How to Download and Install Pokémon Sors Safely

Pokémon Sors is a completed Pokémon FireRed ROM hack created by Vytron and set in the custom Hupest region. The game follows Asher through the Eclipse Tournament and a story surrounding the mysterious Grand Eclipse and the Eclipse Project. It includes Pokémon through Generation 7, 48 custom Eclipse Pokémon, a new Eclipsing mechanic, side quests with a quest log, a day-and-night system, Soaring, modernized battle mechanics, and an original story rather than simply retelling FireRed. citeturn591528search5turn911151search4

As of September 2026, the completed original game remains Pokémon Sors Full Release v1.3. Public documentation continues to identify v1.3 as the completed build, while the newer Pokémon Sors 2 is a completely separate sequel project. citeturn785219search2turn785219search0

Installing Pokémon Sors requires a clean copy of Pokémon FireRed and the official Sors patch. You should patch your own legally obtained FireRed ROM instead of downloading an unofficial pre-patched .gba file.

What You Need Before Installing Pokémon Sors

Before you start, you need:

• A legally obtained clean Pokémon FireRed ROM
• The Pokémon Sors v1.3 UPS patch
• A UPS-compatible ROM patcher
• A compatible Game Boy Advance emulator
• RTC support for the day-and-night system
• A backup of any existing Pokémon Sors save
• The optional emulator-fix patch only if your setup actually requires it

Pokémon Sors is a Game Boy Advance ROM hack, so the final patched game normally uses:

.gba

The main Sors patch uses the:

.ups

format. Current patching guides for the game use NUPS on Windows or UniPatcher on Android, while Rom Patcher JS provides a convenient browser-based alternative. citeturn591528search6turn591528search7

Rom Professor does not host, provide, or link to copyrighted Pokémon FireRed ROM files or unofficial pre-patched Pokémon Sors ROMs.

What Base ROM Does Pokémon Sors Use?

Pokémon Sors requires:

1636 – Pokémon Fire Red (U)(Squirrels)

This is the original US FireRed v1.0 base commonly used by many GBA ROM hacks.

The Sors patching documentation consistently identifies the required clean base as:

1636 - Pokemon Fire Red (U)(Squirrels).gba citeturn591528search6turn591528search7

Requirement	Pokémon Sors
Base game	Pokémon FireRed
Platform	Game Boy Advance
Region	USA / U
Revision	FireRed 1.0
Expected dump	FireRed (U)(Squirrels)
ROM condition	Clean and unmodified
Patch format	UPS
Typical finished extension	.gba
Current version	v1.3
Creator	Vytron
Status	Complete

Do not try to patch:

• Pokémon FireRed v1.1
• Pokémon LeafGreen
• Pokémon Emerald
• Another FireRed ROM hack
• Pokémon Saiph
• Pokémon Sors 2
• An already-patched Pokémon Sors ROM
• A randomized or otherwise modified FireRed ROM

Using the wrong FireRed revision is one of the most common causes of checksum errors and failed patches.

Pokémon Sors vs Pokémon Sors 2

These are two separate games.

The current VytroVerse order is:

1. Pokémon Saiph
2. Pokémon Sors
3. Pokémon Saiph 2
4. Pokémon Sors 2

Vytron’s current project documentation explicitly lists Sors as Part 2 and Sors 2 as Part 4. citeturn785219search0turn785219search6

If you want the completed original Sors adventure, you need:

Pokémon Sors v1.3

Do not accidentally download the current Sors 2 Story Demo, which has different patches, mechanics, save compatibility, and installation instructions.

Where to Get the Official Pokémon Sors Patch

The best current starting point is Vytron’s VytroVerse community and official project links.

Vytron continues to maintain the broader VytroVerse through the current Sors 2 and Saiph 2 project pages, which link the VytroVerse Discord and related documentation. citeturn785219search0turn785219search6

The completed original Sors release you are looking for is:

Pokémon Sors Full Release v1.3

Current archival sources still identify v1.3 as the December 2021 completed release. citeturn591528search5turn785219search2

When obtaining the game, look for the UPS patch.

