Pocket Monsters - Ruby (Japan)

Whether you’re a new trainer or revisiting your childhood adventure, these tips will help you get the most out of your Pocket Monsters Ruby playthrough on GBA. Start with your starter Pokémon choice: each has unique benefits for different playstyles. Treecko, the Grass-type starter, boasts impressive speed and special attack, performing well against the early game Rock and Bug gyms, but struggles against the mid-game Poison and late-game Water-type threats. Torchic, the Fire-type starter, evolves into Blaziken, a dual Fire/Fighting-type with well-rounded stats that can handle nearly every gym leader in the game, making it the most beginner-friendly pick for first-time players. Mudkip, the Water-type starter, evolves into Swampert, a dual Water/Ground-type with only one single weakness (Grass) and incredible defensive stats, making it perfect for long exploration runs without frequent healing stops. Early in your adventure, head to Route 110 to catch a Wailmer as soon as you can: its high Water-type stats and the Surf HM will carry you through gym battles and across Hoenn’s extensive water routes for most of the game. To encounter the version-exclusive legendary Groudon, you first need to defeat the Elite Four, complete the sea route unlock quest, then navigate to the Cave of Origin just outside Sootopolis City. Groudon spawns at level 45, so bring plenty of Ultra Balls and a high-level Water-type Pokémon to weaken it without knocking it out accidentally. If you want to complete the full Hoenn Pokédex, arrange trades with players who own Pocket Monsters Sapphire to get Sapphire-exclusive Pokémon like Kyogre that cannot be found natively in Ruby. Don’t forget to leverage Abilities: Groudon’s Drought Ability boosts your Fire-type moves and weakens opponent Water attacks, so build your Elite Four team around this powerful passive for easy wins against the champion.