Showdown Format Integration

Overview

PKHeX.Core supports Pokémon Showdown’s text format for importing and exporting Pokémon teams. This allows easy team sharing and integration with competitive battle simulators.

What is Showdown Format?

Showdown format is a human-readable text format used by Pokémon Showdown (a popular battle simulator). Here’s an example:

Garchomp @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Rough Skin
Level: 50
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw
- Stone Edge
- Outrage

Importing from Showdown Format

Basic Import

Use the ShowdownSet class to parse Showdown text:

using PKHeX.Core;

string showdownText = @"
Pikachu @ Light Ball
Ability: Static
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Grass Knot
- Hidden Power Ice
- Volt Switch
";

// Parse the Showdown format
var set = new ShowdownSet(showdownText);

// Check for parsing errors
if (set.InvalidLines.Count > 0)
{
    foreach (var error in set.InvalidLines)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"Error: {error.Type} - {error.Line}");
    }
}

Converting ShowdownSet to PKM

After parsing, convert the ShowdownSet to a PKM entity:

using PKHeX.Core;

// Parse Showdown text
var set = new ShowdownSet(showdownText);

// Create a blank Pokémon for the target generation
var pk = EntityBlank.GetBlank(EntityContext.Gen9);

// Apply the ShowdownSet to the PKM
var sav = new SimpleTrainerInfo(EntityContext.Gen9)
{
    OT = "Trainer",
    TID16 = 12345,
    SID16 = 54321,
    Gender = 0,
    Language = (int)LanguageID.English
};

pk.ApplySetDetails(set, sav);
pk.RefreshChecksum();

The SimpleTrainerInfo provides trainer details that will be applied to the created Pokémon.

Accessing ShowdownSet Properties

The ShowdownSet class exposes all parsed properties:

var set = new ShowdownSet(showdownText);

// Basic information
ushort species = set.Species;
string nickname = set.Nickname;
byte? gender = set.Gender; // 0=Male, 1=Female, null=Genderless
int heldItem = set.HeldItem;

// Stats
int ability = set.Ability;
byte level = set.Level;
Nature nature = set.Nature;
bool shiny = set.Shiny;

// IVs and EVs
int[] ivs = set.IVs;  // [HP, ATK, DEF, SPE, SPA, SPD]
int[] evs = set.EVs;  // [HP, ATK, DEF, SPE, SPA, SPD]

// Moves
ushort[] moves = set.Moves; // Up to 4 moves

// Generation-specific
MoveType teraType = set.TeraType;          // Gen 9
byte dynamaxLevel = set.DynamaxLevel;      // Gen 8
bool canGigantamax = set.CanGigantamax;    // Gen 8

Exporting to Showdown Format

Basic Export

Convert any PKM to Showdown format:

using PKHeX.Core;

PKM pk = new PK9 
{ 
    Species = (ushort)Species.Charizard,
    Ability = (int)Ability.Blaze,
    Nature = Nature.Timid,
    // ... other properties
};

// Get Showdown text
string showdownText = ShowdownParsing.GetShowdownText(pk);
Console.WriteLine(showdownText);

Custom Export Settings

Control what appears in the export:

using PKHeX.Core;

var settings = new BattleTemplateExportSettings
{
    Moves = MoveDisplayStyle.Directional,  // How moves are formatted
    StatsIVs = StatDisplayConfig.Default,
    StatsEVs = StatDisplayConfig.Default
};

var set = new ShowdownSet(pk);
string text = set.GetText(settings);

Advanced Showdown Features

Parsing Multiple Pokémon (Teams)

Import entire teams at once:

string teamText = @"
Pikachu @ Light Ball
Ability: Static
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Volt Switch
- Hidden Power Ice
- Grass Knot

Charizard @ Choice Specs
Ability: Solar Power
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Timid Nature
- Fire Blast
- Air Slash
- Solar Beam
- Focus Blast
";

// Parse team
var team = ShowdownTeam.Parse(teamText);

foreach (var set in team)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Parsed: {set.Species}");
    // Convert each set to PKM
    var pk = EntityBlank.GetBlank(EntityContext.Gen9);
    // Apply set details...
}

Handling Forms

Showdown format supports alternate forms:

string alolaPersian = @"
Persian-Alola @ Life Orb
Ability: Fur Coat
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Foul Play
- Taunt
- Parting Shot
- Toxic
";

var set = new ShowdownSet(alolaPersian);
Console.WriteLine($"Form: {set.FormName}"); // "Alola"
Console.WriteLine($"Form Index: {set.Form}"); // 1

Tera Type Support (Gen 9)

string teraExample = @"
Dragonite @ Choice Band
Ability: Multiscale
Tera Type: Normal
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Extreme Speed
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Fire Punch
";

var set = new ShowdownSet(teraExample);
Console.WriteLine($"Tera Type: {set.TeraType}"); // Normal

Gigantamax Support (Gen 8)

string gmaxExample = @"
Charizard @ Life Orb
Ability: Solar Power
Gigantamax: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Flamethrower
- Air Slash
- Solar Beam
- Roost
";

var set = new ShowdownSet(gmaxExample);
Console.WriteLine($"Can Gigantamax: {set.CanGigantamax}");

