Money Making Strategies
Welcome, aspiring Pokémon Trainer! Money, or PokéDollars (P$), is an essential resource in the Hoenn region. You'll need it for Poké Balls, Potions, TMs, and even the occasional stylish outfit. While battling trainers provides a steady income, there are several advanced strategies to maximize your earnings. This guide will detail the most effective ways to fill your wallet, from early-game opportunities to post-game riches.
Early Game Riches (Before Mauville City)
Even before you've collected a handful of badges, you can start building a decent nest egg. These methods are simple and require minimal resources.
- Trainer Rematches: This is your bread and butter. Every trainer you defeat will give you P$. Revisit routes you've already cleared, and many trainers will be eager for a rematch, often with stronger Pokémon and higher payouts. Keep an eye on your Vs. Seeker (obtained later) for easier tracking.
- Selling Unused Items: As you explore, you'll pick up various items. Check your Bag regularly for things you don't need, such as extra Potions, Antidotes, or even certain TMs you don't plan to use. While individual items might not fetch much, they add up.
- Berry Farming: While not a direct money-maker, growing Berries can save you money on healing items. Plant any Berries you find in soft soil patches across Hoenn. Oran Berries and Pecha Berries are particularly useful for early-game healing, reducing your need to buy Potions.
Mid-Game Magnates (After Mauville City)
Once you've reached Mauville City and beyond, more lucrative options become available, often involving specific items or repeatable challenges.
The Amulet Coin Advantage
The Amulet Coin is arguably the most important item for money-making. When held by a Pokémon in your active party (even if it doesn't participate in battle), it doubles the P$ earned from trainer battles.
- Location: You can obtain the Amulet Coin in Mauville City. Speak to the kind old lady in the house directly to the right of the Pokémon Center.
- Strategy: Equip the Amulet Coin on one of your Pokémon as soon as you get it. From this point forward, every trainer battle will yield double the cash. This significantly boosts your income from regular progression and rematches.
The Vs. Seeker Loop
The Vs. Seeker is a key item that allows you to challenge previously defeated trainers to rematches. This is an endless source of income, especially when combined with the Amulet Coin.
- Location: The Vs. Seeker is given to you by a trainer on Route 111, north of Mauville City, after you defeat them.
- Strategy:
- Equip the Amulet Coin on one of your Pokémon.
- Go to a route with several trainers you've already defeated. Routes like Route 110 (Cycling Road) or Route 118 are excellent choices due to the number of trainers.
- Use the Vs. Seeker. If trainers have an exclamation mark above their heads, they are ready for a rematch.
- Battle them, earn double P$, and repeat.
- The Vs. Seeker needs to recharge after use. Walk around for about 100 steps, and it will be ready to use again.
- Recommended Trainers for Vs. Seeker:
- Beauty Johanna (Route 110): Uses a Roselia. Good for early-mid game.
- Collector Edwin (Route 110): Uses a Kadabra. Another solid choice.
- Winstrate Family (Route 111): While not a Vs. Seeker target, battling the entire family in their house on Route 111 is a repeatable event that yields good money and experience. You can challenge them once per day.
Late Game & Post-Game Profit (After Elite Four)
After conquering the Elite Four, your money-making potential skyrockets with access to stronger trainers and exclusive items.
The Rich Boy/Lady Grind
Certain trainer classes, particularly Rich Boy and Lady, offer significantly higher payouts than others. Seek them out for rematches.
- Strategy: With your Amulet Coin equipped, use the Vs. Seeker on routes known to have Rich Boys and Ladies.
- Route 104 (North of Petalburg City): Features a Rich Boy and a Lady. They are easily accessible and provide good early post-game income.
- Route 110 (Cycling Road): Has several trainers, including a Rich Boy, who offer substantial rewards.
- Route 120: Contains a Lady who can be repeatedly challenged.
Selling Valuable Items
As you progress, you'll find rare items that sell for a high price. These are often found through exploration or by using specific Pokémon abilities.
- Nuggets: These golden chunks sell for a whopping 5,000 P$ each. They can be found in various locations as hidden items or given as rewards. Keep an eye out in caves and on routes.
- Stardust: Sells for 1,000 P$. Often found alongside Nuggets.
- Big Pearl: Sells for 3,750 P$. Found by diving in underwater areas or rarely held by wild Clamperl.
- Rare Bones: Sells for 5,000 P$. Found in specific locations, often requiring Rock Smash or Strength.
- Heart Scales: While primarily used to teach forgotten moves, if you have an abundance, they sell for a decent price (1,000 P$). Found by using the Itemfinder on certain beaches or rarely held by wild Luvdisc (Route 124, 126).
The Pickup Ability
Certain Pokémon with the Pickup ability can randomly find items after battles, including valuable ones like Nuggets and Rare Candies (which can be sold for 2,400 P$).
- Pokémon with Pickup: Zigzagoon and Linoone are the most common Pokémon with this ability in Ruby and Sapphire.
- Strategy:
- Catch a Zigzagoon or Linoone.
- Keep it in your party (it doesn't need to battle).
- After any battle (wild or trainer), there's a chance it will pick up an item. Check its summary screen regularly to see what it found.
- The higher the Pokémon's level, the better the items it can find. A high-level Linoone is a fantastic passive income generator.
By combining these strategies, especially the Amulet Coin with Vs. Seeker rematches against high-paying trainers, and supplementing with valuable item sales and the Pickup ability, you'll never have to worry about being short on cash in the Hoenn region!