Pokémon Stadium 2

For the stage in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, see Pokémon Stadium 2 (stage).

For the game with the Japanese name of Pokémon Stadium 2, see Pokémon Stadium.

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Pokémon Stadium 2 ポケモンスタジアム金銀
Boxart of Pokémon Stadium 2
Basic info
Platform:	Nintendo 64 Nintendo Switch (Nintendo Switch Online)
Category:	Battle Simulation
Players:	1-4
Connectivity:	Transfer Pak
Developer:	Nintendo
Publisher:	Nintendo
Part of:	Generation II side series
Ratings
CERO:	N/A
ESRB:	E
ACB:	G
OFLC:	G8+
PEGI:	3
GRAC:	N/A
GSRR:	N/A
Release dates
Japan:	December 14, 2000 (N64)[1] August 8, 2023 (Switch)
North America:	March 26, 2001 (N64)[2][3] August 8, 2023 (Switch)
Australia:	April 7, 2001 (N64) August 8, 2023 (Switch)
Europe:	October 10, 2001 (N64)[4] August 8, 2023 (Switch)
South Korea:	N/A
Hong Kong:	N/A
Taiwan:	N/A
Websites
Japanese:	Pokémon.co.jp Nintendo.co.jp
English:	Pokémon.com Nintendo.com Nintendo.co.uk
Japanese boxart Japanese boxart

Pokémon Stadium 2 (Japanese: ポケモンスタジアム金(きん)銀(ぎん) Pokémon Stadium G&S; the series title ポケモンスタジアム is subtitled as Pocket Monsters' Stadium) is a Pokémon game for the Nintendo 64. It is the sequel to Pokémon Stadium.

Pokémon Stadium 2 allows battling with Generation I and II Pokémon in 3D, featuring several different battle modes. Players can battle with their Pokémon from Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver, and Crystal by using a Transfer Pak. This game can utilize the Nintendo 64 Expansion Pak, but it is not required. The Japanese version also has the capability to use the Mobile System GB from the Japanese version of Pokémon Crystal.

In Japan, it was released for Nintendo 64 on December 14, 2000, the same date as Pokémon Crystal. In North America, Europe, and Australia, it was released in 2001, after the release of Pokémon Crystal in those regions.

It was re-released for Nintendo Switch as part of the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack on August 8, 2023. However, this version of the game is unable to connect to the original Game Boy games (or their Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console releases).

Terminology

This game is called "Pokémon Stadium 2" in English, as it was the second Pokémon Stadium series game released outside Japan. However, this was the third Japanese game in this series.

For comparison, the earlier game known as Pokémon Stadium in English is titled ポケモンスタジアム２ (Pokémon Stadium 2) in Japan, as it was the second Japanese game in this series.

The Japanese version of Pokémon Stadium 2 is titled ポケモンスタジアム金(きん)銀(ぎん) (Pokémon Stadium G&S), in reference to the games Pokémon Gold and Silver.

Blurb

Hundreds of Pokémon in Three-mendous 3-D! What's sweeter than victory in a Pokémon battle? Victory in a 3-D arena on the N64! Set your strategy then stand back while your Pokémon battle it out. You can even see the Pokémon you've trained rendered in 3-D and ready for battle!

• Nearly 250 Pokémon! Transfer Pokémon from the Red, Blue, Yellow - even Silver and Gold - versions of Pokémon for Game Boy. Or play with Rental Pokémon from the game.
• See them all in glorious 3-D! Pit Ho-Oh, Lugia, Entei, and Pichu against all-time favorites like Mewtwo, Charizard, Blastoise, and Pikachu.
• Become the Stadium Champion! Take on 21 Pokémon Trainers in the Gym Leader Castle and try to win it all!
• 12 all-new mini-games! Try to bump the other Hitmontop out of the arena in Topsy-Turvy or charge up more energy than anyone else in Pichu's Power Plant.

White City

White City is the home of a large Pokémon Stadium, a state of the art laboratory, a prestigious Pokémon academy and much more.

Stadium

Number of Players: One

Pokémon may either be rented or uploaded from an attached game cartridge. Eight Trainers must be defeated in order to win in each cup. The Poké Cup and Challenge Cup have four difficulty levels each.

Little Cup:

• Only unevolved Pokémon that can evolve during Generation II may enter. A total of 86 kinds are eligible.
• Pokémon must be level 5
• SonicBoom and Dragon Rage have no effect

Poké Cup:

• Pokémon must be between the levels of 50 and 55.
• The sum of the levels of the three Pokémon chosen to battle must not be more than 155.
• Mewtwo, Mew, Lugia, Ho-Oh, and Celebi cannot enter.

