Challenging a Trainer in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
Image via Nintendo/The Pokémon Company

Why Do Some Trainers Have Black Text Boxes in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet? Answered

What makes them different?

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet were released at the tail end of 2022 and are the first open-world Pokémon games to have ever been released. Despite being known as the most controversial Pokémon games, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet both offer an incredibly unique experience never before seen in previous Pokémon games! These games definitely just hit different, they really just need to be played to be understood. If you haven’t picked up a copy of Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet yet, now’s the time to do it!

Recommended Videos

One thing that these games do differently is trainer battles. Instead of being forced into random battles by nosy trainers with good eyesight, players now have the option of skipping trainer battles altogether! You can now walk past any wild trainer with ease, without worrying about being shoved into a battle. You’ll be able to tell which trainers are ready to battle by the textboxes above their heads, which are almost always yellow and white. Some trainers, however, have black textboxes above their heads; keep reading to find out what these black-text-boxed trainers mean!

Why Do Some Trainers Have Black Text Boxes in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?

Normally, when you spot a trainer in the wild, they have a white and yellow textbox above their heads, signaling that they are ready to battle. However, if you’re in the wild and you see a trainer with a black textbox above their head, it means something a little different: if a trainer has a black textbox above their head, it usually means that they’re the strongest trainer in that entire area. Trainers with black textboxes above their heads aren’t a threat to be taken lightly, and you should definitely only battle them if you think you’re ready.

Trainer in the Asado Desert in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
Image via Nintendo/The Pokémon Company

If you run into a trainer with a black textbox above their head, make sure all of your Pokémon are healed up and ready to go, because these trainers are no joke. Thankfully, unlike in past Pokémon games, trainers can’t start battles with you until you’re ready. As long as your team is beefed up and you’ve got a decent hoard of healing items, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about battling these trainers.

Why Should You Battle Trainers With Black Text Boxes Above Their Heads in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?

Trainers with black text boxes above their heads are usually the strongest trainers in whatever area you’re in, so most people would think to avoid them. However, avoiding these trainers is the last thing you want to do! These trainers may be tough, but the rewards you get are more than worth the effort of defeating them.

Since these trainers are tougher than the rest, you’ll get a lot more money from them after they’ve been beaten. Furthermore, defeating them is essential if you’re trying to clear out an entire area. Clearing out areas of trainers is one of the most beneficial things you can do in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, because there are a lot of Pokémon League Reps that will give you extremely valuable rewards for doing so!

Related: How to Increase the Chances of a Specific Mass Outbreak Appearing in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet


Trainer battles aren’t the only thing that Pokémon Scarlet and Violet decided to do differently. Check out Gamer Journalist’s articles on Pokémon Scarlet and Violet to learn more about everything that makes these games unique!

Author
Image of Allysen Pierce
Allysen Pierce
Allysen Pierce is a freelance writer with a passion for gaming who has been a part of the Gamer Journalist team since May 2022. Her main passions are horror games and dating sims (especially combinations of the two), but she has been known to play literally anything that is put in front of her. Her current favorite games include Skyrim, I Was a Teenage Exocolonist, Cult of the Lamb, Slaughter Horse, and Dragon Age: Inquisition. When she's not playing games (or writing about them), she can be found reading, baking, watching horror movies, or playing with her cat.