Within the Battle Spot option of the PSS, which allows for random battles with other players, for both Free and Rating Battles there is a new mode called Special Battles. Special Battles contain unique rulesets that change with each Battle season on the Pokémon Global Link and this page is to archive all of the rulesets introduced within Special Battle

Season 7

Battle Period: November 21st 2014 - January 12th 2015
Battle Type: Double Battle
Pokémon Restrictions: Hoenn Pokédex
Game Restrictions: None
Banned Pokémon: Non-Hoenn Pokédex Pokémon

The seventh season runs with a standard Double Battle rules from the Battle Spot, but with a difference. In this mode, you can only use Pokémon that are listed within the Hoenn Pokédex

Season 8

Battle Period: January 13th 2015 - March 16th 2015
Battle Type: Double Battle
Pokémon Restrictions: National Pokédex
Banned Pokémon: Mewtwo, Mew, Lugia, Ho-Oh, Celebi, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza, Jirachi, Deoxys, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Phione, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin, Arceus, Victini, Reshiram, Zekrom, Kyurem, Keldeo, Meloetta, Genesect, Xerneas, Yveltal, Zygarde, and Diancie
Other Restrictions: Only hold items can be berries

The eighth season runs with a standard Double Battle rules from the Battle Spot, but with a difference. In this mode, you can only use Pokémon that hold either no item or hold Berries. Any other items, including Mega Stones, are banned.

Season 9

Battle Period: March 17th 2015 - May 11th 2015
Battle Type: Single Battle
Pokémon Restrictions: National Pokédex
Banned Pokémon: Mewtwo, Mew, Lugia, Ho-Oh, Celebi, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza, Jirachi, Deoxys, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Phione, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin, Arceus, Victini, Reshiram, Zekrom, Kyurem, Keldeo, Meloetta, Genesect, Xerneas, Yveltal, Zygarde, and Diancie
Other Restrictions: Battle Duration is reduced

The ninth season runs with a standard Single Battle rules from the Battle Spot, but with a difference. In this mode, battles take a lot less time than usual. Battles can take no longer than 10 minutes, Pokémon selection takes 30 seconds and Turn selection takes 15 seconds

Season 10

Battle Period: May 12th 2015 - July 14th 2015
Battle Type: Single Battle - Inverse Battle
Pokémon Restrictions: National Pokédex
Banned Pokémon: Mewtwo, Mew, Lugia, Ho-Oh, Celebi, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza, Jirachi, Deoxys, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Phione, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin, Arceus, Victini, Reshiram, Zekrom, Kyurem, Keldeo, Meloetta, Genesect, Xerneas, Yveltal, Zygarde, and Diancie

The tenth season runs with a standard Single Battle rules from the Battle Spot, but with a difference. In this mode, battles use Inverse Battle type advantages

Season 11

Battle Period: July 15th 2015 - September 15th 2015
Battle Type: Double Battle
Pokémon Restrictions: National Pokédex
Banned Pokémon: Mewtwo, Mew, Lugia, Ho-Oh, Celebi, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza, Jirachi, Deoxys, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Phione, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin, Arceus, Victini, Reshiram, Zekrom, Kyurem, Keldeo, Meloetta, Genesect, Xerneas, Yveltal, Zygarde, Diancie, and Hoopa.
Charizard, Gengar, Kangaskhan, Tyranitar, Gardevoir, Mawile, Salamence, Garchomp, Rotom, Heatran, Cresselia, Amoonguss, Bisharp, Terrakion, Thundurus, Landorus, Greninja, Talonflame, Aegislash, and Sylveon.