Prime Cup:

• All Pokémon up to level 100 are eligible, opponents all use level 100 Pokémon.
• Unlike the Prime Cup of the previous game, there is only one difficulty level.

Challenge Cup:

• The player's six Pokémon, and all of the opponents' Pokémon, are selected at random from a pool of rentals. (Each opponent's roster still follows a particular theme.)
• There are four different level classes:
  • Poké Ball: Level 30
  • Great Ball: Level 45
  • Ultra Ball: Level 60
  • Master Ball: Level 75

Free Battle

Number of Players: One to Four

Here players can battle with one to three other people or battle the computer, which is represented by Cal. Two people may battle on a team against the opponent. The Stadium background may be chosen from those already unlocked and players may use customized rulesets created in the options menu.

Gym Leader Castle

Number of Players: One

At the Gym Leader Castle, the player can use Pokémon uploaded from a Pokémon Game Boy game or rentals (from the Poké Cup at level 50) to battle the Gym Leaders of Johto and Kanto. The minimum Pokémon level used by the opponents is 50.

Most Gyms have several Trainers; the sole exception on the Johto side is the Olivine Gym, and there are only the leaders to be found on the Kanto side.

Johto Gym Leader Castle

Violet Gym:

• Bird Keeper Matt
• Leader Falkner

Azalea Gym:

• Bug Catcher Chaz
• Twins Min and Lyn
• Leader Bugsy

Goldenrod Gym:

• Lass Lois
• Beauty Rita
• Leader Whitney

Ecruteak Gym:

• Medium Holly
• Sage Ty
• Leader Morty

Cianwood Gym:

• Black Belt Nick
• Leader Chuck

Olivine Gym:

• Leader Jasmine

Team Rocket interruption:

• Rocket Grunt(♂)
• Rocket Grunt(♀)
• Rocket Executive(♀)
• Rocket Executive(♂)

Mahogany Gym:

• Boarder Alvin
• Skier Carol
• Leader Pryce

Blackthorn Gym:

• Cooltrainer Gloria
• Cooltrainer Vince
• Leader Clair

Elite Four:

• Elite Four Will
• Elite Four Koga
• Elite Four Bruno
• Elite Four Karen
• Champion Lance

If the Elite Four segment is cleared using 6 Pokémon from a player's Game Boy cartridge—no rentals must be used—then the player is given the option to teach a single move to one of the Pokémon they used that it could learn at a previous level. Until Generation III's Move Reminder, this was the only way to do this.

Kanto Gym Leader Castle

The Kanto side is not available until the Johto side is completed. The eight Kanto Leaders can be defeated in any order, and are fought in the same Gym arenas as the previous game.

Pewter Gym:

• Leader Brock

Cerulean Gym:

• Leader Misty

Vermilion Gym:

• Leader Lt. Surge

Celadon Gym:

• Leader Erika

Fuchsia Gym:

• Leader Janine

Saffron Gym:

• Leader Sabrina

Cinnabar Gym:

• Leader Blaine

Viridian Gym:

• Leader Blue

After they are all defeated, one last challenge appears:

Silver Cave:

• ??? Red

Game Boy Tower

Number of Players: One

At the Game Boy Tower, players can play all compatible Pokémon Game Boy games on the Nintendo 64 using the Transfer Pak. This is similar to Nintendo's Super Game Boy and Game Boy Player, except it only plays the compatible Pokémon games.

There are two options: Load Max and Load Little. Load Max makes the gameplay smoother, but takes longer to initially load the Game Boy game.

Like the previous Pokémon Stadium, Doduo and Dodrio Game Boy are unlockable features which speed up gameplay. Doduo Game Boy becomes unlocked for Red, Blue, and Yellow when beating either Gym Leader Castle or all the cups in Round 1, and also for Gold, Silver, and Crystal for meeting this requirement in Round 2. It allows the player to play at twice the speed; however, in Gold, Silver, and Crystal, the border will be missing and the screen will have a sepia tone until switching back to normal speed. Dodrio Game Boy is available for Red, Blue, and Yellow when beating both the Gym Leader Castle and all the cups in Round 1, and for Gold, Silver, and Crystal when doing this in Round 2. In Red, Blue, and Yellow, this allows the player to play at quadruple the speed, and in Gold, Silver, and Crystal, it allows the player to play at triple the speed; however, there is still no border, and the screen is grayscale. Also, the Elite Four needs to be beaten in Gold, Silver, and Crystal to be able to use this feature in those games.

