Hoenn Region
Hoenn (Japanese: ホウエン地方 Hoenn-chihō) is the third region in the Pokemon franchise. Introduced in Generation III with Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire, Hoenn is based on the real-world Kyushu region of Japan. Known for its tropical climate, extensive water routes, and revolutionary weather mechanics, Hoenn is home to 135 new Pokemon species and introduced many features that became staples of the series.[1]
Overview
| Attribute | Details |
|---|
| Based On | Kyushu, Japan |
| Generation | III, VI (remakes) |
| Native Pokemon | 135 (Gen III), expanded in remakes |
| Gym Leaders | 8 |
| Professor | Professor Birch |
| Champion | Wallace (Ruby/Sapphire), Steven (Emerald) |
| Games | Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald, Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire |
Geography
Map Layout
Hoenn is characterized by its tropical island geography and extensive water coverage:
| Direction | Key Locations |
|---|
| South | Littleroot Town, Oldale Town, Slateport City |
| West | Rustboro City, Dewford Island, Petalburg City |
| North | Fortree City, Fallarbor Town, Mossdeep City |
| East | Lilycove City, Mt. Pyre, Pacifidlog Town |
| Center | Mauville City, Mt. Chimney, Lavaridge Town |
Major Cities and Towns
| Location | Gym Leader | Type | Badge |
|---|
| Littleroot Town | — | — | Starting town |
| Oldale Town | — | — | First town |
| Petalburg City | Norman | Normal | Balance Badge |
| Rustboro City | Roxanne | Rock | Stone Badge |
| Dewford Town | Brawly | Fighting | Knuckle Badge |
| Slateport City | — | — | Market city |
| Mauville City | Wattson | Electric | Dynamo Badge |
| Verdanturf Town | — | — | Peaceful town |
| Fallarbor Town | — | — | Ash-covered town |
| Lavaridge Town | Flannery | Fire | Heat Badge |
| Fortree City | Winona | Flying | Feather Badge |
| Lilycove City | — | — | Shopping district |
| Mossdeep City | Tate & Liza | Psychic | Mind Badge |
| Sootopolis City | Wallace/Juan | Water | Rain Badge |
| Pacifidlog Town | — | — | Floating village |
| Ever Grande City | — | — | Pokemon League |
Notable Locations
Sky Pillar
| Attribute | Details |
|---|
| Type | Tower |
| Notable | Rayquaza location |
| Access | Requires Mach Bike |
| Pokemon | Rayquaza, Claydol, Sableye |
Cave of Origin
| Attribute | Details |
|---|
| Location | Sootopolis City |
| Role | Legendary awakening site |
| Notable | Kyogre (Sapphire), Groudon (Ruby) |
| Story | Climax of main plot |
Mt. Chimney
| Attribute | Details |
|---|
| Type | Volcano |
| Features | Cable car access, Jagged Pass |
| Notable | Team Magma/Aqua clash |
| Pokemon | Numel, Torkoal |
Meteor Falls
| Attribute | Details |
|---|
| Type | Cave system |
| Notable | Bagon habitat, meteorite site |
| Features | Waterfall navigation required |
| Pokemon | Bagon, Solrock, Lunatone |
Sealed Chamber
| Attribute | Details |
|---|
| Location | Underwater Route 134 |
| Role | Regi trio puzzle entrance |
| Access | Relicanth and Wailord required |
| Notable | Braille inscriptions |
Shoal Cave
| Attribute | Details |
|---|
| Type | Tidal cave |
| Features | Changes with time of day |
| Notable | Snorunt habitat, Shell Bell |
| Pokemon | Snorunt, Spheal, Zubat |
New Mauville
| Attribute | Details |
|---|
| Type | Underground power plant |
| Access | Wattson's quest |
| Notable | Electric-type Pokemon |
| Pokemon | Voltorb, Magnemite, Electrode |
Safari Zone
| Attribute | Details |
|---|
| Location | Route 121 |
| Features | Zone-based areas |
| Pokemon | Rare species |
| Mechanics | Limited steps, special Poke Balls |
Battle Frontier
| Attribute | Details |
|---|
