This page contains a compendium of links to resources that I and others have created for the various battle challenges introduced in main series games, the Stadium and Orre games, and the Legends games.
The term "Battle Facilities" is a catch-all that refers to the Battle Tower, Battle Frontier, and other related facilities. Battle facilities typically follow these rules, with occasional exceptions:
The following games have a facility that follows under this definition:
The Battle Tower was originally added to Crystal as a feature that could be unlocked with access to the Mobile System GB, a Japan-only method of connecting to the Internet with a mobile phone. The discontinuation of the Mobile System GB means the Battle Tower is inaccessible in Japanese versions of the game (including the 2018 rerelease for the 3DS Virtual Console). In international releases of the game (including the 2018 rereleases), the Battle Tower is available to everyone.
In this version of the Battle Tower, there are ten possible challenges, starting with Level 10 and proceeding in increments of 10, up to 100. Each challenge has its own set of Pokémon that can be used by opposing Trainers. Battles are conducted in rounds of 7, and unlike future games, the game does not keep track of the player's total win streak past 7. All battles are Single Battles, as other types of battle were not present in Crystal.
The Pokémon that can be faced, and some more information about the tower's rules, can be found here.
In this version of the Battle Tower, there are two modes: Level 50 and Level 100, which determine the level of opposing Pokémon. Each mode has its own set of Trainers and their Pokémon. Abilities for opposing Pokémon that have two are random. Battles are conducted in rounds of 7. All battles are Single Battles.
Additionally, all Pokémon that can be used by opposing Trainers are only those which can be found in the Hoenn Pokédex, which consists of 200 Pokémon.
My general overview page is here. Information about possible opposing Pokémon can be found here, and information about opposing Trainers (including the IVs that each Trainer will have for their Pokémon) can be found here.
In Emerald, a whole area called the Battle Frontier was introduced, which has seven facilities that use a variety of different gimmicks and rules. Trainers and Pokémon are shared across all facilities. Abilities for opposing Pokémon that have two are random. All facilities provide the option for level 50 or Open Level (where the opposing Pokémon match the highest level of the player's selected Pokémon). The available level modes, the number of battles that are included in a round, and the types of battles the player can play (Singles, Doubles, or Multi) depends on the specific facility.
The facilities in this version of the Battle Frontier are:
My general overview page is here. Information about possible opposing Pokémon (which are also the Pokémon the player can use in the Battle Factory) can be found here, and information about opposing Trainers (including the IVs that each Trainer will have for their Pokémon) can be found here.
In this version of the Battle Tower, there is only a level 50 mode, and all Pokémon higher than level 50 will have their level set back to 50 (retaining their EVs). Abilities for opposing Pokémon that can have two are random. The player can engage in Single Battles, Double Battles, or Multi Battles (either with a computer-controlled Trainer or another person with a copy of Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold, or SoulSilver). Battles are conducted in rounds of 7.
My general overview page is here. Information about possible opposing Pokémon can be found here, and information about opposing Trainers (including the IVs that each Trainer will have for their Pokémon) can be found here.
In Platinum, the Battle Frontier makes its return from Emerald, with five facilities as opposed to Emerald's seven. HeartGold and SoulSilver use the exact same Frontier, with the only difference being the fixing of a bug that affects the Factory Frontier Brain's possible teams. Trainers are shared across all facilities. There are two sets of Pokémon: one used by the Tower, Arcade, Castle, and Factory, and a second used exclusively by the Hall. Abilities for opposing Pokémon that have two are random. All facilities provide the option for Single Battles, Double Battles, or Multi Battles (with another person with a copy of Platinum, HeartGold, or SoulSilver). The available level options and the number of battles that are included in a round depends on the specific facility.
The facilities in this version of the Battle Frontier are:
My general overview page is here. Information about possible opposing Pokémon for the Tower, Arcade, Castle, and Factory can be found here, and opposing Pokémon for the Battle Hall can be found here. Information about opposing Trainers (including the IVs that each Trainer will haeve for their Pokémon) in the Tower, Arcade, Castle, and Factory can be found here.
