Walkthrough: How To Get To The Fortree Gym & Win!

How To Get To The Fortree Gym
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Walkthrough: How To Get To The Fortree Gym & Win!

The Fortree City Gym is a big step in your Pokémon Emerald game. Gym Leader Winona leads this Gym. She uses Flying-type Pokémon. Getting into the Gym has a special trick. You must find an invisible obstacle. Then, you solve a puzzle with spinning doors inside. This guide will help you. It will show you how to get to the Fortree Gym. It will also help you win against Winona.

The Fortree City Gym location is in Fortree City. Fortree City is found on Route 120. You must travel a long way to reach it. You also need to meet a special friend to get inside the Gym. This friend gives you an item. That item helps you get past the invisible barrier. So, let us start our trip to the Fortree City Gym.

The Journey to Fortree City

Reaching Fortree City is your first goal. It is not a short trip. You will travel through many areas. You will need to beat the Mauville City Gym first. Then, you will go through Route 118. After that, you will go through Route 119. This is the main path to Fortree City.

Grasping the Path from Mauville City

After you beat Wattson in Mauville City, head east. You will go to Route 118. This route has both land and water. You will need a Pokémon that can use Surf. But you do not need Surf right away. Just walk across the land part. You will meet a fisherman. You can battle him.

After Route 118, you will find a small house. This house is next to a river. Talk to the person inside. They will tell you about the next area. This area is Route 119.

Traversing Route 119: A Challenging Path

Route 119 is a long route. It has tall grass. Many wild Pokémon live here. You will need your Acro Bike or Mach Bike here. The Mach Bike is better for this part. It helps you go over muddy slopes. You will find many of these slopes on Route 119.

Important Item: You will need the Mach Bike to go up some slopes. If you have the Acro Bike, go back to Mauville City. Talk to Rydel at the Bike Shop. You can swap your Acro Bike for the Mach Bike.

Route 119 also has heavy rain. This rain can make some Pokémon stronger. Electric-type moves get weaker in the rain. Water-type moves get stronger. Keep this in mind when you battle.

You will also find the Weather Institute on Route 119. You must enter this building. You will battle Team Aqua or Team Magma inside. You need to stop them. After you beat them, you will get a Castform Pokémon. This Pokémon changes its form based on the weather. This is a good sign that you are on the right route to Fortree Gym.

Pokémon You Might Meet on the Way

On Route 118 and 119, you will find different Pokémon. These can help you train your team. Or you might want to catch some new ones.

Here are some Pokémon you might find:

Route 118:
- Wingull (Flying/Water)
- Tentacool (Water/Poison) – in water
- Linoone (Normal)
- Zigzagoon (Normal)
Route 119:
- Tropius (Grass/Flying) – very common here
- Kecleon (Normal)
- Oddish (Grass/Poison)
- Gloom (Grass/Poison)
- Marill (Water/Fairy)
- Lombre (Water/Grass)
- Pelipper (Water/Flying) – common in water

Make sure your Pokémon are strong enough. You will face many trainers on Route 119. They have Pokémon around levels 25-30.

Arriving in Fortree City

After you get through the long Route 119, you will see Fortree City. This city is unique. All the houses are built in trees. Bridges connect the tree houses. This is a city built high up. You have found the Fortree City Gym location!

When you first arrive, do these things:

Heal Your Pokémon: Go to the Pokémon Center. It is usually the first building you see. Make sure your team is healthy. They need to be ready for the Gym battle.
Shop for Items: Visit the Poké Mart. Stock up on Potions, Super Potions, and Full Heals. You might also want X Attack or X Defend items. These can help in the Gym battle.
Explore: Talk to the people in the city. Some might give you items. Some might give you useful tips.

The Fortree City Gym is right in the middle of the city. You cannot miss it. But you cannot get inside yet. There is an invisible barrier. This is part of how to enter Fortree Gym.

The Path to Fortree Gym: The Invisible Wall

You will walk towards the Fortree City Gym. But something will stop you. It is an invisible object. You cannot see it. You cannot go around it. This is a common question: how to enter Fortree Gym? This invisible wall is the first part of the Fortree Gym requirements.

