The Valley is the sixth and final major course. The ZERO-ONE floats down a canyon on fast-flowing water full of drops and bends. At the fork that ends the descent, a floodgate closes off a lagoon where a tropical-style hut hides. That is where Professor Oak is waiting for you, once the gate is open. Thirteen species live in the Valley: water Pokémon, from the common Magikarp to the rare Dratini, and even Dragonite, as well as Squirtle that play in the current or on the banks.
Access and unlocking
The Valley opens after the Cave, once you have photographed 40 different species since the start of the game. On your first visit, you will have the Pester Ball, because it is what opens the Cave. You will need it here for almost every highlight of the course.
The thirteen species
| Pokémon | Where and how | Useful item |
|---|---|---|
| Squirtle | Brown shells float at the entrance of the course. An item pushes them forward; if they are well aimed, they land on the bank and let a Squirtle out. More turn up near the end: all but one climb a large mound. | Apple or Pester Ball |
| Goldeen | An item thrown into the water sometimes makes a Goldeen jump. | Apple or Pester Ball |
| Dratini | Same principle, with rarer opportunities. A Dratini jumps periodically near the Dragonite whirlpool, which makes for a less random shot. | Apple or Pester Ball |
| Mankey | Four appearances: one in front of Dugtrio Mountain, another on a ledge to the left, a third on a ledge to the right, and the last at the top of a mound, at the end. | Pester Ball (for the last one) |
| Sandshrew | Three are buried underground. Knock down the Geodude clinging to the wall with Pester Balls: the impact makes the Sandshrew pop out. | Pester Ball |
| Sandslash | Knock down two Geodude, a Graveler falls from higher up, and the impact makes a Sandslash leap out. A shot of a Sandslash about to dive back underground pleases the Professor. | Pester Ball |
| Geodude | Clinging to the walls from the start. When hit, they fall for a moment before climbing back up. | Pester Ball |
| Graveler | The first one is with the Geodude; three others sleep further on. The Poké Flute wakes them up and they perform a tribal dance. | Pester Ball, Poké Flute |
| Magikarp | The first one flops around at the start. Many others jump out of the water when you throw an item in. | Pester Ball |
| Gyarados | Get the Magikarp out of the water at the start: it flops around on land, a Mankey hits it, and then you find it again further on. A hit from a Pester Ball sends it back into the water, where it climbs a waterfall and evolves. | Pester Ball |
| Staryu | Three float in the second stretch of rapids. A shot from the front makes their gem glow and they circle the ZERO-ONE. | None |
| Starmie | The Staryu that follow you dive into a large whirlpool at the end of the rapids and come out as Starmie. | None |
| Dragonite | A large whirlpool on the right: three or four Pester Balls depending on the sources, and Dragonite rises up. | Pester Ball |
The highlights, in order
The Squirtle shells
From the very first metres, brown shells bob in the water. Hit them: they move. If you aim well, they run aground on the bank and a Squirtle pulls itself out. You need to aim carefully: a badly aimed shell falls back into the water.
Geodude, Graveler, Sandshrew and Sandslash
Next you come across Geodude clinging to the cliff. As you knock them down, you will notice two effects: the buried Sandshrew burst out from the impact, and if you knock down two Geodude in a row, the Graveler perched above falls in turn, which frees a Sandslash. Further on, three Graveler sleep: once you have the Poké Flute in hand, play it and watch them get up and dance.
Magikarp and Gyarados
At the start, a Magikarp flops around on the surface. Hit it with a Pester Ball: it falls onto land, but a Mankey sends it flying with a big punch. You find it again further on, wriggling on the ground. Hit it again: it leaps into the water, climbs a nearby waterfall and comes out as Gyarados.
Staryu and Starmie
During the second part of the rapids, three Staryu float past. If you photograph one from the front, its gem glows blue and the Staryu start circling the ZERO-ONE. They follow you to the end of the rapids, then dive into a large whirlpool and come out as Starmie.
Dragonite
On the right, a large whirlpool is spinning. Throw several Pester Balls into it in a row: Bulbapedia counts three, Serebii four. In the end, Dragonite rises out of the whirlpool. A Dratini periodically leaps out of the water next to it, which means you do not have to rely on luck for the shot of the smaller species.
The floodgate and Oak’s hut
This is the Valley’s big puzzle, and one of the few scenes that require several actions in a row. Near the end, three Squirtle stand at the foot of a mound, and a Mankey stands at the top. Two of the Squirtle run away; the third stays in its shell. Position yourself well, then hit that shell with a Pester Ball: it rolls up the mound and hits the Mankey, which falls on the other side, onto a small bump in front of a red button. All that is left is to throw a second Pester Ball so that the Mankey lands on the button: the floodgate opens. The ZERO-ONE heads into the lagoon, where Oak is standing in front of his hut.
Oak then explains that he has noticed Pokémon shapes in the island’s scenery and asks you to photograph the six Pokémon Signs, one per course. This is the trigger for the last course of the game. The Dash Engine for your ZERO-ONE also arrives at this point in the game, according to the TAS submission we cite and the RetroAchievements guide.
The Pokémon Sign: Dugtrio Mountain
Shortly after the ZERO-ONE has landed on the river, three broad peaks rise in the distance. They do not look like the surrounding mountains: they are the three heads of a giant Dugtrio. The Professor will name it Dugtrio Mountain. All you need to do is aim the camera at it, with no item required. The Mankey at the entrance screeches right in front of it, which gives you one more photo to take.
Next in the guide
Once you have handed all six Signs to Oak, the Rainbow Cloud opens: that is where Mew is waiting.
