Pokémon battle

Single Battle redirects here. For the battle mode introduced in Generation I for battles through the Pokémon Cable Club, see Single Battle (Battle Mode).

This article is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this article to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Missing information about player-versus-player battles and the methods by which players can enter one

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A battle between Red and Ethan atop Mt. Silver

A Pokémon battle (Japanese: ポケモンバトル Pokémon battle), often known in the Generation I games as a Pokémon fight (Japanese: ポケモンしょうぶ Pokémon fight), is a form of competition between Pokémon. In these battles, one or more of the Pokémon is typically owned and commanded by a human, its Pokémon Trainer.

When a Pokémon faints in battle, its Trainer may send out another to take its place, drawn from their party.

Pokémon battles appear in most forms of Pokémon media, being the central gameplay aspect of the core series games, as well as being a constant focus of the anime. Originally, a Pokémon battle would always be a one-on-one fight between two Pokémon; however, variations on this model have been seen later on in the series, with Pokémon battles featuring multiple Pokémon on each side later being implemented in the games as well.

In the core series games

A battle between a Minccino and a wild Pikachu in Sword and Shield

In the games, the main battle screen will have four options: Fight (or Battle), Bag, Pokémon, and Run. Depending on which of these is selected, a different menu will appear, or the battle may end. These same four options will appear no matter what kind of battle the player is in, be it with a wild Pokémon, an NPC, or another player via link battle. Battles are conducted in a turn-based manner. The Pokémon to take action first is determined by the priority of their action, then the Speed of the Pokémon.

In the core series games, except Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, normally when the player encounters a wild Pokémon they battle that Pokémon. (In Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, as well as in the Safari Zone and Pal Park in other core series games, the player has the opportunity to catch the wild Pokémon but cannot battle it.)

A battle between the player character and another Trainer may begin when the player interacts with that Trainer. Prior to Generation IX, NPCs can also initiate battles with the player by making eye contact with them.

When a Pokémon faints in battle, it may cause its opponent to gain experience or effort values. After all of either side's Pokémon have been defeated, the battle has been won, and the loser must pay out some amount of money to the winner, determined based on the level of the Pokémon and type of Trainer defeated. In the core series games, if the player's Pokémon have all been defeated, the player will black out (in Generation I and since Generation IV) or white out (in Generation II and Generation III), and be teleported back to the most recent Pokémon Center that was visited, or to their home if a Pokémon Center has not yet been visited.

Some battles, most notably link battles or battles in certain battle facilities, will not affect the participating Pokémon's experience, EVs, or friendship. The battle's outcome will not cause money to be awarded to or deducted from participating trainers. Pokémon seen during these battles will not be registered in the Pokédex. Usually, bag items are not allowed in these battles, and all Pokémon and held items are restored after each battle.

A qualifier such as "enemy", "foe", "the foe's", "the opposing", or "the wild" precedes the name of the opposing Pokémon in most battle messages, depending on the game. This includes when they use a move, Ability, when a stat changes, or when they faint.

• In Generations I and II, all opposing Pokémon (no matter if they are wild or owned by a Trainer) are preceded by the word "enemy" (Japanese: てきの enemy's) in most battle messages. For instance: "Enemy Rattata fainted!" or "Enemy Rattata used Tackle!"
  • In some pre-release media from Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, the Japanese qualifier meaning "enemy" (てきの) is still used in battles. This suggests that other qualifiers found in the finished games (as seen below) were introduced later in the games' development.
• In Generation III, wild Pokémon are preceded by the word "wild"; from Generation IV onwards, "the wild" (Japanese: 野生の wild). For instance: "Wild Rattata used Tackle!" (Generation III) or "The wild Rattata used Tackle!" (Generation IV onwards).
• From Generation III onwards, a Pokémon owned by an opposing Trainer is preceded by one of these qualifiers (Japanese: 相手の opponent's):
  • Generation III: "foe". For instance: "Foe Rattata used Tackle!"
  • Generations IV and V: "the foe's". For instance: "The foe's Rattata used Tackle!"
  • Generation VI onwards: "the opposing". For instance: "The opposing Rattata used Tackle!"

Battle commands

Fight

The moves of a Pokémon displayed in the Fight menu

Selecting "Fight" or "Battle" will bring up another menu which allows the player to choose which of their Pokémon's current moves is to be used during the turn. Depending on its remaining PP, a move may or may not be able to be selected; at least 1 PP is required to select the move. If all moves have 0 PP or are not usable for another reason, the Pokémon will use Struggle.