You need a special item to make the invisible object visible. This item is the Devon Scope. You do not just find it. Someone gives it to you.

Meeting Steven Stone: The Key to Entry

Remember Steven Stone? He is a strong trainer. He loves rocks and rare Pokémon. You have met him before. You met him in Granite Cave. You also saw him in the Weather Institute. He will give you the Devon Scope.

Steven Stone is waiting for you on Route 120. This route is just east of Fortree City.

How to find Steven:

From Fortree City, head east.
You will step onto Route 120.
Walk a short distance.
You will see Steven Stone. He is standing near some invisible Kecleon.

Talk to Steven. He will notice the invisible Pokémon. He will give you the Devon Scope. This item lets you see invisible Pokémon. It helps you clear the path to Fortree Gym.

Using the Devon Scope

Once you have the Devon Scope, walk back to the Fortree City Gym. Stand in front of the invisible wall. Your character will use the Devon Scope automatically.

What happens next? The invisible wall will disappear. It was a Kecleon! Kecleon is a Pokémon that can change its color. It blends in perfectly with its surroundings. Now that you can see it, you can battle it.

You do not have to catch the Kecleon. You can just beat it in battle. After the battle, the Kecleon will move away. The path to the Fortree City Gym is now clear. This is the main Hoenn Fortree Gym access step. You are now ready to enter the Gym!

Inside the Fortree Gym: The Spinning Door Puzzle

You have made it inside! The Fortree City Gym puzzle is next. This Gym is not like others. It has a special layout. It uses spinning doors. You must move them the right way to get to Winona. This is the Fortree City Gym puzzle.

The Gym Layout

The Fortree Gym has a simple look. It is a large room with many platforms. These platforms have trainers. Between the platforms are gates. These gates spin around. You step on them, and they turn. You need to turn them so they make a path.

How the Spinning Doors Work

Each spinning door turns 90 degrees (a quarter turn) every time you step on it. You need to plan your steps. If you step on a door, it moves. This might open a path. Or it might close one. You must be careful.

You will need to battle gym trainers to get past them. They will help you gain experience.

Step-by-Step Solution to the Fortree City Gym Puzzle

Here is how to solve the Fortree City Gym puzzle:

First Room (Entrance):
- Walk forward. You will see a spinning door.
- Step on the first spinning door. It will turn.
- This will open the way to the first trainer.
- Battle Bird Keeper Humbert (Wingull L29, Swellow L29).
Next Path:
- After the battle, step on the same spinning door again. This will turn it a second time.
- This makes a path to the right.
- Go right and battle Bird Keeper Wilbur (Doduo L29, Skarmory L29).
Opening the Way:
- From Wilbur’s spot, step on the spinning door there. It will turn.
- This will open a path to the north.
- Go north. You will see another spinning door.
- Step on this new spinning door. It will turn.
- This makes a path to the left.
- Go left. You will find Bird Keeper Coby (Wingull L27, Pelipper L27, Xatu L27).
Final Path to Winona:
- After beating Coby, step on the spinning door near him. It will turn.
- This will open the way to a final spinning door.
- Step on that final spinning door. It will turn.
- This will make a straight path to Gym Leader Winona.

You have solved the Fortree City Gym puzzle! You are now ready to face Winona.

Challenging Gym Leader Winona

Winona is the Gym Leader of the Fortree City Gym. She uses Flying-type Pokémon. Her Pokémon are strong. They can hit hard. They also have good speed. Be ready for a tough fight.

Winona’s Pokémon Team

Here is a table showing Winona’s Pokémon team:

Pokémon	Type	Level	Abilities/Key Moves
Swablu	Dragon/Flying	29	Peck, Safeguard, Aerial Ace. Has Natural Cure.
Pelipper	Water/Flying	29	Wing Attack, Supersonic, Protect, Water Pulse.
Skarmory	Steel/Flying	30	Steel Wing, Aerial Ace, Spikes, Sand-Attack.
Altaria	Dragon/Flying	33	Dragon Dance, Dragon Breath, Aerial Ace, Take Down.

