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Sword and Shield brought us a revamped, arguably worse version of the classic Battle Tower, but also introduced two new exciting Battle Facilities with the DLC, including the first multiplayer facility since Gen 5! This thread is for discussing everything related to those facilities, and provides multiple resources and a leaderboard for each!
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:
▹ Regular Smogon and Orange Islands forum rules apply.
▹ Feel free to discuss just about anything about the teams and strategies you use, the opposing Pokémon and movesets you encounter, and your streak successes and failures. Theorymonning is encouraged as well.
▹ Reliable information on AI tendencies is appreciated, especially if you can provide evidence and have extensively tested a specific interaction.
▹ If you think the AI is cheating, whether in improbable luck, illegal abilities or illegal movesets, please provide footage of the incident if possible.
▹ Likewise, while it's fine to discuss improbable losses, try to keep the whining to a minimum. Sure, losing a big streak to an unlucky sequence can be maddening, but over a long streak, lots of low percentage events can and will happen. Our goal here is to focus on ways we can learn from frustrating losses and get better, by both improving our play decisions and our teambuilding. Excessive complaining about hax rather than looking at what you could have done differently runs counter to this ideal.
▹ For leaderboard rules pertaining to each Battle Facility, please see their respective sections below.
▹ This is not a court of law. I reserve the right to reject sufficiently dubious streaks even without absolute proof of cheating.
▹ Remember that in the end, this is all just for fun. So please try to keep a positive and collegial attitude. It really does make the discussion more pleasant for everyone.
▹ If you spot an error or omission concerning a streak, please don't hesitate to contact me so that I can fix it!
Restricted Sparring is a battle facility introduced in the Isle of Armor DLC. It's a monotype challenge where a team of 3 tries to get as far as possible with 2 heals only through the entire streak. Each type has individual streak tracking in-game; the NPC will allow you to see your top streak for each type before entering the facility. A comprehensive guide to this facility has been written by sb879.
RULES:
▹ Streaks of 5 wins or more are eligible for the leaderboards.
▹ To submit a streak, simply screenshot or take a photo of your record and post it along with a report about your team.
Endless Dynamax Adventures is a multiplayer facility introduced in the Crown Tundra DLC. It is unlocked by completing all of Peoney's quests (catching Calyrex, the Regis and the Galarian Bird Trio).
Like regular Dynamax Adventures, teams of 4 complete a series of raids that culminate in a boss battle against a legendary Pokémon. However, upon defeating the legendary, the team moves on to the next "floor", where the process is repeated until the team loses (legendaries cannot be caught in this mode).
The team starts with 4 lives, and 1 life gets replenished after clearing every floor.
RULES:
▹ Streaks of 10 wins or more are eligible for the leaderboards.
▹ To submit a streak, simply screenshot or take a photo of your record (and/or reward screen in case of AI partners) and post it along with the details (human or AI teammates). War stories about the run are always appreciated but not necessary.
▹ Runs with more than one human count in the human category of the leaderboard, even if they also include AI.
The SwSh Battle Tower differs from older ones in many key aspects:
▹ There is no streak counter outside of a cumulative number of wins.
▹ Any Pokémon is allowed, including normally restricted legendaries.
▹ Every 10th battle is a fight against Leon, after which the player leaves the Tower and has to re-enter for a new stretch of 10 battles ending with Leon.
▹ Upon losing, the streak gets resumed from the same point in the stretch of 10 upon re-entering. For example, if I lost on the 9th battle, right before the Leon fight, next time I enter Tower I would only have 1 trainer to beat before facing Leon, and I would be ejected from the Tower after the Leon fight. When losing the Leon battle, one gets a stretch of 11 battles next time they enter rather than 10, of which the 11th is Leon.
▹ Players may Dynamax once per battle, but the AI only uses Dynamax in very rare occasions (the exact list can be found below). Leon always has Charizard in his backline, and will always Gmax it.
Because of these limitations, streak tracking has to be done manually by the player. While less than ideal, it still allows those who enjoy the challenge of building streaks to partake in it and try to create the best possible teams or simply have fun with it.
Additionally, the fact there is no banlist and that Dynamax is a very rare occurrence outside Leon tends to make SwSh Battle Tower less than a challenge. Since the streaks we keep track of for our leaderboards are already a self-imposed challenge, we have divided streaks into 3 different categories to turn the Battle Tower into a more competitively balanced facility, detailed in the rules below.
▹ Streaks of 50 or more are eligible for the leaderboards. Ongoing streaks are accepted, but must be indicated as such. Ongoing streaks that haven't been updated with any follow-up post after 6 months will be deemed finished and closed.
