Ultimate Ranking of the Battle Frontier Facilities

Trying to catch them all, is but one goal in the eyes of the avid Trainer. The other aspect of their ambition relies solely on their ability to raise their caught Pokemon to the best of their battling ability. Growth is certain, growth is necessary; progression into the heart of the game relies on a balanced and diverse Pokemon roster, a tried and tested team that becomes your signature method of Battling.

Sure the NPC Trainers dotted around the routes and cities are fun elements on their own, but the only real challenge that appears is the Gym Leaders.

8 victories against these individuals will grant you access to the regional Pokemon League where the Elite 4 serves as the penultimate test of your battling prowess before the inevitable battle with the region’s Champion (We are currently 6 Generations strong and I wrote a post highlighting a Countdown to who I think is the best Champion, feel free to scroll through the blog and give it a read).

But then, one day 12 years ago, Pokemon Emerald came out and we were treated to a new avenue of battling within the game; ‘The Battle Frontier’.

Battle Frontier in Hoenn

Battle Frontier in Sinnoh/Kanto

The Battle Frontier is a special post Pokemon-League area that houses several facilities all catering to the battling needs of only the most accomplished Trainers. Players ascend the ranks of the facilities in an order of their choosing, trying to best the toughest NPC trainers making their way to the Leaders of the facilities; the ‘Frontier Brains’.

Frontier Brains - Gen 3

For me, this was a sure shot win from the part of the development team and I was ecstatic to know that there was now more to do in-game apart from the tedious task of completing the PokeDex; in my simmering enthusiasm for the aforementioned I wanted to present to you all, a definitive Ranking of the Battle Frontier Facilities.

After a thorough deliberation of all aspects of a facility, a hefty sample of fellow Trainers used a rigorous scoring system that I made, based off of an average. This is surely the most rounded acknowledgment of the Battle Frontier that I could muster.

Participating Trainers scored each Facility themselves within the following categories:

·      The level of Difficulty

Frontier Brains - Gen 4

·      The preparation involved in Pokemon-team building

·      The length/duration

·      Originality of concept and design

·      The Frontier Brain *(the decision to include this was unanimous)

Note that this is a Battle Frontier Facility List, so I didn’t discriminate between the regional Hoenn and Sinnoh counterparts of the battle islands – it made the comparison that much more competitive. Also the two Battle Towers and two Battle Factories will largely be treated as one and the same because of their identical natures.

Let’s jump right in.

10. Battle Palace {7.0}

Battle Palace

This is actually sad. I don’t know for the life of me, why they chose to include the Battle Palace as a Frontier Facility. What were they thinking?

The Pokemon basically are made to battle on their own, with the Trainer just sitting there and mashing the A button in inconsequential angst. We are made to believe that the Pokemon’s choice of moves is purely deliberated by its innate Nature. For example Sassy Pokemon will focus on Attacking moves and Gentle Pokemon will rely more on their Defense. I mean why?

Palace Maven Spenser

Whatever competitive edge the developers were trying to employ in this Facility is well beyond my comprehension and is probably the main reason why it sits at the base of this list. If ‘Palace Maven’ Spenser accounts for anything it is solely that in-game old people are as susceptible to becoming senile as the rest of us. Weird move guys, I’m not about this life.

9. Battle Arena {7.3)

Housed in a Japanese Dojo of sorts, the Battle Arena is definitely unique. Where some battles are notorious for being unnecessarily time consuming, this Facility is based on a very particular dynamic, which is that the Pokemon battle has to conclude one way or the other in 3 turns.

Battle Arena

Inside the Dojo

Moves used during only these 3 turns are rated on their effectiveness and tact and the Pokemon team that has the higher score gets to continue. Elements that lead to a higher score includes the amount of HP that the Pokemon still have, the effectiveness of moves against their opponent as well the accuracy, not withstanding Protect/Detect dodges.

Arena Tycoon Greta

The Battle Arena was not a massive fan favourite mainly because it seemed too much of a filler tactic. Yes tedious battles are quite frustrating but setting up a 3 turn time limit along with a certain lack of information in the points system leaves the Trainer wanting more. No one likes an arbitrary abuse of power. Quality over quantity guys, it’s that simple.

No offence to you ‘Arena Tycoon’ Greta, you’re alright!

8. Battle Tower {7.8}

The Battle Tower in both Hoenn and Sinnoh has been the signature Facility at any Battle Frontier. This tall structure situated at the heart of the area is all about consecutive matches and winning streaks.

Inside the Main Lobby

Battle Tower

The Battle Tower is simple enough to understand. You embark on floor after floor of Pokemon battles after which your Pokemon team gets healed and your perishable Items are replaced.

