Contests have been part of Sinnoh’s identity since Diamond and Pearl. The remakes reinvent them under the name Super Contest Show: the three-phase event of the original games gives way to a single rhythm game, faster and more accessible. This page explains the rules, how to prepare a Pokémon and the rewards.
Where and when
The Super Contest Show is held in Hearthome City, in the big Contest Hall, and becomes available when you reach the city during the adventure.
Categories and ranks
Contests feature the series’ five categories: Cool, Beauty, Cute, Clever and Tough. Each is played over several ranks of increasing difficulty, up to Master Rank. Winning a contest advances a rank gauge; when it’s full, you move up to the next rank and the stage itself gets fancier.
How a contest unfolds
Where Diamond and Pearl chained a style round, a dance round and a move showcase, the Super Contest Show has only one phase. It’s a dance event in the form of a rhythm game: notes scroll by and you have to press A at the right moment.
- Short notes call for a simple press.
- Long notes call for holding the button.
The higher the rank, the more notes there are. Chaining successful notes fills your Pokémon’s excitement gauge, which earns more points.
The contest is also teamwork: the four participants must together fill the audience’s applause meter up to a certain level for the performance to succeed.
How the Pokémon is scored
| Criterion | What counts |
|---|---|
| Style | The Pokémon’s contest conditions (raised by Poffins), the chosen Ball Capsule and the held item |
| Dance | Your accuracy during the rhythm game |
| Contest move | The move chosen for the performance |
Preparing a Pokémon
Poffins
Poffins raise your Pokémon’s contest conditions. You cook them by mixing berries, in the Poffin houses and at Amity Square in Hearthome City. The berries’ flavor determines the condition that gets boosted: choose them according to the category you’re aiming for.
Ball Capsules
A Ball Capsule decorated with stickers makes your Pokémon’s entrance more spectacular and counts toward the style score. Stickers are obtained throughout the adventure.
Choosing the Pokémon
Any Pokémon can compete, but it’s better to specialize. A Pokémon fed Poffins of a single flavor will reach the maximum in the matching condition faster.
Rewards
Each victory earns the Pokémon a ribbon, to be displayed on its summary. The Contest Star ribbon, obtained after the five categories at Master Rank, opens the exclusive contest of your version.
For the history of contests in the series, from Ruby and Sapphire to Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, see our guides to Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire and Diamond, Pearl and Platinum.
