Hoenn: Littleroot to Champion

Littleroot Town

Start

• Set the clock = pick your difficulty. It cannot be changed later. For the hidden Lunatic mode, use the notebook by the PC ten times first. See Game Mechanics.
• Your PC already holds a Shiny Charm, an EV-IV Display and Power items.
• Route 101: press ▶ on the starter screen to scroll through all 24 starters. The Route 101 Zigzagoon carry the Ability Pill and Ability Patch as held items; come back with Thief later.
• Route 103 rival battle, then the Pokédex and Poké Balls as usual. Ralts on Route 102 have Synchronize. Once you have the Pokédex, R opens the DexNav.

Petalburg, Petalburg Woods, Rustboro

Badge 1 · cap Lv 18

• Petalburg Gym is locked until you have four badges, as in vanilla. Wally’s catching tutorial happens here.
• Petalburg Woods: Professor Oak appears and offers a Let's Go Pikachu or Let's Go Eevee. On Route 104 an NPC gives a Wimpod. Scizorite is hidden in the woods. No Mega Stone shows on the map: the Mega Stones list has a picture of every tile.
• Rustboro: the Trainer’s School teacher changes natures with Mints (no quiz, with the patch). The house top-right of the gym trades a Zorua. Devon Corp 2F has Pidgeotite; Magearna waits behind the receptionist’s door much later in the game.

Gym 1: Roxanne (Rock)

Leader RoxanneRustboro City

Lv 186 Pokémon

Shuckle

Lv 18

Mental Herb

• Infestation
• Encore
• Sticky Web
• Stealth Rock

Lileep

Lv 18

Big Root

• Mega Drain
• Ancient Power
• Infestation
• Mud Shot

Omanyte

Lv 18

Eviolite

• Bubble Beam
• Ancient Power
• Aurora Beam
• Toxic Spikes

Carkol

Lv 18

Eviolite

• Incinerate
• Scald
• Scorching Sands
• Ancient Power

Alolan Geodude

Lv 18

Weakness Policy

• Thunder Punch
• Fire Punch
• Rock Tomb
• Bulldoze

Nosepass

Lv 18

Smooth Rock

• Rock Tomb
• Magnet Bomb
• Bulldoze
• Sandstorm

Six Pokémon at level 18 with hazards (Stealth Rock, Sticky Web, Toxic Spikes) and Eviolite fossils. Bring Grass or Water and a way to remove hazards; Rock Tomb is your reward.

• Devon parcel errand as vanilla: Rusturf Tunnel, then Mr. Stone gives the PokéNav and the letter for Steven.

Dewford, Granite Cave, Slateport

Badge 2 · cap Lv 23

• Granite Cave: deliver the letter to Steven; a miner gives Flash. The Earth Plate is in a side cave at the deepest part of 1F (you can only use it much later).

Gym 2: Brawly (Fighting)

Leader BrawlyDewford Town

Lv 23–246 Pokémon

Sneasler

Lv 23

Air Balloon

• Dire Claw
• Low Sweep
• U-Turn
• Acrobatics

Pangoro

Lv 23

Assault Vest

• Night Slash
• Zen Headbutt
• Bullet Punch
• Power-Up Punch

Hawlucha

Lv 23

Sitrus Berry

• Dual Wingbeat
• Power-Up Punch
• U-Turn
• Tailwind

Lucario

Lv 23

Muscle Band

• Aerial Ace
• Power-Up Punch
• Bulldoze
• Bullet Punch

Crabominable

Lv 23

Assault Vest

• Ice Punch
• Bulldoze
• Mach Punch
• Thunder Punch

Hariyama

Lv 24

Life Orb

• Poison Jab
• Force Palm
• Throat Chop
• Rock Slide

Hisuian Sneasler and Lucario make this a mixed Fighting/Poison and Steel wall. Flying and Psychic moves, and a Fairy type if you have one, carry the fight.

• Slateport: the Contest Hall and Museum play out as vanilla; the shipyard’s second floor had a freeze in earlier releases of the hack itself, fixed in its v5.7 bugfix builds.
• Route 110 rival battle. Manectite is hidden along the Cycling Road side.

