The Nightfall Cup

Get ready for a new challenge beginning on December 1st! With it comes a new chance to prove your skill and increase your global and local player ranking! The Nightfall Cup - an epic battle fought under the dark of night - follows the same basic rules as all Silph Arena global cups, but this month it comes with a special twist! Here's what you need to know:

What Is The Nightfall Cup?

Each month the Silph Arena holds a month-long Cup - a 'themed' PvP tournament - that provides tens of thousands of trainers around the world a specially-designed competitive challenge and a chance to prove they're the very best. The Silph Arena is the world's largest global network for ranked Pokémon GO^TM tournament play.

During the Cup (December 1^st - December 31^st), local Silph League communities host and record a special tournament using the free Silph.gg tools. Wins and losses in this local tournament affect your player rank on local and global leaderboards - and may eventually even earn you an invitation to compete at Regionals and even the Continental or World Championships held at the end of the season!

All players are welcome to compete, whether it's your first tournament or your hundredth! Find a local tournament near you on the Tournament Map!

Reminder: only remote events are permitted through December!

Nightfall Cup Rules

The Nightfall Cup has a few special rules (designed to provide added challenge and fun) that differ from standard PvP combat in Pokemon GO:

• Team of 6: Competitors will bring a team of 6 Pokemon (and register them before the tournament begins). All battle parties used must be comprised of these 6 Pokemon.
• Great League: Matches are played in Great League: only Pokemon up to 1500 CP are permitted in the Cup.
• Nightfall Types: Only Pokémon with Ice, Fighting, Ground, Normal, and Poison types (including dual types) are allowed.
  • Mega Pokémon are not eligible to use in the Nightfall Cup.
• Eligible List: What follows is the official list of exactly which species are permitted for use in the Nightfall Cup:

  Gen 1

  #1

  #2

  #3

  #13

  #14

  #15

  #16

  #17

  #18

  #19

  #20

  #21

  #22

  #23

  #24

  #27

  #28

  #29

  #30

  #31

  #32

  #33

  #34

  #39

  #40

  #41

  #42

  #43

  #44

  #45

  #48

  #49

  #50

  #51

  #52

  #53

  #56

  #57

  #62

  #66

  #67

  #68

  #69

  #70

  #71

  #72

  #73

  #74

  #75

  #76

  #83

  #84

  #85

  #87

  #88

  #89

  #91

  #92

  #93

  #94

  #95

  #104

  #105

  #106

  #107

  #108

  #109

  #110

  #111

  #112

  #113

  #115

  #124

  #128

  #131

  #133

  #137

  #143

  #144

  Gen 2

  #161

  #162

  #163

  #164

  #167

  #168

  #169

  #174

  #190

  #194

  #195

  #203

  #206

  #207

  #208

  #211

  #214

  #215

  #216

  #217

  #220

  #221

  #225

  #231

  #232

  #233

  #234

  #236

  #237

  #238

  #241

  #242

  #246

  #247

  Gen 3

  #256

  #257

  #259

  #260

  #263

  #264

  #269

  #276

  #277

  #286

  #287

  #288

  #289

  #290

  #293

  #294

  #295

  #296

  #297

  #298

  #300

  #301

  #307

  #308

  #315

  #316

  #317

  #322

  #323

  #327

  #328

  #329

  #330

  #333

  #335

  #336

  #339

  #340

  #343

  #344

  #351

  #351

  #352

  #361

  #362

  #363

  #364

  #365

  #378

  #382

  #383

  Gen 4

  #389

  #391

  #392

  #396

  #397

  #398

  #399

  #400

  #406

  #407

  #413

  #423

  #423

  #424

  #427

  #428

  #431

  #432

  #434

  #435

  #440

  #441

  #443

  #444

  #445

  #446

  #447

  #448

  #449

  #450

  #451

  #452

  #453

  #454

  #459

  #460

  #461

  #463

  #464

  #471

  #472

  #473

  #474

  #475

  #478

  #486

  Gen 5

  #499

  #500

  #504

  #505

  #506

  #507

  #508

  #519

  #520

  #521

  #529

  #530

  #531

  #532

  #533

  #534

  #536

  #537

  #538

  #539

  #543

  #544

  #545

  #551

  #552

  #553

  #559

  #560

  #568

  #569

  #572

  #573

  #582

  #583

  #584

  #585

  #585

  #585

  #585

  #586

  #586

  #586

  #586

  #590

  #591

  #613

  #614

  #615

  #618

  #619

  #620

  #622

  #623

  #626

  #627

  #628

  #638

  #639

  #640

  #645

  #645

  #646

  #647

  #648

  Gen 6

  #652

  #659

  #660

  #661

  #667

  #668

  #674

  #675

  #676

  #676

  #676

  #676

  #676

  #676

  #676

  #676

  #676

  #676

  #690

  #691

  #694

  #695

  #698

  #699

  #701

  #712

  #713

  Gen 7

  #19

  #20

  #27

  #28

  #37

  #38

  #50

  #51

  #88

  #89

  #731

  #732

  #733

  #734

  #735

  #739

  #740

  #747

  #748

  #757

  #758

  #759

  #760

  #765

  #783

  #784

  #793

  #794

  #795

  Gen 8

  #80

  #83

  #110

  #122

  #145

  #199

  #211

  #215

  #263

  #264

  #554

  #555

  #562

  #618

  #713

  #819

  #820

  #831

  #832

  #862

  #865

  #866

  #867

  #870

  #889

  #901

  #903

  #904

  And in text form:

  • Alolan Vulpix, Galarian Darmanitan, Galarian Darumaka, Galarian Farfetch’d, Galarian Linoone, Galarian Mr. Mime, Galarian Slowbro, Galarian Slowking, Galarian Stunfisk, Galarian Yamask, Galarian Zapdos, Galarian Zigzagoon, Hisuian Avalugg, Hisuian Qwilfish, Hisuian Sneasel, Normal Castform, Overqwil, Primal Groudon, Sirfetchd, Sneasler, Snowy Castform, Ursaluna, 三地鼠, 三地鼠 (Alolan), 不良蛙, 九尾 (Alolan), 代拉基翁, 伊布, 信使鳥, 修建老匠, 傘電蜥, 傲骨燕, 優雅貓, 光電傘蜥, 冰伊布, 冰寶, 冰岩怪, 冰雪巨龍, 冰雪龍, 冰鬼護, 凍原熊, 凱路迪歐, 列陣兵, 利歐路, 刺甲貝, 力壯雞, 功夫鼬, 勇士雄鷹, 勾帕路翁, 千針魚, 卡拉卡拉, 卡比獸, 叉字蝠, 口呆花, 吉利蛋, 向尾喵, 吞食獸, 含羞苞, 吼爆彈, 呆火駝, 咕咕, 咕咕鴿, 咕妞妞, 哈約克, 哎呀球菇, 喇叭啄鳥, 喇叭芽, 喵喵, 嘎啦嘎啦, 嘟嘟, 嘟嘟利, 噴嚏熊, 噴火駝, 四季鹿 (Autumn Form), 四季鹿 (Spring Form), 四季鹿 (Summer Form), 四季鹿 (Winter Form), 固拉多, 圈圈熊, 圓絲蛛, 圓陸鯊, 土台龜, 土地雲 (Incarnate Forme), 土地雲 (Therian Forme), 土居忍士, 土龍弟弟, 地鼠, 地鼠 (Alolan), 坦克臭鼬, 垃垃藻, 堵攔熊, 多多冰, 多邊獸, 多邊獸Ⅱ, 多邊獸Ｚ, 多麗米亞, 多麗米亞 (Dandy Trim), 多麗米亞 (Debutante Trim), 多麗米亞 (Diamond Trim), 多麗米亞 (Heart Trim), 多麗米亞 (Kabuki Trim), 多麗米亞 (La Reine Trim), 多麗米亞 (Matron Trim), 多麗米亞 (Pharaoh Trim), 多麗米亞 (Star Trim), 夜盜火蜥, 大嘴蝠, 大嘴雀, 大奶罐, 大尾狸, 大尾立, 大岩蛇, 大比鳥, 大牙狸, 大王燕, 大舌舔, 大舌頭, 大蔥鴨, 大針蜂, 大鋼蛇, 大顎蟻, 大食花, 天秤偶, 天蠍, 天蠍王, 奇諾栗鼠, 好勝毛蟹, 好勝蟹, 好壞星, 妙蛙種子, 妙蛙花, 妙蛙草, 姆克兒, 姆克鳥, 姆克鷹, 寶寶丁, 小卡比獸, 小小象, 小山豬, 小拉達, 小拉達 (Alolan), 小拳石, 小獅獅, 小福蛋, 小箭雀, 小篤兒, 小約克, 尖牙陸鯊, 尼多力諾, 尼多后, 尼多娜, 尼多朗, 尼多王, 尼多蘭, 尾立, 巨沼怪, 差不多娃娃, 布里卡隆, 帝牙海獅, 師父鼬, 幕下力士, 幸福蛋, 幼基拉斯, 幾何雪花, 快拳郎, 念力土偶, 急凍鳥, 怪力, 恰雷姆, 懶人獺, 戰舞郎, 打擊鬼, 投摔鬼, 拉普拉斯, 拉達, 拉達 (Alolan), 捲捲耳, 掘地兔, 掘掘兔, 探探鼠, 搬運小匠, 摔角鷹人, 摩魯蛾, 敗露球菇, 斗笠菇, 晃晃斑, 智揮猩, 暴雪王, 杖尾鱗甲龍, 東施喵, 步哨鼠, 死神板, 毒刺水母, 毒粉蛾, 毒薔薇, 毒藻龍, 毒骷蛙, 比比鳥, 毛毛角羊, 毛球, 毛辮羊, 毛頭小鷹, 沙基拉斯, 沙河馬, 沙漠蜻蜓, 河馬獸, 沼王, 沼躍魚, 泡沫栗鼠, 波波, 泥偶小人, 泥偶巨人, 泥巴魚, 泥泥鰍, 流氓熊貓, 流氓鱷, 海兔獸 (East Sea), 海兔獸 (West Sea), 海豹球, 海魔獅, 混混鱷, 溶食獸, 滑滑小子, 火炎獅, 火焰雞, 火爆猴, 灰塵山, 炎武王, 炒炒豬, 烈咬陸鯊, 烈焰猴, 烈雀, 烏波, 無畏小子, 焰后蜥, 熊寶寶, 爆炸頭水牛, 爆肌蚊, 爆音怪, 狃拉, 猛火猴, 猴怪, 獨角犀牛, 獨角蟲, 瑪沙那, 瑪狃拉, 瑪瑙水母, 瓦斯彈, 畢力吉翁, 白海獅, 百足蜈蚣, 直衝熊, 破破袋, 穿山王, 穿山王 (Alolan), 穿山鼠, 穿山鼠 (Alolan), 穿著熊, 童偶熊, 結草貴婦 (Sandy Cloak), 羅絲雷朵, 美洛耶塔 (Aria Forme), 耿鬼, 聒噪鳥, 肯泰羅, 胖丁, 胖可丁, 腕力, 臭泥, 臭泥 (Alolan), 臭臭泥, 臭臭泥 (Alolan), 臭臭花, 臭鼬噗, 艾路雷朵, 萌芽鹿 (Autumn Form), 萌芽鹿 (Spring Form), 萌芽鹿 (Summer Form), 萌芽鹿 (Winter Form), 藍蟾蜍, 藏瑪然特 (Hero of Many Battles), 藏飽栗鼠, 虛吾伊德, 蚊香泳士, 蛇紋熊, 蜈蚣王, 螺釘地鼠, 蟾蜍王, 袋獸, 請假王, 變隱龍, 豆豆鴿, 象牙豬, 豪力, 貓老大, 貓頭夜鷹, 貓鼬少, 貓鼬探長, 貓鼬斬, 貪心栗鼠, 費洛美螂, 赫拉克羅斯, 走路草, 超壞星, 超甲狂犀, 超音波幼蟲, 超音蝠, 路卡利歐, 踏冰人偶, 車輪毬, 迷你冰, 迷唇姐, 迷唇娃, 過動猿, 酋雷姆, 鉗尾蠍, 銃嘴大鳥, 鐵掌力士, 鐵殼蛹, 鐵骨土人, 鑽角犀獸, 長尾怪手, 長毛狗, 長毛豬, 長耳兔, 阿利多斯, 阿柏怪, 阿柏蛇, 隆隆岩, 隆隆石, 雙倍多多冰, 雙尾怪手, 雙彈瓦斯, 雙彈瓦斯 (Galarian), 雪妖女, 雪童子, 雪笠怪, 雷吉奇卡斯, 雷吉艾斯, 露力麗, 霸王花, 青綿鳥, 頑皮熊貓, 頓甲, 頭巾混混, 飛腿郎, 飯匙蛇, 驚角鹿, 高傲雉雞, 鬼斯, 鬼斯通, 魅力喵, 鯰魚王, 鱗甲龍, 麒麟奇, 黑眼鱷, 龍王蠍, 龍頭地鼠
• No Duplicates: Only one of each Pokemon species is permitted on your team of 6. (No species duplicates!)
• Arena Rules will be followed in all other particulars.

