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Creating Trainers

Trainers are defined across two PBS files:
  • PBS/trainertypes.txt - Defines trainer classes (their type, battle music, etc.)
  • PBS/trainers.txt - Defines individual trainer battles with their Pokémon teams

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Trainer Types

Trainer types are defined in PBS/trainertypes.txt: 
ID,InternalName,Name,BaseMoney,BattleBGM,VictoryBGM,IntroME,Gender,SkillLevel

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Real Examples

0,POKEMONTRAINER_Red,Entrenador,60,,,,Male,,
6,AROMALADY,Señorita Aroma,32,,,,Female,,
10,BUGCATCHER,Cazabichos,16,,,,Male,,
59,LEADER_Brock,Líder Gimnasio,100,Battle! (Gym Leader),,,Male,,

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Trainer Type Fields

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ID
number
required
Unique identifier for the trainer type.
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InternalName
string
required
Internal code name in uppercase. Used in events and scripts.Example: LEADER_Brock, BUGCATCHER, RIVAL1
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Name
string
required
Display name shown before battles.Example: Líder Gimnasio, Cazabichos, Rival
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BaseMoney
number
required
Base prize money. Actual payout is calculated as: BaseMoney × Highest Level Pokémon
  • Regular trainers: 16-32
  • Strong trainers: 48-60
  • Gym Leaders: 100
  • Elite Four: 100
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BattleBGM
string
Battle music file name (without extension) from Audio/BGM/.Leave empty to use default battle music.
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VictoryBGM
string
Victory music file name. Leave empty for default.
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IntroME
string
Music effect played when battle starts. Leave empty for default.
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Gender
string
required
Trainer gender: Male, Female, or Mixed (for duo battles).
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SkillLevel
number
Overrides default skill level. Higher values make smarter AI. Leave empty for default.

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Trainer Type Categories

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Basic Trainers

37,YOUNGSTER,Joven,16,,,,Male,,
38,LASS,Chica,16,,,,Female,,
33,CAMPER,Campista,16,,,,Male,,
34,PICNICKER,Dominguera,16,,,,Female,,

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Specialist Trainers

9,BIRDKEEPER,Ornitólogo,32,,,,Male,,
10,BUGCATCHER,Cazabichos,16,,,,Male,,
15,FISHERMAN,Pescador,32,,,,Male,,
18,HIKER,Montañero,32,,,,Male,,

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Gym Leaders

59,LEADER_Brock,Líder Gimnasio,100,Battle! (Gym Leader),,,Male,,
60,LEADER_Misty,Líder Gimnasio,100,Battle! (Gym Leader),,,Female,,
61,LEADER_Surge,Líder Gimnasio,100,Battle! (Gym Leader),,,Male,,

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Elite Four and Champion

67,ELITEFOUR_Lorelei,Alto Mando,100,Battle! (Gym Leader),,,Female,,
68,ELITEFOUR_Bruno,Alto Mando,100,Battle! (Gym Leader),,,Male,,
71,CHAMPION,Campeón,100,Battle! (Champion),,,Male,,

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Rival Battles

4,RIVAL1,Rival,16,,,,Male,,
5,RIVAL2,Rival,36,,,,Male,,

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Team Rocket

56,TEAMROCKET_M,Recluta Team,32,,,,Male,,
57,TEAMROCKET_F,Recluta Team,32,,,,Female,,
58,ROCKETBOSS,Líder Rocket,100,,,,Male,,

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Individual Trainers

Individual trainers and their Pokémon are defined in PBS/trainers.txt: 
TrainerType
TrainerName
PartyCount,Item1,Item2,...
Pokemon1Data
Pokemon2Data
...

