A major update for Pokémon GO PvP is will arrive in September 2025, promising a fresh take on Trainer Battles. The developers announced a variety of changes to move energy costs, power, and availability, with many Pokémon, especially Dragon types, gaining access to new moves. A shorter switch timer will also come into play, preparing to speed up battles.
During the Pokémon Worlds 2025 Day 2 Twitch Stream, the team shared that the switch timer will drop from 50 seconds to 45 seconds. This will apply not only to Trainer Battles but also to friend battles, Team GO Rocket encounters, and team leader fights. The developers are testing this adjustment and will review it again for the next season and beyond.
While the exact start date for Season 24 stays unconfirmed, it is likely to begin around September 2 or 3. For now, let’s look at the detailed move updates that will come with the new season…
All announced Move Buffs, Nerfs and Reworks
- Aura Sphere: Energy cost decreased, Power 100 → 80
- Body Slam: Power 50 → 55
- All Weather Ball: Power 55 → 60
- Charm: Energy generation increased, Power 15 → 13
- Confusion: Energy generation increased
- Breaking Swipe: Energy cost increased, guaranteed debuff chance
- Dragon Breath: Energy generation increased, Power 4 → 3
- Dragon Claw: Energy cost increased, Power 50 → 80
- Dragon Pulse: Energy cost decreased
- Dragon Tail: Energy generation increased, Power 13 → 9
- Aerial Ace: Energy cost increased, Power 55 → 60
- Drill Peck: Power 65 → 70
- Peck: Energy generation increased
- Sky Attack: Energy cost decreased, Power 85 → 75
- Ember: Energy generation increased, Power 7 → 4
- Flame Wheel: Energy cost decreased, Power 60 → 80
- Gyro Ball: Energy cost decreased
- Steel Wing: Energy generation decreased
- Leafage: Energy generation increased
- Seed Bomb: Energy cost decreased, Power 65 → 55
- Rock Slide: Power 65 → 75
- Smack Down: Power 11 → 12
- Scorching Sands: Debuff chance decreased
- Volt Switch: Power 12 → 14
- Water Pulse: Energy cost decreased
Attack Availability Updates
- Brutal Swing: Now learnable by Salamence, Incineroar, Turtonator
- Crunch: Now learnable by Shelgon, Salamence
- Breaking Swipe: Now learnable by Garchomp
- Dragon Claw: Now learnable by Turtonator
- Flame Wheel: Now learnable by Torkoal
- Flamethrower: Now learnable by Altaria
- Metal Sound: Now learnable by Empoleon, Kommo-O
- Drill Peck: Now learnable by Fearow
- Peck: Now learnable by Dodrio, Xatu, Togekiss
- Air Cutter: Now learnable by Charizard
- Psyshock: Now learnable by Alolan Raichu, Xatu, Galarian Slowking, Victini, Delphox, Aromatisse
- Rock Tomb: Now learnable by Druddigon, Tyrunt, Tyrantrum, Hakamo-O
- Rock Wrecker: Now learnable by Crustle
- Sand Tomb: Now learnable by Flygon, Krookodile
- Mud Slap: Now learnable by Nidoqueen, Torterra
- Hyper Fang: Now learnable by Pachirisu
- Swift: Now learnable by Kingdra
- Trailblaze: Now learnable by Dodrio
- Upper Hand: Now learnable by Kommo-O
- Aura Sphere: Now learnable by Raikou, Celebi, Latias, Latios, Jirachi
- Drain Punch: Now learnable by Slowbro, Galarian Slowbro, Gengar, Quagsire, Sableye, Toxicroak, Mienfoo, Mienshao, Incineroar, Passimian
- Sludge: Now learnable by Venusaur
- Thunder Punch: Now learnable by Dragonite
Wow, that’s quite a list of changes and additions. Are you wondering how these will affect your favorite Pokémon in battle? The faster switch timer might push players to think and react quicker, which could make battles feel a bit more intense.
What’s your take on the Dragon-type move updates? They seem to be getting a lot of attention, which might disrupt the PvP meta quite a bit. Yikes, that could mean some rethinking of team compositions.
