How to Fix a Digivice 25th Link Battle That Shows “RETRY”
If a Digivice -25th COLOR EVOLUTION- link battle displays “RETRY,” the device has not completed communication within the roughly 16-second window after the BATTLE screen appears. Select the partner Digimon again, reconnect the devices only after BATTLE is displayed, and press A on just one device. This guide covers that specific Digivice model; other Digimon devices can use different connection steps.
What “RETRY” means on the Digivice 25th
Bandai’s manual describes RETRY as the result when communication does not occur for about 16 seconds after BATTLE appears. The flow returns you to the partner Digimon selection screen, so the message indicates an unsuccessful connection attempt, not that the battle has started. Bandai’s Digivice 25th manual
That timing helps narrow the issue: focus first on the sequence, connector seating, and the button press during the BATTLE screen. Don’t assume the advice for an older Digimon Original device applies. Its manual describes a different procedure and button, while the Digivice 25th uses A for its link battle setup.
Restart the link sequence from partner selection
When RETRY appears, follow the screen back to partner selection and begin a new attempt. Choose the Digimon you want to use, then wait for BATTLE to appear. Bandai’s instructions say to connect the devices after that screen appears, rather than connecting them beforehand.
Use this order for each attempt:
- Select LINK from the menu.
- Choose the appropriate connection option: VS DIGIVICE for two Digivice 25th units, or VS OTHERS to connect with a Digital Monster COLOR or Digimon Pendulum COLOR.
- Select the partner Digimon for the battle.
- Wait until BATTLE is displayed on both units.
- Connect the devices, then press A on one device only.
- Keep them connected while communication completes; look for OK as the success signal.
The product manual says successful communication leads to OK and then the battle begins. If the screen returns to RETRY, start again from partner selection instead of continuing to press buttons on the failed attempt. Bandai’s Digivice 25th manual
Check the connection timing and button press
Two details in the manual are especially easy to miss: connect after BATTLE appears, and press A on only one of the devices. Pressing A on both units is not the documented method. If two people are handling the devices, agree in advance who will press A so they don’t press it at the same time.
For a clean retry, disconnect the units, return to partner selection if needed, and repeat the sequence without rushing. Make the connection once BATTLE is visible, then have one person press A. This is a practical way to check that the setup matches Bandai’s instructions; it does not establish that every failure is caused by timing.
Confirm the model and connection option
Check the model before trying fixes intended for another Digimon device. For Digivice 25th, the manual lists VS DIGIVICE for matching units and VS OTHERS for the Digital Monster COLOR or Digimon Pendulum COLOR. If you selected one of these options but the devices are from a different product line, verify compatibility against their own manuals rather than repeatedly retrying the same setup.
This distinction matters because Digimon toys do not all use the same connection steps. For example, Bandai’s Digimon Original NEW WAVE instructions describe communication using a different sequence and a B button. That is not a reason to press B on the Digivice 25th link battle; follow the instructions for the exact device in your hands. Bandai’s Digimon Original NEW WAVE manual
Check the connector and try one controlled retry
If your model selection and button sequence are correct, check that the connector is fully seated on both units. Disconnect and reconnect it while BATTLE is displayed, then let one person press A once. Avoid changing several things at once: a single orderly attempt makes it easier to tell whether correcting the connection or timing helped. The manual specifies when to connect and which button to press; inspecting that the connection is seated is a basic troubleshooting check, not a Bandai diagnosis of the RETRY message.
Keep the units connected while waiting for OK. The manual uses OK as the successful communication checkpoint, so separating them before that screen appears may interrupt the attempt. If RETRY returns, note whether it appears immediately or after the waiting period, and whether both devices were on BATTLE before connecting. Those observations help you repeat the procedure consistently.
Know when repeating the same attempt is unlikely to help
If you have repeated the correct sequence and still get RETRY, pause and recheck the connection option, device models, and connector seating before another attempt. Repeating the identical setup without checking these points provides little new information. The manual describes the retry condition and connection flow, but does not list every possible cause or provide a deeper repair procedure for a persistent failure.
If a connector appears damaged or a unit does not reach the screens described in its manual, stop treating this as a routine timing issue and consult Bandai support or the product documentation for that model. Keep the model name and the exact point of failure handy. A RETRY message alone does not identify a defective device.