Contest Spectaculars

Pokémon Contests are a game mechanic that you’ll be able to unlock starting in Slateport City. These contests allow your Pokemon to compete in different categories where you can win special prizes and accessories.

This page explains Content conditions ranks, along with the contest mini-game mechanics, and a list of fan gifts you can receive.

Contest Basics

Pokémon Contests become available once you receive the Contest Costume and the Pokéblock Kit from Lisia in Slateport City. This is an unmissable event in the main story after you defeat Team Aqua/Magma in the Oceanic Museum.

Contests are held in Contest Halls across Hoenn. You can find the Contest Halls in the following cities:

• Fallarbor Town
• Lilycove City
• Slateport City
• Verdanturf Town

Pokémon Contests have five different conditions, which replace regular stats that you’re used to in battles (like Attack or Defense).

Conditions are also used to determine contest categories, which are:

• Beautiful
• Clever
• Cool
• Cute
• Tough

Contests are also split into four different ranks:

• Normal rank
• Super rank
• Hyper rank
• Master rank

All Pokémon are eligible for Normal rank contests. From Super onwards, the Pokémon must win the previous rank first before they can progress to the next one. In other words, a Pokémon can only enter a Master rank contest in the Beautiful category after winning the Normal, Super, and Hyper ranks.

Joining a Contest

To get started in a Pokémon Contest, talk to the attendant inside any Contest Hall’s first floor and select “Enter”.

Then choose which Pokémon you want to enter in the contest, the category, and finally the rank.

There are no differences between the Contests Halls in different cities. You can join a Normal rank contest in the Lilycove Contest Hall, or a Hyper rank contest in the Slateport City Contest Hall.

Conditions

You can raise a Pokémon’s condition by feeding it Pokéblocks. Each Pokéblock will raise a specific condition, while Rainbow Pokéblocks will raise all five conditions.

The table below lists all Pokéblock colors and the respective conditions they target.

Pokéblocks are split into two different types: regular Pokéblocks and Pokéblock +

While regular Pokéblocks will raise a Pokémon’s condition by 8 points, a Pokéblock + will raise a Pokémon’s condition by 16 points.

A Pokémon’s Affection in the Pokémon-Amie mini-game will also determine the Pokéblock’s condition stat increase, as detailed below. Each condition is capped at 255 points.

Contest Gameplay Mechanics

Pokémon Contests take place over two rounds: the Introduction Round and the Talent Round. At the end of the Talent Round, the results are tallied to determine the winner.

Contests always have four participants, including your player.

Introduction Round

During the Introduction Round, the Pokémon are judged based on their condition points in the contest’s category.

The table below lists the scarves and the conditions boosted by them.

Following the Introduction Round, the contest progresses to the Talent Round.

Talent Round

During the Talent Round, the contestants will take turns performing moves (appeals) to accumulate hearts. Each participant will have five turns.

The order during the first turn is determined by the results of the Introduction Round.

From the second turn onwards, the order is determined by the score from the previous turn. However, just like in a regular Pokémon battle, priority moves can make the user perform first, ignoring the order.

The order, along with the current heart count for the turn, are shown in the bottom screen. You can also use the bottom screen to snap a picture during the Talent Round.

All appeals have their own category. Using an appeal that has the same category as the contest will excite the audience, giving the Pokémon additional hearts and adding a star to the Excite Meter on the top-left corner of the top screen.

Once the Excite Meter fills out, the Pokémon performing the appeal will execute a Spectacular Talent and win five additional hearts.

If the Pokémon has a Mega Evolution and is holding the respective Mega Stone, then the Spectacular Talent will earn eight hearts instead.

Certain appeals can also be used as a combination in consecutive turns to win additional hearts. On the other hand, performing the same move twice in succession will lower the heart count.

Using moves from a different category than the contest can lead to a neutral reaction, or may even remove a star from the Excite Meter. However, the heart count will remain unchanged.

The table below lists all appeal categories and their respective effects when used during a contest with a different category.

Some appeals also have secondary effects, as listed below.

After the Talent Round, the contest continues to the results screen.

Getting Your Results

With both the Introduction and Talent Rounds complete, the results will be announced based on the combined score of both rounds, which is shown on the bottom screen of your device.

Winning a Master rank contest will also reward your Pokémon with a medal.

Fans and Gifts

Immediately after winning a Contest Spectacular, you will find a few NPCs standing at the Contest Hall’s entrance. You can talk to these NPCs to receive gifts.

The table below lists all possible gifts you can receive from fans, and the respective ranks required to possibly get them.