Deep Colosseum & Realgam Tower
As your journey to dismantle Team Cipher reaches its thrilling conclusion, you'll face the ultimate challenges within the clandestine Deep Colosseum and the imposing Realgam Tower. These areas represent the pinnacle of opposition in Orre, testing your skills, your Pokémon's strength, and your resolve to purify all Shadow Pokémon.
The Deep Colosseum: Orre's Underground Arena
Before you can directly assault Realgam Tower, you'll need to prove your strength and gain access to the Tower's upper echelons. This is where the Deep Colosseum comes into play. It's not just a side attraction; it's a crucial stepping stone disguised as an elite battle facility.
Purpose and Access
The Deep Colosseum serves as a proving ground for trainers seeking to challenge the highest ranks of Team Cipher. You'll gain access to it after progressing through the main story and likely after your initial encounters within The Under. Successfully conquering this colosseum is often a prerequisite for advancing further into Realgam Tower.
Battle Format and Challenges
- Standard Colosseum Rules: Expect a series of intense Double Battles, typical of Pokémon Colosseum's combat system.
- Progressive Difficulty: Opponents will feature increasingly powerful and well-trained Pokémon, often including Shadow Pokémon that you'll want to Snag.
- Multiple Rounds: You'll typically face a set number of trainers in succession without a break, requiring careful resource management (HP, PP, items).
- No Item Use in Battle: Like other Colosseum challenges, you won't be able to use items during battles, making strategic Pokémon switching and move choices paramount.
Key Opponents and Shadow Pokémon
While the exact lineup can vary slightly, prepare to face a gauntlet of powerful trainers. Keep an eye out for Shadow Pokémon that Team Cipher operatives will undoubtedly use. This is one of your last opportunities to Snag some of the rarer Shadow Pokémon before the final confrontation.
Rewards
Beyond the satisfaction of victory, conquering the Deep Colosseum often yields valuable items and, more importantly, unlocks the path to Realgam Tower. Consider it a final tune-up and a chance to bolster your Shadow Pokémon collection.
Realgam Tower: Cipher's Fortress
Realgam Tower is the sprawling, multi-tiered headquarters of Team Cipher and the ultimate destination of your quest. It's a true dungeon crawl, filled with Cipher Peons, Admin encounters, and eventually, the masterminds behind the Shadow Pokémon scheme.
Structure and Progression
The Tower is divided into several distinct sections, each guarded by different types of Cipher operatives and featuring unique layouts:
- Ground Floor & Lower Levels: These initial areas are often more straightforward, serving as an introduction to the Tower's scale. You'll encounter numerous Cipher Peons and potentially some familiar faces.
- Mid-Levels: As you ascend, the challenges increase. Expect more complex layouts, requiring you to navigate multiple rooms and corridors. You'll likely face off against Cipher Admins here, each guarding a specific section.
- Upper Levels & Summit: The highest floors house the most powerful members of Team Cipher, culminating in the final boss encounters. These areas are designed to be the most challenging, both in terms of navigation and combat.
Types of Enemies
You'll primarily battle various ranks of Team Cipher members:
- Cipher Peons: These are your most common adversaries, but don't underestimate them. They often use a mix of regular and Shadow Pokémon.
- Cipher Admins: Expect to re-encounter familiar Admins like Miror B., Dakim, Venus, and Ein. Each will have a stronger team than before, and they will undoubtedly bring powerful Shadow Pokémon that you'll want to Snag. Prepare for tough Double Battles against these individuals.
- Key Cipher Executives: As you near the top, you'll face off against the highest-ranking members of Cipher, leading to the ultimate confrontation.
Preparation for Realgam Tower
Realgam Tower is a marathon, not a sprint. Proper preparation is critical:
- Heal Up: Ensure all your Pokémon are at full HP and PP before entering.
- Stock Up on Items: Carry a generous supply of Potions, Super Potions, Hyper Potions, Full Restores, Revives, and especially Ultra Balls for Snagging. You won't find many opportunities to resupply within the Tower itself.
- Purify Shadow Pokémon: Prioritize purifying any Shadow Pokémon you've snagged. Purified Pokémon are stronger and more reliable in battle.
- Balanced Team: Assemble a diverse team with good type coverage. Consider Pokémon with moves that can hit both opponents in a Double Battle (e.g., Earthquake, Surf, Rock Slide) or support moves like Light Screen/Reflect.
- High Levels: Aim for your main team to be in the mid-40s to low 50s in level for a comfortable experience, though higher is always better.
The Final Confrontations: Nascour & Evice
Your journey through Realgam Tower culminates in the ultimate showdowns against the true leaders of Team Cipher.
Battle with Nascour
Nascour, the enigmatic figure behind much of Cipher's operations, will be your penultimate challenge. He commands a formidable team of powerful Pokémon, often including a very strong Shadow Pokémon. Be ready for a strategic battle, as Nascour utilizes a well-rounded team designed to counter common strategies.
Battle with Evice
The final boss of Pokémon Colosseum is none other than Evice, the true mastermind pulling the strings. Evice's team is the strongest you'll face in the game, featuring high-level Pokémon and a devastating Shadow Pokémon. This battle will test every aspect of your team's training and your battle strategy. Focus on taking down his biggest threats efficiently and be prepared for a prolonged fight. Successfully defeating Evice will bring an end to Team Cipher's reign of terror and complete your main story quest.
