View source for Group Battle

{{search|link battle mode in Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness|battles with four trainers, two on each side|Multi Battle}}
{{missing image|needs=Add images, including screenshots of the GBA screen during a battle.}}
'''Group Battle''' is a mode in [[Pokémon Colosseum]] (known as '''Gang Battle''' in that game) and [[Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness]] that allows for link [[Pokémon battles|battle]]s between the [[core series]] [[Generation III]] games in 3D.

Regardless of which [[GameCube]] game is used, this battle mode can be accessed immediately from the main menu:
* In Pokémon Colosseum, Gang Battle is a part of [[Battle Mode (Colosseum)|Battle Mode's]] [[Colosseum Battle]] menu.
* In Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, Group Battle is a part of its VS Mode.

==Battle rules==
Once the mode is selected, the rules for the battle are decided by the player. In Pokémon Colosseum, the settings are decided sequentially in their own distinct menus, while in Pokémon XD, the settings are redesigned to fit one screen.

===Opponents===
There are four link battle options available.
* '''GCN VS GBA:''' A link battle between Colosseum/XD and a GBA game
* '''GBA VS GBA:''' A link battle between two GBA games
* '''GCN + GBA VS GBA + GBA:''' A link [[Multi Battle]] between Colosseum/XD and three GBA games.
* '''GBA + GBA VS GBA + GBA:''' A link Multi Battle between four GBA games

Story Mode save data is required for the options that involve the GameCube game participating.

===Battle Style===
[[Single Battle]]s and [[Double Battle]]s are available when two games battle.

When four games battle, this option is automatically changed to Multi Battle, and the cursor skips over it.

===Arena===
In Pokémon Colosseum, the arena is chosen depending on the selected battle style:
* Single and Double Battles take place in [[Pyrite Colosseum]].
* Multi Battles take place in [[Under Colosseum]].

In Pokémon XD, players can select a battle arena from one of the following:
* '''Pyrite Colosseum:''' ''The domed <sc>[[Stadium (location type)|Colosseum]]</sc> in <sc>[[Pyrite Town]]</sc>.''
* '''[[Realgam Colosseum]]:''' ''The <sc>Colosseum</sc> located atop the <sc>[[Realgam Tower]]</sc>.''
* '''[[Mt. Battle|Mt. Battle Colosseum]]:''' ''A <sc>Colosseum</sc> built in the volcanic crater atop <sc>[[Mt. Battle]]</sc>.''
* '''[[Poké Spot#Rock Poké Spot|Rock Arena]]:''' ''An arena ringed by boulders.''
* '''[[Poké Spot#Oasis Poké Spot|Oasis Arena]]:''' ''An arena located in the middle of an oasis.''
* '''[[Poké Spot#Cave Poké Spot|Cave Arena]]:''' ''An arena located inside a cave.''
* '''Random:''' ''The arena will be selected at random.''

The arena used changes the effects of {{m|Nature Power}}, {{m|Secret Power}} and {{m|Camouflage}} but is purely cosmetic otherwise.

===Rules===
Many [[Rule variants#Rules|rules]] can be decided for the battle, ranging from a level limit for each Pokémon, to various clauses.

Both Colosseum and XD have three preset rulesets: '''Anything Goes''', '''Max. Lv 50''', and '''Max. Lv 100'''. There are also three "Edit Rule" slots that can be used to make custom rulesets and can also be renamed to different names in XD.

