How do you get to the Fortree City Gym? To reach the Fortree City Gym, you’ll typically need to navigate through Route 119 and then find your way into Fortree City itself. The Gym is the Fortree City Gym location and is the fifth Gym you’ll encounter in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald.
Welcome, trainers, to the heart of Hoenn! Fortree City, a city built amongst the treetops, presents a unique challenge for any aspiring Champion. At its center lies the Bug Gym Fortree City, led by the flying-type specialist, Winona. This guide will break down exactly how to get there, what to expect on the journey, and most importantly, how to beat Winona’s Gym Fortree City. Whether you’re playing Pokémon Ruby, Pokémon Sapphire, or Pokémon Emerald, the path and the challenge remain largely the same, offering a memorable hurdle in your quest.
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Journeying to Fortree City
The path to Fortree City is an adventure in itself, testing your navigation skills and your Pokémon’s strength. You won’t just be walking on land; you’ll be traversing rivers and dense forests.
Route 118: The First Steps
After defeating Roxanne in Rustboro City and proceeding eastward, you’ll eventually reach Route 118. This route is characterized by its winding paths and the presence of trainers eager to test their Pokémon against yours. You’ll encounter trainers using Pokémon like Growlithe, Electrike, and Mankey. The key feature here, and a recurring one for your journey, is the need for the HM Surf. Without Surf, you’ll be blocked from progressing further east.
- Wild Pokémon on Route 118:
- Sandshrew (Ruby)
- Zubat
- Mankey
- Machop
- Magikarp (Fishing)
- Wailmer (Fishing)
Route 119: The Verdant Path
Once you gain access to the eastern part of Route 118, your next destination is Route 119. This route is significantly more challenging and visually distinct. It’s a long, winding route filled with tall grass, strong trainers, and the vital HM Surf. This is where you’ll truly begin to navigate Fortree City Gym’s approach.
Key aspects of Route 119:
- The Waterfall: A significant portion of Route 119 features a large waterfall. To proceed, you’ll need the HM Surf to ride across the water and the HM Waterfall to ascend it later, should you need to backtrack or explore optional areas.
- Tall Grass and Trainers: Expect numerous trainers here, many of whom will have Pokémon in the late 20s or early 30s. This is a good place to level up your team before the upcoming Gym battle. You’ll encounter trainers with Pokémon like Lotad, Lombre, Vileplume, and various Flying-type Pokémon.
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The Weather Institute: Crucially, Route 119 is home to the Weather Institute. This building plays a vital role in the story, particularly in relation to the legendary Pokémon Groudon (Ruby) or Kyogre (Sapphire). After a Solar Beam user attacks you with their Pokémon, you can enter the institute. Inside, you’ll find a scientist who will reward you with the HM Surf if you rescue him from Team Aqua (Sapphire) or Team Magma (Ruby). This is your key to progression.
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Wild Pokémon on Route 119:
- Oddish
- Gloom
- Meowth
- Psyduck
- Tentacool (Fishing)
- Goldeen (Fishing)
- Poliwag
Reaching Fortree City
After successfully navigating Route 119, you’ll finally arrive in Fortree City. This city, with its unique architecture built into giant trees, feels like a true oasis. The Gym is centrally located, but don’t be fooled by its appearance; it’s guarded by a specific challenge.
Deciphering the Fortree City Gym Puzzle
The Fortree City Gym puzzle is renowned for its unique design, making it a memorable challenge. Instead of a traditional layout, Winona’s Gym is an intricate series of interconnected rooms with wooden platforms and pathways.
The Gym’s Layout
The Fortree City Gym is designed to resemble a birdhouse or a series of interconnected tree branches. You’ll navigate through small rooms, often requiring you to step on specific switches or use pathways that rotate or shift your position.
How to navigate Fortree City Gym:
The core of the puzzle involves interacting with switches that are often hidden behind doors or on small platforms. Each switch might open a new path or close an existing one, requiring careful observation and trial-and-error.
- Initial Entry: Upon entering the Gym, you’ll see several wooden platforms and pathways.
- The Switches: Your primary goal is to reach the Gym Leader, Winona. To do this, you’ll need to activate a series of switches. These switches are typically small, circular objects that you step on.
- The Rotation Mechanic: The key mechanic involves how these switches affect the pathways. Stepping on a switch often causes parts of the Gym floor to rotate or change, opening new routes and closing others.
- Trainer Placement: Don’t forget the Fortree City Gym trainers. They are strategically placed to intercept you as you try to solve the puzzle. Defeating them not only provides experience but can sometimes reveal clues or open pathways.
