Pokemon Flora Sky Walkthrough: The Complete Guide

Pokemon Flora Sky is one of the most popular Emerald ROM hacks ever made, and for good reason. It has a completely new story involving Giratina and the Torn World, new maps, Pokemon from Generations IV and V, and enough post-game content to keep you busy for dozens of hours. The problem? It’s also one of the easiest ROM hacks to get lost in. The game is non-linear in places, key items are easy to miss, and the post-game legendary quests have prerequisites that aren’t explained anywhere in-game.

This walkthrough is built from multiple Flora Sky-specific sources and covers the Main Version (not the Complement Dex version). Every step has been cross-referenced for accuracy. If you’re playing the Complement Dex version, the main story progression is the same, but some specific Pokemon and events differ.

Getting Started

The game begins with you arriving by truck in Small Town, your new home. After setting the clock in your room and watching a brief TV interview of Cynthia (the region’s champion), you’re free to explore.

Small Town has a few key locations:

• Mail Shop: Buy 5 Orange Mail and 5 Wood Mail early. You’ll need them for trades and quest rewards later. A Shadow Mail and Dream Mail are also worth grabbing.
• Day Care Center: Leave two Pokemon here to level up passively as you walk. They won’t evolve while in Day Care.
• Professor Birch’s Lab: You’ll return here after getting your starter.

Choosing Your Starter

Head right from Small Town to Route A and Mt. Fullmoon. Inside the cave, you’ll encounter a Cresselia illusion and meet a character named Flash. Professor Birch then appears, a wild Zigzagoon attacks, and you choose your starter Pokemon from the three Sinnoh starters:

• Turtwig (Grass): Solid defense, evolves into the Grass/Ground Torterra. Handles the first gym’s Fighting types decently and gives you an edge against the Water gym later.
• Chimchar (Fire): The most commonly recommended pick. Fire types are hard to find early, and Infernape’s Fire/Fighting typing is strong against multiple gyms. Your rival picks the type that beats yours, so expect a Water-type counter.
• Piplup (Water): Empoleon’s Water/Steel typing is defensive and unique, but Water types are easier to find in the wild than Fire types.

After beating the Zigzagoon, you’ll be sent back to the lab to officially receive your starter. Professor Birch then asks you to find his child (Brendan or May, depending on your gender choice). Head back to Mt. Fullmoon for your first rival battle.

Rival Battle #1: Your rival has a Level 5 Pokemon with a type advantage over your starter. Win, return to the lab, and you’ll receive the Pokedex and 5 Pokeballs.

Back on Route A, you’ll meet Sky (an important recurring character) and Wally, who teaches you how to catch Pokemon and gives you the Running Shoes. Before moving on, catch a Ralts here. Route A is the only place you can find Ralts in the wild, and it becomes an excellent team member later.

Professor Birch will also catch up to you near the Forest Entrance and upgrade your Pokedex to a National Dex.

⚡ Tip: Buy mail early from Small Town. You’ll need 5 Orange Mail for Mystic Town’s tea shop, 5 Wood Mail for a TM in Turzoro City, a Shadow Mail for a Moon Stone in Puel City, a Dream Mail for a Cleanse Tag near Platepics, and a Harbor Mail for the Coin Case in Golden City.

Gym 1. Martin (Fighting) in Puel City

From Route A, continue right through the Forest Entrance area (the Polar Forest entrance is blocked by Team Magma for now) and Route B to reach Puel City. Route B has the Berry Master’s house where you can get free berries daily, so it’s worth remembering.

Before the gym: Train your starter to at least Level 14, or catch a Starly and train it to Level 8 or higher. Flying and Psychic types have the advantage here. Buy a few extra Potions from the Puel Shop.

Puel Gym is a Fighting-type gym. It’s dark inside, and beating each trainer lights up more of the room. There are three trainers before the leader.

Gym Leader Martin’s Team:

• Fighting-type (Lv 9): Tackle, Bulk Up, Foresight, Fake Out
• Fighting-type (Lv 9): Low Kick, Leer, Bulk Up, Focus Energy
• Fighting-type (Lv 10): His strongest. Uses Comet Punch and Mach Punch, so it hits fast.

Reward: Kungfu Badge, TM08 Bulk Up. You can now use HM06 Rock Smash outside of battle.

