Pokéathlon
Pokéthlon (Japanese: ポケスロン Pokéthlon) is a type of competition involving Pokémon racing and similar athletic competitions, in the manner of Olympic track and field competitions. It was introduced in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. The Pokéthlon Dome, where the competitions are held, is north of Goldenrod City, next to National Park.
The Pokéthlon is handled similarly to Pokémon Contests and Super Contests in the Hoenn and Sinnoh regions, as a sidequest to complete while the player challenges the gyms and the Pokémon League. Like in Contests, four competitors participate at once; however, each uses a team of three Pokémon instead of only one. The Pokémon that take part are known as "Pokéthletes".
Like the five stats introduced for Contests, five additional stats were added for the Pokéthlon: Speed, Power, Technique, Stamina, and Jump. Like the Contest conditions and battle stats, a Pokémon's performance stats are affected by its nature (more directly so, like the battle stats, than the condition) and by special foodstuffs used to boost them.
By winning events in the Pokéthlon, the participating Pokémon will earn medals for their species. Their Trainers will earn points for the competition based on how well the team did, and a win will earn their Trainer an additional 100 points, all which can be spent on prizes at the Salon Shop in the Pokéthlon Dome.
Events
Dash Hurdle
Dash Hurdle (Japanese:ダッシュハードル Dash Hurdle) pits the twelve competing Pokéthletes against one another in a race down a track, with hurdles standing every so often for the Pokémon to jump over. Tapping the Pokémon on the touchscreen will cause it to jump, with Pokémon tapped just before jumping a hurdle gaining a speed boost. The final score is based on a combination of the finish time of all three Pokémon on an individual team.
The Dash Hurdle appears as the first course in the Speed competition and as the final course in the Jump competition.
| Performance | Effect |
|---|---|
| Speed | Movement speed |
| Jump | Length of jump |
| Technique | Acceleration rate |
Ring-Out Fight
(Japanese:リングアウトファイト Ring-Out Fight) In this competition based on Sumo wrestling, four Pokémon enter a ring at a time and attempt to shove the others out with only tackles, done by flicking the stylus with the Pokémon selected. A tackle performed coming out of a jump is called a press. If a Pokémon falls out, their team-mate will replace them.
Pokéthlon stats used: Power, Stamina, Jump, Speed
Category: Stamina course
| Performance | Effect |
|---|---|
| Stamina | Endurance to attacks |
| Jump | Distance when jumping and press power |
| Power | Tackle power |
| Speed | Movement speed |
Shooting Snow
(Japanese:シューティングスノー Shooting Snow) Shooting Snow is a combination of dodgeball and a snowball fight. Four teams of Pokémon engage in a snowball fight. If a Pokémon is hit by a snowball, they get stunned. The team that hits the most Pokémon wins. To create a snowball, the player rapidly taps on whichever Pokémon a snowball is wanted from. Flick the snowball with the touchscreen to throw it.
Pokéthlon stats used: Power, Technique, Stamina
Category: Technique course
| Performance | Effect |
|---|---|
| Technique | Accuracy of throw |
| Stamina | Ability to withstand blacking out when hit |
| Power | Ability to black out opponent on hit |
Bound Field
(Japanese:バウンドフィールド Bound Field) A game similar to pachinko. With the touch screen, the Trainer taps his or her Pokémon and drags them into the floor. When the player releases, it will slingshot the Pokémon into the air. Points are rewarded based on how many lamps said Pokémon hits while in that jump. Stats seem negligible and are more oriented on how far down the player drags and how quickly they release.
Pokéthlon stats used: Technique, Jump, Power, Stamina
Category: Jump course
| Performance | Effect |
|---|---|
| Jump | Height of jump |
| Technique | Skill when jumping |
| Power | Collision reflect-distance |
| Stamina | Speed of recovery after black out |
Change Relay
(Japanese:チェンジリレー Change Relay) The player drags their Pokémon as fast as they can around the track using the touchscreen, to do as many laps as they can within the time limit. To run, the player must repeatedly flick the Pokémon. Colliding into another Pokémon will stop the player's Pokémon dead in their tracks for a second. If the Pokémon who was struck is suffering from fatigue, it will stun them as well. Running into an obstacle will slightly push the player back, and running over rocks will slow the Pokémon down. After a while, the Pokémon will become fatigued and will need to switch out to the next one to take its place.
