Battle Tents :: Ruby, Sapphire & Emerald Emerald-specific Stuff

One of the biggest new features in Emerald has to be the Battle Frontier. However, it’s only accessible after you’ve defeated the Elite Four. Oh, what is a trainer to do?

Simple. In Slateport City, Verdanturf Town and Fallarbor Town, there are some new places known as Battle Tents (they've taken over where the Contest Halls used to be - all contests are now held in the Lilycove City Contest Hall instead). These Tents contains some preview Battling features, and can be accessed anytime. Woo.

Slateport City

Here you get a random selection of six Pokemon, and are asked to pick three to battle with. If you win a battle, you get the choice of switching one of your current Pokemon with one of your opponents, meaning you can build up quite a good team over time. Probably.

Verdanturf Town

Here you get to use three of your own darling Pokemon. Your opponent’s Pokemon will take the same level as that of your highest level Pokemon. However, you don’t get to choose which attack your Pokemon uses. Unless it only knows one, of course.

Fallarbor Town

Yet again, you get to use three of your Pokemon. Yet again, your opponent’s Pokemon will take the same level as that of your highest level Pokemon. This time around, you get three rounds to try and KO the opposing Pokemon. If neither Pokemon are knocked out after three rounds, then you are judged on how well you battled, and thus earn points. The Pokemon that gained the highest amount of points wins the round.