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Real Example: Brock

LEADER_Brock
Brock
2,FULLRESTORE,FULLRESTORE
GEODUDE,12,,DEFENSECURL,HEADSMASH,ROCKPOLISH,ROCKTHROW,0,M,,,,20
ONIX,14,SITRUSBERRY,HEADSMASH,ROCKTHROW,TERABLAST,ROCKTOMB,0,M,,shiny,,20,,Rocky,,19,WATER
Breaking this down:
1
Line 1: Trainer Type
2
LEADER_Brock
3
The internal name from trainertypes.txt.
4
Line 2: Trainer Name
5
Brock
6
The trainer’s display name.
7
Line 3: Party Count and Items
8
2,FULLRESTORE,FULLRESTORE
9
  • 2 - Number of Pokémon
  • FULLRESTORE,FULLRESTORE - Items the trainer uses in battle
    • 10
    Lines 4+: Pokémon Data
    11
    Each Pokémon follows this format:
    12
    SPECIES,LEVEL,ITEM,MOVE1,MOVE2,MOVE3,MOVE4,ABILITY,GENDER,FORM,SHINY,SHADOW_LEVEL,BALL,NAME,HAPPINESS,NATURE,IV,TERATYPE

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    Pokémon Definition Format

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    SPECIES
    string
    required
    Internal name of the Pokémon species.Example: PIKACHU, CHARIZARD, GARCHOMP
    ​
    LEVEL
    number
    required
    The level of the Pokémon (1-100).
    ​
    ITEM
    string
    Held item internal name. Leave blank for no item.Example: SITRUSBERRY, LEFTOVERS, CHOICEBAND
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    MOVE1,MOVE2,MOVE3,MOVE4
    string
    Up to 4 move internal names. Separate with commas.Leave blank to use level-up moveset.
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    ABILITY
    number
    Ability index: 0 for first ability, 1 for second, 2 for hidden ability.Leave blank for random.
    ​
    GENDER
    string
    M for male, F for female. Leave blank for species default.
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    FORM
    number
    Form number for Pokémon with alternate forms. Leave blank for default form.
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    SHINY
    string
    Write shiny to make the Pokémon shiny. Leave blank for normal.
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    SHADOW_LEVEL
    number
    Shadow Pokémon level (for Shadow Pokémon games). Leave blank normally.
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    BALL
    number
    Poké Ball type. Leave blank for default (Poké Ball).
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    NAME
    string
    Nickname for the Pokémon. Leave blank for species name.
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    HAPPINESS
    number
    Friendship value (0-255). Leave blank for species default.
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    NATURE
    string
    Nature name. Leave blank for random.Examples: Adamant, Modest, Jolly, Timid
    ​
    IV
    number
    Individual Value for all stats (0-31). Leave blank for default.
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    TERATYPE
    string
    Tera Type for Terastallization. Example: WATER, ELECTRIC

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    Trainer Examples

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    Simple Trainer

    CAMPER
Liam
2
DIGLETT,10
BONSLY,11
    A basic trainer with 2 Pokémon at levels 10 and 11, no custom moves or items.

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    Trainer with Items

    LEADER_Brock
Brock
2,FULLRESTORE,FULLRESTORE
GEODUDE,12,,DEFENSECURL,HEADSMASH,ROCKPOLISH,ROCKTHROW
ONIX,14,SITRUSBERRY,HEADSMASH,ROCKTHROW,TERABLAST,ROCKTOMB
    Brock has 2 Full Restores to use. His Onix holds a Sitrus Berry.

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    Advanced Configuration

    POKEMONTRAINER_Brendan
FiaPlay
1
BLAZIKEN,36,,BLAZEKICK,HIGHJUMPKICK,PROTECT,THUNDERPUNCH,,M,,,,,,,,,ELECTRIC
    A Blaziken with:
    • Level 36
    • Custom moveset
    • Male gender
    • Tera Type: Electric

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    Shiny Pokémon

    YOUNGSTER
Test
1
ARBOLIVA,50,GRASSIUMZ,NATURALGIFT,GRASSKNOT,RAGE,ROCKTOMB,0,M,,shiny,,20,,,,19
    Arboliva is shiny and holds Grassium Z.

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    Team Rocket Example

    TEAMROCKET_M
Rocket,1
1
WEEPINBELL,21,,,,,,,,,,,,,,true
    The ,1 after the name indicates this is version 1 of this trainer (for rematches).

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    Multiple Trainers of Same Type

    CAMPER
Jeff
2
SPEAROW,16
SENTRET,16
#-------------------
CAMPER
Jeff,1
2
FEAROW,29
FURRET,29
    Two versions of Jeff - original and rematch (version 1).

