Gen III · Hoenn
Pokémon Emerald Nuzlocke guide
Level caps, boss teams and trainer levels for your next run — 13 main-story battles from Roxanne (Lv 15) to Wallace (Lv 58).
- Nuzlocke
- SoulLink
- Randomizer
Emerald is the definitive Hoenn adventure: both villain teams in one story, Rayquaza at its centre and the Battle Frontier after the credits. Gym leaders have stronger teams than in Ruby and Sapphire, Juan replaces Wallace as the eighth gym leader and Wallace becomes the Champion.
- Region
- Hoenn
- Generation
- III
- First cap
- Lv15
- Final cap
- Lv58
- Main battles
- 13
- Areas tracked
- 89
Emerald level caps
A level cap is the level of the opponent’s strongest Pokémon. In a Hardcore Nuzlocke, no Pokémon in your party may be above the cap when the battle starts.
The biggest jump in the main story is +9 levels, from Winona (Lv 33) to Tate & Liza (Lv 42). Plan your training before it.
| # | Battle | Type | Ace | Level cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Roxanne | Gym |  Nosepass | Lv15 |
| 02 | Brawly | Gym |  Makuhita | Lv19 |
| 03 | Wattson | Gym |  Manectric | Lv24 |
| 04 | Flannery | Gym |  Torkoal | Lv29 |
| 05 | Norman | Gym |  Slaking | Lv31 |
| 06 | Winona | Gym |  Altaria | Lv33 |
| 07 | Tate & Liza | Gym |  Solrock | Lv42 |
| 08 | Juan | Gym |  Kingdra | Lv46 |
| 09 | Sidney | League |  Absol | Lv49 |
| 10 | Phoebe | League |  Dusclops | Lv51 |
| 11 | Glacia | League |  Walrein | Lv53 |
| 12 | Drake | League |  Salamence | Lv55 |
| 13 | Wallace | League |  Milotic | Lv58 |
Rivals, villains and other story battles
| Battle | Type | Ace | Level cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tabitha | Boss |  Zubat | Lv22 |
| Maxie | Boss |  Camerupt | Lv25 |
| Tabitha | Boss | Camerupt | Lv33 |
| Shelly | Boss |  Mightyena | Lv37 |
| Maxie | Boss | Camerupt | Lv39 |
| Tabitha | Boss |  Golbat | Lv40 |
| Archie | Boss |  Sharpedo | Lv43 |
| Maxie | Boss | Camerupt | Lv44 |
Emerald boss teams
Every gym leader, trial and League battle of the main story with levels and known movesets. Tap a battle to open its team.
01 Roxanne Gym Cap15
-
Geodude Lv12 Tackle · Defense Curl · Rock Throw · Rock Tomb -
Geodude Lv12 Tackle · Defense Curl · Rock Throw · Rock Tomb
-
Nosepass Lv15 @ Oran Berry Block · Harden · Tackle · Rock Tomb
02 Brawly Gym Cap19
-
Machop Lv16 Karate Chop · Low Kick · Seismic Toss · Bulk Up -
Meditite Lv16 Focus Punch · Light Screen · Reflect · Bulk Up -
Makuhita Lv19 @ Sitrus Berry Arm Thrust · Vital Throw · Reversal · Bulk Up
03 Wattson Gym Cap24
-
Voltorb Lv20 Rollout · Spark · Self-Destruct · Shock Wave -
Electrike Lv20 Shock Wave · Leer · Quick Attack · Howl -
Magneton Lv22 Supersonic · Shock Wave · Thunder Wave · Sonic Boom -
Manectric Lv24 @ Sitrus Berry Quick Attack · Thunder Wave · Shock Wave · Howl
04 Flannery Gym Cap29
-
Numel Lv24 Overheat · Take Down · Magnitude · Sunny Day -
Slugma Lv24 Overheat · Smog · Light Screen · Sunny Day -
Camerupt Lv26 Overheat · Tackle · Sunny Day · Attract
-
Torkoal Lv29 @ White Herb Overheat · Sunny Day · Body Slam · Attract
05 Norman Gym Cap31
-
Spinda Lv27 Teeter Dance · Psybeam · Facade · Encore -
Vigoroth Lv27 Slash · Facade · Encore · Feint Attack -
Linoone Lv29 Slash · Belly Drum · Facade · Headbutt -
Slaking Lv31 @ Sitrus Berry Counter · Yawn · Facade · Feint Attack
06 Winona Gym Cap33
-
Swablu Lv29 Perish Song · Mirror Move · Safeguard · Aerial Ace -
Tropius Lv29 Sunny Day · Aerial Ace · Solar Beam · Synthesis -
Pelipper Lv30 Water Gun · Supersonic · Protect · Aerial Ace -
