Triple Battle: Difference between revisions

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A Triple Battle (Japanese: トリプルバトル Triple Battle) is a type of Pokémon battle featuring up to six Pokémon, with three Pokémon from each side battling at a time. It was introduced in Pokémon Black and White and was predominately showcased in White.

As the name suggests, Triple Battles are a type of battle where each Trainer sends out three Pokémon at once. Due to this, they can be considered the successor to Double Battles, with the only difference seemingly being the number of Pokémon. However, there are some restrictions that differentiate the Triple Battle from its predecessor other than the amount of Pokémon, such as placement.

In the games

When a Triple Battle begins, Pokémon will be sent out in order. The first Pokémon able to battle in the party becomes the leftmost Pokémon on the field, the second becomes the center Pokémon, and the third becomes the Pokémon on the far right.

Placement

The placement of the Pokémon is a major attribute of Triple Battles, as a Pokémon's positioning affects how certain moves and Abilities work. Generally, Pokémon on the left-side of the field cannot attack any one on the right-side (including allies), and vice versa. This also means a Pokémon in the center is free to hit any Pokémon on the field, but at a cost of being vulnerable to every other Pokémon.

There are some moves, however, that allow non-adjacent Pokémon to attack each other.

Shifting

Shift redirects here. For bringing Pokémon back into their Poké Ball to send out another Pokémon, see Recall.

The Pokémon on the left and right have the option to 'shift'. This option allows the user to switch with the Pokémon currently in the middle. Shifting has no priority and none of the effects of switching apply to shifting. A Pokémon can move even if it is the last Pokémon on its team, but once in the center, it cannot move anywhere else. If the center Pokémon is readying to use a move on a certain target, but is then shifted before using its move, its attack will fail if the target is then outside of its range. When there are only two Pokémon left on the field and they are non-adjacent to each other, both Pokémon will automatically be shifted to the center of the field.

Effect on moves

Most moves have the same effect in Triple Battles as with single and Double Battles, except that they can only affect adjacent Pokémon. Moves that hit both opponents or all Pokémon in Double Battles only affect adjacent Pokémon in Triple Battles. All damage-dealing Flying-type moves (except Air Cutter), Flying Press, and all aura and pulse moves (except Origin Pulse) can hit any Pokémon on the battlefield; this targeting remains even if moves are changed to or from Flying-type. Moves that hit multiple Pokémon will have their damage reduced by 25%, unless all other Pokémon have fainted at that point, just like in a Double Battle.

The moves After You, Quash, Helping Hand, Ally Switch, Follow Me, Rage Powder, Aromatic Mist, and Hold Hands will have no effect if not used in a Double or Triple Battle.

The moves Bide, Counter, Mirror Coat, Metal Burst, Destiny Bond, and Grudge all can be activated by, and attack, a non-adjacent opponent.

The move Flame Burst takes away 1/16 of the maximum HP of all adjacent allies of the target Pokémon. This damage is not treated as an attack.

The move Acupressure, while in a Triple Battle, can target an adjacent ally instead of the user.

The following moves act differently when used in a Triple Battle, as opposed to a Single or Double Battle.

Effect on Abilities

Most Abilities' effect remain the same and are not affected by the Pokémon's placement. For example, a Mold Breaker Pokémon on the left-side of the field which used Water Pulse can still damage a Pokémon with Wonder Guard on the right-side of the field. A Magic Bounce Pokémon can still reflect entry hazards even if the user of the entry hazard and itself are at opposite corners of the field because entry hazards affect the entire team.

However, some Abilities are affected by a Pokémon's placement, for example, Intimidate will only lower the Attack of opposing, adjacent Pokémon on the field.

Locations

In Pokémon Black

Trainer	Pokémon
Marvelous Bridge
Ace Trainer Glinda ナオ Nao Reward: $3900 This is a Rotation Battle in White.	Alomomola♀ Lv.65 No item
	Klinklang Lv.65 No item
	Beheeyem♀ Lv.65 No item

In Pokémon White

Motorcyclist Charles Driftveil City Black and White Reward: $864

Type: Electric Unknown Ability: Motor Drive Held item: None Zebstrika♂ Lv.27 Shock Wave Electric Special   --       Flame Charge Fire Physical   --       Pursuit Dark Physical   --       Spark Electric Physical   --       Types: Ground Dark Ability: Intimidate Held item: None Krokorok♂ Lv.27 Assurance Dark Physical   --       Mud-Slap Ground Special   --       Embargo Dark Status   --       Swagger Normal Status   --       Type: Water Unknown Ability: Adaptability Held item: None Basculin♂ Lv.27 Aqua Jet Water Physical   --       Chip Away Normal Physical   --       Take Down Normal Physical   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --

Trainer	Pokémon
Route 7
Ace Trainer Elmer ユウイチ Yūichi Reward: $1920 This is a Rotation Battle in Black	Liepard♂ Lv.32 No item
	Watchog♂ Lv.32 No item
	Swoobat♂ Lv.32 No item
Opelucid City
Ace Trainer Lou エツヤ Etsuya Reward: $2340 Triple Battle	Simisage♂ Lv.39 No item
	Simipour♂ Lv.39 No item
	Simisear♂ Lv.39 No item
Ace Trainer Eileen エリナ Erina Reward: $2340 Triple Battle	Pawniard♀ Lv.39 No item
	Elgyem♀ Lv.39 No item
	Mienfoo♀ Lv.39 No item
White Forest
School Kid Shayne シンジ Shinji Reward: $1300	Scrafty♂ Lv.65 No item
	Cofagrigus♂ Lv.65 No item
	Reuniclus♂ Lv.65 No item
Nursery Aide Briana ユカリ Yukari Reward: $2600	Chandelure♀ Lv.65 No item
	Cinccino♀ Lv.65 No item
	Vanilluxe♀ Lv.65 No item

In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2

Motorcyclist Charles Route 5 Black 2 and White 2 Reward: $832

Types: Psychic Flying Ability: Magic Guard Held item: None Sigilyph♂ Lv.26 Air Cutter Flying Special   --       Psybeam Psychic Special   --       Whirlwind Normal Status   --       Light Screen Psychic Status   --       Types: Rock Flying Ability: Defeatist Held item: None Archen♂ Lv.26 Pluck Flying Physical   --       Agility Psychic Status   --       AncientPower Rock Special   --       Quick Guard Fighting Status   --       Types: Water Rock Ability: Solid Rock Held item: None Tirtouga♂ Lv.26 Wide Guard Rock Status   --       Aqua Jet Water Physical   --       AncientPower Rock Special   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --

Trainer	Pokémon
Chargestone Cave 1F
Ace Trainer Corky ナオト Naoto Reward: $1980 Triple Battle	Klink Lv.33 No item
	Unfezant♂ Male Lv.33 No item
	Sandslash♂ Lv.33 No item
Route 7
Lass Flo ミサト Misato Reward: $528 Triple Battle	Ducklett♀ Lv.33 No item
	Unfezant♀ Male Lv.33 No item
	Ducklett♀ Lv.33 No item
Reversal Mountain
Battle Girl Chan チャン Chan Reward: $1184 Triple Battle	Riolu♂ Lv.37 No item
	Gurdurr♂ Lv.37 No item
	Riolu♂ Lv.37 No item
Route 14
Ace Trainer Junko ショウコ Shōko Reward: $2340 Triple Battle	Gligar♀ Lv.39 No item
	Lilligant♀ Lv.39 No item
	Basculin♀ Red-Striped Form Lv.39 No item
Route 13
Pokémon Ranger Dianne ダイアナ Diana Reward: $2340 Triple Battle	Vibrava♀ Lv.39 No item
	Larvesta♀ Lv.39 No item
	Flareon♂ Lv.39 No item
Village Bridge
Hoopster Nicolas ビフ Biff Reward: $4200 Triple Battle	Magby♂ Lv.42 No item
	Magmar♂ Lv.42 No item
	Magby♂ Lv.42 No item
Hoopster Derrick マック Mac Reward: $4200 Triple Battle	Elekid♂ Lv.42 No item
	Electabuzz♂ Lv.42 No item
	Elekid♂ Lv.42 No item
Opelucid Gym
Veteran Ron ロン Long Reward: $3520	Fraxure♂ Lv.44 No item
	Druddigon♂ Lv.44 No item
	Axew♂ Lv.44 No item
Twist Mountain outside
Veteran Carter ヨシオ Yoshio Reward: $5120 Triple Battle	Tauros♂ Lv.64 No item
	Crobat♂ Lv.64 No item
	Carracosta♂ Lv.64 No item
Route 8
Parasol Lady Tyra ルイ Rui Reward: $1920 Triple Battle	Ludicolo♀ Lv.60 No item
	Jolteon♂ Lv.60 No item
	Castform♀ Lv.60 No item
Route 3
School Kid Edgar シュウヘイ Shūhei Reward: $1220 Triple Battle	Natu♂ Lv.61 No item
	Xatu♂ Lv.61 No item
	Fearow♂ Lv.61 No item
Route 18
Veteran Gina ミズホ Mizuho Reward: $5440 Triple Battle	Kingdra♀ Lv.68 No item
	Skarmory♀ Lv.68 No item
	Donphan♀ Lv.68 No item
Pokémon World Tournament
See Pokémon World Tournament

