As you may or may not know the new Battle Frontier is a huge place to explore. This guide
is to tell you the basics of how to get started and a few tips on challenging the various
frontier brains. The following are the frontier brains:
Battle Tycoon Palmer
Battle Matron Argenta
Factory Head Thorton
Castle Valet Darach
Arcade Star Dahlla
Battle Tower:
Like in most of the pokemon games, the Battle Tower is fairly straightforward. Choose
your battle, go through a 7 round battle to complete one streak, and move on. The Battle
Tower in Platinum is no different. In fact it is exactly the same as in D/P besides to new
aesthetic looks.
The frontier brain is still Palmer like in D/P. Complete 20 rounds without losing and
he will challenge you on your 21st round. He comes with a fairly strong team of Dragonite,
Milotic, and Rhyperior. Dragonite uses a Dragon Dance combo to start, so take it out
quickly with a strong dragon type or ice move. Milotic shouldn't pose much of a threat as
long as you have an electric or grass move. Milotic likes to use Hypnosis to put your
pokemon to sleep, so watch out for that. Rhyperior shouldn't be any problem since most
pokemon are faster than it. A simple water or grass move will make short work of this
pokemon. However if you continue and don't lose a round up to round 48, Palmer will
challenge you again on round 49. He comes with a new team of Cresselia, Regigigas, and
Heatran(yes you can use these pokemon in the Battle Frontier too). Cresselia has high
defensive stats which is hard to get around. Get out a good steel type or strong dark type
to make quick work of it. Regigigas isn't that strong at first with its Slow Start
ability, but after 5 turns it becomes a strong opponent. Take it out before the 5 turns
ends to end up with as little trouble as possible. Heatran's type Fire/Steel makes ground
moves almost 1HKO it every time.
A good pokemon to use here is Metagross since it has multiple resistances and can
learn Earthquake. Also start with a fast pokemon like Crobat or Gengar to assess the
opponent's team and get in some status effects like sleep or poison. Another solid
addition is a strong special attacker(Gengar can double as one) or a strong physical
attacker(Metagross works well here). However a special attacker is more utilized since
special attack can't be lowered by many attacks, while physical attack can(i.e.
Will-O-Wisp, Intimidate, Charm etc.)
Battle Hall:
This new addition tests the strength of an individual pokemon on your team rather
than the team itself. So here you'll want a pokemon that can tackle almost all of the 17
types with its 4 moves. The Battle Hall features the choice of battling whatever type
pokemon you want. So you think it would be easy to choose an electric type and face flying
as your opponent. Occasionally the game will throw you off by sending in dual types. For
example Gligar/Gliscor are flying, but also ground type making it immune to electric
attacks. You'll have to be prepared for that throughout your match. Also instead of the
usual 7 win streak, the Battle Hall comes in 10 win streaks. Each type has 10 total ranks
you can face against starting from rank 1. You must complete 10 rounds before exiting the
premises. You also don't have to complete one type during one streak. You can hope around
from a rank 5 match to another type match of rank 1. Unfortunately you must use the same
pokemon throughout the entire time or your current streak will be lost(the game always
makes it difficult, but adds a challenge). Oh if you aren't good at math there are a total
of 170 rounds to beat. Don't worry since the pokemon are fairly easy game until you reach
ranks 7-10.
The frontier brain Argenta will first challenge you after your 59th win, making her
the 60th match. Her pokemon's level matches your own so you'll be on even ground. She also
comes with a random pokemon from any type so be prepared for the worst if anything. She'll
challenge you a second time on your 170th win steak. It seems like a long way off, but its
actually shorter and easier than the Battle Tower if you're trying to reach a 100 win
steak respectively.
Technically there is no actual pokemon to use here. Try to use something with a high
base stat and multiple ranges of attack. Electivire is quite effective here, but it will
need some training before taking on the later ranks. Pokemon with multiple resistances is
also another strategy to look at, but its more recommended to focus more on attack based
on the levels you'll find when battling trainers.
