Pokémon Emerald Destiny GBA ROM Hack – Full Game Overview
Game Information
Hack Name: Pokemon Emerald Destiny
Original Game (ROM Base): Emerald
Hack Status: Completed, v3.0
Language: English
Release Type: Fan-made ROM Hack
Table Of Contents
About This ROM Hack
This ROM hack is a reimagined version of Pokémon Emerald, retaining the core storyline with only minor narrative adjustments. The project draws inspiration from Inclement Emerald, particularly in its design philosophy and modern feature set.
Unlike difficulty-focused hacks, this project is not designed to significantly increase overall game difficulty. Most encounters follow a balance similar to the original game, with increased challenge primarily limited to key battles such as Gym Leaders. For players seeking a tougher experience, optional settings like Strict Level Caps and Hard Mode can be enabled to increase difficulty.
The hack includes a total of 558 Pokémon spanning Generations I through VII, offering a broad selection while maintaining manageable game balance and encounter variety.
In addition to expanded Pokémon availability, the game introduces several quality-of-life improvements aimed at modernizing gameplay. These include features such as DexNav, a Gen VI Exp. Share, and other usability enhancements that reduce grinding and improve overall player experience.
Story Overview
This ROM hack follows the same main storyline as Pokémon Emerald, preserving the original narrative structure, characters, and progression. Players experience the familiar journey across the Hoenn region, including the standard Gym challenge, encounters with Team Aqua and Team Magma, and the events involving Rayquaza, Kyogre, and Groudon. No major story arcs, character roles, or canonical plot points have been altered; any changes are limited to gameplay systems, balance adjustments, and optional features rather than narrative content.
Key Features
- All Starters from Gen I to VII
- 558 Pokémon from Gen I to VII are all obtainable
- Physical/Special split
- Fairy typing
- Two versions: with and without Mega Evolution
- No Dynamax nor Z-moves
- Moves and Abilities up to Gen VII
- Learnset updated to Gen VII
- EV-based grass: In each area, Pokémon will give you the same EV points for easier EV training
- Macho Brace now multiplies EV by 8
- Improved AI
- Fully decapitalized aside from Dolls (including Battle Tent and Battle Frontier)
- 100 TMs are all reusable
- Can use HM field move using a Pokémon from a Gym Leader (no need for your Pokémon to know it)
- Fly can be used from the beginning with no Badge requirement
- Deletable HMs
- Gen VI Exp. Share
- Exp is gained when a Pokémon is captured
- Exp does not depend on your Pokémon's level
- A DexNav that allows searching for Pokémon with good IVs and egg moves
- Day and Night system
- Shiny Chance of 1/1024 (becomes 1/170 with Shiny Charm) and further increases through chain battling with the DexNav
- IV and EV values can be read on the Summary screen (toggle by pressing A on the stats screen)
- EV-reducing berries grow faster and give much more yield
- Vitamins increase IVs
- EVs and IVs can be changed by the NPC in Fallarbor Town
- Colored stats (according to nature)
- Nature Changer in Slateport City (Costs 5 Oran Berries)
- Ability Pill (to switch abilities) and Ability Patch (for hidden ability)
- Old man in every Pokecenter that is a Move Reminder, Move Deleter, Move Tutor, Name Rater, and gives Mystery gifts after completing some parts of the game
- Egg moves and other tutor moves are included in the Move Reminder
- Gen 8 breeding mechanics with Destiny Knot and Everstone
- You can choose between No Caps, Default Caps, and Strict Caps settings
- You can choose between Normal and Hard difficulty (you can't select Shift battle style, and a bag is not allowed in battle)
- Both bikes are given in the Mauville Bike Shop
- Auto-Run using the L button
- Surf faster by pressing B
- Can sort items in the bag (by pressing Start)
- A Shiny Charm is given when you catch 200 Pokémon and talk to Prof Birch
- 1 Premier Ball given for every 10 Poké Balls you buy (applicable to all kinds of Poké Balls bought)
- Rearranged National Pokedex (evolutions are placed after their corresponding Pokémon)
- Enhanced Pokedex showing stats, evolutions, learnsets, and egg moves
- Easier fishing mechanism (skipped the "O A bite!" and the need to press A)
- Pokémon other than Magikarp can be caught with an Old Rod
- Old Rod is given at the start of the game
- New areas (from Inclement Emerald): Verdant Glade, Ashen Woods, Sandstrew Ruins, Dewford Meadow, Seaspray Cave, and more
- Battle Frontier now uses Pokémon from the chosen 574 ones
- Power Items now give 16 EV and stop natural EV gain (from battled Pokémon)
- Evolution through friendship requires a value of 160 instead of 220 (and Friend Balls make friendship start at 150)
- All Pokémon can evolve without trading
- Increased Pickup chance to 20%
- Holding Dusk Stone reduces Exp Gain by 50%
- Pokémon do not jump around in Caves and Water when using the DexNav
- A Pokémon Breeder in the daycare will give you an egg every day
- Gym Leaders can be battled every day after becoming the Champion
- All Pokemon start with 2 perfect IVs
- Gym Leaders can be rematched after beating the Elite Four (no need to wait for them to call)
- Increased probability for normal trainers to ask for rematches and no calls before the 5th Badge.
