pokemon walkthrough ruby — Complete Hoenn Guide

pokemon walkthrough ruby — Complete Hoenn Guide

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Introduction

If you picked up Pokémon Ruby and want a clear, friendly, and dependable pokemon walkthrough ruby, you’re in the right place. This guide is written to help both newcomers and returning trainers navigate Hoenn with confidence. You’ll get a step-by-step approach to early routes, smart advice for Gym Leaders, a plan to catch Groudon, useful TM and HM notes, and effective tips for EV training and team building. The tone is simple and practical so you can focus on playing — not on confusing jargon.

Throughout this walkthrough I’ll reference common Hoenn features like starter Pokémon, Gym Leaders, Team Magma, the Elite Four and Champion Steven, plus side activities such as secret bases and Pokémon Contests. Expect examples, bullet lists, and clear tips so you can apply this advice in your playthrough.

1. Getting Started: Choosing a Starter and Early Game Checklist

One of the most fun choices in any Pokémon adventure is your starter Pokémon. In Ruby you choose between Treecko (Grass), Torchic (Fire), and Mudkip (Water). Each starter affects early battles and team balance:

  • Treecko – Fast and strong against Water routes; struggles early versus Rock and Fire but becomes a powerful special attacker.
  • Torchic – Makes early Gym fights easier, especially if you evolve into Combusken (adds Fighting moves), but watch for strong Water types later.
  • Mudkip – One of the easiest starters for Ruby since Ground-type coverage (upon evolving) counters many Gym Leaders and Team Magma grunts.

Early-game checklist (must-haves within your first 2–4 hours):

  • Grab key HMs: Cut, Surf (when available), and Strength for overworld progression.
  • Visit the Poké Mart and stock up on Potions, Antidotes, and Poké Balls.
  • Get an early diverse team of 3–4 Pokémon to cover common types on Routes 101–116 (Bug, Normal, Flying, Water).
  • Pick up a Repel if you want to avoid frequent wild battles while exploring caves or long routes.

Tip: Keep an HM slave in mind — a Pokémon you don’t mind assigning Surf/Dive/Strength to, but try not to permanently cripple a favorite by teaching too many HMs early.

2. Gym Leaders: Strategies and Example Teams

Gym battles are the backbone of the pokemon walkthrough ruby. Each Gym Leader tests different strengths, and preparing the right counters makes progression smooth. Below are concise tactics for common Gym types you’ll face in Hoenn, plus example Pokémon to bring.

Rock, Fighting, and Electric Gyms

  • Rock (Roxanne) – Rock types are weak to Water, Grass, and Fighting. If you chose Mudkip or Treecko, you’ll have an advantage early on. Bring a Water or Grass move and avoid Fire and Flying.
  • Fighting (Brawly) – Psychic and Flying moves work well. Use strong Special attackers or fast Flyers to outspeed.
  • Electric (Wattson) – Ground types are immune to Electric; otherwise use Ground/Rock moves. Avoid Water if you don’t have Grass coverage.

Fire, Normal, Flying and Psychic Gyms

  • Fire (Flannery) – Water, Ground and Rock moves are ideal. Mudkip (and its evolutions) shines here.
  • Normal (Norman) – Fighting moves are super effective. Note Norman’s team is bulky; bring healing items and status cures.
  • Flying (Winona) – Electric and Ice moves counter Flying types. Prepare for double battles and Pokémon with secondary types.
  • Psychic (Tate & Liza) – Dark, Bug, and Ghost moves help; Psychic types often have high Special Attack so focus on Special Defense or hits that exploit weaknesses.

Team Composition Tips

To build a balanced team for Gym Leaders and the Elite Four, keep these suggestions in mind:

  • Include at least one strong Water, one Flying or Electric counter, and one Ground or Rock attacker.
  • Use status moves (Thunder Wave, Toxic) against bulky opponents to shift fights in your favor.
  • Stock TMs that provide coverage — Earthquake, Surf, Flamethrower, Thunderbolt — and plan who will learn them.

Example mid-game team:

  • Starter (e.g., Swampert or Blaziken) — reliable HM user and attacker
  • Flyer (e.g., Wingull/Gardevoir for versatility) — handles Bug/Rock and provides Fly
  • Electric/Ground (e.g., Manectric/Golbat) — covers Water and Flying
  • Utility/Support (e.g., Breloom or Gardevoir) — status moves, healing, or strong special moves

3. Follow the Story: Team Magma, Groudon, and Legendary Tactics

Team Magma drives most of the conflict in Ruby. You’ll face grunts, mid-bosses, and key confrontations at Mt. Chimney and the Seafloor Cavern. This section gives a clear path to the important story beats and a safe plan for catching Groudon.

Key story checkpoints

  • Confront Team Magma at Fallarbor Town and Mt. Chimney to stop their volcano plot.
  • After the Gym sequence, you’ll enter Seafloor Cavern to reach the submarine area for Team Magma’s hideout.
  • Prepare for a showdown with Groudon in the Cave of Origin (or its story-specific location). Groudon is narrative-critical and very powerful.

How to catch Groudon without wasting resources

  • Save before you enter the battle — always create a restore point at a new save slot.
  • Inflict status conditions: Sleep or Paralysis are best. Moves like Hypnosis or Thunder Wave help a lot.
  • Use False Swipe to bring Groudon to 1 HP without fainting it.
  • Bring many Ultra Balls, Dusk Balls (if available in dark caves), and Timer Balls for long battles. Repeat Ball works on legendaries under certain catch rate rules.
  • Make sure you have a Pokémon that resists Ground moves (e.g., Water or Grass types) to tank hits.