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    AI and Battle Intelligence

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    SkillLevel
    number
    Controls trainer AI intelligence in trainertypes.txt:
    • 0 or blank - Basic AI (random moves)
    • 8-16 - Decent AI (considers type effectiveness)
    • 32-48 - Smart AI (considers stats, status)
    • 60-100 - Expert AI (Gym Leaders, Champions)

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    AI Level Examples

    # Weak trainers
10,BUGCATCHER,Cazabichos,16,,,,Male,,

# Medium trainers
35,COOLTRAINER_M,Entre. Guay,60,,,,Male,,

# Gym Leaders (expert AI)
59,LEADER_Brock,Líder Gimnasio,100,Battle! (Gym Leader),,,Male,,

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    Double Battles

    For duo trainers (tag battles): 
    COOLCOUPLE
Alice & Bob
2
TURTWIG,19
CHIMCHAR,19
    The trainer type must have Gender=Mixed in trainertypes.txt for duo battles to work properly.

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    Rival Battles

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    Multiple Versions for Story Progress

    RIVAL1
Blue
3
PIDGEOTTO,17
RATTATA,15
BULBASAUR,18
#-------------------
RIVAL1
Blue,1
3
PIDGEOTTO,17
RATTATA,15
CHARMANDER,18
#-------------------
RIVAL1
Blue,2
3
PIDGEOTTO,17
RATTATA,15
SQUIRTLE,18
    Three versions of Blue with different starters based on player choice.

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    Champion Battle

    CHAMPION
Blue
3
VENUSAUR,63,SITRUSBERRY
CHARIZARD,63,SITRUSBERRY
BLASTOISE,63,SITRUSBERRY
    Champion-level battle with all Pokémon holding Sitrus Berries.

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    Creating Custom Trainers

    1
    Step 1: Define the trainer type
    2
    Add to trainertypes.txt:
    3
    80,CUSTOMTRAINER,Custom Class,50,Battle! (Trainer),,,Male,32
    4
    Step 2: Create the trainer battle
    5
    Add to trainers.txt:
    6
    CUSTOMTRAINER
Custom Name
3,HYPERPOTION,HYPERPOTION
PIKACHU,25,LIGHTBALL,THUNDERBOLT,QUICKATTACK,IRONTAIL,ELECTROBALL
CHARIZARD,30,CHARCOAL,FLAMETHROWER,DRAGONCLAW,AIRSLASH,ROOST
GENGAR,28,,SHADOWBALL,SLUDGEBOMB,THUNDERBOLT,DESTINYBOND
    7
    Step 3: Set up the battle event
    8
    In RPG Maker, create an event that calls the trainer battle:
    9
    pbTrainerBattle(:CUSTOMTRAINER,"Custom Name")

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    Rematch System

    Use version numbers for rematches: 
    PICNICKER
Susie
1
MEOWTH,18
#-------------------
PICNICKER
Susie,1
1
PERSIAN,32
    First battle is version 0 (no number), rematch is version 1.
    When creating rematches, significantly increase levels and give evolved Pokémon to show progression.

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    Prize Money Calculation

    Prize money is calculated as: 
    BaseMoney × Highest Level Pokémon in Party
    Examples:
    • Youngster (16) with level 10 Pokémon = 160 Pokédollars
    • Gym Leader (100) with level 50 Pokémon = 5000 Pokédollars
    • Champion (100) with level 63 Pokémon = 6300 Pokédollars

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    Testing Trainers

    Always test your trainers in Debug mode before releasing:
    1. Check that all Pokémon load correctly
    2. Verify moves are legal for the species
    3. Test held items work as expected
    4. Confirm AI difficulty is appropriate
    5. Check prize money is balanced

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    Common Issues

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    Trainer won’t appear

    • Check trainer type exists in trainertypes.txt
    • Verify internal names match exactly (case-sensitive)
    • Ensure party count matches number of Pokémon

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    Pokémon has wrong moves

    • Verify move internal names are correct
    • Check Pokémon can learn those moves
    • Leave move slots blank to use level-up moves

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    Items don’t work

    • Confirm item internal names are correct
    • Check item is usable in battle
    • Verify item is in items.txt

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    Next Steps

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