Level cap

Your Pokémon stop leveling until you defeat the next gym leader. On PokeHaven EU this stays on — it is intentional progression.

Contents

    Why it exists

    Without a cap, people overlevel at spawn and skip the adventure. The cap pushes you through gyms and keeps fights fair.

    Important

    Players cannot disable the level cap here. Beat gyms to raise it. If XP “stops”, you are at the cap — not broken.

    Kanto ladder (approx)

    While a leader is your next target, your cap is roughly that leader’s strongest Pokémon level + 5. Numbers below are a guide — confirm with your Trainer Card in-game.

    Next targetBadge / roleTypeTeam max lvApprox cap
    Brock Boulder Badge Rock 20 ~25
    Misty Cascade Badge Water 25 ~30
    Lt. Surge Thunder Badge Electric 35 ~40
    Erika Rainbow Badge Grass 40 ~45
    Koga Soul Badge Poison 50 ~55
    Sabrina Marsh Badge Psychic 55 ~60
    Blaine Volcano Badge Fire 60 ~65
    Giovanni Earth Badge Ground 70 ~75
    Lorelei Elite Four Ice 75 ~80
    Bruno Elite Four Fighting 80 ~85
    Agatha Elite Four Ghost 85 ~90
    Lance Elite Four Dragon 90 ~95
    Blue Champion Mixed 100 ~105

    Johto ladder (approx)

    After the Johto Trainer Card, the same +5 rule applies to Johto leaders. Deep guides: Johto gyms.

    Next targetBadge / roleTypeTeam max lvApprox cap
    Valerio Zephyr Badge Flying 20 ~25
    Raffaello Hive Badge Bug 30 ~35
    Chiara Plain Badge Normal 35 ~40
    Angelo Fog Badge Ghost 45 ~50
    Furio Storm Badge Fighting 50 ~55
    Jasmine Mineral Badge Steel 60 ~65
    Alfredo Glacier Badge Ice 65 ~70
    Sandra Rising Badge Dragon 70 ~75
    Pino Elite Four Psychic 75 ~80
    Koga Elite Four Poison 80 ~85
    Bruno Elite Four Fighting 85 ~90
    Karen Elite Four Dark 90 ~95
    Lance Champion Dragon 100 ~105

    XP looks broken?

    1. Open your Trainer Card and see which gym is next.
    2. Get that gym’s map (Gym maps).
    3. Improve coverage and heals — do not only grind the same route.
    4. Beat the leader; the cap rises and XP sticks again.

    See also: Progression · Kanto gyms · Johto gyms · FAQ