Hoenn ホウエン地方
Hōen region
HoennIIIE.png
Artwork of the Hoenn region from Pokémon Emerald
Introduction Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire
Professor Professor Birch
First partner Pokémon Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip
Regional Villains Team Aqua, Team Magma
League
Pokémon League Hoenn League
League Location Ever Grande City
Pokédex
Pokédex List Hoenn Pokédex
Anime
Series Advanced Generation
Season(s) Advanced (6)
Advanced Challenge (7)
Advanced Battle (8)
Games
Generation III
Games Ruby and Sapphire
Emerald
Manga
Adventures Debut PS181

The Hoenn region (Japanese: ホウエン地方 Hōen-chihō) is a region of the Pokémon world. It is located south of Sinnoh. It is the setting of Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald. It is inspired by the real-world Japanese main island of Kyushu. The names of most of the cities in Hoenn are made of two words put together (Little Root, Fort Tree, Slate Port, Ever Grande, etc.) rather than colors or plants as Kanto and Johto had done. Professor Birch of Littleroot Town offers the starter Pokémon known as Treecko, Torchic, or Mudkip to Trainers beginning their journey of this vast land.

Etymology and design concept

File:Pokemonworld.png
The map of Japan showing the Hoenn region as Kyushu.

Etymology

 
In-game map of the Hoenn region from Generation III

Junichi Masuda has stated that Hoenn's name comes from 豊縁, hōen, meaning "abundant relations", as a common theme in this region is the relationships forged between Pokémon and people. He also stated that the reasoning behind rotating Hoenn 90° counterclockwise compared to its real-world counterpart was to increase playability[1].

Design concept

The Hoenn region is based on the real-world Japanese main island of Kyushu.

History

Hoenn was created after Groudon and Kyogre were formed. Groudon raised the landmasses and Kyogre filled the seas that would later become Hoenn. The meeting of these two created a great battle for supremacy until it was quelled by Rayquaza, sending Groudon and Kyogre into caverns where they rested until they were awakened many years later during the course of events in Generation III. The moving of the continents by Regigigas created Hoenn, and when Regigigas was sent to sleep in the Snowpoint Temple in Sinnoh during the Iron Age, Regirock, Registeel, and Regice, the keys to awakening it, were sealed away in Hoenn.

In contemporary history, Brendan/May moved to Littleroot Town in Hoenn from Johto. Brendan/May encountered May/Brendan, competing with Brendan/May to complete the Pokédex. Brendan/May saved Professor Birch from a PoochyenaRS/ZigzagoonE with a Torchic, Mudkip, or Treecko from Professor Birch's bag; as a reward for saving him, he gave Brendan/May a Pokédex and allowed him/her to keep the Pokémon that he/she used to save him. Brendan/May traveled across Hoenn, occasionally encountering and defeating Team Aqua and Team Magma. Team MagmaRE and/or Team AquaSE successfully awakened GroudonRE and/or KyogreSE, which caused the region of Hoenn to be plagued by intense sunlightR, heavy rainS, or a strange mixture of bothE. However, Brendan/May successfully calmed the weather Pokémon when he/she defeated itRS/summoned Rayquaza to calm themE. Brendan/May then proceeded to win at the Pokémon League and become the Champion.

Cities, routes, and other locations

Hoenn has sixteen cities and towns and a Pokémon League. These sites act as settlements for people to live and work in a functioning society. Hoenn features the largest amount of towns and cities of the five main regions.

The Hoenn region has 34 different routes, which are passages permitting Trainers to travel from one location to the next with relative ease. Much like Sinnoh after it, Hoenn's routes are numbered so that they don't follow sequence directly from previously-known regions' routes. Routes in Hoenn are numbered from 101 to 134. Compared to other regions, Hoenn features an abundance of sea routes, giving the impression that the Hoenn region is half-water and half-land. The Hoenn region introduced the idea of routes with differing weather conditions, including constant rainfall, thunderstorms, falling ash, and rays of sunlight.

