Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Battle Tower Guide

The Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Battle Tower is back, bringing with it plenty of post-game challenges and the chance to buy some rare items. You can throw your best team at the Battle Tower, though there are some tested favorites that tend to work the best.

There are plenty of rewards at the end of your hard-fought battles too, including some TMs and stat-boosting items, but “hard-fought” is key here. The Battle Tower in Pokemon BDSP isn’t an easy challenge.

How to Unlock the Battle Tower in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

The Battle Tower unlocks automatically after you enter the Hall of Fame. There’s a cutscene with your rival, and then it’s off to Snowpoint City with you. Take the boat to the Battle Zone, and you’ll have access to the Battle Tower and an entire region, albeit a small one, for new training. There’s even a legendary Pokemon hiding on the mountain nearby.

Battle Tower Restrictions and Engagements

The Battle Tower runs on two types of challenges: single and double. Single battles let you take a team of three Pokemon through its gauntlet of challenges, while doubles allows four Pokemon total. The level cap is set at 50, so any Pokemon over that is automatically bumped down.

There are guidelines to who you can bring along in the Battle Tower, though. Legendary and mythical Pokemon aren’t allowed, for obvious reasons. Those include:

• Dialga
• Giratina
• Palkia
• Manaphy
• Groudon
• Kyogre
• Jirachi
• Rayquaza
• Ho-Oh
• Lugia
• Mew
• Mewtwo

Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Battle Tower Teams

There are some expert builds floating around that have taken some skilled trainers through the end of the Battle Tower’s challenges. They aren’t the only builds to use, of course, but they’re worth starting and tinkering with to see what works for you.

Battle Tower Singles Teams

This Battle Tower build is from Kuroko, who recommends Cloyster, Gyrados, and Tyranitar.

Cloyster: Primary Attacker

• Icicle Spear
• Shell Smash
• Rock Blast
• Razer Shell

Cloyster is naturally strong and gets even stronger if you use Shell Smash. Just watch out for Fighting and Rock types.

Gyrados: Secondary Attacker

• Waterfall
• Dragon Dance
• Thrash
• Ice Fang

Gyrados’ biggest weakness is Electric, which you can mitigate once with a Wacan Berry. Dragon Dance boosts its already formidable attack through the roof, and it should be able to handle anything Cloyster can’t in the Battle Tower.

Tyranitar: Finisher

• Rock Slide
• Crunch
• Dragon Dance
• Earthquake

Tyranitar naturally causes a Sandstorm, which is handy for you and bad for your foes. Otherwise, it’s a pretty straightforward brute-strength choice for the Battle Tower.

Battle Tower Doubles Teams

The Pokemon community is finding the most success with these teams for doubles in the Battle Tower.

Ludicolo

• Giga Drain
• Ice Beam
• Fake Out
• Hydro Pump

Ludicolo is a heavy hitter who can take fire from most opponents and cover your weaker party members. You’ll want to use PP Up on some of its moves, though, including Giga Drain and Hydro Pump, to keep it useful.

Politoed

• Scald
• Perish Song
• Ice Beam
• Protect

Politoed is a tricky one to pin down in this Battle Tower build, since you can make life difficult for the opponent’s tougher Pokemon thanks to Perish Song and cover weaknesses with Protect. 

Togekiss

• Dazzling Gleam
• Air Slash
• Protect
• Follow Me

Togekiss is ideal for drawing fire from special attackers. Air Slash cuts through most foes thanks to Togekiss’ high special attack, but make sure to cover for Togekiss’ Flying weakness

Arcanine

• Flare Blitz
• Snarl
• Safeguard
• Extremespeed

Safeguard is important since Battle Tower Pokemon tend to rely on status effects. Otherwise, its biggest assets are Intimidate to cut enemy strength in half and Extremespeed to dominate the round.