====List of rules====
Rules are ordered as they are in Pokémon XD.
{| style="margin:auto; text-align:center; background: #{{orre color dark}}; {{roundy|5px}} border: 2px solid #{{orre color}}"
|- style="color:#fff"
! style="background: #{{orre color}}; {{roundytl|5px}};" | Rule
! style="background: #{{orre color}};" | Effect
! style="background: #{{orre color}};" | Available options
! style="background: #{{orre color}};" | Anything Goes
! style="background: #{{orre color}};" | Max. Lv 50
! style="background: #{{orre color}};" | Max. Lv 100
! style="background: #{{orre color}}; {{roundytr|5px}};" | Custom default
|- style="background:#fff"
| {{ScPkmn}} level{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Each {{ScPkmn}}'s level{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Restricts the level of all Pokémon on a team.
| A range from 1 to 100
| Lv 001~100
| Lv 001~050
| Lv 001~100
| Lv 001~100
|- style="background:#fff"
| Sum of {{ScPkmn}} levels{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />The combined levels of {{ScPkmn}} on a team{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Restricts the sum of the levels of all Pokémon on a team.
| Any number from 6 to 600
| Lv 600 max.
| Lv 300 max.
| Lv 600 max.
| Lv 600 max.
|- style="background:#fff"
| Time Limit (per Match){{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Time limit for one battle{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Adds a time limit to the battle.
| Unlimited{{sup/ss|Colo}}/None{{sup/ss|XD}}, or a number of minutes from 1 to 99
| Unlimited{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />None{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Unlimited{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />None{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Unlimited{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />None{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Unlimited{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />None{{sup/ss|XD}}
|- style="background:#fff"
| Move Select Time Limit{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Time limit for move selection{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Adds a time limit for when players choose what to do on their turn.
| Unlimited{{sup/ss|Colo}}/None{{sup/ss|XD}}, or a number of seconds from 1 to 99
| Unlimited{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />None{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Unlimited{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />None{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Unlimited{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />None{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Unlimited{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />None{{sup/ss|XD}}
|- style="background:#fff"
| Number of entry {{ScPkmn}}{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Limits how many Pokémon can be selected during team preview. In Colosseum, this option doesn't exist, and all connected players must enter 3 Pokémon for singles, 4 Pokémon for doubles and 2 Pokémon for multis unless Anything Goes is chosen, in which they must enter their entire party.
| Open, or a number from 1 to 6
| Open
| Open
| Open
| 4
|- style="background:#fff"
| Allow same {{ScPkmn}}?{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Allow same {{ScPkmn}} on a team?{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Determines whether multiple of the same species is allowed on a team.
| Yes{{sup/ss|Colo}}/Allow{{sup/ss|XD}} or No{{sup/ss|Colo}}/Disallow{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Yes{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Allow{{sup/ss|XD}}
| No{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Disallow{{sup/ss|XD}}
| No{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Disallow{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Yes{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Disallow{{sup/ss|XD}}
|- style="background:#fff"
| Allow hold items?{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Allow {{ScPkmn}} to hold items?{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Determines whether [[held items]] are allowed. Restricted allows players to disallow specific items.
| Yes{{sup/ss|Colo}}/Allow{{sup/ss|XD}}, No{{sup/ss|Colo}}/Disallow{{sup/ss|XD}}, or Restricted with a list of items to allow or disallow
| Yes{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Allow{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Yes{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Restricted, [[Soul Dew]] disallowed{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Yes{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Restricted, [[Soul Dew]] disallowed{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Yes{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Restricted, [[Soul Dew]] disallowed{{sup/ss|XD}}
|- style="background:#fff"
| Allow same hold items?{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Allow team {{ScPkmn}} to hold the same kinds of items?{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Determines whether duplicate [[held items]] are allowed on a team.
| Yes{{sup/ss|Colo}}/Allow{{sup/ss|XD}} or No{{sup/ss|Colo}}/Disallow{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Yes{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Allow{{sup/ss|XD}}
| No{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Disallow{{sup/ss|XD}}
| No{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Disallow{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Yes{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Disallow{{sup/ss|XD}}
|- style="background:#fff"
| Disable <sc>{{p|Deoxys}}'s</sc> [[Deoxys (Pokémon)#Form data|camouflage ability]] and reveal its various forms?{{sup/ss|XD}}
| If enabled, reveals Deoxys's form when entering battle instead of showing up as Normal form. This only spoils if a player is using FireRed (Attack form) or LeafGreen (Defense form), as Ruby/Sapphire (Normal form) and Emerald (Speed form) can otherwise be distinguished by the models of Brendan and May.
| "Reveal" or "Don't reveal"
| Reveal
| Reveal
| Reveal
| Reveal
|- style="background:#fff"
| Two or more can [[Sleep (status condition)|sleep]]?{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Allow two or more {{ScPkmn}} to be [[Sleep (status condition)|asleep]] on the same team?{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Determines whether to allow putting more than one Pokémon to sleep on the same team. If disallowed, when a move outside of {{m|Rest}} would normally put a second Pokémon to sleep on the same team, it fails instead.
| Yes{{sup/ss|Colo}}/Allow{{sup/ss|XD}} or No{{sup/ss|Colo}}/Disallow{{sup/ss|XD}}
| No{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Allow{{sup/ss|XD}}
| No{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Disallow{{sup/ss|XD}}
| No{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Disallow{{sup/ss|XD}}
| No{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Disallow{{sup/ss|XD}}
|- style="background:#fff"
| Allow <sc>Skill Swap</sc>?{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Disable <sc>Skill Swap</sc>?{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Determines whether {{m|Skill Swap}} always fails.
| Yes or No
| Yes <small>(doesn’t fail)</small>{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />No <small>(doesn’t fail)</small>{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Yes <small>(doesn’t fail)</small>{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />No <small>(doesn’t fail)</small>{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Yes <small>(doesn’t fail)</small>{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />No <small>(doesn’t fail)</small>{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Yes <small>(doesn’t fail)</small>{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />No <small>(doesn’t fail)</small>{{sup/ss|XD}}
|- style="background:#fff"
| All faint from <sc>[[Selfdestruct]]</sc> or <sc>{{m|Explosion}}</sc> and user loses?{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />If all {{ScPkmn}} faint due to <sc>{{m|Explosion}}</sc> or <sc>{{m|Self-Destruct}}</sc>, user loses?{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Determines whether the user loses when their Pokémon uses {{m|Explosion}} or {{m|Self-Destruct}} and all Pokémon on the field faint to it.
| Yes or No
| Yes{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />No{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
|- style="background:#fff"
| Can last {{ScPkmn}} use <sc>Perish Song</sc> or <sc>Destiny Bond</sc>?{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Should <sc>Perish Song</sc> and <sc>Destiny Bond</sc> fail if used by a team's final {{ScPkmn}}?
| Determines whether {{m|Perish Song}} and {{m|Destiny Bond}} always fail when used by a team's final Pokémon.
| Yes or No
| No <small>(fails)</small>{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />No <small>(doesn't fail)</small>{{sup/ss|XD}}
| No <small>(fails)</small>{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Yes <small>(fails)</small>{{sup/ss|XD}}
| No <small>(fails)</small>{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Yes <small>(fails)</small>{{sup/ss|XD}}
| No <small>(fails)</small>{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Yes <small>(fails)</small>{{sup/ss|XD}}
|- style="background:#fff"
| Two plus can [[Freeze (status condition)|freeze]]?{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Allow two or more {{ScPkmn}} to be [[Freeze (status condition)|frozen]] on the same team?{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Determines whether to allow freezing more than one Pokémon on the same team. If disallowed, moves will never freeze a second Pokémon on the same team.
| Yes{{sup/ss|Colo}}/Allow{{sup/ss|XD}} or No{{sup/ss|Colo}}/Disallow{{sup/ss|XD}}
| No{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Allow{{sup/ss|XD}}
| No{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Disallow{{sup/ss|XD}}
| No{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Disallow{{sup/ss|XD}}
| No{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Disallow{{sup/ss|XD}}
|- style="background:#fff"
| Allow fixed damage moves like <sc>Dragon Rage</sc> and <sc>Sonicboom</sc>?{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />Fixed damage moves like <sc>Dragon Rage</sc> and <sc>Sonicboom</sc> always fail?{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Determines whether the fixed damage moves {{m|Sonic Boom}} and {{m|Dragon Rage}} will always fail.
| Yes or No
| Yes <small>(doesn’t fail)</small>{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />No <small>(doesn't fail)</small>{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Yes <small>(doesn’t fail)</small>{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />No <small>(doesn't fail)</small>{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Yes <small>(doesn’t fail)</small>{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />No <small>(doesn't fail)</small>{{sup/ss|XD}}
| Yes <small>(doesn’t fail)</small>{{sup/ss|Colo}}<br />No <small>(doesn't fail)</small>{{sup/ss|XD}}
|}