The Hoenn region is unique and famous for its tropical-like environments. Despite Hoenn's abundance of water routes, there is a large amount of land. Since the cities and towns of Hoenn are immersed into nature, there aren't many large cities comparable to Unova's Castelia City or Johto's Goldenrod City. The region does not feature a true mountain range like in Sinnoh and other regions. Hoenn introduced many new natural environments including a volcano, a jungle, a beach, a desert, and many more.

Demographics

The towns, cities, and areas of the Hoenn region's total population in Ruby and Sapphire is 598.

Cities/Towns

Map City/Town Population Description
  Littleroot Town 10 A town that can't be shaded any hue.
  Oldale Town 16 Where things start off scarce.
  Petalburg City 30 Where people mingle with nature.
  Rustboro City 57 The city probing the integration of nature and science.
  Dewford Town 27 A tiny island in the blue sea.
  Slateport City 76 The port where people and Pokémon cross paths.
  Mauville City 39 The bright and shiny city of fun!
  Verdanturf Town 29 The windswept highlands with the sweet fragrance of grass.
  Fallarbor Town 23 A farm community with small gardens.
  Lavaridge Town 28 An excellent place for relaxing!
File:Fortree City RSE.png Fortree City 36 The treetop city that frolics with nature.
  Lilycove City 123 Where the land ends and the sea begins.
  Mossdeep City 45 Our slogan: Cherish Pokémon!
  Sootopolis City 39 The mystical city where history slumbers.
File:Pacifidlog Town RSE.png Pacifidlog Town 20 Where the morning sun smiles upon the waters.
  Ever Grande City ??? The paradise of flowers, the sea, and Pokémon.

Areas of interest

Emerald-exclusive areas

These areas can only be found in Pokémon Emerald Version:

Anime-exclusive locations

Picture Location Description
  A-B-C Islands The A-B-C Islands are a group of three island off the coast of Hoenn. Island A has a Pokémon Center and a school. Island B has DeepSeaScales. Island C has DeepSeaTeeth. There are two rivaling Trainer groups on the island. One group believes Huntail are stronger. The other believes Gorebyss are stronger. The A-B-C Islands appear in The Evolutionary War!.
  Banana Slakoth Garden Banana Slakoth Garden is a jungle-like reserve for wild Slakoth. It is a tourist attraction and it is owned by Marcel. It is located near Lilycove City. It appeared in The Garden of Eatin'.
  Bomba Island Bomba Island is where Pokémon battle judges are trained and is home to the Pokémon Battle Judge Training Institute. It was first featured in the episode Judgment Day!.
  Camerupt Point It is called Camerupt Point because it looks like a Camerupt's humps. It is located near a river by Volley Town. People enjoy stargazing at the summit. It appeared in Crazy as a Lunatone.
  Crossgate Town Crossgate Town is located between Petalburg City and Fortree City. The town is famous for its powerful tornadoes and its annual PokéRinger Tournament which attracts people from all around with Flying-type Pokémon to compete and try to become an honorary citizen.
  Donto Island Donto Island is located near Pacifidlog Town and it is home to many Donphan. It appeared in Date Expectations!.
  Foothill Town Foothill Town is a small village with no Pokémon Center, but instead has a Pokémon Clinic which is run by Dr. Abby, a Hoenn Grand Festival winner.
  Forbidden Forest Forbidden Forest is a Grass-type Pokémon reserve. Humans are not allowed in the forest because a long time ago, too many people came to catch the Grass Pokémon that live there so they became hostile towards humans. A Venusaur is the 'boss' of the forest.
  Forina Forina is a cavernous valley located west of Mt. Chimney in central Hoenn. It is home to many rare wild Pokémon and has shrubs and pillar-like rock formations. Jirachi hibernates for a millennium beneath the valley between the periods it is awakened. Forina appeared in Jirachi: Wish Maker.
  Izabe Island Izabe Island is a large island between Mossdeep City and Sootopolis City. It contains a variety of environments, from deserts to snow covered mountains. There is a rock formation at the highest peak known as Square Top.
File:Kiri Kir Mountains.png Kiri Kir Mountains The Kiri Kir Mountains are located between Petalburg City and Fortree City. A cave in the mountains was once home to an ancient Baltoy civilization.
  Lake May Lake May is a large lake located between Mauville City and Fallarbor Town.
  LaRousse City LaRousse City is the setting for Destiny Deoxys. It is a technologically advanced city and its main attraction is the Battle Tower.
  Maisie Island Maisie Island is located between Lilycove City and Mossdeep City.
  Mirage Kingdom Mirage Kingdom is located somewhere beyond a large desert. It is ruled by a king and queen. The Mirage Kingdom worships Togepi, and even contains a Togepi Temple. The only way one can claim the throne is with a Togepi.
  Monsu Island Monsu Island is located between Lilycove City and Mossdeep City. Monsu Island is the location of both bases of Team Magma and Team Aqua.
  Muscle Island Muscle Island is located between Lilycove City and Mossdeep City. The island is most famous for its bodybuilders and people interested in getting into shape. The unique part about the island is that they use Pokémon to help them accomplish this in addition to regular exercise equipment.
  North Petalburg North Petalburg is located just north of Petalburg City. The city doesn't appear to be any different than any other at first glance. However, the entire city is obsessed with the Petalburg Gym Leader Norman.
  Oldale Ruins Oldale Ruins is a group of ruins near Oldale Town. Professor Alden studied the ruins and Team Magma forced the professor to help them explore the ruins using the four keys. The Ruins were featured in A Ruin with a View.
  Purika City Purika City is located between Sootopolis City and Mossdeep City, on Izabe Island, and is famous for its Pokémon Contests. It is where May won her fourth Ribbon.
  Rinshin Town Rinshin Town is located between Petalburg Woods and Rustboro City. It appeared in Taming of the Shroomish.
  Riyado Town Riyado Town is located on Izabe Island, between Mossdeep City and Sootopolis City. The town is home to Gordon and his brother Nicky.
  Rubello Town Rubello Town is located in between Petalburg City and Fortree City. The town is most famous for its Contests.
  Shroomish Forest Shroomish Forest is home to a large number of Shroomish and Breloom.
  Togepi Paradise Togepi Paradise is the home for Togepi that the people of the Mirage Kingdom worship. It can only be ruled by a person with pure heart. This paradise is currently protected by Misty's Togetic.
  Valley of Steel The Valley of Steel appeared in All Torkoal, No Play!.
  Volley Town Volley Town is located between the Weather Institute and Lilycove City.
  Wailmer Island Wailmer Island is located somewhere off the coast of Hoenn. It's surrounded by dangerous whirlpools. It has one known inhabitant, Robin. A group of Wailmer live around it.
  Wales Island Wales Island is located somewhere between Mossdeep City and Sootopolis City. It is actually home to Professor Proctor and his wife, Annie. Together, they resurrected several Fossil Pokémon.
  Wazoo Island Wazoo Island is located between Lilycove and Mossdeep City. Legend has it that one hundred years ago, a cargo ship called King Neptune was caught into a typhoon and sank, near Wazoo Island carrying Green Shards.

Mentioned only

Name Notes
Cerosi Town Mentioned in Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snorunt! and Do I Hear a Ralts?. Located on Izabe Island. It has ferry services to Sootopolis City.
South City Mentioned in Destiny Deoxys. It is the hometown of Sid, Rafe, Audrey and Kathryn.


Routes

Routes in Hoenn number are numbered as 101-134, breaking the former pattern set up by Kanto and Johto. This is presumably to discourage the idea of being able to travel back to either region after completion of the game, as was done in Generation II and as a mirror of the fact that Japan's road system possesses a similar gap. Some of the routes have differing weather conditions depending on the day they are traveled on.

Geography

 
Hoenn in Ruby and Sapphire

The Hoenn region boasts many dramatic environments from rainforests to deserts. However, its most striking feature is its abundance of water, a vast contrast to other main series regions, especially Sinnoh. There are several large islands off the mainland only accessible via water routes, many of which are deep enough for diving. It seems to have a warmer climate than Kanto, Johto, Sinnoh, and Unova.

