Our guide to the Gym Leaders of Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire including their Pokémon, their movesets and levels and the best counters.

Sidney

Type: Dark
Prize: $4900
Suggested Pokemon: Machamp/Machoke, Hariyama, Ninetales

Mightyena @ None Level 46 Ability: Intimidate - Crunch - Sand-attack - Take Down - Roar

Cacturne @ None Level 46 Ability: Sand Veil - Faint Attack - Needle Arm - Cotton Spore - Leech Seed

Shiftry @ None Level 48 Ability: Chlorophyll - Fake Out - Extrasensory - Double Team - Swagger

Sharpedo @ None Level 48 Ability: Rough Skin - Crunch - Surf - Slash - Swagger

Absol @ Sitrus Berry Level 49 Ability: Pressure - Snatch - Swords Dance - Slash - Aerial Ace

Hariyama won't have many problems here and can successfully take everyone of Sidney's Pokemon out, but will run into trouble with Absol's Aerial Ace and Shiftry's Extrasensory, so bring along Ninetales to torch the Grass/Dark-types and save energy on Hariyama for Absol. You'll need him later. Of course, it doesn't really matter if you brought Revives with you.

Phoebe

Type: Ghost
Prize: $5100
Suggested Pokemon: Sharpedo

Dusclops @ None Level 48 Ability: Pressure - Curse - Confuse Ray - Shadow Punch - Future Sight

Banette @ None Level 49 Ability: Insomnia - Spite - Will-o-Wisp - Shadow Ball - Faint Attack

Banette @ None Level 49 Ability: Insomnia - Skill Swap - Toxic - Psychic - Shadow Ball

Sableye (F) @ None Level 50 Ability: Keen Eye - Attract - Faint Attack - Shadow Ball - Psychic

Dusclops @ Sitrus Berry Level 51 Ability: Pressure - Earthquake - Confuse Ray - Shadow Ball - Ice Beam

Phoebe's team can be taken down by a strong and fast Dark-type, Sharpedo being the best candidate. Since Banette are frail and Dusclops can't take Super effective hits, you'll really only have to worry about Sableye, and she won't be much of a problem, considering she's pretty frail too. Crunch everyone and move onto the next room.

Glacia

Type: Ice
Prize: $5300
Suggested Pokemon: Hariyama, Ninetales

Glalie @ None Level 50 Ability: Inner Focus - Crunch - Hail - Light Screen - Ice Beam

Glalie @ None Level 52 Ability: Inner Focus - Shadow Ball - Hail - Crunch - Ice Beam

Sealeo @ None Level 50 Ability: Thick Fat - Surf - Hail - Body Slam - Ice Ball

Sealeo (F) @ None Level 52 Ability: Thick Fat - Dive - Hail - Attract - Blizzard

Walrein @ None Level 53 Ability: Thick Fat - Blizzard - Sheer Cold - Body Slam - Surf

Hariyama won't have many troubles here, considering none of Glacia's Pokemon know Psychic- or Flying-type moves. Ninetales can be used to stall on those Glalies and save up PP.

Drake

Type: Dragon
Prize: $5500
Suggested Pokemon: Walrein

Shelgon @ None Level 52 Ability: Rock Head - Dragon Claw - Crunch - Protect - Rock Tomb

Altaria @ None Level 54 Ability: Natural Cure - Dragon Breath - Take Down - Dragon Dance - Refresh

Flygon @ None Level 53 Ability: Levitate - Dragonbreath - Crunch - Sand-attack - Flamethrower

Flygon @ None Level 53 Ability: Levitate - Dig - Fly - Dragonbreath - Sandstorm

Salamence @ Sitrus Berry Level 55 Ability: Intimidate - Dragon Claw - Fly - Crunch - Flamethrower

Drake's pretty challenging, so save before you face him. Walrein is bulky and can take a lot of hit and considering none of his Pokemon have super-effective attacks against it (except Shelgon's Rock Tomb), you shouldn't have that much of a problem with his team. Use Hail and Blizzard, but also use Ice Beam to save PP, unless you have Ethers or Elixirs.

Steven

Type: Steel and Rock
Prize: $11600
Suggested Pokemon: Sharpedo, Hariyama, Ninetales

Skarmory @ None Level 57 Ability: Keen Eye - Spikes - Toxic - Steel Wing - Aerial Ace

Cradily @ None Level 56 Ability: Suction Cups - Confuse Ray - Sludge Bomb - Giga Drain - Ancientpower

Claydol @ None Level 55 Ability: Levitate - Earthquake - Ancientpower - Reflect - Light Screen

Armaldo @ None Level 56 Ability: Battle Armor - Water Pulse - Slash - Aerial Ace - Ancientpower

Aggron @ None Level 56 Ability: Sturdy - Earthquake - Thunder - Solarbeam - Dragon Claw

Metagross @ None Level 58 Ability: Clear Body - Earthquake - Psychic - Meteor Mash - Hyper Beam

Steven is actually pretty easy (he's incredible easy if you have a Blaziken), but requires tactic. Aggron, Claydol and Armaldo can be taken out by both Sharpedo or Hariyama. Ninetales can take out Skarmory but may have trouble with Metagross, so use Overheat to blast Metagross away for good. Cradily can be taken out by Hariyama.

