Pokémon Go Battle League patch notes: Steelix got Breaking Swipe nerfed and Incinerate is hotter than ever

Check out every change made for the upcoming season

A brand-new Pokémon Go season dawns: Timeless Travels begins on December 1, 2023, and features a whole host of fresh Pokémon, events, and challenges to tackle. As usual, Go Battle League benefits from the seasonal update with another pass on balancing as well as changes to the availability of some moves.

In terms of balance adjustments, Niantic presented us with a solid-looking list this season, which mostly contains buffs. However, two attacks have been hit with nerfs to limit their strength: The Dragon-type move Breaking Swipe no longer guarantees a decrease of the opposing Pokémon’s Attack (a nerf likely designed to break Steelix’ iron grip over the meta, but which may condemn the squishier dragons to irrelevance), while Psychic’s power has been lowered by ten points.

Timeless Travels has big changes for Go Battle League in store / Niantic

You can find the full list of balance changes below:

• Mud Slap: Energy Generation increased.
• Fire Spin: Power increased from 9 to 10.
• Incinerate: Power increased from 15 to 20.
• Blaze Kick: Power increased from 55 to 60.
• Breaking Swipe: Decreasing the opponent’s Attack is no longer guaranteed.
• Iron Tail: Power increased from 9 to 10, Energy Generation increased.
• Steel Wing: Energy Generation increased.
• Astonish: Power increased from 5 to 9.
• Bubble: Power increased from 7 to 8.
• Scald: Power increased from 80 to 85, chance to decrease opponent’s Attack increased.
• Psychic: Power decreased from 85 to 75.

Astonish has been waiting for a substantial buff for a while now and this one might be enough to promote the move out of total obscurity. Incinerate is looking mighty as well with a power buff of five points.

In addition to these balance adjustments, some moves have become available to an expanded roster of Pokémon. Take a look below:

• Icy Wind (Ice, Charged Attack): Wigglytuff, Poliwrath, Abomasnow, Avalugg, Hisuian Avalugg, Arctibax
• Parabolic Charge (Electric, Charged, Attack): Dedenne
• Trailblaze (Grass, Charged Attack): Alolan Raichu, Raichu, Alolan Meowth, Alolan Persian, Ariados, Cacnea, Cacturne, Oranguru, Greedent, Nymble, Lokix, Smoliv, Dolliv, Arboliva
• Aerial Ace (Flying, Charged Attack): Alolan Sandslash
• Fly (Flying, Charged Attack): Delibird, Starly, Staravia, Staraptor, Rufflet, Braviary, Hisuian Braviary, Fletchling, Fletchinder, Talonflame, Vikavolt
• Scald (Water, Charged Attack): Slowbro, Galarian Slowbro, Politoed, Slowking, Galarian Slowking, Qwilfish, Suicune, Lotad, Lombre, Ludicolo, Wailmer, Wailord, Barboach, Whiscash, Corphish, Crawdaunt
• Rock Slide (Rock, Charged Attack): Vigoroth
• Shadow Ball (Ghost, Charged Attack): Toxicroak
• Triple Axel (Ice, Charged Attack): Articuno, Delibird, Froslass, Cryogonal
• Astonish (Ghost, Fast Attack): Palossand*

*Palossand could already learn Astonish before the update, so this may be a mistake on Niantic's part and a different move may have been meant for the Pokémon.

Some of these changes look pretty juicy: Talonflame with Fly has some good potential, especially in combination with the Incinerate buff, and Shadow Ball on Toxicroak could be fun as well. Rock Slide on Vigoroth? Scary.

Taken together, all of these updates should provide a solid shake-up for Pokémon Go Battle League. The Timeless Travels Season will start on December 1, 2023, with the Great League and Retro Cup: Great League Edition.