Battle Subway

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Battle Subway バトルサブウェイ
Battle Subway
"Battle and Ride!"
Battle Subway artwork.png
Map description: {{{mapdesc}}}
Location: Nimbasa City
Region: Unova
Generations: V
Unova Nimbasa City Map.png
Location of Battle Subway in Unova.
Pokémon world locations
Subway map of the Unova region, featuring all eight train lines

The Battle Subway (Japanese: バトルサブウェイ Battle Subway) is a facility found in Black, White, Black 2, and White 2. It is the Unova equivalent of the Battle Tower.

Points of interest

Gear Station

Gear Station (Japanese: ギアステーション Gear Station) is a location in Nimbasa City that connects all of Unova's eight train lines together. Its circular hall has entrances to eight different platforms; one for Single Trains, one for Super Single Trains, one for Double Trains, one for Super Double Trains, one for trains to Anville Town, one for Super Multi Trains, one for Multi Trains, and one for Wi-Fi Trains. By boarding one of the seven Battle Subway trains (i.e. those that do not lead to Anville Town), the Battle Subway location is accessed.

Exchange Service Corner

All seven Battle Subway train platforms include an Exchange Service Corner, where the player can buy various items with Battle Points.

The following items are offered as prizes:

Pokémon Black and White
Left attendant
Right attendant


Pokémon Black 2 and White 2
Left attendant
Right attendant


Battle Subway

By boarding one of the seven Battle Subway trains (i.e. those that do not lead to Anville Town), the Battle Subway location is accessed. Once a Battle Subway train has been boarded, the player must defeat seven (seven sets of two if riding a Multi Train or Super Multi Train) randomly picked サブウェイトレーナー Subway Trainers in order to make it to the next stop, which will earn them Battle Points and increase their current win streak, which (along with their all time Record win streak) will be displayed on their Vs. Recorder. Battles fought on Battle Subway trains differ from regular battles in a number of ways. When riding a Battle Subway train:

  • All Pokémon are set to level 50 (unlike previous generations this also includes Pokémon below level 50).
  • Bag items cannot be used.
  • The player is forced to save the game between challenges, effectively preventing the player from achieving artificial win streaks without manipulating gameplay via cheating.
  • Pokémon will not gain experience points by defeating opponents.
  • Pokémon are fully restored after each battle, including any held items lost during battle.

Initially, the player is not allowed to board the Super Single, Super Double, and Super Multi Trains. These are permanently unlocked after obtaining the National Pokédex, and a win streak of 21 has been achieved on the Single, Double, and Multi Trains, respectively. Unlike Super Trains, these non-Super Trains do not go on forever, instead returning to Gear Station after the 21st battle. The opponent Subway Trainers and their Pokémon are also completely different from those faced on Super Trains, heavily featuring Pokémon that are not fully evolved and limited to Generation V Pokémon only, as opposed to the Super Trains, which feature Pokémon from the first five generations, all of which are fully evolved, with the exception of Porygon2. The number of Pokémon used varies with the battle mode of the train as follows:

Train Number of eligible Pokémon
Single 3
Super Single 3
Double 4
Super Double 4
Multi 2 per player
Super Multi 2 per player
Wi-Fi 3
Anville None; takes the player to Anville Town.


Stops

After defeating a set of Subway Trainers, the player is dropped off at a stop from where they can continue their challenge by boarding the train again, or return to Gear Station (from where the challenge can also be resumed). Like the trains, these stops are part of the actual Battle Subway location, although they do not feature its background music, バトルサブウェイ The Battle Subway. Like on the Royal Unova, most key items cannot be used here. A stop features benches, trash cans, a subway map, and a vending machine. Two Depot Agents mangaging the player's fare are found at each stop, joined by a number of other Battle Subway challengers which decreases as the player's win streak grows until none are left. Some of these fellow Battle Subway challengers will hand the player a gift when engaged:

Item Location Games
PP Up PP Up From a Janitor on any non-Super Train platform after 21 consecutive victories  B  W  B2  W2 
PP Up PP Up From an Artist on any Super Train platform after 21 consecutive victories  B  W  B2  W2 
Rare Candy Rare Candy From an Ace Trainer on any Super Train platform after 28 consecutive victories  B  W  B2  W2 
Lansat Berry Lansat Berry From a Clerk on any Super Train platform after 105 consecutive victories  B  W  B2  W2 
Starf Berry Starf Berry From an Ace Trainer on any Super Train platform after 203 consecutive victories  B  W  B2  W2 

Battle Points

The number of Battle Points awarded after seven consecutive victories varies with the length of the current win streak, as shown in the table below. 10 Battle Points are awarded for every seven consecutive victories on the Wi-Fi Trains.

