Frequently asked questions
What is PoKéMoN Virtual Battle?
PoKéMoN Virtual Battle (PVB) is a free Pokémon game in the browser, with nothing to download and no ads. You catch from 1,025 species, train them, and the ranking is between Trainers. Folken opened it on 7 June 2007.
Is this Folken's game from 2007?
This is an unofficial reconstruction of Folken's game. It lived at pub-line.com, then folken.fr/pvb from August 2008, then pokemon-virtual-battle.com. Those domains have expired. Accounts from that time are not here: you create a new one, for free.
Do I have to download or pay anything?
No. The game runs in the browser, in French, English or Spanish. Signing up is free, there is nothing to install and there are no ads.
How do I catch a PoKéMoN?
Walk a PoKé Catch map. A wild PoKéMoN appears and you battle it in Head, Body and Legs. Once you win, you choose: throw a Ball to take it, or take its experience and let it go — never both. The catch chance depends on the Ball, not on the HP left.
Do my stats and my moves actually matter?
Everything matters. Your choice of zones decides whether a blow lands; three draws decide what it is worth. The move used is picked at random among those your PoKéMoN knows — so all four slots count, not just the best one. One stat is drawn among the six and compared on both sides. Finally the move's accuracy is rolled: a miss earns nothing. Add the move's power and its type against the opponent — a Fire PoKéMoN that learned a Grass move does not always hit the same way. A blow is therefore worth between 0.7 and 1.5 points, inclusive: reading your opponent well is still what wins battles.
Why does a move sometimes score 2 points instead of 1?
That is a critical hit. A blow that lands is worth one point, a dodged blow none — and one move in ten is critical, which doubles its points. Twice nothing is still nothing: a dodged blow stays at zero, critical or not. The summary marks it in orange with a “×2”.
How do I earn experience?
At the PoKé Catch, and only there — plus the paid lessons at the Training Centre. Beating a wild PoKéMoN always pays PokéDollars; then you must choose: throw a Ball to take it home, or take its experience and let it go. You cannot have both. If a Ball fails and the wild PoKéMoN flees, the experience is yours anyway: the win is earned. Gym battles and Gym Leaders give no XP towards the overall ranking — only points, money and Badges.
What are points for?
Each PoKéMoN gains one point per win at the Battle Gym and loses one per defeat. Your PoKéMoN's points add up to form your Trainer score, which decides the ranking. Only battles between Trainers count: a Gym Leader or a wild PoKéMoN brings no point, no win and no loss — experience, money and Badges, yes. The Flash Gym has its own separate ranking.
What are IVs?
IVs (individual values) are a PoKéMoN's innate quality, drawn at birth. The scale runs from Zero to Premium. Two PoKéMoN of the same level therefore do not have the same stats.
How does the battle Gym work?
You take on another member's team, played by the computer. Their PoKéMoN suffer no lasting damage: only the points change, on both sides.
My PoKéMoN are fainted, what do I do?
Drop by the PoKéMoN Center from the Team page: the first healing of the day is free, later ones cost 1,000 ₽. A Potion from the shop heals a single PoKéMoN, more cheaply.
Is a Shiny common?
One draw in 2,000 at the PoKé Catch. An Unown comes up once in 1,000, a Legendary once in 3,000; the crossings — Shiny Unown, Shiny Legendary — are far rarer still.
Can I get my data back?
Yes. From My account you can export everything the site knows about you as JSON, and permanently delete your account.