Do not download something advertised as:

Pokemon Sors v1.3.gba

or:

Pokemon Sors Pre-Patched ROM

Vytron’s current VytroVerse publishing guidance specifically asks people distributing or showcasing his projects to provide official source/documentation links and, when possible, distribute UPS patch files instead of pre-patched ROMs. citeturn889383view1

How to Patch Pokémon Sors

The original installation instructions use NUPS on Windows.

Rom Patcher JS also works well for players who want a browser-based option.

Step 1: Prepare a Clean FireRed ROM

Locate your legally obtained clean copy of:

1636 – Pokémon Fire Red (U)(Squirrels)

The file should end in:

.gba

For example:

1636 - Pokemon Fire Red (U)(Squirrels).gba

If the file is inside a .zip, .rar, or .7z archive, extract the actual .gba first.

Keep one untouched copy somewhere safe.

Step 2: Download Pokémon Sors v1.3

Obtain the official/current Sors v1.3 package from Vytron’s community resources.

Extract the download if necessary.

Look for the main:

.ups

patch.

You may also see optional fix patches bundled with older Sors distributions.

Step 3: Open NUPS

On Windows, open:

NUPS

Choose the option to:

Apply a UPS patch to a file

You will need to provide:

• Your clean FireRed ROM
• The Pokémon Sors UPS patch

Step 4: Select the Sors UPS Patch

For the patch file, select the Pokémon Sors v1.3 .ups.

Step 5: Select the FireRed Base ROM

For the source/base ROM, choose:

1636 - Pokemon Fire Red (U)(Squirrels).gba

The standard Sors patching instructions specifically use this FireRed base. citeturn591528search6

Step 6: Apply the Patch

Start the patching process.

When complete, you should have a new GBA ROM containing Pokémon Sors.

Give it an obvious filename such as:

Pokemon Sors v1.3.gba

Do not overwrite your original clean FireRed backup.

Step 7: Open the Patched ROM

Launch your GBA emulator and load:

Pokemon Sors v1.3.gba

If everything worked correctly, Pokémon Sors should launch instead of ordinary FireRed.

How to Patch Pokémon Sors With Rom Patcher JS

Rom Patcher JS is easier if you are on Mac, Chromebook, Android, iPhone, or simply do not want to install NUPS.

The process is:

1. Open Rom Patcher JS.
2. Select your clean FireRed .gba as the ROM.
3. Select Pokémon Sors v1.3 .ups as the patch.
4. Apply the patch.
5. Save the new .gba.
6. Open the resulting ROM in your emulator.

If Rom Patcher JS reports a source ROM checksum mismatch, verify that you are using the correct FireRed (U)(Squirrels) v1.0 base before forcing anything.

What Is the Pokémon Sors Emulator Fix?

Some Sors releases include or reference an additional Emulator Fix patch.

RetroAchievements currently recognizes separate hashes for:

• Pokémon Sors v1.3
• Pokémon Sors v1.3 Emulator Fix

which confirms that both variants have circulated. citeturn591528search3

Do not automatically apply the emulator fix just because it exists.

Start with the normal Sors v1.3 ROM in a modern emulator such as mGBA.

If your device/emulator specifically requires the fix, follow the instructions bundled with the Sors download.

Avoid stacking random fix patches from unrelated versions.

How to Play Pokémon Sors on Windows

For Windows, use:

mGBA

This is the safest modern choice for Sors.

Older Sors discussions contain multiple reports of freezes and compatibility problems with other cores, while mGBA is repeatedly used as the successful workaround. citeturn919526reddit21

To play:

1. Install mGBA.
2. Launch mGBA.
3. Select File.
4. Choose Open ROM.
5. Find Pokemon Sors v1.3.gba.
6. Open it.
7. Configure your keyboard or controller.
8. Start playing.