Tower Tycoon Palmer

Salon Maiden Anabel

There is a variety of  battles you can choose from; Single,  Double and Multi. Matches in the  Battle Tower get increasingly difficult  to surmount as time goes on, with the  initial few being speedy with not fully  evolved Pokemon. Going on further  you realize that the opponents move’s  are fully strategized and you are up  for a big challenge if you are able to  make it all the way to ‘Salon Maiden’  Anabel or ‘Tower Tycoon’ Palmer,  depending on which version you’re  playing.

This facility is fairly simple, it is straightforward and focuses on battle tact more than anything else. The pace at which you engage it is all up to you as you can retire, save or leave the competition as a whole at any point after your battle.

The Battle Resort, which I don’t think deserved a slot on this list, is a watered down version of the same, but in XY and ORAS it is usually more about procuring rare Items from the shop with your Battle Points than it is about actual bragging rights. The Trainer Tower in FR/LG is absolutely the same thing.

As far as its position on the Battle Frontier goes, the Battle Tower is a safe cornerstone to bank on; but unfortunately, it is little else.

7. Battle Pike {8.0}

Battle Pike

Do you feel lucky punk? Do ya? Well by all means, enter the serpentine structure and put it to the test!

By far one of the most novel structures at the Battle Frontier and an ode to a truly underrated Poison type favourite, is the Seviper-inspired Battle Pike. Here, the Trainer has to keep on going forward, room through room, where all manners of fates can befall them. They might encounter a Wild Pokemon that will cause a status affliction, or other Trainers who have to be defeated to progress. Maybe someone will come along and heal your Pokemon? That’s always a welcome treat, or maybe you just enter a room and nothing happens.

Room after room

No guarantees, no safety nets and definitely no going back. All the Player has going forward into the coils of the Seviper is their sheer luck. Who knows what might befall them on their way to ‘Pike Queen’ Lucy?

Pike Queen Lucy

The Battle Pike’s concept was novel to the series. Yes, with all elements of the game, luck has a lot to do with individual growth, but here its all there is to bank on. The developers liked the idea so much that they tweaked it where they needed to and gave us the Battle Arcade in Sinnoh as a prize for all our blessed hearts.

6. Battle Pyramid {8.1}

Battle Pyramid

At the top!

Never has gaming frustration been so satisfying. The Battle Pyramid was the hardest Symbol to achieve because of how complex and arbitrary the endeavor was.

The Trainer is handed a Battle Bag and then embarks on the 7 floor maze which is the Battle Pyramid. Dark rooms where the line of sight only expands on defeating opponents, while falling victim to a vicious barrage of status ailing wild Pokemon (which you cannot Run Away from) the Player traverses floor after floor.

Every floor has limited visibility

Pyramid King Brandon

The claustrophobic environment is palpable, as is the relief one feels when they reach the top of the structure, only to face one of the toughest and most unforgiving Frontier Brains, ‘Pyramid King’ Brandon.

The Battle Pyramid utilizes all the resourcefulness that a Trainer stuck in a tight corner can amount to. From salvaging and rationing Health Items to avoiding running around in a circle, while simultaneously trying to maintain an able bodied Pokemon team to face off against the scattering of tough NPC’s, this Frontier Facility is a true testament to the spirit of the Battle Frontier.

5. Battle Factory {8.2}

Battle Factory - 3rd Gen

The Battle Frontier isn’t all about battling. It’s also about research. But because we’re not academically inclined within the game we don’t have to care too much about that. I love the Battle Factory; Trainers are meant to go in with nothing but a truckload of smarts. You have to select Pokemon for your team from a random assortment presented to you, and fully engage your sense of foresight.

Battle Factory - 4th Gen

Rental Pokemon Selection Screen

With these Rental Pokemon you can now start your challenge with other opponents who are using the Factory’s Pokemon as well. Before every subsequent battle the Player gets some fleeting information about their opponent and it is completely up to them if they would like to alter their team, if at all, in light of the new information. So whether you end up facing ‘Factory Head’ Thorton or Noland it doesn’t matter, as their respective teams are as random as yours.

Factory Head Noland

Factory Head Thorton

This facility is definitely not for the novice player: as type advantages, attack combinations and particularly the individual stats of these Rental Pokemon come largely into play. For the veteran however, the Battle Factory is a battling playground. For me personally, it really helped me get a grasp of how diverse every single Pokemon can be. Adding to the mix is the fact you have to quickly adjust your mental reflexes to newly acquired Pokemon because usually we have a particular Team with us at all times and we know our strategies forwards and backwards. This breaks that momentum by completely shaking our foundation up.

More of this please, all the time!

4. Battle Arcade {8.4}

Battle Arcade

Pokemon Battling meets the Game Corner at the Battle Arcade. I wouldn’t be half surprised if Team Rocket was behind the whole situation (that’d be a really cool plot twist).

The player walks into a dark room facing one side of the wall projecting a giant game board. Before the battle begins, in true roulette fashion, we get to hit a switch, which will determine the condition of the ensuing battle.