- Can use Honey on the grass to encounter some Pokemon (see Pokedex in documentation)
Screenshots
Download Links
With No Megas: Mediafire
With Megas: Mediafire
Documentation
How to Play
Requirements
- A Game Boy Advance emulator
- A compatible ROM base
- Patch file (IPS / UPS / BPS)
Developer Information
Developer / Team: Elie1605
Credits:
- Buffel Saft: Inclement Emerald (which I used as a base for this rom hack)
- PRET: pokeemerald
- Dizzy Egg: Battle Engine, Pokémon Expansion, Item Expansion, nature-coloured stats, higher money cap
- RHH: Battle Engine, Pokémon Expansion, Item Expansion
- Contributors to the Simple Modifications thread: various small changes
- Ghoulslash: dexnav, bag sort, fast surf, medicine reuse, expanded OW IDs, plural giveitem, toggleable auto-run
- Camthesaxman: expanded OW IDs
- AsparagusEduardo: single purchase TMs, more bag pockets, Pokedex+
- TheXaman: Pokedex+
- lightbox87: whiteout money
- NobodySociety: Fire Red style fishing
- Zeturic: wrapping summary screen, move items in summary screen
- Lunos: OW poison changes, Gracidea form change
- Furret: Music Expansion (HGSS and DPPt tracks)
- SamuRH/Xhizy: RHH/PRET intro
- Chaos Rush, Mr. Dollsteak, contributors to the DS-Style sprite resources: Pokémon sprites
- Skeli: Parental Bond code, which was adapted from the CFRU's source code
- Crema: Temtem's "Tem Vial", which inspired the Poké Vial item
- Devolov: Gen VI style Exp. Share
- Xhyzi: Day and Night system
Source & References
Official Thread / Website: Pokecommunity
Community Link: Discord
Legal Disclaimer
All content referenced on this page belongs to its respective owners.
This site does not host or distribute copyrighted game files.
Any content will be removed upon request by the rightful owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I see my Pokémon's learnset?
In the Pokédex, by using the Up&Down arrows on the Stats page, you can check the egg moves, learnset, TMs and tutor moves.How to know how to evolve my Pokémon?
In the Pokédex, there is a page that is called Evo that explains it.
How to change my Pokémon's Nature?
You can talk to the Nature Changer in Slateport City.
How to change my Pokémon's Ability?
You can use the Ability Pill to change between normal abilities and the Ability Patch to get the hidden ability.
Where can I find the EV and IV changer?
They are both in Fallarbor Town.
How to use the DexNav?
The DexNav is obtained along with the PokeNav at Rustboro City.
To use it, open the DexNav from the Start Menu, press R on the Pokémon you want to search and then in the wild, press R again to search for it.
A patch of grass (or sand or water) will pop up, and you walk to it to encounter the Pokémon.
When you use the DexNav over and over for the same Pokémon, you can get better IVs and egg moves.
Also, if you have already caught a Pokémon, you can their hidden ability using the DexNav.
How to do a chain using the DexNav?
To do a Chain using the DexNav, you first need to use a Repel.
You need to keep on encountering the same Pokémon using the DexNav and always either kill it or catch it.
The chance of encountering a shiny Pokémon greatly increase when you have a Chain higher than 50 and even more when it is higher than 100.
The chance also increases with the Search Level and if you have the Shiny Charm in your bag.
How to change Rotom's form?
By having Rotom in your party and interacting with the boxes next to Prof Birch in his lab.
How to get the Regi-trio and Regigigas?
To get the Regi-trio you need to proceed as the original game: Relicanth first and Wailord last in your party and use Dig in front of the Braille in Sealed Chamber. This will open the chambers and allow you to catch them.
After that, when you have the Regi-trio in your party, you can battle Regigigas in the Sealed Chamber.
What to do after beating the Elite Four for the 1st time?
- Rematch Gym Leaders
- Rematch Elite Four
- Catch Legendaries
- Battle Steven, Cynthia, Green, Rival, and the rom creator (check the documentation for more details).
- Enjoy the Battle Frontier
What are the in-game trades?
- Rustboro City: Give Gothita → Receive Pawniard
- Dewford Town: Give Steenee → Receive Tropius
- Verdanturf Town: Give Aipom → Receive Smeargle
- Fortree City: Give Shelmet → Receive Karrablast
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