You've finally made it through Victory Road. Your team is likely sitting in the mid-50s, you've burned through a dozen Max Repels, and you're standing in front of the Ever Grande City gates. This is where most Pokémon Omega Ruby players hit a wall. Honestly, the Omega Ruby Elite Four isn't just a repeat of the original 2003 GBA games. Game Freak tuned these encounters with Mega Evolutions and updated movesets that can absolutely wreck an unprepared team.
If you think you can just spam Surf and hope for the best, Sidney is going to have a field day with your sanity.
The Hoenn region's endgame is a gauntlet of specific elemental checks. Unlike some of the newer, "softer" Pokémon entries, Omega Ruby (and Alpha Sapphire) demands that you understand physical vs. special splits. If you don't have a plan for Steven Stone’s Mega Metagross, you aren't getting that Hall of Fame ribbon. Period.
Why Sidney Is the Ultimate Noob-Trap
Sidney is the first member of the Omega Ruby Elite Four, and he specializes in Dark-types. On paper, Dark-types seem easy. Just use a Fighting-move, right? Well, sort of. Sidney’s lead is a level 50 Mightyena that carries Intimidate. If you lead with a physical attacker like Blaziken or Gallade, your Attack stat drops instantly. It’s a subtle way the game messes with your momentum from the very first turn.
He also runs a Shiftry and a Cacturne. Both are dual Grass/Dark types. While they have a massive 4x weakness to Bug-type moves, most players don't carry a dedicated Bug-type in their endgame party. If you have X-Scissor on something, use it. Otherwise, Fire-type moves are your best bet here.
Watch out for his Sharpedo. It’s fast. It hits hard. It has Rough Skin. If you hit it with a contact move, you’re taking damage back. This is where a strong Electric or Fairy type becomes mandatory. Don’t let Sidney’s laid-back attitude fool you; he’s there to chip away at your HP so the later trainers can finish you off.
Phoebe and the Ghost-Type Problem
After Sidney, you move to Phoebe. She’s tougher. Her room is eerie, and her team is built to stall you out. Ghost-types in Omega Ruby are notorious because they often have high defensive stats or annoying status moves like Confuse Ray and Will-O-Wisp.
Phoebe’s two Dusclops/Dusknoir additions are the real problem. They are incredibly bulky. If you don't knock them out in one or two hits, they will burn your Pokémon, cutting your physical Attack in half for the rest of the fight. This is a nightmare for anyone relying on Mega Kangaskhan or Groudon.
You need a solid Ghost or Dark-type of your own. A Gardevoir with Shadow Ball is a godsend here. Also, don't forget that her Sableye has no weaknesses unless you’re using Fairy-type moves. Since Sableye is Dark/Ghost, it used to have zero weaknesses in older generations, but in the Omega Ruby Elite Four remakes, a single Dazzling Gleam will delete it.
Dealing with Glacia’s Ice-Cold Offense
Glacia is the third member. She’s a bit of a weird one. She loves her Glalie and Froslass. In fact, she uses two of each. The biggest mistake you can make here is assuming a Water-type can tank her hits. Her Walrein knows Sheer Cold. That’s a one-hit KO move. If luck is on her side, she can end your run in three turns regardless of your level.
Use Steel-types.
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Metagross or Aggron thrive here. They resist almost everything she throws at them and can hit back with devastating physical moves. Just be careful with Froslass; it’s part Ghost, so it’s immune to Fighting and Normal moves. It's also incredibly fast. If you're using a slow Fire-type like Camerupt, you might get outsped and hit with a Blizzard before you can even breathe.
Drake: The Dragon Master's Power Creep
Drake is the final hurdle before the Champion. In the original games, Drake was scary. In Omega Ruby, he’s terrifying because of the updated move pools. His Salamence isn't just a heavy hitter; it’s a sweep-machine.
He leads with Altaria. It’s fluffy, but it’s a bait. It uses Cotton Guard to skyrocket its Defense. If you don't take it out quickly, you'll find yourself hitting a brick wall. His Flygon and Kingdra offer great coverage, but the real threat is that Salamence. It has high speed and wide coverage with moves like Dragon Claw and Zen Headbutt.
The "secret weapon" for the Omega Ruby Elite Four's dragon expert is always an Ice-type move. You don't necessarily need an Ice-type Pokémon—they usually have too many weaknesses anyway. Just teach your Water-type (like Swampert or Milotic) Ice Beam. Since most of Drake's team has a 4x weakness to Ice, a single beam will usually secure the knockout.
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The Steven Stone Factor
He isn't technically "Elite Four," but you can't talk about this challenge without the Champion. Steven Stone is a Steel-type specialist, but his team is actually quite diverse. He uses Skarmory to set up Spikes, which punishes you for switching Pokémon. He uses Cradily and Armaldo to cover his Fire and Water weaknesses.
Then there’s Mega Metagross.
This thing is a beast. It has the Tough Claws ability, which boosts the power of contact moves. Its Meteor Mash will raise its Attack even further. It's fast, it's tanky, and it hits like a freight train. You need a plan. Primal Groudon (if you’re playing Omega Ruby) is the obvious answer, but if you want a challenge, try using a fast Fire-type or a bulky Ground-type with Earthquake.
The Rematch Difference
Once you beat the game and complete the Delta Episode, the Omega Ruby Elite Four gets a massive power boost. We're talking level 70+ Pokémon. They also start using Mega Evolutions themselves.
- Sidney gets Mega Absol (huge Attack and Speed).
- Phoebe gets Mega Banette (Prankster ability makes it annoying).
- Glacia gets Mega Glalie (Refrigerate-boosted moves hurt).
- Drake gets Mega Salamence (one of the strongest Megas in the game).
- Steven keeps his Mega Metagross but ups the levels significantly.
If you’re heading back for the rematch, your team needs to be at least level 75. The game stops pulling punches here.
Practical Tactics for Your Run
Don't just rely on levels. Items matter. Before you enter the first room, ensure you have at least 20 Hyper Potions and 10 Full Heals. The Omega Ruby Elite Four loves status conditions. Confusion, Burn, and Paralysis will ruin a perfect run faster than a critical hit.
Give your lead Pokémon a Choice Band or Life Orb if you’re confident in outspeeding. If not, the Eviolite on a pre-evolved tank like Dusclops can be a hilarious way to frustrate the AI.
Also, look at your "Held Items." Most players forget them. Giving your Pokémon a Sitrus Berry can be the difference between surviving a hit with 5 HP and having to restart the entire sequence.
Next Steps for Your Hoenn Victory:
- Check Your Moves: Visit the Move Reminder in Fallarbor Town. Ensure your team has "coverage" moves—don't just have four Fire moves on your Blaziken. Give it Brave Bird or Earthquake.
- Farm the O-Powers: Use the Attack and Defense O-Powers before each fight. They provide a temporary boost that doesn't cost a turn in battle.
- Find the Leftovers: You can find the Leftovers item on the SS Tidal. Giving this to your tankiest Pokémon provides passive healing every turn, which is invaluable during the long Steven Stone fight.
- EV Train if Necessary: If you’re struggling with the rematches, head to the desert or the water routes and do some basic EV training to maximize your Speed and primary Attack stats. It sounds technical, but it makes a massive difference in the endgame.