Contest Battle

A Contest Battle (Japanese: コンテストバトル Contest Battle) is an anime-exclusive Pokémon battle variation and the second round of a Pokémon Contest. These battles are different from regular battles in the sense that is not only the strength of an attack that matters, but also the style of its execution.

A two-on-two Contest Battle

Procedure

A Contest Battle is a five-minute battle in which two Pokémon Coordinators face each other while continuing to show off their Pokémon's style and skill as in the Performance Stage. During Contest Battles, Coordinators are not allowed to substitute their Pokémon.

Contest Battles use a point system. Each Coordinator begins with a fixed number of points and the object of the battle is to decrease the opponent's points. Points are deducted by the panel of judges, usually formed by Mr. Contesta, Mr. Sukizo, and the resident Nurse Joy. Coordinators may lose points when their Pokémon are hit by an attack, when their Pokémon's attack fails, when the opposing Pokémon performs a particularly appealing move or combination, and when the opposing Pokémon uses their Pokémon's attack to its own advantage.

 
A Contest Battle scoreboard

In addition, Coordinators lose points when they receive a penalty card. This was shown in A Hurdle for Squirtle, when Lilian issued both Jessie and Harley a yellow card since neither side was launching an attack, subtracting half the points from both participants' scores in the process. Coordinators can also be disqualified when caught cheating, or upon receiving a second yellow card.

The winner of a Contest Battle is the one that has more points when time runs out, the one that reduced the opponent's points to zero, or, if a Pokémon is unable to continue battling, the one with the remaining Pokémon. If there is a tie at the end of five minutes, the battle goes into sudden-death overtime, which is an extension of the battle with no time limit as established in Going for Choke!. The overtime ends when one of the Coordinators reaches zero points, or one of the Pokémon is knocked out.

The Double Battle format is also used in Contest Battles. Battles following this format were first seen in the Hoenn Grand Festival and then again in the Kanto Grand Festival. Some Pokémon Contests are held under the Double Performance rule, which means that Coordinators must use two Pokémon in all rounds of the competition. During a Double Contest Battle, Coordinators have to be able to command two Pokémon at all times, presenting both Pokémon to look the best they can. Additionally, Contest combinations require the Pokémon using the moves to be in sync with one another.

Trivia

In other languages

Language Title
Mandarin Chinese 華麗對戰賽 Contest Battle
  German Wettbewerbskampf
  Italian Gara di lotta
  Korean 콘테스트 시합 Contest Battle
  Portuguese Batalha de Torneio
  Spanish Combate de concurso
  Thai คอนเทสต์แบทเทิล Contest Battle

See also

Pokémon battle variations
Double BattleMulti BattleTriple BattleRotation BattleHorde EncounterSOS BattleSupport PlayMax Raid BattleFull Battle
Contest BattleLauncher BattleSky BattleInverse BattleBattle RoyalDynamax AdventureAuto BattleTera Raid Battle
Battle modes


  Pokémon Contests  
Necessary Spoils
PokéblocksPoffins
Contest Categories
CoolBeautifulCuteCleverTough
Rounds
AppealBattleDanceVisual
Participation
ContestSuper ContestContest Show
CoordinatorContest HallContest Pass
The Grand Festival
KantoHoennSinnoh
Top CoordinatorRibbon Cup
Others
Combinations • Opponents (IIIIVVIVIII) • Double PerformanceJamming
Ribbons (list) • StickersBall CapsulesRanksJudgesAnnouncersWallace Cup


  This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of the Pokémon anime.