Pokémon Emerald does not have a traditional day and night system like later games in the series. While many players assume that time affects the in-game environment, the mechanics of time in Emerald function differently than in Pokémon games that came after it.

The Real-Time Clock
Pokémon Emerald uses the Game Boy Advance’s internal Real-Time Clock (RTC). This means the game tracks real-world time even when the console is turned off. Certain features, like berry growth and tide changes in Shoal Cave, depend on this clock. However, the overworld visuals do not change based on time. The world always appears in daylight, with no lighting shift to indicate morning, evening, or night.

What Time Affects
While Emerald’s graphics remain constant, several time-based mechanics exist:

• Berry Growth: Berries grow in real-time according to the system clock, typically taking several hours between stages.
• Shoal Cave Tides: The tides change every six hours, determining which parts of the cave are accessible.
• Daily Events: Certain features, like Lottery Corner draws and Mirage Island checks, reset daily.
• Clock Events: NPCs that reference “today” or “yesterday” use the RTC to track time differences.

What Time Does Not Affect
Unlike in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl or later generations, Pokémon Emerald does not change wild encounters, background lighting, or NPC behavior based on day or night. Pokémon availability is consistent regardless of the time of day in the real world.

Common Misconception
Some players believe Emerald has a hidden day-night cycle because of the internal clock, but this is incorrect. The only visible difference is in clock-related events, not the environment or encounters.

In Summary
Pokémon Emerald tracks real-world time through the Game Boy Advance’s internal clock, influencing certain time-based features but not the visual environment. There is no actual day-night cycle, only time-based mechanics that run quietly in the background.