▹ To submit a streak to the leaderboard, post a team report listing all relevant details about your team, the streak length, the streak category, as well as a writeup about the streak itself. This operates on the honor system and we ask you to participate in good faith and not cheat, or forget losses that are not tracked by the Tower itself. Gameplay recordings or streams are appreciated but not necessary.
▹ Streaks can be submitted in one of three categories:
▸ CLASSIC: The Classic category is a mode meant to be as similar as possible to older Battle Tower facilities.
‣ Dynamaxing is not allowed.
‣ The following Pokémon may not be used: Mewtwo, Lugia, Ho-Oh, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Reshiram, Zekrom, Kyurem-Black, Kyurem-White, Xerneas, Yveltal, Zygarde-Complete, Solgaleo, Lunala, Necrozma-Dusk Mane, Necrozma-Dawn Wing, Magearna, Marshadow, Melmetal, Zacian, Zamazenta, Eternatus, Calyrex-Ice, Calyrex-Shadow.
▸ DYNAMAX: Similar to the classic category, but allows Dynamax.
‣ Dynamaxing allowed.
‣ The following Pokémon may not be used: Mewtwo, Lugia, Ho-Oh, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Reshiram, Zekrom, Kyurem-Black, Kyurem-White, Xerneas, Yveltal, Zygarde-Complete, Solgaleo, Lunala, Necrozma-Dusk Mane, Necrozma-Dawn Wing, Magearna, Marshadow, Melmetal, Zacian, Zamazenta, Eternatus, Calyrex-Ice, Calyrex-Shadow.
▸ UNRANKED: For those who want to play for the fun of it or create their own challenges such as randomized teams, this category has basically no rules. These teams get listed but not ranked.
‣ Dynamaxing allowed.
‣ Any Pokémon may be used.
___________________________________________________________ * = ongoing streak. Last updated March 25th, 2024.
Leon: Charizard (Gmax)
League Staff Claus: Barbaracle4
Worker Ultan: Copperajah4
- The AI favors speed control (Thunder Wave, Icy Wind, Dragon Dance, etc.) whenever it doesn't outspeed. This includes in Trick Room, where those moves can be disadvantageous for the AI.
- When the AI has a guaranteed OHKO on one of your Pokémon, it's likely to go for it (but not guaranteed).
- If the AI rolls several sets using the same item, it avoids breaking item clause by replacing them with, in priority order: a Focus Sash, a Sitrus Berry, a Lum Berry.
- When the AI has a weather move, it's likely to use it whenever that weather is not in play. If it has several weather moves, it's likely to cycle between them.
- Leon's Charizard is particularly fond of using Max Overgrowth as a neutral move; it may be because of the higher base power of Solar Beam.
Drapion looks like the best plan at this point.
It can actually hit all Shedinja variants, but I wonder how it can deal with a potential 3rd pokemon Wobbuffet or Ditto...
Ditto is powerless if you're behind a substitute, and most of the Wobbuffets shouldn't be a problem. Set 2 can chip you with Rocky Helmet, and set 3 might be able to get tricky with QC, but assuming you're powerful enough to blast through it, anything other than QC Destiny Bond isn't a concern. There's no sash Wobbuffet or anything.
Ditto is powerless if you're behind a substitute, and most of the Wobbuffets shouldn't be a problem. Set 2 can chip you with Rocky Helmet, and set 3 might be able to get tricky with QC, but assuming you're powerful enough to blast through it, anything other than QC Destiny Bond isn't a concern. There's no sash Wobbuffet or anything.
Some time ago I made a list about the battle tree fake out speed tier list, and here is another one for sword/shield.
Without further ado here is the list, please let me know if anything has the wrong speed or such
A few species have 8 sets, with the starters even going to 12. In these cases, sets 5-8 are the same sets as 1-4, just with a higher IV tier, and 9-12 on the starters are the same deal.
Toxtricity and Rotom get 2 sets in each form (even normal Rotom gets 2 sets now). Indeedee and Meowstic get 2 sets for each gender. Flapple, Appletun, Silvally, and the pseudo-legends each get just 2 distinct sets as a species, instead of the usual 4.
There are no Alola forms present, and unlike in tree, also no original forms for the stuff that has regional variants. All four Rapidash sets are Rapidash-G, for instance.
Everything is now strictly 252/252 EVs, no sets with 3- or 4-way splits.
The only sets listed with a 31 IV Tier are the species that Leon uses. The last five trainers on the trainer list appear to be variations of Leon in some manner, and those are the only five trainer listings configured to use those sets at all.