In Pokémon X and Y

Trainer	Pokémon
Restaurant Le Yeah
Waitress Talia ナタリー Natalie Reward: $1984	Mantine♀ Lv.31 King's Rock
	Emolga♀ Lv.31 King's Rock
	Sigilyph♀ Lv.31 King's Rock
Garçon Georges トウマ Tōma Reward: $1984	Shuckle♂ Lv.31 No item
	Pidgeot♂ Lv.31 No item
	Dugtrio♂ Lv.31 No item
Owner Yannick ヤニック Yannick Reward: $4960	Zangoose♂ Lv.31 No item
	Zangoose♂ Lv.31 No item
	Zangoose♂ Lv.31 No item
Chef Albern アルベール Albert Reward: $1984	Simisage♂ Lv.31 Liechi Berry
	Simisear♂ Lv.31 Petaya Berry
	Simipour♂ Lv.31 Salac Berry
Restaurant Le Wow
Owner Christophe クリストフ Christophe Reward: $10,080	Qwilfish♂ Lv.63 No item
	Druddigon♂ Lv.63 No item
	Ferrothorn♂ Lv.63 No item
Owner Christophe クリストフ Christophe Reward: $10,080	Audino♂ Lv.63 No item
	Alomomola♂ Lv.63 No item
	Amoonguss♂ Lv.63 No item
Garçon Morris モリス Morris Reward: $4032	Shieldon♂ Lv.63 No item
	Wobbuffet♂ Lv.63 No item
	Milotic♂ Lv.63 No item
Garçon Morris モリス Morris Reward: $4032	Togekiss♂ Lv.63 No item
	Floatzel♂ Lv.63 No item
	Lucario♂ Lv.63 No item
Waitress Paula ポリーヌ Pauline Reward: $4032	Chatot♀ Lv.63 No item
	Exploud♀ Lv.63 No item
	Aurorus Aurorus♂ Lv.63 No item
Sushi High Roller
Furisode Girl Gwyneth ガーリー Gurley Reward: $4680	Cherrim♀ Lv.65 No item
	Ninetales♀ Lv.65 No item
	Tropius♀ Lv.65 No item
Furisode Girl Cliantha シャーリー Shirley Reward: $4680	Scizor♀ Lv.65 No item
	Hippowdon♀ Lv.65 No item
	Gliscor♀ Lv.65 No item
Furisode Girl Thalassa サビー Savvy Reward: $4680	Ludicolo♀ Lv.65 No item
	Politoed♀ Lv.65 No item
	Beartic♀ Lv.65 No item
Furisode Girl Nerissa ネータ Neta Reward: $4680	Froslass♀ Lv.65 No item
	Abomasnow♀ Lv.65 No item
	Mamoswine♀ Lv.65 No item
Owner Kazu アガリ Agari Reward: $10400	Slowking♂ Lv.65 No item
	Bronzong Lv.65 No item
	Cofagrigus♂ Lv.65 No item

In Pokémon Battrio

This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.

Triple Battling as a mechanic was introduced in Pokémon Battrio, an arcade game using three Pokémon pucks on each side.

In the anime

A Triple Tag Battle in the anime

The first official Triple Battle was seen in the anime in episode A Maractus Musical!, where Ash battled against Toby's three Maractus with his Pikachu, Tepig and Snivy.

In Battling Into the Hall of Fame!, Ash, Serena, and Clemont participated in a Triple Tag Battle with Pikachu, Fennekin, and Chespin, respectively. Their opponents were their new friends and rivals, Tierno, Shauna, and Trevor and their respective starter Pokémon.

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

In Black's First Trainer Battle, Black participates in a Triple Battle with a Hiker named Andy.

In the Be the Best! Pokémon B+W manga

In the second chapter, Monta was shown in a Triple Battle with Cheren, using Snivy, Panpour, and Roggenrola. Cheren used Basculin, Tepig, and Pansage.

Trivia

• Air Cutter is the only Flying-type damage-dealing move that cannot hit a non-adjacent Pokémon.
• In The Battle of the Badge, Jessie and James send out three Pokémon at once to battle Ash, the first unofficial Triple Battle in the anime series.

In other languages

Language Title Finnish Kolmoisottelu French Combat Trio German Dreierkampf Italian Lotta in Triplo Korean 트리플배틀 Triple Battle Spanish Combate Triple

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