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Pokemon GOTrainers can regularly look forward to new and rotating battle opportunities. This includes the likes of Raids and Max Battles, as well as PvP matches during GO Battle League and the various Cups available to enter. These Cups all tend to have unique rulesets and restrictions to set them apart, which gives Trainers more of a challenge when it comes to preparing a viable team.
One of these many events is theSunshine Cup, which is making its most recent appearance in July 2025 as part of theDelightful Days Season. Just as any other themed Cup, the Sunshine Cup also has restrictions regarding the type of monsters that can be entered, as well as the CP range. If you find yourself looking to enter the Sunshine Cup inPokemon GO, the ruleset and the best choices for your team have been explained in the guide below.
Sunshine Cup Rules in Pokemon GO
The Sunshine Cup will be available for players to join and battle betweenJuly 15, 2025, at 1 PM PT, and June 16, 2025, at 1 PM PT. The Sunshine Cup falls under theGreat League format, which restricts Pokemon above 1500 CP from being eligible as a member of your team. In addition to this, the Sunshine Cup only allows Trainers to build a team from Pokemon of theFire, Normal, Grass, or Ground types, meaning players will need to be very careful when building a team that synergizes well and covers as many bases as possible.
Best Pokemon for the Sunshine Cup in Pokemon GO
Lead Pokemon are thefirst sent out on the battlefield, applying early-game pressure and inflicting quick hits for a strong start to damage. Selecting the perfect opening monster for your setup is crucial for setting the pace of the battle, making this part of your team highly important.
Safe switch Pokemon, as the name indicates, are usuallyswapped in if your lead faces a disadvantage. This enables players to pivot out of unfavorable situations or tough matchups to help preserve valuable shields and avoid knockouts.
Attackers are Pokemon withstrong offensive stats, enabling high damage output. They are usually the primary DPS of the team and are often used for breaking through the opponent’s Shields. In addition to this, Attackers use powerful moves that have the potential to change the outcome of the entire battle, paired with smart type advantages and resistances to further strengthen your lineup.
Closers bring value to the late-game of a battle, particularly when both sides have used up their Shields. These Pokemon bring value through theirwell-rounded stats, solid typing, and heavy-hitting moves, meaning they have the ability to thrive without needing to rely on the protection of Shields that other roles need for safety.
