Battle Frontier Guide for Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire & Emerald
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Battle Factory

The Battle Factory is the closest facility to the entrance of the Battle Frontier. To get to it, walk to the southwest corner of the Battle Frontier and walk upwards. A yellow boxy building will be in front of you, go inside to hear the techno music. After you're done dancing, you should pick a side. Side one is for the double battles, which is the side to the right or singles, the side to the left. The basis of the Battle Factory is the Battle Swap program, in which you are given three random Pokemon that are perfectly trained and assigned moves. As you progress through the facility, your opponents will get harder. Also, as you progress, the guide will tell you less and less about your opponent's Pokemon. The guide will give you a choice of 6 Pokemon and tell you a bit about the trainer you're up against. If he says "The trainer appears to be skilled at using GRASS-type Pokemon.", he's telling you to pick a Flying-, Fire-, or Ice-type. However, this only means that he/she most likely have two Grass-types, meaning there's another Pokemon he missed. So you have to stay on your toes and be cautious.

Some of the hints the guide says can help you understand your opponent and give you some great foresight of your battle.

If the guide says the following messages:
 Based on total perception  The opponent most likely is going to boost their stats with Swords Dance, Agility, Calm Mind, Growth, Meditate, etc. I recommend you hit them hard before they gain the upper hand.
 Weakens the Foe from the start  Usually uses moves to lower your stats immediately. Watch out for Fake Tears and Charm!
 Flexibly adaptable to the situation  The opponent uses moves that are amplified by the Weather; Weather Ball, Thunder, Solarbeam, Blizzard.
 Slow and Steady  Statuses the foe with Paralysis, Toxic or Burns. Be wary of these Pokemon. They're often very bulky.
 Free-spirited and unrestrained  The opponent has no real pattern. These are one of the hardest to predict.
 Impossible to Predict  The opponent is packing an arsenal of moves and is probably incredibly dangerous. Be on your toes.
 High Risk, High Return  The enemy uses moves that hurt themselves with recoil damage like Double-Edge or Volt Tackle.
 One of Endurance  Is a staller, most likely utilizing Wish and Protect. Taunt will deal with them. It also may try to boost it's defenses with Defense Curl or Iron Defense.
 Depend on the Battle's Flow  The opponent uses combo moves like Defense Curl + Rollout or Charge + Thunderbolt.

At the end of every match, your Pokemon are healed and you are given the choice to swap one of your Pokemon with one of the opponents, and then you're given an entirely new opponent to face.

NolandTaking on Factory Head Noland
Noland is the Frontier Brain of the Battle Factory and like the program, relies on the Battle Swap function. His Pokemon are completely random! You'll need incredibly strategy and luck to beat him, as well as how to use most of the Pokemon given. Noland has access to any Pokemon except Mewtwo, Mew, Lugia, Ho-Oh, Celebi, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza, Jirachi, and Deoxys. You will face Noland after 21 consecutive wins in the Battle Factory. Once you obtain your Silver Symbol, return and after 42, you'll face him again.

Battle Pike

The Battle Pike is next closest place to the Battle Frontier. To get to it, head towards the Pokemon Center and head up. Go inside the Giant Seviper and you'll be in the Battle Pike. The Pike is probably the easiest facility. It only requires you to walk through numerous rooms and depending on lucky and a bit of foresight, something will happen to your player. The possibilities are:
  • A random trainer battle.
    The trainer battle is usually pretty simple. They usually have a level 100/50 Pokemon that is relatively weak. As you progress, their Pokemon get stronger.
  • A double trainer battle.
    Same as above, but in double battle form. Nothing to be worried about with the right team.
  • 'Wild' Pokemon
    These Pokemon are uncatchable. Many of them may try to entrap you and status you with Spore or Thunder Wave or Poison you with Poison Tail. All of them carry moves capable of statusing you and most of them will not let you escape. Milotic however, usually let you go.
  • Your Pokemon are inflicted with a random status.
    You have a:
    • 30% chance to be poisoned.
    • 25% chance to be frozen.
    • 20% chance to be paralyzed.
    • 10% chance to be burned.
    • 10% chance to be put to sleep.
    Depending on the amount of rooms in between the time you left this room and the time you entered the same room is how many of your Pokemon will be statused. If a Pokemon is statused already, they will not receive a new status. Trust me, walking around with three Frozen Pokemon is not fun. >_> Especially with no items.
  • One of your Pokemon is healed.
  • All of your Pokemon are healed
  • Nothing happens.
    *shrugs*
  • A Really tough trainer battle.
    A trainer will be assigned to face you, most likely with three Pokemon that are incredibly skilled. Be wary and cautious with your team.

