How To Get To Fortree Gym: Step-by-Step

The Fortree City gym is your next major destination in Hoenn, but reaching it involves navigating a maze of routes and overcoming some unique obstacles. To get to Fortree Gym, you’ll need to travel through Route 119 and then enter Fortree City itself. The gym leader here is Winona, a skilled Flying-type trainer.

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Navigating the Path to Fortree City

Getting to Fortree City is a journey that tests your exploration skills. You’ll be venturing through lush landscapes and encountering a variety of Pokémon. Let’s break down the route step-by-step.

The Journey from Verdanturf Town

After defeating Roxanne, the first Gym Leader in Rustboro City, and then possibly Brawly in Dewford Town, your next objective often leads you towards the eastern part of Hoenn. If you’ve recently been to Verdanturf Town, you’re already on the right track.

Route 118: The First Steps

Your path will likely begin by heading east from Verdanturf Town. You’ll soon find yourself on Route 118. This route is characterized by its flowing rivers and scattered trainers.

• Key Features of Route 118:
  • Trainers: Be prepared for a few battles here. These trainers can offer valuable experience and help you level up your Pokémon.
  • Wild Pokémon: You’ll encounter Pokémon like Magikarp, Goldeen, and some Ground and Rock-type Pokémon depending on the time of day.
  • HM Cut: You’ll need the HM01 Cut to progress through some areas on this route, allowing you to clear away small trees blocking your path. If you haven’t obtained it yet, you might need to backtrack slightly or ensure you have it in your inventory.

Crossing the Fiery Path: Route 119

Continuing east from Route 118, you will enter Route 119. This route is a significant landmark, renowned for its tall grass, dense foliage, and the presence of a waterfall. This is where the real challenge of reaching Fortree City begins.

• Navigating the Tall Grass: Route 119 is heavily covered in tall grass, teeming with wild Pokémon.

  • Common Encounters: Expect to see Pokémon like Oddish, Gloom, Bellsprout, Weepinbell, and sometimes even powerful Flying-type Pokémon like Pelipper or Swablu.
  • Strategic Battling: Use this area to train your team. Having a good variety of Pokémon types will be beneficial for the challenges ahead, especially in Fortree City itself.

• The Need for Strength (Strength HM): A crucial part of navigating Route 119 involves using Strength (HM04). You’ll encounter large boulders that block your path. The Strength HM allows you to push these boulders out of the way, creating new pathways.

  • Where to Find Strength: You typically acquire the Strength HM from an old man in the Ruins of Alph if you’re playing in Johto, or more commonly, after assisting Lanette in Oldale Town or in Fallarbor Town after certain events related to Meteor Falls. The exact location might vary slightly depending on the specific Pokémon game you are playing (Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Omega Ruby, or Alpha Sapphire).

• The Weather Institute: An important location on Route 119 is the Weather Institute. This building is significant because it often holds valuable items or information. More importantly, after you clear it of Team Aqua or Team Magma grunts, you can sometimes receive a helpful item like a Casteliacone or a helpful Pokémon as a reward. This can also be a good place to heal your Pokémon if you’ve been battling extensively.

Reaching Fortree City

Once you’ve successfully navigated Route 119, pushing boulders with Strength and battling through trainers, the path opens up to Fortree City. The city itself is built among the trees, giving it a unique arboreal appearance.

Exploring Fortree City

Fortree City is a vibrant and unique location. Its architecture, built high up in the trees, means you’ll often be navigating bridges and platforms.

• Key Locations in Fortree City:

  • Pokémon Center: Essential for healing your team.
  • Poké Mart: Stock up on necessary items like Potions, Antidotes, and Poké Balls.
  • The Gym: This is your ultimate destination within the city.
  • Other Buildings: You’ll find houses and other structures, some of which might contain useful items or trainers.

• Navigating the City Layout: The city’s design can be a little disorienting at first. You’ll be moving between different levels and platforms. Pay attention to the paths and bridges connecting the areas.

Fortree Gym: The Battle with Winona

Now that you’ve arrived, it’s time to focus on the Fortree City gym and its leader, Winona.