| Games | Emerald, Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire |
| Features | 7 facilities (Emerald) |
| Notable | Battle Tower, Battle Pike, Battle Palace |
| Leader | Scott (founder) |
Mirage Island
| Attribute | Details |
|---|
| Type | Random appearance |
| Access | Rare daily chance |
| Pokemon | Wynaut |
| Notable | Liechi Berry |
Mt. Pyre
| Attribute | Details |
|---|
| Type | Sacred mountain |
| Role | Pokemon graveyard |
| Notable | Red/Blue Orb location |
| Pokemon | Ghost-types, Shuppet, Duskull |
Pokemon League
Gym Leaders
| Order | Leader | City | Type | Badge |
|---|
| 1 | Roxanne | Rustboro | Rock | Stone |
| 2 | Brawly | Dewford | Fighting | Knuckle |
| 3 | Wattson | Mauville | Electric | Dynamo |
| 4 | Flannery | Lavaridge | Fire | Heat |
| 5 | Norman | Petalburg | Normal | Balance |
| 6 | Winona | Fortree | Flying | Feather |
| 7 | Tate & Liza | Mossdeep | Psychic | Mind |
| 8 | Wallace/Juan | Sootopolis | Water | Rain |
Elite Four
| Member | Type | Signature Pokemon |
|---|
| Sidney | Dark | Absol, Shiftry |
| Phoebe | Ghost | Dusclops, Banette |
| Glacia | Ice | Glalie, Walrein |
| Drake | Dragon | Salamence, Flygon |
Champion
| Champion | Games | Signature |
|---|
| Wallace | Ruby/Sapphire | Milotic |
| Steven | Emerald, ORAS | Metagross |
Native Pokemon
Starter Pokemon
| Pokemon | Type | Final Form |
|---|
| Treecko | Grass | Sceptile |
| Torchic | Fire | Blaziken |
| Mudkip | Water | Swampert |
Legendary Pokemon
| Pokemon | Type | Location | Role |
|---|
| Groudon | Ground | Cave of Origin | Continent Pokemon |
| Kyogre | Water | Cave of Origin | Sea Basin Pokemon |
| Rayquaza | Dragon/Flying | Sky Pillar | Sky High Pokemon |
| Regirock | Rock | Desert Ruins | Legendary Titan |
| Regice | Ice | Island Cave | Legendary Titan |
| Registeel | Steel | Ancient Tomb | Legendary Titan |
| Latias | Dragon/Psychic | Roaming (Ruby), Southern Island | Eon Pokemon |
| Latios | Dragon/Psychic | Roaming (Sapphire), Southern Island | Eon Pokemon |
| Jirachi | Steel/Psychic | Event only | Wish Pokemon |
| Deoxys | Psychic | Event only (Birth Island) | DNA Pokemon |
Iconic Hoenn Pokemon
| Pokemon | Pokedex # | Notable For |
|---|
| Blaziken | #257 | Fire/Fighting starter final |
| Gardevoir | #282 | Psychic/Fairy icon |
| Aggron | #306 | Steel/Rock tank |
| Flygon | #330 | Dragon/Ground mystic |
| Milotic | #350 | Beautiful Water-type |
| Salamence | #373 | Pseudo-legendary dragon |
| Metagross | #376 | Pseudo-legendary Steel/Psychic |
| Rayquaza | #384 | Weather trio leader |
| Absol | #359 | Disaster Pokemon |
| Slaking | #289 | Highest base stat total Normal-type |
Important Characters
Professor Birch
| Attribute | Details |
|---|
| Role | Regional Professor |
| Research | Pokemon habitats and distribution |
| Location | Littleroot Town |
| Gift | Starter Pokemon, Pokedex |
| Notable | Saved by player from wild Pokemon |
Brendan/May
| Attribute | Details |
|---|
| Role | Rival/Assistant |
| Relationship | Birch's child (if not chosen as player) |
| Team | Balanced, starter counter |
| Later Role | Helpful rival, multi-battle partner |
Steven Stone
| Attribute | Details |
|---|
| Role | Champion (Emerald), Wandering trainer |
| Specialty | Steel-type, rare stones |
| Signature | Metagross |
| Family | Son of Devon Corporation president |
| Notable | Mega Evolution master (ORAS) |
Wallace
| Attribute | Details |
|---|
| Role | Champion (Ruby/Sapphire), Gym Leader (Emerald) |
| Type | Water |
| Signature | Milotic |
| Notable | Contest Master, elegant battler |
Team Magma
| Attribute | Details |
|---|
| Leader | Maxie |
| Goal | Expand landmass via Groudon |
