How to Catch Latios & Latias in Emerald

How to Catch Latios & Latias in Emerald — Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire & Emerald guide card

Choose the blue or red TV report in Emerald, track the level 40 roamer, trap it with Wobbuffet and learn how the Eon Ticket unlocks the other Lati.

Published

After Pokémon Emerald’s credits, a TV report in Littleroot Town asks whether the mysterious flying Pokémon was blue or red. Blue starts Latios roaming; red starts Latias roaming. The chosen roamer is level 40.

Game
Emerald
You need
The Hall of Fame entered (post-game TV report)
Encounter
Latios or Latias roaming at level 40 — your TV answer picks which
Tracking
Pokédex area screen, after you have seen the roamer once

The TV choice: Latios or Latias, and how the roamer behaves

The roamer changes area as you cross map boundaries and tries to flee every battle turn. Once you have seen it, the Pokédex area screen shows its current location. Sleep or paralysis persists between meetings, and a trapping ability such as Wobbuffet’s Shadow Tag prevents the escape attempt.

Warning — Repels can hide the roamer: Repels affect roaming Pokémon. If your lead is above level 40, the Repel can suppress the encounter you are trying to find.

A repeatable two-route routine for catching the roamer

  1. Unlock and see the roamer Enter the Hall of Fame, answer the TV question, then encounter the roamer once so the Pokédex can track it.
  2. Choose an easy border Use two adjacent grassy areas such as Route 118 and Route 119.
  3. Hop and check Cross the border, check the Pokédex area screen, and repeat until the roamer lands on your route.
  4. Trap and catch Lead with Wobbuffet, avoid Repels, apply a lasting status condition and throw balls before changing area again.
The player standing beside tall grass on Route 118 in Pokémon Emerald
Route 118 has grass beside the path: cross a route border, check the Pokédex area screen, and return when the roamer lands here. In-game screenshot, Pokémon Emerald (Game Boy Advance). © Nintendo / Creatures / GAME FREAK.

The Eon Ticket, Southern Island and the other Eon Pokémon

The Eon Ticket opens Southern Island, where the other Eon Pokémon waits at level 50 holding Soul Dew. The ticket was a limited GBA-era event item, so this route requires a legacy save that already received or record-mixed it.

Tip — Save before the island encounter: The Southern Island encounter is recoverable after fleeing, but saving first avoids losing the battle result or the trip.

For a color-matching catch, these are the Eon Pokémon’s matching balls from Gen 3’s own lineup.

  • Latios Normal: Great Ball, Premier Ball, Dive Ball
  • Latias Normal: Poké Ball, Premier Ball

Latios and Latias: quick answers

Which TV answer gives Latios in Emerald?
Choose blue for Latios or red for Latias.
What level is the roaming Eon Pokémon?
The Emerald roamer is level 40; the Southern Island encounter is level 50.
Why does the Pokédex not show its location?
The area screen starts tracking the roamer only after you have seen it once.