Once both sides have selected the moves they will use, the Pokémon currently in battle will make each of their moves in turn, with the move with the highest priority going first, and the one with the lowest priority going last. If multiple Pokémon use moves of the same priority, then they will move in order of decreasing Speed, unless Trick Room is in effect, in which case the slowest Pokémon will go first. A Pokémon may be unable to move if it is immobilized by a status condition such as paralysis or another status effect such as flinching, it is unable to use its move due to an effect such as Taunt or Disable, or it disobeys its Trainer.

As each Pokémon makes its move, a Pokémon may faint if its HP reaches 0. If this occurs, another Pokémon must be switched in to replace it in battle for the battle to continue. This switch occurs before the turn ends in Generations I, II, and III, but after the end of the turn in Generation IV and on, resulting in a slightly different strategy for Double Battles between Generation III and Generation IV.

Until Generation IV, it has also been possible to switch the order of a Pokémon's moves during battle by using the select button twice. In Generation I, this is the only way to switch move orders.

Bag

Bag menu

Main article: Bag

If "Bag" is selected, it will bring up the contents of the player's Bag on screen. In Generation I, this command is instead "Item", and in Generation II, it is "Pack". In Generations I, II, and III, the Bag menu that is brought up is the same as that in the overworld, with all of a player's items able to be selected (though many cannot be used). Since Generation IV, the games instead feature a separate menu for in-battle use that categorizes the items that the player has depending on their use. If an item is selected to be used, this will take place before any Pokémon makes its move, and the player's Pokémon will not be able to make a move. The Bag selection is sometimes disabled, most notably in link battles and during Battle Frontier competitions.

Pokémon

Pokémon menu

Main article: Party

Selecting "Pokémon" (^P_K^M_N prior to Generation III) will bring up a menu of the player's current party Pokémon. This allows the player to check their summary, or switch them into battle, sending the player's active Pokémon back into its Poké Ball. As with the Bag, the Pokémon menu screen is exactly the same as that in the overworld in Generations I, II, and III, with differences in usable commands, while different in Generation IV and on, featuring only battle-relevant data.

Run

Main article: Escape

If "Run" is selected, the player will attempt to call back their active Pokémon and escape from the battle. Battles against NPC Trainers cannot be run from except in a Battle Frontier facility, while battles against other players can be run from at any time, resulting in a loss (if only one player runs) or a draw (if both players run). In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the player can run from battles against NPC Trainers, but it results in a loss against that Trainer and causes the player to black out immediately. This option, like Fight, also depends on the Speed of the Pokémon in battle, with a calculation made based on the two resulting in either the player escaping a wild battle (if the player's Pokémon's Speed is high enough) or being stuck in battle and losing a turn. Trapping moves can prevent escape attempts from being made, as can the player's own Pokémon if it has previously used Ingrain.

Battle variants

For different rules used in competitive battles, see rule variants.

There are several variants or formats of a standard single battle, in which one Pokémon is sent out against an opponent's Pokémon. These differences are mostly in the number of Trainers and Pokémon involved in the battle at one time, but battles can also differ due to a set of specific rules or banned Pokémon.

Full Battle

Scoreboard for a Full Battle

Main article: Full Battle

A Full Battle, also known as a six-on-six battle, is a battle variant in which both Trainers use a full party of six Pokémon. The first Trainer to completely knock out all of the opposing Trainer's Pokémon wins.

These battles are very rare in the games. Generally only the player's rival and the regional Champion will have a full team during the main storyline, while Gym Leaders and Elite Four members may also have a full team in rematches. In the anime, Full Battles are conducted in the last few rounds of Pokémon League Conferences, but Trainers can challenge one another to a Full Battle any time, although this is rare.

Double Battle

A Double Battle

Main article: Double Battle

A Double Battle is initiated when two Pokémon, rather than one, are sent out per side. Introduced in the games in Generation III, Double Battles can alter a player's strategy by a lot, now having to evade twice the moves and make twice the decisions per turn.

Several moves change when used in Double Battles. While most will target one of the two Pokémon, selectable after the move itself is chosen, some target both opponent Pokémon, both opponents and the partner, the user and its partner, or all Pokémon in the battle. Abilities may have an effect in Double Battles that is very nearly useless in Single Battles, such as Plus, which requires another Pokémon in play to activate.

