Your father is the Gym Leader in Petalburg City. Before you set off to win Hoenn’s badges, a visit is in order. It will also be a chance to help a shy boy catch his very first Pokémon.

Goal
Meet Norman and help Wally
Trainers
4 on Route 102
Catches
Ralts, Zigzagoon, Poochyena, Lotad
Next
Route 104 and Petalburg Woods

🌳Route 102

West of Oldale Town, Route 102 is your first real training ground: four young trainers (Youngsters, a Bug Catcher and a Lass) await you, only one of them in Emerald. It is also one of the few routes where you can catch Ralts, a rare Psychic-type that will become Gardevoir. North of the route, a Berry patch lets you harvest your first Oran and Pecha Berries.

First battle against a Route 102 trainer
Your first catch
The Berry patches on Route 102
  • RaltsPsychic

    Rare (4%), it evolves into Kirlia then Gardevoir. An excellent special attacker.

  • ZigzagoonNormal

    Zigzagoon learns Pickup and picks up items as you walk.

  • PoochyenaDark

    Poochyena evolves into Mightyena at level 18: a good Dark-type attacker.

  • LotadWaterGrass

    Lotad (Sapphire and Emerald) evolves into Lombre then Ludicolo.

Route 102

Map
Click to enlarge
Wild Pokémon
Tall grass
Surfing
Old Rod fishing
Good Rod fishing
Super Rod fishing
Swarm
Swarm (when communicating with )
Trainers

4 Trainers · 256 ₽ in total

  • Youngster Calvin PokéNav
    Zigzagoon5
    80 ₽
  • Bug Catcher Omar
    Wurmple4Wurmple4
    64 ₽
  • Youngster Alain PokéNav
    Poochyena5Taillow3
    48 ₽
  • Lass Marianne
    Zigzagoon4Zigzagoon4
    64 ₽
Items
  • PotionOn the ground in the southwest of the route.
  • Oran Berryrowspan="2" | Pick in the north of the route.
  • Pecha Berry}

🏠Petalburg City: your father, Norman

In Petalburg City, step into the Gym: Norman welcomes you, proud of your departure. But he refuses to battle you right away: come back with four badges. At that very moment, a frail young boy, Wally, walks into the Gym. He has to go live with relatives in Verdanturf Town, out in the countryside, and dreams of having a Pokémon to keep him company.

Norman lends him a Zigzagoon and asks you to go with him to Route 102. Watch him closely: it’s the game’s catching tutorial. Wally catches a Ralts and, delighted, heads home. You’ll see him again!

Petalburg City, your father's town
Norman is waiting for you in his Gym
Wally catches his first Pokémon

🧭On to Rustboro City

Route 104 starts west of Petalburg City. Its southern part runs along the beach to the home of Mr. Briney, an old sailor and his Wingull Peeko. He will be very useful to you later. To the north, the path crosses Petalburg Woods before reaching Rustboro City.

Petalburg City

Map
Click to enlarge
Wild Pokémon
Surfing
Old Rod fishing
Good Rod fishing
Super Rod fishing
Items
  • HM03Given by Wally's father after you beat Norman.
  • Max ReviveOn the ground east of the Gym, requires Surf.
  • EtherOn the ground southwest of the L-shaped pond, requires Surf.
  • Rare CandyOn the ground southeast of the L-shaped pond, requires Surf.