A Step-by-Step Approach to the Puzzle (General Guidance):
While the exact sequence can vary slightly based on player actions, the general idea is to follow this pattern:
- First Room: You’ll usually start in a small room. You’ll need to step on a switch that opens a door to the next section.
- Second Section: This area often involves more platforms and a switch that rotates sections of the floor. Experiment with stepping on the switch to see how it alters your path. Aim to reach the next doorway.
- Third Section: You might encounter more trainers here. Find the next switch to progress. This could involve stepping on a switch that moves a platform you need to stand on.
- Fourth Section: Continue this process. The puzzle is designed to be intuitive once you grasp the rotation mechanic. Don’t be afraid to backtrack and try a different path if you get stuck.
Pro Tip: Pay close attention to where each switch leads. Sometimes, a switch might seem to lead nowhere, but it could be essential for opening a path further ahead.
Facing the Fortree City Gym Trainers
Before you even reach Winona, you’ll have to battle several trainers within the Gym. These trainers are all focused on using Flying-type Pokémon, so having a solid strategy is crucial.
Understanding the Trainers’ Pokémon
The trainers in the Bug Gym Fortree City (though primarily featuring Flying-types, the city’s theme influences its Gym) will primarily use Pokémon susceptible to Electric and Rock-type attacks. However, they also have Pokémon that can counter those types.
- Youngster: Often uses Taillow. Weak to Electric, Rock, and Ice.
- Bird Keeper: Might have a Swablu or a Wingull. Swablu is Grass/Flying, weak to Fire, Ice, Flying, and Poison. Wingull is Water/Flying, weak to Electric and Rock.
- Battle Girl: Could use a Fighting-type Pokémon that has a Flying-type Pokémon like a Taillow or Swellow. Fighting-types are weak to Flying, Psychic, and Fairy.
- Hiker: Might surprise you with a Rock-type Pokémon that also has Flying-type moves.
Table of Common Gym Trainers and their Pokémon (approximate levels):
| Trainer Type | Pokémon | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| Youngster | Taillow (Lv 27-29) | Electric, Rock, Ice |
| Bird Keeper | Wingull (Lv 26-28), Swablu (Lv 28-30) | Electric, Rock (Wingull); Fire, Ice, Flying, Poison (Swablu) |
| Battle Girl | Meditite (Lv 28-30), Swellow (Lv 31) | Psychic, Fairy (Meditite); Rock, Electric, Ice (Swellow) |
| Hiker | Geodude (Lv 27-29), Graveler (Lv 30) | Water, Grass, Fighting, Ground, Steel (Geodude/Graveler) |
Strategies for Trainer Battles
- Electric-types: Pokémon like Plusle, Minun, Electrike, and Magneton are excellent choices. Their Electric-type moves will decimate Wingull and Swellow.
- Rock-types: Geodude, Graveler, and Nosepass can be very effective. Rock-type moves are super-effective against Flying-types.
- Ice-types: If you have a Pokémon that can learn Ice Beam or Ice Punch (like a Gloom with its Water/Grass typing, or potentially a Lombre), they can also be useful against Flying-types, especially for those with Grass or Ground typing.
How to Beat Winona
Winona is the Gym Leader of Fortree City and specializes in Flying-type Pokémon. This is a significant challenge, especially if your team isn’t prepared.
Winona’s Pokémon Team (Emerald)
In Pokémon Emerald, Winona’s team is a bit more diverse and challenging than in Ruby and Sapphire.
- Swellow (Lv 31): A fast Flying/Normal type. Weak to Rock, Electric, Ice.
- Pelipper (Lv 32): A Water/Flying type. Weak to Electric and Rock.
- Skarmory (Lv 33): A Steel/Flying type. This is her ace. It resists Normal, Flying, Psychic, Dragon, and is immune to Poison and Ground. Its weaknesses are Fire, Electric, and Water.
- Tropius (Lv 31): A Grass/Flying type. Weak to Fire, Ice, Flying, Poison, and especially Flying (x4).
- Altaria (Lv 35): A Dragon/Flying type. This is her most powerful Pokémon. It’s weak to Ice, Rock, and Dragon.
Winona’s Pokémon Team (Ruby & Sapphire)
In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, Winona’s team is slightly less formidable but still challenging.
- Swellow (Lv 31): Flying/Normal. Weak to Rock, Electric, Ice.
- Pelipper (Lv 32): Water/Flying. Weak to Electric, Rock.
- Skarmory (Lv 33): Steel/Flying. Weak to Fire, Electric, Water.
- Tropius (Lv 31): Grass/Flying. Weak to Fire, Ice, Flying, Poison (x4 weakness to Flying).
