In the diverse and dynamic world of esports, few genres do as well as MOBAs. In 2021, a MOBA focusing on the Pokemon universe was released, titled Pokemon Unite. This free-to-play game was released on mobile platforms and the Nintendo Switch, and in just one year, it has performed remarkably well. There’s a vibrant competitive scene in the world of Pokemon Unite, as well as a considerable esports ecosystem. Today, we’re here to look at the Pokemon Unite ranking system, to better understand this competitive scene.
Since day one, Pokemon has been a competitive title, regardless of how it has been presented. There’s something special about working your way through the trainers, picking up badges, and battling your friends using your own collected, levelled-up Pokemon. With Pokemon Unite, a spin has been applied to the traditional formula, with players embarking on team-based, MOBA-focused journeys across Aeos Island.
Let’s learn everything we need to know about the Pokemon Unite ranking system.
Do Pokemon Unite Esports Exist?
We can talk about the Pokemon Unite ranks, but something interesting to discuss before we do is the PU esports ecosystem. As the Pokemon Unite platform is designed to be competitive on a multiplayer basis, it was only a matter of time before esports tournaments began surfacing. There isn’t much of an esports scene within Nintendo, save for a few titles, but Pokemon Unite is a shining example.
At the top of the table sits the Pokemon Unite Championship Series, a global tournament that covers a period lasting several months. In 2025, the first-ever PUCS was held and it was a remarkable success, with countless teams emerging from around the world. There was a massive $1 million prize pool and representatives from the following regions stepped up to compete:
- North America
- Central America
- Europe
- APAC
- South America W
- South America E
- South Korea
- Mexico
- Japan
- Oceania
While there are several lower-tier tournaments that take place around the world, the Pokemon Unite Championship Series is the greatest of them all. As Pokemon Unite is a remarkably young game, there’s still plenty to do in the esports ecosystem surrounding it. Reportedly, in the space of a single year, Pokemon Unite was downloaded almost 100 million times. That’s a huge audience when it comes to competitive play, and we’ll undoubtedly see developments in the esports tournaments available as time goes on.
How Does Pokemon Unite Work?
Pokemon Unite performs just as another MOBA title would. When you’re playing PU, you’ll be a part of one of two teams made up of five players each. Each match or ‘series’ is limited by time, and it’s the team with the highest score that ultimately wins at the end of the road. For Pokemon Unite, a unique map was created, called Aeos Island, an environment that is split up into several mini-maps upon which these mighty Pokemon-fuelled battles take place.
Just like Dota 2 or League of Legends, there are non-player enemies on each map, but in this game, they are of course ‘wild’ Pokemon characters. In the game, players can defeat these Pokemon and seize ownership of several ‘control points’ on the map. With each new game, the player assumes control of a new Pokemon, which will become stronger as the game unfolds. While this is an inherently competitive title, there is a more casual approach to the gameplay when compared with other MOBA titles. For instance, there’s no scoreboard and less of a focus on statistics.
However, with that being said, there is still the Pokemon Unite ranking system to consider. When you’re playing the game, you’ll be working your way through the ranks in Pokemon Unite, but what does that actually mean?
Introducing The Pokemon Unite Ranking System
If you want to prove you’re a skilled player, you’ll need to understand the Pokemon Unite ranks distribution system. As with most other competitive titles, you’ll start at the bottom of a ladder and work your way up based on your performance. Firstly, you’ll need to reach level six in the game – this actually enables you to unlock the Pokemon Unite ranking system. If you’re just playing standard matches – and winning – you should get there in no time at all.
Also, you’ll need to own five different Pokemon licenses. This just means that you need to have five Pokemon unlocked, and of course, your starter Pokemon counts as one. Once you’re ready to go, you can start playing Pokemon Unite ranked matches. If you win, you’ll climb the ladder, but if you lose, you’ll be sent back down – it’s that simple. There are performance boosts triggered by certain events, but for the most part, it’s a very simple process.
Here are the Pokemon Unite ranks, including how many sub-ranks exist within them:
| Rank | Class | |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 1 to 3 |  |
| Great | 1 to 4 |  |
| Expert | 1 to 5 |  |
| Veteran | 1 to 5 |  |
| Ultra | 1 to 5 |  |
| Master |  |
If you’re eager to get stuck into Pokemon Unite, be sure to climb into the ranked mode as soon as possible for the greatest challenge.
Pokemon United Ranks Rewards – Season 4
At each Ranked Season, players will receive rewards.
The last season, Season 4, started on April 28, 2025 and will end on July 21, 2025.
Let’s look at what rewards players will get during this season, depending on their rank.
- Beginner Rank – 3000 Aeos Tickets
- Great Rank – 4000 Aeos Tickets
- Expert Rank – United Ranked Set (Full Set Trainer Skin)
- Veteran Rank – 5000 Aeos Tickets
- Ultra Rank – Knight Style (Holowear for Mamoswine)
- Master Rank (1200) – 1000 Aeos Tickets + Background
- Master Rank (1400) – 1000 Aeos Tickets + Frame
- Master Rank (1800) – 1000 Aeos Tickets + Sticker