==Starting the battle==
In Pokémon Colosseum, as well as any [[core series]] game, the player must put the team they wish to use in their [[party]] before linking. In Pokémon XD, the player can register non-[[Shadow Pokémon]] they want to use from their party, [[PC]] and [[Purify Chamber]].

In the core series games, each player must also [[save]] at a [[Pokémon Center]] before they can link.

The process for linking depends on how many Game Boy Advance systems are chosen for linking.
* For less than four GBAs, the GBAs are connected to the console in order of ports 2, 3 and 4 as necessary.
* When linking four GBAs, the GBAs are connected to the console in order of ports 2, 3 and 4, then the GameCube controller is disconnected from port 1 to connect the last GBA.

When each game is linked, the game will perform a check on its party to ensure it follows the chosen rules, and does not contain Shadow Pokémon in the case of Pokémon Colosseum. If a party does not follow the chosen rules, an error message describing the rule and which Pokémon fail to follow it; the player must then disconnect their game and make the necessary changes.

Once every game is linked and every team is validated, all players must press the A button, then Player 1 must press Start. In a Multi Battle, Player 1 then decides the pairings.

Then, a team preview occurs, where all players can see each other's teams, including each Pokémon's species, [[nickname]] if any, whether it is [[Held item|holding]] an [[item]], and either [[level]]{{sup/ss|Colo}} or [[gender]]{{sup/ss|XD}}. The GameCube player uses the directional pad, X, and Y to select their Pokémon, hold R while doing this to view details, and press L to cancel their last selection while the Game Boy Advance players make selections on their own screens.

The battle begins after this. The GameCube player can press A to select a move, B to switch/check Pokémon, L to go back, and Start/Pause to give in; they can then use the C-stick, X and Y to make selections, hold R to view possible selections, and use the control stick while holding R to view details. As in team preview, the Game Boy Advance players make selections on their own screens.

{{Project Games notice|game mechanic}}
[[Category:Game mechanics]]
[[Category:Battle modes]]