So, you’ve beaten the Elite Four. You’ve watched the credits roll on Hoenn for the second time in your life—once in 2003 and once in the remake. You think you’re done. But then, that screen pops up with the "To Be Continued" vibe, and suddenly, a giant green dragon is screaming through the atmosphere.
The Delta Episode in Omega Ruby isn’t just some post-game DLC fluff. It’s a weird, lore-heavy, slightly existential crisis for the Pokemon franchise that honestly changed how we look at the entire series timeline. When Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire dropped, most people expected a simple 1:1 remake of Emerald. We didn't get that. Instead, Game Freak threw a literal meteor at us.
What Actually Happens in the Delta Episode?
The story kicks off immediately after you become the Champion. You’re back in Littleroot, and everything feels normal until a new character named Zinnia shows up. She’s... intense. She’s a Draconid, part of an ancient tribe that’s been waiting for a world-ending event for generations. While the scientists at the Mossdeep Space Center are trying to use "Warp Panel" technology to teleport an incoming asteroid away, Zinnia basically says, "Hold on, you're going to kill everyone in a different dimension."
That’s where the Delta Episode in Omega Ruby gets heavy. It introduces the Multiverse. Zinnia argues that if you teleport the meteor away, it might land on a version of Hoenn where Mega Evolution doesn't exist—specifically, the Hoenn from the original Game Boy Advance games. It’s a meta-narrative wink to the players. It’s the game’s way of saying the 2003 games and the 2014 games coexist in different realities.
Meeting Rayquaza and Deoxys
The climax takes place at the Sky Pillar. It’s a long climb. You’ll need to be prepared because the level curve jumps. Zinnia performs a ritual, but it fails. Why? Because you’re the protagonist, and Rayquaza likes you better. You end up catching Rayquaza—which is mandatory to progress—and then you literally fly it into space.
Inside the meteor is Deoxys. This was a massive deal at the time. Before this, Deoxys was an "event-only" Pokemon. If you didn't go to a specific real-world location or get a special ticket, you were out of luck. In the Delta Episode in Omega Ruby, they finally made one of the coolest Mythical Pokemon accessible to everyone for free. The fight happens in the vacuum of space with "Battle! Deoxys" blasting in your headphones. It’s arguably the most cinematic moment in any 3DS-era Pokemon game.
The Grind and the Backtracking
Let’s be real for a second. The Delta Episode in Omega Ruby has some pacing issues. It’s a lot of "go here, talk to this person, fly across the map, talk to them again." You’re going to be spending a lot of time flying between Petalburg, Rustboro, and Mossdeep.
If you aren't using the Eon Flute to soar, it gets tedious fast.
- First, you go to Petalburg to see Wally.
- Then you’re off to Meteor Falls.
- Then it's the Devon Corporation in Rustboro.
- Back to Mossdeep.
- Over to the Team Magma/Aqua hideout.
It's a "Grand Tour" of Hoenn, which is nice for nostalgia, but if you’re just trying to get to the space fight, it feels like busywork. However, the dialogue helps. Zinnia is a polarizing character, but she provides a mystery that keeps you moving. She’s not a hero, but she’s not a villain either. She’s just someone trying to save the world in a very reckless way.
Why the Lore Matters for the Future
The Delta Episode in Omega Ruby did something the series hadn't really done before: it acknowledged its own history. By confirming the existence of parallel timelines, it gave Game Freak a "get out of jail free" card for any future inconsistencies. It also set the stage for Ultra Wormholes in Sun and Moon and the weird spatial distortions in Legends: Arceus.
There’s also the Mega Rayquaza factor. This thing was so broken it had to be banned from the "Uber" tier in competitive play—the tier designed for the most powerful Pokemon. It essentially created a new tier called "Anything Goes." Because Rayquaza doesn't need a held item to Mega Evolve (it just needs to know the move Dragon Ascent), you can give it a Life Orb or a Choice Band. It’s a monster.
Honestly, playing the Delta Episode in Omega Ruby today makes you realize how much more "ambitious" the post-games used to be. Compared to the Area Zero finale in Scarlet and Violet, the Delta Episode feels more personal and strange. It wasn't just about catching a legendary; it was about the philosophy of the Pokemon world.
Preparing for the Finale
If you're about to start the episode, don't just rush in. The trainers you'll face, especially the final battle with Zinnia, have teams in the low 60s. Rayquaza is Level 70 when you encounter it.
You’ll want a lead Pokemon that can handle Dragon and Flying types. An Ice-type or a strong Fairy-type like Gardevoir or Sylveon is a godsend here. Also, bring a lot of Ultra Balls or a Master Ball. While the catch rate for Rayquaza is surprisingly high in this specific encounter (because the game wants you to have it for the Deoxys fight), Deoxys is a different story. Deoxys is Level 80. It hits like a truck and has a low catch rate. Save your Master Ball for the space virus, not the dragon.
Actionable Steps for Completing the Episode
To get the most out of this experience without burning out on the backtracking, follow this flow.
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Stock up on Max Repels and Ultra Balls. You’re going to be traversing caves and the Sky Pillar. Nothing kills the mood like a Zubat every three steps when you’re trying to save the planet from a space rock.
Level your team to at least 65. While Rayquaza does a lot of the heavy lifting at the very end, you need to get through Zinnia’s team first. Her Salamence is no joke. It will Mega Evolve and it will try to sweep you.
Bring a Pokemon with False Swipe. If you want to catch Deoxys without using a Master Ball, you need to get its HP down to 1. Since you can't save between the Rayquaza fight and the Deoxys fight, if you accidentally knock Deoxys out, you have to beat the Elite Four again to make it respawn. Don't take that risk. Use False Swipe.
Pay attention to the Lore. Talk to the NPCs in the Draconid camp at Meteor Falls. They explain the backstory of the "Great War" mentioned in X and Y, further linking the Kalos and Hoenn regions.
Manage your PC boxes. Make sure you have an open slot in your party or at least space in your boxes. There is nothing more frustrating than getting to a legendary encounter and realizing your storage is a mess.
The Delta Episode in Omega Ruby remains one of the high points of the 3DS era. It’s messy, it’s full of dialogue, and the travel is a bit much, but that final sequence in space is something every Pokemon fan should experience at least once. It turned a standard remake into something that felt vital to the series' ongoing narrative.
Once you finish, remember that the Battle Resort is now open. This is where the real "endgame" begins, featuring the Move Tutors and the second half of the National Pokedex. You can also start hunting for the "Mirage Spots" that appear across the map, which contain almost every other legendary from previous generations.