Some specific Trainer classes, such as Sis and Bro and Sr. and Jr., will automatically engage the player in Double Battles. Additionally, from Pokémon Emerald to Generation V, two independent Trainers who see the player at the same time will also trigger a Double Battle. All battles in Pokémon Colosseum are conducted as Double Battles, as are most in Pokémon XD (with the exception of three Trainer battles and all wild battles).

Double Battles were introduced in the anime very early, first appearing in the third episode where Misty declared them to be breaking Pokémon League rules. Despite this, Team Rocket has battled Ash in nearly every episode since in a Double Battle, sending out two Pokémon at once. Later, Ash himself competed in a Double Battle for the Jade Star Badge in Pokémon Double Trouble. After the release of Ruby and Sapphire, Double Battles were seen in the anime more often. The first took place in All in a Day's Wurmple. Forrester Franklin introduced the concept to Ash and they had a battle that Ash won. As in the games, Ash's Gym Battle against Tate and Liza was a Double Battle. The Double Battle style has been used in Pokémon Contests; specifically in Grand Festival tournaments and competitions following the Double Performance format.

Multi Battle

Fighting Red and Blue in a Multi Battle in Pokémon Sun and Moon

Main article: Multi Battle

A Multi Battle, referred to as a Tag Battle in the anime, is a type of Double Battle in which each of the four Pokémon is controlled by a separate Pokémon Trainer. Aside from the fact that Pokémon on the same side are controlled by different Trainers, Multi Battles act the same as normal Double Battles.

Starting with Generation III, Multi Battles occur when the player has teamed up with another Trainer. If the player has teamed up with another Trainer as part of the storyline, their Pokémon total as well as that of their opponents may exceed the limit of six Pokémon per team imposed by party restrictions for other types of Pokémon battle.

In Generation III, up to four players can battle with each other in a Multi Battle via Game Link Cable by choosing the 'Multi Battle' mode in the Pokémon Cable Club Colosseum. Players decide which side to battle. This was the only way to have a Multi Battle in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire and Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. In Generation IV, the Pokémon Cable Club Colosseum was renamed to the Pokémon Communication Club Colosseum, but Multi Battles can still be conducted by selecting 'Multi Battle'.

Contest Battle

A Contest Battle

Main article: Contest Battle

A Contest Battle is an animated series-exclusive battle variant in which two Pokémon Coordinators face off while attempting to lower each other's scores. These battles have a five-minute time limit, during which each participant must show off their Pokémon in a visually impressive manner. Unlike a regular battle, Coordinators and their Pokémon are judged on the style of their moves and the way they are able to dodge their opponent's attacks.

Contest Battles are usually judged by Mr. Contesta, Mr. Sukizo, and Nurse Joy. They are the ones responsible for subtracting points from a Coordinator's score. Coordinators will generally lose points when their Pokémon are hit by an attack, when their Pokémon's attack fails, when the opponent's Pokémon performs a particularly appealing move or combo, or when the opponent's Pokémon uses their Pokémon's attack to its own advantage. Contest Battles may also end when the judges rule Battle Off for a Pokémon. In this case, the Coordinator with the remaining Pokémon is declared the winner.

Triple Battle

A Triple Battle

Main article: Triple Battle

Triple Battles debuted in Pokémon Battrio, but were only introduced to the core series in Pokémon Black and White. Unlike Double Battles, the positioning of the Pokémon in-battle will be important as the Pokémon on the left will be unable to target the Pokémon on the right and vice-versa, while the Pokémon in the middle is free to attack any other Pokémon in the field, making it the prime attacking position. Also, moves like Hurricane and Acrobatics can damage any of the three Pokémon, or all of them.

The Pokémon on the left and right have the option to shift position with the Pokémon currently in the middle. Shifting has no priority and none of the effects of switching apply to shifting. A Pokémon can move even if it is the last Pokémon on its team. When there are only two Pokémon left on the field and they are non-adjacent to each other, then both Pokémon will automatically be shifted to the center of the field.

Rotation Battle

A Rotation Battle

Main article: Rotation Battle

Rotation Battles were introduced as a core series element in Pokémon Black and White. A Rotation Battle consists of three Pokémon (similar to a Triple Battle); however, only one Pokémon can attack at a time. Rotating Pokémon is a free action, meaning both players may switch and attack in the same turn.