Battle Points
Win streak Normal Super
7 3 5
14 3 6
21
(Normal Trains Subway Bosses)
10 7
28 8
35 9
42 10
49
(Super Trains Subway Bosses)
30
56
(and subsequent multiples of 7)
10

Variable scoring

For every time a Trainer is defeated and the player advances to the next cabin, a sound effect or beat is added to the background music, バトルサブウェイ The Battle Subway. In the first cabin of every train, only the sound of train tracks is played. Subsequently, jingles, bongo drum beats, and a bass tune are added, until the last (seventh) cabin, where a soft melody can be heard in the background.

Partners

In the Multi Trains and Super Multi Trains, the player can team up with another player via wireless or infrared. Otherwise, the player can team up with the NPC Hilbert, Hilda, Nate, or Rosa depending on the player's gender and game version. The NPC will ask what kind of team the player would prefer to team up with, based on attack, defense, or balance, and adjusts their team accordingly.

Pokémon

Banned Pokémon

Regardless of which Battle Subway train is boarded, the following Pokémon are not allowed:

Mewtwo Mewtwo Mew Mew Lugia Lugia Ho-Oh Ho-Oh Celebi Celebi Kyogre Kyogre Groudon Groudon
Rayquaza Rayquaza Jirachi Jirachi Deoxys Deoxys
Normal Forme
Deoxys Deoxys
Attack Forme
Deoxys Deoxys
Defense Forme
Deoxys Deoxys
Speed Forme
Dialga Dialga
Palkia Palkia Giratina Giratina
Altered Forme
Giratina Giratina
Origin Forme
Phione Phione Manaphy Manaphy Darkrai Darkrai Shaymin Shaymin
Land Forme
Shaymin Shaymin
Sky Forme
Arceus Arceus Victini Victini Reshiram Reshiram Zekrom Zekrom Kyurem Kyurem Kyurem Black
Kyurem
Kyurem White
Kyurem
Keldeo Keldeo
Ordinary Forme
Keldeo Keldeo
Resolute Forme
Meloetta Meloetta
Aria Forme
Meloetta Meloetta
Pirouette Forme
Genesect Genesect Egg Egg

Banned held items

In addition, the following held items are not allowed:

Soul Dew Soul Dew

Excluded Pokémon

In addition to the banned Pokémon, the following fully evolved Pokémon are not used by opponents on either the non-Super or Super Trains:

Butterfree Butterfree Beedrill Beedrill Pidgeot Pidgeot Raticate Raticate Fearow Fearow Arbok Arbok Sandslash Sandslash
Clefable Clefable Wigglytuff Wigglytuff Parasect Parasect Venomoth Venomoth Persian Persian Golduck Golduck Primeape Primeape
Farfetch'd Farfetch'd Dodrio Dodrio Cloyster Cloyster Hypno Hypno Kingler Kingler Hitmonlee Hitmonlee Hitmonchan Hitmonchan
Seaking Seaking Ditto Ditto Omastar Omastar Kabutops Kabutops Furret Furret Noctowl Noctowl Ledian Ledian
Ariados Ariados Xatu Xatu Bellossom Bellossom Azumarill Azumarill Sudowoodo Sudowoodo Jumpluff Jumpluff Sunflora Sunflora
Unown Unown Wobbuffet Wobbuffet Girafarig Girafarig Dunsparce Dunsparce Qwilfish Qwilfish Magcargo Magcargo Corsola Corsola
Octillery Octillery Delibird Delibird Mantine Mantine Stantler Stantler Smeargle Smeargle Hitmontop Hitmontop Mightyena Mightyena
Linoone Linoone Beautifly Beautifly Dustox Dustox Swellow Swellow Pelipper Pelipper Masquerain Masquerain Ninjask Ninjask
Shedinja Shedinja Delcatty Delcatty Sableye Sableye Mawile Mawile Plusle Plusle Minun Minun Volbeat Volbeat
Illumise Illumise Swalot Swalot Sharpedo Sharpedo Camerupt Camerupt Torkoal Torkoal Grumpig Grumpig Spinda Spinda
Cacturne Cacturne Zangoose Zangoose Seviper Seviper Lunatone Lunatone Solrock Solrock Crawdaunt Crawdaunt Castform Castform
Kecleon Kecleon Banette Banette Tropius Tropius Chimecho Chimecho Glalie Glalie Huntail Huntail Gorebyss Gorebyss
Relicanth Relicanth Luvdisc Luvdisc Bibarel Bibarel Kricketune Kricketune Wormadam Wormadam
Plant Cloak
Wormadam Wormadam
Sandy Cloak
Wormadam Wormadam
Trash Cloak
Mothim Mothim Pachirisu Pachirisu Cherrim Cherrim Purugly Purugly Chatot Chatot Carnivine Carnivine Lumineon Lumineon
Rotom Rotom Rotom Heat
Rotom
Rotom Wash
Rotom
Rotom Frost
Rotom
Rotom Fan
Rotom
Rotom Mow
Rotom
Uxie Uxie
Mesprit Mesprit Azelf Azelf Tornadus Tornadus
Therian Forme
Thundurus Thundurus
Therian Forme
Landorus Landorus
Therian Forme

Subway Boss

Subway Bosses are sometimes fought instead of regular Subway Trainers. Unlike regular Subway Trainers who use a set of Pokémon randomly drawn from their roster, Subway Bosses have a predetermined team for every battle, although the team order does vary.

