Pokémon: The 10 Best Cities And Towns In The Hoenn Region, Ranked

When Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire were first released in 2002 in Japan and 2003 in the rest of the world, it introduced players to the Hoenn region, full of lush environments and varied climates. It was a sharp contrast to the locals of the Kanto and Johto regions from Pokémon Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver, and Crystal.

The companion title Pokémon Emerald and 2014 remakes Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire brought Hoenn back with even greater detail and depth, fully realizing the wonder and beauty of the region. Its cities and towns are some of the most varied in the series, just like the Japanese region it was based on, Kyushu.

10 Fallarbor Town

This small farming community is located near the volcano Mt. Chimney and Meteor Falls. Due to its proximity to the volcano, its population adapted to its ashfalls and the environment. It is also the second stop for Pokémon Coordinators to participate in Super Rank Contests after triumphing in Verdanturf Town.

While there is not a whole lot to do in this town, it is still an example of how the settlements of Hoenn adapted to some of the more extreme environments of the region. It is also where the Move Reminder is based, so players still frequently visit Fallarbor to have their Pokémon remember old moves as long as they had enough Heart Scales.

9 Pacifidlog Town

Remotely located in the middle of the sea, Pacifidlog Town is perhaps the most unusual inhabited area of the entire Hoenn region. It is built upon rafts and logs, with only a Pokémon Center and a few wooden houses to accommodate its small population.

While Pokémon games are no strangers to cities on islands, Pacifidlog Town beats all of them with its unique design. The town is not essential to the story, but it is a vital location to access two nearby caves: the Sealed Chamber, where a Braille puzzle must be solved to unlock Regirock, Regice, and Registeel, and the Sky Pillar, home of Rayquaza, one of the strongest Legendary Pokémon of Hoenn.

8 Lavaridge Town

If a traveler were to hike down south from the top of Mt. Chimney, they would reach Lavaridge Town, located right at the volcano’s base. It is a popular tourist destination for its soothing and relaxing hot springs, perpetually hot due to the volcano’s magma. Pokémon Trainers on their League journey also make a stop in Lavaridge to challenge Flannery, the Fire-type Gym Leader.

As there is a Pokémon Gym, Lavaridge is essential for a Trainer’s journey. Like Fallarbor Town, it is also an example of how Hoennians adapted to life around the volcano to their advantage. The Hot Springs are also where players can get two free Pokémon Eggs that hatch into a Wynaut and a Togepi.

7 Slateport City

Every region in the Pokémon world has a seaport, and Hoenn is no exception. A tourist can buy all kinds of items at the Slateport Market or visit the Oceanic Museum to learn about the wonders of the sea. Pokémon Coordinators also make Slateport their third stop to participate in Hyper Rank Contests.

Slateport is the first settlement for the Game Boy Advance to show off its graphical power, as it is colorful and bright. The city also plays a significant part in the story, as the museum and the shipyards are essential to the dastardly Teams Magma and Aqua. The Name Rater also resides here, so players who nickname their Pokémon visit Slateport frequently.

6 Verdanturf Town

Situated between Rustburo City and Mauville City, what Verdanturf Town lacks in size, makes up for its prime location. Travelers can easily reach it via the Rusturf Tunnel, and it is in the highlands of Hoenn with clean, high-quality air. It is also where aspiring Pokémon Coordinators begin their Pokémon Contest journeys.

Early in the game, players met a sick child named Wally and helped him catch Ralts, an iconic Generation III Pokémon. He later moved to Verdanturf, where he was in much better spirits thanks to the player and the clean environment. Verdanturf’s musical theme is a beautiful and emotional piano piece that stands out among the trumpets of the soundtrack.

5 Lilycove City

For many trainers and travelers, Lilycove City is the terminus for their journeys on land before they head out to sea. Like Slateport, it is a bustling tourist destination because of its museum and department store that sells useful items. The final challenge for Pokémon Coordinators, Master Rank Contests, is also held in Lilycove.

Lilycove may not have a Pokemon Gym, but that can be a good thing because it shows that a big city does not need a gym to be important. It is also where the Move Deleter is located, so Trainers still frequent Lilycove anyway to fine-tune their Pokemon teams. The Pokémon fan club is also located in Lilycove and, in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, supports the Contest Idol Lisia.

4 Mossdeep City

Mossdeep City is located on an island west of Lilycove City. Its idyllic weather made it the prime location for a space center to be established and rocket experiments to be conducted. Mossdeep is also the penultimate gym challenge for Pokémon Trainers as they must battle the Psychic-type Gym Leader duo, Tate and Liza.

Unlike past islands such as Kanto’s Cinnabar Island and Johto’s Cianwood City, Mossdeep is a bustling and developed locale, no doubt thanks to the unique space center. The space station plays an even more prominent role in the special “Delta Episode” of Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire where they detect an oncoming meteor containing the best Mythical Pokémon of Generation III, Deoxys.

3 Fortree City

The motto of Fortree City is “The treetop city that frolics with nature,” and that is evident when travelers first arrive. The houses were built on trees and planks of wood, with wooden ladders and bridges as the primary way to get around. The Pokémon Gym of Flying-type Leader Winona is one of the few buildings on the ground.

Fortree is the first city in the Pokémon games to be heavily immersed in nature and set a precedent for similar settlements like Galar’s Ballonlea, Unova’s White Forest, and Sinnoh’s Floaroma Town. Even among these, Fortree is unique as a treetop city, which has not been replicated in other regions.

2 Mauville City

In Hoenn, all roads lead to Mauville City. It is located right in the region’s heart and is north of Slateport City, south of Lavaridge Town, east of Verdanturf Town, and west of Fortree City. Its founder, Wattson, is a cheerful and eccentric man who also happens to be the city’s gym leader specializing in Electric types.

When Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire brought back Mauville, it was given a significant overhaul, changing it into a sprawling, multi-leveled indoor city. According to Wattson, he modeled the new Mauville after Kalos’s Lumiose City, solidifying the connection of the Nintendo 3DS games and making it live up to its slogan, “The bright and shiny city of fun!”

1 Sootopolis City

Reaching Sootopolis City at first is not easy, as players can only get to it by diving underwater and entering a cave. It is worth it, though, as travelers behold a thriving, bustling city built into a crater. It is especially a fitting challenge for Pokémon Trainers, as it is home to Hoenn’s final Gym Leader Wallace, and his simple yet fun gym challenge.

Sootopolis, with its unique crater and environment, suit the games well as the last city before heading to the Pokémon League. It is also home to the Cave of Origin, which players, depending on the version, must brave to confront the legendary Groudon and Kyogre. Emerald took this a step further by having these two battling right in the middle of the city.

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