This facility functions as the Battle Tower did in previous games, with a different name. The facility is identical between Black & White and Black 2 & White 2. In this version of the concept, there is only a level 50 mode, and all Pokémon higher or lower than level 50 will have their level set to 50 (retaining their EVs). Abilities for opposing Pokémon that can have multiple are random, but do not include Hidden Abilities. The player can engage in Single Battles, Double Battles, or Multi Battles (either with a computer-controlled Trainer or another person with a copy of Black, White, Black 2, or White 2). Battles are conducted in rounds of 7.
This version of the facility additionally introduces two modes: the 'regular' version of a mode, and the 'Super' version. The 'regular' version only allows the player to play 21 battles (3 rounds) before ending, but the 'Super' version can be challenged indefinitely.
Information about possible opposing Pokémon can be found here, and information about opposing Trainers (including the IVs that each Trainer will have for their Pokémon) can be found here.
This facility functions as the Battle Subway did in Black, White, Black 2, and White 2, with a different name. The facility is identical between X & Y and Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, although the computer Trainers that can be used in Multis are different. In this version of the concept, there is only a level 50 mode, and all Pokémon higher than level 50 will have their level set back to 50 (retaining their EVs). Abilities for opposing Pokémon that can have multiple are random, and can include Hidden Abilities. Opposing Trainers do not use Mega Evolution. The player can engage in Single Battles, Double Battles, Triple Battles (with 6 Pokémon), Rotation Battles (with 4 Pokémon), or Multi Battles (either with a computer-controlled Trainer or another person with a copy of X, Y, Omega Ruby, or Alpha Sapphire).
Unlike all previous facilities, there are no "rounds" in the Battle Maison. Instead, the player can simply stop after any battle of their choice and do anything else on the save file that they wish before resuming.
The 'Normal' version of a mode only allows the player to play 20 battles before ending, as opposed to the Battle Subway's 21.
My general overview page is here. Information about possible opposing Pokémon can be found here, and information about opposing Trainers (including the IVs that each Trainer will have for their Pokémon) can be found here.
This facility functions as the Battle Maison did in X, Y, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire, with a different name. The facility is almost identical in all versions, but some Pokémon and Trainer rosters differ slightly between Sun & Moon and Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, and some enemy Trainers may only appear in certain versions (either Sun & Ultra Sun versus Moon & Ultra Moon, or Sun & Moon versus Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon). In this version of the concept, there is only a level 50 mode, and all Pokémon higher than level 50 will have their level set back to 50 (retaining their EVs). In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon only, the 'Normal' mode allows the player to enter Pokémon at any level, while the opponents stay at level 50. Abilities for opposing Pokémon that can have multiple are random, and can include Hidden Abilities. Opposing Pokémon sets that are holding a Z item or a Mega Stone can use a Z-Move or be Mega Evolved. The player can engage in Single Battles, Double Battles, or Multi Battles (either with a computer-controlled Trainer or another person with a copy of Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, or Ultra Moon).
Information about possible opposing Pokémon can be found here, with differences between Sun & Moon and Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon noted. Information about opposing Trainers (including the IVs that each Trainer will have for their Pokémon) can be found here.
In this version of the concept, there is only a level 50 mode, and all Pokémon higher than level 50 will have their level set back to 50 (retaining their EVs). Abilities for opposing Pokémon that can have multiple are random, and can include Hidden Abilities. A small number of opposing Trainers are capable of Dynamaxing their Pokémon, and Leon can Gigantamax his Charizard. The player can engage in Single Battles or Double Battles.
Unlike previous facilities, this version of the concept introduces 'ranks' which the player must advance through. There are 10 ranks and a 'MAX' rank that can only be reached after completing the other 10. The player must complete a specific number of wins at each rank in order to advance to the next. Once a rank has been achieved, losing a battle will not demote the player to a previous rank. Once the player has achieved Max Rank, the battles here can be completed indefinitely and do not affect the player's rank.
