A Full Battle (Japanese: フルバトルFull Battle), also known as a six-on-six battle, is a Pokémon battle in which both Trainers use a full party of six Pokémon. The first Trainer to completely knock out all of the opposing Trainer's Pokémon wins the battle.
These battles are rare, both in animation and the games. Typically, Trainers will use fewer than the full six, usually one to three.
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
In animation
A photo and footprints of the team Ash used in his Full Battle against Drake
Most Trainers declare a specific number of Pokémon to be used in a battle. This number is very rarely the full six. Battles in the final rounds of each region's League Conference are usually Full Battles.
Most Trainers declare a specific number of Pokémon to be used in a battle. This number is very rarely the full six. In most League Conferences that have been shown, the battle is over as soon as one Pokémon faints.
Unlike in animation, the games allow two Trainers to use different numbers of Pokémon. While the player can have six Pokémon in the party at a time, many NPCs faced will not. Generally only rivals and Champions have a full team during the main storyline, while Gym Leaders and members of the Elite Four may also have a full team in rematches. Red also has a full team on the player's first match against him in Generations II, IV, and VII. Some Pokémon Breeders maintain a full team, although their Pokémon usually have lower levels than other Trainers' Pokémon in the area. Several core series games have a Fisher with a party of six Magikarp. Triple Battles at the Battle Maison also consist of Full Battles. Only on rare occasions do other Trainers have a full team.
Pokémon the Series: Black & White is the only series which did not feature a proper Full Battle, as only bits of Cameron versus Virgil and Virgil versus Dino were shown. Though Ash's battle against Cameron was supposed to be a Full Battle and was shown in its entirety, it wasn't a proper Full Battle, as Cameron accidentally handicapped himself by only bringing five Pokémon to the match.
This also makes it the only series where Ash is a main character and does not participate in a proper Full Battle of six-on-six.
Ash's battle against Gary in the Silver Conference is his only known Full Battle in the animated series where he doesn't use Pikachu.
Ash's battle against Cynthia marks the first time Ash has participated in a Full Battle without using a traditional regionalfirst partner Pokémon.
Paul is the only character in the animated series that Ash has had more than one Full Battle against.
He has also participated in more on-screen Full Battles than any character other than Ash, with a total of four.
He is also the only character to have forfeited a Full Battle.
Pokémon Journeys: The Series is the only series in which Ash partakes in more than one Full Battle and doesn't lose any of them.