When players first step into Pokémon Pokopia's Withered Wasteland, those massive green gates are hard to miss. One blocks the path on the far left near the Pokémon Center, another sits on the far right, and a third looms on a hill behind it. Walk up to any of them early on and the game tells you the same thing: your Trainer Rank isn't high enough. What it doesn't explain is how to actually raise that rank, or what's waiting on the other side.
Here's what matters: both gates unlock at the exact same moment, so there's no "correct" order to visit the new areas.
How the Area Gates Actually Open
These gates don't respond to exploration or level grinding. Trainer Rank increases come from pushing the main story forward and clearing Important Requests, which are the game's primary quest type. After enough of these are done, the game stops to tell you your rank just went up.
The first Trainer Rank boost happens after wrapping up the Yawning Up a Storm quest. That single achievement opens both area gates at once:
- The left gate near the Pokémon Center opens to Rocky Ridges
- The right gate opens to Bleak Beach
Since both unlock together, there's no forced sequence. Head to Rocky Ridges first, start with Bleak Beach, or bounce between them as you like.
What Comes After Both Areas
Which area you clear first doesn't change the outcome. Finishing the core story missions in both Rocky Ridges and Bleak Beach is what pushes your Trainer Rank up again. Once that happens, the Pokédex confirms the upgrade and a new location opens: Sparkling Skylands, the game's final major zone.
Sparkling Skylands can be reached from all three of the game's other main areas, so you have options for how to approach the endgame.
The Full Trainer Rank Breakdown
There are four Trainer Ranks in Pokémon Pokopia. Here's the full progression:
The last two rank upgrades don't unlock new zones. The fourth rank especially seems to exist as a completion badge rather than a functional gate.
Making the Call
For anyone wondering which area to hit first, the honest answer is whichever one looks more interesting. Rocky Ridges and Bleak Beach each have their own story missions that need to be completed to move forward, so both have to be cleared eventually no matter what. What catches people off guard is that neither area blocks the other, so there's no penalty for choosing "wrong."
The real goal is speed: the faster both zones are finished, the sooner Sparkling Skylands opens up.
Make sure to check out our articles about top games to play in 2026:
Best Nintendo Switch Games for 2026
Best First-Person Shooters for 2026
Best PlayStation Indie Games for 2026
Best Multiplayer Games for 2026
Most Anticipated Games of 2026
Top Game Releases for January 2026
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do you have to complete Rocky Ridges before Bleak Beach in Pokémon Pokopia?
No. Both areas unlock together after finishing the Yawning Up a Storm quest. You can tackle them in whatever order you want.
How many Trainer Ranks are there in Pokémon Pokopia?
There are four Trainer Ranks total. The first two unlock new areas, while the last two function as story progression markers without opening additional zones.
What unlocks after completing both Rocky Ridges and Bleak Beach?
Clearing the main story missions in both areas triggers a second Trainer Rank increase, which opens Sparkling Skylands, the game's final major zone.
How do you increase Trainer Rank in Pokémon Pokopia?
Trainer Rank goes up by advancing the main story and completing Important Requests. The game notifies you when your rank increases after enough of these have been cleared.