Much of the interior area is forested or mountainous, so most notable cities are found on the coastline. Much of the region is covered in water, almost equal in size as the mainland, restating the theme of the game. People who live in towns and villages in the mountain areas must adapt to the harsh environment. An extreme example of this is the inhabitants of Fortree City, who live in tree houses. This is in stark contrast to other regions in the Pokémon world, as noted by Ruby in Pokémon Adventures, who preferred Johto's many modernized cities to the wilderness and countryside in Hoenn. Hoenn has two volcanoes: one active and one dormant. Mt. Chimney, the active volcano, in the center of the Hoenn region; the ash from Mt. Chimney regularly falls on the nearby towns and routes. On the opposite side of the Hoenn region resides the dormant volcano which Sootopolis City was built in.

 
Anime-based map of the Hoenn region

Due to the primarily tropical climate, many of Hoenn's newly discovered Pokémon are rather exotic in appearance, compared to Pokémon from Kanto or Johto.

Hoenn League

Main article: Hoenn League

Gym Leaders

Hoenn League
Generation III Region: Hoenn
Gym Leader
Japanese
Location
Japanese
Type Badge
 
Roxanne
ツツジ Tsutsuji
Rustboro City
カナズミシティ
Kanazumi City
Rock  
Stone Badge
 
Brawly
トウキ Tōki
Dewford Town
ムロタウン
Muro Town
Fighting  
Knuckle Badge
 
Wattson
テッセン Tessen
Mauville City
キンセツシティ
Kinsetsu City
Electric  
Dynamo Badge
 
Flannery
アスナ Asuna
Lavaridge Town
フエンタウン
Fuen Town
Fire  
Heat Badge
 
Norman
センリ Senri
Petalburg City
トウカシティ
Tōka City
Normal  
Balance Badge
 
Winona
ナギ Nagi
Fortree City
ヒワマキシティ
Hiwamaki City
Flying  
Feather Badge
  
Tate and Liza
フウとラン Fū and Lan
Mossdeep City
トクサネシティ
Tokusane City
Psychic  
Mind Badge
 
Wallace
ミクリ Mikuri RS
 
Juan
アダン Adan E
Sootopolis City
ルネシティ
Rune City
Water  

Rain Badge


Elite Four and Champion

Hoenn League
Generation III
Member
Japanese
Type
 
Sidney
カゲツ Kagetsu
Dark
 
Phoebe
フヨウ Fuyō
Ghost
 
Glacia
プリム Prim
Ice
 
Drake
ゲンジ Genji
Dragon
 
Champion
Steven
ダイゴ Daigo RS
 
Champion
Wallace
ミクリ Mikuri E
Steel Water


Battle Frontier

Main article: Battle Frontier (Generation III)

Frontier Brains

Hoenn Battle Frontier
Frontier Brain
Japanese
Facility
Japanese
Symbols
 
Factory Head Noland
ファクトリーヘッド >ダツラ
Factory Head Datsura
Battle Factory
バトルファクトリー
Battle Factory
 
Silver Knowledge Symbol
 
Gold Knowledge Symbol
 
Arena Tycoon Greta
アリーナキャプテン コゴミ
Arena Captain Kogomi
Battle Arena
バトルアリーナ
Battle Arena
 
Silver Guts Symbol
 
Gold Guts Symbol
 
Dome Ace Tucker
ドームスーパースター ヒース
Dome Superstar Heath
Battle Dome
バトルドーム
Battle Dome
 
Silver Tactics Symbol
 
Gold Tactics Symbol
 
Pike Queen Lucy
チューブクイーン -->アザミ
Tube Queen Azami
Battle Pike
バトルチューブ
Battle Tube
 
Silver Luck Symbol
 
Gold Luck Symbol
 
Palace Maven Spenser
パレスガーディアン ウコン
Palace Guardian Ukon
Battle Palace
バトルパレス
Battle Palace
 
Silver Spirits Symbol
 
Gold Spirits Symbol
 
Pyramid King Brandon
ピラミッドキング ジンダイ
Pyramid King Jindai
Battle Pyramid
バトルピラミッド
Battle Pyramid
 
Silver Brave Symbol
 
Gold Brave Symbol
 
Salon Maiden Anabel
タワータイクーン リラ
Tower Tycoon Lila
Battle Tower
バトルタワー
Battle Tower
 