How to Beat Palmer in the Battle Tower

In singles, you’ll face Palmer twice in the Battle Tower. The first time is at the 21st level, where he’ll have:

• Milotic
• Dragon Pulse
• Hypnosis
• Ice Beam
• Recover
• Rhyperior
• Flamethrower
• Ice Beam
• Thunder Bolt
• Rock Wrecker
• Dragonite
• Dragon Rush
• Aqua Tail
• Iron Tail
• Stone Edge

At the 49th level of the Battle Tower, he’ll have this team:

• Regigigas
• Crush Grip
• Ice Punch
• Protect 
• Stone Edge
• Cresselia
• Moonlight
• Substitute
• Stored Power
• Calm Mind
• Heatran
• Flash Cannon
• Magma Storm
• Dark Pulse
• Earth Power

Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Battle Tower Rewards

Here’s what you can exchange your hard-won Battle Points for when completing Battle Tower challenges.

Battle Tower Items

• Ability Patch — 200 BP
• Ability Capsule — 50 BP
• Bottle Cap — 25 BP
• Rare Candy — 20 BP
• PP Up — 10 BP
• Protein — 1 BP
• Calcium — 1 BP
• Iron — 1 BP
• Zinc — 1 BP
• Carbos — 1 BP
• HP Up — 1 BP
• Lucky Egg — 77 BP
• Power Bracer — 10 BP
• Power Belt — 10 BP
• Power Lens — 10 BP
• Power Band — 10 BP
• Power Anklet — 10 BP
• Power Weight — 10 BP
• Pomeg Berry — 1 BP
• Kelpsy Berry — 1 BP
• Qualot Berry — 1 BP
• Hondew Berry — 1 BP
• Grepa Berry — 1 BP
• Tamato Berry — 1 BP
• Life Orb — 25 BP
• Toxic Orb — 16 BP
• Flame Orb — 16 BP
• White Herb — 15 BP
• Mental Herb — 15 BP
• Power Herb — 15 BP
• Bright Powder — 48 BP
• Choice Band — 25 BP
• Choice Specs — 25 BP
• Choice Scarf — 25 BP
• Muscle Band — 48 BP
• Focus Band — 48 BP
• Focus Sash — 15 BP
• Scope Lens — 48 BP
• Light Clay — 15 BP
• Lucky Punch — 7 BP
• Razor Claw — 5 BP
• Razor Fang — 5 BP
• Protector — 5 BP
• Reaper Cloth — 5 BP
• Upgrade — 5 BP
• Dubious Disc — 5 BP
• Lonely Mint — 50 BP
• Adamant Mint — 50 BP
• Naught Mint — 50 BP
• Brave Mint — 50 BP
• Bold Mint — 50 BP
• Impish Mint — 50 BP
• Lax Mint — 50 BP
• Relaxed Mint — 50 BP
• Modest Mint — 50 BP
• Mild Mint — 50 BP
• Rash Mint — 50 BP
• Quiet Mint — 50 BP
• Calm Mint — 50 BP
• Gentle Mint — 50 BP
• Careful Mint — 50 BP
• Sassy Mint — 50 BP
• Timid Mint — 50 BP
• Hasty Mint — 50 BP
• Jolly Mint — 50 BP
• Naive Mint — 50 BP
• Serious Mint — 50 BP

Battle Tower TMs

• TM04 Calm Mind — 48 BP
• TM06 Toxic — 32 BP
• TM08 Bulk Up — 48 BP
• TM26 Earthquake — 80 BP
• TM30 Shadow Ball — 64 BP
• TM31 Brick Break — 40 BP
• TM36 Sludge Bomb — 80 BP
• TM40 Aerial Ace — 40 BP
• TM45 Attract — 32 BP
• TM53 Energy Ball — 64 BP
• TM59 Dragon Pulse — 80 BP
• TM61 Will-O-Wisp — 32 BP
• TM71 Stone Edge — 80 BP
• TM73 Thunder Wave — 32 BP
• TM81 X-Scissor — 64 BP
• TM93 Cut — 32 BP
• TM95 Fly — 40 BP
• TM95 Surf — 64 BP
• TM96 Strength — 40 BP
• TM97 Defog — 32 BP
• TM98 Rock Smash — 40 BP
• TM99 Waterfall — 64 BP
• TM100 Rock Climb — 32 BP

That’s all you need to know about the Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl‘s Battle Tower, but make sure to check out our other Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl guides for more tips.