How to Catch Deoxys in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire: A Complete Guide

Deoxys, the Mythical Pokémon from space, is a highly sought-after catch in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. Unlike previous generations, Deoxys is actually integrated into the main storyline after you defeat the Elite Four and Champion, making it a guaranteed encounter for those who persevere. This guide will walk you through the necessary steps, providing detailed instructions and tips to successfully catch Deoxys in your game. Get ready for a cosmic showdown!

## Prerequisites

Before you can even think about catching Deoxys, you’ll need to meet a few crucial requirements:

* **Beat the Elite Four and Champion:** This is the first and most fundamental step. You cannot access the Delta Episode, where Deoxys appears, until you’ve conquered the Pokémon League.
* **Complete the Delta Episode:** This post-game storyline is triggered after becoming Champion. It involves a new character, Zinnia, and a series of events related to a meteor threatening the planet.
* **Have access to the Sky Pillar:** You’ll need to be able to reach the top of the Sky Pillar, a challenging tower filled with powerful Pokémon trainers and crumbling floors.
* **Have a strong team:** Deoxys is a formidable opponent at level 80, so you’ll need a well-trained team of Pokémon around level 70-80 with diverse move sets and type coverage. Consider including Pokémon with moves that can inflict status conditions like paralysis or sleep.
* **Stock up on Poké Balls:** Ultra Balls are your best bet for catching Deoxys, but bring a variety of other balls like Timer Balls (for prolonged battles) and Dusk Balls (if fighting at night or in a cave) just in case. A good supply of healing items (Potions, Super Potions, Hyper Potions, Max Potions, and Full Restores) is also essential.
* **A Pokémon with a move like False Swipe (optional but highly recommended):** This move always leaves the opponent with at least 1 HP, making it easier to catch them without accidentally knocking them out.

## The Delta Episode: Your Path to Deoxys

The Delta Episode is a significant part of the post-game content in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, revolving around a meteor headed towards the planet. This episode is crucial, as it sets the stage for your encounter with Deoxys. Here’s a breakdown of the key events:

1. **Mossdeep Space Center Investigation:** After defeating the Elite Four, return to Mossdeep City. You’ll witness a commotion at the Mossdeep Space Center, where you’ll learn about the impending meteor threat and the plans to use a rocket to destroy it.

2. **Meeting Zinnia:** You’ll encounter Zinnia, a mysterious Draconid lorekeeper who has her own agenda regarding the meteor. She will become a recurring character throughout the episode.

3. **Stealing the Devon Parts:** Zinnia will attempt to steal Devon Parts needed for the rocket at the Space Center. You’ll have to battle her and Team Magma/Aqua grunts to protect the parts.

4. **Granite Cave Encounter:** You’ll travel to Granite Cave to retrieve a key Mega Stone. Be prepared for battles against Team Magma/Aqua grunts and wild Pokémon.

5. **Sky Pillar Ascent:** After obtaining the necessary components, you’ll head to the Sky Pillar to awaken Rayquaza. This is a challenging climb, requiring strategic use of the Mach Bike to navigate the crumbling floors. Practice your timing and memorize the routes.

6. **Rayquaza Awakening and Mega Evolution:** At the top of the Sky Pillar, you’ll encounter and battle Rayquaza. Upon defeating it, Rayquaza will join your team and learn the move Dragon Ascent, allowing it to Mega Evolve.

7. **Space Battle:** Board the rocket and head into space. You’ll face Deoxys for the first time, but this is a scripted battle. Rayquaza will Mega Evolve and easily defeat Deoxys, destroying the meteor in the process.

## Catching Deoxys: The Real Battle Begins

After the initial encounter in space, Deoxys will crash land somewhere on Hoenn. This is where you get your chance to catch it.

1. **Return to the Sky Pillar:** Once the Delta Episode concludes and the credits roll, return to the Sky Pillar. You’ll find that the entrance is now accessible again. It’s important to note that this only happens *after* completing the Delta Episode fully.

2. **Navigate to the Top:** The Sky Pillar remains the same treacherous climb it was during the Delta Episode. Use the Mach Bike to navigate the crumbling floors, remembering the routes you learned previously. This might require several attempts, so be patient.

3. **Deoxys Awaits:** At the very top of the Sky Pillar, you’ll find Deoxys waiting for you. It will be at level 80, making it a significantly challenging opponent.