For a fresh 2026 installation, there is little reason to choose an older emulator over mGBA.

How to Play Pokémon Sors on Mac

Use mGBA on macOS as well.

To play:

1. Install mGBA.
2. Launch the emulator.
3. Open your patched Pokémon Sors .gba.
4. Configure your controls.
5. Confirm the clock is functioning.
6. Start playing.

If another emulator gives you crashes or freezes, test the same ROM in mGBA before repatching it.

How to Play Pokémon Sors on Android

For Android, I recommend:

RetroArch with the mGBA core

or:

Pizza Boy GBA

Vytron’s current VytroVerse emulator recommendations for newer projects use mGBA on PC and the mGBA core or Pizza Boy on Android, which also makes them sensible choices for the older Sors engine. citeturn785219search0

To install Sors directly on Android:

1. Store your clean FireRed ROM on the phone.
2. Download the Pokémon Sors UPS patch.
3. Open Rom Patcher JS or UniPatcher.
4. Select the Sors UPS as the patch.
5. Select FireRed (U)(Squirrels) as the base ROM.
6. Apply the patch.
7. Save the new .gba.
8. Open it in RetroArch with mGBA or Pizza Boy.

Older Sors instructions specifically used UniPatcher on Android. citeturn591528search6

How to Play Pokémon Sors on iPhone or iPad

For iOS, use:

RetroArch with the mGBA core

You can patch the ROM through a browser or patch it on another device and move the finished .gba into the Files app.

To play:

1. Patch Sors onto your clean FireRed base.
2. Save the finished .gba to Files.
3. Install RetroArch.
4. Select the mGBA core.
5. Import Pokémon Sors.
6. Launch the game.

Other GBA emulators may also run it, but mGBA-based emulation provides the best troubleshooting baseline.

Best Emulator Settings for Pokémon Sors

Pokémon Sors contains a day-and-night system and needs proper RTC support.

Recommended settings:

Setting	Recommendation
Windows	mGBA
macOS	mGBA
Android	RetroArch + mGBA or Pizza Boy
iPhone/iPad	RetroArch + mGBA
RTC	Enabled
Save type	Automatic/default
Frameskip	Off
Fast-forward	Optional
In-game saves	Use regularly
Save states	Secondary backup only

Enable RTC for Pokémon Sors

Sors includes:

• Day/night changes
• Time-related encounters/events

The game’s feature documentation specifically says the emulator must support RTC and historically told VBA users to enable RealTimeClock. citeturn591528search5turn591528search8

mGBA normally handles RTC automatically.

If time appears frozen:

1. Check your system clock.
2. Confirm RTC is enabled.
3. Restart the emulator.
4. Load your normal in-game save again.

Save Type

Leave the save type on automatic with mGBA.

If you are using an older VBA build and saving does not work correctly, verify its Flash/save settings.

Changing save type randomly should not be your first troubleshooting step.

Fast-Forward

Fast-forward is generally fine for:

• Grinding
• Travel
• Leveling
• Backtracking

If a scripted event freezes or behaves strangely, reload from an in-game save and repeat it at normal speed.

How to Update Pokémon Sors Without Losing Your Save

Because v1.3 is the completed final release, most current players will not need to update Sors anymore.

However, some players may still be moving from:

• Demo versions
• v1.0
• v1.1
• v1.2

to v1.3.

Do Not Use a Demo Save

This is the clearest compatibility warning associated with Sors:

Do not use the demo save file with the full release.

Multiple Sors documentation sources explicitly warn against using a demo save in the completed game. citeturn591528search5turn338642search7

If you played an old demo, start a new save on the completed build.

Updating From an Older Full Release

For a v1.x full-release save:

1. Make a normal in-game save.
2. Close the emulator.
3. Back up your .sav.
4. Back up your old Sors .gba.
5. Patch a fresh FireRed (U)(Squirrels) ROM with v1.3.
6. Give the new ROM the same name as the previous ROM.
7. Put the existing save in the proper save folder.
8. Launch v1.3.
9. Verify your progress carefully before deleting the backup.