Mauville

Badge 3 · cap Lv 28

• The house right of the Pokémon Center gives a bike; with the patch you get the other one too, and can switch from the Bag or the SELECT ring.
• Wally battles you at the gym entrance with a Kirlia.

Gym 3: Wattson (Electric)

Leader WattsonMauville City

Lv 286 Pokémon

Alolan Raichu

Lv 28

Electric Seed

• Rising Voltage
• Psyshock
• Surf
• Nasty Plot

Rotom (Wash)

Lv 28

Blunder Policy

• Rising Voltage
• Nasty Plot
• Signal Beam
• Hydro Pump

Pincurchin

Lv 28

Terrain Extender

• Zing Zap
• Liquidation
• Toxic Spikes
• Poison Jab

Jolteon

Lv 28

Damp Rock

• Rising Voltage
• Weather Ball
• Rain Dance
• Signal Beam

Magnezone

Lv 28

Wise Glasses

• Rising Voltage
• Flash Cannon
• Body Press
• Mirror Coat

Manectric

Lv 28

Terrain Extender

• Rising Voltage
• Electric Terrain
• Hidden Power
• Snarl

Six level-28 Electric types including Rotom and Magnezone. Ground types are immune to most of it; Pincurchin and Rotom will still hurt. Wattson is a known wall on the harder modes.

Side quest: the Team Rocket hideout under the Game Corner

The Skitty errand in Mauville leads to a hidden Team Rocket base beneath the Game Corner. Two door passwords are needed, typed in capitals: ARCHER on the first floor, then ROCKET for the second-floor check, answered No / Yes / No. Inside you fight a Rocket researcher with a level-40 “DNA” Eevee that transforms, and you can catch the special DNA Eevee afterwards (it is treated as a 3-badge Pokémon for obedience). The base also holds the Iron Plate and Dread Plate. The Eevee misbehaves and loses HP each turn until you receive an item that triggers automatically at the exit of Victory Road later in the story.

Community reports for v5.5–5.7 (pokeharbor comments, 9game); the plate placement is confirmed by the Sinnoh plate hints in the game text.

Route 111 to Fallarbor, Meteor Falls, Mt. Chimney

Badge 4 · cap Lv 37

• Fallarbor: the house east of town holds the “trade” NPC (answer No to evolve trade-evolution Pokémon). Galladite is in Professor Cozmo’s house.
• Meteor Falls: Team Magma and Aqua fight over the meteorite as vanilla. Salamencite is on 1F and Aerodactylite deeper in. A locked Draconid cave here matters in the post-game (Draco Plate, Steven, Cosmog).
• Mt. Chimney: cable car up, then Maxie with Tabitha and Courtney. Zinnia already fights here as a Team Magma member. Jagged Pass has Tyranitarite.

Magma Leader MaxieMt. Chimney

Lv 374 Pokémon

Mightyena

Lv 37

Assault Vest

• Fire Fang
• Play Rough
• Crunch
• Thunder Fang

Golbat

Lv 37

Flying Gem

• Acrobatics
• Poison Fang
• U-Turn
• Confuse Ray

Heliolisk

Lv 37

Throat Spray

• Solar Beam
• Weather Ball
• Thunderbolt
• Hyper Voice

Camerupt

Lv 37

Cameruptite

• Ancient Power
• Earth Power
• Flamethrower
• Flash Cannon

Gym 4: Flannery (Fire)

Leader FlanneryLavaridge Town

Lv 376 Pokémon

Typhlosion (Burning Soul)

Lv 37

Assault Vest

• Eruption
• Extrasensory
• Solar Beam
• Scorching Sands

Torkoal

Lv 37

Heat Rock

• Rapid Spin
• Eruption
• Stealth Rock
• Solar Beam

Charizard

Lv 37

Charizardite Y

• Weather Ball
• Scorching Sands
• Air Slash
• Solar Beam

Cinderace

Lv 37

Heavy-Duty Boots

• Pyro Ball
• Court Change
• High Jump Kick
• U-Turn

Rotom (Heat)

Lv 37

White Herb

• Overheat
• Thunderbolt
• Nasty Plot
• Signal Beam

Hisuian Arcanine

Lv 37

Life Orb

• Flare Blitz
• Head Smash
• Wild Charge
• Play Rough

A Typhlosion, Arcanine, Charizard and Cinderace at level 37. Water and Rock coverage, and a Rotom answer, are enough. Go-Goggles for the desert follow.