You can gather your bearings by asking the Nurse, standing in between two doors. Whatever she says can help you brace yourself for what's head. If she says "I feel a wave of nostalgia coming from that room.", you most likely are going to be in a Pokemon trainer battle or you could get a full Pokemon healing. It all depends on your luck. If you want to take her hint, you have to go in one of the doors to her left or right.


A Romantic Encounter with Pike Queen Lucy
The Frontier Brain of the Battle Pike is Pike Queen Lucy, a beautiful diva trainer with a heart for battling. Her Pokemon are fiery and defensive, so be ready for an all out war. You will encounter her after 28 rooms.

Seviper
Type: Poison
Ability: Shed Skin
Item: Quick Claw
~ Swagger
~ Crunch
~ Poison Tail
~ Giga Drain

Shuckle
Types: Bug/Rock
Ability:Sturdy
Item: Chesto Berry
~ Toxic
~ Protect
~ Sandstorm
~ Rest

Milotic
Types: Water
Ability: Marvel Scale
Item: Leftovers
~ Surf
~ Ice Beam
~ Mirror Coat
~ Recover
Good counters: Metagross, Aggron, Weezing, Machamp

Your only really problem with Lucy is her Milotic. Shuckle is a bit annoying (a bit... haha.) but it's very slow. Use this to boost your Metagross's speed with Agility and get some coverage on Milotic. Seviper's strongest attacks are pretty much useless and it'll try to swagger you out. This will boost Metagross's already phenomenal Attack, making him that much stronger. Sweep with Earthquake. Earthquake'll take a big chunk out of Shuckle and completely destroy Seviper, making Lucy send out Milotic. If Shuckle is really bothering you, switch into Weezing. Weezing cancels everything about Shuckle out by using Taunt. Since Shuckle has no attacking moves, it'll be forced to use Struggle. Wait out the Sandstorm and hit hard with Fire Blast. (The Sandstorm boosts it's Special Defense even higher. Darn Rock-types.) Whiscash and Swampert absorb Seviper's Poison Tail as well, but are eaten alive by Giga Drain. Stay away from Ground-types. Aggron gets Taunt too and can handle Seviper, but gets swept by Milotic. So it's not your best candidate. Machamp is your best bet to take advantage of Milotic's mediocre Defense. Hit it up with STAB'd Cross Chop or Rock Slide to possibly land a Flinch. Milotic will be dead in no time. Try not to status it though, or it'll really be a problem. ;_;

Round 2!
You will face Lucy again after 140 rooms.
Seviper
Type: Poison
Ability: Shed Skin
Item: Focus Band
~ Swagger
~ Crunch
~ Sludge Bomb
~ Giga Drain
Steelix
Types: Steel/Ground
Ability:Sturdy
Item: Brightpowder
~ Earthquake
~ Screech
~ Rock Slide
~ Explosion
Gyarados
Types: Water/Flying
Ability: Intimidate
Item: Chesto Berry
~ Dragon Dance
~ Return
~ Roar
~ Rest

Good counters: Lanturn, Metagross, Golem

Metagross is also a great candidate for Lucy again. With immunity to Seviper's most dangerous attack, it can sweep Seviper with Earthquake. Lanturn is a good candidate for taking out Steelix because it has pretty good special attack and can sweep Steelix with STAB'd Surf. Lanturn also can take out Gyarados with Thunderbolt, but to be safe, bring along a Golem or another strong Rock-type.Gyarados lacks any moves that might harm Golem, so Rock Slide will take it out for sure.

