Pokemon Modern Emerald

Download Pre-Patched Pokemon Modern Emerald GBA ROM Hack

• Creator: resetes12
• Version: 3.0
• Hack of: Emerald
• Updated: August 15, 2025
• Language: English
• Status: Completed

Pokemon Modern Emerald is a GBA Rom Hack by resetes12 based on Pokemon Emerald in English. And it is now available to download. It was last updated on August 15, 2025.

Description

Simply put, “Pokémon Modern Emerald” is a modernized edition of the original “Pokémon Emerald” game. This game includes all of the QOL features and improvements that I’ve been looking for since I first played the original game in 2005. Consider this a 2.0 update for the original game. This game is not and will never be a “difficulty hack-rom”. If you want a super difficult version of Pokémon Emerald, there are plenty of good hack-roms available. The idea behind this game is to play it instead of the original “Pokémon Emerald”, especially for those who want a vanilla experience with more features: simple difficulty modes, move splits, QOL features, new Pokémon, new areas, new rematches, and a large, etc.

This hack is a “3rd generation hack,” which means that it does not attempt to mimic later generations. While some features and improvements from later generations are included, this hack is fundamentally a 3rd generation game. Don’t expect to be able to catch all 900 different Pokémon or learn all of the new moves from later generations. This hack does not include the “Battle Engine Upgrade” or anything similar, but it does include some of its mechanics (such as the optional Physical / Special split that occurred in Generation IV or the Fairy Type). There are 423 Pokémon, with two from Generation 8 and three from Generation 9.

In addition, the game is incredibly modular. When you start a new game, a menu that contains dozens of options to customize your experience will appear. This includes:

• Gamemode: Select a preset to have a closer experience to the original Emerald, or a more up-to-date experience.
• Features: Select a ton of new features that will enhance the game. Includes a Fake-RTC for those with flashcards/emulators without RTC.
• Randomizer: Randomize every aspect of the game, from inside the game.
• Nuzlocke: Create your Nuzlocke rules!
• Difficulty: Customize the difficulty of the game with pretty simple options. Hard, or easy? Your choice.
• Challenges: Select some challenges to test yourself.

The code is available on Github, and you can report bugs either there or in this thread.

The game is compatible with any good emulator (tested on: mGBA on PC / Switch) as well as real hardware (tested on: EZ Flash Omega (BUT YOU MUST SELECT FLASH TYPE 128KB MANUALLY), Everdrive Mini).

This is what I envisioned while playing as a child, but even better! ~resetes12

Features

Selectable Options (at Game Start):

Gamemode

• Choose between “Classic” or “Modern” presets, or fully customize.
• Encounter Modes: Original, New (aka Modern), and Post-game.
  • Original has vanilla Emerald encounters with no changes.
  • New (Modern) includes all 423 Pokémon between the game and post-game.
  • Post-game has vanilla Emerald encounters UNTIL you beat the game, then switches to the “New encounters” tables.
• Modern Typings: updates some Pokémon types for balance.
• Add Fairy Type: applies Fairy typing to Pokémon introduced with it in Gen 6.
• Better Stats: buffs certain Pokémon’s base stats.
• Extra Legendaries: introduces new legendaries not found in vanilla Emerald.
• Legendary Abilities: improves legendary abilities beyond “Pressure.”
• Modern Movepool: adds 15 new moves and updates all Pokémon learnsets to include them.
• Nature Mints: available after the 4th gym or post-Champion depending on settings.
• Synchronize: toggle between modern or Gen 3 functionality.
• Sturdy: toggle between modern or Gen 3 functionality.
• Reusable TMs: toggle between infinite use or original one-time use. When set to original, all TMs are sold in Battle Frontier’s PokéMart and Move Tutors are one-time use.
• Sitrus Berry: toggle between Gen 3 or Gen 4+ behavior.
• Survive Poison: if enabled, Pokémon survive poison outside battle with 1 HP.

Features

• RTC Type: choose real clock or fake clock (1h real time = 1 day in-game).
• Shiny Chance: choose from 1/8192, 1/4096, 1/2048, 1/1024, or 1/512.
• Item Drops: fainted wild Pokémon drop held items automatically.
• Pokémon Faint: fainted Pokémon remain unusable for the rest of the game (perma-faint).
• Unlimited Wonder Trade: removes the 3-per-day limit.
• Easier Feebas: 5% spawn chance anywhere on Route 119.
• Frontier Bans: toggle legendary bans in Battle Frontier (depends on difficulty).
• Randomizer: Fully modular randomization with all standard randomizer options.
• Nuzlocke: All standard Nuzlocke rule options.
• Difficulty Options:
  • Difficulty Lock: fixes chosen settings for the entire playthrough. Hard difficulty forces Set battle style and disables changes until after beating the game.
  • Party Member Limit: restrict team size from 1 to 5 Pokémon.
  • Level Caps.
  • Exp. Multipliers.
  • Reduced escape odds.
  • Restrictions on item use for player and/or trainers.
  • Player IVs: all wild Pokémon have 31 IVs (or 30–31 in HP to allow Hidden Power variety).
  • Trainer IVs: on Hard + Player IVs, removes IVs from the game entirely.
  • Player EVs and Trainer EVs modifiers.
  • Prevent usage of Escape Rope and Dig.
• Challenges
  • No Pokémon Centers.
  • PC does not heal Pokémon.
  • Ultra Expensive Mode (x5, x10, or x50 shop prices).
  • Evolution Limits.
  • Monotype Challenges.
  • Stat Equalizers.
  • Mirror Mode.
  • Mirror Mode Thief.

