So, you want to know how to get into the Fortree City Gym? To enter the Fortree City Gym and challenge the Gym Leader, you first need to find a key that has been taken by a wild Pokémon. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to succeed in this challenge. We’ll cover the gym’s layout, the Pokémon you’ll face, and the best strategies to defeat the Gym Leader.
Fortree City is a vibrant, treehouse-dwelling community in Hoenn, and its Gym is no exception, built high amongst the branches. Getting there and navigating its unique challenges is a rite of passage for any aspiring Pokémon League Champion. This guide will provide a complete Fortree City Gym walkthrough to help you conquer this aerial arena.
Deciphering the Gym Puzzle Fortree City
The Fortree City Gym is famous for its unique structure. Instead of a typical tiled floor, you’ll find yourself navigating platforms and bridges suspended high above the ground. The primary obstacle to entering the Gym isn’t a complex switch-flipping mechanism, but rather a missing key.
The Case of the Missing Key
Upon arriving at the Fortree City Gym, you’ll discover that the entrance is blocked. The Gym Leader, Winona, will inform you that a wild Pokémon has made off with the Gym Key. This means your first task isn’t battling trainers within the gym, but venturing out to retrieve the key.
Where to Find the Thief
The culprit behind the stolen key is a mischievous Pelipper. This Water and Flying-type Pokémon will be found on Route 119, specifically near the bridge crossing the river. You’ll need to head east from Fortree City onto Route 119.
Engaging the Pelipper
When you find the Pelipper, you’ll need to battle it. This isn’t a battle to defeat it definitively, but rather to startle it and make it drop the key. The Pelipper you encounter here will have a lower level, making it an accessible challenge. Once you defeat the Pelipper in this wild encounter, it will drop the Gym Key.
Returning to the Gym
With the Gym Key in hand, you can now return to the Fortree City Gym. Simply interact with the locked door, and you’ll be granted access to begin your challenge against Winona.
Battling Through the Gym: A Strategic Approach
Once inside, the Fortree City Gym presents a series of trainers and a unique battlefield. The Gym is designed to test your ability to handle the verticality and the types of Pokémon commonly found in aerial combat.
Navigating the Gym Layout
The Gym’s interior consists of several platforms connected by bridges. You’ll need to strategically hop across these platforms to reach the different trainers and ultimately, Winona herself. Be mindful of your positioning, as falling off a platform will usually send you back to the start of the trainer’s section or the entrance.
The Fortree City Gym Leader Pokémon
Winona, the Fortree City Gym Leader, specializes in Flying-type Pokémon. This means that the Pokémon she uses will have the Flying type as their primary or secondary type. Her team is a formidable challenge, especially if you haven’t prepared adequately.
Here’s a look at the Pokémon you can expect to face:
| Pokémon | Level | Type(s) | Notable Moves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zigzagoon | 22 | Normal | Tackle, Growl |
| Beautifly | 24 | Bug/Flying | Gust, Absorb, Stun Spore |
| Swellow | 24 | Flying/Normal | Aerial Ace, Focus Energy |
| Oddish | 23 | Grass/Poison | Absorb, Sleep Powder |
| Tropius | 24 | Grass/Flying | Razor Leaf, Sweet Scent |
| Skarmory | 26 | Steel/Flying | Leer, Swift, Sand Attack |
Note: Levels and movesets may vary slightly depending on the specific game generation you are playing, but this provides a general overview.
Winona’s ace Pokémon is her Skarmory, a powerful Steel/Flying type. Its high defense makes it tough to take down, and its Flying-type attacks can be devastating.
How to Beat Winona: The Ultimate Strategy
To Win Winona, you need to exploit her Pokémon’s weaknesses. Since she primarily uses Flying-type Pokémon, Rock-type moves are your most effective weapon. Electric and Ice-type attacks are also super-effective against Flying-types.
Best Pokémon for Fortree City Gym
When choosing your team, consider Pokémon that can learn strong Rock, Electric, or Ice-type moves.
- Rock-type Pokémon: Geodude, Nosepass, or any Pokémon that can learn Rock Tomb, Rock Slide, or Ancient Power are excellent choices. These types are doubly effective against Flying-types, as they resist Flying attacks and deal super-effective damage.
- Electric-type Pokémon: Manectric, Plusle, Minun, or any Pokémon with access to Thunderbolt or Thunder Shock can be very useful. They are strong against the Water and Flying types you might encounter, and can even hit other Flying types effectively.
- Ice-type Pokémon: A Pokémon like Snorunt or any that learns Ice Beam or Blizzard can also be a great asset. Ice moves are super-effective against Grass and Flying types, covering a good portion of Winona’s team.