Because I could not verify a creator statement guaranteeing every possible old-version save transition, keep your backups until you know the game is stable.

Never Patch v1.3 Over an Older Sors ROM

Do not use:

Pokemon Sors v1.2.gba

as your source ROM.

Start again with:

1636 - Pokemon Fire Red (U)(Squirrels).gba

and apply the v1.3 patch.

Common Pokémon Sors Installation Problems

The Patch Won’t Apply

The most likely cause is your FireRed base ROM.

Pokémon Sors expects:

1636 – Pokémon Fire Red (U)(Squirrels). citeturn591528search6turn591528search7

Common problems include:

• FireRed v1.1
• LeafGreen
• Another FireRed ROM hack
• Previously patched Sors
• A modified ROM
• A damaged source file

Start again with the correct clean base.

The Patcher Reports a Source-ROM Mismatch

Verify your ROM revision before choosing an Ignore option.

Some older Sors instructions told players they could continue after certain mismatch messages, but the safest method is still to use the correct FireRed Squirrels base from the beginning. citeturn591528search6

Forcing a genuinely incompatible ROM can create a game that boots but breaks later.

Pokémon Sors Opens as Normal FireRed

You probably opened the wrong file.

You may have:

Pokemon FireRed.gba

and:

Pokemon Sors v1.3.gba

in the same folder.

Open the Sors file.

The Game Freezes After Starting

Try mGBA.

Historical Sors users reported certain cores booting the game but freezing shortly afterward, with mGBA frequently being the preferred alternative. citeturn919526reddit21

If it still freezes in mGBA:

1. Repatch a clean FireRed ROM.
2. Confirm you are using v1.3.
3. Remove unnecessary extra patches.
4. Load from a normal in-game save rather than an old save state.

Should I Apply the Emulator Fix?

Only if your setup needs it.

There are separate normal and emulator-fix v1.3 builds recognized by RetroAchievements. citeturn591528search3

If normal v1.3 works correctly in mGBA, leave it alone.

My Save File Isn’t Showing Up

Check the ROM and save filenames.

For example:

Pokemon Sors.gba

should normally use:

Pokemon Sors.sav

If the ROM is:

Pokemon Sors v1.3.gba

but the save is:

Pokemon Sors v1.2.sav

your emulator may create a new save instead.

Rename the compatible .sav to match the new ROM filename.

My Demo Save Doesn’t Work

Start a new game.

The full-release documentation specifically warns:

Do not use demo save files. citeturn591528search5

My Save State Broke After Repatching

Use the normal in-game save.

Save states store memory from the exact ROM build that created them.

They are not a reliable update method.

The Day/Night Cycle Isn’t Working

Enable RTC.

Pokémon Sors requires an emulator with real-time-clock support for its day-and-night system. citeturn591528search8

mGBA should normally handle this automatically.

PokéMart Graphics Look Broken

This is a known v1.3 visual issue rather than a failed installation.

Current v1.3 documentation notes that PokéMart graphics can look messy while shopping. citeturn591528search5

You do not need to repatch the ROM just because of this.

A Rattata Appears When I Register a Pokémon

This is also a known visual bug.

Sors v1.3 can display Rattata while registering a new Pokémon even though the game registers the correct species. citeturn591528search5

The TM Selection Text Box Looks Strange

Another known v1.3 visual issue.

The TM selection text box can display improperly, but documentation describes this as visual rather than game-breaking. citeturn591528search5

I Got Stuck While Soaring

Make sure you are on v1.3.

The v1.3 changelog fixed Soaring softlocks involving Mt. Gerhana and Inizio Isle. citeturn591528search5

If you are still running v1.0–v1.2, update to the completed v1.3 release.

How to Verify Pokémon Sors Installed Correctly

Sors is completely different from ordinary FireRed, so successful installation should be obvious.

