A nod to the origin story of Pokemon, Fossil Cup is the second major tournament in July’s Great League lineup. As a part of the GO Battle League’s Hidden Gems update, the competition will limit Trainers’ teams to three ancient Types and intensify the matches by imposing a CP restriction.
Although Fossil Cup is a reappearing event, many Pokemon GO players wonder if its rules remain the same. They’re also curious to know which Pokemon perform best and which teams have higher win rates.
What Is Fossil Cup in Pokemon GO
Fossil Cup is a short-term event in GO Battle League. During this limited-time competition, players must avoid all Pokemon Types except the three prehistoric ones: Water, Rock, and Steel. They will also need to create teams below a specific Combat Power cap.
Pokemon GO’s Fossil Cup tournament starts on July 20 after the Great League Remix and is expected to end after seven days on July 27.
Niantic introduced Fossil Cup for the first time back in 2022, along with Catch Cup and other specialty tournaments. And now, the popular challenge is relaunched for the 2023’s 7th-anniversary celebration with minor tweaks.
Fossil Cup Rules (2023)
The two fundamental rules of 2023’s Fossil Cup are Type limitation and CP cap. Firstly, players must only pick Pokemon with Rock, Water, and Steel Types. Second, all their Pokemon should have a Combat Power (CP) of 1,500 or below.
Here’s a breakdown of all the Fossil Cup rules:
- Rule #1. Only Water-, Rock-, and Steel-Type Pokemon are allowed.
- Rule #2. Each Pokemon’s Combat Power must be 1,500 at max.
- Rule #3. Winners will not earn extra Stardust.
The only rule that’s changed from the 2022’s cup is the removal of extra Stardust. While players could earn triple the amount of Stardust from the win rewards in the previous Fossil Cup, they will receive no bonuses this year.
Best Pokemon For Fossil Cup
Based on the PvP match data, the best Pokemon for Fossil Cup are Registeel, Kartana, and Ferrothorn. Other practical options include Swampert (Shadow), Escavalier, and Lucario.
Fossil Cup Pokemon | Moves |
Registeel | Lock On, Focus Blast, Zap Cannon |
Kartana | Razor Leaf, Leaf Blade, Night Slash |
Ferrothorn | Bullet Seed, Power Whip, Thunder |
Lucario | Counter, Power-Up Punch, Shadow Ball |
Pokemon GO is available now for Android and iOS.