The way back is the last scenario of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s main campaign, taking you into the mysterious zero zone.
Below you will learn how to complete The Way Home in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet – just beware of spoilers! We have tried to keep it as vague as possible.
If, however, you want to know more about a certain battle that takes place during this final chapter, please check out this guide.
How to complete The Way Home in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
After completing the Victory Road, Starfall Street, and Path of Legends scenarios in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, you’ll receive a call from Arven telling you that it’s time to enter Zone Zero.
However, before leaving, we recommend that you your whole team is at least level 65, as you will face off against a number of high level Pokemon in Area Zero. You’ll also want to stock up on healing items, like Max Potions, as you’ll face a number of unmissable story battles throughout this chapter.
He’ll be waiting for you at Gate Zero, but you need to gather your team first.
That the music.
Although in reality you don’t need to recruit and you can head straight to Gate Zero, which is south of Medali. To reach it, fly to one of the Pokemon Medali Centers, then climb the hill directly south of it.
If you’ve explored this area before, you may have noticed a large closed door. This leads to Gate Zero and is now open, so head to find Arven.
Penny and Nemona will arrive once you’re inside Gate Zero, and when you’re ready to leave, talk to Arven.
Welcome to Paldea’s Biggest Secret – Area Zero!
Your first task here is to disable all four lab locks, and since Koraidon/Miraidon refuses to leave his ball, be prepared to run a lot.
To reach the first research station, you have to follow the descending path, which consists of crossing a waterfall.
When you reach the first research station, you will be attacked by a Glimmora and fight it alongside Nemona. This Pokémon is level 62 and a Rock and Poison type. Once you defeat this Pokémon, head to the research station.
Then you need to interact with the green panel inside the research station to deactivate one of the locks. All Research Stations also have Teleport Blocks, which will teleport you between stations and bring you back to Gate Zero, and a bed where you can heal your Pokemon.
With one lock disabled, leave the research station and continue down the hill. You’ll soon reach a landslide, which you can slide down, and at the bottom, the research station will be right in front of you.
In Scarlet, you and Penny will need to defeat a Scream Tail to enter the lab. This Pokemon will be level 62 and is a Fairy and Psychic type Pokemon.
Meanwhile, in Violet, you’ll face an Iron Bundle, which will be level 62 and is an Ice and Water-type Pokémon.
After defeating the Pokémon, head to the research station and deactivate the lock. This is also where Arven will give you the Scarlet or Purple Book depending on which version you are playing.
Then you need to leave the research station and go down the hill. You’ll find yourself crossing another waterfall and need to head towards the large tree before turning left.
This route will take you to the third research station, but, before entering, you must defeat a Pokémon alongside Arven. He decides to send his recently cured Mabosstiff back to where he originally fell ill, which seems a bit reckless to me…
In Scarlet, you’ll face off against a Great Tusk, which is level 63, and a Ground and Fighting-type Pokémon.
In Violet, you’ll face an Iron Treads, which is level 63, and a Ground and Steel-type Pokémon.
Our Pokémon Scarlet and Violet walkthrough can guide you through the game, including The First Day of School, Victory Road, Starfall Street, Path of Legends, and when you’re ready, The Way Home, and the final boss. Elsewhere, we can help you with the Normal Gym Test Secret Items Menu, Version Differences, Best Starter Scarlet and Violet, EXP Farming, Shiny Pokemon, and Learning to Fly, Swim, Climb, and Dash. As for individual Pokemon, we can help with Gimmighoul, Ditto, Bellibolt, Pawmot, Scovillain, Frigibax, Sinistea, Brambleghast, Annihilape, Farigiraf, Dudunsparce, Lycanrock forms, Armarouge, and Ceruledge.
With this Pokemon gone, you’ll need to deactivate the lock inside the research station and, then, head into the tunnel in front of the building.
Keep following the tunnel into the crater until you reach the fourth research station, which is slowly encased in crystal. Here you can deactivate the last lock so that you can finally enter the Zero Lab. What could go wrong?
If necessary, we recommend healing your team using the bed before leaving this station, as you have a number of battles ahead. When you’re ready, leave the research station and continue down the slope. When you reach the plate, take the left path and continue to Zero Lab.
When you reach the lab, press the button to open the door and get ready for three Pokémon battles. While battling these Pokemon alongside your friends, you won’t get a chance to heal your Pokemon between these three battles. For this reason, we recommend making sure your Pokemon are at full health and not suffering any status effects before battles begin.
In Scarlet, you’ll face the following three Pokémon in this order:
- Great Tusk – Level 64 and a Ground and Fighting type
- Brute Bonnet – Level 64 and a Grass and Dark type
- Flutter Mane – Level 64 and a Ghost and Fairy type
Meanwhile, in Violet, you’ll face these Pokémon in this order:
- Iron Treads – Level 64 and one ground and steel type
- Iron Hands – Level 64 and a Fighting and Electric type
- Iron Jugulis – Level 64 and a dark flying type
After defeating your Pokemon, head to the lab. Don’t worry about going back if you need to heal your Pokemon – there’s a bed inside.
Once inside, speak to the professor then follow him in the elevator. It’s a good idea to pick up the Energy Booster along the way. When held, this item will increase the highest stat of a Pokemon with the Protosynthesis or Quark Drive ability.
The professor will take you deep into the lab, but, before doing what they ask, we recommend that you save the game, heal your Pokemon if you haven’t already, and buy some healing items, especially some Max Potions.
When you’re ready, follow the Professor’s instructions and enter a battle with Professor Sada or Professor Turo depending on which version you’re playing.
With the Professor defeated, we can watch the credits roll –
You didn’t think it would be so easy, did you?
The Paradise Protection Protocol has been activated, and if you want to stop it, you need to defeat the Professor’s last Pokémon – Koraidon in scarlet and Miraidon in purple. However, all of your Pokémon’s balls have been locked…
To continue this battle, you must select “Pokémon”, then scroll down to where Koraidon or Miraidon have been hanging out for the entire game. This will finally call Pokémon into battle!
Consider assisting Koraidon/Miraidon when needed, ideally with Max Potion, as you technically only have one Pokemon available on your team during this fight.
To win this battle, you must keep attacking the opposing legendary until you can terastallize Koraidon/Miraidon. Once this is available, Terastallize your Legendary and select Tera Blast to end this battle.
With this, the game will come to an end, the credits will roll, and you will find yourself back in your dorm. That doesn’t mean you’ve done everything in Paldea though…