## Preparing for the Battle

Before engaging Deoxys, it’s crucial to be fully prepared. Here’s a checklist:

* **Pokémon Team:** Your team should be around level 70-80. Consider Pokémon with type advantages over Deoxys, but remember its unpredictable movepool. Pokémon with high Special Defense are also valuable, as Deoxys is a Special Attacker.
* **Status Conditions:** Pokémon that can inflict status conditions like paralysis, sleep, or burn are invaluable. Paralysis is particularly useful as it slows down Deoxys, making it easier to land attacks and throw Poké Balls. Sleep provides several turns of free throws, but its duration is unreliable. Burn reduces Deoxys’s HP gradually, but can prevent paralysis or sleep.
* **False Swipe Pokémon:** A Pokémon with the move False Swipe is highly recommended. This move guarantees that Deoxys will be left with at least 1 HP, significantly increasing your chances of catching it without accidentally knocking it out. Scizor, Gallade, and Breloom are excellent choices for False Swipe users.
* **Poké Balls:** Ultra Balls are your primary choice, but also bring Timer Balls (for long battles) and Dusk Balls (if fighting at night – the Sky Pillar interior counts as a dark area). Consider Quick Balls at the very start of the battle.
* **Healing Items:** Stock up on Potions, Super Potions, Hyper Potions, Max Potions, and Full Restores. Revives and Max Revives are also essential in case your Pokémon faint.
* **Type Matchups:** While Deoxys’s Psychic type makes it weak to Bug, Ghost, and Dark-type moves, its movepool is vast and unpredictable. Be prepared for potential type disadvantages. A diverse team with good type coverage is key.
* **Save Beforehand:** Absolutely save your game right before initiating the battle with Deoxys. This allows you to reset and try again if you accidentally knock it out or run out of Poké Balls.

## The Battle Strategy

Catching Deoxys requires patience, strategy, and a bit of luck. Here’s a step-by-step guide to the battle:

1. **Initiate the Battle:** Approach Deoxys at the top of the Sky Pillar to begin the encounter. The battle will start immediately.

2. **Assess Deoxys’s Moveset:** Pay close attention to Deoxys’s moves during the first few turns. This will give you an idea of its offensive capabilities and potential threats to your team. Be prepared to switch Pokémon if necessary to avoid type disadvantages or protect weaker team members.

3. **Inflict a Status Condition:** Attempt to inflict a status condition on Deoxys as early as possible. Paralysis is generally the most effective, but sleep can also be useful. Use moves like Thunder Wave (for paralysis) or Sleep Powder (for sleep). Be aware of moves that might cure status conditions (like Heal Pulse) and reapply the status condition if needed.

4. **Reduce HP with False Swipe:** Once Deoxys is inflicted with a status condition, switch to your Pokémon with False Swipe. Use False Swipe repeatedly until Deoxys’s HP is reduced to 1. This significantly increases your chances of catching it.

5. **Throw Poké Balls:** Now that Deoxys is at 1 HP and has a status condition, start throwing Poké Balls. Begin with Ultra Balls, as they have the highest catch rate in normal circumstances. If the battle drags on, switch to Timer Balls, which become more effective the longer the battle lasts. If it’s nighttime in your game, Dusk Balls can also be effective.

6. **Be Patient and Persistent:** Catching Deoxys can take time and require multiple attempts. Don’t get discouraged if it breaks out of several Poké Balls. Keep throwing balls and healing your Pokémon as needed. Persistence is key.

7. **Monitor PP:** Keep an eye on the PP (Power Points) of your moves. You don’t want to run out of moves, especially if you’re relying on False Swipe or a specific status-inducing move. If a Pokémon is running low on PP, switch to another Pokémon with similar moves or use Ethers to restore PP.

8. **Manage Healing:** Heal your Pokémon frequently to prevent them from fainting. Use Potions, Super Potions, Hyper Potions, Max Potions, and Full Restores as needed. Don’t hesitate to use Full Restores to cure status conditions like poison or burn that could wear down your Pokémon over time.

9. **Know When to Reset:** If you accidentally knock out Deoxys or run out of Poké Balls, don’t panic. Simply reset your game (by turning off the console or pressing the appropriate button combination) and reload your save file. You’ll be back at the top of the Sky Pillar, ready to battle Deoxys again.