Battle Arcade Stadium with the Game Screen

Arcade Star Dahlia

There are various different effects that the game board can trigger. These include Pokemon leveling up or down, status conditions, weather changes on the field. Pokemon from either side can even be given choice Berries or even the use of Held Items being completely nullified.

Rising up the ranks makes the game board increasingly arbitrary so at some point you can not rely on timing. Everything is up to chance, which makes all the more sense when you face off head to head with ‘Arcade Star’ Dahlia amidst all her theatrical fanfair.

I really really liked the Battle Arcade; its scores were one of the most consistent when compared to other Battle Facilities. From difficulty-level to duration to the concept itself, were all applauded by various Trainers. The Battle Arcade has my vote for remaining a staple of all future Battle Frontiers.

3. Battle Hall {8.6}

Battle Hall

Have you ever had a favourite Pokemon? Well this is where you take it to shine!

The Battle Hall is supremely unique as it features the use of only One Pokemon. Housed in a battle stadium with a huge ramp, once the Player chooses their Pokemon, they make their way to the center of the stage and decide which Type of Pokemon they would like to battle.

Battle Hall Stadium

But just when you might think that this is as simple as it might get, you realize that the PokeDex boasts a large variety of dual types and here in the Battle Hall, the element of surprise will catch up to you. Trust me, when I went in with my Luxray and was on a streak of battling Water Pokemon, I was caught unaware when a Gastrodon came at me, rendering all my Electric moves null and void.

Hall Matron Argenta

Final Battle with Argenta

As the player wins against each Type, that Type raises in rank causing the Pokemon of the Type challenged to be raised in level and battle strategy. But its all in good fun, as when you finally face off against the ‘Hall Matron’, Argenta’s Pokemon is as randomly selected as Noland’s or Thorton’s.

To completely conquer the Battle Hall, you would have to have fought 10 Pokemon of each Type that there is present in the game, which is truly a remarkbale feat. Needless to say you all know which Pokemon I used to conquer it – my dear, dear Empoleon.

2. Battle Dome {8.8}

Battle Dome

I loved the Battle Dome, it was Pokemon games meets Pokemon anime in a Battling Tourney till the finish.

Tourney Tree

The concept is simple enough that you start with your team in a sample of 16 trainers and eliminate the competition in a streak reminiscent of the top contenders of the Pokemon League in the anime series. Before each battle starts you can get quite a comprehensive insight into the opponent that you would be battling.

Each tournament if successful throughout would be 4 battles won consistently. After the 4^th and 10^th completion of the Dome you had the chance to battle ‘Dome Ace’ Tucker, a flamboyant artiste who was by far the only Frontier Brain who the anime did justice to in the actual series.

Dome Ace Tucker

The Battle Dome is fun, it doesn’t get repetitive and is challenging in equal measure. I feel it deserves the position it has achieved on this list.

1. Battle Castle {9.0}

Oh boy, here we are – the best that the Battle Frontier has to offer, the coveted Battle Castle!

Battle Castle Stadium

Final Battle with Darach while Caitlin looks on

Frontier Brain Darach

In a decadent facility, inlaid with gold carpets and expensive furniture, the Trainer goes through a series of battles in an elaborate foyer while being watched by the premier of the castle, the Lady Caitlin and it is her butler Darach who directs the players throughout.

Your performance in battle helps you earn Castle Points determined by Caitlin which in turn can be used as currency within the Castle itself to grant you special benefits, like restoring your Pokemon’s HP, PP or even buy Berries. Furthermore you can even choose to spend your CP’s to view your oppoenents’ Pokemon before hand or decrease their level before the battle starts.

The Lady Caitlin and her ‘Valet’ Darach are the Frontier Brains here and he is an extremely formidable opponent. We are made to feel that his urge to win is grounded in his Lady’s approval and he for sure, does not hold back with his Pokemon team.

Castle Valet Darach and Princess Caitlin

The Battle Castle sits firmly at the top of this Facility list for all the right reasons. It scored great amongst all the categories that we assigned, from its level of increasing difficulty, to conceptual design. It brings in the element of Castle Points that urges you not to be hasty in your decisions as every move counts towards your eventual victory against Darach – so rationing, foresight and resourcefulness all comes into play.

Another point to note is the subtle back-story that we see here in the Battle Castle, where the Lady Caitlin due to a reasons largely unknown has resigned from battling herself because of an accident in the past which she allegedly caused by an upsurge in psychic energy. She in turn has handed over the reigns to battle opponents to her trusted Valet, who we feel has unrequited feelings towards his princess. 

Caitlin as a member of the Unova Elite 4 with her Musharna

Luckily we don’t have to worry too much about Caitlin’s fate as we find out in due time that she has made her way up the ranks as a Master Psychic Trainer of the Unova Elite 4 in the 5^th Generation.