After beating Martin, Sky appears outside the gym and challenges you. He has a single Level 10 Pokemon. Beat him to receive HM06 Rock Smash. Head south from Puel City through Route C toward Mystic Town. On Route C, a fisherman gives you the Old Rod, and there’s a house (requires HM01 Air Cutter to access) with the Move Deleter and TM28 Dig.

Also in Puel City: Trade a Shadow Mail for a Moon Stone in the house near the gym. The girl next to the Pokemon Center gives you TM32 Double Team.

Mystic Town and the Torn World

Arriving in Mystic Town triggers a story event. Flash leads you to witness the battle between Dialga and Palkia. The shockwave from their clash blasts you into the Torn World, where you encounter Shaymin for the first time. Shaymin absorbs toxic gases and creates an explosion that sends you back to the real world. You can’t catch Shaymin yet, but that comes later.

After the event, Flash explains what happened and shows you her house, which becomes a useful fast-travel point later in the game. Explore Mystic Town:

• Herb Shop: Cheap healing items, but they lower your Pokemon’s happiness. Avoid if you need happiness evolutions. Pick up Charcoal from the old man.
• Tea House: Beat the three trainers inside, then give the owner 5 Orange Mail. Your reward is 5 Honey, used to catch Pokemon from Honey Trees later.
• TM17 Protect: Found outside Flash’s house.
• Mystic Water: Hidden item in the strangely-shaped water (requires Surf later).

There’s an exit to the left, but obstacles block progress that way for now. Head back to Small Town and take the path south.

Gym 2. Caitlin (Normal) in Platepics City

From Small Town, go south through Route D. You’ll pass through the Bee-Bug Forest, which has a Celebi statue (remember this for later), a Honey Tree (blocked by small trees requiring Air Cutter), and a Headbutt Tree where you can find Hoothoot, Slakoth, Emolga, and Heracross using TM05 Headbutt.

Platepics City has a lot going on:

• Platepics Research Center: Team Magma is occupying the building. Fight through 6 Magma Grunts across four floors, then defeat the Scientist and Magma Admin at the top. Mr. Stone rewards you with the B-Ticket and PokeNav.
• Mach Bike: Take the B-Ticket to the Bike Shop on Route E (east of Platepics) and exchange it.
• TM09 Flash: A hiker between Route F and Platepics City gives you this.
• Ghost Houses: Two houses near the top of the city are full of Ghost Pokemon. Use the Mach Bike to access them. Inside, use a Cleanse Tag on the tombstone to trigger a Haunter battle, then continue to find and catch a Duskull (one-time encounter). Save before this fight.
• Exp. Share: Answer both questions from a scientist on the second floor of the Research Center.
• Name Rater: Northeast house, rename your Pokemon here.

To find the gym leader, use your Mach Bike to ride up the hill south of Platepics (between the city and Route F). Talk to Caitlin and she’ll return to the gym.

Platepics Gym is a Normal-type gym with a switch puzzle. When you reach the three-button panel, press: Left ON, Middle ON, Right ON then OFF.

Gym Leader Caitlin’s Team:

• Skitty (Lv 19). Uses Attract and Faint Attack
• Chansey (Lv 20, Sitrus Berry). Tanks hits with Softboiled. Hit it hard and fast.
• Delcatty (Lv 22, Sitrus Berry). A Shiny Pokemon. Uses Sing and Double Team, which is annoying. Lead with a Fighting type if possible.

Reward: Normal Badge, TM45 Attract. You can now use Flash outside of battle, and traded Pokemon up to Level 30 obey you.

⚡ Tip: Before leaving Platepics, exchange a Dream Mail for the Cleanse Tag in the suburb area east of the city. You’ll need it for the Ghost House if you haven’t done that already.

Gym 3. Wattson (Electric) in Turzoro City

This stretch is long. From Platepics, head east through Route E (the Mach Bike shop and Water Cave are here, but you can’t fully explore the cave yet). Continue through the Dark Cave (use Flash if you want, but you can get through without it by following the Rock Smash path).

You’ll emerge onto Route H, a large area with a Cycling Road and 14 trainers. Take Route I west of Route H to pass through Mt. Fiery (the left path is blocked by Team Magma) and arrive at Teaes City.

