Special Pokémon

In Generation VII, it is unclear whether Greninja with Battle Bond is considered a Special Pokémon. Unlike Special Pokémon, it is allowed in the Battle Tree, but like them it is banned from the Battle Spot.

In Generation I, many official tournaments banned Mewtwo and Mew, the only existing Special Pokémon and Mythical Pokémon, respectively. As subsequent generations expanded both groups, the additional members were also banned from most official tournaments. However, some tournaments, such as the Mobile Cup 2001 and Pokémon Emerald Ultimate Frontier Brain Battle, only banned Mythical Pokémon and allowed Special Pokémon. Several online competitions specifically allow Special Pokémon, or Special Pokémon and Mythical Pokémon.

At the Pokémon Video Game Showdown 2008, Dragonite, Tyranitar, and all Special Pokémon and Mythical Pokémon were banned. In the 2009 Pokémon Video Game Championships, Tyranitar and all Special Pokémon and Mythical Pokémon were banned.

In the 2010 Pokémon Video Game Championships, a player could have up to 2 Special Pokémon on their team, but all Mythical Pokémon were banned.

In the Pokémon Video Game Championships from 2011 to 2015, all Special Pokémon and Mythical Pokémon were banned.

In the 2016 Pokémon Video Game Championships, a player could have up to 2 Special Pokémon on their team, but all Mythical Pokémon were banned.

In the Pokémon Video Game Championships from 2017 to 2018, all Special Pokémon and Mythical Pokémon were banned. This also included Ash Greninja.

In the 2019 Pokémon Video Game Championships, a player could have up to 2 Special Pokémon on their team, but all Mythical Pokémon and Ash Greninja were banned.

In Generation II, Special Pokémon and Mythical Pokémon can only enter the Battle Tower if the level chosen is 70 or higher (Eggs are not allowed to enter).

From Generation III onward, Eggs, Spiky-eared Pichu, Special Pokémon and Mythical Pokémon are banned from most battle facilities (except Trainer Tower and Trainer Hill). Additionally, in Generation IV, Rotom will revert to its normal form when entered in a battle facility.

In Generation VIII, Special Pokémon and Mythical Pokémon can enter the Battle Tower without restriction but are banned from Restricted Sparring.

Special Pokémon and Mythical Pokémon are banned from all cups in Pokémon Yellow's Colosseum 2, and all Stadium Cups except Prime Cup in Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Stadium 2.

In the Generation IV games' special rulesets in link battles, Special Pokémon and Mythical Pokémon are banned from the Fancy Cup and Light Cup (and the Little Cup implicitly). In the GS Cup, a player can only have up to 2 Special Pokémon on their team, but all Mythical Pokémon are banned.

In Generation VI, Special Pokémon and Mythical Pokémon cannot participate in Rating Battles in Battle Spot Random Matchup.

In Generation VI on the Global Trade System, the player can choose to filter out people seeking special Pokémon. Doing so also filters out players seeking Mythical Pokémon.