 

Rustboro City: Roxanne

Type: Rock
Prize: TM39 Rock Tomb, $1500
Suggested Pokemon: Shroomish, Lotad/Seedot, Wingull

Geodude @ None Level 14 Ability: Sturdy - Tackle - Rock Throw - Defense Curl - Rock Tomb

Nosepass @ None Level 15 Ability: Sturdy - Harden - Tackle - Rock Throw - Rock Tomb

Roxanne's team is pretty easy to take down, considering she's the first gym leader. With a Rock-type team, she can be taken down by any local Grass-type or Water-type, depending on your preference. Shroomish can be found in the Petalburg Woods, and depending on your version, you can find Lotad or Seedot in the routes before Petalburg City. Wingull might run into trouble with Rock Throw, but if the level's high enough, you won't have to worry.

Dewford Town: Brawly

Type: Fighting
Prize: $1800, TM08 Bulk Up
Suggested Pokemon: Taillow, Wingull

Machop @ None Level 17 Ability: Guts - Bulk Up - Focus Energy - Karate Chop - Low Kick

Makuhita @ None Level 18 Ability: Guts - Bulk Up - Knock Off - Arm Thrust - Sand Attack

Brawly's really easy with any starter. Treecko would have the hardest time because it's so frail, so bring along a Flying-type. Wingull and Taillow are excellent choices because both of them learn Wing Attack at level 13, which you can spam to take out Makuhita and Machop. Combusken gets Peck, so it's a shoe-in as well, and Marshtomp is just so bulky it can probably had itself.

Mauville City: Wattson

Type: Rock
Prize: TM34 Shock Wave $2300
Suggested Pokemon: Shedinja, Aron, Makuhita

Magnemite @ None Level 22 Ability: Magnet Pull - Thunder Wave - Supersonic - Sonicboom - Thundershock

Voltorb @ None Level 20 Ability: Soundproof - Rollout - Sonicboom - Spark - Selfdestruct

Magneton @ None Level 23 Ability: Magnet Pull - Shock Wave - Thunder Wave - Sonicboom - Supersonic

Wattson's pretty challenging solely because there are no Ground-types available before him. Aron is pretty resistive to Voltorb's Selfdestruct but will get stuck because of Magnet Pull. Wattson really should be taken out by your starter. Makuhita is a good choice for Treecko users because Magneton and Magnemite are weak to Fighting.

Lavaridge Town: Flannery

Type: Fire
Prize: TM50 Overheat, $2800
Suggested Pokemon: Wingull, Marill

Slugma @ None Level 26 Ability: Magma Armor - Smog - Overheat - Light Screen - Sunny Day

Slugma @ None Level 26 Ability: Magma Armor - Rock Slide - Flamethrower - Light Screen - Sunny Day

Torkoal(F) @ None Level 28 Ability: White Smoke - Flail - Overheat - Body Slam - Attract

Marill is your best bet, considering it's pretty sturdy and can take all of Flannery's attacks. It'll sweep everyone with Water Gun and you'll be done in no time. With Wingull, you'll run into difficulties with Slugma's Rock Slide, but Wingull's Water Gun will be far strong enough to OHKO it.

Petalburg City: Norman

Type: Normal
Prizes: TM42 Facade, $3100
Suggested: Machoke, Hariyama

Slaking @ None Level 28 Ability: Truant - Yawn - Faint Attack - Encore - Facade

Vigoroth @ None Level 30 Ability: Vital Spirit - Slash - Faint Attack - Fury Swipes - Facade

Slaking @ Sitrus Berry Level 31 Ability: Truant - Focus Punch - Slack Off - Yawn - Facade

Fighting-types have Norman in the bag. Hariyama is bulky, and can take most of Slaking's attacks, and easily whips Vigoroth. Machoke is the same way. And since they don't have any Flying- or Psychic-type moves, they can't really land any KOs. But they are very [bVERY[/b] strong, so bring Revives and Potions.

Fortree City: Winona

Type: Flying
Prizes: TM40 Aerial Ace, $3300
Suggested: Minun, Electrode

Swellow @ None Level 31 Ability: Guts - Aerial Ace - Double Team - Quick Attack - Focus Energy

Pelipper @ None Level 30 Ability: Keen Eye - Aerial Ace - Water Gun - Supersonic - Protect

Skarmory @ None Level 32 Ability: Keen Eye - Aerial Ace - Steel Wing - Agility - Sand-attack

Altaria @ Sitrus Berry Level 33 Ability: Natural Cure - Dragon Dance - DragonBreath - Aerial Ace - Earthquake

Winona is a tough gym leader. Her team is actually pretty well rounded, but a strong Electric-type will do the trick. Altaria will be a challenge with Earthquake, so bring along a Rock-type to take her down.