You should enter the Hupest region and play as Asher rather than beginning the normal Pallet Town adventure.

Major Sors features include:

• Hupest region
• Fixed protagonist Asher
• Original story
• Eclipse Tournament
• Pokémon through Generation 7
• 48 Eclipse Pokémon
• Eclipsing mechanic
• Physical/Special split
• Updated moves
• Side quests
• Quest Log
• Day/night cycle
• Soaring
• Custom soundtrack
• Black/White and HGSS-inspired visual styling citeturn591528search8turn591528search5

If Professor Oak gives you a normal Kanto starter in Pallet Town and nothing has changed, you opened your clean FireRed ROM instead of Sors.

Pokémon Sors Installation FAQ

What is the latest version of Pokémon Sors?

The completed original Pokémon Sors remains:

Full Release v1.3

Public documentation continues to identify v1.3 as the final completed Sors build. citeturn785219search2turn591528search5

Is Pokémon Sors complete?

Yes.

Pokémon Sors v1.3 is a completed game with its full main story.

Is Pokémon Sors 2 the same game?

No.

Pokémon Sors 2 is the sequel and Part 4 of the VytroVerse.

The original Pokémon Sors is Part 2. citeturn785219search0

What game is Pokémon Sors based on?

Pokémon Sors is based on:

Pokémon FireRed for Game Boy Advance.

What FireRed ROM does Pokémon Sors use?

Use:

1636 – Pokémon Fire Red (U)(Squirrels)

which is the FireRed 1.0 base specified by Sors patching documentation. citeturn591528search6

What patch format does Pokémon Sors use?

The main Pokémon Sors patch uses:

UPS

NUPS and UniPatcher have historically been used to apply it. citeturn591528search6

What is the best emulator for Pokémon Sors?

Use:

mGBA

On Android or iPhone, RetroArch with the mGBA core is the safest modern option.

Does Pokémon Sors need RTC?

Yes, RTC support is recommended.

The day/night system depends on emulator clock functionality. citeturn591528search8

Can I play Pokémon Sors on Android?

Yes.

Patch the FireRed base using UniPatcher or Rom Patcher JS, then play the resulting .gba with RetroArch/mGBA or another compatible emulator.

Can I play Pokémon Sors on iPhone?

Yes.

Patch the game through a browser or another device, then load the completed .gba using an iOS GBA emulator.

RetroArch with mGBA is the safest troubleshooting choice.

Can I use my Pokémon Sors demo save in v1.3?

No.

The full-release documentation specifically warns against using demo saves. citeturn591528search5

Start a new game on the completed release.

Does Pokémon Sors have Eclipse Pokémon?

Yes.

Sors includes 48 custom Eclipse Pokémon alongside a roster extending through Generation 7. citeturn591528search8

Does Pokémon Sors have a physical/special split?

Yes.

The battle engine includes modernized mechanics through roughly the Generation 7 era, including the physical/special split. citeturn591528search8

Does Pokémon Sors have a day/night system?

Yes.

The game includes day/night changes and related events, which is why RTC-capable emulation is recommended. citeturn591528search8

Does Pokémon Sors have trade evolutions?

The game modifies evolution methods so Pokémon normally dependent on trading can be evolved during a single-player playthrough.

The v1.3 evolution documentation includes items and alternate level-up requirements for many modified evolutions. citeturn911151search0

Where can I download Pokémon Sors?

Use Vytron’s VytroVerse community and official project resources to locate the Pokémon Sors v1.3 UPS patch.

Vytron’s current project guidance specifically encourages sharing official source/documentation links and patch files rather than pre-patched ROMs. citeturn889383view1

You provide your own legally obtained Pokémon FireRed (U)(Squirrels) ROM and apply the Sors patch yourself.

Rom Professor does not host, distribute, or link to copyrighted Pokémon FireRed ROMs or unofficial pre-patched Pokémon Sors ROMs.