Rotating can be done during both the player's and the opponent's turns and has a priority of +6. Rotating is different to switching in that it doesn't use up a turn, reset status conditions like confusion and bad poison, or reset Ability counters like Slow Start. Only the active Pokémon plays any part in the battle. Moves and Abilities that affect more than one Pokémon will only affect the opponent's active Pokémon, and Abilities like Flower Gift will only activate if the user is active. Also status damage is not received while a Pokémon is inactive.

Launcher Battle

Main article: Wonder Launcher

A Launcher Battle is a type of multiplayer battle in the core series Generation V games in which both players have the Wonder Launcher enabled, allowing them to purchase the use of certain items using points that are accumulated each turn.

Team Battle

A Team Battle with seven Trainers on a team

Team Battles (Japanese: チームバトル Team Battle) are an animated series-exclusive battle variant introduced in Pokémon the Series: XY. A Team Battle consists of three, five, or seven Pokémon Trainers battling as a team using various types of formations.

Team Battles usually occur when a large number of Trainers get together, and are often accompanied with a strategy meeting which involve comparing personalities and skills of Pokémon while deciding on battle formations and battle-combo moves. In Battling Into the Hall of Fame!, Ash, Serena, and Clemont were victorious against Shauna, Tierno, and Trevor in a Team Battle with Pikachu, Fennekin, and Chespin facing Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander.

Horde Encounter

A horde of Axew

Main article: Horde Encounter

A Horde Encounter is a kind of battle introduced in Generation VI in which a single player's Pokémon will battle against five Wild Pokémon that are usually of the same species, but there may be a single Pokémon of a similar or counterpart species, such as Plusle and Minun. In this battle, the Pokémon used by the player will act as if it was in the center of a Triple Battle, but with all other Pokémon being considered enemies rather than some being allies. Also, there is no limit of range, meaning that any Pokémon may hit another that is non-adjacent of it.

The Pokémon found in horde battles are normally at half of the level of this same Pokémon when find alone in the area, or are a lower evolutionary stage of the most common Pokémon. Horde Encounters can be forced by Honey and Sweet Scent if the weather is clear.

Sky Battle

A Sky Battle

Main article: Sky Battle

A Sky Battle is a kind of battle introduced in Generation VI, which consist of two Pokémon battling each other in the air instead of on land or sea. However, because of this, only certain Flying types and certain Pokémon with the Ability Levitate are eligible for Sky Battles.

At certain points in the game, the player can encounter Sky Trainers on top of cliffs or other distant areas who will challenge them to a Sky Battle. All Sky Battles are optional, since the player may not have any eligible Pokémon to use. If all eligible Pokémon in the battle faint, the player will black out, but will resume the game standing where they were before battle. In this event, due to a current glitch, the Sky Trainer is unable to be re-challenged or even spoken to, even if the player's eligible Pokémon are restored, until the player exits and reenters the area.

Inverse Battle

Main article: Inverse Battle

An Inverse Battle is a kind of battle introduced in Generation VI. During an Inverse Battle, type matchups are reversed. This type of battle is only conducted with Inver, who can be battled once per day at Kalos Route 18 in Pokémon X and Y and Mauville City in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. A Super-Secret Base can also hold Inverse Battles.

Battle Royal

A Battle Royal

Main article: Battle Royal

A Battle Royal is a kind of battle introduced in Generation VII in which four Trainers face one another simultaneously. Each Trainer brings up to three Pokémon into the ring, using one Pokémon at a time. At the end of a turn, if a Trainer has no Pokémon left, the Battle Royal ends. All participants are scored based on the number of Pokémon they knocked out, and the number of Pokémon they have remaining.

SOS Battle

An SOS Battle with a Totem Pokémon and its ally.

Main article: SOS Battle

An SOS Battle is a kind of battle introduced in Generation VII wherein wild Pokémon calls for help from allies, turning a one-on-one wild battle to a two-on-one battle. Totem Pokémon always calls for help and their calls are always answered. Non-Totem Pokémon can also call for help; however, its call is not always answered. Most Pokémon can summon allies of the same species, but some can summon other Pokémon in their evolutionary line, and some can summon other unrelated Pokémon. For some species, the Pokémon that a wild Pokémon can call varies with location.

