Can You Run Away From Trainer Pokémon Battles in Scarlet and Violet? Answered

In the world of Pokémon, players are given various battle settings from Gym Leaders, Challenges, Wild Pokémon and Trainer Battles. For all of these throughout the many Pokémon entries we have experienced on the hand-held devices throughout the years since Blue and Red, players have only been able to run away from Wild Pokémon. This often was a simply process to achieve with a click of a button at the Action Screen of a Battle. However, as we know, at times if you ran into a Pokémon which was at a higher level than those in your party, you would not be able to run. But what about getting away from a Pokémon Trainer in Scarlet and Violet?

The Feature of Running Away in a Battle

As Scarlet and Violet, like Arceus, is a more open-world experience of the Pokémon universe. Changes were anticipated for this change from the usual hand-held RPG experience, into a more open-world one. With many side quests available, giving players rewards on completion in Arceus. But in Scarlet and Violet the focus has shifted more towards the storyline (as Arceus was questionable in that aspect). With three main questlines that players could travel down: Victory Road, Path of Legends and Starfall Street. These gave players the opportunity to go down whichever path they chose. As a lot of areas were closed off, asking players to defeat specific Leaders and Titans to further explore Paldea.

Related: What Area Has the Highest Level Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?

This change, unlike what we have previously seen in other Pokémon games meant that players could go wherever they pleased so long as they were ready for the fight. The same goes for Pokémon Trainer Battles. In older games such as Heartgold and Soulsilver, players were forced to take on Trainers as they moved through a biome. This meant that you had to be ready to take the Pokémon Trainers on if you wanted to progress. But in Scarlet and Violet, this has been changed. To take on a Pokémon Trainer, you must initiate the fight by going up to them. However, unless you have researched which route is best taken in regard to your players level. You will not know how strong an opponent is until you enter the Battle.

Is Running Away From a Pokémon Trainer Possible in Scarlet and Violet?

Because of this, Game Freak has implemented a run away function. This is the same as if you were versing a wild Pokémon which you did not want to fight or accidently ran into. This button to run away is located on the right-hand corner of the Action Screen during a Battle and will allow the player to reset and decide if they can or cannot take the fight. This means that you get the chance to leave the Battle without risk. If the Pokémon Trainer is a higher level than you were anticipating, running away could save you a lot of time and hassle. This is a welcoming change that makes sense in the open-world of Scarlet and Violet.

We hope this cleared up any questions you may have had on taking Pokémon Trainer Battles in Scarlet and Violet. Feel free to check out our other Scarlet and Violet guides with Best Locations to Find Shiny Fire-Type Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet and How to Get all Version Exclusive Pokémon Without Trading in Scarlet and Violet. You can also follow us on Facebook for all of our gaming content to fulfil your gaming needs.