Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Timing Notes

→ Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Timing Notes

Tags: pokemon-black-and-white, in-depth-guides, timing-notes, battle-system

Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Turn Phases

Every turn consists of these phases:

Each player chooses a command for each Pokémon in battle, at the same time. For each Pokémon in battle he or she controls, a player does one of the following: have the Pokémon use one of its moves; use an item from the Bag (in battles that allow it); or switch it out for another Pokémon (that Pokémon must be an unfainted Pokémon not in battle, and not an Egg, controlled by that player). Triple Battles also include a Shift command, and In Rotation Battles, the "rotate left" and "rotate right" commands are also available, and commands can be chosen only for Pokémon that are rotated in.
Switching (resolved in turn order)
Use of items
Pokémon are rotated in and out, if this is a Rotation Battle. (Resolved in turn order.)
Attacks
End-of-turn effects

Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Priority and Turn Order

Turn order is determined two times each turn: once after commands are chosen, and again at the end of each turn (before end-of-turn effects).

In Rotation Battles, if a side chooses to rotate another Pokémon in, the turn order is determined according to the Pokémon that will be rotated in.

Because of a bug, however, Trick Room’s effect treats a Pokémon with a current Speed of 1809 or greater as having a Speed of 0, thus allowing such a Pokémon to strike before those with Speeds higher than 0 while Trick Room is in effect.

After commands are chosen, a Pokémon’s Quick Claw can be activated at a 20% chance, but only if it chose a move or the Shift command (without rotating out or being rotated in) that turn, or didn’t take any action this turn. If it activates, the Pokémon strikes before all other Pokémon with the same or lower priority level. This effect doesn’t apply to the end of the turn. (Each Pokémon with a Quick Claw has a separate chance to activate.)

After commands are chosen, a Pokémon’s Custap Berry is activated (and is consumed) if it has the required amount of HP remaining, but only if it chose a move or the Shift command (without rotating out or being rotated in) that turn, or didn’t take any action this turn. If it activates, the Pokémon strikes before all other Pokémon with the same or lower priority level. This effect doesn’t apply to the end of the turn.

Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Switching Out

When a Pokémon enters the battle, the following effects are applied in order:

Healing Wish/Lunar Dance
Toxic Spikes/Stealth Rock/Spikes (applied in the order in which they came into effect; Toxic Spikes applies even if the Pokémon faints because of Spikes/Stealth Rock)
Abilities

If more than one Pokémon is chosen when Pokémon are switched in from fainted ones, the above effects don’t happen until all those Pokémon enter the battle (resolved in order of Speed, taking Trick Room into account). At any other time when more than one Pokémon is chosen, the effects happen immediately after the Pokémon enters the battle.

If more than one Pokémon is switched in from fainted ones at the same time, their controllers choose both the new Pokémon to be switched in and their positions, where the choices are revealed only after all those players have finished making their choices.

At the beginning of a battle, however, all Pokémon enter the battle, then the above effects resolve for each Pokémon, from highest to lowest Speed.

Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Use of Items

Starting in Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version, even for items such as X Attack and the like, the player chooses a Pokémon that is controlled by the player and that the item will be used on. An item can be chosen this way even if it won’t have any effect at the time it’s chosen, unlike in games before Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version. The Pokémon the item is used on need not be the same as the Pokémon the command was chosen for. If more than one Pokémon uses an item, each of those commands is resolved in turn order.

Bag

In the Bag shown during battle, there are four sections:

HP/PP RESTORE - Items that restore HP or PP, such as Full Restore, Leppa Berry, and Potion. (Items that revive fainted Pokémon are not included here.)
POKÉ BALLS - Items for catching Pokémon.
STATUS RESTORE - Items that cure poison, burn, paralysis, freezing, sleep, and confusion, and revive fainted Pokémon, such as Antidote, Full Heal, Full Restore, and Revive.
BATTLE ITEMS - Items for escaping from a wild Pokémon battle or that improve the condition of a Pokémon in a battle, such as Dire Hit, Guard Spec., Poké Toy, and X Speed.

