Littleroot Town/Route 101

Guide to Littleroot Town and Route 101 in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. Choose your starter Pokémon, battle your first wild Pokémon, and head to Oldale Town.

After meeting your rival, head north to Route 101. Continue north until you witness Professor Birch being chased by a wild Pokémon. You'll have the opportunity to help him by battling the wild Pokémon with one of three starter Pokémon. Choose wisely, as this Pokémon will be a significant part of your team.

Starter Pokémon Options:

• Treecko (Grass): Starts slow but excels in speed and special attack upon evolution into Grovyle (Level 16) and Sceptile (Level 36). Its best move is Leaf Blade, but TMs and tutors are needed for other strong moves. Disadvantages two gyms, but helpful in the Elite Four. Strengths: Water, Ground, Rock. Weaknesses: Fire, Bug, Poison, Flying, Ice.
• Torchic (Fire): Popular choice with high Special Attack and Attack, but lower defenses. Evolves into Combusken (Level 16), gaining Fighting type, which adds weaknesses. Can be a powerhouse attacker. Disadvantages three gyms when evolved. Strengths: Grass, Bug, Ice, Steel. Weaknesses: Water, Rock, Ground.
• Mudkip (Water/Ground): An excellent starter with powerful moves but lacking speed. Evolves into Marshtomp (Level 16), gaining Ground type, which grants electric immunity and more strengths. Water/Ground typing has a 4x weakness to Grass moves (6x from Grass Pokémon). Can learn Earthquake, Ice Beam, and Surf. No gym weaknesses unless the third gym is encountered before evolution. Strengths: Fire, Ground, Water. Weaknesses: Electric, Grass.

After choosing your starter, use its starting move (Pound for Treecko, Scratch for Torchic, Tackle for Mudkip) to defeat the wild Pokémon. The wild Pokémon will flee, and you should follow Professor Birch back to his lab in Littleroot Town. He will thank you and let you keep the Pokémon you chose. He then directs you to Route 103 to meet your rival, Brendan (if you are a boy) or May (if you are a girl). Return to Route 101, travel through the tall grass, battling wild Pokémon for experience and potentially leveling up. Continue past the ledges to reach Oldale Town.