Battle Mode

Phantom Hourglass contains two Gameplay Modes: Adventure Mode and Battle Mode. This is also referred to as Multiplayer. The choice menu appears automatically from starting to play Phantom Hourglass. Battle Mode is played either in Tag Mode or Online Play. Online Play offers many choices concerning your opponents skill level as well as the ability to play using Friend Codes. DS Download and play is also supported requiring only one gamepak and two DS systems. Results of a game played this way will not be saved.

Overview
Battle matches consist of 3 rounds. In each round, players will alternate between playing as Link to playing as a trio of Phantoms. The clock is set for a round to last 60 seconds. However, Power ups exist to lengthen or shorten the time remaining. A round ends when Link is struck by a Phantom's sword. The final round is skipped if the player whose turn is to be Link has the highest score. If Link has the lesser score, the match will end if he gets a higher score.

While playing as Link, turn as many Force Gems your color as possible. Each player has a colored zone. Toss a Force Gem onto your colored tiles to change them.

While playing as Phantoms, block Link's paths to Force Gems.

In addition to colored zones, there are 'Safe Zones'. These are the same safe zones used in Adventure Mode. Phantoms can't see you while you are in them. Throwing a colored Force Gem into a safe zone will change it back to Yellow.


 * Stats are assigned a letter grade and a point scale to each player. Stats also include records of Wins, Loses, and Ties.
 * At any time during a match, pressing X, Y, A, or B will send a Link emotion face to the other player. (Surprise, Happy, Angry)
 * Who gets to choose which of the 8 Stages to play will be random.
 * After losing a match, a useful tip will appear on the status screen.
 * Link's manner face, next to the player name is an indication of how often a player drops out of battles. The more grim it is, the more the player drops out, most likely when a loss is imminent. Completing battles, the expression will become happier.

Force Gems
Phantoms cannot see Link while he is in a base or safe zone. Yet they can see the floating Force Gems! Only Link can move the force gems around. On the flip side; Link cannot see where any of the Phantoms are on the map unless a Force Gem is held up.

Color
The color of Force gems do not denote value. At the beginning of a battle, all Force Gems will be golden. Player 1 will have a red tunic and red safe zones. Player 2 will be assigned blue. Tossing a Force Gem into the blue safe zone will change it's color to blue, regardless of its previous color.

It is helpful to take your opponents Force Gem and toss them into your own safe zone to change it to your own color. Doing so will subtract points from their score to add to yours.

Tossing Force Gems into safe zones will turn them gold again. This will subtract points from the player whose color was lost.

Size
There are three sizes:
 * Small: Worth only 1 point, can be quickly carried and tossed far.
 * Medium: Worth 5 points, can be carried at a modest speed and tossed a short distance.
 * Large: Worth 15 points, is very heavy and causes Link to walk slow; can be tossed very short distances.

Trading
By placing ship parts or treasure in Freedle's boxes, you may swap them with your opponent after the match is completed. This only works if both players have items in Freedle's box.

Big Plays
Big Plays are certain conditions that can be met during a match. Not all require a victory. Each time after getting 4 new Big Plays, Eddo's apprentice, Fuzo, on Cannon Island will have a new treasure chest as a prize- always a Gold Ship Part. First, check the Postbox for a letter from Fuzo.


 * No Items – Win without using any power ups.
 * No Dribble – Win without dropping a Force Gems outside a base or safe zone.
 * Limit – Strike Link within the last 20 seconds of two rounds.
 * Solo – Strike Link in any one turn using only one Phantom.
 * Break – Break 10 or more of your opponent's helpful items.
 * Take – Pick up 10 or more of your helpful items.
 * Perfect Master – Complete "Perfect" and "Limit" in the same match.
 * Quick – Win a match, felling Link in the first 20 seconds of two turns.
 * Miracle – Win with a final score of 1-0.
 * Get Everything – Win, turning all the Force Gems your color.
 * Guardian – Win without letting your opponent score any points.
 * Perfect – Complete "Get Everything" and "Guardian" in the same match.
 * No Miss – Win without being taken down as Link.
 * Guardian King – Take Link down 3 times as the Phantoms.
 * Master – Complete "No Miss" and "Guardian" in the same match.
 * Battle Master – Complete "Limit" and "Master" in the same match.

Power-ups
These appear in color orbs throughout the stage. Your own power-ups will be your color, obtain them by walking through the orb. Walk through your opponent's orb to break it and deny them the opportunity to use it against you. Both players will be alerted when a power up is activated.


 * Strength Up: Available to Link and Phantoms. Enables Link to move faster with heavier Force Gems. Phantoms receive a larger sword.
 * Speed Up: Available to Link and Phantoms, Enables Link/Phantoms to move faster.
 * Clone: Available to Link and Phantoms. Creates a second Link, mimicking your movement to possibly send Phantoms away chasing it. Creates a fourth Phantom, making Link feel more caught than he may be.
 * Windwalls: Available to Phantoms, activates Windwalls, limiting Link's paths.
 * Shuffle: Available to Both, This will randomly scatter all Force Gems throughout the stage.
 * One Hit Immunity: Available to Link, Allows Link to be hit once without ending the round.
 * 30 seconds Added: Available to Link, Gives Link more time to collect Force Gems.
 * 30 seconds Subtracted: Available to Phantoms, opposite effect of above.