Sky Pillar Emerald · Dungeon

Map of Sky Pillar in Pokémon Emerald — Sky Pillar entrance (in-game map)

Sky Pillar is an ancient tower on Route 131, east of Pacifidlog Town, and you can only reach it by Surfing. During the Sootopolis crisis Wallace opens its door, and you climb to the top to wake Rayquaza, which flies off to calm Groudon and Kyogre. Once the crisis is over, Rayquaza returns to the summit, where you can battle it at Lv70.

Wild Pokémon: 5
Items: 0
Trainers: 0
HMs: Surf, Mach Bike

Connects to: Route 131

Where Sky Pillar is on the Hoenn map Sky Pillar on the Hoenn map

Gift and special Pokémon

Rayquaza Lv. 70 · One-off encounter · Top

At the top of Sky Pillar once Sootopolis is calm again: after waking it to stop Groudon and Kyogre, climb back up (you need the Mach Bike for the cracked floors).

Wild Pokémon

1F, 3F

Walking in the cave encounter rate 10
Pokémon	Type	Lv.	Chance
Golbat	PoisonFlying	34–35	30%
Sableye	DarkGhost	33–34	30%
Claydol	GroundPsychic	36–38	25%
Banette	Ghost	37–38	15%

5F

Walking in the cave encounter rate 10
Pokémon	Type	Lv.	Chance
Golbat	PoisonFlying	34–35	30%
Sableye	DarkGhost	33–34	30%
Claydol	GroundPsychic	36–37	19%
Banette	Ghost	37–38	15%
Altaria	DragonFlying	38–39	6%

Chances are the game’s encounter slots (grass and caves 20/20/10/10/10/10/5/5/4/4/1/1, surfing, diving and Rock Smash 60/30/5/4/1, Old Rod 70/30, Good Rod 60/20/20, Super Rod 40/40/15/4/1). Emerald has no time-of-day encounters. Where to find every Pokémon.

Items

No items to pick up here.

Tips

On your first climb less of the floor is cracked, so you do not need the Mach Bike. On later visits, 2F and 4F have cracked floors you must cross at speed on the Mach Bike.
If you fall through a crack you land on the floor below and have to climb back up.
Rayquaza is Lv70 and disappears for good if you knock it out, so save before the battle and bring plenty of Ultra Balls.
Altaria appears only on 5F (6%); Claydol, Banette, Sableye and Golbat are common on 1F, 3F and 5F, the floors with wild encounters.
Rayquaza can be caught as soon as Sootopolis is calm; you do not have to beat the Elite Four first.

Walkthrough: Part 15: Sootopolis City and Sky Pillar · Part 18: Post-game: Battle Frontier and Legendaries

More maps

Sky Pillar: Sky Pillar (before) — Sky Pillar (before)

Sky Pillar: Sky Pillar (after the earthquake) — Sky Pillar (after the earthquake)

FAQ

When can you catch Rayquaza in Pokémon Emerald?

As soon as Rayquaza has calmed Groudon and Kyogre in Sootopolis. It returns to the top of Sky Pillar at Lv70, before or after the Elite Four.

Do you need the Mach Bike for Sky Pillar?

Not on the first story climb. Every visit after that needs the Mach Bike to cross the cracked floors on 2F and 4F.

Where is Sky Pillar in Emerald?

On Route 131, east of Pacifidlog Town. Surf there from Pacifidlog.

How do you open Sky Pillar?

Tell Wallace in the Cave of Origin that Rayquaza is at Sky Pillar; he goes ahead and opens the door.

What Pokémon can you catch in Sky Pillar in Emerald?

5 species: Golbat, Sableye, Claydol, Banette, Altaria.

Sources & picture credits

Guide text is original retrogameindex writing, checked against Bulbapedia and the game data. Wild Pokémon and encounter chances, items, trainers, rematch teams, gifts, trades and shops come from the pret/pokeemerald decompilation. Maps and sprites © Nintendo / Creatures / GAME FREAK, archived from the Bulbagarden Archives; the Hoenn map is drawn from the game’s own PokéNav map graphics (listed on the image gallery).