Wonder Launcher

Some Link Battles allow the use of the Wonder Launcher, a device that throws disc-like items to Pokémon during battle. Using an item with the Wonder Launcher is largely similar to using an item from the Bag, except that each item costs points to use. A single side starts with 0 points and can’t have more than 14 points at once.

At the beginning of each turn, before commands are chosen, each side will earn points as follows:

2 points in Triple Battles, if there are fewer than three Pokémon in battle on that side, or
1 point otherwise.

Items that can be used with the Wonder Launcher are given in the item list with a specific cost, like "cost 2" or "cost 5". The cost is deducted when the item is chosen (if the item choice is then canceled, the points are refunded).

In a Wonder Launcher battle, the "Launcher" command replaces the "Bag" command and contains all the items usable with the Wonder Launcher, even those that cost more points than available.

Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Before the Attack

Before a Pokémon uses an attack, the following effects are checked, in this order:

Not determined yet.

If the pre-attack checks succeed, the Pokémon uses the move, PP is reduced, and targets are determined. If there is no PP remaining or there is no target, the process stops. (In these cases, Snatch doesn’t consider the attack as used.)

The exception to PP reduction is Struggle when it’s chosen for use automatically because the Pokémon has no moves it could choose.

Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Obedience Check

In battles in which Exp. Points can be gained, if the Pokémon tries to attack, the Pokémon’s 32-bit ID number, OT (Original Trainer) name, or both are different from those of the player, and its level is greater than the player’s "badge level", then an obedience check is done to determine whether the attack can be used.

With the following Badges, Pokémon up to the given levels will obey the player:

(no Badge) - Level 10
Trio Badge - Level 20
Basic Badge - Level 30
Insect Badge - Level 40
Bolt Badge - Level 50
Quake Badge - Level 60
Jet Badge - Level 70
Freeze Badge - Level 80
Legend Badge - Level 100

Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Targeting

The game now finds the attack’s target. This largely depends on the attack.

The possible ranges are:

All exc. user: All Pokémon adjacent to the user.
All opposing Pokémon: All opposing Pokémon adjacent to the user.
All PokÃ©mon in battle
Ally: A single ally adjacent to the user. If user doesnâ€™t have an ally as commands are chosen, user doesnâ€™t choose a target.)
Both sides
No particular target
Opposing Pokémon’s side
Random opposing Pokémon: A single opposing Pokémon adjacent to the user, selected at random.
Single exc. user: A single Pokémon adjacent to the user, selected at random.
Single opposing Pokémon: A single opposing Pokémon adjacent to the user
User
User and allies: User and its allies (even those not adjacent)
User or ally: Either the user or one of its adjacent allies.
User’s side

As targets are chosen, a move can target a position even if a Pokémon isn’t occupying it, unlike in games before Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version. This behavior applies to Double Battles in the same way as Triple Battles.

If the attack has a single target and targets a position on the user’s side, the attack will fail if there is no Pokémon at that position as that attack is used. If the attack has a single target and targets a position on the opposing Pokémon’s side, and there is no Pokémon at the targeted position as the attack is used, the following steps are taken:

If there is one or more opposing Pokémon adjacent to the targeted position that the attack could target, the attack will target one of them at random.
Otherwise, if there is one or more opposing Pokémon that the attack could target, the attack will target one of them at random.
Otherwise, the attack will do nothing for having no target.

An attack that can’t be used because it has no target is considered to fail and is not considered to be "prevented from being used".

These effects can change the target of moves and are applied in this order.

Follow Me takes effect. If the attack is redirected to another target, the Lightningrod/Storm Drain effect below is ignored. (See attack description for Follow Me for details.)
If a Pokémon other than the target has Lightningrod or Storm Drain, the attack is redirected to that target. (See those Abilities' descriptions for details.)
If Magic Coat is in effect for the target, or the target has Magic Bounce, when certain moves are used, that target uses that attack instead. (See description for Magic Coat or Magic Bounce for details. If this effect happens, effects that trigger whenever that target is targeted by an attack don’t happen.)

The Pressure ability takes into account the target determined after Follow Me, Lightningrod, and Storm Drain are applied.

