You finally beat the Elite Four. Steven Stone is back in his cave or wandering around looking at rocks, and the credits have rolled on your journey through Hoenn. Most players just put the 3DS down there. That is a massive mistake. The real game, at least for anyone who actually cares about building a team that doesn't get steamrolled online, starts at the Pokemon ORAS Battle Resort.
It’s a tiny island. Basically a tropical getaway with a high-octane competitive heart. Honestly, when Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire dropped in 2014, people were salty about the lack of a Battle Frontier. I get it. We all wanted the Emerald nostalgia. But if you actually look at the utility of the Battle Resort, it's arguably the most efficient "workshop" Game Freak ever designed.
Getting to the Battle Resort: More than just a boat ride
You don't just walk into the Resort. You’ve got to finish the Delta Episode first. That means dealing with Zinnia, catching Rayquaza, and heading into space to headbutt Deoxys. Once that chaos is over, Norman gives you the S.S. Ticket in Littleroot Town. You take the ferry from Slateport or Lilycove, and suddenly, you’re in a place where everyone is a literal pro.
The atmosphere is different here. It’s not about "friendship" or "the bond between trainers" in the way the main story beats you over the head with it. It’s about stats. It's about IVs, EVs, and the brutal grind of the Battle Maison.
The first thing you’ll notice? The Day Care. Or, well, the Battle Resort Pokemon Day Care. This is where the magic happens. Unlike the one on Route 117, this one is situated on a literal loop. If you position your character just right in front of the Day Care lad and hold the "Up" button on your D-pad, you can ride your Mach Bike in an infinite circle.
I’ve spent hours doing this. Just wedging a dime under the circle pad and letting the eggs hatch while I go make a sandwich. It’s peak efficiency.
The Battle Maison and the BP economy
The Battle Maison is the centerpiece. It’s the same one from Pokemon X and Y, which felt a bit lazy at the time, but it serves its purpose. You’ve got Single, Double, Triple, Rotation, and Multi Battles.
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Winning streaks earn you Battle Points (BP). You need these. You need them for the Move Tutors who are conveniently lined up on the beach like they're waiting for a bus. These tutors are the only way to get moves like Knock Off, Stealth Rock, or Hyper Voice on certain Pokemon. Without the Pokemon ORAS Battle Resort, your competitive Sylveon is basically useless.
The difficulty spikes are real. Around battle 20, the AI stops messing around. It starts using actual strategies, Focus Sashes, and Choice Scarfs. By battle 50, you’re facing a Battle Chatelaine. Nita, Evelyn, Dana, and Morgan are no joke. They use Legendaries. If you aren't prepared for Evelyn's Entei or Raikou in Great Supers, you’re going to lose your streak and your sanity.
Why the Move Tutors change everything
In the meta of Generation 6, the Move Tutors were the gatekeepers. Want a Low Kick Weavile? You're coming here. Want a Gunk Shot Greninja? Better start winning at the Maison.
There are four stands on the western side of the island.
- Stand 1: Focuses on tactical moves like Bind, Snore, and Water Pulse.
- Stand 2: This is the heavy hitter. Gunk Shot, Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, Fire Punch.
- Stand 3: Utility heaven. Iron Tail, Snatch, Stealth Rock.
- Stand 4: The powerhouse moves. Hyper Voice, Dragon Pulse, Earth Power.
It’s expensive. Some moves cost 16 BP. That doesn't sound like much until you realize you’re only getting 1 or 2 BP per win in the early stages. It’s a grind. A long, sweaty grind.
The IV Judge: The dream-crusher
In the Pokémon Center at the Resort, there’s a guy standing in the top right corner. He’s the most important NPC in the game. He's the Judge.
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You show him a Pokemon you just spent three hours breeding. You’re hoping for those "Outstanding" stats. He looks at it, says it's "relatively superior," and mentions its Speed "simply can’t be beat." That means you got one 31 IV. One. Back to the infinite loop on the bike you go.
It’s a cycle of hope and disappointment. But when he finally tells you your Pokemon has "stats that couldn't be better" in five or six categories? That’s the high. That’s why the Pokemon ORAS Battle Resort is the endgame.
Daily events you shouldn't skip
The island isn't just for breeding. There are these "Secret Shore" and "Secret Islet" locations you can reach via Soar, but the Resort itself has daily flavor.
You have the Battle Test. You have the massage lady who boosts happiness—essential if you’re trying to evolve a Buneary or Lucario. But the coolest part is the interaction with the gym leaders and Elite Four members. They show up here to vacation. You’ll see Wallace or Brawly just hanging out. It makes the world feel lived in.
And then there’s the Grunt. There’s a reformed Team Magma or Team Aqua grunt (depending on your version) who is trying to live a normal life. It’s a nice touch of narrative continuity in a place that is otherwise very mechanical.
Misconceptions about the "missing" Battle Frontier
Let's address the elephant in the room. People were furious that the Battle Frontier wasn't in ORAS. There’s even a "Project Frontier" sign in the Resort that feels like a slap in the face.
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But here’s the reality: The Pokemon ORAS Battle Resort is actually better for the modern player. The Battle Frontier was a time sink with a lot of RNG-heavy gimmicks (looking at you, Battle Palace). The Resort focuses on what actually matters for the VGC and Smogon scenes. It’s a streamlined factory for competitive excellence. If you want to play, you go to the Maison. If you want to build, you go to the loop.
It’s efficient. It’s sunny. It’s got great music.
Actionable steps for your Resort stay
If you’re just getting to the island, don't just wander around. Have a plan.
First, grab the Vs. Recorder from the Battle Maison. You can’t enter without it. Next, talk to the guy who gives you the Point Card. You can’t store BP without that.
If you're breeding, make sure you have a Talonflame or Volcarona with the Flame Body ability in your party. It cuts egg hatch time in half. Combine that with the "Infinite Loop" trick—ride to the corner of the island near the Day Care, hold Up, and your character will cycle around the island indefinitely because of the camera shifts.
Stock up on specialized items. The BP shop inside the Maison is the only place to get the Focus Sash, Life Orb, and Choice items. These aren't optional for serious battles.
Finally, don't ignore the move tutors just because you think your current moveset is "fine." A single move change—like adding Drain Punch to a Gallade—can be the difference between a sweep and a loss.
The Battle Resort isn't just a post-game area. It’s a proving ground. It’s where your journey as a casual player ends and your career as a tactician begins. Get your bike ready. You’ve got a lot of circles to ride.