Battle Arena

If you keep walking east of the Battle Pike, you'll find the Battle Arena, a dojo-esque building. Inside, you will be given a choice of Double or Single battles. The Battle Arena uses a unique system that judges the effectiveness of your Pokemon by splitting attacks into three categories; Mind, Skill and Body.
  • Mind judges your Pokemon's attack power. Using attacks that do regular damage (like Thunder Punch or Double-Edge) add two points to your Mind total. Using attacks like Protect, Detect or Endure deduct two points. Finally, using moves like Roar, Mirror Coat or any other moves that do not damage the foe, they don't add any poins.
  • Skill judges your Pokemon's accuracy. A point is added for everyone move that hits and two points are deducted for every move that misses. If your opponent uses Detect, Fake Out or Protect, no points will be deducted.
  • Body judges your HP total. The higher your HP total ratio, the more points you get. The lower, the less.

If your Pokemon faints in battle, you automatically will lose and your next Pokemon will be sent out. If your Pokemon has less points, you're Pokemon will become unusable and you'll be forced to use your next Pokemon.

The Battle Arena is an acceptional place to use Pokemon that learn moves that have high accuracy or moves that never miss. Swellow is a great example, taking advantage of it's high Attack, Speed and STAB'd Aerial Ace. Another good example is Plusle, who gets STAB'd Shock Wave and Thunderbolt. The best strategy is to never defend yourself and attack straight on. The occasional status move may help in the long run (especially Encore, which has 100% accuracy) but attacking head is a good tactic, especially if you can KO the opponent before the three rounds is up.

Arena Tycoon GretaA Battle Royale with Arena Tycoon Greta
After 27 victories, the Frontier Brain, Greta, will challenge you. Here team is pretty tough, but you can take her with a strong set of counters.

  Heracross
Type: Bug/Fighting
Ability: Guts
Item: Salac Berry
~ Megahorn
~ Rock Tomb
~ Reversal
~ Endure
Umbreon
Types: Dark
Ability: Synchronize
Item: Leftovers
~ Confuse Ray
~ Psychic
~ Body Slam
~ Faint Attack
Shedinja
Types: Bug/Ghost
Ability: Wonder Guard
Item: Brightpowder
~ Shadow Ball
~ Aerial Ace
~ Confuse Ray
~ Return

Good counters: Skarmory

Skarmory was designed to defeat Greta. With incredible defense and resistances, it destroys Heracross and Shedinja with Drill Peck and stalls Umbreon out. For Umbreon, just abuse Drill Peck. You most likely will beat it. Bring a Lum or Persim Berry for Confuse Ray though. That could get annoying.

Round 2!
You will face Greta again after 56 consecutive battles.

Umbreon
Types: Dark
Ability: Synchronize
Item: Chesto Berry
~ Confuse Ray
~ Psychic
~ Rest
~ Double-Edge
Breloom
Type: Grass/Fighting
Ability: Effect Spore
Item: Lum Berry
~ Spore
~ Giga Drain
~ Focus Punch
~ Headbutt
Gengar
Types: Poison/Ghost
Ability: Wonder Guard
Item: Leftovers
~ Destiny Bond
~ Psychic
~ Hypnosis
~ Dream Eater

Good counters: Alakazam, Heracross

Alakazam is a powerful candidate for Greta's second team, due to it's amazing speed and Special Attack. Thunderpunch Umbreon and hopefully paralyze it. It can't really do anything to you besides Body Slam, and even that won't put much of a hurting on you considering it's mediocre Attack. Psychic takes out Breloom and Gengar. Heracross also works for the former, but it's bested by Gengar's Psychic.