Teaes City is a hub you’ll return to multiple times. Notable stops:

• Teaes Department Store: Five floors of items. The top floor has a Substitute move tutor and vending machines. Floor 4 sells TMs including Flash, Headbutt, Blizzard, Hyper Beam, Fire Blast, and Thunder.
• Teaes Harbor: Can’t use it yet, but remember it.
• TM44 Rest: From a person in a house above the gym.
• The gym door is blocked: You’ll come back for Gym 7 later.

Rival Battle #2 happens when you try to enter the Teaes gym. Your rival (Lv 23 and Lv 26) tells you the gym is blocked and gives you the Gogoggles, which let you enter the desert on Route J.

Head south to Route J. Cross the desert (Gogoggles protect you from the sandstorm) and continue to Route K. You’ll fight Team Aqua members along the way. Arrive at Turzoro City and help Wally by returning his stolen Pokedex from a Team Aqua grunt.

Turzoro City essentials:

• Item Finder: Received after helping Wally.
• Pokeblock Case: From a person in the city.
• 5 Lava Cookies: Show a Pokemon that knows Strength to the fat man.
• TM20 Safeguard: Exchange 5 Wood Mail.
• Safari Zone: East of the city. Inside a house in the Safari Zone, you’ll find HM04 Strength. You need the 3rd badge to use it outside of battle.

Turzoro Gym is an Electric-type gym.

Gym Leader Wattson’s Team:

• Electabuzz (Lv 28). Spark, Shock Wave, Light Screen
• Emolga (Lv 28). Aerial Ace and Shock Wave. Ground moves won’t work since it’s part Flying.
• Voltorb (Lv 29). Fast with Sonic Boom
• Lanturn (Lv 30, Sitrus Berry). Water/Electric. Grass moves are your best bet here.

Reward: Dynamo Badge, TM34 Shock Wave. Pokemon speed gets a boost, and you can use HM04 Strength outside of battle.

Gym 4. Pryce (Ice) in Searound City

After getting the 3rd badge, head to the Safari Zone to grab HM04 Strength if you haven’t already. Then travel through Route P to Habutest Town. Talk to Mr. April in his house (this triggers the next step). Continue to Searound City.

At Searound City, go to the Searound Museum first. Team Aqua is causing trouble again. Beat Aqua Admin Shelly, then head to the gym.

Also in Searound City: You can trade a Lickitung for a Riolu here. The Mirage Island man is also here (check daily).

Gym Leader Pryce’s Team:

• Sneasel (Lv 30). Iceberg, Bite. Fighting types destroy this.
• Sealeo (Lv 30). Hail, Water Gun, Iceberg. Hit with Electric or Grass.
• Dewgong (Lv 32). Iceberg, Quick Attack, Icy Wind, Water Pulse
• Piloswine (Lv 34, Lum Berry). The toughest one. Take Down, Icicle Spear, Iceberg, Dig. Fighting, Water, or Grass moves work well. The Lum Berry cures one status condition.

Reward: Icy Badge, TM49 Iceberg. Traded Pokemon up to Level 50 obey you, and you can use HM01 Air Cutter outside of battle.

After the gym, head to the Searound Underground. You’ll find HM01 Air Cutter here (this replaces Cut from standard Pokemon games). You can now cut small trees blocking paths throughout the region.

The Shaymin Event

This is a major story sequence. From Searound City, use the Underground passage to reach Charpos Island. Visit Charpos Harbor, then investigate the Magma Building where Team Magma is operating. After clearing them out, return to the Platepics Research Center (top floor) for a follow-up.

Now head to the Forest Entrance (the Team Magma guards are gone). Enter the Polar Forest, make your way through to Deep Forest, and you’ll enter the Torn World again. This time, you can catch Shaymin. Save before the encounter. Shaymin is Level 30.

After catching (or defeating) Shaymin, you’ll be sent to Malias City. You also receive a Master Ball from Mr. Stone back at the Platepics Research Center as a thank you.

⚡ Tip: The Polar Forest also has a Celebi statue (like the one in Bee-Bug Forest) and a Headbutt Tree. Both become relevant for catching Celebi in the post-game. Also, Treecko can be found here later using Waterfall.