Note: In Pokémon Emerald, Winona’s Altaria is a very dangerous Pokémon. It can use Dragon Dance many times. This makes its Attack and Speed much higher.

Strategy Against Flying Types

Flying-type Pokémon are weak to certain types. Knowing these weaknesses is key to winning.

Here are the types that are strong against Flying-type Pokémon:

Electric-type: Very effective. Examples: Manectric, Magneton, Pikachu.
Ice-type: Very effective. Examples: Glalie, Snorunt.
Rock-type: Very effective. Examples: Golem, Nosepass, Anorith.

Types that Flying-type Pokémon are strong against:

Grass-type
Fighting-type
Bug-type

Types that Flying-type Pokémon are weak against:

Attacking Type	Defending Type (Flying)	Effect
Electric	Flying	2x
Ice	Flying	2x
Rock	Flying	2x

Recommended Pokémon for Your Team

It is a good idea to have Pokémon of these types on your team:

Electric-type:
- Manectric: Evolved from Electrike. Very fast. Strong Special Attack. Learn Thunderbolt from the Game Corner.
- Magneton: If you caught Magnemite in New Mauville. Good Special Attack.
- Jolteon: If you evolved an Eevee (trade from another game). Very fast.
Ice-type:
- Glalie: Evolved from Snorunt. Can learn Ice Beam (TM13).
- Walrein: Evolved from Sealeo. Can learn Ice Beam or Blizzard.
Rock-type:
- Golem: Evolved from Graveler. Strong Attack and Defense. Learn Rock Slide (TM80) or Rock Blast.
- Nosepass: Found in Granite Cave. Can learn Rock Slide.
- Relicanth: Found underwater. Good defenses. Learn Rock Slide.

Moves to Use

Focus on moves that hit hard and quickly.

Electric moves: Thunderbolt, Shock Wave, Spark
Ice moves: Ice Beam, Blizzard, Ice Punch
Rock moves: Rock Slide, Rock Tomb, Rock Blast

Items to Bring

Bring many healing items.

Super Potions / Hyper Potions: To heal HP.
Full Heals / Antidotes / Paralyze Heals: Winona’s Pelipper can use Supersonic to confuse. Skarmory can use Sand-Attack to lower accuracy. Altaria can paralyze.
X Attack / X Special Attack: These items can boost your Pokémon’s stats during battle. Use them on your main attacker.
Revives: Just in case a Pokémon faints.

Specific Counters for Winona’s Pokémon

Let’s look at each of Winona’s Pokémon and how to beat them.

Swablu (Dragon/Flying)

Weaknesses: Ice, Rock, Dragon. Electric is also good because of Flying type.
Strategy: Swablu is not too strong. An Electric or Ice move will defeat it fast. Be careful of Safeguard. It stops status changes for a few turns.

Pelipper (Water/Flying)

Weaknesses: Electric, Rock.
Strategy: Pelipper has good Special Defense. Use strong Electric moves. Manectric with Thunderbolt is great. Pelipper might use Supersonic to confuse your Pokémon. Have Full Heals ready.

Skarmory (Steel/Flying)

Weaknesses: Electric, Fire.
Strategy: Skarmory has high Defense. It uses Steel Wing and Aerial Ace. It also uses Spikes. Spikes hurt your Pokémon when they switch in. It also uses Sand-Attack. This lowers your Pokémon’s accuracy. Use Electric or Fire moves. A strong special attacker works well. Be careful of Sand-Attack. It makes your moves miss.

Altaria (Dragon/Flying)

Weaknesses: Ice, Dragon, Rock.
Strategy: This is Winona’s strongest Pokémon. It can use Dragon Dance. This makes its Attack and Speed go up by one stage each time. If Altaria uses Dragon Dance many times, it can beat your whole team.
- Priority: You must hit Altaria hard and fast. Do not let it use Dragon Dance too many times.
- Best Attackers: A very fast Ice-type or Dragon-type Pokémon is best. If you have an Ice Beam user, use it. Ice Beam is very strong against Altaria.
- Protect: If you have a Pokémon that can use Protect, it can stop Altaria from using Dragon Dance for one turn. This can buy you time.
- Accuracy: Altaria’s Aerial Ace never misses. Your Pokémon’s accuracy will not matter to it.

