Gym Leaders & Elite Four Guide
This guide covers Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. Each gym focuses on a specific Pokémon type. Once you have all eight gym badges, you can take on Victory Road to face the Elite Four at the Pokémon League.
Gym Leaders
The Hoenn region features eight Gym Leaders, each specializing in a different Pokémon type. Defeating them earns you badges, which allow you to control higher-level traded Pokémon and use HM moves outside of battle. After collecting all eight badges, you'll gain access to the Pokémon League and the Elite Four challenge.
Gym #1 - Roxanne (Rustboro City)
Location: Rustboro City
Specialty: Rock-type
Reward: Stone Badge (allows use of Cut outside battle), TM39 (Rock Tomb)
Roxanne is the first Gym Leader you'll face. Her Rock-type Pokémon have high defense but are weak to Water, Grass, and Fighting-type moves. If you chose Mudkip or Treecko as your starter, this battle should be straightforward. Watch out for Rock Tomb, which lowers your Speed.
Gym #2 - Brawly (Dewford Town)
Location: Dewford Town
Specialty: Fighting-type
Reward: Knuckle Badge (allows use of Flash outside of battle), TM08 (Bulk Up)
Brawly's gym features a dark maze where trainers hide in the shadows. His Fighting-type Pokémon are weak to Flying and Psychic-type moves. Watch out for Bulk Up, which boosts their Attack and Defense!
Gym #3 - Wattson (Mauville City)
Location: Mauville City
Specialty: Electric-type
Reward: Dynamo Badge (allows use of Rock Smash outside of battle), TM34 (Shock Wave)
Wattson's gym features electric barriers activated by switches. His Electric-type team is vulnerable to Ground-type moves. Watch out for Thunder Wave causing paralysis. Magnemite is also Steel-type, making Fire and Fighting-type moves effective.
Gym #4 - Flannery (Lavaridge Town)
Location: Lavaridge Town
Specialty: Fire-type
Reward: Heat Badge (allows use of Strength outside of battle), TM50 (Overheat)
Flannery's gym has holes in the floor that you'll need to navigate carefully. Her Fire-type Pokémon are weak to Water, Ground, and Rock-type moves. Watch out for Overheat—it's powerful but lowers Special Attack by two levels each time. Her Torkoal has high Defense but can be taken down with special Water or Ground moves.
Gym #5 - Norman (Petalburg City)
Location: Petalburg City
Specialty: Normal-type
Reward: Balance Badge (allows use of Surf outside of battle), TM42 (Facade)
Norman's gym has rooms with trainers using Pokémon focusing on different stats. Fighting-type moves deal super-effective damage here. Be prepared for his powerful Slaking with its massive Attack stat but the Truant ability that makes it inactive every other turn. His Vigoroth doesn't have this limitation and has high Speed!
Gym #6 - Winona (Fortree City)
Location: Fortree City
Specialty: Flying-type
Reward: Feather Badge (allows use of Fly outside of battle), TM40 (Aerial Ace)
Winona's sky-high gym features one-way doors. Her Flying-type team is weak to Electric, Ice, and Rock-type moves. Her Pokémon use Aerial Ace, which never misses. Watch out for Skarmory's high Defense!
Gym #7 - Tate & Liza (Mossdeep City)
Location: Mossdeep City
Specialty: Psychic-type
Reward: Mind Badge (allows use of Dive outside of battle), TM04 (Calm Mind)
This is the only Double Battle gym in Hoenn. Tate and Liza battle you together with their Psychic-type Pokémon. Bring Dark, Bug, and Ghost-type moves to exploit their weaknesses. Their Solrock and Lunatone combo can be tricky with their support moves.
Gym #8 - Wallace (Sootopolis City)
Location: Sootopolis City
Specialty: Water-type
Reward: Rain Badge (allows use of Waterfall outside of battle and raises obedience level to 100), TM03 (Water Pulse)
Wallace is the Gym Leader with his elegant Water-type team. This gym features ice puzzles that you must navigate to reach him. Electric and Grass-type moves will be your best bet here, but be careful as his Milotic has high defenses and Special Attack! Whiscash's Water/Ground typing means Electric moves won't work on it.
Elite Four
After collecting all eight gym badges and navigating Victory Road, you'll reach the Pokémon League where the Elite Four awaits. You must battle all four members consecutively without leaving, so come prepared with plenty of healing items and a well-balanced team.
Elite Four Sidney - Dark-type
Sidney specializes in Dark-type Pokémon. Fighting and Bug-type moves are super effective.
Elite Four Phoebe - Ghost-type
Phoebe uses Ghost-type Pokémon. Dark and Ghost-type moves are super effective. Her Dusclops can be quite tanky with its high defenses.
Elite Four Glacia - Ice-type
Glacia specializes in Ice-type Pokémon. Fire, Fighting, Rock, and Steel-type moves are super effective. Her Glalie can be annoying with its Hail + Blizzard combo. Most of her team has the Thick Fat ability reducing Fire damage.
Elite Four Drake - Dragon-type
The final Elite Four member, Drake, uses Dragon-type Pokémon. Ice-type moves are super effective against most of his team. Dragon-type moves also work well. His Salamence is particularly dangerous with its high Attack stat.
Champion Steven
Steven is the Champion of the Hoenn region in Ruby & Sapphire. His team is built around Steel-type Pokémon with exceptional defensive capabilities and powerful attacks. Fire, Fighting, and Ground-type moves are your best bet against most of his team. His ace Metagross is extremely powerful with both high Attack and Defense stats, plus the Steel/Psychic typing makes it difficult to counter.