On Charpos Island: Pick up the Good Rod, visit the Acro Bike shop (exchange your Mach Bike if you want), and check the Fan Club for a Soothe Bell and Swagger move tutor.

Gym 5. Leira (Steel) in Malias City

You arrive in Malias City after the Shaymin event. This city is packed with important things:

• Sky’s House: After the gym, Sky gives you HM03 Surf. This opens up a huge amount of the map.
• Malias Library: Contains a Blue Shard (needed for Latias/Latios later) and a secret room that becomes important during Steven’s mission in the post-game.
• Horsea Egg: Free gift in one of the houses.
• Lanette’s House: Manage your PC storage system here.
• Scott: Gives you the Tri Pass.

Gym Leader Leira’s Team:

• Steelix (Lv 38, Sitrus Berry). Iron Tail, Dig. Use Fire, Water, or Fighting.
• Bronzong (Lv 38, Sitrus Berry). Psychic, Iron Defense, Metal Claw. Fire is the safest bet since its Levitate blocks Ground moves.
• Hippowdon (Lv 40, Lum Berry). Sandstorm, Dig, Crunch. Watch out for the sand damage. Water or Grass moves are ideal.
• Skarmory (Lv 42, Lum Berry). Swords Dance, Steel Wing, Agility, Brick Break. Electric or Fire types. This is her ace and it hits hard after a Swords Dance boost.

Reward: Iron Badge, TM47 Steel Wing. Defense gets a boost, and you can now use HM03 Surf outside of battle. This is a major unlock. go back and explore water routes you couldn’t reach before.

Gym 6. Iris (Flying) in Hotasita City

After getting Surf, travel through Route R and Route S to reach the Charpos Island harbor area. Take the ship from Charpos Harbor to Golden City (you need to get a Gold Pass from your rival first. battle them on Route AB).

Route AB. Rival Battle #3: Your rival’s team is in the low 30s now. After the battle, you receive the Gold Pass for the harbor.

In Golden City, explore the Game Corner (you’ll need a Harbor Mail to get the Coin Case from a person in the city). There’s also a Snorlax blocking the northern gate, but you can’t wake it up until you have the Pokeflute App in the post-game.

Head to Honey Village to meet Cynthia, who gives you the Secret Potion. The village also has a Honey Farm, another Honey Tree, and a warehouse containing the Lawn-Mower App (needed for Mission 1 later).

Continue to Pulhia City, then Hotasita City.

Gym Leader Iris’s Team:

• Skarmory (Lv 43, Leftovers). Steel Wing, Spikes, Agility, Aerial Ace. Electric or Fire moves.
• Staraptor (Lv 44). Close Combat, Double Team, Aerial Ace, Brave Bird. Electric, Ice, or Rock moves.
• Pelipper (Lv 45, Sitrus Berry). Surf, Toxic, Aerial Ace, Protect. Electric moves deal 4x damage.
• Fearow (Lv 45, Lum Berry). Fly, Slash, Double Team. Electric or Ice types.
• Togekiss (Lv 46, Leftovers). Fly, Air Slash, Double Team, Close Combat. Rock, Electric, or Ice types.

Important: After beating Iris in the gym, you must visit the Pulhia Contest Hall and talk to her there to actually receive the 6th badge.

Reward: Feather Badge, TM40 Aerial Ace. Traded Pokemon up to Level 70 obey you, and you can use HM02 Fly.

Pulhia City pickups: HM02 Fly (from a house), Pulhia Tea (from the hotel. needed for the next step), TM24 Thunderbolt (give the Candybar from Mr. April to Wattson in the Cafe Bar).

Gym 7. Aragi (Water) in Teaes City

Fly to Ocepac Town (or walk from Pulhia). Talk to Mr. Scope and exchange the Pulhia Tea for the S-Scope. The S-Scope lets you see invisible Pokemon blocking certain paths.

Fly to Teaes City. Use the S-Scope on the invisible Mudkip blocking the gym entrance. You’ll battle the Mudkip (it’s a wild encounter), and the gym door opens.

