GBA Pokémon - The Pit (Hack)

[RageBurner]

A roguelike style hack with deep mechanics and focus on team building, using the Pokémon Emerald decompilation as a base.

Author(s): Team Aqua Leader Archie
Date: 25th of April, 2025
Version: 2.4.1
Source: https://www.pokecommunity.com/threads/the-pit-v2-roguelite-style-hack.528423/
Status: Complete, in active development

Overview:

Pick 3 random Pokémon
Fight trainers with random teams for 100 floors and beyond
Singles, Doubles and Mixed battles
Many difficulty customization options
Special services every 5th floor
Boss trainer battles every 25 floors

RB's Notes: the hack comes in 3 flavors, each denoting Pokémon availability by generation (e.g G5 has Pokémon from generations one through five).

mGBA is recommended, though recent builds of VBA-M work well in my testing.
myBoy is not supported.

 

[BebopChamploo]

There is a cheat menu you can use. I never used or tested it and the game does give a disclaimer that using cheats may break some elements of the game, so use at your own discretion. Have fun!

Ohhh sweet thank you!

 

[Aheqao]

Are there any cheats that work for this? I want to be a filthy cheater and use a max money code.

There is a cheat menu you can use. I never used or tested it and the game does give a disclaimer that using cheats may break some elements of the game, so use at your own discretion. Have fun!

 

[RageBurner]

Are there any cheats that work for this? I want to be a filthy cheater and use a max money code.

I doubt it. Too much has changed.

 

[BebopChamploo]

Are there any cheats that work for this? I want to be a filthy cheater and use a max money code.

 

[RageBurner]

It's in. Have fun!

 

[RageBurner]

Thanks, I'll definitely give it a playthrough. It looks very promising, especially the EX version. I grabbed the patch file, but any chance we can get a rom upload to the repo?

Oh gee I was somehow sure I added it! I will, though.

 

[Aheqao]

Congratulations! it seems you (like me) are tired of the traditional Pokémon journey and would rather experience the series' strong points in a fresher way. Besides this hack, I wholeheartedly recommend Emerald Rogue as well, for a condensed, much more interesting format on the whole 8 Gym format.

Thanks, I'll definitely give it a playthrough. It looks very promising, especially the EX version. I grabbed the patch file, but any chance we can get a rom upload to the repo?

 

[RageBurner]

This is easily one of my favorite Pokemon Hacks. It combines the excellent endgame akin to the Battle Frontier with the randomizer nature of a roguelike. Whereas traditional story driven Pokemon games rely on progression and the Battle Frontier relies on sequential battles with their own meta, The Pit combines the two.

Rather than seeking out your own mons, you'll form attachments to the mons you are fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to encounter, much like Ash in the anime, rather than being able to hunt down the precise mons you want to catch for your team. And since you can't just visit a Pokemon Center whenever you want, The Pit forms its own meta of building a team around being able to clear 5 floors at a time, through a random number of opponents and Single and/or Double battles.

It's awesome that the author has 3 versions of the rom, each with their own meta, with differences such as the Physical/Special Split, available held items, new moves, and available Pokemon. I'm looking forward to playing all of them, and on other difficulties.

Congratulations! it seems you (like me) are tired of the traditional Pokémon journey and would rather experience the series' strong points in a fresher way. Besides this hack, I wholeheartedly recommend Emerald Rogue as well, for a condensed, much more interesting format on the whole 8 Gym format.

 

[Aheqao]

This is easily one of my favorite Pokemon Hacks. It combines the excellent endgame akin to the Battle Frontier with the randomizer nature of a roguelike. Whereas traditional story driven Pokemon games rely on progression and the Battle Frontier relies on sequential battles with their own meta, The Pit combines the two.

Rather than seeking out your own mons, you'll form attachments to the mons you are fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to encounter, much like Ash in the anime, rather than being able to hunt down the precise mons you want to catch for your team. And since you can't just visit a Pokemon Center whenever you want, The Pit forms its own meta of building a team around being able to clear 5 floors at a time, through a random number of opponents and Single and/or Double battles.

It's awesome that the author has 3 versions of the rom, each with their own meta, with differences such as the Physical/Special Split, available held items, new moves, and available Pokemon. I'm looking forward to playing all of them, and on other difficulties.

 

[RageBurner]

All .zips this time, thank you!

Yup, sorry about last time.

 

[Waking_Sorrows]

I'm only using MyBoy! why can't it work on that? This something I would love to able to play on my phone.

Use Pizza Boy if you're on Android >:D

 

[NobleOcelot]

I'm only using MyBoy! why can't it work on that? This something I would love to able to play on my phone.

 

[LoriTax]

All .zips this time, thank you!

 

[Facesforce]

It's a cool hack, don't get me wrong. I totally get what they are going for, but I played for 30 minutes and honestly couldn't get into it.

I guess it goes to show that I play pokemon more for the exploration/progression then the combat system.

 

[Clxmj]

Quick TLDR from the Author (Team Aqua Leader Archie) on pokecommunity:

"The Pit v2.5.1 is now available. One of the largest complaints about The Pit is the lack of opportunities to switch up your Party Pokémon, so we have added a brand new NPC to the Pit Stop where you can purchase a Trade at any time that lets you choose from 9 assorted random Pokémon using the same UI as the initial mon choice."
Cheers on the update RB

 

[PrismaHewie]

Wasn't sure what I was expecting when trying this on a whim. Got absolutely hooked for a month at least!

 

[minimug]

life in the squirtle hole

 

[beholdvisibleaura]

Really enjoying my time with this hack :)

 

[FillerBunnyNinjashark]

Why .rar not .zip? Makes my android cry

Unpack... Click compress. Select zip. Profit

Post automatically merged: Sep 28, 2025

why do all these pokemon hacks always exclusively use fire red as the basis?

It said "based on Emerald disassembly" ... Reading is fundamental

 

[LoriTax]

Why .rar not .zip? Makes my android cry

 

[PinkNova]

why do all these pokemon hacks always exclusively use fire red as the basis?

I'd say because the best looking of the GBA games, so it looks good and is easier to mod on.

 

[Deleted member 58254]

ayy they got my goat

 

[gxm]

why do all these pokemon hacks always exclusively use fire red as the basis?

 

[Vehxness]

"Special services every 5th floor"

(ʘ ͜ʖ ʘ)

 

[Nelson2001 Nelson2001]

Without a doubt, one of the most dynamic Pokémon romhacks that exist at the moment and although it is also still in development.