Written for Ruby & Sapphire
These are the teams from Ruby & Sapphire. Emerald changes several of them; there Juan replaces Wallace as the Sootopolis Gym Leader.
Rustboro City: Roxanne
Type: Rock
Prize: TM39 Rock Tomb, $1500
Suggested Pokémon: Shroomish, Lotad/Seedot, Wingull
 Geodude @ None Level 14 Ability: Sturdy – Tackle – Rock Throw – Defense Curl – Rock Tomb |
 Nosepass @ None Level 15 Ability: Sturdy – Harden – Tackle – Rock Throw – Rock Tomb |
Roxanne’s team is pretty easy to take down, considering she’s the first gym leader. With a Rock-type team, she can be taken down by any local Grass-type or Water-type, depending on your preference. Shroomish can be found in the Petalburg Woods, and depending on your version, you can find Lotad or Seedot in the routes before Petalburg City. Wingull might run into trouble with Rock Throw, but if the level’s high enough, you won’t have to worry.
Dewford Town: Brawly
Type: Fighting
Prize: $1800, TM08 Bulk Up
Suggested Pokémon: Taillow, Wingull
 Machop @ None Level 17 Ability: Guts – Bulk Up – Focus Energy – Karate Chop – Low Kick |
 Makuhita @ None Level 18 Ability: Guts – Bulk Up – Knock Off – Arm Thrust – Sand Attack |
Brawly’s really easy with any starter. Treecko would have the hardest time because it’s so frail, so bring along a Flying-type. Wingull and Taillow are excellent choices because both of them learn Wing Attack at level 13, which you can spam to take out Makuhita and Machop. Combusken gets Peck, so it’s a shoe-in as well, and Marshtomp is just so bulky it can probably had itself.
Mauville City: Wattson
Type: Rock
Prize: TM34 Shock Wave $2300
Suggested Pokémon: Shedinja, Aron, Makuhita
 Magnemite @ None Level 22 Ability: Magnet Pull – Thunder Wave – Supersonic – Sonicboom – Thundershock |
 Voltorb @ None Level 20 Ability: Soundproof – Rollout – Sonicboom – Spark – Selfdestruct |
 Magneton @ None Level 23 Ability: Magnet Pull – Shock Wave – Thunder Wave – Sonicboom – Supersonic |
Wattson’s pretty challenging solely because there are no Ground-types available before him. Aron is pretty resistive to Voltorb’s Selfdestruct but will get stuck because of Magnet Pull. Wattson really should be taken out by your starter. Makuhita is a good choice for Treecko users because Magneton and Magnemite are weak to Fighting.
Lavaridge Town: Flannery
Type: Fire
Prize: TM50 Overheat, $2800
Suggested Pokémon: Wingull, Marill
 Slugma @ None Level 26 Ability: Magma Armor – Smog – Overheat – Light Screen – Sunny Day |
Slugma @ None Level 26 Ability: Magma Armor – Rock Slide – Flamethrower – Light Screen – Sunny Day |
 Torkoal(F) @ None Level 28 Ability: White Smoke – Flail – Overheat – Body Slam – Attract |
Marill is your best bet, considering it’s pretty sturdy and can take all of Flannery’s attacks. It’ll sweep everyone with Water Gun and you’ll be done in no time. With Wingull, you’ll run into difficulties with Slugma’s Rock Slide, but Wingull’s Water Gun will be far strong enough to OHKO it.
Petalburg City: Norman
Type: Normal
Prizes: TM42 Facade, $3100
Suggested: Machoke, Hariyama
 Slaking @ None Level 28 Ability: Truant – Yawn – Faint Attack – Encore – Facade |
 Vigoroth @ None Level 30 Ability: Vital Spirit – Slash – Faint Attack – Fury Swipes – Facade |
Slaking @ Sitrus Berry Level 31 Ability: Truant – Focus Punch – Slack Off – Yawn – Facade |
Fighting-types have Norman in the bag. Hariyama is bulky, and can take most of Slaking’s attacks, and easily whips Vigoroth. Machoke is the same way. And since they don’t have any Flying- or Psychic-type moves, they can’t really land any KOs. But they are very strong, so bring Revives and Potions.
Fortree City: Winona
Type: Flying
Prizes: TM40 Aerial Ace, $3300
Suggested: Minun, Electrode
 Swellow @ None Level 31 Ability: Guts – Aerial Ace – Double Team – Quick Attack – Focus Energy |
 Pelipper @ None Level 30 Ability: Keen Eye – Aerial Ace – Water Gun – Supersonic – Protect |
 Skarmory @ None Level 32 Ability: Keen Eye – Aerial Ace – Steel Wing – Agility – Sand-attack |
 Altaria @ Sitrus Berry Level 33 Ability: Natural Cure – Dragon Dance – DragonBreath – Aerial Ace – Earthquake |
Winona is a tough gym leader. Her team is actually pretty well rounded, but a strong Electric-type will do the trick. Altaria will be a challenge with Earthquake, so bring along a Rock-type to take her down.
Mossdeep City: Tate and Liza
Type: Psychic
Prizes: TM04 Calm Mind, $8400
Suggested Pokémon: Pelipper, Banette
 Solrock @ None Level 42 Ability: Levitate – Psychic – Flamethrower – Sunny Day – Solarbeam |
 Lunatone @ None Level 42 Ability: Levitate – Calm Mind – Psychic – Light Screen – Hypnosis |
Pelipper will have this in the bag completely. Surf will take both of them out in two hits. Solrock’s Solarbeam will do normal damage, thanks to Pelipper’s Flying-type. Banette’s also pretty good and despite being pretty slow, packs a punch with super-effective Ghost-type attacks.
Sootopolis City: Wallace
Type: Water
Prizes: TM03 Water Pulse, $4300
Suggested Pokémon: Electrode, Vileplume/Bellossom
 Lunatone (F) @ None Level 40 Ability: Swift Swim – Attract – Flail – Sweet Kiss – Water Pulse |
 Sealeo @ None Level 40 Ability: Thick Fat – Encore – Body Slam – Aurora Beam – Water Pulse |
 Seaking @ None Level 42 Ability: Swift Swim – Rain Dance – Horn Drill – Fury Attack – Water Pulse |
 Whiscash @ None Level 42 Ability: Oblivious – Earthquake – Rain Dance – Water Pulse – Amnesia |
 Milotic @ None Level 43 Ability: Marvel Scale – Recover – Ice Beam – Twister – Water Pulse |
Wallace sets himself up to fail as soon as he uses Rain Dance. Despite doubling their speed, you give Electrode’s Thunder a 100% accuracy, and can spam that on all of his Pokémon but Whiscash, who’ll need a Grass-type to take it down. Bellossom works, because it has access to Magical Leaf and can use that on him. Bellossom can hold herself against everyone besides Sealeo and Milotic, so she’s a great candidate too.