Gym Leader Aragi’s Team:

• Quagsire (Lv 43, Sitrus Berry). Water Pulse, Slack Off, Earthquake, Rain Dance. Only Grass moves work well (4x damage, and it’s immune to Electric).
• Wailord (Lv 45). Rain Dance, Water Pulse, Amnesia, Water Spout. Water Spout hits hardest at full HP, so chip it down quickly.
• Floatzel (Lv 45, Leftovers). Ice Beam, Dig, Water Pulse, Quick Attack. Electric or Grass types.
• Starmie (Lv 46, Sitrus Berry). Thunderbolt, Psychic, Ice Beam, Recover. Hard to counter since it covers most weaknesses. Grass or Dark types are your best options.
• Empoleon (Lv 48, Sitrus Berry). Metal Claw, Hydro Cannon, Drill Peck, Earthquake. Aragi’s ace. Fighting, Electric, or Ground types.

Reward: Rain Badge, TM03 Water Pulse. Special Attack and Special Defense get boosted, and you can use HM08 Dive outside of battle.

⚡ Tip: The Hoenn starters become available after getting the S-Scope. Mudkip is at the Teaes Gym entrance, Torchic is on Route I (north), and Treecko is in the Polar Forest (use Waterfall to reach it).

Gym 8. Gima (Dark) in Surence Town

After the 7th badge, the path to Gym 8 involves a longer chain of events:

1. Dark Cave: Return here and grab HM08 Dive (located deeper in the cave, Route H side).
2. Route F → Meteor Falls: Explore the area.
3. Aragi’s Lab (Route F): Talk to Aragi for a story trigger.
4. Puel City Museum → Aqua Hideout: Team Aqua has set up in the museum. Clear out the hideout.
5. Route U → Underwater → Seafloor Cavern: Use Dive to reach the Seafloor Cavern. Battle Aqua Boss Archie.
6. Route G → Surence Town: Exit and make your way to the final gym.

Rival Battle #4 happens in Surence Town. Your rival’s team is in the upper 40s now.

Gym Leader Gima’s Team:

• Absol (Lv 50, Scope Lens). Dark Bomb, Razor Wind, Swords Dance, Aerial Ace. Watch for the crit chance. Fighting types dominate.
• Drapion (Lv 50, Sitrus Berry). Dark Bomb, Earthquake, Sludge Bomb, Aerial Ace. Only Ground is super effective (Poison/Dark typing).
• Umbreon (Lv 50, Leftovers). Moonlight, Curse, Dark Bomb, Baton Pass. Stall-heavy. Hit hard before it sets up with Curse.
• Tyranitar (Lv 52, Blackglasses). Dark Bomb, Crunch, Earthquake, Rock Slide. Gima’s ace. 4x weak to Fighting. Water, Grass, Ground, Bug, and Steel also work.

Reward: Fear Badge, TM48 Dark Bomb. All Pokemon obey you now, and you can use HM07 Waterfall outside of battle.

After the gym, go to the Water Cave on Route E and pick up HM07 Waterfall. You now have access to every HM in the game.

Victory Road and the Pokemon League

From Surence Town, head through Route L to reach Victory Road. Make sure your team is at least Level 50+ and you’re stocked on healing items. Victory Road is a cave with strong trainers and wild Pokemon.

You’ll battle Wally and Sky before reaching the Pokemon League.

Elite Four recommendations:

• Bring a diverse team covering Fire, Water, Electric, Ice, Fighting, and Dark types.
• Stock Full Restores and Revives.
• Have a Pokemon that knows Fly for flexibility.
• Your team should be Level 55+ to be comfortable.

After becoming Champion, return home to Small Town. Your mom gives you the S.S. Ticket, and you choose which Lati (Latias or Latios) becomes a roaming Pokemon. This is where the real content begins.

Post-Game. Missions and Quests

The post-game in Flora Sky is massive. There are 2 main Missions and 8 side Quests, all rewarding Quest Points (QPs) that you exchange for tickets to reach legendary Pokemon. Visit Challenge Island to start.

Mission 1: Rescue the Lost Girl (35 QP)

1. Go to Challenge Island and talk to the middle man to accept the mission.
2. You need the S-Machine (from Gima’s Rest House in R Area, accessible through Gloomist Forest).
3. You also need the Lawn-Mower App (talk to the old man in Honey Village’s warehouse after getting the S-Machine).
4. Go to Gloomist Forest and use the app to find the lost girl.
5. Return to Challenge Factory (Q Area) to complete the mission.

