Pokemon Team Builder - Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald

Blue tally marks indicate resistances, immunities, or STAB coverage. Red tally marks indicate weakness.

About Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald

Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald are the third generation of Pokemon games, released for the Game Boy Advance. These games introduced players to the Hoenn region and revolutionized the Pokemon series with groundbreaking features including Pokemon Abilities, Double Battles, and Weather effects. Our Pokemon Team Builder helps you navigate the expanded Hoenn Pokedex and build the perfect team for your adventure.

Game Overview

Ruby and Sapphire were released in 2002 (Japan) and 2003 (North America), with Emerald following in 2004 (Japan) and 2005 (North America). These games expanded the Pokedex to 386 Pokemon, introducing 135 new species while allowing players to transfer Pokemon from Generation 2 games through special events. The move to Game Boy Advance brought improved graphics, enhanced battle animations, and more sophisticated gameplay mechanics.

Generation 3 Innovations

The third generation introduced numerous revolutionary features that have become essential to the Pokemon series:

Pokemon Abilities - Each Pokemon now has a special Ability that affects battles, such as Intimidate, Overgrow, or Levitate, adding strategic depth
Double Battles - Trainers can battle with two Pokemon simultaneously, requiring new strategies and team compositions
Weather System - Weather effects like Rain, Sunlight, Hail, and Sandstorm affect battles and Pokemon encounters throughout the Hoenn region
Natures - Pokemon have Natures that affect stat growth, making individual Pokemon unique and customizable
Pokemon Contests - A new competition format focusing on beauty, coolness, cuteness, smartness, and toughness
Secret Bases - Customizable hideouts where trainers can create their own battle arenas and decorate with items
Berry System - Expanded berry cultivation and usage for both battles and contests
Enhanced Breeding - More sophisticated breeding mechanics including IVs (Individual Values) and Egg Moves

Impact and Significance

Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald marked a significant evolution in Pokemon gameplay. The introduction of Abilities and Double Battles fundamentally changed competitive strategy, while the weather system added environmental depth to battles. These games set new standards for Pokemon game design, with improved graphics and more complex gameplay mechanics. Our Pokemon Team Builder helps you take full advantage of these features when building your perfect team.

Hoenn Region Pokedex

The Hoenn regional Pokedex in Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald contains 202 Pokemon (up from 251 in Generation 2), with access to 386 Pokemon through the National Dex after completing the main story. This Pokemon Team Builder provides complete access to all available Pokemon, making it easy to understand which Pokemon are available in each version and through different methods of acquisition.

Available Pokemon Count

The Hoenn games feature a diverse Pokedex with Pokemon available through:

Wild Encounters - Over 200 Pokemon can be found in the wild throughout the Hoenn region, with weather-based encounters affecting availability
Trading from Generation 2 - Through special events and transfers, Pokemon from Generation 2 games can be obtained, though this requires specific hardware and game cartridges
Special Events - Some Pokemon like Deoxys were available through special Nintendo events
Breeding - Enhanced breeding mechanics allow for more strategic Pokemon breeding with Egg Moves and IV considerations
National Dex Completion - After completing the Hoenn Dex, players can access the National Dex with 386 total Pokemon

Version Differences: Ruby vs Sapphire vs Emerald

Each version has unique Pokemon exclusives and story elements that affect team planning:

Pokemon Ruby Exclusives - Pokemon like Seedot, Nuzleaf, Shiftry, Zangoose, Solrock, and Groudon are only available in Ruby version. Ruby features Team Magma as the primary antagonist
Pokemon Sapphire Exclusives - Pokemon like Lotad, Lombre, Ludicolo, Seviper, Lunatone, and Kyogre are only available in Sapphire version. Sapphire features Team Aqua as the primary antagonist
Emerald Edition Features - Emerald combines elements from both Ruby and Sapphire, featuring both Team Magma and Team Aqua as antagonists. Rayquaza plays a central role in the story, and players can obtain both Groudon and Kyogre. The Battle Frontier facility offers advanced post-game content, and certain Pokemon like Plusle and Minun have different encounter rates. Emerald also includes improved animations and expanded story elements

Legendary Pokemon and Weather System

The legendary Pokemon in Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald are closely tied to the weather system, which affects both battles and story progression:

Groudon (Ruby) - Creates intense sunlight when awakened, affecting battles and overworld weather
Kyogre (Sapphire) - Creates heavy rain when awakened, affecting battles and overworld weather
Rayquaza (Emerald) - Plays a central role in stopping the conflict between Groudon and Kyogre
Weather Effects - The weather system affects which Pokemon appear in certain areas, battle mechanics, and move effectiveness
Special Encounters - Weather changes unlock new areas and Pokemon encounters throughout the region

Team Building Tips for Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald

Building an effective team in Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald requires consideration of the game's unique mechanics, including Abilities, Double Battles, weather effects, and the diverse Hoenn region. Our Pokemon Team Builder offers advanced filtering and type analysis tools to help you make informed decisions. Here are strategic considerations for planning your perfect team.

