Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire Phase 9: Elite Four And Champion Teams

Sidney Strategy

Sidney is the easiest member if you bring Fighting coverage. Cacturne and Shiftry dislike Fighting and Bug moves, Sharpedo is frail despite hitting hard, and Absol is the crit-risk Pokemon. Do not let Absol sit in front of something fragile.

Phoebe Strategy

Phoebe punishes Normal and Fighting attacks because Ghost types ignore them. Dark coverage is the easiest plan. Sableye has no weaknesses in Gen 3, so use your strongest neutral special damage if you do not have a clean answer.

Bring status healing. Ghost fights often become annoying through confusion, Curse-style chip, and defensive stalling.

Glacia Strategy

Glacia is Ice-themed but half her team is Water/Ice. Electric attacks are strong into Sealeo and Walrein, Fighting hits Ice targets well, and Rock can help if you have it.

Walrein is the bulky closer. Do not let it slowly drain your best attacker before Drake.

Drake Strategy

Drake is the Ice Beam test. A Water type with Ice Beam can carry this fight. Without Ice, use Rock coverage, bulky Water, and careful switching.

Salamence is the ace and should be treated like a Champion-level threat.

Champion Steven Strategy

Steven's team is not pure Steel. It mixes Steel, Rock, Ground, Psychic, Grass, and Bug coverage through Skarmory, Cradily, Claydol, Armaldo, Aggron, and Metagross.

Fire handles Skarmory and Metagross but struggles into Rock/Ground targets. Water handles Claydol, Aggron, and Armaldo. Fighting helps into Aggron and Cradily. Ground is strong into Metagross and Aggron.

Metagross Lv. 58 is the final wall. Save a healthy Ground, Fire, or bulky Water answer for it. Do not spend your Metagross plan on Skarmory unless you have a backup.