You've probably just beaten the first Gym or maybe you're fresh off a Titan fight, and suddenly the path opens up. You step into South Province Area Three. It’s dusty. It’s rocky. Honestly, it's a bit of a difficulty spike if you aren't paying attention.
Most players treat this stretch of Paldea as a transit zone. They're just trying to get to Artazon or find the next "big thing." But if you rush through, you’re missing out on the actual backbone of the early game. This isn't just a patch of dirt between Mesagoza and the East; it’s where the game stops holding your hand.
The terrain is rugged.
Navigating the cliffs and the winding paths can be a pain if you haven’t upgraded Koraidon or Miraidon yet. You’ll find yourself looking at a ledge, thinking you can make it, and then sliding right back down into a pack of angry Primeape. It’s frustrating, sure, but it’s also the first time Pokémon Scarlet and Violet feels like an actual adventure rather than a guided tour.
The Pokémon Everyone Misses in South Province Area Three
Look, everyone knows you can find Lechonk and Pawmi here. That’s basic. But South Province Area Three is secretly a goldmine for competitive-adjacent Mons and some surprisingly heavy hitters for the early game.
Have you actually looked for Charcadet? It’s here. It’s rare, but it’s here. It’s a tiny, flickering flame of a Pokémon that eventually becomes either Ceruledge or Armarouge—two of the most iconic designs in the Gen 9 Pokédex. Finding one early changes your entire playthrough. You’ll usually spot them near the rocky outcroppings or tucked away in corners where you’d normally ignore the grass.
Then there’s Klawf. The Stony Cliff Titan is the "boss" of this area, but the wild ones roaming around are equally formidable for a level 15 team.
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The spawn list is actually pretty diverse:
- Nacli: These little salt blocks are everywhere. Do not underestimate Garganacl later in the game; catching a good Nacli here is a pro move.
- Makuhita and Hariyama: They hang out in the more open, barren sections. High HP, heavy hits. Great for the early gyms.
- Flamigo: If you see one, catch it. Seriously. It doesn't evolve, which sounds like a bummer, but its base stats are absurdly high for the start of the game. It can carry your team through three badges single-handedly.
- Shinx and Luxio: A fan favorite for a reason. Electric coverage is vital because there are plenty of Corvisquire and Wingull flying around.
Navigating the Canyon Without Losing Your Mind
The verticality of South Province Area Three is its most defining feature. It’s a canyon system. If you stick to the main road, you’re going to have a standard, boring experience. The real value is in the detours.
There are items scattered on top of the pillars that you simply cannot reach without the high jump or climb abilities. It’s a classic "Metroidvania" design choice in a Pokémon skin. You see a TM shimmering up there—maybe it's TM071 (Rock Tomb)—and you realize you have to come back later.
The Watchtower is a landmark you can't miss. Climbing it is non-negotiable. Not only does it give you a fast-travel point, but it's usually home to a Gimmighoul in its Chest Form. Collect those coins. You need 999 of them to get Gholdengo, and this is one of the first reliable spots to start that long, agonizing grind.
Why the Trainers Here Are a Wake-up Call
The AI in this area is a step up from the Los Platos tutorial phase. You’ll run into trainers with Level 13 to Level 16 Pokémon. If you’ve been avoiding wild encounters, you might find yourself in a spot of trouble.
One specific trainer near the Artazon border uses a Crabrawlable that hits like a truck. If you’re leading with a Fire or Normal type, be prepared to use some Potions. The "Battle Rewards" guy at the nearby Pokémon Center is also a key figure. In Paldea, these NPCs give you actually useful items (like Loaded Dice or Shell Bell) if you defeat a certain number of trainers in the zone.
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In South Province Area Three, you need to beat four trainers to get the reward. It’s worth the ten minutes of hunting them down.
The Secret To Finding Rare Spawns
If you’re hunting for something specific, like a Chansey for XP farming or that elusive Charcadet, you have to use the sandwich mechanic. Even a basic "Encounter Power: Fire" sandwich will make Charcadet pop up like weeds.
I’ve spent hours testing the spawn rates near the bridges. The game uses "biome-based" spawning. If you stand near the water, you get one pool; move ten feet to the rocks, and it resets. You can "reset" the spawns without leaving the area by just opening and closing your Picnic. It’s a bit of a cheese tactic, but it works.
Addressing the Performance Elephant in the Room
Let's be real for a second. South Province Area Three is notorious for frame rate drops.
The combination of the long sightlines and the moving windmills in the distance can make the game chug. It’s not your Switch; it’s the engine. To mitigate this, try to keep your camera tilted slightly downward when you’re sprinting through the open fields. It reduces the number of assets the game has to render on the horizon. It’s a weird "fix," but it actually helps maintain a smoother experience while you’re hunting for items.
Breaking Down the Titan Fight
The Stony Cliff Titan, Klawf, is technically part of this zone's progression. It’s located on the eastern cliffs.
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Strategy-wise? Bring a Water or Grass type. Your starter (unless you picked Fuecoco) should handle this easily. If you picked the fire croc, make sure you caught a Psyduck or a Masquerain earlier. Klawf’s "Anger Shell" ability kicks in when its HP drops below half, boosting its offensive stats while lowering defense. It's a race to the finish at that point. Once you beat it, your mount learns how to dash.
Dashing changes everything. It makes traversing the rest of South Province Area Three so much less of a chore.
Common Misconceptions About This Zone
People often think you have to follow the path exactly as the map suggests. You don't. You can jump off cliffs. You can skip trainers. You can even bypass Artazon entirely if you’re brave enough to navigate the mountains toward the north.
Another mistake? Ignoring the Tera Pokémon. There is a Wild Tera Pokémon (usually a Jolteon or a similar high-value target depending on your version and luck with spawns) that glows with a gold aura. These have fixed Tera types and often boast better-than-average IVs. Even if you don't plan on using it, catching it gives you a massive amount of Tera Shards.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Visit
To maximize your time in this rocky wasteland, follow this specific workflow:
- Unlock the Watchtower first: This is your anchor point. If you faint or need to fly back, this saves you five minutes of manual travel.
- Hunt the Gimmighoul: Check the top of the tower and the ruins nearby.
- Battle the four trainers: Talk to the League Rep at the Pokémon Center afterward to claim your held item.
- Catch a Nacli: Even if you don't like its look, the "Salt Cure" move is one of the most broken status effects in the game for taking down tough bosses.
- Look for the technical machines: TM071 (Rock Tomb) and TM049 (Sunny Day) are both tucked away in the nooks of this province.
Don't treat this as just another map to clear. The South Province Area Three transition is the moment the game shifts from a tutorial to a legitimate open-world experience. Take the time to climb the weird rocks and fight the "unnecessary" battles. Your mid-game team will thank you for the extra effort and the rare items you'll inevitably stumble upon.
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