diff --git a/src/data/mystery-encounters/encounters/the-winstrate-challenge-encounter.ts b/src/data/mystery-encounters/encounters/the-winstrate-challenge-encounter.ts
index e3da86ca2992..c0886ed9f6b6 100644
--- a/src/data/mystery-encounters/encounters/the-winstrate-challenge-encounter.ts
+++ b/src/data/mystery-encounters/encounters/the-winstrate-challenge-encounter.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import { PartyHealPhase, ReturnPhase, ShowTrainerPhase } from "#app/phases";
 import { SpeciesFormChangeManualTrigger } from "#app/data/pokemon-forms";
 import { applyPostBattleInitAbAttrs, PostBattleInitAbAttr } from "#app/data/ability";
 import { showEncounterDialogue } from "#app/data/mystery-encounters/utils/encounter-dialogue-utils";
+import { MysteryEncounterMode } from "#enums/mystery-encounter-mode";
 
 /** the i18n namespace for the encounter */
 const namespace = "mysteryEncounter:theWinstrateChallenge";
@@ -140,7 +141,7 @@ async function spawnNextTrainerOrEndEncounter(scene: BattleScene) {
     await showEncounterDialogue(scene, `${namespace}.victory`, `${namespace}.speaker`);
     setEncounterRewards(scene, { guaranteedModifierTypeFuncs: [modifierTypes.MYSTERY_ENCOUNTER_MACHO_BRACE], fillRemaining: false });
     encounter.doContinueEncounter = null;
-    leaveEncounterWithoutBattle(scene);
+    leaveEncounterWithoutBattle(scene, false, MysteryEncounterMode.TRAINER_BATTLE);
   } else {
     await initBattleWithEnemyConfig(scene, nextConfig);
   }
diff --git a/src/data/mystery-encounters/utils/encounter-phase-utils.ts b/src/data/mystery-encounters/utils/encounter-phase-utils.ts
index 5a98d7737c08..c58e0fbad1fd 100644
--- a/src/data/mystery-encounters/utils/encounter-phase-utils.ts
+++ b/src/data/mystery-encounters/utils/encounter-phase-utils.ts
@@ -634,9 +634,10 @@ export function initSubsequentOptionSelect(scene: BattleScene, optionSelectSetti
  * Will skip any shops and rewards, and queue the next encounter phase as normal
  * @param scene
  * @param addHealPhase - when true, will add a shop phase to end of encounter with 0 rewards but healing items are available
+ * @param encounterMode - Can set custom encounter mode if necessary (may be required for forcing Pokemon to return before next phase)
  */
-export function leaveEncounterWithoutBattle(scene: BattleScene, addHealPhase: boolean = false) {
-  scene.currentBattle.mysteryEncounter.encounterMode = MysteryEncounterMode.NO_BATTLE;
+export function leaveEncounterWithoutBattle(scene: BattleScene, addHealPhase: boolean = false, encounterMode: MysteryEncounterMode = MysteryEncounterMode.NO_BATTLE) {
+  scene.currentBattle.mysteryEncounter.encounterMode = encounterMode;
   scene.clearPhaseQueue();
   scene.clearPhaseQueueSplice();
   handleMysteryEncounterVictory(scene, addHealPhase);
diff --git a/src/data/trainer-config.ts b/src/data/trainer-config.ts
index 54efc6bd9002..eeffd02bc150 100644
--- a/src/data/trainer-config.ts
+++ b/src/data/trainer-config.ts
@@ -1969,7 +1969,7 @@ export const trainerConfigs: TrainerConfigs = {
     .setPartyTemplates(trainerPartyTemplates.TWO_AVG_ONE_STRONG),
   [TrainerType.VICKY]: new TrainerConfig(++t).setName("Vicky").setTitle("The Winstrates")
     .setMoneyMultiplier(1)
-    .setPartyTemplates(trainerPartyTemplates.ONE_STRONG),
+    .setPartyTemplates(trainerPartyTemplates.ONE_AVG),
   [TrainerType.VITO]: new TrainerConfig(++t).setName("Vito").setTitle("The Winstrates")
     .setMoneyMultiplier(2)
     .setPartyTemplates(new TrainerPartyCompoundTemplate(new TrainerPartyTemplate(3, PartyMemberStrength.AVERAGE), new TrainerPartyTemplate(2, PartyMemberStrength.STRONG)))