Winona’s battle is a challenge. But with the right Pokémon and moves, you can win. Keep an eye on your Pokémon’s health. Use items when needed.

After the Battle

When you beat Winona, you get a great reward.

Receiving the Feather Badge

You will get the Feather Badge. This is your sixth Gym Badge in Hoenn. This badge shows you are a skilled trainer.

What the Feather Badge does:

It makes Pokémon up to level 70 obey you. This includes traded Pokémon.
It lets you use the HM Fly outside of battle.

Receiving TM40 Aerial Ace

Winona also gives you TM40 Aerial Ace.

Aerial Ace is a Flying-type move.
It always hits. It never misses.
It is a good move for many Flying-type Pokémon. Your Swellow or Pelipper can learn it.

New HMs You Can Use

With the Feather Badge, you can now use HM02 Fly outside of battle.

Fly: This HM lets you fly to any city you have visited before. It makes traveling much faster. You will need a Pokémon that can learn Fly. Many Flying-type Pokémon can learn it. Pelipper, Swellow, Tropius, and Altaria can all learn Fly.

Key Preparations for the Fortree Gym

Before you even step on Route 119, you should prepare. Good preparation makes the whole journey and battle easier. These are the Fortree Gym requirements for a smooth victory.

Badges Needed

You need five Gym Badges before the Fortree City Gym.

Stone Badge (Roxanne – Rustboro City)
Knuckle Badge (Brawly – Dewford Town)
Dynamo Badge (Wattson – Mauville City)
Heat Badge (Flannery – Lavaridge Town)
Balance Badge (Norman – Petalburg City)

You get the Feather Badge after you beat Winona. It is your sixth badge.

Pokémon Level

Your Pokémon should be around level 30-35. Winona’s strongest Pokémon is level 33. If your Pokémon are lower, they might struggle. If they are higher, the battle will be easier. Train your Pokémon on Route 119 against wild Pokémon and trainers.

Essential Items

Always carry these items:

Potions/Super Potions/Hyper Potions: To heal HP during battle.
Full Heals/Antidotes/Paralyze Heals: To cure status effects. Winona uses moves that can confuse and paralyze.
Revives: To bring fainted Pokémon back to life.
X Attack/X Special Attack/X Defend/X Speed: Use these to boost your Pokémon’s stats. They can turn the tide of a battle.

HM/TMs Needed or Useful

Some HMs are needed to reach Fortree City or for general travel. Others are useful in battle.

HM01 Cut: Needed to clear trees.
HM04 Strength: Used to move large rocks. Not directly needed for Fortree, but useful for other areas.
HM03 Surf: You will use this after Fortree City to go to other areas. It is useful for finding some hidden items earlier too.
TM40 Aerial Ace: Winona gives this to you. Teach it to a Flying-type Pokémon.
TM13 Ice Beam: Found in the Abandoned Ship. Very good against Altaria.
TM80 Rock Slide: Found on Route 118 or in the Game Corner. Good against Flying types.

This full guide gives you all the steps. You know the Fortree City Gym location. You know the path to Fortree Gym. You know how to enter Fortree Gym. You know the Fortree City Gym puzzle. You know Winona Gym location and how to win. With this information, your Hoenn Fortree Gym access is complete. Go and win your Feather Badge!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Fortree Gym type?

The Fortree Gym uses Flying-type Pokémon.

What badge does Winona give?

Winona gives you the Feather Badge. It is your sixth Gym Badge.

Can I use a bike in Fortree City?

Yes, you can use either the Mach Bike or the Acro Bike in Fortree City. The city has many bridges. Bikes help you move around fast.

What level should my Pokémon be to challenge Winona?

Your Pokémon should be around Level 30-35. Winona’s strongest Pokémon is Level 33 Altaria.

Do I need a specific HM to enter the Fortree Gym?

You do not need an HM to enter the Fortree Gym. But you need to use the Devon Scope. Steven Stone gives you this item on Route 120. It helps you see the invisible Kecleon blocking the entrance.