How To Get the Vs. Recorder in Pokémon ORAS

Outside the Battle Institute in Mauville City (Pokémon Alpha Sapphire)

You can obtain the Vs. Recorder from a man in Mauville’s Battle Institute. You can reach this building as soon as you arrive at Mauville City for the first time.

Alternatively, if you skip this item while you’re at Mauville, then you can get the Vs. Recorder at the Battle Resort after completing the Delta Episode in the post-game.

The Vs. Recorder is an optional key item that allows you to record and rewatch battles. You can use it in the Battle Maison at the Battle Resort.

Note: The Vs. Recorder requires an SD card if you are playing on a 3DS.

Obtaining the Vs. Recorder in Mauville City (Step-by-Step)

You can obtain the Vs. Recorder early on in the game, just before battling the Mauville Gym.

Step 1: Head north from Mauville’s entrance until you reach the first crossroads in the shopping area.

Heading north from Mauville’s entrance and stopping at the first  junction. / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Heading north from Mauville’s entrance and stopping at the first junction.

Step 2: Turn right and keep heading east, past the Food Court.

Heading to Mauville’s east court, past the Food Court. / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Heading to Mauville’s east court, past the Food Court.

Step 3: Turn north once you reach the staircase with the flower pots.

Heading north on Mauville’s east court, past the staircase. / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Heading north on Mauville’s east court, past the staircase.

Step 4: Keep going north up the hall until you arrive at the fifth and final store (it will be on the left).

Heading up the east court and entering the fifth store at the end of the hall. / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Heading up the east court and entering the fifth store at the end of the hall.

Step 5: This is the Battle Institute, and you can double-check if you have the right place by reading the sign out front.

Standing outside the Battle Institute. / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Standing outside the Battle Institute.

Step 6: Enter the building, and then a man inside will automatically give you the Vs. Recorder after a short dialogue.

Receiving the Vs. Recorder inside the Battle Institute. / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Receiving the Vs. Recorder inside the Battle Institute.

Alternate Method: The Vs. Recorder at Battle Resort

If you skipped the previous method and didn’t want to travel back to Mauville during the game, then the Vs. Recorder will be given to you at the Battle Resort later in the game.

In this case, you will automatically get the Vs. Recorder the first time you try to visit the Battle Maison.

This method only becomes available postgame, and it requires clearing the Delta Episode.

Step 1: After obtaining the S.S. Ticket, fly over to Slateport City. Head north of the Pokémon Center and turn right to go behind the Poke Mart.

Heading up Slateport’s main street and towards the Harbor. / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Heading up Slateport’s main street and towards the Harbor.

Step 2: Keep heading east until you arrive at the Slateport Harbor.

Outside Slateport Harbor / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Outside Slateport Harbor

Step 3: Enter the Harbor and talk to the attendant.

Select “The Battle Resort” as your destination.

Boarding the S.S. Tidal and sailing to the Battle Resort. / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Boarding the S.S. Tidal and sailing to the Battle Resort.

Step 4: A cutscene will play when you arrive here.

Once the cutscene ends, just head north up the bridge to enter the Battle Resort.

Visiting the Battle Resort for the first time. / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Visiting the Battle Resort for the first time.

Step 5: Once you reach the cobblestone path near the Poke Center, a Collector NPC will automatically start a dialogue.

If you did not get the Vs. Recorder in Mauville City, then he will give you one here.

Obtaining the Vs. Recorder from the Collector at the Battle Resort. / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Obtaining the Vs. Recorder from the Collector at the Battle Resort.

How To Use the Vs. Recorder

Vs. Recorder item description. / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Vs. Recorder item description.

After obtaining the Vs. Recorder, you will be able to rewatch battles you’ve fought in the Battle Maison.

Note: With no Global Link services available for the 3DS games, you can only use the Vs. Recorder in NPC battles. Previously, you could also use it to record battles fought against other players.

After finishing a battle in the Maison, select the “Save Record” option. Choosing this option allows you to pause the current run and save its progress.

Saving the Battle Maison record. / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Saving the Battle Maison record.

The top screen will then ask if you want to record a Battle Video.

Using the Vs. Recorder to record a Battle Video in the Maison. / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Using the Vs. Recorder to record a Battle Video in the Maison.

Select “Yes” on the bottom screen, then wait for the confirmation to show up on the top screen.

Confirmation on the top screen that your Battle Video has been successfully recorded. / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Confirmation on the top screen that your Battle Video has been successfully recorded.

If you want to rewatch a battle, select the Vs. Recorder in the Key Items section of your Bag.

After opening the Vs. Recorder, the bottom screen will show all Battle Videos you have recorded. The Vs. Recorder can save up to 100 Battle Videos.

Vs. Recorder showing the Battle Videos available to rewatch. / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Vs. Recorder showing the Battle Videos available to rewatch.

Tap the video you want to watch, then tap the “Play” button on the bottom screen.

Playing a video on the Vs. Recorder. / Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Playing a video on the Vs. Recorder.

The top screen will then replay the battle. You can use the commands on the bottom screen to rewind, stop, or fast forward the Battle Video.

Fernando F.

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Longtime JRPG and anime fan. Spends his time juggling between working out, cooking and writing about sports and games.

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