Pokémon TCG Live updates to Version 1.30.0 ahead of launch of Mega Evolution and new Battle Pass — Update reduces Ladder rank reduction

The Pokémon Trading Card Game Live is receiving an update to Version 1.30.0 ahead of the in-game release of the Mega Evolution expansion this Thursday September 25th. In addition to introducing the new mechanics and features associated with this expansion, this update also makes adjustments to the Ranked Ladder so that players will no longer lose more than eight full ranks at the beginning of a new Ladder.

Version 1.30.0 Patch
The full Patch Notes for 1.30.0, as posted by the developers on the official Pokémon Community Forums, can be found below.

Hello Trainers.

The Pokémon TCG Live game client will be updated on September 23, 2025. The game will be offline starting at 8 AM PT (15:00 UTC) and is estimated to be down for 8 hours. Please see below for the list of changes:
Note: For Version 1.30.0, players on Windows and MacOS will be directed to the Pokemon.com website to install the latest version of Pokémon TCG Live when clicking the Update Now prompt within the game client.

While we approach the end of the memorable era of the Scarlet & Violet Series, we're excited to welcome the triumphant return of Mega Evolution Pokémon with the first expansion of the newest series of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution!

Special

• Mega Evolution
  • These powerful Pokémon cards, last seen in the Pokémon TCG: XY—Evolutions expansion released back in 2016, are finally back with updated rules and mechanics!
• Code Cards
  • All code cards starting with Mega Evolution are getting a makeover featuring a brand-new Pokémon illustration. Pikachu is the featured Pokémon for all code cards in Mega Evolution Series products!
    • To celebrate this new aesthetic, we are giving away a deck-accessory set featuring Pikachu in Pokémon TCG Live! Log in any time on or after September 25, 2025, to receive a deck box, coin, and card sleeves featuring the new Pikachu code card illustration. These items are yours to keep forever, and this giveaway will remain available indefinitely.

Featured

• Added support for the Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution expansion.

Gameplay/Battle

• Pokémon TCG Live Mega Updates
  • Beyond the changes Mega Evolution Pokémon ex will introduce to the game itself, the Pokémon TCG Live game client will also be evolving to celebrate the return of Mega Evolution!
  • We have a brand-new lobby music track for when you are out of battle, which brings the hype of Mega Evolution Pokémon into the auditory realm. Make sure to turn up the volume!
  • We're launching a new Battle Board to celebrate the powerful Mega Evolution Pokémon coming in the Mega EvolutionSeries!
    • New visual effects when Mega Evolution Pokémon cards are played on the Battle Board.

Cards

• Fixed an issue where Kyogre ex's (SVP #178) Winding Waves attack would always swap the opponent's Benched Pokémon.
• Fixed an issue where Ethan's Quilava (DRI #033) Bonded by the Journey Ability would still search the deck with four copies of Ethan's Adventure (DRI #165) in the discard pile.

Competitive/Economy

• New Battle Pass for Mega Evolution, starting September 25, 2025.
  • This Battle Pass will once again feature 100 tiers to unlock!
  • All players receive a Mega Lucario ex deck
  • All players who reach tier 50 in the Battle Pass will also receive a Mega Gardevoir ex deck
• Adjustments have been made to Ranked Ladder resets to reduce the number of ranks dropped!
  • As we continue to adjust our Ranked Ladder experience to be the best that it can be, we are reducing the number of ranks that some players fall when a new Ranked Ladder begins. Starting from the current August 2025 Ladder, players now drop a maximum of eight full ranks when a Ladder turns over.
    • This means that players who have reached Master League, for example, will start the next Ladder off from the Gardevoir rank of Great League, as opposed to being returned to the bottom of Quick League. Players in the Gardevoir rank of Great League and below will continue to drop to the Pikachu rank of Quick League, and the Nest League will be unaffected by this change.
• New Trainer Trials are being added. For more information and detailed scheduling, visit the dedicated Trainer Trials Schedule announcement.

For more information about Battle Pass decks, check out our Mega Evolution Battle Pass Deck Strategies article.
General

• Only daily quests with no existing progress on it will be refreshed each day.
• Fixed an issue where progress bars didn't update properly when navigating to "Expansion" in the shop.
• Various other fixes/polish.

Battle Pass
The Battle Pass for Mega Evolution will commence as soon as the new expansion drops, on Thursday September 25th at 10:00am (PDT) / 5:00pm (UTC). The Battle Pass again has 100 tiers, following the same structure and format introduced with the Battle Pass for Black Bolt and White Flare, including the faster rate of experience point gain for more rapid progression. All players who log-in to the game over the period of this Battle Pass can expect to receive a free deck based around Mega Lucario ex, while progressing through the ranks will unlock a variety of booster packs, Collector Crates, and individual cards, together with Trainer Points, Trade Credits, and in-game cosmetic items. At rank 50, players will unlock a second free deck based around Mega Gardevoir ex. Full decklists for both of these free decks have been posted in an article on Pokemon.com, together with basic strategies for play using these decks.

In-Game Events
A pair of special in-game campaigns will be running over the coming month. These will commence with the Mega Live campaign running from September 25th to October 23rd, which celebrates the launch of both the Mega Evolution TCG expansion series, and the base Mega Evolution expansion itself. In addition to cosmetic changes to the game with new background music and Battle Board, players will also be able to acquire a variety of other cosmetics including deck accessories, and avatar catchphrases and clothing.

Immediately following the conclusion of this campaign, Pokémon TCG Live will begin its celebration of the spooky season with Pokéween 2025. As you'd expect for this kind of seasonal event, the Battle Board will get a suitably themed new appearance, and new ghost-themed avatar clothing items will be available. A Halloween-themed Trainer Trials challenge (see below) will also be running alongside this Halloween in-game event.

The Trainer Trials schedule for Mega Evolution, as posted on the official community forums, is as follows:

• Week 1-2: Mega Singleton Showdown
  • Period: 09-25 17:00:00 UTC - 10-09 17:00:00 UTC
  • Card Pool: Standard
  • Trial Rules:
    • Only one copy of each card is allowed, except for basic Energy
    • Decks must include exactly one Mega Evolution Pokémon ex
• Week 3-4: Gym Leader Challenge
  • Period: 10-09 17:00:00 UTC - 10-23 17:00:00 UTC
  • Card Pool: Only cards from the Black & White series onwards
    • Currently on TCG Live, that functionally means the Sun & Moon series onwards
  • Trial Rules:
    • Only one copy of each card is allowed, except for basic Energy
    • Every Pokémon must share a single Energy type
    • Cards with a Rule Box are not allowed
    • ACE SPEC cards are not allowed
    • The following cards are banned:
      • Oranguru (UPR #114)
      • Chip-Chip Ice Axe (UNB #165)
      • Hiker (CES #133)
      • Kyogre (SHF #021)
      • Pokémon Research Lab (UNM #205)
      • Raikou (VIV #050)
      • Marshadow (SLG #045)
      • Duskull (CEC #083)
      • Twin Energy (RCL #174)
      • Double Colorless Energy (SUM #131)
• Week 5-7: Trick or Treat
  • Period: 10-23 17:00:00 UTC - 11-13 17:00:00 UTC
  • Card Pool: Expanded
  • Trial Rules:
    • Decks must include exactly four Rare Candy
    • Decks must include exactly four Switch