Information about possible opposing Pokémon (including the IVs associated with each Pokémon set) can be found here. Information about possible opposing Trainers can be found here.
In this version of the concept, there is only a level 50 mode, and all Pokémon higher than level 50 will have their level set back to 50 (retaining their EVs). Abilities for opposing Pokémon that can have multiple are fixed. The player can engage in Single Battles or Double Battles. Battles are conducted in rounds of 7.
This version of the Battle Tower has two modes: Regular Class and Master Class. The goal of the Regular Class is to win 49 matches in a row (7 rounds). After that point, the player cannot progress further in the Regular Class.
In the Master Class, the player increases their rank after completing each round of 7 battles, up to a maximum of Rank 10. Unlike in Sword and Shield, losing battles will result in the player's rank being decreased; the number of losses required to lower the player's rank depends on their current rank.
My general overview page is here. Information about possible opposing Pokémon can be found here, and information about possible opposing Trainers can be found here. Information about boss Trainers that are faced at the end of each rank in Master Class can be found here.
Some of the supplementary games in the Pokémon series (the Stadium series, Colosseum, and XD) have their own tournaments that follow similar rules as the Battle Tower. The primary differences here are:
However, the other standard rules of the Battle Tower tend to remain in place: the player cannot use items; all Pokémon are the same level; two Pokémon of the same species or with the same held item cannot be brought by either the player or their opponent. This part of the page links to my information about these types of tournaments in the supplementary games.
In this version of the concept, only a total of 40 Pokémon are allowed to be used in either of the tournaments. Pokémon are not set to a specific level when entered into either tournament; the player must make sure the Pokémon is at the desired level before entering it. In both tournaments, the player brings six Pokémon and can pick three to battle the opposing Trainer with. Pokémon can either be selected from a list of rentals or transferred from a connected copy of (Japanese) Red, Green, Blue, or Yellow. All battles are Single Battles.
The specific tournaments are as follows:
My general overview page is here.
In this version of the concept, Pokémon are not set to a specific level when entered into any tournament; the player must make sure the Pokémon is at the desired level before entering it. In all tournaments, the player brings six Pokémon and can pick three to battle the opposing Trainer with. Pokémon can either be selected from a list of rentals or transferred from a connected copy of Red, Green, Blue, or Yellow. All battles are Single Battles.
The specific tournaments are as follows:
My general overview page is here.
In this version of the concept, Pokémon are not set to a specific level when entered into any tournament; the player must make sure the Pokémon is at the desired level before entering it. In all tournaments, the player brings six Pokémon and can pick three to battle the opposing Trainer with. Pokémon can either be selected from a list of rentals or transferred from a connected copy of Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver, or Crystal. All battles are Single Battles.
The specific tournaments are as follows:
The tournaments that use Tower-like rules in Colosseum are all part of Battle Mode. Pokémon are not set to a specific level when entered into any tournament; the player must the player must make sure the Pokémon is at the desired level before entering it. Abilities of opposing Pokémon are fixed. In all Singles tournaments, the player brings six Pokémon and can pick three to battle the opposing Trainer with; in all Doubles tournaments, both Trainers pick four. Pokémon can either be selected from the Pokémon the player has obtained in Story Mode or transferred from a connected copy of Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed, or LeafGreen. The type of battle depends on the tournament selected.
There is only one tournament that uses Tower-like rules: the Orre Colosseum. In this tournament, the player brings six Pokémon and can pick four to battle the opposing Trainer with. The opponents' Pokémon will all match the level of the player's highest-level Pokémon. If the player's highest-level Pokémon is lower than 60, all opposing Pokémon will be level 60. Pokémon can either be selected from the Pokémon the player has obtained in the story or transferred from a connected copy of Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed, or LeafGreen. All battles are Double Battles.