Pokémon Lab

Main article: Pokémon Lab (Stadium)

In this laboratory of Professor Oak, players can do several things:

• Switch game paks to upload data from
• Trade Pokémon between different game paks (requires at least two Transfer Paks and two compatible Pokémon games)
• Check a 3D Pokédex, including a detailed 3D world map of Johto and Kanto
• Move and check items and Pokémon on a PC. This PC can be used to store Pokémon on the Stadium 2 Game Pak.
  • Items can be transferred between games of the same generation without issue: Generation I games store items in the Color Case, while Generation II games store items in the Metal Case.

Pokémon Academy

Number of Players: One

At Earl's Pokémon Academy, players can learn new battle skills in lectures from Earl, and show them off in various "test" battles, where the object is to defeat an opponent using specific Pokémon that know advantageous moves for the situation at hand. There is also an extensive items, Pokémon, and battling library at the Academy. By inserting Pokémon Crystal into a Transfer Pak, the library is expanded with data pertaining to that game.

My Room

Here players can see their room from Gold, Silver, or Crystal versions in 3D. As in the games, it can be redecorated freely, however, there must be a Generation II Pokémon game in the Transfer Pak to access it.

Mini-games

Main article: Pokémon Stadium series mini-games

VS Rival

Number of Players: One

Main article: Silver (game) → Pokémon Stadium 2

After each of the Stadium Cups and the Gym Leader Castle have all been completed 100%, the Rival's lair will appear in White City, where he awaits the player's challenge. He wields Lugia, Ho-Oh, and Mewtwo, all level 100, and the player may use up to 6 Pokémon (their own or Prime Cup rentals) to try to defeat him.

If victorious, the player is treated to a parade roll of all 251 then-known Pokémon, followed by the credits, which feature photographs of the various Trainers of the combined Gym Leader Castles in battle. Defeating the Rival for the first time awards the player a Farfetch'd that knows Baton Pass, and opens up Round 2 of the game (see below). In the Round 2 Rival battle, he uses the same Pokémon, but substantially stronger. Victory in Round 2 awards a Gligar that knows Earthquake.

Other modes

These modes are accessed from the main menu:

Battle Now!

Number of Players: One to Two

In this mode, one or two players battle with 6 random Pokémon from a small selection, in a standard 3 vs. 3 battle. Both opponents will be very evenly matched. In Round 1, the Pokémon are level 40 and mostly unevolved; in Round 2 they are level 70 and fully evolved. When playing against the CPU (Cal), there are three difficulty levels to choose.

Round 1

Main article: Pokémon Stadium 2/Battle Now Round 1

Round 2

Main article: Pokémon Stadium 2/Battle Now Round 2

Event Battle

Number of Players: Two

Here, two players can battle with the rules of one of the Stadium Cups, or use custom rules. Only Pokémon from a Game Boy cartridge are allowed, and it is possible to set special options such as a time limit, making it ideal for tournament play.

Time limits for selecting actions can be set between 10 and 90 seconds; on the other hand, the time limit for the overall match can be set between 5 and 90 minutes. When the time of the match is over the winner is decided with these criteria in the following order: number of remaining Pokémon and sum of the remaining Pokémon Hit Points percentages (in both cases, the player that has the highest number wins). If both players have the same number of remaining Pokémon and Hit Points percentages the match is declared a Draw.

Unlike the Free Battle mode players can't choose the stage, each fight always takes place in the stage of its corresponding format (in the case of Edit Rules, the battles take place in the Free Battle stage with the music of the first three battles of the Poké Cup).

Mystery Gift

Main article: Mystery Gift

The girl here will give each Game Boy game pak one gift a day. If the gift is an item, the player must pick it up at the Laboratory or in a Pokémon Center. Using this feature also leaves Carrie waiting to battle the player at Viridian City's Trainer House. Note: Mystery Gift must first be activated in the Generation II games. This mode is not available for Generation I versions.

Round 2

When the Rival is defeated, Round 2 can be toggled on and off by pressing C-Right on the main menu. As in the previous game, Round 2 challenges the player to battle through the game all over again, against the same opponents, but they have different Pokémon and the difficulty is much higher. Round 2 is differentiated from Round 1 in White City by a sunset background.

Transfer Pak

The player may use the Transfer Pak to connect this game with all Generation I and II core series games, depending on their language.

The English and European versions of Pokémon Stadium 2 and core series games are compatible with each other. The Japanese version of Pokémon Stadium 2 is only compatible with Japanese core series games. The Korean versions of Pokémon Gold and Silver are incompatible with Pokémon Stadium 2.