Pokéthlon stats used: Speed, Stamina, Technique, Power
Category: Speed and Stamina course
Third in Speed.
| Performance | Effect |
|---|---|
| Speed | Movement speed |
| Stamina | Running endurance |
| Technique | Acceleration of dash |
| Power | Lower opponents Stamina upon collision |
Break Block
(Japanese:ブレイクブロック Break Block) Break Block is a minigame where a selected Pokémon breaks blocks using its hand, or appendage-like body part. It is controlled by tapping the blocks on the touchscreen. Each of the blocks have cracks which, when hit, will cause a critical-hit. The Pokémon will become tired after breaking a certain amount of blocks and will need to switch out with a partner Pokémon.
Pokéthlon stats used: Power, Stamina, Technique
Category: Power and Stamina course
| Performance | Effect |
|---|---|
| Power | Amount of blocks broken with one touch |
| Stamina | Block breaking endurance |
| Technique | Easiness of hitting cracks |
Push Circle
(Japanese:プッシュサークル Push Circle) A minigame similar to Ring-Out Fight, but the player controls all three Pokémon at once. The goal is to stay in the glowing circles when the time runs out to get points. Points are awarded based on the size of the circle one is standing in at the end. To move the Pokémon, the player drags along the screen using the stylus. This lasts for 6 rounds.
Pokéthlon stats used: Speed, Power, Stamina
Category: Power course
| Performance | Effect |
|---|---|
| Power | Difficulty of pushing opponents |
| Stamina | Push duration |
| Speed | Movement speed |
Catch Saucer
(Japanese:キャッチソーサー Catch Saucer) A minigame where three Pokémon are controlled against opponent Pokémon to catch objects discs through the air. The area in which the Pokémon is standing when it breaks the saucer affects the amount of points earned. Falling off the map will cause that Pokémon to disappear for a few seconds before reappearing. Tap the Pokémon to make them leap up.
Pokéthlon stats used: Power, Jump, Speed
Category: Jump course
| Performance | Effect |
|---|---|
| Jump | Height and duration of jump |
| Power | Difficulty of pushing opponents |
| Speed | Movement speed |
Steal Flag
Steal Flag (Japanese:スティールフラッグ Steal Flag) brings the Pokéthletes into a sandbox-like area, where small pennant flags appear every so often. One Pokémon at a time must roam the field, collecting the various flags in the sand, but only nine can be held at one time. After collecting flags, the Pokémon must return to the start area to tag off the next Pokémon and deposit their flags, which will not count towards the score unless this is done. Pokémon move when flicked with the stylus.
This event appears as the second event in the Speed competition and as the Nth event in the Technique competition.
| Performance | Effect |
|---|---|
| Speed | Movement speed |
| Technique | Turning difficulty |
| Power | Ability to KO opponents |
| Stamina | Ability to withstand being KO'd |
Smash Goal
(Japanese:スマッシュゴール Smash Goal) In this event, each team is placed in a corner in a soccer-like game. The player controls three Pokémon at once as he or she tries to score on opponents. Drag the Pokémon to move it, or flick it to make the Pokémon charge and launch the ball in the projected direction, going through opponents until it hits a wall. Score by being the last one to hit the ball before it enters a goal. A white ball is worth one point, and a gold ball is worth two. If the player concedes a goal, they lose a point. In the beginning only one ball will be on the field, but after a while a second one will appear. A Pokémon can become fatigued from moving too much, and cannot launch the ball. Any Pokémon struck by a launched ball will be stunned for a few seconds.
Pokéthlon stats used: Power, Technique, Stamina, Speed
Category: Power and Technique course
| Performance | Effect |
|---|---|
| Technique | Ability to dribble and range of shots |
| Power | Power of ball when kicked |
| Stamina | Ability to withstand fatigue when hit |
| Speed | Movement speed |
Gallery
Ring-Out Fight
Shooting Snow
Bound Field
Change Relay
Break Block
Push Circle
Trivia
- All of the Pokéthlon events require two of the five stats, except for Shooting Snow and Steal Flag; both of these require three stats.
- Since Diglett and Dugtrio are incapable of jumping; on Bound Field they can't move at all, on Catch Saucer they can only move around, and on Dash Hurdle they dig under the hurdles.