Mission 2: Steven’s Quiz (35 QP)

This is a long, multi-step mission that takes you across the entire map:

1. Accept from Challenge Island after completing Mission 1.
2. Find Steven in the cave south of the desert on Route J.
3. Go to Golden City and beat Sky in front of Trainer Hill. You receive the Pokeflute App.
4. Use the Pokeflute to wake the Snorlax blocking Golden City’s north gate.
5. Enter Hole Woods. Examine the four green stones in this order: bottom-right, top-left, top-right, bottom-left.
6. A hidden house unlocks. Talk to Steven inside.
7. Fly to Malias Library, talk to Steven again, and enter the secret room. Read the middle book.
8. Go to Mt. Fiery and clear the Magma Hideout.
9. Talk to the guard man in Festa Zone, then head to Silver Town.
10. Go to Aqua Town, dive underwater, and battle Archie.
11. Climb Sky Pillar (Route AG) and awaken Rayquaza.
12. Return to Aqua Town. You receive HM05 Rock Climb.
13. Fly to L Area and talk to Steven in his house to finish. He gives you the Space Orb (needed for Arceus later).

After completing Mission 2: Rebattle the Elite Four (they’re stronger now). You need to beat them again before accessing certain post-game areas.

All 8 Quests

Quests can be started after you visit Q Area. Look for the “black man” NPC at each quest location to begin and complete quests.

Total QP from all quests: 130. Exchange 50 QP with the director for a Rare Ticket, which gives you access to Outcast Island (Johto starters, Lapras, Leafeon, Keldeo). Additional tickets unlock Navel Rock (Lugia), Birth Island (Deoxys), and Abandoned Island (Mewtwo).

Legendary Pokemon Locations

Flora Sky has over 20 legendary Pokemon to catch. Here’s every one of them with exact locations and prerequisites. Many require completing specific story events or missions first.

Story Legendaries

Post-Game Legendaries

Ticket Legendaries (Require Quest Points)

Ancient Ruins Puzzle. Unlocking the Legendary Beasts

This is one of the most confusing parts of the post-game. You need to complete Steven’s Mission (Mission 2), rebattle the Elite Four, and have Pokemon that know Flash, Rock Smash, and Dig. You also need Wailord and Relicanth in your party.

Travel from Golden City through Hole Woods → Route AE → Froster Town → Mt. Blizzard → Route AF to reach the Ancient Ruins.

Unlock the three caves (same method as Emerald’s Sealed Chamber):

1. North Wind Ruins (Suicune): Use Flash in the center of the cave
2. Thunder Ruins (Raikou): Walk clockwise around the room
3. Ember Ruins (Entei): Walk 2 steps down and 2 steps left, then use Rock Smash

After activating all three:

• Raikou: Altering Cave (Route AB, near Pulhia City)
• Suicune: Route U
• Entei: Route K

Catch all three, then return to the Ancient Ruins. Enter the top middle cave, use Dig, and arrange your party with Relicanth in the front and Wailord in the back. Examine the wall to obtain the Unown Note. Exit and catch Ho-Oh in the secret cave at the top left.

Arceus. The Final Legendary

Arceus is the last legendary you can catch. To reach it:

1. Complete Mission 2 (Steven’s Quiz) and obtain the Space Orb from Steven.
2. Travel to A Area through R Area → L Path → L Area.
3. Enter the Cave of Origin.
4. Answer the quiz inside correctly.
5. Arceus appears. It’s an extremely tough catch, so bring your Master Ball if you still have it.

All Starter Pokemon Locations

Flora Sky lets you collect starters from three regions:

HM Locations Quick Reference

⚡ Note: Flora Sky replaces the standard Cut with Air Cutter (HM01) and adds Rock Climb (HM05) and Dive (HM08). If you’re used to standard Pokemon games, this takes some adjusting.

Evolution Changes

Flora Sky removes trade evolutions entirely. Every Pokemon that normally requires trading to evolve can now evolve through levels, stones, or happiness. This is one of the best quality-of-life features of the hack. Here are all the changes:

Trade Evolutions Replaced

Other Changed Evolutions

⚡ Tip: The Soothe Bell (Charpos Fan Club) and walking increase happiness. Avoid using Herb Shop items if you need happiness evolutions. Many Night evolutions benefit from the game’s day/night system. check the clock!

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: February 2026