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What To Do After Reaching Rustboro City in Pokémon Games

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So, you’ve conquered Roxanne and earned your Stone Badge! Congratulations on reaching Rustboro City in your Pokémon journey! But what comes next? Reaching Rustboro City is a significant milestone, and opens up several new avenues. After defeating Roxanne in the Rustboro City Gym, your immediate next steps should be: heal your Pokémon at the Pokémon Center, head east to Route 116, save Mr. Briney’s Wingull, Peeko, in the Rusturf Tunnel and receive a Devon Goods, defeat Team Aqua, and battle the trainers on Route 116 to level up your Pokémon. But, your adventure definitely doesn’t end there!

Heading to Route 116 and Beyond

With your Stone Badge in hand, the next major step is to progress along the main storyline. This involves:

Exploring Route 116

Your primary destination is Route 116, located directly east of Rustboro City. This route connects Rustboro City to the Rusturf Tunnel. Take some time to explore the route as you will encounter trainers and wild Pokémon.

Wild Pokémon: Route 116 is home to a variety of Pokémon, including Nincada, Skitty, Whismur, and Seedot (Ruby/Sapphire) / Lotad (Emerald). Catching these Pokémon will add to your team diversity.
Trainer Battles: Prepare for a series of trainer battles. Use your newly acquired Stone Badge to your advantage, as it boosts your Pokémon’s Attack stat.

The Rusturf Tunnel and Team Aqua

The main objective in Route 116 is to reach the Rusturf Tunnel, where you’ll encounter a bit of trouble.

Saving Peeko: Inside the Rusturf Tunnel, you’ll find Mr. Briney distraught over the kidnapping of his Wingull, named Peeko. This is a key plot point in your journey.
Confronting Team Aqua (or Team Magma): You’ll discover that a member of Team Aqua (in Ruby and Emerald) or Team Magma (in Sapphire) is responsible for Peeko’s disappearance. Defeat them to rescue the Wingull and retrieve the Devon Goods they stole.
Reward from Mr. Briney: Upon saving Peeko and retrieving the Devon Goods, Mr. Briney will offer to take you to Dewford Town on his ship. This is a critical step in progressing the game.

Delivering the Devon Goods

After rescuing Peeko, you’ll need to return to Rustboro City to deliver the Devon Goods to the Devon Corporation. Talk to the Devon Researcher in the building to trigger the next part of your journey. He will reward you with a Great Ball.

Speak to the President of Devon: After giving the goods to the researcher, go to the President of Devon’s Office on the upper floor. He will ask you to deliver a Letter to Steven Stone, a mysterious man in Dewford Town. He will also give you a PokéNav.
The PokéNav: This is an essential tool in Pokémon games, it provides a map, tracks trainers you’ve battled, and will be upgraded as you progress.

Preparing for Dewford Town

Before setting sail for Dewford Town, consider these preparations:

Training Your Pokémon

Leveling Up: Use Route 116 and any optional battles in Rustboro City to train your Pokémon. Aim for levels 15-20 before heading to Dewford Town, depending on your team composition.
Team Composition: Consider the upcoming Gym Leader in Dewford Town, Brawly, who specializes in Fighting-type Pokémon. Consider having Flying, Psychic, or Fairy-type Pokémon in your team to gain an advantage.

Stocking Up on Supplies

Potions and Antidotes: Ensure you have a sufficient supply of Potions and Antidotes.
Poké Balls: It’s always a good idea to have extra Poké Balls for catching new Pokémon.

Optional Activities

Rustboro City Trainer School: Visit the Trainer School, as there is some useful advice to learn.
Devon Corporation: Explore the Devon Corporation building, there are many NPCs to talk to, and you might find interesting information and items.

Setting Sail for Dewford Town

Returning to Mr. Briney: Once you’re ready, head back to Mr. Briney on Route 104. After learning you have been asked by the President of Devon to deliver a letter to Steven Stone in Dewford, he will happily take you there.
Boarding Mr. Briney’s Ship: Talk to Mr. Briney, and he will take you on his ship to Dewford Town, marking the beginning of the next chapter in your Pokémon adventure.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Where exactly is Route 116 located?

Route 116 is directly east of Rustboro City. Simply exit the city from the east side to reach the route.

2. What are the best Pokémon to catch on Route 116?

Nincada is a great catch because it will evolve into Ninjask and Shedinja. Skitty is also a popular choice for its cute appearance and access to moves like Attract. Whismur eventually evolves into the powerful Exploud. In Ruby/Sapphire, Seedot is available while Lotad is in Emerald. These provide Grass-type coverage to your team.

3. How do I access the Rusturf Tunnel?

The Rusturf Tunnel is at the end of Route 116. Simply follow the path eastward and navigate through the route to reach the tunnel entrance.

4. What level should my Pokémon be before challenging Brawly in Dewford Town?

Aim for levels 15-20 to have a comfortable advantage against Brawly’s Fighting-type Pokémon. Leveling them to 20 will offer you a better chance to avoid being swept.

5. What type of Pokémon is Brawly’s team in Dewford Town?

Brawly specializes in Fighting-type Pokémon. His team usually includes Machop and Makuhita.

6. Which Pokémon types are effective against Fighting-type Pokémon?

Flying, Psychic, and Fairy-type moves are super effective against Fighting-type Pokémon. Consider Pokémon with these move types for the battle.

7. What are the Devon Goods that Team Aqua/Magma stole?

The Devon Goods is a package that needs to be delivered to Slateport City.

8. What is the reward for saving Peeko?

Aside from rescuing the Wingull, Mr. Briney will offer to take you to Dewford Town on his ship. This is the primary reward for saving Peeko as it progresses the story.

9. Where is Steven Stone located in Dewford Town?

Steven Stone is located inside Granite Cave on Dewford Island. You’ll need to navigate through the cave to find him.

10. What is the PokéNav used for?

The PokéNav is a versatile device that displays a map, tracks trainers you’ve battled, and other useful information. As you progress, it gets upgraded.

11. Is it necessary to explore the Rustboro City Trainer School?

No, exploring the Rustboro City Trainer School is not necessary to progress the story, but it is a good place to learn battle strategies. It may give you tips that will help you beat the game.

12. Are there any hidden items in Route 116?

Yes, there are several hidden items on Route 116, including Potions, Antidotes, and even TMs. Use the Itemfinder (obtained later in the game) or look for patches of darker grass or unusual spots.

13. Can I return to Rustboro City after leaving for Dewford Town?

Yes, you can easily return to Rustboro City by using Mr. Briney’s ship. You can go back and forth freely to complete any side quests or collect missed items.

14. What happens after I deliver the letter to Steven Stone?

After delivering the letter to Steven Stone, he will thank you and give you a HM05 Flash, which allows you to light up dark caves. You then need to head back to Dewford Gym and battle Brawly.

15. What are the key differences between Team Aqua and Team Magma in the different versions of the game?

In Ruby and Emerald, it’s Team Aqua that you encounter in Rusturf Tunnel. In Sapphire, it’s Team Magma. They have different motives (Team Aqua seeks to expand the oceans, while Team Magma aims to expand the landmass), but their initial roles in the story are similar.

By following these steps and exploring thoroughly, you’ll be well-prepared to conquer Dewford Town and continue your journey to become a Pokémon Champion! Good luck, Trainer!