The Orre Colosseum Trainer data can be found here.
In addition to the challenges outlined above, several Pokémon games offer battle challenges that may have similar mechanics to the Battle Tower and its kin, but are often not identical. This section describes some such challenges.
The player can battle Mewtwo with a full team of six Pokémon. Mewtwo's stats and moves can be found here.
The player can battle the Rival with a full team of six Pokémon. The Rival's team, including stats and moves, can be found here.
Stadium 2 also has Earl's Pokémon Academy, a mode where the player can learn about battle mechanics by being asked to complete mock battles in a specific way. Information about those mock battles can be found here.
Slateport City, Verdanturf Town, and Fallarbor Town contain Battle Tents: facilities which allow the player to play using the mechanics of one of the Battle Frontier's facilities. Unlike the Battle Frontier, Pokémon here are all taken from the Hoenn Pokédex, and the game does not track a streak for winning multiple rounds in a row.
Emerald also features Trainer Hill, a series of Double Battles where the player is encouraged to complete the required battles quickly. The Trainers in this facility are dictated by scanning e-Reader cards. Enemy Trainers' Pokémon will always match the level of the player's highest-level Pokémon. Information about all opposing Trainers, including those that require the e-Reader to access, can be found here.
FireRed and LeafGreen feature the Trainer Tower, which works similarly to Emerald's Trainer Hill, although with different Trainers and Pokémon. Information about all opposing Trainers, including those that require the e-Reader to access, can be found here.
The player can complete the Mt. Battle challenge in Story Mode, where opposing Trainers' Pokémon are always set to a specific level, and there is no requirement for the player's Pokémon to match those levels. However, completing all 100 battles is necessary to get a Time Flute and the Earth Ribbon. Stats and movesets for the Pokémon in this challenge can be found here.
The player can complete the Mt. Battle challenge, where opposing Trainers' Pokémon are always set to a specific level, and there is no requirement for the player's Pokémon to match those levels. However, completing all 100 battles is necessary to get the Johto Starters. Stats and movesets for the Pokémon in this challenge can be found here.
The player can engage in Battle Sims and collect Battle CDs, which allow the player to play mock battles similar to those employed in Earl's Pokémon Academy in Pokémon Stadium 2. Battle Sim information is here, and Battle CD information is here.
The player can also engage in a type of challenge called Battle Bingo, where the player must win successive one-on-one battles with Pokémon who only know one move. Battle Bingo information is here.
Both X & Y and Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire contain the Battle Institute facility. Trainers here use the same Pokémon as those from the Battle Maison. However, the goal of this facility is only to defeat five Trainers in a row, but to obtain a 'high score' by playing well against the opponent. Information about the scoring can be found here.
In Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire only, the player can take the Mauville Food Court challenge in Mauville City. This challenge expects the player to defeat enemy Trainers in a specific number of turns. Information about this challenge can be found here.
The Isle of Armor DLC package allows the player to take the Restricted Sparring challenge. The goal of this challenge is to defeat five Trainers using a team of Pokémon that all must share at least one common type, with only two full heals allotted to the player. Although the player only needs to defeat five Trainers, the game will track the player's highest recorded streak for any one type. Opposing Pokémon for Restricted Sparring can be found here.
Let's Go Pikachu & Let's Go Eevee feature Master Trainers, one for every species of Pokémon the player can obtain in the game, that each only have one Pokémon. The player must defeat each Trainer using only the same species of Pokémon as that Trainer has, in a similar design to that used by the Battle Hall in Platinum's Battle Frontier. Information about opposing Trainers can be found here.
The free Daybreak update for Legends: Arceus introduced the Path of Solitude. Here, a single Pokémon must defeat a single enemy Pokémon to clear the challenge, in a similar design to that used by the Battle Hall in Platinum's Battle Frontier. Information about opposing Pokémon can be found here.