Fortree Gym Location

The Fortree City gym location is centrally situated within the city. Once you enter Fortree City, you’ll see the gym building prominently. It’s a distinct structure, often identifiable by its distinctive appearance, which typically blends with the city’s tree-dwelling theme. You’ll generally find it by moving through the main pathways of the city.

Fortree Gym Requirements

Before you can challenge Winona, there are no strict badge requirements in terms of needing a specific number of badges. However, you will absolutely need the HM02 Fly or the HM04 Strength to navigate the routes leading to and within Fortree City itself. Having Pokémon that can deal with Flying-type Pokémon is also a practical requirement for a successful battle.

Pokémon in Fortree Gym (Trainers and Leader)

Winona is a master of Flying-type Pokémon. This means the trainers within the gym will also primarily use Flying-type Pokémon, or Pokémon with moves that can hit your team hard with aerial assaults.

• Gym Trainers: Expect to face trainers with Pokémon like:

  • Swablu
  • Taillow
  • Wingull
  • Pelipper
  • Tropius (in later versions or if you’re lucky)

• Winona’s Team (Emerald/Ruby/Sapphire):

  • Swablu: (Level 29) – Often the first Pokémon. It can use Leer and Peck.
  • Taillow: (Level 30) – Known for its speed and access to Quick Attack and Wing Attack.
  • Wingull: (Level 30) – This Water/Flying type can use Supersonic and Wing Attack.
  • Pelipper: (Level 32) – Another Water/Flying type, often with Supersonic, Wing Attack, and potentially Water Pulse.
  • Swellow: (Level 33) – A fast and powerful evolution of Taillow, capable of using Aerial Ace and Brave Bird (in later generations).

• Winona’s Team (Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire):

  • Nuzleaf: (Level 30) – This Grass/Dark type might seem odd, but it can learn Cut and Aerial Ace, providing a surprise.
  • Tropius: (Level 35) – A powerful Grass/Flying type. It has access to Giga Drain, Aerial Ace, and Synthesis, making it a formidable opponent.
  • Skarmory: (Level 35) – A Steel/Flying type, known for its high defense and access to moves like Steel Wing and Sand Attack.
  • Pelipper: (Level 35) – Similar to earlier versions, but likely with stronger moves.
  • Swellow: (Level 35) – A strong, fast bird Pokémon.

Getting Past Fortree Gym Challenges

The gym itself is designed as a series of tricky platforms and switch puzzles. You’ll need to navigate these carefully to reach Winona.

• The Switch Puzzle: The core challenge in Fortree Gym involves interacting with switches. When you step on a switch, it moves certain platforms around the gym. Your goal is to strategically step on these switches to create a path to Winona.
  • Trial and Error: This puzzle often requires a bit of trial and error. Observe how the platforms move after you activate a switch.
  • Step-by-Step Navigation:
    1. Enter the gym. You’ll see trainers and platforms.
    2. Move forward and interact with the first switch. This will likely shift some platforms.
    3. Navigate across the newly accessible platforms, battling any trainers you encounter.
    4. Find and activate the next switch. Continue this process.
    5. The puzzle is solved when you can reach the elevated platform where Winona is waiting.

Strategies for Fortree Gym

Facing Winona requires careful planning. Her Flying-type Pokémon are strong against Grass, Bug, and Fighting types.

Strengths and Weaknesses

• Winona’s Pokémon Weaknesses:

  • Rock: Deals super-effective damage against Flying-type Pokémon.
  • Electric: Also super-effective against Flying types.
  • Ice: Another type that excels against Flying Pokémon.

• Winona’s Pokémon Strengths:

  • Grass: Resists Flying and Electric attacks.
  • Fighting: Resists Flying but is weak to Flying’s neutral coverage.
  • Bug: Weak to Flying types.

Recommended Pokémon Types

• Rock-type: Pokémon like Geodude, Graveler, or Rhyhorn (if available early enough) are excellent choices. Their Rock-type moves will devastate Winona’s team.
• Electric-type: Magnemite, Pikachu, or Voltorb can provide speedy and powerful attacks.
• Ice-type: If you have an Ice-type Pokémon or a Pokémon that can learn Ice-type moves (like a Water-type with Ice Beam via TM), this can be highly effective.