Skarmory Lv31 Sand Attack · Fury Attack · Steel Wing · Aerial Ace -
Altaria Lv33 @ Oran Berry Earthquake · Dragon Breath · Dragon Dance · Aerial Ace
07 Tate & Liza Gym Cap42
-
Claydol Lv41 Earthquake · Ancient Power · Psychic · Light Screen -
Xatu Lv41 Psychic · Sunny Day · Confuse Ray · Calm Mind -
Lunatone Lv42 @ Sitrus Berry Light Screen · Psychic · Hypnosis · Calm Mind -
Solrock Lv42 @ Sitrus Berry Sunny Day · Solar Beam · Psychic · Flamethrower
08 Juan Gym Cap46
-
Luvdisc Lv41 Water Pulse · Attract · Sweet Kiss · Flail -
Whiscash Lv41 Rain Dance · Water Pulse · Amnesia · Earthquake -
Sealeo Lv43 Encore · Body Slam · Aurora Beam · Water Pulse -
Crawdaunt Lv43 Water Pulse · Crabhammer · Taunt · Leer -
Kingdra Lv46 @ Chesto Berry Water Pulse · Double Team · Ice Beam · Rest
09 Sidney League Cap49
-
Mightyena Lv46 Roar · Double-Edge · Sand Attack · Crunch
-
Shiftry Lv48 Torment · Double Team · Swagger · Extrasensory -
Cacturne Lv46 Leech Seed · Feint Attack · Needle Arm · Cotton Spore -
Crawdaunt Lv48 Surf · Swords Dance · Strength · Facade
-
Absol Lv49 @ Sitrus Berry Aerial Ace · Rock Slide · Swords Dance · Slash
10 Phoebe League Cap51
-
Dusclops Lv48 Shadow Punch · Confuse Ray · Curse · Protect
-
Banette Lv49 Shadow Ball · Grudge · Will-O-Wisp · Feint Attack -
Sableye Lv50 Shadow Ball · Double Team · Night Shade · Feint Attack -
Banette Lv49 Shadow Ball · Psychic · Thunderbolt · Facade
-
Dusclops Lv51 @ Sitrus Berry Shadow Ball · Ice Beam · Rock Slide · Earthquake
11 Glacia League Cap53
-
Sealeo Lv50 Encore · Body Slam · Hail · Ice Ball
-
Glalie Lv50 Light Screen · Crunch · Icy Wind · Ice Beam -
Sealeo Lv52 Attract · Double-Edge · Hail · Blizzard
-
Glalie Lv52 Shadow Ball · Explosion · Hail · Ice Beam
-
Walrein Lv53 @ Sitrus Berry Surf · Body Slam · Ice Beam · Sheer Cold
12 Drake League Cap55
-
Shelgon Lv52 Rock Tomb · Dragon Claw · Protect · Double-Edge -
Altaria Lv54 Double-Edge · Dragon Breath · Dragon Dance · Aerial Ace
-
Kingdra Lv53 Smokescreen · Dragon Dance · Surf · Body Slam
-
Flygon Lv53 Flamethrower · Crunch · Dragon Breath · Earthquake -
Salamence Lv55 @ Sitrus Berry Flamethrower · Dragon Claw · Rock Slide · Crunch
13 Wallace League Cap58
-
Wailord Lv57 Rain Dance · Water Spout · Double-Edge · Blizzard -
Tentacruel Lv55 Toxic · Hydro Pump · Sludge Bomb · Ice Beam -
Ludicolo Lv56 Giga Drain · Surf · Leech Seed · Double Team -
Whiscash Lv56 Earthquake · Surf · Amnesia · Hyper Beam
-
Gyarados Lv56 Dragon Dance · Earthquake · Hyper Beam · Surf -
Milotic Lv58 @ Sitrus Berry Recover · Surf · Ice Beam · Toxic
Story battles
01 Tabitha Boss Cap22
Magma Admin Tabitha
-
Numel Lv18
-
Poochyena Lv20 -
Numel Lv22
-
Zubat Lv22
02 Maxie Boss Cap25
Magma Leader Maxie
-
Mightyena Lv24
-
Zubat Lv24
-
Camerupt Lv25
03 Tabitha Boss Cap33
Magma Admin Tabitha
-
Numel Lv26
-
Mightyena Lv28
-
Zubat Lv30
-
Camerupt Lv33
04 Shelly Boss Cap37
Aqua Admin Shelly
-
Sharpedo Lv37
-
Mightyena Lv37
05 Maxie Boss Cap39
Magma Leader Maxie
-
Mightyena Lv37
-
Crobat Lv38 -
Camerupt Lv39
06 Tabitha Boss Cap40
Magma Admin Tabitha
-
Camerupt Lv36
-
Mightyena Lv38
-
Golbat Lv40
07 Archie Boss Cap43
Aqua Leader Archie
-
Mightyena Lv41
-
Crobat Lv41
-
Sharpedo Lv43
08 Maxie Boss Cap44
Magma Leader Maxie
-
Mightyena Lv42
-
Crobat Lv43
-
Camerupt Lv44
Trainer levels by location
First battles against route trainers in Emerald, sorted by the typical level of their strongest Pokémon — a quick way to see where the level curve climbs. Rematches are not included.