| Philosophy | More land = more habitats |
| Admins | Tabitha, Courtney |
| Games | Antagonists in Ruby, ORAS |
Maxie
| Attribute | Details |
|---|
| Role | Team Magma Boss |
| Signature | Camerupt |
| Goal | Awaken Groudon, expand land |
| Character | Scientific, idealistic |
| ORAS | Gains Mega Evolution |
Team Aqua
| Attribute | Details |
|---|
| Leader | Archie |
| Goal | Expand oceans via Kyogre |
| Philosophy | More water = more Pokemon habitats |
| Admins | Matt, Shelly |
| Games | Antagonists in Sapphire, ORAS |
Archie
| Attribute | Details |
|---|
| Role | Team Aqua Boss |
| Signature | Sharpedo |
| Goal | Awaken Kyogre, expand seas |
| Character | Bold, passionate |
| ORAS | Gains Mega Evolution |
History in Games
Generation III (2002-2005)
| Game | Platform | Features |
|---|
| Ruby | Game Boy Advance | Groudon, Team Magma focus |
| Sapphire | Game Boy Advance | Kyogre, Team Aqua focus |
| Emerald | Game Boy Advance | Both teams, Battle Frontier, Rayquaza |
New Features Introduced
| Feature | Impact |
|---|
| Weather Mechanics | Permanent weather in certain routes |
| Abilities | Pokemon passive abilities |
| Double Battles | Two-on-two Pokemon battles |
| Natures | Stat growth modifiers |
| Contests | Beauty contests with Pokemon |
| Secret Bases | Customizable hideouts |
Generation VI (2014)
| Game | Platform | Features |
|---|
| Omega Ruby | Nintendo 3DS | Remake of Ruby |
| Alpha Sapphire | Nintendo 3DS | Remake of Sapphire |
ORAS New Features
| Feature | Details |
|---|
| Mega Evolution | 20+ Mega Evolutions available |
| DexNav | Enhanced Pokemon tracking |
| Soaring | Fly on Mega Latias/Latios |
| Primal Reversion | Primal Groudon/Kyogre forms |
| Delta Episode | Post-game Rayquaza storyline |
| Mirage Spots | Daily-changing islands |
Cultural Significance
Weather Mechanics Revolution
Hoenn introduced dynamic weather that permanently affected battles:
| Route | Weather | Effect |
|---|
| Route 119 | Rain | Powers up Water moves |
| Route 120 | Rain | Powers up Water moves |
| Route 113 | Volcanic ash | Aesthetic, crafting material |
| Desert areas | Sandstorm | Damages non-Rock/Ground/Steel |
Villainous Team Innovation
First region to feature opposing villainous teams with conflicting ideologies:
| Team | Goal | Paradox |
|---|
| Team Magma | Expand land | Would harm Pokemon habitats |
| Team Aqua | Expand sea | Would flood existing habitats |
| Both | Well-intentioned extremism | Learn from mistakes |
Water Route Dominance
Hoenn features the most water routes of any region:
| Aspect | Impact |
|---|
| HM Surf | Essential for progression |
| Dive | Underwater exploration introduced |
| Water Pokemon | Abundant and diverse |
| Design | Encourages Water-type team members |
Physical/Special Split Foundation
While not implemented until Gen IV, Hoenn Pokemon were designed with the future Physical/Special split in mind, making many Pokemon more viable in later generations.
Real-World Connection
Hoenn is based on the Kyushu region of Japan:
| In-Game | Real-World Equivalent |
|---|
| Littleroot Town | Nansatsu area |
| Slateport City | Nagasaki |
| Mauville City | Kumamoto |
| Lavaridge Town | Unzen hot springs |
| Fortree City | Aso region forests |
| Lilycove City | Fukuoka |
| Sootopolis City | Volcanic caldera lake |
| Mt. Chimney | Mt. Aso (active volcano) |
| Battle Frontier | Kyushu Battle Frontier |
Geographical Features
| Real Kyushu | Hoenn Equivalent |
|---|
| Active volcanoes | Mt. Chimney, Lavaridge |
| Tropical climate | Overall region climate |
| Island geography | Water routes, Dewford |
| Hot springs | Lavaridge hot springs |
| Dense forests | Routes 119-120 |
See Also