PKMN.NET :: Triple and Rotation Battles :: Black and White Battling
Black and White Battling: Triple and Rotation Battles | Une, deux, trois

Hi kids! My name is Typhlosion and today we're going to learn about the new Battling mechanics introduced in Pokémon Black and White - namely Triple Battles.

Triple Battles are, as you'd expect, a battle which takes place with 3 Pokémon in play for each player at once. Previous attacks have been expanded for this use, for example Earthquake now hits all other 5 Pokémon in play if used in a Triple Battle.

What HAS significantly changed for Triple Battles is the importance of positioning. Let's assume I've sent out 3 Pokémon; one of them is on the left, one of them is in the middle and one of them is on the right. While the Pokémon located in the middle of my trio can attack any of my Opponent's three Pokémon, the Pokémon on my left can only attack the Pokémon on the left of the Opponent's line up (as I see it) and the Pokémon in the middle of my Opponent's lineup. It cannot (normally) attack the Pokémon located on the far diagonal to it - the Pokémon on the far right of my Opponent's line up. This of course applies to the Pokémon on the right of my lineup as well - it cannot attack the Pokémon on the far left of my Opponent's line up. In addition, your middle Pokémon, being closer to the other Pokémon, will do more damage with an attack than a Pokémon on either side would do with the same attack. This means that your middle Pokémon is certainly the key position in Triple Battles, and while you CAN switch their positions, it'll cost you a valuable turn. With me so far? Excellent.

There are of course, some exceptions to this. Certain attacks WILL attack another Pokémon regardless of where it is on the battlefield. Allow me to reveal them to you:

AttackTypeAttackType
AcrobaticsFly
Aerial AceHurricane
AeroblastGust
Air SlashHeal Pulse
Aura SpherePeck
BouncePerish Song
Brave BirdPluck
ChatterSky Attack
Dark PulseSky Drop
Dragon PulseWater Pulse
Drill PeckWing Attack

Lastly, we shall look at another mechanic added into Triple Battling - Rotation Battles. In some battles, while all Pokémon will still be sent out, two Pokémon (one of yours, one of your Opponents) will "step forward" and have a 1 VS 1 battle. HOWEVER, both parties are able to switch their selected Pokémon at will (out of the 3 that were sent out), and this will not even cost a turn - it is instanteously and occurs before you attack, without even taking Speed into account. Just to confuse you further you understand.

Page written by Typhlosion.

Digg this! | del.icio.us | Reddit | Stumble Upon | Facebook

Tags: None!


COMMENTS
entei21 on Wed 18 Aug 2010 21:26:12 UTC.
i like how the camera moves to make surf look cooler.
Specstile on Sun 29 Aug 2010 19:46:12 UTC.
Rotation battles sound fun!
RioluRiku on Sun 19 Sep 2010 01:04:24 UTC.
Sounds great!
Only problem is going to be Explosion.
six pokemon down in one turn!
or just your opponents 3 and your 1.
Both of your other pokemon have telepathy.
piplup princess on Thu 25 Nov 2010 18:51:40 UTC.
wow now i have an excuse to say ONWARD MY 3 MUSKETEERS in battle.
Victini on Sun 13 Feb 2011 21:05:08 UTC.
fail piplup princess
I want Celebi on Sat 19 Feb 2011 12:42:15 UTC.
Finally, the ultimate use for each 3 sets of starters and legendaries. 3 shiny dogs already sounding like a good idea...
Reshurott Inferno on Sat 26 Mar 2011 00:56:13 UTC.
Don't you find it a bit weird that PECK and AERIAL ACE, DRILL PECK, WING ATTACK, PLUCK can all hit the opposite side of the field?
Reshurott Inferno on Sat 26 Mar 2011 00:56:57 UTC.
as in, You= far left can hit opponent= far right?
tobias1532 on Mon 27 Jun 2011 14:56:30 UTC.
Once you get the hang of them, rotation battles are ridiculously easy. You just have to predict your opponent's moves and have a counter. Also great for training young pokemon.
Manny_2012 on Mon 13 Aug 2012 08:35:50 UTC.
Rotation battles are the best! The strategies to use are more complex than in singles imo.