Mobile System GB

The Japanese version connects to Pokémon Crystal, allowing the player to view saved battles from that game that were performed through the Mobile System GB connection. This feature uses a special stadium called the Mobile Stadium (Japanese: モバイルスタジアム). A similar function is fulfilled by the Vs. Recorder in Platinum, HeartGold and SoulSilver.

Game mechanics' changes

Pokémon Stadium 2 includes 22 changes that were implemented to fix some glitches or to balance the game (some of the changes come from Pokémon Crystal's Story Mode). Below is the complete list of game mechanics' changes:^[5]

• Team Preview is always enforced.
• Dragon Fang replaces Dragon Scale as the item to boost the power of Dragon-type moves by 10%
• Only items that have effect in battle can be equipped to the Pokémon. Items like Mails, the Sun Stone or the Ultra Ball can't be equipped at all (the only exception is the Dragon Scale despite the fact that it no longer boosts the power of Dragon-type moves).
• Item Clause is enforced in all Story Modes and Multiplayer battles of the game, except in Anything Goes and Edit Rules battles where players are free to decide if they want to enforce it or not.
• Players can see the actual number of HP of the Pokémon that are fighting.
• Berserk Gene is buffed, the user only gets confused for 2 to 5 turns instead of 255. If the Pokémon gets Confused for 4 turns, the status is lifted during its Attack phase on turn 5, just like it happens with normal Confusion.
• Metal Powder is nerfed and now it only raises the physical Defense and Special Defense of Ditto when it is not Transformed.
• Belly Drum doesn't raise the Attack 2 stages when the Pokémon has less than half of its HP, instead of that, the move fails.
• In Little Cup battles, Dragon Rage and SonicBoom do zero damage.
• Present uses a different damage formula. The move has a 40% chance of having a Base Damage of 40; a 30% chance of having a Base Damage of 80; a 10% chance of having a Base Damage of 120 and a 20% chance of healing a quarter of the opponent's HP (unless it has full health, in which case, the move fails).
• In Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal, if Fissure or Horn Drill (but not Guillotine) misses and the opponent uses Counter after that in the same turn, the user of the One Hit KO move is hit by Counter and faints even if it has full health. In Pokémon Stadium 2's mechanics the situation changes, if Fissure or Horn Drill miss, Counter fails and does zero damage.
• Rollovers never occur, e.g. if a max Attack Level 100 Marowak uses Swords Dance it gets a final Attack of 999, subsequent uses of Swords Dance don't do anything.
• If a Burned Pokémon uses a move that raises its Attack, the stat's reduction is ignored, e.g. if a Burned Snorlax uses Curse once, its Attack increases to +1 instead of -1.
• If a Burned Pokémon gets hit by a move that reduces its Attack one stage, the stat is increased, e.g. if a Burned Ursaring is hit with Growl, its Attack increases from -2 to -1.
• If a Burned Pokémon gets hit by a move that reduces its Attack two stages, the stat remains the same, e.g. if a Burned Tyranitar is hit with Charm, its Attack stays at -2.
• If a Paralyzed Pokémon uses a move that increases its Speed, the stat's reduction is ignored, e.g. if a Paralyzed Raichu uses Agility once, its Speed increases to +2 instead of -4.
• If a Paralyzed Pokémon gets hit by an attack that reduces its Speed, the stat is increased, e.g. if a Paralyzed Aerodactyl is hit with Icy Wind, its Speed increases from -6 to -1.
• The Sleep status is nerfed, it now lasts 2-4 turns like in Pokémon Crystal's Battle Tower. On turn 1 the Pokémon never wakes up; on turn 2 it has a 33.3% chance of waking up; on turn 3 it has a 50% chance of waking up; finally, on turn 4 it is always guaranteed to wake up.
• The Freeze Clause from Pokémon Stadium 1 returns, it is enforced in all game modes and can't be deactivated.
• Sleep Clause is always enforced. This also applies to self-inflicted sleep due to Rest.
• Self KO Clause also returns and is always enforced. If the last Pokémon of a player uses Self-Destruct or Explosion, they lose; on the other hand, Destiny Bond and Perish Song always fail when they're used by the last Pokémon (in the case of Perish Song, the countdown doesn't even take place).
• Recoil Moves Clause is enforced, but a bit different: if both players have only one Pokémon left and one KOs the other with a Recoil move, the user of the move doesn't get Recoil damage.

Special Pokémon

Two Pokémon with unique moves can be obtained and transferred to any Generation II game.

Baton Pass Farfetch'd

This Farfetch'd with the special move Baton Pass is obtained by beating the Rival at the end of Round 1.

