Emerald reshuffles the Hoenn tier list with move tutors, expanded encounters, and Wallace replacing Steven at the end. Move tutors hand out coverage moves that weren't in RS, and some Pokemon show up earlier or in new locations. Swampert is still the top starter with one weakness and great STAB. Your final fight is against Water-types now, so plan accordingly. Rayquaza is catchable before the Elite Four here, making it a real option for your main team.

How to read this tier list
Elite Pokemon
Base Stat Total of 600+
Legendary
Story-central, catchable in-game
Mythical
Rare, event-exclusive
BST
Base Stat Total (sum of all 6 stats)
Fast with strong offense
Bulky with good offense
Very high offense, slow
Extremely bulky, low offense
High offense but fragile
Bulky support, low offense
Fast utility, momentum control

  • Rayquaza is the biggest difference from RS. It's catchable at Sky Pillar (Level 70) before the Elite Four, turning a post-game trophy into a real team member. Swampert is still the best starter and one of the strongest Pokemon all game. Move tutors also give a few mid-tier picks better coverage than they had in Ruby and Sapphire.

  • Wallace replaces Steven as Champion, so you need Water-type answers for the final fight instead of Steel. Both Team Aqua and Team Magma appear in the story. Move tutors teach new coverage moves that weren't in RS. Some encounter tables change, making certain Pokemon available earlier. And the Battle Frontier replaces the Battle Tower for post-game challenges.

  • Mudkip, same as Ruby and Sapphire. Swampert's Water/Ground STAB handles most of the game. The difference in Emerald: Wallace is the Champion, and Swampert's Water typing gives you a mirror-match edge. Torchic is a solid second choice since Blaziken's Fighting STAB hits Steven hard (he's a post-game battle in Emerald instead of the Champion).

  • Swampert (starter), Gardevoir from Ralts on Route 102, Breloom from Shroomish in Petalburg Woods, Manectric from Route 110, Swellow for Fly and Guts attacks, and Salamence if you're willing to grind Bagon in Meteor Falls. Swap Salamence for Aggron if you want something available earlier.

  • Yes, and this is a major difference from Ruby and Sapphire. During the Sootopolis storyline, you visit Sky Pillar to wake Rayquaza and stop the Groudon/Kyogre fight. After that event, you can return to catch it at Level 70. That's before the eighth gym and the Elite Four, making it a real team member for your main playthrough. Bring plenty of Ultra Balls.

  • Emerald has free one-time move tutors scattered across Hoenn that teach moves like Double-Edge, Explosion, and Thunder Wave. These help during your main playthrough. The Battle Frontier (post-game) offers BP tutors for coverage moves like Ice Punch, ThunderPunch, and Fire Punch, but those only matter for post-game challenges. The free tutors are the bigger deal for ranking purposes.

  • Salamence has 600 BST and is one of the strongest non-legendary Pokemon available. The grind: you find Bagon deep in Meteor Falls (need Surf and Waterfall), then level it to 30 for Shelgon and 50 for Salamence. If you commit, you get a Dragon/Flying type with 135 Attack and Intimidate. Worth it if you're patient. The game is beatable without it, but it makes the Elite Four a lot easier.