Pokemon Emerald Imperium

“Pokemon Emerald Imperium” is a Completed GBA Rom Hack made by iriv24. Play Pokemon Emerald with Pokemon from generations 1 to 9, harder challenges, lots of quality-of-life improvements, DexNav, Pokémon following you, and much more!

Pokemon Emerald Imperium Completed GBA Rom Hack

• Creator: iriv24
• Base ROM: Emerald
• Language: English
• Released on: January 24, 2024
• Latest Version: v1.2
• Last Updated: March 10, 2025
• Status: Completed

Also Check Out: Pokemon FireRed Deluxe

Description

Pokemon Emerald Imperium is a difficulty/QoL hack of Emerald that is fully complete and beatable through the Champion battle with some post-game content.

My goal in creating this hack was pretty simple: I wanted to create an experience in Emerald that is as close to the experience that Pokemon Radical Red delivers as possible by porting all of the balance changes from RR into a new game and by creating a whole bunch of new battles with increased difficulty. These balance changes include new abilities, stat changes, type changes, learnset changes, evolution method changes, etc. I want to be clear here that I am NOT affiliated with RR in any capacity; I am merely a person who has spent many hours playing RR, and who, like many other romhack players I’ve encountered, wished for more games just like it in other regions. I want to give full credit to its creators for all of the ideas behind the balance changes mentioned, QoL changes, and many other features that I brought over into this game. With all that being said, let’s get into the features and changes you can find in Pokemon Emerald Imperium!

Features

• Almost all Pokemon from Gens 1 – 9 available (still need to add some Legendaries)
• Vastly improved battle engine with modern mechanics and much smarter AI
• Configurable Minimal Grinding Mode (MGM, described later)
• Built in Difficulty Modes: Easy and Normal for now, would definitely be open to adding more options if there is interest (described later)
• Built in Randomizer with configurable species and ability randomization (described later)
• Built in Level Caps
• Mega Evolution
  • New custom Megas added for several Pokemon, including Gen 4 starters, and several Gigantamax forms converted to Megas
• Difficulty Modes
  • Easy: this experience should still be harder than a vanilla Pokemon game, but should be considerably easier than Normal mode. All Boss Pokemon will be 2 levels lower than in Normal mode. Additionally, you can access the Bag during trainer battles, and you can change the battle style to Shift if desired, but it will still be Set by default.
  • Normal: the intended difficulty of this game, and the one it was balanced for. Boss battles will be difficult, you cannot access the Bag during trainer battles, and the battle style is forced to Set.
• Randomizer
  • Accessed in game.
  • The player can choose between normal species randomization (fully random), scaled species randomization (Pokemon randomize into Pokemon with similar base stats), and Legendary-aware species randomization (fully random, but ensures Legendaries get randomized into Legendaries), all of which applies to encounterable Pokemon as well as regular NPC trainers’ Pokemon. Boss NPC trainers will never be randomized.
  • Ability randomization is also configurable and is independent from species randomization.
  • List of abilities that are included/excluded from the randomizer is in the documentation.
• Several Gen 4 characters added, including Dawn as an additional rival, all the Gym Leaders (only Roark is a required battle), and more!
• DexNav
• Toggleable following Pokemon
• Gen 5 style party menu and Pokemon summary screen
  • Includes built in functionality to view EVs and IVs
• Type icons displayed in battle
• Move power calculator in battle
• Sleep Clause
• Heart Gold / Soul Silver style Pokedex
• Form-changing Key Items for Rotom, Genies, Shaymin, and Hoopa
• Form-changing NPC scripts for Silvally and Genesect (still requires their held items)
• Cheat code system (available cheats listed in documentation)
• Increased difficulty of trainer battles, with focus on Gym Leaders/Elite 4, Rivals, Team Aqua/Magma battles, route Mini Bosses, and optional Mini Bosses (over 100 of these battles in total!)
• Several additional optional Boss Trainer battles (with hopefully good enough rewards to incentivize the player to actually want to do the battles!)
• Some music from Gen 4
• Balance updates for Pokemon to match Radical Red, which includes type-changes, stat updates, ability updates, learnset updates, etc. Differences from the RR balance changes are explicitly noted in the documentation, but the goal for this was to be able to match the data on https://dex.radicalred.net/ and to be able to reuse the damage calculator at https://calc.radicalred.net/.
• Some fairly small story tweaks, mostly with the goal of lining up difficult battles
• Post game Legendary events including access to Mystery Gift locations from vanilla Emerald