Battle Factory:
The Battle Factory is the exact same thing in Emerald Version. You'll have the
ability to use rental pokemon and use them in battle. This tests your knowledge to use
different combinations on pokemon rather than your normal team. This can be quite
challenging for a trainer new to the game, but a seasoned trainer will find it fun and
interesting to use pokemon out of their comfort zone. The battle streaks here are the same
as in Battle Tower, following 7 battles to complete one win streak.
The frontier brain here is Thorton. He challenges you on your 21st match. Like
Argenta, he uses any random pokemon each time you face him, so he'll use different pokemon
every time you battle. Thorton will challenge you again if you don't lose up to your 49th.
The same rules apply here as well.
Seeing as all rentals will be different every time, stick to what you know best. If
you're looking for some tips, I have a few that may help.
-The chances of finding a rental pokemon used for status effects are rare, so stick to
attacking pokemon. If you come across one with status inducing moves, ignore it.
-Speedy pokemon are key. Always try to keep pokemon with a high base speed stat on your
team. This can be helpful if you find yourself in a tight spot.
-Diverse moves. Try to rent pokemon with a diverse move set. This pretty much means find
pokemon with more than one type attack move. Some pokemon that may have multiple moves are
Flygon and Alakazam, if you ever come across them.
Battle Castle:
This unique addition to the Battle Frontier tests your ability to battle smart. You
can use your own pokemon here, but unlike the other facilities your pokemon won't be
healed between matches. Actually after every match you win, you'll receive CASTLE POINTS.
Castle points are only to be spent in the Battle Castle facility. Using castle points you
can choose to heal your pokemon, select items for use, or rank up. Ranking up allows more
selections to be made for purchase. While these battle conditions are new and unfamiliar,
the system isn't. You'll follow the standard 7 battle steak and face the frontier brain on
rounds 21 and 49.
On your 21st round, frontier brain Darach will confront you. His team is fairly easy
to beat, the only think to take into account is your current status. That being your teams
health, PP, and status afflictions(if any). Be sure you save up your castle points for
healing in this occasion. He has an Empoleon, Staraptor, and Houndoom the first time
around. He'll challenge you once again on round 49 except with a few changes. He'll swap
two of his pokemon for the legendary Entei and a Gallade.
This isn't much different from the Battle Tower except the ability to not be healed.
So if you're confident with your Battle Tower team, use the same for Battle Castle. A
strong ground type can wipe him out easy. Electivire once again fits the bill with the
ability to learn Earthquake and its fairly high speed stat compared to his pokemon.
Thunderpunch and Ice Punch/Cross Chop(egg or tutor move) can also come in handy every now
and then.
Battle Arcade:
The outcomes of battles are based purely on luck as a roulette decides the battle.
When you are about to battle the screen changes to a random Draw point. These draws
determine what kind of occurrence goes on in the battle. If you want something to happen,
you'll have to quickly select what you want on the touch screen. It takes some time
getting used to. There are multiple possibilities ranging from weather change, status
afflictions, pokemon's stats being heightened or lowered, berry distribution, health
outcome, switching pokemon with your opponent, or even nothing happening at all. Once
again one thing stands the same, the streak and wins to face the frontier brain.
Your 21st and 49th match will make you face the frontier brain. She has set pokemon
here, so strategy can be used. Her first team will consist of Dusknoir, Medicham, and
Ludicolo. The second match will hold Togekiss, Blaziken, and Zapdos. Some strategy can be
used, but make sure her pokemon lose health every turn. The second time around is the same
in strategy, except the roulette is sped up making things a bit more difficult.
Since this facility is based on luck there isn't much I can help with here. I can
only name a few tips you may be able to use:
-Make sure the opponent's pokemon lose health every turn.
-When the chance presents itself, try to get status afflictions on your opponent's
pokemon/team.
-Avoid weather effects unless it benefits your team
-Avoid using Trick Room teams even though it is an available roulette option.
-Pray that luck is on your side.