Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire Phase 4: Desert Cleanup

Desert Cleanup

After you beat Flannery, your rival gives you the Go-Goggles outside the Gym. This opens the Route 111 desert. You can now catch Trapinch, Baltoy, Sandshrew, and Cacnea, and you can choose one fossil.

Trapinch is slow and awkward at first, but Flygon is excellent later. Baltoy can become Claydol, a useful defensive spinner and Psychic/Ground option. Pick the Root Fossil for Lileep or the Claw Fossil for Anorith. The fossil you do not pick disappears in Ruby/Sapphire, so choose deliberately.

Wild Pokemon - Route 111 Desert

Pokemon	Versions	Method	Notes
Trapinch Ground - Lv 19-21	Ruby & Sapphire	Deep sand35% common	Best long-term desert catch. Flygon is worth the awkward middle stretch.
Sandshrew Ground - Lv 19-21	Ruby & Sapphire	Deep sand35% common	Reliable but less exciting than Trapinch if you already have Ground coverage.
Baltoy Ground/Psychic - Lv 20, 22	Ruby & Sapphire	Deep sand10% rare	Defensive utility pick. Claydol gives useful resistances and Psychic coverage.
Cacnea Grass - Lv 19, 21	Ruby & Sapphire	Deep sand20% uncommon	Niche Grass attacker that later becomes Grass/Dark. Frail, but fun.