Specific Pokémon Recommendations:

• Geodude/Graveler: Found in Granite Cave or on various routes. Their Rock-type attacks are perfect.
• Magnemite/Magneton: Found in Granite Cave. Their Electric typing is a great advantage.
• Voltorb/Electrode: Found on Route 110 and other areas. Fast Electric-types.
• Grovyle/Sceptile (if you chose Treecko): While Grass-types are generally weak to Flying, Sceptile can learn some decent Rock-type moves or has high speed to dodge attacks.
• Combusken/Blaziken (if you chose Torchic): Fighting and Fire types can be useful. Blaziken’s speed and access to Rock Slide via TM can be beneficial.
• Marshtomp/Swampert (if you chose Mudkip): Water/Ground types are immune to Electric and resist Flying. They can also learn Ice Beam (TM13) which is super effective against Flying types.

Battle Tactics

• Lead with a Strong Attacker: Start the battle with a Pokémon that has a type advantage or is fast enough to strike first.
• Use Super Effective Moves: Prioritize Rock, Electric, or Ice-type moves.
• Beware of Status Effects: Some of Winona’s Pokémon might use moves like Supersonic to confuse your Pokémon, or Sand Attack to lower accuracy. Have Full Heals or Antidots ready.
• Switch Wisely: If your Pokémon is taking heavy damage, switch to a Pokémon with better defensive typing or type advantage.
• Heal When Necessary: Don’t hesitate to use Potions or visit the Pokémon Center if your team is weakened.

Winning the Fortree Gym Battle

To achieve victory against Winona, you need to leverage the type advantages and strategic advice provided.

• Overcoming Swellow: Swellow is fast and hits hard. An Electric or Rock-type move will take it down quickly.
• Dealing with Pelipper: Pelipper is a Water/Flying type. It’s weak to Electric and Rock moves. It can also be resistant to Water and Ice, so be mindful.
• Handling Tropius: This Grass/Flying type is particularly troublesome due to its bulk and access to Giga Drain. A strong Rock or Ice-type attack is your best bet.
• Skarmory’s Defense: If facing Skarmory, its Steel typing makes it resistant to many attacks. However, Electric and Fire-type moves are super-effective.
• The Prize: Upon defeating Winona, you will receive the Feather Badge, which allows Pokémon up to Level 50 to obey you, and TM40 Aerial Ace, a reliable Flying-type attack.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What Pokémon types are best against Winona in Fortree Gym?
A1: Rock, Electric, and Ice-type Pokémon are highly effective against Winona’s Flying-type team.

Q2: Can I use a strong Water-type Pokémon against Winona?
A2: Yes, Water-types can be useful, especially if they can learn Ice-type moves like Ice Beam (TM13), which is super-effective against Flying types. They also resist Flying attacks.

Q3: Who is the Gym Leader of Fortree City?
A3: The Gym Leader of Fortree City is Winona, who specializes in Flying-type Pokémon.

Q4: What HM do I need to get to Fortree City?
A4: You’ll primarily need HM01 Cut to clear paths and HM04 Strength to push boulders on Route 119. HM02 Fly is useful for returning to Fortree City quickly or escaping difficult situations.

Q5: How do I solve the puzzle in Fortree Gym?
A5: The puzzle involves stepping on switches that move platforms. You need to activate them in a sequence to create a path to Winona. It often requires some experimentation.

Q6: What are the main Pokémon Winona uses?
A6: Winona’s team typically includes Pokémon like Swablu, Taillow, Wingull, Pelipper, Swellow, Tropius, and Skarmory, depending on the game version.

Q7: Where is Fortree Gym located?
A7: The Fortree Gym is located in the center of Fortree City, a prominent building within the treetop city.

By following these steps, navigating the routes, and preparing your team, you’ll be well-equipped to reach and conquer the Fortree Gym. Good luck, trainer!