QoL Improvements

• Not needing to teach HMs to use them, and they are forgettable if taught
• Reusable TMs
• Held Items are restored after battles
• Expanded Bag pocket size, added Mega Stones pocket
• Bag sorting by Name and by Amount per pocket
• Capability to register multiple Key Items
• PokeVial with infinite uses to heal your party from anywhere
• Access to the PC from anywhere
• Time changer
• Stat Editor (for EVs and IVs) given in Mauville
• IV Perfecter NPC in Mauville
• Hidden Power type changer NPC in Mauville
• Toggleable Infinite Repel
• Toggleable Auto Run
• Hold R to speed through NPC dialogue
• Option to rename a Pokemon in the party menu
• Option to relearn level-up moves and egg-moves for a Pokemon in the party menu
• Move Pokemon around in the party menu more easily with the Select button or the R button
• Move-tutor moves converted to TMs so they can be taught anywhere, no more move tutors in game
• Item care packages
  • Includes Infinite Candy, type-boosting Hold Items, type-resisting Berries, plus many more
• Ability Capsules and Ability Patches to easily change between abilities for a Pokemon
• In every Pokemon Center, a 2nd Nurse has been added who can:
  • Change Pokemon’s natures
  • Swap genders for Pokemon with gender-specific evolutions
  • Set Pokemon directly to the Level Cap
• “Quick throw” option for Poké Balls in battle
  • Can scroll through options easily by holding the L button

Minimal Grinding Mode

It’s the same as RR’s. With MGM enabled, all Pokemon are guaranteed to have perfect IVs, and EVs are not obtainable for the player nor for NPC trainers. With MGM disabled, IVs are random, EVs are obtainable, options for instant EV and IV customization are still provided, and NPC trainers will still have perfect IVs and will be EV trained.

Info for Stat Editor, IV Perfecter NPC, and Hidden Power type changer NPC

In Minimal Grinding Mode:

• IV Perfecter NPC is not enabled, you can just use the Stat Editor to perfect your IVs
• Stat Editor can only change IVs, can change them freely. Cannot change EVs.
• Hidden Power type changer NPC can change HP type freely, no limitations.

NOT in Minimal Grinding Mode:

• IV Perfecter NPC: You get to perfect the IVs of 5 Pokemon per Gym Badge earned. After all 8 Gym Badges are obtained, you can use the IV Perfecter NPC freely.
• Stat Editor: You can edit EVs of any Pokemon freely. You can only change IVs of a Pokemon who has had their IVs perfected by the IV Perfecter NPC, and you can change those Pokemon’s IVs freely.
• Hidden Power type changer NPC: can only change the HP type of a Pokemon who has had their IVs perfected by the IV Perfecter NPC.

Future update plans

• I definitely want to spend the first few updates fixing bugs that get discovered. That will be my top priority, and I’m sure the most bugs will be found upon initial release, so I will try to be very active with those updates.
• Address immediate feedback for the game’s balance as necessary.
• Continue polishing any non-bug issues (any typos, grammar issues, decapitalization efforts)
• Revamp battle UI
• Add the rest of the unobtainable Pokemon, with potentially more areas to make the encounters feel less crammed.
• Add new custom regional forms, I already have a few ideas in mind.
• Add a harder difficulty mode if there is interest.
• Break save compatibility as little as possible, but I know in the future I want to expand the number of Pokemon storage boxes, and that change would break saves.

Emulator Recommendations

Please do NOT use VBA or MyBoy, as they are known to have some visual bugs and crashes running this game.
The recommended emulators are: mGBA on PC, PizzaBoy/Lemuroid/RetroArch+mGBACore on Mobile.

