Niantic has revealed Great 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 28, 2026 to May 5, 2026. Read on for our complete breakdown of bonuses, featured Pokémon, preparation tips, shiny chances, and strategies to maximize your rewards.
📅 Great League and Fantasy Cup: Great League Edition | Memories in Motion — Event Details
| 📛 Event Name | Great League and Fantasy Cup: Great League Edition | Memories in Motion |
| 🏷️ Event Type | Go battle league |
| 📆 Start Date | April 28, 2026 |
| 📆 End Date | May 5, 2026 |
| 🎮 Game | Pokémon GO |
| 🌍 Availability | Worldwide (local time) |
🎯 Great 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 Great 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 Great League and Fantasy Cup: Great League Edition | Memories in Motion has to offer:
✅ Clear out your Pokémon Storage by transferring unwanted Pokémon. You’ll need space for all the event encounters, potential hundos, and shiny Pokémon. Consider holding a mass-transfer session the day before.
✅ 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.
✅ 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.
✅ Prepare your raid teams in advance by checking our Best Attackers list and making sure your top counters are powered up and have the right movesets.
💰 Maximizing Your Rewards During Great 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:
💡 Keep an eye on Raid Bosses — they often rotate to match the event theme. New or returning Legendary Pokémon are common during major events.
💡 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.
💡 If there are XP bonuses active, stack a Lucky Egg with Excellent throws for maximum gains. Each Excellent throw with a Lucky Egg during 2× XP can net you 2,000+ XP per catch.
💡 Take advantage of increased Incense and Lure Module effectiveness during the event. These items often have extended durations or attract more Pokémon during event hours.
✨ Shiny Pokémon During Great League and Fantasy Cup: Great League Edition | Memories in Motion
Use the Quick Catch technique to speed up your shiny checking. This lets you catch Pokémon faster by swiping away the catch screen, allowing you to check 3-4× more Pokémon per hour.
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
Check if any featured Pokémon have exclusive or Community Day moves during the event. Moves like Meteor Mash, Frenzy Plant, and Blast Burn can completely change a Pokémon’s viability in PvP.
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 Great League and Fantasy Cup: Great League Edition | Memories in Motion
Raids are a core part of most Pokémon GO events. During Great 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 Great League and Fantasy Cup: Great League Edition | Memories in Motion
🎯 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.
🎯 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.
🎯 Use Auto-Catch Devices: Pokémon GO Plus, Gotcha, or Poké Ball Plus devices can help you catch Pokémon passively while you focus on shiny checking or raids. They’re especially useful during events with heavy spawns.
🎯 Plan Your Route: Before the event starts, identify areas with high PokéStop and gym density. Parks, shopping centers, and downtown areas typically have the best spawn density for events.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Great League and Fantasy Cup: Great League Edition | Memories in Motion
Q: When does Great League and Fantasy Cup: Great League Edition | Memories in Motion start and end?
A: The event starts on April 28, 2026 and ends on May 5, 2026. All times are in your local timezone.
Q: Is Great 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 Great 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.