## Recommended Pokémon and Movesets

Here are some Pokémon and movesets that can be particularly helpful in catching Deoxys:

* **Scizor:**
* Ability: Technician
* Moves: False Swipe, Swords Dance, X-Scissor, Iron Head
* Scizor’s Technician ability boosts the power of False Swipe, making it even more effective. Swords Dance can increase its attack power, while X-Scissor and Iron Head provide STAB (Same-Type Attack Bonus) damage.
* **Gallade:**
* Ability: Justified
* Moves: False Swipe, Hypnosis, Swords Dance, Close Combat
* Gallade’s access to Hypnosis makes it an excellent choice for inflicting sleep on Deoxys. False Swipe is essential for reducing HP, and Swords Dance can increase its attack power. Close Combat provides powerful STAB damage.
* **Breloom:**
* Ability: Effect Spore/Poison Heal
* Moves: False Swipe, Spore, Seed Bomb, Stone Edge
* Breloom’s access to Spore, a 100% accurate sleep-inducing move, makes it highly valuable. False Swipe is crucial for reducing HP, and Seed Bomb provides STAB damage. Stone Edge offers coverage against Flying-type Pokémon.
* **Ampharos:**
* Ability: Static
* Moves: Thunder Wave, Thunderbolt, Dragon Pulse, Signal Beam
* Ampharos can inflict paralysis with Thunder Wave and deal significant damage with Thunderbolt. Dragon Pulse and Signal Beam provide coverage against other types.
* **Jirachi:**
* Ability: Serene Grace
* Moves: Iron Head, Psychic, Thunder Wave, Wish
* Jirachi’s Serene Grace ability increases the chance of secondary effects, making Iron Head more likely to cause flinching. Psychic provides STAB damage, and Thunder Wave inflicts paralysis. Wish provides healing support.

## Dealing with Deoxys’s Different Forms

While Deoxys only appears in its Normal Form in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, it’s worth noting that Deoxys can change forms in other games. Knowing about its different forms can help you prepare for future battles or trades.

* **Normal Forme:** The balanced form of Deoxys, with good attack and special attack stats.
* **Attack Forme:** A highly offensive form with incredibly high attack and special attack, but lower defenses.
* **Defense Forme:** A defensive form with incredibly high defense and special defense, but lower attack stats.
* **Speed Forme:** A speedy form with high speed and decent attack stats, but lower defenses.

In Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, you only encounter Deoxys in its Normal Forme. Therefore, your primary focus should be on preparing for a balanced attacker with a diverse movepool.

## Common Mistakes to Avoid

* **Not saving before the battle:** This is a critical mistake. Always save your game before engaging Deoxys so you can reset if things go wrong.
* **Underestimating Deoxys’s level:** Deoxys is level 80, so don’t underestimate its power. Make sure your team is adequately leveled and prepared.
* **Running out of Poké Balls:** Stock up on a variety of Poké Balls, including Ultra Balls, Timer Balls, and Dusk Balls. It’s better to have too many than not enough.
* **Forgetting healing items:** Healing items are essential for keeping your Pokémon alive during the battle. Bring plenty of Potions, Super Potions, Hyper Potions, Max Potions, and Full Restores.
* **Using moves that can knock out Deoxys too easily:** Avoid using powerful moves that could accidentally knock out Deoxys. Focus on using False Swipe to reduce its HP to 1.
* **Giving up too easily:** Catching Deoxys can be challenging, but don’t give up. Persistence is key. Keep trying, and eventually, you’ll succeed.

## After Catching Deoxys

Congratulations! You’ve successfully caught Deoxys in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. Now what?

* **Train Deoxys:** Deoxys is a powerful Pokémon with versatile stats. Train it to your liking and build a moveset that complements its strengths.
* **Use Deoxys in battles:** Incorporate Deoxys into your team and use it in battles against other players or in the Battle Maison.
* **Trade Deoxys:** If you have multiple copies of the game, you can trade Deoxys with friends or other players.
* **Complete your Pokédex:** Catching Deoxys is a significant step towards completing your Pokédex. Keep exploring the Hoenn region and catching other Pokémon to fill in the gaps.

## Conclusion

Catching Deoxys in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire is a rewarding experience that requires careful planning, strategy, and patience. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to face this Mythical Pokémon and add it to your team. Remember to prepare your team, stock up on essential items, and be persistent in your efforts. Good luck, and happy catching!