Changelog Version 1.2

New Additions

• Added Battle Bond as Greninja’s 2nd ability, so Ash-Greninja is now available to the player
• Added Beast Balls to Lilycove Department Store
• Added Big Root to Lavaridge Herb Shop
• Added Wild Encounters to the areas where the Regis and the Sinnoh Lake Trio are found
• Added cheat code “MaxMoney”, which maxes the player’s money
• Added messages to indicate when the player’s level cap has increased
• Added the ability to run away from wild pokemon by tapping the “R” button – by yyatsuta
• Set the roamers’ “seen” flags during the event that spawns them so the player can immediately start tracking them in the Pokedex without needing the “CaughtAll” cheat
• Added several new optional trainers in Mossdeep City and Sootopolis City, to commemorate the first players to beat the game
• Added Nurses (2nd Nurse from Pokemon Centers) to Seafloor Cavern and Magma Hideout so the player won’t have to run back as often
• Added a patch of grass with Wild Encounters to Rustboro City, which notably contains Shroomish! See the Encounters Document for the full encounter table
• Gave Gift Pokemon a 1/600 chance to be shiny
• Added a Move Deleter to Slateport City, replaced former (retired) Name Rater
• Added an NPC that gives Arceus Plates in Sootopolis City
  • Functions the same as the NPC who gives Silvally Memories
  • Starting Care Package Pixie Plate and Iron Plate replaced with Fairy Feather and Steel Feather, respectively
• Added TM for Dark Hole into Steven’s Cave (Meteor Falls, post game)
• TMs in shops now display the name of the TM while purchasing
• Added Red and Blue Orbs to Mt. Pyre Summit post Sootopolis-Legendary events
• Added NPC that gives form-changing items for Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina to Sootopolis
  • Those 3 Legendaries are still only available in the randomizer
• Added NPCs that give form-changing items for Zacian and Zamazenta to Sootopolis
  • Those 2 Legendaries are still only available in the randomizer
• Added NPC that gives form-changing item for Zygarde
  • Still only available in the randomizer
• Added NPCs that give fusion items for Calyrex, Necrozma, and Kyurem to Devon Corporation
  • Need both Pokemon to perform the Fusion (example: both need Kyurem and Zekrom to get Kyurem-Black)
  • Only Kyurem and Calyrex are available in before post-game. The rest of the involved Legendaries are post-game only
  • Need 8 Badges to receive these items
• Added Sheer Force as a Hidden Ability for Mega Charizard Y
  • To get a Megas respective Hidden Ability, the base form Pokemon needs to have its Hidden Ability. This is not new functionality, just an explanation
• Added Sand Force as a Hidden Ability for Mega Tyranitar
• Added functionality to “Use” Poke Balls (and other Balls in the Ball Pocket) to change which Ball a Pokemon is inside – developed by Lunos, merged by yyatsuta
  • Does not consume a Ball to do so
• Added Dusknoirite to the Mega Stones given by the “Mega” cheat code

