When players first step into Pokémon Pokopia's Withered Wasteland, it doesn't take long to notice the large green gates scattered across the area. One sits on the far left near the Pokémon Center, another on the far right, and a third high on a hill behind it. Trying to pass through any of them early on results in the same prompt: raise your Trainer Rank first. What the game doesn't spell out clearly is exactly how to do that, or what lies on the other side.
Here's the thing: both gates unlock at exactly the same time, so the question of which area to visit first is entirely up to the player.
How the Area Gates Actually Open
The gates don't open through exploration or grinding. Trainer Rank increases are tied directly to story progression and completing Important Requests, the game's key quest category. After finishing enough of these, the game pauses to notify players that their rank has gone up.
The first Trainer Rank unlock happens after completing the Yawning Up a Storm quest. This single milestone opens both area gates simultaneously:
- The left gate near the Pokémon Center leads to Rocky Ridges
- The right gate leads to Bleak Beach
Because both unlock at the same moment, there is no forced order. Players can head to Rocky Ridges first, Bleak Beach first, or split their time between the two as they see fit.
tip
You'll want to complete Important Requests as you go rather than saving them for later. These are the primary driver of Trainer Rank increases, and skipping them will slow your progression toward new areas.
What Comes After Both Areas
The choice of which area to tackle first doesn't affect the end result. Completing the main story missions in both Rocky Ridges and Bleak Beach is what triggers the next Trainer Rank increase. Once that happens, the Pokédex will notify players of the upgrade, and a new destination opens up: Sparkling Skylands, the game's final major area.
Sparkling Skylands can be accessed from all three of the game's other main areas, giving players flexibility in how they approach the endgame.
The Full Trainer Rank Breakdown
There are four Trainer Ranks in Pokémon Pokopia. Here's how the progression breaks down:
The final two rank upgrades don't unlock new areas. The fourth rank in particular appears to function as a marker of main story completion rather than a gate to new content.
important
The game does not clearly communicate how Trainer Rank works. Players who focus only on exploration without completing Important Requests may find themselves stuck at a gate longer than expected.
Making the Call
For players wondering which area to prioritize, the practical answer is to start with whichever appeals more. Rocky Ridges and Bleak Beach each contain their own story missions that must be finished to advance, so both need to be completed regardless of order. What most players miss is that neither area is a prerequisite for the other, so there's no wrong answer here.
The key here is efficiency: the faster both areas are cleared, the sooner Sparkling Skylands becomes available.
Source: Videogameschronicle
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do you have to complete Rocky Ridges before Bleak Beach in Pokémon Pokopia?
No. Both areas unlock at the same time after completing the Yawning Up a Storm quest. Players can tackle them in any order they prefer.
How many Trainer Ranks are there in Pokémon Pokopia?
There are four Trainer Ranks in total. The first two unlock new areas, while the final two serve as story progression markers without opening additional locations.
What unlocks after completing both Rocky Ridges and Bleak Beach?
Finishing the main story missions in both areas triggers a second Trainer Rank increase, which opens access to Sparkling Skylands, the game's final major area.
How do you increase Trainer Rank in Pokémon Pokopia?
Trainer Rank increases by progressing through the main story and completing Important Requests. The game will notify players when their rank goes up after enough of these have been finished.
