If you’re playing Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald and wondering how to get to Fortree Gym, you’re in the right place. Navigating to the Fortree City Gym requires a specific path through the tall trees of the Hoenn region. This guide provides the exact steps you need to take, from leaving Mauville City to facing Gym Leader Winona.
Fortree City is unique. It’s a settlement built entirely on platforms in the treetops. The gym itself is cleverly hidden, blending into the environment. Reaching it is a key part of your journey to collect all eight Hoenn Gym Badges.
How To Get To Fortree Gym
The main challenge is that Fortree City is not accessible by standard routes until you have the right items. You cannot simply walk there from the previous city. The journey involves crossing a new type of terrain and navigating a maze of trees. Below is your complete, step-by-step route.
Prerequisites Before You Begin Your Journey
You must have two specific items and one Pokémon move before you can even start the trip to Fortree City. Attempting the route without these will result in a dead end.
- The Devon Scope: This key item is obtained in Rustboro City after you help Mr. Stone’s employee, who is being blocked by a Kecleon. You must have this to proceed.
- HM03 Surf: You receive this from Wally’s father in Mauville City after defeating Gym Leader Wattson. Surf is non-negotiable for this journey.
- A Pokémon with Surf: Naturally, you need a Pokémon in your party that has learned HM03 Surf to travel across water.
Once you have these three things, you are ready to depart from Mauville City. Make sure your team is healed and prepared for trainers and wild Pokémon encounters along the way.
Step-By-Step Route From Mauville City To Fortree City
This section breaks down the entire journey into clear, manageable stages. Follow these instructions in order.
Step 1: Exit Mauville To Route 118
Head north from Mauville City. You will exit onto Route 118. This route runs along a river and is filled with trainers like Bird Keepers and Fishermen. You will need to battle your way through or avoid them.
Continue north until the route ends at a small body of water. This is where you use Surf for the first time on this trip.
Step 2: Surf East To Route 119
Use Surf on the water and head directly east. You will quickly arrive on Route 119. This is a long, complex route with tall grass, strong trainers, and changing weather.
Route 119 is famous for its heavy rainfall. As soon as you step onto the grass, it will begin to rain, which powers up Water-type moves. Be prepared for this environmental effect during battles.
Step 3: Navigate The River On Route 119
This is the trickiest part of the overland journey. You will be surfing up a winding river. Follow these directions carefully:
- From the entrance, surf north up the river.
- You will see a waterfall on your right. Ignore it for now; you cannot climb it yet.
- Continue surfing north until you see a patch of land on the left with a grassy area and a trainer.
- Dock your Surf there and proceed on foot through the tall grass, heading north.
You will encounter several Ace Trainers and a Ninja Boy in this area. After battling them, you will find a set of stairs. Go up them.
Step 4: Pass The Weather Institute
At the top of the stairs, you will find the Weather Institute on your left. A key story event involving Team Aqua or Team Maga happens here, depending on your game version.
After dealing with the situation inside, exit the Institute and continue north along the route. You will cross several bridges. Eventually, you will find a large area of tall grass that slopes downward.
Step 5: Use The Devon Scope To Reveal The Invisible Kecleon
As you try to leave Route 119 to the north, an invisible barrier will stop you. This is the Kecleon blocking your path.
Open your Key Items pocket and select the Devon Scope. The game will prompt you to use it. Once activated, the invisible Kecleon will appear. You must battle it to clear the path. You can choose to catch it or defeat it.
Step 6: Enter Fortree City
After defeating the Kecleon, walk north. You will immediately enter Fortree City. The city is a network of wooden bridges and houses built high in the trees. Take a moment to heal at the Pokémon Center, which is located on the main platform to your right as you enter.
Locating The Fortree City Gym Building
Even after entering the city, the gym can be hard to spot. It is designed to look like a large, hollowed-out tree. Many players walk right past it.
From the Pokémon Center, follow the main wooden path north. You will pass several houses and residents. The path will curve to the right. Keep following it until you see a large, distinctive tree structure with an open front on your left-hand side.
This is the Fortree Gym. There is no sign, but its size and unique apperance make it stand out from the regular houses. Walk directly into the opening to enter the gym challenge.
Preparing For The Fortree Gym Challenge
Gym Leader Winona specializes in Flying-type Pokémon. You need a solid strategy before you walk in. Here is what you should know.
