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Pokemon All 22 Rules
Pokemon All 22 is a fan trend that asks one question: if Pokémon played American football, who would start? You fill every one of the 22 starting spots, 11 on offense and 11 on defense, with a Pokémon that fits the job, then defend your roster. This page explains the rules, the positions, how to draft and how teams are judged, both in the online trend and in our All 22 builder.
What the All 22 trend is
"All-22" is NFL jargon for the coaching film shot from high above the field so that all 22 players are visible on every snap. The meme took that idea literally: instead of picking a favourite Pokémon for quarterback and stopping, you have to fill the whole field, including the unglamorous offensive line and safety spots. Lineups get posted as images and the comments decide whether Snorlax really belongs at center.
The core rules
- 22 spots, 22 Pokémon. Eleven offensive starters and eleven defensive starters.
- One Pokémon per spot. No duplicates. Different evolutions are different Pokémon.
- Fit the role. The fun is in matching a Pokémon's body and stats to the job: big and heavy up front, fast on the outside, smart at quarterback.
- Optional limits. Many players cap Legendaries, restrict to one generation, or require a draft so you can't just take the best Pokémon at every spot.
The 22 positions
Offense (11)
| Spot | Position | Job | Stats that matter here |
|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Quarterback | Throws or hands off on every play; reads the defense. | Special Attack, Special Defense, Speed |
| RB | Running back | Takes handoffs and breaks tackles. | Speed, Attack, HP |
| FB | Fullback | Lead blocker and short-yardage runner. | Attack, HP, size |
| WR ×2 | Wide receivers | Run routes and catch deep passes. | Speed above all, plus Attack and Special Attack |
| TE | Tight end | Half blocker, half receiver. | Attack, Defense, Speed, size |
| OL ×5 | Offensive line (LT, LG, C, RG, RT) | Protect the QB and open running lanes. | Defense, HP, size (weight and height) |
Defense (11)
| Spot | Position | Job | Stats that matter here |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE ×2 | Defensive ends | Rush the passer from the edge. | Attack, size, Defense |
| DT ×2 | Defensive tackles | Clog the middle against the run. | Attack, size, Defense |
| LB ×3 | Linebackers (OLB, MLB, OLB) | Tackle runners and cover short passes. | Attack, Defense, Speed |
| CB ×2 | Cornerbacks | Shadow wide receivers. | Speed, Special Defense |
| FS / SS | Safeties | Last line of defense; deep coverage and run support. | Speed, Special Defense, Attack |
That is a standard 4-3 defense (four linemen, three linebackers) with two receivers and a tight end on offense. For a deeper look at each spot with example Pokémon, see All 22 positions explained.
How to play
Free build
Open the builder, tap a position on the field and pick any of the 151 Gen 1 Pokémon. Each pick shows its fit rating right away, so you can try Onix at left tackle, then Golem, and keep the better one. When all 22 spots are full, run the season and share your lineup image or link.
Draft it
Picking the best Pokémon for every spot gets easy. A draft adds scarcity: in the snake draft you take turns with CPU teams or friends, so if someone else grabs Mewtwo first, your quarterback plan changes. The 151 Challenge offers three random Pokémon per round, and the 17-0 Challenge gives you one roll and only lets you choose the position.
Scoring and judging
In the original trend there is no official score; lineups are judged by fit and by argument. We added a transparent rating so teams can be compared:
- Position fit (40–99). Each position weighs base stats and size differently. A wide receiver is mostly Speed; an offensive lineman is mostly Defense, HP and weight. The full weights are in the rating formula guide.
- Offense and defense ratings. The average fit of the filled spots on each side.
- Type variety bonus. +1 for every three different types on the roster, up to +5.
- Team OVR = average of offense and defense + type bonus.
- 17-game season. Each game compares your OVR with a random opponent rated 62 to 87, plus some luck. A high-80s roster usually wins most games, but going 17-0 still takes a strong team and a kind schedule.
Quick tips
- Spend your fastest Pokémon on WR and CB, where Speed is weighted most.
- Heavy Pokémon (Snorlax, Onix, Golem, Rhydon) are worth more on the lines than at skill positions.
- Mix types late: swapping one similar player for a new type can add a point of OVR.
- More strategy: how to build the best All 22 team.