Silver Ability Symbol
 
Gold Ability Symbol


Trivia

  • Not counting the player's hometown, Hoenn has the most towns and cities that do not have Gyms—Oldale Town, Slateport City, Lilycove City, Verdanturf Town, Fallarbor Town, Pacifidlog Town, and Ever Grande City.
  • Unlike other regions, several of the smaller islands off Hoenn's southeastern coast are unreachable by any means.
  • Hoenn is the only main series region so far to not be seen in a day-night cycle at least once, and the only region not to be rendered in 3D.
    •  It is also the only main series region so far that has not been on the Nintendo DS.
  • Hoenn is the only region in the handheld games to have more than one villainous team, with both Team Aqua and Team Magma calling the region home. Only Orre matches this, with Team Snagem and Cipher, though Orre has not appeared outside of GameCube games.
    • Both of these regions were introduced in Generation III.
  • Hoenn has the most routes of any region, with 34.
  • Hoenn has the fewest gates of any region. It features only two, both located within the Seaside Cycling Road.
  • Hoenn is the only main series region which has both a Game Corner and department store which are not in the same city, since Hoenn's Game Corner is in Mauville City whereas its department store is in Lilycove City.
  • Hoenn is the only region in which all Badges have the same English and Japanese names—at least one Badge has a different name in all four other regions.
  • Hoenn is the only region with two lighthouses—one in Slateport City and the other in Lilycove City.

In other languages

Language Name Origin
Korean 호연 Hoyeon From the Japanese name.
Chinese (Mandarin) 豐緣/丰缘 Fēngyuán*
芳緣/芳缘 Fāngyuán*
Both can be derived from hōen. 豐緣 means "abundant relations".
Originally called 芳緣 (means "fragrant relations").


See also

References


Regions in the Pokémon world
Core series Kanto (Sevii Islands) • JohtoHoenn
Sinnoh (HisuiBattle Zone) • Unova
KalosAlolaGalar (Isle of ArmorCrown Tundra)
PaldeaKitakami
Side series White CityOrre
Anime Orange ArchipelagoDecolore Islands
Spin-off games FioreAlmiaObliviaPokémon IslandMintale Town
Ryme CityPasioRanseiFerrumLental
Mystery Dungeon worldPokéParkTCG Islands
Carmonte IslandTumblecube IslandAeos Island
TCG Southern IslandsPuzzle ContinentHolonParallel Worlds
Sovereign states in
the Pokémon world
Ranger UnionGuyana
Lucario KingdomMirage KingdomRota


Hoenn
               
Settlements
Littleroot TownOldale TownPetalburg CityRustboro CityDewford TownSlateport CityMauville CityVerdanturf Town
Fallarbor TownLavaridge TownFortree CityLilycove CityMossdeep CitySootopolis CityPacifidlog TownEver Grande City
Battle FrontierBattle Resort
Routes
101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118
119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134Underwater
Landmarks
Petalburg WoodsRusturf TunnelIsland CaveGranite CaveAbandoned ShipSea MauvilleOceanic Museum
Seaside Cycling RoadTrick HouseMauville Game CornerNew MauvilleTrainer HillDesert RuinsMirage TowerFiery Path
Jagged PassMt. ChimneyDesert UnderpassMeteor FallsWeather InstituteScorched SlabAncient TombSafari ZoneMt. Pyre
Lilycove MuseumShoal CaveTeam Aqua Hideout • Team Magma Hideout (LilycoveJagged Pass) • Mossdeep Space CenterSeafloor Cavern
Cave of OriginMirage IslandSky PillarVictory RoadPokémon LeagueSealed ChamberArtisan CaveAltering CaveSouthern Island
Marine CaveTerra CaveContest HallBattle MaisonBattle TowerBattle TentSecret IsletSecret MeadowSecret Shore
Mirage spots

Mirage CavesMirage ForestsMirage IslandsMirage Mountains
Crescent IsleFabled CaveGnarled DenNameless CavernPathless PlainTrackless Forest

Access to
Birth IslandFaraway IslandNavel RockSky


  This article is part of Project Locations, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on every location in the Pokémon world.