Max Raid Battle

A Max Raid Battle against a Dynamaxed Gyarados

Main article: Max Raid Battle

A Max Raid Battle (Japanese: マックスレイドバトル Max Raid Battle) is a Pokémon battle in which four Trainers battle against a wild Dynamax/Gigantamax Pokémon, which remains Dynamaxed or Gigantamaxed for the whole battle. The player can start a Max Raid Battle by interacting with an active Pokémon Den, indicated by a beam of light shooting up from it. If a den is inactive, the player can throw a Wishing Piece into it to summon a Dynamax Pokémon.

Tera Raid Battle

A Tera Raid Battle against a Terastallized Gardevoir

Main article: Tera Raid Battle

A Tera Raid Battle (Japanese: テラレイドバトル Tera Raid Battle) is a Pokémon battle in which four Trainers battle against a wild Tera Pokémon, which remains Terastallized until it is defeated. The player can start a Tera Raid Battle by interacting with an active Tera Raid crystal, indicated by a beam of light shooting up from it. The color of the crystal indicates the Tera Type of the Pokémon inside.

In the side series games

Pokémon Colosseum and XD: Gale of Darkness

In Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, the "Run" option is replaced by a "Call" option, which allows the player to return a Shadow Pokémon from Hyper Mode and Reverse Mode or wake it up from sleep. It can also be used to simply pass a turn in Pokémon Colosseum. In Pokémon XD, if the Pokémon is neither in Reverse Mode nor asleep, it will raise its accuracy by one stage.

In the spin-off games

Pokeḿon GO

Main article: Gym (GO)

Main article: Raid Battle (GO)

Main article: Trainer Battle (GO)

In Pokémon GO, there are three different kinds of battles that can be loosely divided into two categories:

Gyms

At Gyms, players on a team may battle against the Pokémon that players on an opposing team left to defend the Gym. These are 6v6 battles where the party of up to 20 attacking players go up against up to six Pokémon to wrest control of the Gym from the opposing team. While each of the defenders was left by another Trainer, they are controlled by the computer instead. During these battles, each Pokémon uses moves to damage the opponent. Fast Attacks are quick attacks performed only by tapping the screen that build up energy, while Charged Attacks have a dedicated button, require energy to be spent, take a longer time to perform, and can do much more damage. However, player controlled Pokémon can dodge Charged Attacks by swiping left or right at the correct time, preventing much of the received damage. The player is also allowed to switch out their Pokémon for another one in their party at any time. The attacks of the defending Pokémon damage all players at once. Knocking Out the Gym's defenders reduces their motivation, lowering their stats for the next battle. Once a defender runs out of motivation, it leaves the Gym and returns to its Trainer. Once all defenders have left the Gym in this manner, a player may place one of their own Pokémon at the Gym, putting the Gym under their team's control and restarting the cycle.

Gyms also offer Raid Battles, where up to 20 players, each with a party of six Pokémon, fight against a single Raid Boss Pokémon. Raid Bosses are giant, with increased stats compared to normal Pokémon. Gameplay flow is very similar to battles against teams. After completing a Raid Battle, players may catch the shrunken down, normal stat-having version of the Pokémon that was the Raid Boss. This can only be done with Premier Balls rewarded from the Raid Battle or with a Master Ball in the player's bag. Participating in a Raid Battle requires a Raid Pass.

Trainer Battle

In Trainer Battles, players can challenge other players or NPCs like the team leaders and Team GO Rocket members to a 3-on-3 battle. Combatants still use Fast and Charged Attacks. However, Charged Attacks have different mechanics compared to battles that occur at Gyms. When performed, a five-second minigame is initiated for the user where icons of the move's type appear on the screen. Swiping over these icons increases the score of the attack, which increases the damage it will deal. Each type has a different arrangement of icons in their minigame, with differing associated visuals. During the minigame, the Trainer of the target of the attack has the choice of spending one of their two Protect Shields to block the attack, receiving no damage. (This replaces dodging from battles at Gyms.) While each participant can switch their Pokémon out, a timer is started after switching during which a second swich cannot be performed.