Wishiwashi and Mimikyu return with their abilities intact, and this time opponents are capable of using Aegislash and Silvally as well. I'm fairly sure that Morpeko, Cramorant, and Eiscue also have form-changing abilities in the sense that they block Durant. Darmanitan still has Zen Mode as a possibility, and if it doesn't roll that then it will have Gorilla Tactics, an ability that counts as a built-in Choice Band.
There's a lot less speed creep going on; 198 Adamant natures and 190 Modest (including a potentially troublesome Specs Gengar that you'll at least find it easier to outspeed this way) compared to 116 Jolly and 86 Timid. Attack-boosting natures were also more common in Tree, but by closer to a 3:2 margin rather than 2:1.
In closing, the sets appear to be less competitive on aggregate (Scarf Cinderace running a SPECIAL set??) but there's definitely some nasty stuff you'll have to be prepared for, like this:
The only sets listed with a 31 IV Tier are the species that Leon uses. The last five trainers on the trainer list appear to be variations of Leon in some manner, and those are the only five trainer listings configured to use those sets at all.
Actually, based on what has been dug up so far, there is no evidence that Multis exists at all this time around. But, I myself have only heard snatches of the dialogue in that regard.
Actually that made me wonder, if both you and the enemy are on your last pokemon, and you trigger Destiny Bond, which of the 2 wins? I know with Explosion the person Exploding would win...
Actually that made me wonder, if both you and the enemy are on your last pokemon, and you trigger Destiny Bond, which of the 2 wins? I know with Explosion the person Exploding would win...
werster (of Pokemon speedrunning fame) played through some of the Battle Tower. Here are some general notes:
There are only Single and Double Battles.
The Battle Tower uses numerical ranks, like the Battle Stadium. You start at tier 1 and work your way up.
The first three tiers have two trainers each. After winning each battle, you get 2 BP. After you complete a tier, you earn some BP and items.
At the end of tier 3, you face Leon. He Gigantamaxes his Charizard.
After you clear tier 3, you move up to Poke Ball tier. The Judge function is also unlocked, and you can change the music.
In tiers 4 and 5, you face three trainers in a row. This is where werster stopped, so I'm not sure what happens afterwards.
You can Dynamax your Pokemon. None of the regular trainers use Dynamax or Gigantamax; perhaps the trainers Dynamax their Pokemon at higher tiers?
Mints and Ability Capsules cost 50 BP. The other items range from 10 to 25 BP. The best competitive items, such as Life Orb and Choice items, cost 25 BP each. There are no TMs or TRs.
You can get a Type: Null from a NPC in the Battle Tower.
werster (of Pokemon speedrunning fame) played through some of the Battle Tower. Here are some general notes:
There are only Single and Double Battles.
The Battle Tower uses numerical ranks, like the Battle Stadium. You start at tier 1 and work your way up.
The first three tiers have two trainers each. After winning each battle, you get 2 BP. After you complete a tier, you earn some BP and items.
At the end of tier 3, you face Leon. He Gigantamaxes his Charizard.
After you clear tier 3, you move up to Poke Ball tier. The Judge function is also unlocked, and you can change the music.
In tiers 4 and 5, you face three trainers in a row. This is where werster stopped, so I'm not sure what happens afterwards.
You can Dynamax your Pokemon. None of the regular trainers use Dynamax or Gigantamax; perhaps the trainers Dynamax their Pokemon at higher tiers?
Mints and Ability Capsules cost 50 BP. The other items range from 10 to 25 BP. The best competitive items, such as Life Orb and Choice items, cost 25 BP each. There are no TMs or TRs.
You can get a Type: Null from a NPC in the Battle Tower.
They didn't seem too difficult. They used fully evolved Pokes from the start, but werster was able to defeat them fairly easily with the rental teams.
I went through the Sword/Shield text dump ( see here) and found out some more info about the BT.
There are no Super Single or Super Double modes. This supports an earlier leak. The dump also confirms there are no Multi Battles.
There are five tiers: Beginner, Poke, Great, Ultra, and Master. There are also 11 ranks, ranging from 1-10 and MAX.
Leon challenges you again in the Master Ball tier, and each of your Pokemon get a Ribbon for beating him. You also get his rare League Card after beating him the first time.
There's a line that says you'll drop down a rank, which implies that you won't have to start from Rank 1 if you lose. This would be similar to the Wi-Fi Rooms of the Gen 4 Battle Frontier and Battle Subway.
I forgot to mention this earlier, but your rank and streak are tracked separately.
There don't appear to be any rewards for achieving 100 or 200 wins like in the past two gens. There also don't appear to be any special trophies like in the Maison or special stamps like in the Tree.