Gym Challenge Recommendations

The Hoenn region features eight gym leaders with diverse type specializations:

Rock Type (Rustboro City) - Water or Grass types are highly effective. Consider Mudkip's evolution line or Treecko for early advantage
Fighting Type (Dewford Town) - Psychic, Flying, or Fairy-type moves work well. Consider Abra's evolution line or Taillow evolution line
Electric Type (Mauville City) - Ground types are immune to Electric moves. Geodude or Numel evolution lines are excellent choices
Fire Type (Lavaridge Town) - Water, Rock, or Ground types are essential. Swampert, Relicanth, or Camerupt excel here
Normal Type (Petalburg City) - Fighting types are highly effective. Machop's evolution line or Makuhita are powerful choices
Flying Type (Fortree City) - Electric or Rock types work well. Manectric or Aggron are great options
Psychic Type (Mossdeep City) - Dark, Bug, or Ghost types can counter effectively. Consider Sharpedo, Absol, or Sableye
Water Type (Sootopolis City) - Electric or Grass types are crucial. Manectric or Sceptile are excellent choices

Elite Four Team Recommendations

The Elite Four in Hoenn features Dark, Ghost, Ice, and Dragon type specialists, followed by the Champion:

Sidney (Dark) - Fighting or Bug types can counter Dark types effectively. Consider Hariyama or Heracross
Phoebe (Ghost) - Dark or Ghost types can counter effectively, though most teams will need to rely on type advantages and strong attacks
Glacia (Ice) - Fire, Fighting, Rock, or Steel types provide excellent coverage. Consider Blaziken, Hariyama, or Aggron
Drake (Dragon) - Ice types are crucial for this battle. Consider Pokemon with Ice Beam or teach Ice-type moves to multiple team members
Champion Steven/Wallace - Steven uses Steel types (in Ruby/Sapphire), while Wallace uses Water types (in Emerald). Consider Fire or Ground types for Steven, and Electric or Grass types for Wallace

Important Battle Considerations

Type Coverage - With access to 202+ Pokemon in the Hoenn Dex, ensure your team has diverse type coverage to handle various opponents and gym challenges
Pokemon Abilities - Take advantage of Abilities like Intimidate, Levitate, and Overgrow for strategic advantages in battle
Double Battle Strategy - Many trainers in Hoenn use Double Battles, so consider Pokemon that work well together and moves that hit multiple targets
Weather Effects - The weather system affects battles throughout the region. Consider Pokemon with Abilities that benefit from weather, like Swift Swim or Chlorophyll
Natures and IVs - While not essential for the main story, understanding Natures and Individual Values can help optimize your team for competitive play
Evolution Timing - Consider when Pokemon evolve and whether evolution is beneficial for specific gym battles or the Elite Four
Move Variety - The expanded movepool in Generation 3 allows for more diverse move sets. Plan for moves that cover multiple types and consider TM availability
Legendary Pokemon - Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza are available in their respective games and can be powerful additions to your team, though they're not necessary to complete the main story

Frequently Asked Questions - Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald

What Pokemon are version-exclusive in Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald?: Ruby version has exclusive Pokemon like Seedot, Nuzleaf, Shiftry, Zangoose, Solrock, and Groudon. Sapphire version has Lotad, Lombre, Ludicolo, Seviper, Lunatone, and Kyogre. Emerald version includes Pokemon from both versions with some variations, and features both Groudon and Kyogre, plus Rayquaza as a central story element. Our Pokemon Team Builder allows you to filter by version to see only the Pokemon available in your chosen game, making team building easier and more efficient.
How do Pokemon Abilities affect team building?: Each Pokemon has a special Ability that can affect battles. For example, Blaziken's Blaze Ability powers up Fire-type moves when HP is low, while Sableye's Keen Eye prevents accuracy reduction. Abilities can provide immunities (like Levitate for Ground-type moves), stat boosts (like Intimidate), or other battle effects. When building your team with our Pokemon Team Builder, consider how Abilities complement your team's type coverage and battle strategy.
What is the difference between Ruby/Sapphire and Emerald?: Emerald combines elements from both Ruby and Sapphire, featuring both Team Magma and Team Aqua as antagonists, an expanded story focusing on Rayquaza, the Battle Frontier facility for advanced post-game content, both Groudon and Kyogre available, and some Pokemon with different encounter rates or availability. Ruby and Sapphire each feature one of the villainous teams and their respective legendary Pokemon (Groudon or Kyogre).
How do Double Battles affect team planning?: Many trainers in Hoenn use Double Battles, where two Pokemon fight simultaneously. This requires different strategies than single battles - consider Pokemon that can support each other, moves that hit multiple targets, and type combinations that work well together. Our Pokemon Team Builder helps you visualize type coverage for your entire team, which is especially important for Double Battles.
Which starter Pokemon is best for team building?: Each starter (Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip) has different strengths. Treecko's Grass typing provides early advantages but faces challenges against many gyms. Torchic's Fire/Fighting typing (upon evolution to Blaziken) offers unique dual-type coverage. Mudkip's Water/Ground typing (upon evolution to Swampert) provides excellent defensive coverage with only one weakness (Grass). The "best" choice depends on your preferred playstyle and the rest of your planned team composition.
How does the weather system affect Pokemon encounters and battles?: The weather system in Hoenn affects both wild Pokemon encounters and battles. Certain areas have permanent weather effects (like rain in specific routes), while legendary Pokemon can change the weather globally. Weather affects move effectiveness (like Fire moves in rain), Pokemon Abilities (like Swift Swim in rain), and which Pokemon appear in certain areas. This adds strategic depth to team planning and battles throughout the region.
Can I transfer Pokemon from Gold, Silver, or Crystal to Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald?: Yes, but with limitations! Pokemon from Generation 2 games can be transferred to Generation 3 games, but this requires specific hardware (Game Boy Advance and GameCube with Game Boy Player) and special events. Not all Pokemon can be transferred, and certain moves or features may not be compatible. Once transferred to Generation 3, Pokemon cannot be sent back to Generation 2 games.
What makes Emerald different for team building?: Emerald offers a more complete Hoenn experience with both Team Magma and Team Aqua, access to both Groudon and Kyogre, Rayquaza as a central story element, the Battle Frontier for advanced post-game content, expanded story elements, and some Pokemon with different encounter rates. These features make Emerald a great choice for players who want the most complete Hoenn experience and access to more legendary Pokemon for their team.