The eleventh season runs with a standard Double Battle rules from the Battle Spot, but it bans all Pokémon that were in the Top 12 in Seasons 7 through 10

Season 12

Battle Period: September 15th 2015 - November 17th 2015
Battle Type: Single Battle
Pokémon Restrictions: National Pokédex
Banned Pokémon: National Pokédex except Mewtwo, Mew, Lugia, Ho-Oh, Celebi, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza, Jirachi, Deoxys, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Phione, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin, Arceus, Victini, Reshiram, Zekrom, Kyurem, Keldeo, Meloetta, Genesect, Xerneas, Yveltal, Zygarde, Diancie and Hoopa. Pokémon that have been transferred through Poké Transporter cannot be used

The twelfth season runs with a standard Single Battle rules from the Battle Spot, but it continues allowing blue pentagon only Pokémon, following the removal of those restrictions in the standard Battle Spot

Season 13

Battle Period: November 17th 2015 - January 18th 2016
Battle Type: Double Battle
Pokémon Restrictions: National Pokédex
Banned Pokémon: National Pokédex except Mewtwo, Mew, Lugia, Ho-Oh, Celebi, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza, Jirachi, Deoxys, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Phione, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin, Arceus, Victini, Reshiram, Zekrom, Kyurem, Keldeo, Meloetta, Genesect, Xerneas, Yveltal, Zygarde, Diancie and Hoopa. Pokémon that have been transferred through Poké Transporter cannot be used
Banned Items: Soul Dew, all Mega Stones

The thirteenth season runs with a standard Double Battle rules , but with a twist. Mega Stones cannot be used on any of the Pokémon.

Season 14

Battle Period: January 19th 2015 - March 15th 2016
Battle Type: Double Battle
Pokémon Restrictions: National Pokédex
Pokémon Limits: Teams may have no more than two of the following Pokémon: Mewtwo, Lugia, Ho-Oh, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Reshiram, Zekrom, Kyurem, Xerneas, Yveltal, and Zygarde.
Banned Pokémon: Mew, Celebi, Jirachi, Deoxys, Phione, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin, Arceus, Victini, Keldeo, Meloetta, Genesect, Diancie, and Hoopa, Pokémon not captured or hatched in X, Y, Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
Banned Items: Soul Dew

The fourteenth season runs with the standard Video Game Championships 2016 rules

Season 15

Battle Period: March 15th 2016 - May 17th 2016
Battle Type: Double Battle
Pokémon Restrictions: National Pokédex
Pokémon Limits: Teams may have no more than two of the following Pokémon: Mewtwo, Lugia, Ho-Oh, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Reshiram, Zekrom, Kyurem, Xerneas, Yveltal, and Zygarde.
Banned Pokémon: Mew, Celebi, Jirachi, Deoxys, Phione, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin, Arceus, Victini, Keldeo, Meloetta, Genesect, Diancie, and Hoopa, Pokémon not captured or hatched in X, Y, Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
Banned Items: Soul Dew

The fifteenth season runs with the standard Video Game Championships 2016 rules for the second

Season 16

Battle Period: May 17th 2016 - July 19th 2016
Battle Type: Double Battle
Pokémon Restrictions: National Pokédex
Pokémon Limits: Teams may have no more than two of the following Pokémon: Mewtwo, Lugia, Ho-Oh, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Reshiram, Zekrom, Kyurem, Xerneas, Yveltal, and Zygarde.
Banned Pokémon: Mew, Celebi, Jirachi, Deoxys, Phione, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin, Arceus, Victini, Keldeo, Meloetta, Genesect, Diancie, and Hoopa, Pokémon not captured or hatched in X, Y, Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
Banned Items: Soul Dew

The sixteenth season runs with the standard Video Game Championships 2016 rules for the third consecutive season

Season 17

Battle Period: July 19th 2016 - September 20th 2016
Battle Type: Single Battle
Pokémon Restrictions: National Pokédex.
Banned Pokémon: National Pokédex except Mewtwo, Mew, Lugia, Ho-Oh, Celebi, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza, Jirachi, Deoxys, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Phione, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin, Arceus, Victini, Reshiram, Zekrom, Kyurem, Keldeo, Meloetta, Genesect, Xerneas, Yveltal, Zygarde, Diancie, Hoopa and Volcanion. Pokémon that have been transferred through Poké Transporter cannot be used
b>Banned Items: Soul Dew, Mega Stones

The seventeemth season runs with the rules based on the Flash Clash Battle Competition where you have 10 seconds to select a move, 30 seconds to select a Pokémon and 5 minutes for the match. .