Petalburg again

Badge 5 · cap Lv 45

Gym 5: Norman (Normal)

Leader NormanPetalburg City

Lv 456 Pokémon

Smeargle

Lv 45

Focus Sash

• Sticky Web
• Spore
• Nuzzle
• Stone Axe

Hisuian Zoroark

Lv 45

Focus Sash

• Nasty Plot
• Hyper Voice
• Bitter Malice
• Flamethrower

Pidgeot

Lv 45

Pidgeotite

• Hurricane
• Roost
• Heat Wave
• U-Turn

Snorlax

Lv 45

Snorlium Z

• Giga Impact
• Zen Headbutt
• Heat Crash
• Heavy Slam

Obstagoon

Lv 45

Flame Orb

• Obstruct
• Close Combat
• Facade
• Throat Chop

Ursaluna

Lv 45

Assault Vest

• Headlong Rush
• Thunder Punch
• Play Rough
• Ice Punch

Six level-45 Pokémon with Snorlax, Ursaluna and a Hisuian Zoroark. Fighting types are the answer to everything except the Zoroark; watch for its Illusion.

Route 118, Weather Institute, Fortree

Badge 6 · cap Lv 51

• Weather Institute: Team Aqua, Shelly, and Castform as in vanilla. The rival fights you on Route 119 afterwards with a full team of six.
• Fortree: the trainer behind the Pokémon Center hands over the Z-Ring when beaten. The Pokémon Center also has a trade-evolution NPC and a tutor for the Let’s Go partner moves. Garchompite is in town.

Gym 6: Winona (Flying)

Leader WinonaFortree City

Lv 48–516 Pokémon

Aerodactyl

Lv 51

Expert Belt

• Stone Edge
• Dual Wingbeat
• Thunder Fang
• Earthquake

Gliscor

Lv 51

Toxic Orb

• Facade
• Roost
• Defog
• Earthquake

Altaria

Lv 48

Altarianite

• Hyper Voice
• Flamethrower
• Draco Meteor
• Ice Beam

Celesteela

Lv 51

Weakness Policy

• Heavy Slam
• Stone Edge
• Acrobatics
• Earthquake

Hisuian Braviary

Lv 51

Life Orb

• Heat Wave
• Air Slash
• Esper Wing
• Dazzling Gleam

Dragonite

Lv 51

Weakness Policy

• Earthquake
• Extreme Speed
• Dual Wingbeat
• Dragon Dance

Celesteela and Dragonite raise the ceiling to level 51. Ice and Rock moves, and Electric for the rest.

Routes 120–121, Mt. Pyre, Lilycove, Mossdeep

Badge 7 · cap Lv 57

• Route 120: Scorched Slab holds Charizardite Y. Kecleon ambushes on 119/120 as vanilla.
• Mt. Pyre: Banettite lies between the gravestones on the summit and Medichamite is on 6F. The wild Pokémon on the Route 122 side carry evolution stones to steal.
• Lilycove: rival battle with six Pokémon, then the Team Aqua hideout (Matt). The Department Store sells mints.
• Mossdeep: the gym is blocked by an NPC until you finish a short Shoal Cave quest (battle Hugh and Team Plasma in the icy room). Slowbronite is in Shoal Cave’s entrance room; Pinsirite is out on Route 124, west of Mossdeep.

Gym 7: Tate & Liza (Psychic, Double Battle)

Leader Tate & LizaMossdeep City

Lv 57Double Battle6 Pokémon

Gardevoir

Lv 57

Gardevoirite

• Expanding Force
• Mystical Fire
• Protect
• Hyper Voice

Indeedee ♀

Lv 57

Eject Button

• Expanding Force
• Helping Hand
• Reflect
• Light Screen

Galarian Slowbro

Lv 57

Quick Claw

• Expanding Force
• Shell Side Arm
• Trick Room
• Muddy Water

Metagross

Lv 57

Assault Vest

• Meteor Mash
• Ice Punch
• Psychic Fangs
• Stomping Tantrum

Indeedee ♂

Lv 57

Terrain Extender

• Helping Hand
• Heat Wave
• Expanding Force
• Shadow Ball

Gallade

Lv 57

Scope Lens

• Sacred Sword
• Psycho Cut
• Night Slash
• Leaf Blade

Two Indeedee run Psychic Terrain support for Metagross, Gallade and Gardevoir. Dark and Ghost attackers, or a Steel wall, do well; spread moves earn their keep.

