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| - There are literally hundreds of local leagues scattered throughout the various regions, from casual clubs for "weekend warriors" to nonprofit organizations that stage charity events to dedicated amateur promotions that have been the first stop for national champions (or the last stop for burnouts who can't hack it in the big time anymore). Generally these leagues rarely if ever leave their home city, and play to small crowds ranging from a few dozen to maybe a thousand, depending on the size of the venue and the prestige of the league itself. Some of the most notable and popular local leagues: Viridian Amateur Battle League (Viridian City, Kanto) One of the largest and most respected of all the "hometown" leagues, and one of the few to have its own permanent venue. Numerous graduates of the PCA have started their professional battling careers here. It's not uncommon to see talent scouts and managers from larger promotions filling the front rows on any given day, looking for the next hot prospect. Sky Masters Alliance (Blackthorn City, Johto) Possibly the largest draw to this isolated mountain city for those who aren't seeking a quiet getaway. The combination of high altitudes and stable climate have made this league a favorite for Dragon and Flying-types, who make up roughly 80% of the league's roster. There are rumors that a Pikachu that knows how to Fly battles here on rare occasions. Ever Grande Battling Society (Ever Grande City, Hoenn) Notable for being the league of choice for Hoenn's social elite, who gather at private clubs and banquet halls in the city on weekends to show off to their fellow high society peers. CEO's, local politicians and other assorted VIP's are among the usual participants. Audience sizes are generally not that large, as getting in to this league's events is by invitation only. Jubilife Battle Live (Jubilife City, Sinnoh) Holding weekly events in Jubilife TV's Studio 7, this local league and its participants enjoy the benefit of television exposure (even if it is at 11 PM on Saturdays). Major increases in production values and financial backing from Jubilife TV have brought this league up from mere novelty status to being a seriously considered starting point for battlers in the Sinnoh region. REGIONAL The equivalent of Triple-A baseball or college football, regional leagues are a notable step up from the locals but still not as glamorous or highly publicized as the higher leagues. Nonetheless they are considered an important part of professional battling, as the fiercely competitive environment provides a more accurate gauge of a battler's true skill than the local circuits. For every one regional battler who's moved up to the big leagues, there are 10 hometown heroes who found they just didn't have what it takes to advance any further. While small regions like Orre or Fiore only have one regional league, others may have up to four operating at any given time, each with its own distinct battling style and format. Every year, the Inter-Regional League Conference is held in a randomly chosen city to showcase the best each region has to offer. Dozens of each region's top battlers compete in several different classes and types of events over the course of a month, and winning the top spot in one's class is considered an almost guaranteed entry into a national league. Currently active regional leagues include: Kanto: Indigo Plateau League, Victory Road League, Cerulean Championship Conference Johto: Silver Battle Federation, Regional Battle League of Johto, R.A.G.E. Battling Hoenn: New Battle Frontier, NBF Anarchy!, NBF Unchained, NBF ZERO-ONE Sinnoh: Sinnoh All-Pro League, Coronet Promotions LLC, Valor League Unlimited Orre: Mt. Battle Power Tournament Fiore: KISARA Almia: Batonnage/Union Regional Confederation NATIONAL The top tier of professional battling, national leagues are among the toughest and most prestigious organizations, the place where a fighter with the right combination of battle skills and charisma can become a celebrity overnight. Those who make it this far can look forward to offers of lucrative multi-year contracts and hefty sponsorship deals, but also the increased burdens of traveling almost non-stop and being constantly in the public eye, not to mention battling in front of massive crowds with some of the most skilled and powerful 'mon to ever step into an arena. Only those with the most physical, mental and spiritual strength will manage to make a long-term career at this level. The most popular of the national leagues: Felix Blackclaw's Iron League: Arguably the most well-known of the national leagues, and usually the first one that comes to mind when the topic of professional battling comes up. While high level battling skills are a must to succeed here, good on-camera skills are a definite plus as well. Steelstar League: Known for being a league of no compromises, where one has to be extremely disciplined to even think of getting near the top. The league's owner, Diane Steelstar, has a reputation for being completely unforgiving to those who can't meet the rigorous demands she sets forth. Metal Claw League: (description pending.) Lunar Wing League: A relatively new national league that has attracted a lot of attention for its unusual goal. The board of directors has declared that whoever can hold all seven of the league's division championships at one time will be given its ultimate prize: ownership of the league itself. The "big daddy" of all the national leagues is the Grand Champions Tournament. Much like the IRLC, this two week event brings together only the best of the best. Since there is a substantial entrance fee just to participate, typically the list of competitors is made up of national league champions whose respective organizations fronted the money to enter them, as well as independent battlers who are successful enough to pay out of their own pockets. The event is divided into single, tag and team tournaments, with their respective championship titles being the crown jewel of any battler's career. The Undisputed Grand Champion title in particular is the ultimate achievement of professional battling, and any 'mon who earns this title can truly be considered the absolute greatest fighter out there today. INDEPENDENT Although the majority of professional battlers are league based, there are some who don't associate themselves with a single organization. "Indies" often find themselves bouncing around between whatever local and regional leagues they can afford to travel to, and sometimes filling in spots part-time with any national league that happens to be in town. On occasion, the more highly skilled battlers have been known to go touring with a national promotion for an extended period of time, sometimes up to an entire year. Although the term independent is most commonly associated with individual battlers, there are also a small number of independent teams that make the rounds as well. The decision to battle independently can be made for any number of reasons. Some want to test their skills against a broader range of opponents than can be provided in a single league. Others want to make a name for themselves on their own merits, rather than based on which league they're associated with. There are also former big-timers who are too old or broken down to sign on with a league, but still can't bring themselves to give up the lifestyle. And still others who are simply journey'mon looking for their next paycheck. Whatever their reasons, independent battlers may tend to get overlooked due to their lack of league affiliation but that doesn't mean they are any less skilled. In fact, the Undisputed Grand Champion title has gone to an independent fighter three times in the last 10 years.
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