Changes

• Adjusted several Wild Encounter tables, for specifics please check the Encounters Document
• Changed “Zen Mode” on Darmanitan to activate at full health to match what is done in RR – by yyatsuta
• Removed Crashy the Bard (NPC that can crash the game in Mauville Pokemon Center) and replaced with an NPC that gives Costume Pikachus in exchange for Yellow Shards
• Changed Tate’s Kangaskhan Ability to Inner Focus
• The “Set Pokemon to Level Cap” will now only be available once the player has met the Move Relearner in Dewford Town
  • This was done to avoid player’s immediately going to the level cap and skipping level-up moves, which seemingly happened a lot 
• Changed Tandemaus evolution method to no longer require leveling up in battle
• Change scripts to skip the Wally Catching Tutorial – by yyatsuta
• Change scripts to skip the PokeNav Match Call tutorial – by yyatsuta
• Switched locations of a few early game TMs
  • Former Bullet Seed TM location now gives Bug Bite
  • Former Bug Bite TM location now gives Stomping Tantrum
  • Former Stomping Tantrum TM location now give Bullet Seed
• Elite Four Phoebe’s Fezandipiti changed from a Physical Attack set to a Special Attack Set
  • This was done to accommodate the stat changes made to Fezandipiti by RR, where its Special Attack is higher than its Attack 
• Zorua and Hisuian Zorua are no longer found on the same floor of Granite Cave so that they can both be DexNav’ed 
• Beauty Jessica’s Magnezone’s Stealth Rocks replaced with Body Press
• Crasher Wake’s Gyarados’ Bounce replaced with Ice Fang
• Champion Wallace’s Empoleon’s Brick Break replaced with Protect
• Champion Steven’s Empoleon’s moveset changed to Toxic, Flash Cannon, Flip Turn, Roost
• Updated Norman’s text regarding the Trick House to make it more apparent that three floors must be completed before challenging the gym
• Increased DexNav timeout from 15 seconds to 15 minutes
  • You can cancel a search by pressing “L” or “Start”, which will not break a DexNav chain
• Removed limitations for changing IVs in non-MGM once the Stat Editor is obtained
• Allowed Hoopa-Unbound to be reverted back to normal form using the Prison Bottle
• When a Pokemon reaches red HP, the beep will now only play 4 times and then stop instead of playing continuously – convincing iriv24 to add to game and implemented by yyatsuta
• Removed Secret Power from all learnsets
• Made Shaymin form change with Gracidea a “normal” form change
  • You can now change back and forth between Shaymin and Shaymin-Sky without worrying about it reverting due to Frostbite or time of day
• Changed Meltan’s Ability from Magnet Pull to Transistor
• Elite 4 will now scale to level 100 after you become the Champion
• Updated Cynthia Encounter music and Victory music
• Removed all forms of Zygarde from the randomizer except for Zygarde 10 Aura Break
• Changed Mega Sableye’s first and second Ability to Prankster
• Changed Mega Absol’s second ability to Sharpness
• Changed Abomasnow’s second ability to Slush Rush
• Changed Hatenna lines second ability to Magic Guard.
• Moved Harvest from Hidden Ability to second ability for Smoliv line
• Moves Corrosion from Hidden Ability to second ability for Glimmet line
• Some Mythicals have been removed from Wild Encounters, as they are now given as Gift Pokemon from optional trainer battles in Sootopolis City
• Changed several important battle reward item locations
  • Metronome – Now given by Fantina instead of Trick House
  • Expert Belt – Now given by Maylene instead of Fantina
  • Focus Sash – Now given by Crasher Wake instead of Daisuke
  • Loaded Dice – Now given by Daisuke instead of Dawn on Route 111
  • Protective Pads – Now given by Daisuke instead of Dawn in Lilycove
  • Eject Button – Now given by Volkner instead of Dawn in Lilycove
• Remove Metal Coat from wild Bronzor, Magnemite, and Beldum
• Make Infinite Repel prevent encounters from Rock Smash
• Make Meloetta only change forms when using Relic Song, will not revert outside of battle to match RR