Battle Palace

The Battle Palace is directly across from the Battle Arena. It is probably one of the most challenging facilities, forcing your Pokemon to think and attack for themselves, based on their nature. Your Pokemon are free to attack whom and however they want, making winning all based on statistics. However, here are some tips to help you.

Pokemon that are most likely to attack have
  • Mild
  • Calm
  • Careful
  • Hardy
  • Brave
  • Docile
  • Impish
  • Timid
  • Hasty
  • Naive
  • Quiet
  • Sassy
  • Quirky

All other natures may decide to defend or do nothing. But these abilities usually will attack the opponent with harmful move. However, when your Pokemon's HP gets low, your Pokemon may change their attitude and start defending itself, attacking or healing. It all depends on nature. For a chart, check here.

Palace Maven SpenserA Spiritual Encounter with Palace Maven Spenser
After 21 consecutive wins, you will face Spenser. His team is tough, but with Pokemon with the right natures, you'll be able to stop him in his tracks.

Crobat
Type: Posion/Flying
Ability: Inner Focus
Item: Brightpowder
~ Confuse Ray
~ Double Team
~ Toxic
~ Fly
Slaking
Types: Normal
Ability: Truant
Item: Scope Lens
~ Earthquake
~ Swagger
~ Shadow Ball
~ Brick Break
Lapras
Types: Water/Ice
Ability: Water Absorb
Item:Quick Claw
~ Horn Drill
~ Ice Beam
~ Confuse Ray
~ Protect
Good counters: Skarmory, Raichu

Skarmory has this in the bag, due to it's high Defense. Slaking's crutch is it's inability to attack consecutively. It's probably your biggest threat. A good set for your Skarmory is this:

Skarmory @ Impish
Item: Lum/Persim Berry
~ Drill Peck
~ Spikes
~ Protect
~ Steel Wing / Roar

Skarmory has a chance to attack the opponent or Roar it away, sufficiently buying some time. Spikes will help to take out some of Lapras's HP while also hurting Slaking. Raichu can use Thunderbolt on Crobat and Lapras but Slaking's Earthquake will mean light's out.

Round 2!
You will face Spenser again after 42 battles.

Arcanine
Type: Fire
Ability: Flash Fire
Item: White Herb
~ Overheat
~ Extremespeed
~ Roar
~ Protect
Slaking
Types: Normal
Ability: Truant
Item: Scope Lens
~ Hyper Beam
~ Earthquake
~ Shadow Ball
~ Yawn
Suicune
Types: Water
Ability: Pressure
Item: King's Rock
~ Surf
~ Blizzard
~ Bite
~ Calm Mind

Good counters: Alakazam, Swampert

Spenser is incredibly challenging to face, especially without control over your Pokemon's moves. Swampert deals with Arcanine easily, and I suggest giving it Protect from some assistance with Slaking. With monstrous attack and HP, Slaking is a menace to any team. Your best bet is letting Swampert spam Waterfall/Surf. Suicune can be taken out by Alakazam, but watch out for it's Bite! It's quite nasty.

Battle Pyramid

The Battle Pyramid is located on the northeastern section of the Battle Frontier, a giant pyramid, as the name portrays, the Battle Pyramid is a maze that forces the player to navigate around, beating trainers or encounter wild, uncatchable Pokemon. The Battle Pyramid takes all of your items and leases you a Pyramid Bag which allows you to find items inside the Pyramid and use them on your Pokemon. As you progress, you will find wild Pokemon that will not let you escape. They will always be at the level of your highest Pokemon (if my highest level Pokemon is a level 89 Blaziken, all Pokemon are level 89). KOing these Pokemon will grant you a wider view of your surroundings, making it easier to find the Blue Warp tile. This is very similar to Pokemon Mystery Dungeon's Dungeon-Crawling system.
The types of wild Pokemon per board include:

  • Pokemon with moves that burn, posion, paralyze or freeze
  • Pokemon with moves that waste PP
  • Pokemon with Levitate
  • Pokemon with Arena Trap, Magnet Pull or Shadow Tag
  • Pokemon with Selfdestruct and Explosion
  • Pokemon with Psychic-type moves
  • Pokemon with Rock-type moves
  • Pokemon with Fighting-type moves
  • Pokemon with moves that alter the weather
  • Pokemon with Bug-type moves
  • Pokemon with Dark-type moves
  • Pokemon with Water-type moves
  • Pokemon with Ghost-type moves
  • Pokemon with Steel-type moves
  • Pokemon with Dragon-type moves
  • Pokemon with Fire-, Water-, Electric or Ice-type moves
  • Normal-type Pokemon

So bring a well-rounded team with you!
You will also find trainers here too! And like the wild Pokemon, they will have Pokemon equal to your highest level Pokemon. Defeating them allows your sphere of vision to grow.

Pyramid King BrandonAn Ancient Waltz with Pyramid King Brandon
After 21 floors (3 walkthroughs), you'll encounter Pyramid King Brandon at the top of the pyramid. His team consists of all Legendary Pokemon, so you'll need to be tough to take him on.

Regirock
Type: Rock
Ability: Clear Body
Item: Quick Claw
~ Explosion
~ Superpower
~ Earthquake
~ Ancientpower
Registeel
Types: Steel
Ability: Clear Body
Item: Leftovers
~ Earthquake
~ Iron Defense
~ Toxic
~ Metal Claw
Regice
Types: Ice
Ability: Clear Body
Item: Chesto Berry
~ Rest
~ Thunder
~ Ice Beam
~ Amnesia

Good counters: Breloom, Machamp

Brandon's team of golems may seem intimidating, but it really isn't. Regirock may have a mountain of Defense, but Breloom's Spore/Focus Punch combo will take it out easily. Same thing for the rest of them. Regice is the only problem, with that Chesto Berry, making Machamp a good substitute. With Cross Chop, Machop will take Regice out easily.

Round 2!
You will face Spenser again after 42 battles.

Articuno
Type: Ice/Flying
Ability: Pressure
Item: Scope Lens
~ Blizzard
~ Water Pulse
~ Reflect
~ Aerial Ace
Zapdos
Types: Electric/Flying
Ability: Pressure
Item: Lum Berry
~ Thunder
~ Detect
~ Drill Peck
~ Light Screen
Moltres
Types: Fire/Flying
Ability: Pressure
Item: Brightpowder
~ Fire Blast
~ Aerial Ace
~ Hyper Beam
~ Safeguard

Good counters: Swampert

With an immunity to Electric-types, Swampert is the best candidate to take down the bird trio of Kanto. Use Rock Slide or Waterfall on Articuno before it can set up Reflect. Waterfall will take out Moltres and Zapdos as well. If you don't have a Moltres, try Whiscash or Quagsire. Stay away from Rock-types because Articuno knows Water Pulse.

Battle Tower

Seen in every mainstream Pokemon game since Pokemon Crystal, The Battle Tower is a return feature to the Pokemon games. Located to the north of the Battle Frontier, it requires trainers to pick three Pokemon and battle their way to the top. It's by far the simplest facility in the Battle Frontier, but not exactly the easiest.

Salon Maiden AnabelDuking it out against Salon Maiden Anabel
After 35 matches, Salon Maiden Anabel will challenge you. She's pretty tough, but you can take her.