Mossdeep City: Tate and Liza

Type: Psychic
Prizes: TM04 Calm Mind, $8400
Suggested Pokemon: Pelipper, Banette

Solrock @ None Level 42 Ability: Levitate - Psychic - Flamethrower - Sunny Day - Solarbeam

Lunatone @ None Level 42 Ability: Levitate - Calm Mind - Psychic - Light Screen - Hypnosis

Pelipper will have this in the bag completely. Surf will take both of them out in two hits. Solrock's Solarbeam will do normal damage, thanks to Pelipper's Flying-type. Banette's also pretty good and despite being pretty slow, packs a punch with super-effective Ghost-type attacks.

Sootopolis City: Wallace

Type: Water
Prizes: TM03 Water Pulse, $4300
Suggested Pokemon: Electrode, Vileplume/Bellossom

Lunatone (F) @ None Level 40 Ability: Swift Swim - Attract - Flail - Sweet Kiss - Water Pulse

Sealeo @ None Level 40 Ability: Thick Fat - Encore - Body Slam - Aurora Beam - Water Pulse

Seaking @ None Level 42 Ability: Swift Swim - Rain Dance - Horn Drill - Fury Attack - Water Pulse

Whiscash @ None Level 42 Ability: Oblivious - Earthquake - Rain Dance - Water Pulse - Amnesia

Milotic @ None Level 43 Ability: Marvel Scale - Recover - Ice Beam - Twister - Water Pulse

Wallace sets himself up to fail as soon as he uses Rain Dance. Despite doubling their speed, you give Electrode's Thunder a 100% accuracy, and can spam that on all of his Pokemon but Whiscash, who'll need a Grass-type to take it down. Bellossom works, because it has access to Magical Leaf and can use that on him. Bellossom can hold herself against everyone besides Sealeo and Milotic, so she's a great candidate too.

 

The first step to catching Latios/Latias is to get the legendary on your Pokedex.

• If you have Sapphire, you are looking for Latias
• If you have Ruby, you are looking for Latios
• If you have Emerald, you choose which Lati you want after beating the game

If you're playing Ruby or Sapphire and you've already beaten your game, you've likely bumped into your Lati at least once. However, if not, getting your Lati registered in the day can be very time consuming. Since the chance of bumping into your Lati in the while randomly is fairly low, I recommend being patient and continuing to play your game normally and traveling around the grass until your Lati appears rather than actively seeking it out.

However, if you have a friend who has the Lati you are looking for, you can easily register the Lati on your dex by having your friend put the Lati in their party and then mixing records with you. If you go to their secret base in your game, you should be able to battle them, and they will have the Lati in their party!

After that, the next step it to find a Pokemon with an ability that stops opponents from running away. There are two abilities in the game that do this: Shadow Tag and Arena Trap. However, Arena Trap does not work on flying or levitating Pokemon, and the only Pokemon with that ability anyways is the unevolved Trapinch.

So that leaves us with two Pokemon who have the Shadow Tag ability.

Wynaut

Wobbuffet

Wobbuffet and Wynaut are the only Pokemon who have Shadow Tag. Since Wobbuffet has the higher defensive cabability, it is the option I recommend.

You can get a Wobbuffet by evolving Wynaut egg you get from the old man in Lavaridge or catch one from the Safari Zone west of Lilycove. You'll want to train your Wobbuffet to about level 60, so it can take your Lati's attacks fairly well. Since Wobbuffet's limited moveset make it a pain to train, I recommend using Experience Share and Rare Candies.

Once you have your Lati Catcher ready, try to meet the legendary. Remember to stock up on a lot of Pokeballs, several Full Restores, and maybe a few X Defends first.

Since your Lati will be level 40, you can also put a Pokemon lower than level 40 first in your party. If you use Repels, your Lati would still be able to appear because it is a higher level than your lead Pokemon. This trick saves time by allowing you to skip extra wild Pokemon battles, but is optional.

Once you're prepared, go to a place where two routes meet. Go back and forth between the two routes and check your Pokedex each time to see if your Lati is on the same route as you. Once you find that you are on the same route, save (in case your Lati faints), then search the grass and water on the route until you bump into the legendary.

Now, you're at the catching. If you don't already have your trapping Pokemon first in your party, switch to it.

If you're using Wobuffest, keep using Mirror Coat until your Lati uses Psychic for the first time. Make sure to take note of approximately how much HP damage the Mirror Coat returned. Then keep using Mirror Coat until the Lati is down to approximately a third of its HP. If you're using another Pokemon, just use a move that does damage and keep track of how much damage you're doing.

Don't lower your Lati's HP too much lower than 1/3 because it is likely to start using Struggle soon.

Once the HP is at a good amount, keep throwing Pokeballs of any type while using healing items on your Pokemon as necessary. If the Lati starts using Struggle, you should use an X Defend or two if you brought any to lessen the recoil damage it does to itself.

If the legendary faints, turn off your game and start going back and forth between routes again. But if not....

Congratulations on your new Latios/Latias!