| Location | Trainers | Levels | Typical ace |
|---|---|---|---|
| Route 102 | 3 | 3–5 | Lv4 |
| Route 104 | 4 | 5–9 | Lv7 |
| Route 116 | 8 | 8–9 | Lv8 |
| Petalburg Woods | 2 | 3–9 | Lv9 |
| Dewford Town | 6 | 13 | Lv13 |
| Route 103 | 12 | 5–15 | Lv14 |
| Rustboro City | 9 | 8–15 | Lv15 |
| Slateport City | 2 | 14–15 | Lv15 |
| Rusturf Tunnel | 2 | 11–16 | Lv16 |
| Mauville City | 6 | 16–17 | Lv17 |
| Route 117 | 4 | 16–17 | Lv17 |
| Route 114 | 10 | 16–20 | Lv18 |
| Route 112 | 5 | 17–18 | Lv18 |
| Route 111 | 22 | 15–39 | Lv19 |
| Route 113partly documented | 8 | 17–19 | Lv19 |
| Route 110 | 39 | 6–46 | Lv20 |
| Jagged Pass | 7 | 20–22 | Lv21 |
| Mt. Chimney | 4 | 18–25 | Lv22 |
| Lavaridge Town | 8 | 22–23 | Lv23 |
| Route 109 | 14 | 5–27 | Lv24 |
| Route 106 | 3 | 11–26 | Lv24 |
| Route 118 | 6 | 5–27 | Lv25 |
| Route 108 | 5 | 7–26 | Lv26 |
| Route 115 | 7 | 18–28 | Lv26 |
| Route 107 | 5 | 24–27 | Lv26 |
| Route 105 | 6 | 25–26 | Lv26 |
| Petalburg City | 7 | 26 | Lv26 |
| Route 119 | 27 | 20–31 | Lv27 |
| Route 120 | 12 | 25–30 | Lv28 |
| Route 121 | 7 | 25–30 | Lv29 |
| Magma Hideout | 18 | 26–39 | Lv29 |
| Fortree City | 6 | 27–30 | Lv29 |
| Route 123 | 12 | 26–32 | Lv30 |
| Mt. Pyre | 13 | 26–32 | Lv31 |
| Route 127 | 7 | 15–35 | Lv33 |
| Route 134 | 8 | 32–34 | Lv33 |
| Route 130 | 3 | 33–34 | Lv33 |
| Route 132 | 9 | 19–35 | Lv34 |
| Route 129 | 5 | 26–34 | Lv34 |
| Lilycove City | 6 | 31–34 | Lv34 |
| Route 125 | 6 | 32–35 | Lv34 |
| Route 124 | 6 | 33–34 | Lv34 |
| Route 126 | 5 | 33–34 | Lv34 |
| Route 131 | 7 | 33–35 | Lv34 |
| Route 133 | 6 | 33–34 | Lv34 |
| Route 128 | 5 | 31–36 | Lv35 |
| Mossdeep City | 20 | 26–44 | Lv36 |
| Seafloor Cavern | 7 | 32–43 | Lv36 |
| Sootopolis City | 10 | 35–40 | Lv39 |
| Victory Road | 16 | 42–45 | Lv43 |
| S.S. Tidal | 8 | 12–45 | Lv45 |
| Ever Grande City | 5 | 42–58 | Lv53 |
| Meteor Falls | 1 | 75–78 | Lv78 |
Nuzlocke tips for Emerald
- Roxanne opens with Rock types. Treecko and Mudkip handle her well; with Torchic, look for a Water or Grass type on the first routes.
- Norman’s Slaking hits extremely hard, but its Truant ability only lets it act every other turn — plan your switches around it.
- Double battles appear on routes and at the Mossdeep gym, where Tate & Liza raise the cap to one of the biggest jumps in the game.
New to the challenge? Start with the Nuzlocke rules, or bring friends with the Soul Link rules.
FAQ
What is the first level cap in Pokémon Emerald?
The first cap is level 15: Roxanne’s strongest Pokémon is Nosepass at level 15. Keep every party member at or below level 15 for that battle.
What level is the Champion in Pokémon Emerald?
Wallace sets the final main-story cap at level 58, with Milotic as the ace.
How many boss battles are there in Pokémon Emerald?
This guide lists 13 main-story battles, 8 optional story battles against rivals and villains.
Can I randomize Pokémon Emerald?
Yes. The PokéRuns Randomizer supports Pokémon Emerald and runs entirely in your browser. When you send the randomized world to your tracker, it uses your ROM’s real boss teams and level caps.
Sources
Caps and teams come from the PokéRuns tracker data (updated 2026-09-07), compiled from:
Start your Emerald run.
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