Tip: Groudon has high Attack and bulk. Use special attackers and heals to maintain control. If you don’t catch him, reset and retry — persistence pays off.

4. Team Building, EV Training, and Competitive Basics

Once you’ve beaten the main story, building a competitive team requires understanding a few mechanics: EVs, natures, IVs, and TMs. You don’t need to master them to enjoy Ruby, but familiarizing yourself will make late-game battles and the Elite Four much easier.

EV Training essentials

  • EVs (Effort Values) are hidden stats earned from defeating specific wild Pokémon—each defeated Pokémon gives EV points in certain stats. For example, defeating Zubat gives Speed EVs.
  • Focus on one or two stats per Pokémon (e.g., Attack and Speed for physical sweepers) to maximize effectiveness.
  • Use items like Protein (Attack), Iron (Defense), and HP Up to supplement training when available.

Nature and Ability in simple terms

  • Nature boosts one stat and reduces another (e.g., Adamant increases Attack, lowers Special Attack). Pick a nature that matches your Pokémon’s role.
  • Abilities give passive bonuses in battle (e.g., Intimidate lowers an opponent’s Attack). Choose Pokémon whose abilities support your strategy.

Best TMs and HM usage

Keep a list of essential TMs for your team: Earthquake, Surf, Thunderbolt, Flamethrower, Ice Beam, Rock Slide. Assign TMs wisely because TM resources are limited. Reserve HMs for Pokémon you’re comfortable limiting in moveset flexibility (often Fly or Surf users).

5. Important Items, TM/HM Locations, and Secret Bases

Knowing where to get the most useful items and TMs saves time and frustration. Secret bases add personality to your game and can be used for training.

Must-have items and where to find them

  • Exp. Share — makes training multiple Pokémon easier; try to get it early if you can.
  • Rare Candy — use sparingly for level spikes or to evolve a critical team member.
  • Leftovers — great for bulky tanks to heal each turn in long fights.
  • Escape Rope — handy for caves and Seafloor Cavern exploration.

TM and HM hacks

  • Plan which Pokémon will hold HMs early so you don’t teach them to favorites.
  • TM compatibility: some TMs reappear or are sold; make a shopping list for late-game Team building.

Secret bases and contests

Secret bases are one of the creative side activities in Hoenn — decorate your space, battle friends, and use them to save your progress and train. Pokémon Contests in Ruby are also a unique way to show off non-battling stats like Beauty, Cool, Toughness and get ribbons that help your Pokémon’s charm.

6. Post-Game and Elite Four Preparation

The Elite Four and Champion Steven are some of the biggest challenges in Hoenn. Proper preparation prevents a frustrating grind.

Preparing your team

  • Level cap: aim for levels in the mid-50s to low-60s before challenging the Elite Four depending on your team composition.
  • Balance physical and special attackers; the Elite Four has a diverse set of types and high stats.
  • Stock up: Max Potions, Full Restores, Revives, and status-healing items like Full Heals and Antidotes.

Battle tactics

  • Use Switch Tactically — switch to a counter when you anticipate a super-effective hit rather than trying to tank it.
  • Save before each Elite Four member — that way you don’t have to restart from the champion after a wipe.
  • Use Pokémon with multi-hit moves or setup moves like Swords Dance for faster sweeps.

FAQ

1. Which starter is best in Pokémon Ruby?

All three starters are viable, but Mudkip often makes the early and mid-game easiest because its Water and Ground evolution hits common Hoenn threats hard. Torchic is great for raw power later as a Blaziken, while Treecko excels as a speedy special attacker.

2. How do I catch Groudon?

Save your game before the encounter. Use status moves (Sleep or Paralysis), False Swipe to drop Groudon to 1 HP, and then throw Ultra Balls or Timer Balls. Have a Pokémon that resists Ground attacks to tank hits, and don’t be afraid to reset if things go wrong.

3. Where can I find key TMs and HMs?

Many TMs are sold in late-game Poké Marts or found in specific caves and routes. HMs are rewarded by story progression or NPCs. Prioritize learning HMs on Pokémon that won’t need those moves replaced often.

4. Is EV training necessary to beat the Elite Four?

EV training is not strictly necessary but it helps a lot. If you prefer a casual experience, level grinding and good strategy will suffice. For competitive or efficient Elite Four runs, a focused EV plan on Attack/Speed or Special Attack/Speed for key sweepers is recommended.

5. What are the differences between Ruby and Omega Ruby?

Omega Ruby is a remake with significant updates: improved graphics, expanded mechanics (Mega Evolution), and quality-of-life changes. The original Ruby is simpler and closer to classic Gen III mechanics. If you want the pure Hoenn nostalgia, play Ruby; for modern features, Omega Ruby offers more depth.

Conclusion

This pokemon walkthrough ruby gives you a clear path through Hoenn: from choosing your starter Pokémon and approaching Gym Leaders to catching Groudon and preparing a powerful post-game team. Follow the checklists, use the strategic tips, and remember to enjoy exploration — secret bases, contests, and trading with friends make the adventure richer. Hoenn rewards planning and creativity: build a team you love, and the rest will follow.

Good luck, trainer — and may your Poké Balls always land true.