Soaring in the sky (Japanese: 大空Open Sky) is a met location in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. It is used for Pokémon encountered in the sky, which is only accessible by use of the Soar (Japanese: おおぞらをとぶFly in the Open Sky) mechanic, where the player uses the Eon Flute and summons LatiosOR or LatiasAS.
Mechanics
Artwork of May and Brendan soaring on Mega Latias and Mega Latios, respectively
The ability to soar can first be accessed after receiving the Eon Flute from Steven Stone. Once the Eon Flute is used, LatiasAS or LatiosOR will come to the player's side and Mega Evolve. This is regardless to whether or not the Pokémon are present in the player's party, are holding their respective Mega Stones, have been released, or have been transferred or traded away.
While soaring, several wildFlying-type Pokémon may be encountered, as well as special locations known as Mirage spots. Players may also freely travel to any previously visited location, much in the same way as flying.
The Pokémon will remain stationary if it is given no direction. Using the Circle Pad will make it move forwards or backwards or turn. Combining the Circle Pad with other buttons allows the player to perform various aerobatic stunts.
Maneuver
Description
Button(s)
Pitch upwards
The Pokémon pitches upward, increasing its altitude if it moves forward.
X
Pitch downwards
The Pokémon pitches downward, decreasing its altitude if it moves forward.
Y
Speed up
The Pokémon moves a little faster than its normal pace.
Hold B
Dash
The Pokémon accelerates forward while spinning in an Aileron roll.
↑ + B
Somersault
The Pokémon takes an abrupt nosedive, spinning downward in a corkscrew fashion and then righting itself after completing a 360° loop.
↑ + L
Loop the loop
The Pokémon pitches upwards, inverting itself and the rider in an arch before nosediving and completing a 360° loop.
↑ + R
Brake
The Pokémon pulls back and makes a sudden stop.
↑ to ↓
U-turn
The Pokémon performs an Immelmann turn, pitching upwards and executing a half-loop, with a spin as it levels out, so that it ends up refacing the Hoenn region.
As the player passes over locations that are marked on the Hoenn map, they may press the A button to land in that location. This works in the same way and with the same restrictions as Fly does outside of battle. Mainly, this means that a location must have been visited on the ground before it can be landed at. A few locations have other requirements before they can be landed at or flown to.
Battle mechanics
When any of the moves that vary with environment are used in battle while soaring in the sky, they use unique mechanics.
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.
Special encounters
All battles listed here use the same battle intro and arena used by the mysterious rings found at mirage spots.
Dimensional Rifts
Brendan approaching a Dimensional Rift
If the player has all three of the lake guardians in their party, a Dimensional Rift[1] (described as a huge gap in-game) will appear south of Dewford Town, containing DialgaAS/PalkiaOR. Another will appear if the player has Dialga and Palkia in their party, containing Giratina.
Giratina can be caught before DialgaAS/PalkiaOR. If the player has all of the lake guardians, Dialga and Palkia in their party at the same time, only DialgaAS/PalkiaOR will appear, and the player must land and begin soaring again for Giratina to appear. The same will happen if the player catches DialgaAS/PalkiaOR and has it added to their party while the other one is also in their party.
If the player has a Castform in their party, a Storm Cloud[1] (described as a black cloud in-game) will appear above Fortree City, containing TornadusOR/ThundurusAS. Another will appear if the player has Tornadus and Thundurus in their party, containing Landorus.
Landorus can be caught before TornadusOR/ThundurusAS. If the player has Castform, Tornadus and Thundurus in their party at the same time, only TornadusOR/ThundurusAS will appear, and the player must land and begin soaring again for Landorus to appear. The same will happen if the player catches TornadusOR/ThundurusAS and has it added to their party while the other one is also in their party.
In Claydol Unleashes, Ruby used his Mega Bracelet to Mega Evolve Latios into Mega Latios, enabling them to soar into the sky. They used this travel method several times throughout the arc to move from one location to another.
In Slowbro Has an Idea, it was revealed that whenever a Dragon-type Pokémon flies through the air, it leaves behind a contrail. These contrails are normally invisible to the human eye, but can be seen by the Draconid people, due to them having lived with Dragon Pokémon since ancient times. In the spots where these contrails cross each other, it is possible for a Pokémon to stand on and battle.
May soaring in the sky
Brendan performing a trick
Brendan approaching wild Pokémon
