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Pokémon: Black & White 2

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Battle Subway

By
Vincent Lau

Battle Subway

The Battle Subway (aka Gear Station) is found in the centre of Nimbasa City . Here, you can battle a wide variety of trainers in controlled conditions, much of which you can choose. There are a number of battle types that you can partake in. The types, along with their corresponding train colours, are as follows:

Battle Type Train Colour Pokemon allowed
Single Battle Dark Green 3
Super Single Battle Light Green 3
Double Battle Red 4
Super Double Battle Pink 4
Multi Battle Orange 2
Super Multi Battle Yellow 2
Wi-Fi Battle Blue 3

In addition to these, there’s the Brown Train line. If the player takes this line, they’ll be taken to Anville Town , possibly the most isolated town in all of Unova. You can only get there by train (you can’t even Fly there!), but there isn’t a whole lot to do there so you won’t find yourself visiting often.

If you do want to visit Anville Town , feel free to. Simply head onto the Brown Train Line platform and talk to the Depot Agent dressed in green to go there. If you answer ‘Yes’, you’ll hop onto the train and head up to the town!

As for the other lines, the Super versions of the Single, Double and Multi types are locked until you defeat the Pokemon League , as well as the regular version of that type. Until then, you can still enter the other four battle lines.

If you talk to the Depot Agent on any of the platforms and tell them that you want to ride the Battle Subway, you’ll be able to jump on and begin the battling after selecting a few things.

Battle Format

What? We haven’t actually explained the rules for the Battle Subway? Well, for all battle types you will have a number of allowed Pokemon. The number depends upon the battle type you choose and can be found in the chart above.

Put the Pokemon you intend to choose into your party, then select them when asked to by the Depot Agent. All Pokemon are set to Level 50, regardless of whether they’re above or below Level 50. So you can use the Battle Subway at any time and still have a chance to actually do decently.

But it also means you can’t field overpowered Pokemon and slaughter everyone either. There are a few banned Pokemon that you may not use on the Battle Subway. These tend to mostly be Legendaries. Check below for a list of all banned Pokemon.

Banned Pokemon

Once you’ve chosen your Pokemon, you’re free to head onto the train and take on the first of hopefully many trainers! Each trainer you’re up against has the same number of Pokemon as you, which are set at the same level as yours.

You now basically continue battling trainers consecutively until you either lose, retire or win a total of 21 consecutive battles if you’re participating in the normal version of a battle type. If you’re participating in the Super version, or Wi-Fi, battles continue indefinitely.

Between battles your Pokemon are healed and you’re given the opportunity to retire. Obviously this isn’t the easiest task in the world, but it makes it very satisfying when you do well. Oh, and you get rewards!

Participation Rewards

Rewards come in the form of Battle Points (BP) . The further you progress in a line, the greater the reward. BP can be exchanged for fabulous prizes at any of the counters in all of the Train Lines, excluding the Brown Train Line. Simply talk to either of the women behind them and they’ll show you their wares.

Battle for rewards that help you in battle; every battler’s dream, really.

The left and right woman at each counter sells different wares, but each counter has the same wares, so don’t bother going to a different one to see if they’re selling something else, because they’re not. You don’t earn points linearly though (except in Wi-Fi).

Every seven games that you win during a single attempt, you earn some BP. The BP reward is different depending on how far you progress (again, excluding Wi-Fi). BP earnt from the Pokemon World Tournament and Battle Subway are interchangeable.

BP earnt from either location can be spent on prizes at either location. The prizes at both locations are identical. Check the Left BP Exchange Service Corner and Right BP Exchange Service Corner for a list of available items, as well as prices.

See below for a table showing the total BP earned during a single attempt, dependent on how far you make it.

Battle Points Awarded

Number of Wins Normal Version Super Version Wi-Fi Version
7 3 5 10
14 6 11 20
21 16 18 30
28 - 26 40
35 - 35 50
42 - 45 60
49 - 75 70

Okay, now to actually explain the differences between each battle type! In Single Battle , it’s just you against your opponent, using one Pokemon at a time. In Double Battle , it’s just you against your opponent, but you’re using two Pokemon each at a time.

In Multi Battle , it’s you and either a friend (who you’ve connected your DS or 3DS with locally, through wireless or infrared), or the main character that you didn’t opt to play as (ie. the male one if you chose to be female and vice versa).