Story related:

• You can now name your rival!
• Gym rematches are easier to trigger. After 10 wild battles won, or 5 trainer battles won, there is a 50% chance of getting a rematch.
• The Elite Four can be rematched after battling with Steven, and they are double battles.
• After completing the Elite Four Rematch, a rematch with Steven will be available. You will get a unique, special prize.
• The Sealed Chambers puzzles have changed slightly. Learn braille and find out what changed!
• Also, there are 6 Regis. Try to discover where are the new 3!
• All the trainer rematches scale up a lot more than in the original game, and their parties have been changed.
• All the trainers in the Battle Frontier have new Pokémon in their teams and have been buffed or modified.
• All the gym leaders, Elite Four, the 2 champions, Wally, Magma / Aqua leaders, and Red and Leaf will appear during the Battle Frontier challenges.

Pokemon related:

• Following Pokemon (Optional, with a second option to enable or not Big Followers like Rayquaza).
• 40 new Pokémon species, mostly from Gen. IV and 3 from Gen 9 (Annihilape, Dudunsparce, Farigiraf).
• 1 new box space since 2.0, for a total of 450 Pokémon box space.
• Night encounters. Certain species will have a higher rate during night and others will only be available during night (the latter only with Modern Spawns).
• All the buffs from later generations are in (Optional).
• Extra buffs for other Pokémon are in. Includes stats, abilities and/or typings. (Ex. Arbok is now POISON / DARK and Meganium is now GRASS / FAIRY). You can have a look at them in my personal document, on the “3. Pokémon changes” tab. (Optional)
• All the move buffs AND nerfs from later generations are in, with small changes to make them work in a 3rd gen game (Optional).
• All Egg moves and tutor moves have been improved with data from later generations.
• New evolution methods.
• Pokémon inherit 5 IV’s from their parents, no item is needed.
• Everstone works on male or female Pokémon and guarantees nature.
• Gen. VIII Synchronize (Optional).
• Kanto fossils are available in different caves.
• Shuckle can make berry juice just like in Gen. II!! Yay?
• Nature Mints are available to buy in the Flower Shop after the 4th Gym (Optional).
• Deoxys forms can be changed.
• Custom Shiny forms for some Pokémon.
• All Hoenn and National Dex Pokémon need to be obtained, or it won’t count as completed.

Battle related:

• Modern Battle Frontier, Battle Tents and Trainer Hill. Your Pokémon will be limited to level 50 when playing in those battle facilities, even if your level is 100.
• 15 new moves from Gen IV to buff typings that didn’t have a certain Physical / Special move. (Ex. Dark Pulse, as Dark type didn’t have a Special Dark type move). (Optional).
• Fairy type introduced (Optional)
• 3 New abilities for Regidrago, Regieleki and Arceus.
• Gen. VI EXP. SHARE and Gen III EXP. SHARE in the same game. “EXP. SHARE S” can be obtained at the Slateport Mart after obtaining the “EXP. SHARE” at Devon Corp.
• HM01 Cut is now Grass type, NightShade does 50 static damage, Hidden power is now 60 always, and shows the type in the summary screen and in battle, Charge now ups Sp. Def., and more move move buffs.
• EV Training is available in Lilycove.
• IV Maximizer is available in Lylicove, after beating the game. Needs a lvl.100 Pokémon.
• A nurse NPC is available after beating the game to farm EXP in Lilycove.
• New battle backgrounds, completely optional, in the options menu.
• Faster battle intros. Enable “Fast Intros” option in the options menu.
• Faster-paced battles. Enable “Fast Battles” option in the options menu.
• 3 beeps when low-health, then it stops.
• Press START while selecting a move to open a new Submenu with information about the selected move.
• Trainer class-based Pokéballs.
• Catching EXP.
• Macho Brace multiplies EV gain * 5.
• Gen. IV Sitrus Berry (Optional).