21st Single Train battle



49th Super Single Train battle



21st Double Train battle



49th Super Double Train battle



21st Multi Train battle



49th Super Multi Train battle



When the Subway Bosses are defeated on both the Super Single and Super Double Trains, a Trainer star is earned in Pokémon Black and White Versions. In all versions, the player is given a trophy for their room upon defeating the Super Single, Super Double, and Super Multi Subway Bosses for the first time, resulting in a total of three obtainable trophies. Obtained trophies from Pokémon Black and White Versions can be displayed in the Nuvema Town player's room of Pokémon Black and White Versions 2 via Memory Link.

In the anime

Gear Station in the anime

The Battle Subway appeared in the anime as typical public transportation for the citizens of Nimbasa City, as well as featuring Battle Trains that Trainers may battle on. The Gear Station made a short cameo in Meowth's Scrafty Tactics! as Jessie and James began the next phase of their mission. They continued their mission in Purrloin: Sweet or Sneaky?, Beheeyem, Duosion, and the Dream Thief!, and Beartic Mountain Feud!. In Beheeyem, Duosion, and the Dream Thief! their actions were noticed by Emmet and his brother Ingo through their security office. In Beartic Mountain Feud!, the twins set out to find the cause of the disturbances and they caught a glimpse of Team Rocket, but lost them among the shadows of the subway tunnels.

In Crisis from the Underground Up! and Battle for the Underground, Ash, Iris, Cilan, and Meowth used the Battle Subway trains as a means of transport to reach the Pokémon Center. After the train was stopped, due to Team Rocket tampering with the rail switches, the group met Emmet and Ingo. While they were resting at the Pokémon Center, Team Rocket executed their scheme to steal all the Pokémon at the Pokémon Center, and used the Battle Subway as a medium for transporting them. They used their own specialized train, and were able to create balloon-like duplicates to throw off Emmet and Ingo's security center computer which monitors all trains currently on the rails. Ash, Iris, and Cilan were then assigned to use the maintenance trains to find Team Rocket and retrieve the stolen Pokémon. When things got rough, Ingo and Emmet joined them, using Emmet's Eelektross as a super-charged power supply for the maintenance train.

In Lost at the Stamp Rally!, a Stamp Rally was held, offering the prize of an opportunity to battle the Subway Bosses. Cilan entered the challenge, and after he completed the collection and helped Ingo and Emmet reunite a lost Axew with her Trainer, he partnered with Ash to battle the twins. They faced Ingo and Emmet's Chandelure and Eelektross, but lost.

Trivia

In other languages

Language Title
Mandarin Chinese 對戰地下鐵 Duìzhàn Dìxiàtiě
France Flag.png French Métro de Combat
Germany Flag.png German Kampfmetro
Italy Flag.png Italian Metrò Lotta
South Korea Flag.png Korean 배틀서브웨이 Baeteulseobeuwei
Spain Flag.png Spanish Metro Batalla


Unova
Trio Badge.png Basic Badge.png Insect Badge.png Bolt Badge.png Quake Badge.png Jet Badge.png Freeze Badge.png Legend Badge.png
Basic Badge.png Toxic Badge.png Insect Badge.png Bolt Badge.png Quake Badge.png Jet Badge.png Legend Badge.png Wave Badge.png
Settlements
Nuvema TownAccumula TownStriaton CityNacrene CityCastelia CityNimbasa CityAnville Town
Driftveil CityMistralton CityIcirrus CityOpelucid CityPokémon LeagueLacunosa TownUndella Town
Black CityWhite ForestAspertia CityFloccesy TownVirbank CityLentimas TownHumilau City
Routes
1234567891011121314151617181920212223
Bridges and tunnels
Skyarrow BridgeDriftveil DrawbridgeTubeline BridgeVillage BridgeMarvelous BridgeMarine Tube
Landmarks
DreamyardWellspring CavePinwheel ForestLiberty GardenDesert ResortRelic CastleBattle SubwayLostlorn Forest
Cold StorageMistralton CaveChargestone CaveCelestial TowerTwist MountainDragonspiral TowerMoor of Icirrus
Challenger's CaveVictory Road (BWB2W2) • N's CastleRoyal UnovaGiant ChasmUndella BayAbyssal Ruins
Abundant ShrinePoké Transfer LabP2 LaboratoryEntralinkUnity TowerFloccesy RanchPledge GroveVirbank Complex
Pokéstar StudiosCastelia SewersJoin AvenueCave of BeingPokémon World TournamentReversal MountainPlasma Frigate
Clay TunnelUnderground RuinsStrange HouseRelic PassageSeaside CaveWhite TreehollowBlack Tower
Access to
Nature Preserve
Other
Blueberry AcademyTerarium


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