Bug Fixes

• Fixed Winona not giving the TM for Acrobatics after defeating her
• Fixed DexNav Search Levels to properly increase and affect the chance of getting a Pokemon with a Hidden Ability or Egg Move – fix found by yyatsuta
• Fixed Rattatas evolution level to match RR data
• Fixed Swinub and Piloswine evolution methods to match RR data
• Fixed Ghimmighoul-Roaming being unable to evolve
• Fixed Pineco evolution level to match RR
• Fixed Basculin evolution method
  • Red Stripe, White Stripe, and Blue Stripe can now all evolve into Basculegion at level 44, evolution depends on Gender
• Fix Snover abilities to match RR
• Fixed (hopefully) all Pokemon learnsets to match those of Radical Red – special thanks to hzla for writing the script to make this possible
• Fixed (hopefully) all unintentional stat discrepancies to match those of Radical Red – special thanks to hzla for writing the script to make this possible
• Fixed some potential crashes that could happen in the Safari Zone on some emulators
• Fixed Rival potentially disappearing if the player lost the Rival battle in Rustboro City which could result in softlocking the player at level 20
• Fixed battle style getting stuck on “Shift” in Normal Mode if the player changed difficulties between runs
• Fixed missing dot for “Key Items” in player’s Bag – by yyatsuta
• Fixed Explosion not halving the Defense of the Pokemon taking damage
• Fixed typo in Hustle’s Ability description
• Updated list of moves that benefit from “Striker” and “Sharpness” Ability – special thanks to hzla for writing the script to make this possible
  • Thunderous Kick is boosted by Striker here and NOT in RR
• Fixed Gender Swapping functionality not working Burmy variants
• Added a rock to the water in Route 124 to prevent the player from getting outside the map into Lilycove
• Fixed shiny follower Pokemon and overworld Pokemon sometimes appearing as a Substitute or incorrect sprite
• Fixed typing of Raging Bull to not always be Fighting Type for Tauros – by yyatsuta
• Fixed weight of Mega forms converted from Gigantamax forms to not be 0
• Fixed a crash that could happen if Pursuit caught a Pokemon switching out
• Fixed Liquid Voice not giving a 20% boost to Sound moves, as well as moves not displaying as Water type in the summary screen
• Fixed Ability Transistor to give 50% boost instead of 30% to match RR
• Fixed Corrosion not making Poison moves hit Steel type Pokemon to match RR
• Fixed the Gift Beldum from Steven turning into a Squirtle
• Fixed Cheat Codes re-entering the most recent Cheat Code if nothing was entered
• Fixed Roamers not having perfect IVs in MGM
• Fixed Quick Feet Ability to give 2x speed instead of 1.5x to match RR
• Fixed typo in “Verdanturf”
• Fixed Iron Fist and Striker Abilities to now give 30% boosts instead of 20% to match RR
• Fixed Manectric Hidden Ability not being Intimidate
• Fixed Reveal Glass not working on Enamorus
• Fixed Protean/Libero changing Pokemon to the type of its 4th move when facing Boss Trainers
• Fixed exploits where players could get Galarian-Moltres and Lugia earlier than intended
• Fixed underleveled Bug Catcher on Route 123
• Fixed Leek item not matching functionality with RR – caught by yyatsuta, twice
• Fixed Birch sprite missing when he gives you Aurora Ticket in post-game
• Fixed a bug that would cause a Pokemon using a recoil move to take damage, even if the move was absorbed.(Example: using Flare Blitz into a Pokemon with Flash Fire will no longer deal recoil)
• Fix Razor Shell not being a high-crit move to match RR
• Fix Roamers having 0 HP and bugging out when encountering them for a 2nd time  – by yyatsuta

Ai Changes

• Fixed AI not accounting for its Pokemon having Parental Bond or ORAORAORAORA!
• Fixed AI trying to use weather setting moves when a Pokemon with Cloud 9 is on the field
• Adjusted AI behavior when determining when to throw in an “Absorb” mon (will no longer swap to an “Absorb”mon if the AI can OHKO the player or if they have stat raises)
  • An “Absorb” mon is one with an ability that can absorb a move, think Water Absorb throwing into a water-type move for example
• Adjust how the AI behaves when the player has the move “Encore” (AI discouraged to go for set up when the player has Encore)
• Improved AI battle mechanics when the user is holding a resist berry. AI can now see 2HKO through resist berries.
• Improved AI switching mechanics. (For example: Pokemon with Choice items will now look at their last used move rather than the last move used period when determining when to switch)
• Adjusted rolls used for AI damage calculations in the following scenarios:
  • AI will use highest rolls when calculating the damage it can do to the player when picking a move for the Pokemon on the field
  • AI will use the highest rolls when calculating the damage the player can do to it when determining if it the AI should go for a setup move
  • AI will use the median rolls when calculating the damage it can do the the player when choosing a switch-in candidate
  • AI will use the median rolls when calculating the damage the player can do to it in all scenarios besides going for setup moves
  • This was all done in an effort to make the AI play more aggressively in certain scenarios and be slightly more discouraged to go for setup moves without completely reworking the AI’s scoring system

Game Related Stuff

Download Pokemon Emerald Imperium

Previous version

Screenshots

Showcase video