Take a moment to review the Arena Rules linked above. The rules have been updated for the new Competitive PvP Season, make sure you’re familiar with all of the changes!

How to Compete

Registration for the December Cup will become available to local community leaders on November 21^st, 2020 - but Nightfall Cups must be scheduled for dates between December 1^st and December 31^st, 2020. Find a Cup tournament near you via the Tournament Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Community Leader Questions:

How Do I Host a Nightfall Cup Tournament in My Community?

Simply log in to Silph.gg with an authorized Community Leader account and create a Cup tournament on your community management page. You will be given an RSVP url to share with your community and, on the day of the tournament, a join code to confirm your tournament's registrants. For a guide to setting up your tournament on Silph.gg, click here.

How Do I Become Authorized to Host Tournaments on Silph.gg?

All Silph League Discord community admins simply need to add themselves as 'Tournament Admins' via the Discord @SilphRoad bot:

• On Discord, use the @SilphRoad add-tournament-admin @username#0000 command in your #silph-league channel. (You may need to log out of Silph.gg and back in again!)

Telegram channel and group admins are automatically authorized on Silph.gg.

Can I host multiple Nightfall Cups in my community in December?

Yes. However, only one Nightfall Cup will have significant impact in the participant’s Global Ranking. Participants can choose at at any point before they report their final round if they want that specific Cup to be weighted more heavily than the others.

Does the Nightfall Cup have to be hosted on a specific date?

Any date between December 1^st and December 31^st, 2020 is a valid date to hold your community's Nightfall Cup. The tournament registration page will not allow registering your Cup for an invalid date or time - so as long as you are able to create your tournament on Silph.gg, you will know it is set for a valid date.

I am a community leader of a Facebook Group (or other platform like Slack, Line, etc). How do I host the Nightfall Cup Cup for my community?

The Arena team is working quickly to enable non-Discord/Telegram communities to host the Cup. Stay tuned for news on this front!

Participant Questions:

How Do I Join a Nightfall Cup Tournament in My Community?

Find a local Cup being hosted by a community near you via the Tournament Map and read the event details on the event's RSVP page!

How Important Are Monthly Cups for My Player Rank?

Very. The vast majority of player rank in the Arena is derived from performance in the global, standardized Cups. (This is because Cups allow the Arena to observe the same controlled competitive scenarios for each player!)

Why is the Nightfall Cup played in Great League?

Great League (max 1500cp) provides a diverse, new playing field with many options for creative, competitive teams. It also allows more casual players to join tournaments at meetups without being completely unable to compete with level 40 trainers who often sport the same level 40 Legendary Pokemon. Great League also marks immediately irrelevant much of the amassed arsenal of those who manipulate their GPS location ('spoof') to circumvent in-game mechanic limiters and acquire unnatural advantages.

Where can I learn more about global player ranking?

You can learn more about Global Player Rankings by reading our Guide to Player Rank.

About the 2020-2021 Competitive Season »