Localization Support

Showdown format supports multiple languages:

using PKHeX.Core;

// Use Japanese localization
var jpStrings = GameInfo.GetStrings("ja");
var localization = new BattleTemplateLocalization(jpStrings);

string japaneseSet = @"
ピカチュウ @ でんきだま
性格: ひかえめ
特性: せいでんき
努力値: HP 4 / 特攻 252 / 素早 252
- 10まんボルト
- くさむすび
- ボルトチェンジ
- めざめるパワー氷
";

var set = new ShowdownSet(japaneseSet, localization);
Console.WriteLine($"Species: {set.Species}"); // Pikachu

Error Handling

Detecting Parse Errors

var set = new ShowdownSet(showdownText);

if (set.InvalidLines.Count > 0)
{
    Console.WriteLine("Parsing errors detected:");
    foreach (var error in set.InvalidLines)
    {
        switch (error.Type)
        {
            case BattleTemplateParseErrorType.InvalidSpecies:
                Console.WriteLine($"Invalid species: {error.Line}");
                break;
            case BattleTemplateParseErrorType.InvalidMove:
                Console.WriteLine($"Invalid move: {error.Line}");
                break;
            case BattleTemplateParseErrorType.InvalidAbility:
                Console.WriteLine($"Invalid ability: {error.Line}");
                break;
            case BattleTemplateParseErrorType.LineLength:
                Console.WriteLine($"Line too long/short: {error.Line}");
                break;
            default:
                Console.WriteLine($"Unknown error: {error.Line}");
                break;
        }
    }
}

Complete Import/Export Example

using PKHeX.Core;

public class ShowdownConverter
{
    // Import from Showdown text
    public static PKM ImportShowdown(string showdownText, EntityContext context)
    {
        // Parse the text
        var set = new ShowdownSet(showdownText);
        
        // Check for errors
        if (set.InvalidLines.Count > 0)
        {
            throw new Exception($"Parse errors: {set.InvalidLines.Count}");
        }
        
        // Create blank Pokémon
        var pk = EntityBlank.GetBlank(context);
        
        // Create trainer info
        var trainer = new SimpleTrainerInfo(context)
        {
            OT = "Trainer",
            TID16 = 12345,
            SID16 = 54321,
            Gender = 0,
            Language = (int)LanguageID.English
        };
        
        // Apply the set
        pk.ApplySetDetails(set, trainer);
        pk.RefreshChecksum();
        
        return pk;
    }
    
    // Export to Showdown text
    public static string ExportShowdown(PKM pk)
    {
        var set = new ShowdownSet(pk);
        return set.Text;
    }
    
    // Import and export roundtrip
    public static void TestRoundtrip(string originalText)
    {
        // Import
        var pk = ImportShowdown(originalText, EntityContext.Gen9);
        
        // Export
        string exportedText = ExportShowdown(pk);
        
        Console.WriteLine("Original:");
        Console.WriteLine(originalText);
        Console.WriteLine("\nExported:");
        Console.WriteLine(exportedText);
    }
}

Common Showdown Patterns

Standard Competitive Set

Landorus-Therian @ Assault Vest
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- U-turn
- Superpower

Special Attacker

Kyogre @ Choice Specs
Ability: Drizzle
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Water Spout
- Origin Pulse
- Ice Beam
- Thunder

Mixed Attacker with Hidden Power

Heatran @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 Def
- Magma Storm
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power Ice
- Taunt

Tips and Best Practices

Always check InvalidLines after parsing to catch errors
Use RefreshChecksum() after applying a ShowdownSet
Showdown format is case-insensitive for most fields
The order of lines (except first line) doesn’t matter

Some Pokémon properties cannot be represented in Showdown format (ribbons, memories, etc.). These will be lost during export/import.

Next Steps

Learn about Creating Pokémon for manual creation
See Editing Properties for detailed modifications
Explore Converting Formats for generation transfers

Documentation Index

​Overview

​What is Showdown Format?

​Importing from Showdown Format

​Basic Import

​Converting ShowdownSet to PKM

​Accessing ShowdownSet Properties

​Exporting to Showdown Format

​Basic Export

​Custom Export Settings

​Advanced Showdown Features

​Parsing Multiple Pokémon (Teams)

​Handling Forms

​Tera Type Support (Gen 9)

​Gigantamax Support (Gen 8)

​Localization Support

​Error Handling

​Detecting Parse Errors

​Complete Import/Export Example

​Common Showdown Patterns

​Standard Competitive Set

​Special Attacker

​Mixed Attacker with Hidden Power

​Tips and Best Practices

​Next Steps

Overview

What is Showdown Format?

Importing from Showdown Format

Basic Import

Converting ShowdownSet to PKM

Accessing ShowdownSet Properties

Exporting to Showdown Format

Basic Export

Custom Export Settings

Advanced Showdown Features

Parsing Multiple Pokémon (Teams)

Handling Forms

Tera Type Support (Gen 9)

Gigantamax Support (Gen 8)

Localization Support

Error Handling

Detecting Parse Errors

Complete Import/Export Example

Common Showdown Patterns

Standard Competitive Set

Special Attacker

Mixed Attacker with Hidden Power

Tips and Best Practices

Next Steps