diff --git a/js/client-battle.js b/js/client-battle.js
index c60df1d62..ae17e1054 100644
--- a/js/client-battle.js
+++ b/js/client-battle.js
@@ -1029,8 +1029,8 @@
 		updateSideLocation: function (sideData) {
 			if (!sideData.id) return;
 			this.side = sideData.id;
-			if (this.battle.sidesSwitched !== !!(this.side === 'p2' || this.side === 'p4')) {
-				this.battle.switchSides();
+			if (this.battle.mySide.id !== this.side) {
+				this.battle.setPerspective(this.side);
 				this.$chat = this.$chatFrame.find('.inner');
 			}
 		},
diff --git a/src/battle-animations.ts b/src/battle-animations.ts
index b63455887..7e98b3670 100644
--- a/src/battle-animations.ts
+++ b/src/battle-animations.ts
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ class BattleScene {
 		this.curTerrain = '';
 		this.curWeather = '';
 
-		this.log.battleParser!.perspective = this.battle.mySide!.sideid;
+		this.log.battleParser!.perspective = this.battle.mySide.sideid;
 
 		this.resetSides(true);
 	}
diff --git a/src/battle.ts b/src/battle.ts
index 9befe4ac1..c23954826 100644
--- a/src/battle.ts
+++ b/src/battle.ts
@@ -1023,7 +1023,12 @@ class Battle {
 	pseudoWeather = [] as WeatherState[];
 	weatherTimeLeft = 0;
 	weatherMinTimeLeft = 0;
-	mySide: Side | null = null;
+	/**
+	 * The side from which perspective we're viewing. Should be identical to
+	 * `nearSide` except in multi battles, where `nearSide` is always the first
+	 * near side, and `mySide` is the active player.
+	 */
+	mySide: Side = null!;
 	nearSide: Side = null!;
 	farSide: Side = null!;
 	p1: Side = null!;
@@ -1190,24 +1195,30 @@ class Battle {
 		this.seekTurn(this.ended ? Infinity : this.turn, true);
 	}
 	switchSides() {
-		this.setSidesSwitched(!this.sidesSwitched);
-		this.resetToCurrentTurn();
+		this.setPerspective(this.sidesSwitched ? 'p1' : 'p2');
 	}
-	setSidesSwitched(sidesSwitched: boolean) {
-		this.sidesSwitched = sidesSwitched;
-		if (this.sidesSwitched) {
-			this.nearSide = this.p2;
-			this.farSide = this.p1;
-		} else {
+	setPerspective(sideid: SideID) {
+		if (this.mySide.id === sideid) return;
+		const side = this[sideid];
+		if (!side) return;
+		this.mySide = side;
+
+		if (side === this.p1 || side.ally === this.p1) {
+			this.sidesSwitched = false;
 			this.nearSide = this.p1;
 			this.farSide = this.p2;
+		} else {
+			this.sidesSwitched = true;
+			this.nearSide = this.p2;
+			this.farSide = this.p1;
 		}
+
 		this.nearSide.isFar = false;
 		if (this.nearSide.ally) this.nearSide.ally.isFar = false;
 		this.farSide.isFar = true;
 		if (this.farSide.ally) this.farSide.ally.isFar = true;
 
-		// nothing else should need updating - don't call this function after sending out pokemon
+		this.resetToCurrentTurn();
 	}
 
 	//
diff --git a/src/panel-battle.tsx b/src/panel-battle.tsx
index b0538a4a1..a7bc99d11 100644
--- a/src/panel-battle.tsx
+++ b/src/panel-battle.tsx
@@ -304,9 +304,7 @@ class BattlePanel extends PSRoomPanel<BattleRoom> {
 
 		if (request.side) {
 			room.battle.myPokemon = request.side.pokemon;
-			if (room.battle.sidesSwitched !== !!(request.side.id === 'p2')) {
-				room.battle.switchSides();
-			}
+			room.battle.setPerspective(request.side.id);
 			room.side = request.side;
 		}