On Route 40, west of Olivine City, stands a building that doesn’t exist in Gold and Silver: the Battle Tower. New in Crystal, it is the ancestor of all the series’ battle facilities, from the Battle Frontier in Emerald to the Battle Chateau.

How it works

  • Where: north of Sea Route 40, just west of Olivine City. It only exists in Crystal.
  • Your team: three Pokémon, no duplicate species.
  • The level: you choose a category, in steps of 10 up to level 100. Your Pokémon must not exceed that level, and your opponents are calibrated to it.
  • The streaks: you face seven trainers in a row. A single defeat ends the streak.
  • Banned: major legendary Pokémon such as Mewtwo, Mew, Lugia, Ho-Oh and Celebi.

The rewards

Each streak of seven wins earns a rare item, such as vitamins that boost your Pokémon’s stats. The more streaks you chain, the tougher the opposing trainers become.

Crystal

In Japan, Crystal could connect to a mobile phone using the Mobile Adapter GB. The Battle Tower then let you face other players’ teams, downloaded online. This feature was never offered in Europe.

Preparing your team well

  • Choose the level category that matches your best Pokémon: category 50 is a good compromise during the adventure.
  • Vary the types so you don’t get trapped by a single opponent.
  • Equip your Pokémon with useful items: Leftovers, Quick Claw, Berries.