Pokeḿon Masters EX

Main article: Pokémon battle (Masters)

This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Add a short summary about the battle gameplay

Pokeḿon Mystery Dungeon series

Main article: Pokémon battle (Mystery Dungeon)

This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Add a short summary about the battle gameplay

Pokémon UNITE

Main article: Unite Battle

In Pokémon UNITE, there are some different battle modes:

• Standard Battle is the default game mode and has three types of matches within its umbrella: Random Match, CPU Match, and Friendly Match. They are all 10 minute 5-on-5 matches that take place in either Remoat Stadium or Theia Sky Ruins. Players may play solo or form in groups of any size.
• Quick battles are unlocked at level 4. They are shorter than Standard Battles at 5 minutes with 4 vs 4 or 3 vs 3 matches.
• Boss Rush is a limited-time event mode that is treated as a type of Quick Battle. They are the same time length as regular Quick Battles at 5 minutes, however instead of facing other players, 5 players are pitted against 3 boss Pokémon from various other maps in the game.
• Panic Parade is a limited-time event mode that is treated as a type of Quick Battle. There is no time limit at all due to the fact that instead of facing other players, 5 players are tasked with defending Tinkaton from various waves of wild Pokémon.

Pokémon Conquest

Main article: Pokémon Conquest → Gameplay

This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Add a short summary about the battle gameplay

Pokkén Tournament

Main article: Pokkén Tournament → Battles

Pokkén Tournament is a fighting game that takes elements from both traditional 2D and 3D fighters. Battles have two different phases which will often change during battle. Battles begin in Field Phase (Japanese: フィールドフェイズ), where players can move about freely in a circular 3D environment in a 3D battlefield. If either player lands a certain type of move, a Phase Change (Japanese: フェイズチェンジ) occurs, putting the battle into Duel Phase (Japanese: デュエルフェイズ), placing players into a 2D battlefield. Controls also change in this form of play.

Pokémon Rumble series

Main article: Pokémon Rumble → Gameplay

This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Add a short summary about the battle gameplay

Pokémon Ga-Olé

Main article: Pokémon Ga-Olé → Gameplay

This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Add a short summary about the battle gameplay

e-Reader games

In Magby and Magmar, the characters Magby and Magmar are seen battling each other with Flamethrower attacks.

Pokeḿon Puzzle series

In Pokémon Puzzle League and Pokemon Puzzle Challenge, the block puzzle games are treated as Pokémon battles, as seen in the game dialogue. The player is able to challenge several Pokémon Trainers during the course of the games, including Gym Leaders in order to collect badges.

This is the number of Pokémon available per Trainer:

• In Puzzle League, each Trainer (including the player Ash and all NPC Trainers) has a predefined team of three Pokémon. In the 1P Mode, Ash is the single player character who battles a number of Trainers from the Pokémon anime. In the 2P Mode, the two players can choose to play as any of the available anime characters.
• In Puzzle Challenge, the player Ethan is able to collect a number of Pokémon by hatching Eggs from the Marathon mode beating Trainers in the Challenge mode. However, each NPC Trainer in the Challenge mode has a single Pokémon each.

In each puzzle match, two Trainers use one Pokémon against each other:

• In Puzzle League, the chosen Pokémon of each Trainer is simply seen as part of the puzzle background and is not animated, but the anime cries of each Pokémon are heard during the battles.
• In Puzzle Challenge, the chosen Pokémon of each Trainer is animated. They are seen attacking or getting hit as a result of the puzzle gameplay. Once the match ends, the winning Pokémon is seen cheering while the losing Pokémon appears to be defeated or fainted.

Pokémon Zany Cards

In Pokémon Zany Cards, the card matching games are treated as Pokémon battles, as seen in the game dialogue.

In the anime

A battle between Ash and Clemont about to begin

In the anime, the progression of a battle is slightly different. An expansion on the games' concept, the anime's battles are more free-flowing than those in the games, with opposing Trainers being able to block and evade moves in different and more creative ways than the games allow for, invent their own moves as combinations of other moves, and so on. Several concepts that later became standard in the games were developed in the anime, such as the Lightning Rod Ability and Double Battles.

Dawn and Conway shaking hands after a battle

Unlike the games, there will often be a referee who determines whether or not a Pokémon is able to continue the match, as there is no strictly-programmed HP limit. This referee will sometimes be a Pokémon League official, especially in matches conducted in the various Pokémon League Conferences, though informal battles can be conducted with either no referee at all or with a knowledgeable person serving as the referee. Brock and Cilan have served as the referee for many of the informal matches between Ash and the various people he has met along his journey.

Battles in the anime often feature a limit to the amount of Pokémon that can be used: Trainers rarely are allowed to use their full party of six, and must instead choose which members they will use. Most Gym Leaders and Frontier Brains will not switch their Pokémon when challenged, as well, but will allow the challenger to do so.