UI related:

• New Pokédex! You can now see important information on the new “Stats” page. It’s very, VERY useful and it’s like having the game documentation in-game.
• The Pokédex can now be scrolled faster: if you hold left or right, it will advance like before but without the need to keep pressing left and right.
• The Pokédex can now be scrolled faster than faster! If you hold left or right AND you hold the R button it will scroll even faster than explained above!
• Faster trainer transitions ported from Fire Red.
• Hold L+R, then A when entering a Wild Battle to instantly run (Optional).
• You can now register 2 key items: Pressing (as usual) and holding SELECT!
• Swap Pokémon by pressing SELECT.
• Colored Stats (red = good, blue = bad).
• Pressing L in the stats section of a Pokémon will bring the EVs, pressing R will bring the IVs, and pressing START will bring the default stats.
• HM moves don’t need to be taught anymore. If you have a Pokémon that can use a certain HM, if you have the correct HM in the bag, and if you have the required badge, you will be able to perform an HM move.
• (Nuzlocke only) HMs do not impede advancing in the game. Pokémon that usually don’t learn certain HMs will now do in order to not halt your progress.
• HM moves can be deleted since they are not that important anymore.
• TMs had their price changed, especially if you are not using Infinite TMs.
• The bag now holds up to 90 items and item capacity has been upgraded to x999.
• When the bag is full, items go to the PC.
• You can change the ball your Pokémon is in using a different ball from the bag.
• Reusable repel prompt.
• The time on the clock can be changed (Although it halts berry tree growth, be mindful of it! Fix it by using Growth Mulch.)
• Three pages with additional options in the options menu.
• Debug menu can be enabled by everybody so you can cheat or modify whatever you want. Refer to the Faq to learn how.

Gameplay related:

• RNG is fixed and properly works.
• Wonder-trade is available on the basement floor of every Pokémon Center, available after the 5th badge (unless you are doing a randomizer, which makes it available from the start, or a challenge, which enables WT after beating the game). The number of Wonder-trades is 3 per day, unless using the “Unlimited Wondertrades” option.
• 3 difficulty modes (EASY, NORMAL and HARD). Selected at the start of the game, can be changed anytime from the options menu (unless using the “Limit difficulty” option).

• Optional but recommended PHYSICAL/SPECIAL MOVE split from Gen. IV. Selected in the options menu, second page.
• Day / Night System with Day / Night encounters. Now Daytime is from 6 AM to 8 PM. Night-time is from 8 PM to 6 AM. For (2 new) evolutions, the Morning is from 6 AM to 9 AM. There’s also cool lighting at night!
• Run everywhere.
• Autorun (in the options menu).
• HM moves text and interaction is way faster.
• Link with Fire Red / Leaf Green available from the start.
• One-time tutors are infinite, but you have to pay now (only if Infinite TMs is on).
• Trainer HIll prizes are the berries that were not available in the GBA games.
• Match and Acro Bike are now one. Change between them by pressing “R”.
• Chain fishing has been added.
• Easier fishing has been added to the options menu (FR/LG fishing).
• All tickets are available to buy, together with its events.
• Faster nurse Joy healing, and now with an even faster version in options.
• A new item, the Big Nugget! Can be sold for a very high price. Available from Clamperl, or Rich trainers (rematch only).
• You can check the Soot Sack to know how much ash you have.
• Interacting with berry trees is faster, berry trees that are in rainy routes don’t need to be watered, and berry trees don’t decay.
• Higher berry yield (6 max, 4 min).
• A new “Growth Mulch” item which makes berries instantly grow.
• New Self-trader to force trade evolutions (trading with another game still works).
• PokéMarts items change with every badge.
• AI improvements.
• Amulet coin works always, doesn’t matter who has it.
• New NPC in the Battle Frontier Pokécenter that lets you turn off some enabled challenges from your savegame (EvoLimit, Mirror, Mirror Thief, Limit Difficulty, Pokémon Faint, One Type challenge, Party Limit, PokeCenter Challenge, No Items (Player), No Items (Trainer))

Map Changes:

• Navel Rock redesigned into a proper dungeon.
• Unown Chamber integrated into Navel Rock.
• New areas added for the additional Regis and new legendary events.
• Safari Zone expanded with a special area to catch Hoenn starters (not available with “Original Encounters” mode).
• Mirage Island can now be forced to appear by having a specific Pokémon in the party, in addition to its normal appearance rate.

Sound Changes:

• All music and sound effects from Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold, and SoulSilver have been added.
• Listen to all included music from the title screen by pressing Right D-Pad + Select + B.
• Legendary encounters now feature unique music tracks from the added games.
• Option to enable or disable music entirely.
• Option to enable or disable Surf and Bike music.
• Choose between different music sets for Wild Battles, Trainer Battles, and Frontier Trainers: “Hoenn”, “Kanto 1”, “Sinnoh”, “Johto”, “Kanto 2”, or “Random”.
• Choose between “Gen 3”, “DPPl”, or “HGSS” sound effects.

Known Bugs

PLEASE DON’T REPORT BUGS IF YOU ARE NOT USING MGBA EMULATOR OR REAL HARDWARE. Decompilation hack-roms may crash or have strange bugs if you are using other emulators. To report a bug first use mGBA or real hardware, then DM the author or comment on their PokeCommunity Thread.

• None as of now

Screenshots

Useful Stuff

Downloads

Previous Versions

Credits

Pret’s pokeemerald wiki