- Water-type Pokémon: While not super-effective against all of Winona’s Pokémon, Water-types can be useful against Tropius and can withstand Flying-type attacks well.
Let’s break down how to handle each of Winona’s Pokémon:
Battling Beautifly and Swellow
Beautifly, with its Bug/Flying typing, and Swellow, a pure Flying/Normal type, are relatively fragile. Any strong attacking move will do significant damage. Rock, Electric, or Ice-type attacks are ideal. A well-placed Rock Tomb can significantly lower their Speed, making them easier to hit.
Tackling Oddish and Tropius
Oddish, a Grass/Poison type, is weak to Fire, Ice, Psychic, and Flying attacks. Tropius, a Grass/Flying type, shares some of these weaknesses. Ice-type moves are particularly effective here. Alternatively, Fire-type attacks can take down Oddish quickly. Tropius is also vulnerable to Bug-type moves.
Facing Skarmory
Skarmory is Winona’s strongest Pokémon. Its Steel/Flying typing gives it an incredible defensive advantage.
* Weaknesses: Skarmory is weak to Fire and Electric-type attacks.
* Resistances: It resists a vast array of types, including Normal, Flying, Psychic, Dragon, and many others. It is immune to Poison.
* Strategy: Your best bet is to use strong Electric-type attacks like Thunderbolt or Thunder. Fire-type moves like Flamethrower can also be effective. If you have a Pokémon that can use Rock-type moves, they can also deal super-effective damage, but be mindful of Skarmory’s potential to use aerial moves against them. Avoid using Flying or Bug-type moves, as Skarmory resists them.
General Tips for How to beat Winona
- Level Up: Ensure your Pokémon are at a comparable level to Winona’s, preferably a few levels higher.
- Status Conditions: While not always ideal against Flying-types who can often outspeed and escape status effects, moves like Thunder Wave (to paralyze) or Toxic (to poison) can weaken her team if they land.
- Stat Boosts: If you have Pokémon that can set up stat boosts (like Bulk Up or Swords Dance) before facing Winona, it can make the battle significantly easier.
TMs in Fortree City Gym
After defeating Winona, you will receive two key rewards:
- The Gym Badge: The Feather Badge allows you to use the HM move Fly outside of battle and increases the special Attack stat of your Pokémon.
- A TM: Winona will reward you with TM40 Aerial Ace. This is a powerful Flying-type move that never misses, making it an excellent addition to any Flying-type Pokémon’s move set. Aerial Ace is particularly useful in Gym battles where accuracy can be crucial.
Utilizing Aerial Ace
Aerial Ace is a physical Flying-type move with a base power of 60. Its signature ability to never miss makes it incredibly reliable, especially against opponents who rely on dodging or have high evasion stats. It’s a fantastic move for any Pokémon that can learn it and benefits from STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) if that Pokémon is Flying-type.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What Pokémon can I use to get into the Fortree City Gym?
A: You don’t need specific Pokémon to enter the Fortree City Gym. You need to find a stolen Gym Key from a wild Pelipper on Route 119. Once you have the key, any Pokémon in your party can enter the Gym.
Q: What are the best Pokémon to use against Winona?
A: The best Pokémon are those with strong Rock, Electric, or Ice-type moves. Pokémon like Geodude, Nosepass, Manectric, or Snorunt are excellent choices.
Q: Can I skip finding the key and enter the gym?
A: No, you cannot enter the Fortree City Gym without first retrieving the key from the Pelipper on Route 119.
Q: What is Winona’s ace Pokémon?
A: Winona’s ace Pokémon is her Skarmory, a Steel/Flying-type Pokémon.
Q: What TM do you get from Winona?
A: You receive TM40 Aerial Ace after defeating Winona.
Q: How do I get to Route 119 from Fortree City?
A: Head east from Fortree City onto Route 119. The Pelipper with the key is typically found near the bridge crossing the river on this route.
Q: Are there any special trainers inside the Fortree City Gym?
A: Yes, before you reach Winona, you will encounter several trainers who also specialize in Flying-type Pokémon. These trainers help prepare you for the final battle.
Q: What is the weakness of Skarmory?
A: Skarmory is weak to Fire and Electric-type attacks.
Q: Is there a puzzle in the Fortree City Gym itself?
A: The main challenge to entering the gym is the missing key. Once inside, the challenge is navigating the multi-level platforms and battling the trainers before facing Winona. There isn’t a traditional switch-and-door puzzle inside the battle area.
By following this comprehensive guide, you should be well-equipped to Win Winona and claim the Feather Badge. Good luck on your journey through the skies of Hoenn!