Seafloor Cavern, Sootopolis, Sky Pillar

Badge 8 · cap Lv 62

• Space Center, Seafloor Cavern and Archie’s Kyogre play out as vanilla. Archie’s team is below.
• Sootopolis: Groudon and Kyogre clash; Steven sends you to the Cave of Origin, then Wallace to the Sky Pillar on Route 131. The Sky Pillar needs the Mach Bike. Rayquaza calms the two and you receive Waterfall.

Aqua Leader ArchieSeafloor Cavern

Lv 626 Pokémon

Greninja (Battle Bond)

Lv 62

Greninjium Z

• Water Shuriken
• Dark Pulse
• Toxic Spikes
• Ice Beam

Armaldo

Lv 62

Assault Vest

• Liquidation
• Earthquake
• Stone Edge
• X-Scissor

Beartic

Lv 62

Assault Vest

• Icicle Crash
• Close Combat
• Liquidation
• Play Rough

Alolan Muk

Lv 62

Black Sludge

• Gunk Shot
• Ice Punch
• Crunch
• Drain Punch

Sharpedo

Lv 62

Sharpedonite

• Psychic Fangs
• Ice Fang
• Crunch
• Liquidation

Kyogre

Lv 62

Blue Orb

• Origin Pulse
• Ice Beam
• Calm Mind
• Thunder

Gym 8: Juan (Water)

Leader JuanSootopolis City

Lv 626 Pokémon

Araquanid

Lv 62

Mystic Water

• Sticky Web
• Waterfall
• Mirror Coat
• Leech Life

Kingdra

Lv 62

Life Orb

• Hydro Pump
• Flash Cannon
• Dragon Pulse
• Hurricane

Azumarill

Lv 62

Assault Vest

• Play Rough
• Liquidation
• Ice Punch
• Bulldoze

Basculegion ♂

Lv 62

Sitrus Berry

• Wave Crash
• Phantom Force
• Crunch
• Ice Fang

Politoed

Lv 62

Damp Rock

• Weather Ball
• Ice Beam
• Psychic
• Earth Power

Swampert

Lv 62

Swampertite

• Earthquake
• Power-Up Punch
• Ice Punch
• Waterfall

Level 62 with Kingdra, Swampert and Hisuian Basculegion. Grass moves for Swampert and Politoed, Electric for the rest; Kingdra only fears Dragon and Fairy.

Victory Road and Ever Grande

Elite Four · Level 70 · Double Battles

• Victory Road needs every HM (with the patch, owning the HMs is enough). Wally fights you inside with five Pokémon in the 75–80 range. At the exit, if you caught the DNA Eevee, the researcher from the Mauville lab gives you the Core Ring: held by that Eevee, it stops the backlash it takes after attacking.
• The Hoenn League in this hack is fought in Double Battles at level 70. Bring exactly six Pokémon. Status moves do not work on the Elite Four.

Sidney (Dark)

Elite Four SidneyRoute 112

Lv 70Double Battle6 Pokémon

Incineroar

Lv 70

Incinium Z

• Dark Lariat
• Fake Out
• Flare Blitz
• Parting Shot

Yveltal

Lv 70

Life Orb

• Oblivion Wing
• Dark Pulse
• Protect
• Heat Wave

Grimmsnarl

Lv 70

Light Clay

• Reflect
• Light Screen
• Spirit Break
• False Surrender

Greninja

Lv 70

Focus Sash

• Mat Block
• Ice Beam
• Dark Pulse
• Scald

Drapion

Lv 70

Scope Lens

• Night Slash
• Toxic Spikes
• Cross Poison
• Ice Fang

Tyranitar

Lv 70

Tyranitarite

• Protect
• Stomping Tantrum
• Crunch
• Rock Slide

Phoebe (Ghost)