Pokémon battles are a universal recreation and humans in the Pokémon world are encouraged to engage in battles as a way to meet new people and Pokémon. Many tournaments are held to allow Trainers to showcase the results of their training. Additionally, many schools teach aspiring Trainers about situations they may face during battles, such as status conditions and additional effects of moves. After a battle, Trainers are expected to show good sportsmanship, regardless of the outcome.

In the manga

Red being targeted by an attack during a battle in Pokémon Adventures

Pokémon Adventures

Pokémon battles in the Pokémon Adventures manga have notable differences to battles conducted in other canons. For example, for all battles before the Emerald arc and certain other battles since, a Trainer would lose a battle if even just one of their Pokémon was knocked out, resulting in lots of switching mid-battle. Villainous characters may also target the opposing Trainer directly, often with the intention to kill, and targeting Poké Balls themselves to prevent a Pokémon from being sent out has also been seen on several occasions. Trainers can play a more notable role in battles than simply commanding their Pokémon, sometimes even riding them during a match. Factors such as how many seconds sending out a Pokémon takes or the size of a Pokémon can also play an important role in certain battles, sometimes to the point of overriding a type advantage in some way.

In the movies

Two official Trainers in POKÉMON Detective Pikachu

POKÉMON Detective Pikachu

In Ryme City, Pokémon battles are illegal. However, unofficial battles are fought in illegal battle rings. One of these rings is owned by Sebastian.

In the real-life games

Pokémon Trading Card Game

Main article: Pokémon Trading Card Game

In the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the card matches are a variation of Pokémon battles using Pokémon cards.

The TCG matches are officially known as battles in official material, including the game manuals, the Pokémon.com website, and in the dialogue of the Microsoft Windows games Pokémon Play It! and Pokémon Play It! Version 2.

As an exception, the card matches are usually known as "duels" instead of battles in the dialogue and manual of Pokémon Trading Card Game for Game Boy Color. However, the word "battle" is also occasionally used nonetheless, such as in Dr. Mason's quote: "Draw 7 cards, and get ready for the battle!"

Pokémon Trading Figure Game

Main article: Pokémon Trading Figure Game → Spinning and battles

In the Pokémon Trading Figure Game, when Pokémon are on adjacent spots, both players have a battle.

Jo-Kén-Pokémon

Main article: Jo-Kén-Pokémon

Jo-Kén-Pokémon is a Brazilian Pokémon-themed card game based on rock paper scissors. It features Pokémon battles between small cards acquired from Elma Chips snacks.

There are a total of 60 Pokémon species available from both Generation I and II. The winner is decided by comparing the element of each Pokémon. Each Pokémon card has one of these eight elements: Rock, Paper, Scissors, Rope, Fire, Water, Fireproof, and Waterproof (Portuguese: Pedra, Papel, Tesoura, Corda, Fogo, Água, Anti-Chamas, and Impermeável).

See also

• List of battle music themes
• Endless battle

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 寶可夢對戰 Pokémon Deuijin * 小精靈對戰 Síujīnglìhng Deuijin * Mandarin 寶可夢對戰 / 宝可梦对战 Pokémon Duìzhàn * 神奇寶貝對戰 Shénqí Bǎobèi Duìzhàn * Danish Pokémondyst Finnish Pokémon-ottelu Pokémon-kamppailu* Pokémon-taistelu* French Combat Pokémon German Pokémon-Kampf Hindi पोकेमोन मुकाबला Pokémon Mukabla Icelandic Pokémon-orrustu Italian Lotta Pokémon Korean 포켓몬 배틀 Pokémon Battle * 포켓몬 시합 Pokémon Sihab * Norwegian Pokémon-kamp Pokémon-duell Polish Bitwa Pokémonów* Walka Pokémonów* Walka Pokémon* Portuguese Brazil Batalha Pokémon Portugal Batalha Pokémon Combate Pokémon Spanish Latin America Batalla Pokémon Spain Combate Pokémon Swedish Pokémonstrid Pokémonkamp Pokémonmatch* Pokémonkrig* Thai โปเกมอนแบทเทิล Pokémon Battle Vietnamese Trận đấu Pokémon

Team Battle

Language Title Danish Teamkamp Finnish Joukkueottelukilpa Korean 팀배틀 Team Battle Norwegian Team-kamp Polish Bitwa Drużynowa Brazilian Portuguese Batalha em Equipe Swedish Lag-strid

Related articles

This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.