Key Strategies to Defeat Winona
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Exploit Type Advantages:
- Electric-types: Absolutely essential. They can take down Swellow, Pelipper, and can even damage Skarmory and Altaria.
- Rock-types: Excellent for Swellow, Pelipper, and Altaria. However, be cautious with Rock-type moves against Skarmory as it resists them.
- Ice-types: Crucial for Tropius and Altaria. An Ice Beam from a Water or Grass Pokémon can be devastating.
- Water-types: Can handle Skarmory and Tropius effectively.
- Fire-types: Good against Tropius and can also hit Skarmory.
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Consider Your Team Composition:
- A strong Electric-type Pokémon like Manectric (Ruby/Sapphire) or Magneton (if you trade or find one) is highly recommended.
- A Pokémon with strong Rock-type moves like Golem or Graveler can deal significant damage.
- Having a Pokémon that can learn Ice Beam (e.g., Lapras, Vaporeon, or a special attacker like Gardevoir) is a game-changer against Tropius and Altaria.
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Dealing with Skarmory and Altaria:
- Skarmory: Its Steel typing makes it resistant to many attacks. Focus on Electric and Water-type moves. Be aware of its Steel Wing attack, which can be strong.
- Altaria: Its Dragon typing makes it particularly vulnerable to Ice-type attacks. A well-trained Ice-type Pokémon or one that knows Ice Beam will make short work of it. If you don’t have a strong Ice attacker, focus on Rock-type moves.
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Status Conditions:
- While not always necessary, paralyzing or poisoning Winona’s faster Pokémon can give you an edge. However, many Flying-types have moves that can cure status effects or are immune to certain ones.
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Level Up: If you’re struggling, don’t hesitate to spend time leveling up your Pokémon on Route 119 or in the surrounding areas. Facing Winona with Pokémon in the mid-to-high 30s will make the battle much more manageable.
Pokémon to Consider for the Battle
- Manectric (Ruby/Sapphire): Fast and powerful Electric-type. Learns Thunderbolt and Thunder Wave.
- Magneton (Emerald): Strong Electric-type with good Special Attack. Its Steel typing also offers resistances.
- Graveler/Golem: Excellent Rock-type attackers. Can learn Rock Slide and Earthquake. Be mindful of their lower Special Defense.
- Lombre/Ludicolo: If you have one, its Water/Grass typing gives it an advantage against Skarmory and Tropius. It can learn Ice Beam.
- Nosepass: A pure Rock-type with high Defense. Its Electric-type moves can also be useful.
Post-Gym Rewards
Upon defeating Winona, you will receive the Feather Badge. This is the fifth Gym Badge you can earn in Hoenn. Along with the badge, you’ll also be rewarded with TM40 Aerial Ace. Aerial Ace is a strong Flying-type move that never misses, making it a useful addition to many Pokémon’s move sets, especially those that are fast or have lower accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What Pokémon are strong against Winona?
Electric-type Pokémon are exceptionally strong against Winona’s Flying-type team, especially against her Pelipper and Swellow. Rock-type Pokémon are also very effective against Swellow, Pelipper, and Altaria. For Tropius and Altaria, Ice-type Pokémon or moves are your best bet.
Can I use ground-type Pokémon against Winona?
No, Ground-type Pokémon are immune to Flying-type moves. However, Winona’s Pokémon don’t have Ground-type moves that would threaten them. You can use Ground-type Pokémon against her Pokémon, but they won’t have any super-effective moves themselves.
What is the best way to navigate the Fortree City Gym puzzle?
The puzzle involves activating switches that rotate sections of the Gym floor. The best approach is to carefully observe which paths open and close when you step on a switch. Experimentation is key, and it often involves a sequence of activating specific switches to reach the next area. Taking notes or mentally mapping your progress can be helpful.
Which Pokémon are in the Fortree City Gym?
The Fortree City Gym trainers primarily use Flying-type Pokémon such as Taillow, Swellow, Wingull, Pelipper, and Swablu. Winona herself uses Swellow, Pelipper, Skarmory, Tropius, and Altaria (in Emerald).
How do I get the HM Surf?
You obtain the HM Surf by visiting the Weather Institute on Route 119. After a story event involving Team Aqua (Sapphire) or Team Magma (Ruby), a scientist inside will give you the HM if you helped them.
What HM do I need to get into Fortree City?
While you don’t strictly need an HM to get into Fortree City itself, you will need the HM Surf to progress through the routes leading to it (specifically Route 118 and Route 119) and to bypass the water.
This comprehensive guide should equip you with all the knowledge needed to successfully navigate Fortree City Gym, solve its intricate Fortree City Gym puzzle, overcome the Fortree City Gym trainers, and ultimately how to beat Winona in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald. Happy training!