Battle Institute

Learn the rules and strategies for the Battle Institute in Pokémon X and Y. Understand Flat Battles, Pokémon restrictions, and how to earn high ranks and rewards.

Hey there! So, you've made it to the Battle Institute in Lumiose City. Think of this place as a serious training ground, way tougher than the regular Gym Leaders. It's where you'll really need to put your Pokémon knowledge and strategy to the test, kind of like what you'd see in official competitions.

Don't get cocky just because you beat the main story easily; this place can be a real challenge, especially since the trainers here are pretty smart and you might not always have the type advantage.

Before you even pick your team, you need to know the rules. They're pretty strict, similar to the Battle Maison:

• Flat Battles: All your Pokémon will be set to Level 50, no matter their original level. Their stats will be adjusted, but their moves stay the same.
• Legendary Pokémon Ban: You can't use most of the big-name Legendaries. This includes Pokémon like Mew, Mewtwo, Lugia, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Darkrai, Xerneas, Yveltal, and Zygarde, among others. It's a pretty long list!
• Pseudo-Legendaries Allowed: Good news! Pokémon like Articuno, Moltres, Zapdos, Entei, Suicune, Raikou, Latias, Latios, and the Regi trio are fair game. So are Rotom, Cresselia, Heatran, Cobalion, Terrakion, Virizion, Thundurus, Tornadus, Landorus, and Keldeo.
• No Duplicates: You can't have duplicate held items or duplicate Pokémon species on your team.
• Team Size: For Single Battles, you'll need three Pokémon. For Double Battles, you'll need four.

Once you're ready, chat with the receptionist. You'll then pick your team and go through five battles against tough trainers. Don't worry too much about winning or losing each individual battle, because the test continues no matter what, and your Pokémon will always be fully healed afterward.

Your final score depends on a bunch of things: how many Pokémon you defeat, how many of yours get knocked out, how quickly you win, and how well you counter your opponents' strategies. After you're done, you'll get a certificate showing your rank, the type of test you took, and your score. Here's how the ranks break down:

On top of bragging rights, you'll also snag some items and Battle Points (BP) for your efforts. Good luck out there!