Ruby & Sapphire box art
Generation III · Hoenn / Kanto

Ruby & Sapphire

Gen IIIGame Boy AdvanceStaggered regional launch

Hoenn region with a land-versus-sea conflict.

At a glance

Developer
Game Freak
Publisher
Nintendo / The Pokémon Company
Platform
Game Boy Advance
First released
21 Nov 2002 (Japan)
Genre
Role-playing game
Generation
Gen III · Hoenn / Kanto

Release dates

Ruby & Sapphire first released in Japan on 21 Nov 2002, rolling out across all regions over 246 days.

🇯🇵
Japan
21 Nov 2002
First
🇺🇸
North America
19 Mar 2003
+118 days
🇦🇺
Australia
3 Apr 2003
+133 days
🇪🇺
Europe
25 Jul 2003
+246 days

Key innovation

Abilities, natures, double battles, and an IV/EV system overhaul.

Critical reception

82

Ruby & Sapphire holds a Metascore of 82/100 on Metacritic, indicating generally favourable reviews for its original Game Boy Advance release. See the reviews on Metacritic →

About Generation III

A complete engine rebuild for the Game Boy Advance brought abilities, natures, and double battles. The competitive metagame was born here, alongside the first remakes of the Kanto originals.

Gym Leaders & Elite Four

The 12 key trainers you battle in Ruby & Sapphire, with their teams, levels and known movesets. Sprites via Pokémon Showdown.

Roxanne
Roxanne
Rustboro Gym Leader · Hoenn
Geodude
GeodudeLv. 14
Nosepass
NosepassLv. 15
Brawly
Brawly
Dewford Gym Leader · Hoenn
Machop
MachopLv. 17
Makuhita
MakuhitaLv. 18
Wattson
Wattson
Mauville Gym Leader · Hoenn
Voltorb
VoltorbLv. 20
Magnemite
MagnemiteLv. 22
Magneton
MagnetonLv. 23
Flannery
Flannery
Lavaridge Gym Leader · Hoenn
Slugma
SlugmaLv. 26
Torkoal
TorkoalLv. 28
Norman
Norman
Petalburg Gym Leader · Hoenn
Zigzagoon
ZigzagoonLv. 7
Vigoroth
VigorothLv. 30
Slaking
SlakingLv. 31
Winona
Winona
Fortree Gym Leader · Hoenn
Pelipper
PelipperLv. 30
Swellow
SwellowLv. 31
Skarmory
SkarmoryLv. 32
Altaria
AltariaLv. 33
Tate & Liza
Tate & Liza
Mossdeep Gym Leaders · Hoenn
Lunatone
LunatoneLv. 42
Solrock
SolrockLv. 42
Sidney
Sidney
Elite Four Elite Four · Hoenn
Mightyena
MightyenaLv. 46
Cacturne
CacturneLv. 46
Shiftry
ShiftryLv. 48
Sharpedo
SharpedoLv. 48
Absol
AbsolLv. 49
Phoebe
Phoebe
Elite Four Elite Four · Hoenn
Banette
BanetteLv. 49
Sableye
SableyeLv. 50
Dusclops
DusclopsLv. 51
Glacia
Glacia
Elite Four Elite Four · Hoenn
Glalie
GlalieLv. 52
Sealeo
SealeoLv. 52
Walrein
WalreinLv. 53
Drake
Drake
Elite Four Elite Four · Hoenn
Shelgon
ShelgonLv. 52
Flygon
FlygonLv. 53
Altaria
AltariaLv. 54
Salamence
SalamenceLv. 55
Wallace
Wallace
Sootopolis Champion · Hoenn
Luvdisc
LuvdiscLv. 40
Flail · Attract · Sweet Kiss · Water Pulse
Sealeo
SealeoLv. 40
Encore · Body Slam · Aurora Beam · Water Pulse
Seaking
SeakingLv. 42
Horn Drill · Fury Attack · Rain Dance · Water Pulse
Whiscash
WhiscashLv. 42
Amnesia · Rain Dance · Earthquake · Water Pulse
Milotic
MiloticLv. 43
Recover · Twister · Ice Beam · Water Pulse
View the full Ruby & Sapphire gym & Elite Four guide →
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