Pokémon Info			Battle Moves
FARFETCH'D ♂/♀			Normal	Baton Pass
Lv. 5	Dex No.		Normal	Swords Dance
	0083		Psychic	Agility
	Type		Normal	Slash
	Normal	Flying	There is no limit to this Pokémon's availability. It may be obtained on any date, beginning from when it was released. It was available in all regions.
Item	OT	スタジアム* Stadium*
Gold Berry	ID No.	02000
Can be obtained with: G S C
Obtained from: Stad2 Distribution

Earthquake Gligar

This Gligar with the special move Earthquake (which cannot be taught by TM in Generation II) is obtained by beating the Rival at the end of Round 2.

Pokémon Info			Battle Moves
GLIGAR ♂/♀			Ground	Earthquake
Lv. 5	Dex No.		Poison	Poison Sting
	0207		Fighting	Counter
	Type		Flying	Wing Attack
	Ground	Flying	There is no limit to this Pokémon's availability. It may be obtained on any date, beginning from when it was released. It was available in all regions.
Item	OT	スタジアム* Stadium*
MysteryBerry	ID No.	02000
Can be obtained with: G S C
Obtained from: Stad2 Distribution

Staff

Main article: Staff of Pokémon Stadium 2

Trivia

• Western versions of this game's cartridge were specially colored gold and silver, referencing the first two games of the generation.
• Pokémon Stadium 2, Conker's Bad Fur Day, and Resident Evil 2 are the largest games for the Nintendo 64, each one having a file size of 64 megabytes.
• Unlike the Japanese boxart and manual, the English boxart and manual lack Pokémon Crystal in their lists of compatible games (despite the games being fully compatible), because Stadium 2 was released four months before Crystal internationally.
• Computer-controlled Trainers are capable of generating text boxes with their Trainer icon attached when certain events happen in the middle of a battle, such as using a particular move or receiving a critical hit, to give the impression that they're talking to the player during battle. A similar feature would later be implemented for important Trainers in Generation IV and carry over into Generation V.
• In Nintendo Power's Official Player's Guide, the term "Eeveelution" is mentioned, making this the first time an official Nintendo source acknowledges the fan term. However, it was not used in a game until Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia.
• Until the announcement of Pokémon Black and White Versions 2, this was the only Pokémon game to have a number in its name outside of Asia.
• Because of the Color Case's ability to transfer items directly between Generation I games without requiring a matching Trainer ID (its predecessor required a matching Trainer ID), it is possible to face Sabrina as the second Gym Leader in Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow, as long as a drink has been transferred in for Saffron City's guards.
• This is the only game in which Red appears without ever using his Pikachu in battle. It does, however, make a cameo appearance during the end credits, battling with Blue's Eevee.
• Two unlockable title screens are available after clearing the Gym Leader Castle, Stadium, and Vs Rival mode. The second title screen features Meganium, Typhlosion, Feraligatr, and the Legendary beasts in the background. The third title screen features Ho-Oh and Lugia.
• There is a glitch which causes non-Japanese Stadium 2 connected with non-Japanese Pokémon Blue to display the map locations for Japanese Blue instead. For instance, the Pokédex map in Stadium 2 incorrectly displays Raticate as available in the Cerulean Cave in the non-Japanese versions of Pokémon Blue, when in fact Raticate is only available there in the Japanese version of Pokémon Blue.
• Smeargle have varying back and tail colors based on IVs; this is the only game to feature varying Smeargle patterns.
  • Similarly, Eggs that do not contain Shiny Pokémon have slightly varying tints. This can be used to determine whether or not an Egg contains a Shiny Pokémon prior to hatching.^[6]
• If the game is left idle on the Options menu for several minutes, a Xatu will appear and raise its wings. It will repeatedly do this, teleporting to random spots and rotations around the screen.^[7]
• On the Game Pak Check screen, the cartridge in the Nintendo 64 appears to be a copy of Road Rash 64.^[8]
• In the internal files for the game under Trainer profile pictures, there are three mugshots for Pichu.
• This was the last Pokémon game released for the Nintendo 64, and the only one to not be part of Generation I, falling into Generation II instead.
• Moves that are flagged as illegal by the game are displayed in purple in the battle menu, and its Trainer's name is displayed in purple too. This is purely visual and there are no other consequences on gameplay.

In other languages

Language Title Japanese ポケモンスタジアム金銀 French Pokémon Stadium 2 German Pokémon Stadium 2 Italian Pokémon Stadium 2 Spanish Pokémon Stadium 2

References

This game-related article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.