How to Master the Pokémon Ruby Game Walkthrough Without Getting Stuck

Honestly, playing Hoenn in 2026 feels different. You’ve got the nostalgia, sure, but the Pokémon Ruby game walkthrough is a bit of a beast if you aren’t prepared for the sheer amount of water and the weirdly specific gym puzzles. People always talk about Gen 3 being the "too much water" generation. They aren't wrong. But there’s a rhythm to it. If you miss a beat, you’re stuck surfing between Lilycove and Mossdeep for three hours wondering why the Team Magma grunt won't move.

It starts simple in Littleroot. You pick a starter. Treecko is for the masochists, Mudkip is the speedrun king, and Torchic is the middle ground that becomes a beast once it evolves into Combusken. Most people mess up by not catching a Wingull or a Taillow early on. You need that Flying-type coverage. Without it, Brawly is going to wreck your team in Dewford Town.

Getting Past the First Three Badges

The early game is basically a sprint to Mauville City. You beat Roxanne in Rustboro—easy enough if you chose Mudkip or Treecko, but a nightmare for Torchic users. If you have a fire bird, go catch a Shroomish in Petalburg Woods. Seriously. It learns Absorb, and that’s your golden ticket.

After you deliver the goods to Steven in the Granite Cave (don't forget the Flash HM, even though the cave is technically navigable without it if you have eyes like a hawk), you head to Mauville. This is the hub. This is where the Pokémon Ruby game walkthrough really opens up. Wattson is the first real wall. His Magneton is a tank. If you don't have a Fighting-type or a Ground-type, you're going to be there all day. Pro tip: The Rock Smash HM is actually useful here. Use it.

The Flannery and Norman Hurdle

Once you get through the desert—which you can't do without the Go-Goggles—you hit Lavaridge. Flannery’s Torkoal uses Overheat. It hurts. A lot. If you haven't evolved your Mudkip into Marshtomp by now, you’re doing it wrong. Water/Ground is the best typing in this game, period.

Then comes Norman. Your dad. He’s a jerk. His Slaking has the Truant ability, which means it only attacks every other turn. This is the only reason he’s beatable. You have to play a game of "protect and switch." Dig is a great move here because you can hide underground while he’s active and pop up when he’s loafing around.

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Navigating the Team Magma Mess

Ruby is unique because you’re fighting Team Magma, not Team Aqua. Maxie wants to dry up the world. It's a bold strategy, Cotton. The plot peaks at the Weather Institute and then spills over into Lilycove City.

You’ll find yourself at Mt. Pyre. It’s spooky, it’s got ghosts, and it’s where the Red Orb comes into play. You need to follow the trail to the Magma Hideout. It’s hidden in a jagged pass. Most players walk right past the entrance because it looks like just another rock wall. Look for the circular indentations.

The Mid-Game Navigation Nightmare

This is where the Pokémon Ruby game walkthrough gets polarizing. The HMs. You need Surf. You need Strength. You need Dive. You need Waterfall. It’s an "HM slave" economy. Linoone is the MVP of this game not because it’s a great fighter, but because it can learn almost everything you need to navigate the map.

The underwater sections are actually cool if you know where you’re going. You’re looking for the Seafloor Cavern. This is where Groudon is sleeping. If you don't bring a Master Ball, be prepared for a long fight. Groudon is Level 45 and loves to use Bulk Up. Catching it makes the Elite Four a joke, but some players prefer the challenge of a "no legendary" run.

The Mossdeep and Sootopolis Grind

Mossdeep Gym is a double battle. This was revolutionary back in the day. Tate and Liza use Lunatone and Solrock. They spam Psychic and Sunny Day. If you brought a Grass-type, watch out for the Fire-type moves they'll launch under the sun. Surf hits both of them at once, which makes Marshtomp/Swampert the MVP yet again.

Sootopolis is the final stop. You have to deal with the drought first. Once Groudon is dealt with (either caught or knocked out), Wallace is your final challenge. He’s a Water-type master. In Sapphire, he's the gym leader, but in Ruby, he’s still the guy you need to beat for the Rain Badge. Electric moves are your friend here. Manectric or Raichu can sweep his entire team if they’re leveled high enough.

Prepping for the Ever Grande Send-off

Victory Road in Hoenn is legendary for being a pain. It's long. It's dark. It's full of high-level trainers. You need almost every HM to get through it. Bring Max Repels unless you want to fight a Loudred every five steps.

The Elite Four breakdown is pretty straightforward:

1. Sidney (Dark): Use Fighting or Bug moves. Easy.
2. Phoebe (Ghost): Use Ghost or Dark moves. Her Dusclops is annoying.
3. Glacia (Ice): Fire or Fighting. Don't use Grass or Flying.
4. Drake (Dragon): Ice Beam. If you don't have Ice Beam, you’re going to have a bad time.

Then there’s Steven. The Champion. His Metagross is one of the hardest Pokémon to kill in the entire series. It’s Steel/Psychic. It has high defense. It hits like a truck. You need Earthquake or a very strong Fire move to take it down before it uses Hyper Beam and ends your career.

Making the Most of the Post-Game

Once the credits roll, you aren't done. The Pokémon Ruby game walkthrough technically extends to the Battle Tower and the pursuit of the wandering Latios. Yes, Latios is Ruby-exclusive, while Latias stays in Sapphire.

You’ll need the Acro Bike and the Mach Bike for different areas. Go back to the Safari Zone. There are areas you couldn't reach before. Also, the Sky Pillar is now open. This is where Rayquaza lives. It’s at Level 70. If you didn't use your Master Ball on Groudon, use it here. Rayquaza is the ultimate "delete" button for any trainer left standing in Hoenn.

Essential Tips for Success

• Check the clocks: Time-based events like shoals in Shoal Cave or berry growth depend on the internal battery. If you’re playing on original hardware and the battery is dry, berries won't grow.
• The Secret Power TM: Talk to the guy under the tree on Route 111. Secret Bases are the best part of the social game, even if you're just playing solo to decorate a room.
• Feebas is a myth: Okay, it's not a myth, but it only appears in six random water tiles on Route 119. If you want a Milotic, be prepared to fish every single square of that river. It's tedious. It's painful.

Actionable Next Steps

To actually finish your run efficiently, do these three things right now:

1. Check your HMs: Ensure you have a "utility" Pokémon (like Linoone or Sharpedo) that carries Surf, Strength, and Rock Smash so your main combatants can have four useful attacking moves.
2. Go to the Abandoned Ship: You can get the Scanner there, which you trade in Slateport for the DeepSeaTooth or DeepSeaScale. It’s a side quest most people skip, but the items are great for Clamperl.
3. Scout the Mirage Island: Every day, talk to the old man in Pacifidlog Town. If he sees the island, go there immediately to get the Liechi Berry. It’s the rarest berry in the game and basically impossible to find otherwise.