The Elite Four in Pokémon Ruby present a challenging variety of types and strategies. To defeat them effectively, it’s essential to prepare a well-balanced team with Pokémon that have strong matchups against their types. Here’s a breakdown of each Elite Four member and the types you’ll need to counter them:
1. Sidney (Dark Type)
Sidney specializes in Dark-type Pokémon. Dark types are weak to Fighting, Bug, and Fairy moves. Since Fairy types don’t exist in Pokémon Ruby, focus on Fighting and Bug moves.
Recommended Types:
- Fighting (e.g., Hariyama or Machamp)
- Bug (e.g., Beautifly or Ninjask with Bug-type moves)
Key Strategy: Sidney’s Pokémon often use moves like Crunch and Rock-type attacks. Bring Pokémon with high Defense to counter these moves effectively.
2. Phoebe (Ghost Type)
Phoebe uses Ghost-type Pokémon, which are weak to Ghost and Dark moves. Be cautious, as her Pokémon often have moves that inflict status conditions like Curse or Confuse Ray.
Recommended Types:
- Dark (e.g., Mightyena or Absol)
- Ghost (e.g., Banette or Dusclops)
Key Strategy: Dark Pokémon are immune to Ghost-type attacks, making them an excellent choice to nullify some of Phoebe’s offensive strategies.
3. Glacia (Ice Type)
Glacia focuses on Ice-type Pokémon, some of which also have Water subtypes. Fire, Fighting, Rock, and Electric moves are your best options.
Recommended Types:
- Fire (e.g., Blaziken or Camerupt)
- Fighting (e.g., Hariyama or Machamp)
- Rock (e.g., Aggron or Golem)
- Electric (for Water/Ice Pokémon like Walrein, e.g., Manectric or Magneton)
Key Strategy: Glacia’s Pokémon often use defensive moves like Hail and heal with Rest. Bring Pokémon that can deal heavy damage quickly to avoid prolonged battles.
4. Drake (Dragon Type)
Drake specializes in Dragon-type Pokémon, which are weak to Ice and Dragon moves. Dragons have high stats, so bring strong Ice-type moves to capitalize on their weakness.
Recommended Types:
- Ice (e.g., Walrein or Glalie)
- Dragon (e.g., Altaria with Dragon Claw)
Key Strategy: Drake’s Pokémon can deal massive damage with Dragon-type moves, so prioritize Ice moves, as they are super effective and often neutralize Dragon threats quickly.
5. Champion Wallace (Water Type)
Wallace, the Champion, specializes in Water-type Pokémon. His team includes a variety of Water Pokémon, some with dual types like Gyarados (Water/Flying) and Whiscash (Water/Ground).
Recommended Types:
- Electric (e.g., Manectric or Magneton)
- Grass (e.g., Sceptile or Ludicolo)
Key Strategy: Use Electric moves for general Water Pokémon and Grass moves to counter dual types like Whiscash. Be cautious of Wallace’s Milotic, which can recover HP with Recover and use Ice Beam against Grass Pokémon.
Final Tips for the Elite Four:
- Healing Items: Bring plenty of Full Restores, Revives, and status-healing items to sustain your team.
- Balance Your Team: Ensure your team covers a variety of types to handle different opponents.
- Level Recommendations: Aim for your team to be around level 50-55 to stand a strong chance.
By assembling a strategic team with these types in mind, you’ll be well-prepared to conquer the Elite Four and become the Champion of Pokémon Ruby!