Winona’s Pokémon Team
Her team varies slightly between Ruby/Sapphire and Emerald. Be ready for the following Pokémon:
- Swablu (Level 29): Normal/Flying type. Uses moves like Sing and Take Down.
- Tropius (Level 29): Grass/Flying type. Watch out for its Solar Beam.
- Pelipper (Level 30): Water/Flying type. Uses Protect and Surf.
- Skarmory (Level 31): Steel/Flying type. Very high defense. Uses Steel Wing and Spikes.
- Altaria (Level 33): Dragon/Flying type. Her ace Pokémon. It knows Dragon Dance and Dragon Breath.
In Emerald, she also has a Swellow. Plan your team accordingly.
Recommended Pokémon And Moves
To counter Flying-types, you need Electric, Ice, and Rock-type moves. Here are some effective choices:
- Electric-types: Manectric, Electrike, or Magneton. Their Electric moves are super effective against Water/Flying and pure Flying types.
- Rock-types: Golem, Graveler, or Nosepass. Rock moves deal heavy damage to all Flying-types, especially Altaria and Tropius.
- Ice-type moves: Teach Ice Beam or Ice Punch to a Pokémon. This is crucial for defeating Altaria, which is double-weak to Ice due to its Dragon typing.
- High-defense Pokémon: Use a sturdy Pokémon to handle Skarmory’s physical attacks.
Stock up on items like Hyper Potions, Full Heals (for Altaria’s Dragon Breath paralysis), and Revives. The gym puzzle inside can lead to several trainer battles before Winona, so come prepared.
Completing The Fortree Gym Puzzle
The gym’s internal puzzle involves moving across invisible bridges in the air. The floor has a pattern of white boards; you can only walk on these boards. Stepping off a board will cause you to fall to the start of the puzzle.
The path is not random. There is a specific correct route:
- From the entrance, walk straight ahead until you hit the back wall.
- Turn right and walk all the way to the right wall.
- Turn and walk up (north) along the right wall for two steps.
- Turn left and walk straight across the gap to the next platform.
- From here, head north to battle the first trainer.
- After the battle, go east, then north, then west to find the second trainer.
- Finally, go north from the second trainer to reach Winona’s platform.
Take it slow. If you fall, you will not take damage, but it is time-consuming. The trainers use Flying-type Pokémon as well, providing good practice and experience before the leader.
What To Do After Earning The Feather Badge
Congratulations on defeating Winona! She will give you the Feather Badge, which allows you to use HM02 Fly outside of battle. She also gives you TM40 Aerial Ace, a move that never misses.
With the Feather Badge, Pokémon up to Level 70 will obey you, and you can now use Fly to travel quickly between visited cities. Your next destination is Lilycove City. To get there, you must now head east from Fortree City onto Route 120.
Route 120 introduces new puzzles involving the move Cut and more invisible Kecleon. It also leads to another story event. Ensure you have a Pokémon that knows Cut in your party before leaving Fortree.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do you get past the invisible wall on Route 119?
You must use the Devon Scope, obtained in Rustboro City, to reveal and battle the invisible Kecleon blocking the path to Fortree City. It is an essential item you cannot bypass.
What level should my Pokémon be for Fortree Gym?
Your team should be at least Level 30-35 to comfortably handle Winona’s Pokémon, which range from Level 29 to 33. Her Altaria is the biggest threat and requires a solid counter.
Why can’t I find the Fortree Gym building?
The gym is designed to look like a large, hollow tree. From the Pokémon Center, follow the main wooden path north and curving right. The gym entrance is a large opening on the left side of this path. It’s easy to mistake for part of the scenery.
What is the best Pokémon to use against Winona?
Electric-types like Manectric are excellent for Pelipper and Skarmory. For her Altaria, an Ice-type move like Ice Beam is the most effective due to its 4x weakness. A Rock-type like Golem can also handle most of her team well.
Can you get to Fortree City without Surf?
No, you cannot. HM03 Surf is absolutely required to cross the water from Route 118 to Route 119. You must defeat Mauville Gym to obtain it before attempting this journey.
Final Tips For A Successful Journey
Reaching the Fortree Gym is a milestone that tests your preparedness. Always save your game before attempting the gym puzzle or challenging Winona. If you struggle, take time to train on Route 119, which offers excellent experience points from its many trainers.
Remember to use the Devon Scope whenever you are stuck on a route. Invisible Kecleon block several paths in Hoenn. With the Feather Badge in hand, the world opens up through Fly, making the rest of your adventure much more conveniant.