Rematch
A rematch or re-battle is a second or subsequent battle against a Trainer or Pokémon.
In the main series games, it is mandatory for the player to defeat certain Trainers to advance within the game. Technically, if the player is defeated, they are given the chance to battle this opponent again until defeated (except in exceptional circumstances), it is still considered a rematch.
Most of the time, however, if a Trainer is defeated, that Trainer will not be available for a rematch until certain conditions have been met. When Trainers usually agree to rematch, their Pokémon will have become stronger (level up or evolution), or they would already have acquired more Pokémon (sometimes from another region, once the player has obtained the National Pokédex).
Types of rematch
Elite Four and Champion
In the early Generation I games, only the Elite Four and Champion/Rival were able to be re-battled. Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen introduced the concept of having the Elite Four and Champion's rematch teams at higher levels, with different Pokémon and more competitive movesets.
Rival
Since Generation I, the player's Rival plays a key role within the game, occasionally giving hints, helping out or even challenging the player to a rematch. With the exception of Brendan and May in Generation III, the player's rival can be repeatedly rematched after defeating the Elite Four of that region.
The following table shows where and when the player's Rival can be challenged for subsequent rematches:
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Regular Trainers
From Generation II onwards, rematches were extended to regular Trainers found along normal routes and caves. Appearing in Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, the Pokégear allowed the player to exchange telephone numbers with specific Trainers, allowing them to contact the player for a rematch. In Generation III, the PokéNav's Trainer's Eyes or Match Call found in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald has similar functions as the Pokégear, keeping track of Trainers who want to re-battle the player. However, the only way to rematch with these Trainers was to wait until they were ready, which meant that the player could not control who and when they wanted to battle.
The introduction of the Vs. Seeker in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen allowed the player to conveniently locate and identify Trainers within an outside area who were ready for a rematch, giving more control over who and where the player wanted to battle. The Vs. Seeker is charged by taking 100 steps, thus reducing the timespan a player has to wait between each rematch (as opposed to waiting for a call).
Additionally, in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl and Pokémon Platinum certain Trainers can be challenged daily at Seven Stars Restaurant. In Pokémon Platinum, players may also fight the maids in the 5-Maid Knockout Exact-Turn Attack Challenge in Pokémon Mansion. Besides that, in Pokémon Platinum, several Trainers appear in Pokémon Centers of different cities who can be battled every day. Their particular location changes daily.
In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, the upgrades for the teams of the Trainers that can be re-battled are fought in three different rematch phases. The requirement for going to the next phase is to face each rematch phase, as well as getting past a certain point in the game. While the first phase is accomplished from the first rematch, the second phase's requirement is that the player must defeat the Elite Four, and the final phase's requirement is for the player to have all sixteen Badges. For example, Youngster Joey's Rattata becomes a Raticate for the first rematch, and its level increases further during each rematch phase.
In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, Pokémon Breeders will challenge the player to a battle upon sight as long as the player has left the area since their last battle. This occurs regardless of whether they have been battled prior and without the need for the player to use special items.
Gym Leaders
Gym Leader rematches were first introduced in Generation III in Pokémon Emerald. However in Generation IV, Gym Leaders were not available for rematches in Diamond and Pearl.
Pokémon Emerald
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This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. |
In Pokémon Emerald, the Gym Leaders can be rematched through a Double Battle via the PokéNav's Match Call. The player must have defeated the Elite Four.
Pokémon Platinum
- Main article: Battleground
In Pokémon Platinum, the Gym Leaders of Sinnoh, together with the player's previous Tag Battle partners, can be found in the Battleground. Up to four of these Trainers appear each day and they can be battled only once a day. Resetting before entering the Battleground would change the Trainers who are inside.
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
- Main article: Fighting Dojo
In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, the Gym Leaders of Kanto and Johto would be found in the Fighting Dojo. However, unlike Platinum, the Leaders will not arrive at the Dojo until they have been called on for a rematch.
To re-battle a Gym Leader, the player has to first obtain the Gym Leader's number. Following that, the player can call the Gym Leader at any time, but he or she will only accept a rematch when their schedule is free.
When a Gym Leader has accepted a rematch, he or she will stay in the Fighting Dojo until he or she is defeated. There is no limit to the number of times a Gym Leader can be rematched.
Note that the phone numbers for most of the Leaders can be obtained after defeating the Elite Four. However, rematches with the Gym Leaders cannot be scheduled until after the Earth Badge has been obtained (i.e. Blue has been defeated).
Gym Leader phone listing
Each Leader's telephone number must be obtained from them personally when he or she is out of their Gym (except Chuck and Blue, which have to be obtained from their wife and sister respectively). By speaking with them at the appropriate time and place, players can obtain their phone numbers.
The following table shows how each Leader's number can be obtained:
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Gym Leader rematch schedule
The following table shows when the Gym Leaders are free to accept a rematch.
As midnight to 3:59 AM is considered to be "night" by the game, any Leader who can be battled at night can be battled from midnight to 3:59 AM or from 8:00 PM to 11:59 PM.
Gym Leaders' Schedule
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Legendary and special encounter Pokémon
In all games, being defeated by a legendary Pokémon does not cause it to disappear. In all games in which roaming Pokémon exist, fleeing from them does not cause them to vanish; the game simply behaves the same as if they were the ones to flee.
In Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen, and Emerald, if the player flees from a stationary legendary Pokémon it will reappear upon leaving and re-entering the room, unlike the previous games where a stationary legendary Pokémon could only be encountered once. The game informs the player that "The <Pokémon> flew away!"
In Pokémon Platinum, if the player defeats or flees from a stationary legendary Pokémon, it reappears after the player enters the Hall of Fame again. If the player defeats a roaming Pokémon, the player must re-trigger the event which caused it to start roaming; for example, the player must talk to Professor Oak to cause a legendary bird to resume roaming. If the player flees from or defeats Origin Forme Giratina in the Distortion World, it will reappear in Turnback Cave in its Altered Forme, where it behaves in the same way as all other stationary legendary Pokémon.
This was extended to all stationary Pokémon (red Gyarados, Sudowoodo and Snorlax) in HeartGold and SoulSilver. If Suicune is defeated or fled from, Eusine will comment on this fact, and it will instead reappear at the Burned Tower, where it behaves in the same way as all other stationary legendary Pokémon. If Ho-OhHG or LugiaSS is defeated or fled from during the storyline, the Kimono Girls will comment on this fact then leave, but the two still behave like all stationary Pokémon.
In Pokémon Black and White, ReshiramB or ZekromW must be caught; defeating, fleeing or losing to the Pokémon does not cause it to disappear, and the story cannot be progressed until it is caught; instead, the player is warped back to the Pokémon League Pokémon Center to try again. However, if the player has a full party and PC, it is possible to progress without catching it. If this situation occurs, it will instead appear at Dragonspiral Tower after defeating Team Plasma, where it behaves in the same way as all other stationary legendary Pokémon. However, it will still not give any experience points even in that situation.
In side games
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
In the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series, legendary Pokémon that have been battled must be fought again in order to be recruited. However, this is only true if the said legendary Pokémon is involved in the storyline.
Pokémon Ranger
In the Pokémon Ranger series, the Drowsy Guy will allow the player to re-do a memorable capture. In Pokémon Ranger, he allows the player to re-capture the legendary beasts, while in the sequel, he allows the player to re-capture Darkrai. In Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs, Nema allows the player to re-battle several Boss Pokémon on a model of Dolce Island via the use of her "Many Times Any Time Capture Machine"
In the anime
With the exception of the Orange League and the Unova League, Ash has had to rematch at least one Gym Leader or Frontier Brain in each leg of his journey. However, only once has he had a rematch with a Gym Leader he has beaten that isn't in his circle of friends.
Original series
| Opponent | First match | Result | Follow-up match | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Brock |
 Showdown in Pewter City |
Forfeit |  Showdown in Pewter City |
Ash forfeits again, but Brock rewards his Badge in recognition of Ash's compassion. |
 Lt. Surge |
 Electric Shock Showdown |
Loss |  Electric Shock Showdown |
Victory |
 Sabrina |
 Abra and the Psychic Showdown |
Forfeit |  Haunter versus Kadabra |
Ash forfeits again, but with Haunter's help, he manages to break Sabrina out of her trance. Ash receives Badge as a token of gratitude. |
 Blaine |
 Riddle Me This |
Forfeit |  Volcanic Panic |
Victory |
 Whitney |
 A Goldenrod Opportunity |
Loss |  A Dairy Tale Ending |
Victory |
 Clair |
 Fangs for Nothin' |
Interrupted by Team Rocket |
 Better Eight Than Never |
Victory |
Advanced Generation series
| Opponent | First match | Result | Follow-up match | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Norman |
 There's No Place Like Hoenn |
Unofficial one-on-one battle Ash loses |
 Balance of Power |
Official match Ash wins |
 Brawly |
 Brave the Wave |
Loss |  Just One of the Geysers |
Victory |
 Wattson |
 Watt's with Wattson? |
Ash wins with an overcharged Pikachu. Wattson insists Ash keeps the Badge. |
 Manectric Charge |
Unofficial rematch Ash loses |
 Anabel |
 Talking a Good Game! |
Loss |  Second Time's the Charm! |
Victory |
 Brandon |
 Battling the Enemy Within! |
Ash is possessed, and the match is declared unofficial. |
 Overjoyed! |
First official match Ash loses |
 Pace - The Final Frontier! |
Second official match Ash wins |
Diamond & Pearl series
| Opponent | First match | Result | Follow-up match | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Roark |
 A Gruff Act to Follow! |
Loss |  O'er the Rampardos We Watched! |
Victory |
 Gardenia |
 The Grass-Type Is Always Greener! |
Unofficial battle Ash loses |
 The Grass Menagerie! |
Victory |
 Fantina |
 Playing the Leveling Field! |
Unofficial battle Forfeit |
 Shield with a Twist! |
Victory |
Best Wishes series
| Opponent | First match | Result | Follow-up match | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Lenora |
 The Battle According to Lenora! |
Loss |  Rematch at the Nacrene Gym! |
Victory |
XY series
| Opponent | First match | Result | Follow-up match | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Viola |
 XY005 |
Loss |  XY006 |
Victory |
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This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games. |