Elite Four PhoebeEver Grande City

Lv 70Double Battle6 Pokémon

Dragapult

Lv 70

Light Clay

• Reflect
• Light Screen
• U-Turn
• Dragon Darts

Jellicent ♀

Lv 70

Wide Lens

• Water Spout
• Wide Guard
• Shadow Ball
• Dazzling Gleam

Mimikyu

Lv 70

Mimikyum Z

• Play Rough
• Phantom Force
• Swords Dance
• Drain Punch

Hisuian Zoroark

Lv 70

Focus Sash

• Bitter Malice
• Flamethrower
• Hyper Voice
• Protect

Calyrex (Shadow Rider)

Lv 70

Life Orb

• Astral Barrage
• Expanding Force
• Pollen Puff
• Protect

Gengar

Lv 70

Gengarite

• Shadow Ball
• Sludge Bomb
• Dazzling Gleam
• Nasty Plot

Glacia (Ice)

Elite Four GlaciaEver Grande City

Lv 70Double Battle6 Pokémon

Arctovish

Lv 70

Life Orb

• Crunch
• Fishious Rend
• Blizzard
• Psychic Fangs

Alolan Sandslash

Lv 70

Focus Sash

• High Horsepower
• Rock Slide
• Triple Axel
• Iron Head

Beartic

Lv 70

Assault Vest

• Icicle Crash
• Liquidation
• Close Combat
• Play Rough

Abomasnow

Lv 70

Abomasite

• Aurora Veil
• Blizzard
• Earth Power
• Energy Ball

Alolan Ninetales

Lv 70

Icy Rock

• Aurora Veil
• Nasty Plot
• Blizzard
• Dazzling Gleam

Calyrex (Ice Rider)

Lv 70

Assault Vest

• Glacial Lance
• Body Press
• Zen Headbutt
• Stomping Tantrum

Drake (Dragon)

Elite Four DrakeEver Grande City

Lv 70Double Battle6 Pokémon

Dialga

Lv 70

Adamant Orb

• Dragon Pulse
• Flash Cannon
• Earth Power
• Flamethrower

Garchomp

Lv 70

Focus Sash

• Scale Shot
• Poison Jab
• Earthquake
• Rock Slide

Kommo-o

Lv 70

Kommonium Z

• Clanging Scales
• Rock Slide
• Poison Jab
• Drain Punch

Hydreigon

Lv 70

Choice Scarf

• Draco Meteor
• Heat Wave
• Dark Pulse
• Flash Cannon

Dragalge

Lv 70

Assault Vest

• Dragon Pulse
• Sludge Bomb
• Muddy Water
• Thunderbolt

Salamence

Lv 70

Salamencite

• Earthquake
• Double-Edge
• Dragon Dance
• Rock Slide

Champion Wallace (Water)

Champion WallaceEver Grande City

Lv 70Double Battle6 Pokémon

Gyarados

Lv 70

Focus Sash

• Earthquake
• Dragon Dance
• Power Whip
• Waterfall

Swampert

Lv 70

Swampertite

• Protect
• Earthquake
• Liquidation
• Ice Punch

Milotic

Lv 70

Adrenaline Orb

• Muddy Water
• Dazzling Gleam
• Mud Shot
• Icy Wind

Kyogre

Lv 70

Blue Orb

• Water Spout
• Protect
• Thunder
• Ice Beam

Ludicolo

Lv 70

Life Orb

• Muddy Water
• Giga Drain
• Ice Beam
• Fake Out

Tentacruel

Lv 70

Black Sludge

• Sludge Bomb
• Body Press
• Muddy Water
• Aqua Ring

After the credits

You wake up at home. Your father gives a ticket for the Battle Frontier and Professor Birch upgrades the Pokédex. Interpol agents Nanu and Anabel are waiting in Littleroot Town. After them, the guard at the Pokémon League in Ever Grande City lets you through to Steven’s Island, and as you arrive Wally calls: a Team Magma remnant is attacking him in Petalburg. That starts the post-game; continue with Post-game: Sinnoh & Beyond.