The Battle Subway (aka Gear Station) is found in the centre of Nimbasa City . Here, you can battle a wide variety of trainers in controlled conditions, much of which you can choose. There are a number of battle types that you can partake in. The types, along with their corresponding train colours, are as follows:

In addition to these, there’s the Brown Train line. If the player takes this line, they’ll be taken to Anville Town , possibly the most isolated town in all of Unova. You can only get there by train (you can’t even Fly there!), but there isn’t a whole lot to do there so you won’t find yourself visiting often.

If you do want to visit Anville Town , feel free to. Simply head onto the Brown Train Line platform and talk to the Depot Agent dressed in green to go there. If you answer ‘Yes’, you’ll hop onto the train and head up to the town!

As for the other lines, the Super versions of the Single, Double and Multi types are locked until you defeat the Pokemon League , as well as the regular version of that type. Until then, you can still enter the other four battle lines.

If you talk to the Depot Agent on any of the platforms and tell them that you want to ride the Battle Subway, you’ll be able to jump on and begin the battling after selecting a few things.

Battle Format¶

What? We haven’t actually explained the rules for the Battle Subway? Well, for all battle types you will have a number of allowed Pokemon. The number depends upon the battle type you choose and can be found in the chart above.

Put the Pokemon you intend to choose into your party, then select them when asked to by the Depot Agent. All Pokemon are set to Level 50, regardless of whether they’re above or below Level 50. So you can use the Battle Subway at any time and still have a chance to actually do decently.

But it also means you can’t field overpowered Pokemon and slaughter everyone either. There are a few banned Pokemon that you may not use on the Battle Subway. These tend to mostly be Legendaries. Check below for a list of all banned Pokemon.

Banned Pokemon¶

Once you’ve chosen your Pokemon, you’re free to head onto the train and take on the first of hopefully many trainers! Each trainer you’re up against has the same number of Pokemon as you, which are set at the same level as yours.

You now basically continue battling trainers consecutively until you either lose, retire or win a total of 21 consecutive battles if you’re participating in the normal version of a battle type. If you’re participating in the Super version, or Wi-Fi, battles continue indefinitely.

Between battles your Pokemon are healed and you’re given the opportunity to retire. Obviously this isn’t the easiest task in the world, but it makes it very satisfying when you do well. Oh, and you get rewards!

Participation Rewards¶

Rewards come in the form of Battle Points (BP) . The further you progress in a line, the greater the reward. BP can be exchanged for fabulous prizes at any of the counters in all of the Train Lines, excluding the Brown Train Line. Simply talk to either of the women behind them and they’ll show you their wares.

The left and right woman at each counter sells different wares, but each counter has the same wares, so don’t bother going to a different one to see if they’re selling something else, because they’re not. You don’t earn points linearly though (except in Wi-Fi).

Every seven games that you win during a single attempt, you earn some BP. The BP reward is different depending on how far you progress (again, excluding Wi-Fi). BP earnt from the Pokemon World Tournament and Battle Subway are interchangeable.

BP earnt from either location can be spent on prizes at either location. The prizes at both locations are identical. Check the Left BP Exchange Service Corner and Right BP Exchange Service Corner for a list of available items, as well as prices.

See below for a table showing the total BP earned during a single attempt, dependent on how far you make it.

Battle Points Awarded¶

Okay, now to actually explain the differences between each battle type! In Single Battle , it’s just you against your opponent, using one Pokemon at a time. In Double Battle , it’s just you against your opponent, but you’re using two Pokemon each at a time.

In Multi Battle , it’s you and either a friend (who you’ve connected your DS or 3DS with locally, through wireless or infrared), or the main character that you didn’t opt to play as (ie. the male one if you chose to be female and vice versa).

The two of you are against two trainers and you each control one Pokemon in a Double Battle. If you’re playing with a friend, they will choose their own Pokemon. If, however, you’re playing with the other main character, you will be able to tell them to take a party that fits a certain play-style.

The Pokemon they choose is entirely up to them though. The Super Versions of these types play exactly the same, but the opponents you’re up against are more powerful, so the version’s more difficult. In ‘‘Wi-Fi Battle’, you partake in Single Battles, but you’re up against a set of trainers that’s been downloaded via Wi-Fi.

The 21st Battle in Normal Version battle types–the final battle for these types–is against a Subway Boss, or both bosses if you’re partaking in Multi Battle. These battles are much tougher, but if you win them you’ve completed the Normal Version for that battle type.

Once you defeat the Pokemon League, the Super Version will then be unlocked for the Normal Version that you beat. The 49th Battle in Super Version battle types, the milestone battle for these types, is against a Subway Boss, or both of them if you’re partaking in Multi Battle.

These battles are much tougher than the other Super Version battles (which are already tough), but if you win them you’ve technically completed the Super Version for that battle type. You can continue battling trainers after winning this battle though.

That’s really all there is to it! Feel free to try out any of the types and enjoy yourself! Below are the party listings for the Normal and Super Version battles against the Subway Bosses.

Single Battle 21: Subway Boss Ingo¶

Super Single Battle 49: Subway Boss Ingo¶

Double Battle 21: Subway Boss Emmet¶

Super Double Battle 49: Subway Boss Emmet¶

Multi Battle 21: Subway Boss Ingo and Emmet¶

Ingo’s party

Emmet’s party

Super Multi Battle 49: Subway Boss Ingo and Emmet¶

Ingo’s party

Emmet’s party