Flat Battle

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Reason: Confirmation of whether Flat Battles in Gen IV increase Pokémon below level 50 to level 50
What happens in Generation V in an infrared Multi Battle if a player has more than 3 Pokémon

Flat Battle (Japanese: フラットバトル Flat Battle) is a battle mode introduced in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. In a Flat Battle, all Pokémon that are above level 50 temporarily become level 50, regardless of their current level; however, Pokémon below level 50 will remain at their current level.

In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, it is found at the Pokémon Communication Club Colosseum after the player's childhood friend (Lyra or Ethan) has shown them how to catch Pokémon. In Generation V, it is found at the Union Room. It is similar to the Level 50 Flat rule in Pokémon Battle Revolution. In Generation VI, it is instead known as Flat Rules (Japanese: フラットルール Flat Rules) and is accessed through the Battle function of the Player Search System.

Generation IV

In Generation IV, the player can choose from several rulesets. Flat Battles are only available for Single Battles.

Rule sets available

Rulesets for Flat Battles in HeartGold and SoulSilver
Rules No Restrictions Double
No Restrictions
Standard Cup Double Cup Light Cup GS Cup
No. of Pokémon 6 6 3 4 3 4
Pokémon level Max. 100 Max. 100 Max. 100 Max. 100 Max. 100 Max. 100
Max. Combined level Free Free Free Free Free Free
Height limit Free Free Free Free Free Free
Weight limit Free Free Free Free Max. 218 lbs.
(99.0kg)
Free
Evolved Pokémon Permitted Permitted Permitted Permitted Banned Permitted
Special Pokémon Permitted Permitted Banned Banned Banned Up to 2
Mythical Pokémon Permitted Permitted Banned Banned Banned Banned
Same Pokémon Permitted Permitted Banned Banned Banned Banned
Same held items Permitted Permitted Banned Banned Banned Banned

Generation V and VI

In Generation V, if the player sets the battle rules to Flat Battle in the Union Room, several other rules will automatically be enforced that are not present if "No Restrictions" is selected. In infrared battles, a different set of rules are automatically enforced, which are called "Normal Rules" in Generation VI; while the player is not restricted from selecting battles if they have an insufficient number of Pokémon in their party, the battle will simply become a Single Battle (if a player only has 1 Pokémon) or a Double Battle (if the player with the fewest Pokémon has 2).

In Generation VI, there are three different rule options in the Player Search System's "Battle" option: Normal Rules, Flat Rules, and No Restrictions. If Flat Rules is selected, several other rules will automatically be enforced that are not present if Normal Rules or No Restrictions is selected.

Rules Normal Rules Flat Battles/
Flat Rules
No Restrictions
No. of Pokémon
(Single Battle)
No restrictions 3 No restrictions
No. of Pokémon
(Double Battle)
2 or more 4 2 or more
No. of Pokémon
(Rotation Battle)
3 or more 4 3 or more
No. of Pokémon
(Triple Battle)
3 or more 6 3 or more
No. of Pokémon
(Multi Battle)
1 to 3 3 1 to 3
Pokémon level Set all to Lv. 50 Becomes 50- No restrictions
Special Pokémon Permitted Banned Permitted
Mythical Pokémon Permitted Banned Permitted
Same Pokémon Permitted Banned Permitted
Same held items Permitted Banned Permitted

In other languages

Language Title
  French Combat 50
  German Handicapkampf
  Italian Lotta Pari
  Korean 플랫배틀 Flat Battle
  Spanish Combate tope


Battle Modes at Pokémon Communication Club Colosseum
Battles for Two Single BattleDouble BattleMix BattleFlat Battle
Battles for Four Multi Battle
Specific Rule sets
Standard Cup • Double Cup
Fancy CupGS CupLight CupLittle Cup


  This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.