of that type. Check our Buddy Distance chart for walking distances.
🎯 Weather Boost Awareness: Keep an eye on in-game weather. Weather-boosted Pokémon have higher IVs (minimum 4/4/4) and give extra Stardust. If the event features a type that’s currently weather-boosted, you’ll find even better specimens.
🎯 Tag Your Best Catches: Use the in-game tagging system to mark your best catches during the event. Create tags like ‘Event Hundos’, ‘PvP IVs’, or ‘To Evolve’ to stay organized.
🎯 Trade With Friends: After the event, trade duplicate shinies and high-level catches with friends. Lucky trades guarantee at least 12/12/12 IVs, which can turn a good catch into a great one.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Ultra League and Fantasy Cup: Great League Edition | Memories in Motion
Q: When does Ultra League and Fantasy Cup: Great League Edition | Memories in Motion start and end?
A: The event starts on April 7, 2026 and ends on April 14, 2026. All times are in your local timezone.
Q: Is Ultra League and Fantasy Cup: Great League Edition | Memories in Motion available worldwide?
A: Most Pokémon GO events are available globally, running in each trainer’s local timezone. Some features like regional Pokémon or in-person events may have location restrictions.
Q: Do I need a ticket for Ultra League and Fantasy Cup: Great League Edition | Memories in Motion?
A: This event is free for all trainers. However, optional premium content like Timed Research or event boxes may be available for purchase.
Q: Can I get shiny Pokémon during this event?
A: Yes! Most events feature Pokémon with available shiny forms, and some events introduce new shiny releases. Check our Shiny Pokémon checklist for the full list of available shinies.
Q: What should I prioritize during the event?
A: Focus on catching featured Pokémon (especially shinies and high-IVs), completing event research tasks, taking advantage of bonus multipliers, and participating in event raids. Use Lucky Eggs and Star Pieces during bonus windows for maximum efficiency.
📚 Related Guides & Resources
This guide is updated as new information becomes available. Last updated: May 19, 2026. Data sourced from Pokémon GO Live and community research.