Pokkén Tournament DX is an accessible fighting game, but its rules have real depth. Two battle phases that alternate, an attack triangle to master, a Synergy Gauge that triggers Mega Evolutions, Support Pokémon: here are the mechanics you need to know to improve.
Field Phase and Duel Phase
Each battle alternates between two phases:
- The Field Phase: the camera is behind your Pokémon, which moves freely around the whole arena. Ranged attacks dominate here, and you move closer to or away from your opponent in three dimensions.
- The Duel Phase: the camera switches to a side view, like in a classic fighting game. The two Pokémon face each other and chain close-range attacks and combos.
The phase changes when a Pokémon takes certain powerful attacks or a series of hits: the switch is shown on screen. The controls change depending on the phase, and each fighter has moves unique to one or the other.
The attack triangle
Three families of attacks counter each other, like rock-paper-scissors:
| Attack | Usual input | Beats | Loses to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal Attack | Y, X or A, depending on the Pokémon and direction | Grabs | Counter Attacks (and Guard) |
| Grab | Y + B | Guard and Counter Attacks | Normal Attacks |
| Counter Attack | X + A | Normal Attacks, which it absorbs | Grabs |
In short: Counter Attack beats Normal Attack, Grab beats Counter Attack and Guard, Normal Attack beats Grab. A charged Counter Attack, by holding the input, even breaks through an opposing Counter Attack. Reading your opponent’s habits and choosing the right family at the right moment is the key to close battles.
Synergy and the Synergy Burst
The Synergy Gauge fills by dealing and taking hits, and by picking up the synergy orbs that appear in the Field Phase. When full, it lets you activate the Synergy Burst by pressing L and R at the same time:
- the Pokémon becomes more powerful for a limited time and recovers part of its lost HP;
- Pokémon that can Mega Evolve do so, including Lucario, Gardevoir, Gengar, Charizard, Garchomp, Blaziken, Sceptile, Mewtwo, Shadow Mewtwo and Scizor;
- during the Burst, pressing L and R again triggers the Burst Attack, the fighter’s most powerful move, which can be used only once.
Support Pokémon
Before the battle, you choose a set of two Support Pokémon; before each round, you pick one of them. It is called with the L button, and then its gauge must recharge. There are three kinds:
- Attack: it deals damage to the opponent;
- Enemy: it hinders the opponent, for example by slowing them down;
- Buff: it improves your stats or heals your Pokémon.
The details of all eighteen sets are on the Support Pokémon page.
Fighter categories
| Category | Profile |
|---|---|
| Standard | Balanced, with no major weakness: Pikachu, Lucario, Mewtwo, Suicune, Blaziken, Braixen, Empoleon, Decidueye. |
| Power | Slow but devastating, often with a lot of HP: Machamp, Garchomp, Charizard, Chandelure, Scizor. |
| Speed | Fast and hard to counter, but fragile: Pikachu Libre, Sceptile, Weavile, Croagunk. |
| Technique | More complex, they rely on controlling distance and on traps: Gardevoir, Gengar, Shadow Mewtwo, Darkrai. |
Each fighter’s HP is on the Fighters page.
Rounds and victory
A battle is usually played over several rounds; the first to win the set number wins. Between rounds, Nia can activate a Cheer Skill that fills your Support or Synergy Gauge depending on the result of the previous round. In Team Battle, damage taken carries over from one round to the next.