The two of you are against two trainers and you each control one Pokemon in a Double Battle. If you’re playing with a friend, they will choose their own Pokemon. If, however, you’re playing with the other main character, you will be able to tell them to take a party that fits a certain play-style.

The Pokemon they choose is entirely up to them though. The Super Versions of these types play exactly the same, but the opponents you’re up against are more powerful, so the version’s more difficult. In ‘‘Wi-Fi Battle’, you partake in Single Battles, but you’re up against a set of trainers that’s been downloaded via Wi-Fi.

The 21st Battle in Normal Version battle types–the final battle for these types–is against a Subway Boss, or both bosses if you’re partaking in Multi Battle. These battles are much tougher, but if you win them you’ve completed the Normal Version for that battle type.

Once you defeat the Pokemon League, the Super Version will then be unlocked for the Normal Version that you beat. The 49th Battle in Super Version battle types, the milestone battle for these types, is against a Subway Boss, or both of them if you’re partaking in Multi Battle.

These battles are much tougher than the other Super Version battles (which are already tough), but if you win them you’ve technically completed the Super Version for that battle type. You can continue battling trainers after winning this battle though.

That’s really all there is to it! Feel free to try out any of the types and enjoy yourself! Below are the party listings for the Normal and Super Version battles against the Subway Bosses.

Single Battle 21: Subway Boss Ingo

Pokemon Level Type Held Item
Garabor 50 Poison Black Sludge
"Klinklang" IconKlinklang 50 Steel Occa Berry
"Crustle" IconCrustle 50 Bug/Rock Rocky Helmet

Super Single Battle 49: Subway Boss Ingo

Pokemon Level Type Held Item
"Excadrill" IconExcadrill 50 Ground/Steel Life Orb
"Haxorus" IconHaxorus 50 Dragon Yache Berry
"Chandelure" IconChandelure 50 Ghost/Fire White Herb

Double Battle 21: Subway Boss Emmet

Pokemon Level Type Held Item
"Crustle" IconCrustle 50 Bug/Rock Rocky Helmet
"Garbodor" IconGarbodor 50 Poison Black Sludge
"Durant" IconDurant 50 Bug/Steel Occa Berry
"Klinklang" IconKlinklang 50 Steel Steel Gem

Super Double Battle 49: Subway Boss Emmet

Pokemon Level Type Held Item
"Eelektross" IconEelektross 50 Electric Magnet
"Chandelure" IconChandelure 50 Ghost/Fire White Herb
"Excadrill" IconExcadrill 50 Ground/Steel Life Orb
"Haxorus" IconHaxorus 50 Dragon Yache Berry

Multi Battle 21: Subway Boss Ingo and Emmet

Ingo’s party

Pokemon Level Type Held Item
"Garbodor" IconGarbodor 50 Poison Black Sludge
"Klinklang" IconKlinklang 50 Steel Occa Berry

Emmet’s party

Pokemon Level Type Held Item
"Galvantula" IconGalvantula 50 Bug/Electric Scope Lens
"Durant" IconDurant 50 Bug/Steel Occa Berry

Super Multi Battle 49: Subway Boss Ingo and Emmet

Ingo’s party

Pokemon Level Type Held Item
"Excadrill" IconExcadrill 50 Ground/Steel Life Orb
"Haxorus" IconHaxorus 50 Dragon Yache Berry

Emmet’s party

Pokemon Level Type Held Item
"Eelektross" IconEelektross 50 Electric Magnet
"Archeops" IconArcheops 50 Rock/Flying Sitrus Berry
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Guide Information
  • Publisher
    Pokemon Company International
  • Platforms,
    3DS
  • Genre
    RPG
  • Guide Release
    6 October 2012
  • Last Updated
    19 December 2020
  • Guide Author
    Daniel Chaviers, Vincent Lau

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Inside this guide you will find:

  • Top tricks for beating all eight Gym Leader
  • Beat the Elite Four and the current Champion with style!
  • How and where to find the Pokemon you want to catch
  • Find and catch all Legendary Pokemon!
  • Post story-mode walkthrough with all hidden areas uncovered
  • Save time by finding the rarest of items for free!
  • Packed full with high-quality screenshots!
  • Tips and info on both Black and White versions
  • Wild Pokémon Encounter rates.
  • Mysterious Nature Preserve.
  • Videos for all the Gym Leader and Elite Four battles, plus legendary Pokemon.
  • Advanced stat building systems - learn how to raise a prize Pokémon

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