In Triple Battles, many kinds of moves can’t target Pokémon in battle that are not adjacent to the user. The moves affected are those with a range of "single Pokémon except user", "user or adjacent ally", "single adjacent ally", "single opposing Pokémon", "all Pokémon except user", "all opposing Pokémon", "all Pokémon in battle", and "single opposing Pokémon selected at random". Moves that are an exception to this rule have flag "n" in the list of moves.

Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Accuracy Check

After targets are found, the attack proceeds against each target.

Exact accuracy check not determined yet.

Accuracy Stat Stage

Multipliers for the accuracy stat stage. After applying the multiplier, the result is rounded down and set to 100 if it’s greater than 100.

-6: 3/9
-5: 3/8
-4: 3/7
-3: 3/6
-2: 3/5
-1: 3/4
0: 3/3
1: 4/3
2: 5/3
3: 6/3
4: 7/3
5: 8/3
6: 9/3

Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - During the attack

If the attack hits and the attack deals damage, its damage is calculated.

Otherwise, if the attack hits, the attack’s effect happens, if possible.

Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Critical Hits

Set C to 0.
If the attacker has Super Luck, add 1 to C.
If Focus Energy is in effect for attacker, add 2 to C.
If attack has a "good chance for a critical hit", add 1 to C.
If attacker is Chansey with Lucky Punch, add 2 to C.
If attacker is Farfetch’d with Stick, add 2 to C.
If Dire Hit 2 was used on the attacker, add 1 to C for one use, or add 2 to C for two or more uses.
If Dire Hit 3 was used on the attacker, add 2 to C.
If the attacker is holding Scope Lens or Razor Claw, add 1 to C.
The critical hit chance is as follows:
- C = 0: 1/16
- C = 1: 1/8
- C = 2: 1/4
- C = 3: 1/3
- C = 4 or more: 1/2

Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Stat Stages

Stat stages refer to levels that raise or lower stats during a battle. Each stat stage has 13 different levels.

Stat Stage	-6	-5	-4	-3	-2	-1	0	1	2	3	4	5	6
Stat Multiplier	10/40	10/35	10/30	10/25	10/20	10/15	10/10	15/10	20/10	25/10	30/10	35/10	40/10

That stat scale applies to the stat stages for Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed. At the start of a battle, each Pokémon’s stat stages begin at 0. The stat stages for a Pokémon are reset to 0 when the Pokémon leaves the battle, (except Baton Pass). Each stat stage can’t go lower than -6 or higher than 6.

To apply stat stages, multiply the stat by the stat multiplier for the corresponding stat stage.

The term "stat stages" refers to those for Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed, as well as those for evasiveness and accuracy (see Accuracy check ).

Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Type Matchup Chart

Attack types are the rows; Pokémon types are the columns. If a Pokémon has two types, the type matchups from both types are multiplied.

Attack Type	NOR	FIG	FLY	POI	GRO	ROC	BUG	GHO	STE	FIR	WAT	GRA	ELE	PSY	ICE	DRA	DAR
NORMAL	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	1/2	1x	0	1/2	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x
FIGHTING	2x	1x	1/2	1/2	1x	2x	1/2	0	2x	1x	1x	1x	1x	1/2	2x	1x	2x
FLYING	1x	2x	1x	1x	1x	1/2	2x	1x	1/2	1x	1x	2x	1/2	1x	1x	1x	1x
POISON	1x	1x	1x	1/2	1/2	1/2	1x	1/2	0	1x	1x	2x	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x
GROUND	1x	1x	0	2x	1x	2x	1/2	1x	2x	2x	1x	1/2	2x	1x	1x	1x	1x
ROCK	1x	1/2	2x	1x	1/2	1x	2x	1x	1/2	2x	1x	1x	1x	1x	2x	1x	1x
BUG	1x	1/2	1/2	1/2	1x	1x	1x	1/2	1/2	1/2	1x	2x	1x	2x	1x	1x	2x
GHOST	0	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	2x	1/2	1x	1x	1x	1x	2x	1x	1x	1/2
STEEL	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	2x	1x	1x	1/2	1/2	1/2	1x	1/2	1x	2x	1x	1x
FIRE	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	1/2	2x	1x	2x	1/2	1/2	2x	1x	1x	2x	1/2	1x
WATER	1x	1x	1x	1x	2x	2x	1x	1x	1x	2x	1/2	1/2	1x	1x	1x	1/2	1x
GRASS	1x	1x	1/2	1/2	2x	2x	1/2	1x	1/2	1/2	2x	1/2	1x	1x	1x	1/2	1x
ELECTRIC	1x	1x	2x	1x	0	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	2x	1/2	1/2	1x	1x	1/2	1x
PSYCHIC	1x	2x	1x	2x	1x	1x	1x	1x	1/2	1x	1x	1x	1x	1/2	1x	1x	0
ICE	1x	1x	2x	1x	2x	1x	1x	1x	1/2	1/2	1/2	2x	1x	1x	1/2	2x	1x
DRAGON	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	1/2	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	2x	1x
DARK	1x	1/2	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	2x	1/2	1x	1x	1x	1x	2x	1x	1x	1/2

Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - After the attack

After an attack is successful, the following happens:

Most "attack is successful" effects
Additional effects
Items that trigger on low HP, being poisoned or confused, and so on can trigger here
Grudge/Rage
Most Ability effects
Items that trigger on low HP, being poisoned or confused, and so on can trigger here
Item effects that trigger if the target is hit by the attack (including Air Balloon and Sticky Barb)
Items that trigger on low HP, being poisoned or confused, and so on can trigger here
The target faints if it has 0 HP
Destiny Bond if the target fainted
Recoil/Struggle
Items that trigger on low HP, being poisoned or confused, and so on can trigger here
Attacker’s Shell Bell
The target thaws out if attack is a Fire-type attack
Rapid Spin/Circle Throw/Dragon Tail/Pluck/Bug Bite/SmellingSalt/Wake-Up Slap/Thief/Covet (only if attacker hasn’t fainted)

After all hits of a successful attack have resolved (Ability and item effects mentioned below don’t occur if the attacker has Sheer Force and the attack has an additional effect):

Color Change
Red Card (only if attacker and item’s holder haven’t fainted)
Eject Button message (only if item’s holder hasn’t fainted; if more than one target’s Eject Button could trigger, only the first such target in turn order triggers).
Shell Bell/Life Orb (only if attacker hasn’t fainted)
Eject Button effect (only if item’s holder hasn’t fainted). If effect happens, the U-turn message/effect doesn’t happen.
U-turn message (only if attacker hasn’t fainted)
Pickpocket (only if the target hasn’t fainted)
U-turn effect (only if attacker hasn’t fainted)

If a Pokémon that gained an Ability through an effect faints, its Ability doesn’t revert to its original until the above effects finish resolving.

Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - End of turn

Before applying end-of-turn effects, the priority for the turn is again calculated.

Exact order of effects is not determined yet.

Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Switching Upon Fainting

A Pokémon is not changed to a different one immediately after it faints, but rather at the very end of the turn, after all end-of-turn effects. Some exceptions are mentioned in the list of moves using wording like "The new Pokémon enters the battle immediately."

{In Single Battles as well as Double Battles, if a Pokémon faints during its attack segment, the other Pokémon can still take their attack segment if they haven’t done so already.}

Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Chance of Running in Wild Battles

Not determined yet.

Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Single Battle

A Single Battle is a battle with one Pokémon in battle on each side. When a Single Battle starts, the first Pokémon on each side enters the battle.

Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Double Battle

A Double Battle is a battle with two Pokémon in battle on each side. When a Double Battle starts, the first Pokémon on each side takes the left position, and the second Pokémon on each side takes the right position. If there are two Trainers on a single side, instead the first Pokémon on the left Trainer’s party takes the left position of that side, and the first Pokémon on the right Trainer’s party takes the right position of that side.

In Double Battles with wild Pokémon, effects of moves and held items can’t cause the battle to end. (Red Card won’t trigger.) However, the player can still end such battles using a Poké Toy, Fluffy Tail, Pok Doll, or the Run command.

Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version - Timing Notes

Contents

Bag

Wonder Launcher

Accuracy Stat Stage