Alakazam
Type: Psychic
Ability: Synchronize
Item: Brightpowder
~ Fire Punch
~ Thunderpunch
~ Ice Punch
~ Disable
Entei
Types: Fire
Ability: Pressure
Item: Lum Berry
~ Fire Blast
~ Calm Mind
~ Return
~ Roar
Snorlax
Types: Normal
Ability: Immunity
Item: Quick Claw
~ Yawn
~ Body Slam
~ Shadow Ball
~ Belly Drum

Good counters: Swampert, Absol

Swampert walks through the park here. Not afraid of Alakazam's Ice Punch, it can walks through Alakazam with STAB'd Waterfall before taking on Entei. Entei has no defense for Swampert besides Roar, which requires him to go last. Knock some sense into him before he can roar you out and sweep on the rebound back in. Snorlax won't be a problem if it Belly Drums first, and then take the rest of it out with Waterfall. Yawn may be troublesome, so bring a Lum Berry to be safe.

Round 2!
You will face Anabel again after 70 battles.

Raikou
Type: Electric
Ability: Pressure
Item: Lum Berry
~ Thunderbolt
~ Calm Mind
~ Reflect
~ Rest
Latios
Types: Dragon/Psychic
Ability: Levitate
Item: Brightpowder
~ Dragon Claw
~ Psychic
~ Calm Mind
~ Recover
Snorlax
Types: Normal
Ability: Immunity
Item: Chesto Berry
~ Curse
~ Rest
~ Shadow Ball
~ Return

Good counters: Golem

Golem can take on this challenge, due to it's immunity to Thunderbolt and it's resistance to most of Latios's attacks. After Raikou sets up Reflect, take it out with Earthquake. Once he's out of the way, use Brick Break to get rid of the Reflect and take Latios out with Rock Slide. Snorlax will be a cake walk if you simply Explode. Shedinja also works for Latios, but use it at your own risk, considering its frailty.

Battle Dome

The Battle Dome is located on your way back to the entrance to the Battle Frontier. A large colosseum, the Battle Dome uses a tournament system. You randomly are penned against a random opponent and must defeat them to move onwards.

A Fated Affair with Dome Ace Tucker
After winning 5 successful tournaments, Dome Ace Tucker will challenge you.

Charizard
Type: Fire/Flying
Ability: Blaze
Item: White Herb
~ Overheat
~ Aerial Ace
~ Rock Slide
~ Earthquake
Swampert
Types: Water/Ground
Ability: Torrent
Item: Focus Band
~ Earthquake
~ Counter
~ Ice Beam
~ Surf
Salamence
Types: Dragon/Flying
Ability: Intimidate
Item: Lum Berry
~ Earthquake
~ Brick Break
~ Dragon Claw
~ Aerial Ace

Good counters: Golem, Bellossom, Vileplume

Golem has it in the bag here. With resistances to Fire-type attacks, it can waltz in and take Charizard out with ease. Don't let Earthquake fool you. Golem's incredible Defense will leave it with some HP left over, but I recommend giving it Rest or something to recover HP for Salamence.

Swampert is meat for Bellossom and Vileplume, especially if they get Sunny Day set up. Swampert's Special Attack isn't the best, so there's not much to worry about when it comes to Ice Beam. Set up Sunny Day, and sweep with Solarbeam. Salamence can be overcome by Golem's Rock Slide.

Round 2!
You will face Tucker again after 10 tournaments.

Latias
Type: Dragon/Psychic
Ability: Levitate
Item: Chesto Berry
~ Thunderbolt
~ Psychic
~ Calm Mind
~ Rest
Swampert
Types: Water/Ground
Ability: Torrent
Item: Leftovers
~ Earthquake
~ Mirror Coat
~ Ice Beam
~ Surf
Metagross
Types: Steel/Psychic
Ability: Clear Body
Item: Quick Claw
~ Psychic
~ Meteor Mash
~ Earthquake
~ Protect

Good counters: Shedinja, Swampert

With immunities to every single move these guys have, Shedinja has this in the bag. He can Shadow Ball Latias into submission (thought a good taunting would help too) and get to work on Swampert. Toxic it and stall it out. Finally, Metagross may prove to be a problem so you should use Swampert for him.

 

 

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