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Gen III · Hoenn

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Nuzlocke guide

Level caps, boss teams and trainer levels for your next run — 13 main-story battles from Roxanne (Lv 15) to Steven (Lv 58).

  • Nuzlocke
  • SoulLink
  • Randomizer

Ruby and Sapphire rebuilt Pokémon for the Game Boy Advance: abilities, natures, double battles and the Hoenn region with its oceans, volcano and desert. Team Magma and Team Aqua trade places between the two versions, and so do some boss fights.

Region
Hoenn
Generation
III
First cap
Lv15
Final cap
Lv58
Main battles
13
Areas tracked
79

Ruby & Sapphire level caps

A level cap is the level of the opponent’s strongest Pokémon. In a Hardcore Nuzlocke, no Pokémon in your party may be above the cap when the battle starts.

The biggest jump in the main story is +9 levels, from Winona (Lv 33) to Tate & Liza (Lv 42). Plan your training before it.

Ruby

Main story of Ruby in story order
#BattleTypeAceLevel cap
01RoxanneGymNosepassNosepassLv15
02BrawlyGymMakuhitaMakuhitaLv18
03WattsonGymMagnetonMagnetonLv23
04FlanneryGymTorkoalTorkoalLv28
05NormanGymSlakingSlakingLv31
06WinonaGymAltariaAltariaLv33
07Tate & LizaGymSolrockSolrockLv42
08WallaceGymMiloticMiloticLv43
09SidneyLeagueAbsolAbsolLv49
10PhoebeLeagueDusclopsDusclopsLv51
11GlaciaLeagueWalreinWalreinLv53
12DrakeLeagueSalamenceSalamenceLv55
13StevenLeagueMetagrossMetagrossLv58

Rivals, villains and other story battles

Optional and recurring story battles, sorted by level
BattleTypeAceLevel cap
TabithaBossNumelNumelLv20
MaxieBossCameruptCameruptLv25
CourtneyBossMightyenaMightyenaLv28
TabithaBossCameruptCameruptLv32
CourtneyBossMightyenaMightyenaLv38
MaxieBossCameruptCameruptLv43

Ruby & Sapphire boss teams

Every gym leader, trial and League battle of the main story with levels and known movesets. Tap a battle to open its team.

Ruby

01 Roxanne Gym Cap15

Leader Roxanne

  • Geodude
    Geodude Lv14 Tackle · Defense Curl · Rock Throw · Rock Tomb
  • Nosepass
    Nosepass Lv15 Tackle · Harden · Rock Throw · Rock Tomb
02 Brawly Gym Cap18

Leader Brawly

  • Machop
    Machop Lv17 Leer · Karate Chop · Seismic Toss · Bulk Up
  • Makuhita
    Makuhita Lv18 Arm Thrust · Knock Off · Sand Attack · Bulk Up
03 Wattson Gym Cap23

Leader Wattson

  • Magnemite
    Magnemite Lv22 Supersonic · Sonic Boom · Thunder Shock · Thunder Wave
  • Voltorb
    Voltorb Lv20 Rollout · Self-Destruct · Spark · Sonic Boom
  • Magneton
    Magneton Lv23 Supersonic · Sonic Boom · Shock Wave · Thunder Wave
04 Flannery Gym Cap28

Leader Flannery

  • Slugma
    Slugma Lv26 Overheat · Smog · Light Screen · Sunny Day
  • Slugma
    Slugma Lv26 Flamethrower · Rock Slide · Light Screen · Sunny Day
  • Torkoal
    Torkoal Lv28 Overheat · Body Slam · Flail · Attract
05 Norman Gym Cap31

Leader Norman

  • Slaking
    Slaking Lv28 Encore · Facade · Yawn · Feint Attack
  • Vigoroth
    Vigoroth Lv30 Slash · Feint Attack · Facade · Encore
  • Slaking
    Slaking Lv31 Focus Punch · Slack Off · Facade · Feint Attack
06 Winona Gym Cap33

Leader Winona

  • Swellow
    Swellow Lv31 Quick Attack · Aerial Ace · Double Team · Endeavor
  • Pelipper
    Pelipper Lv30 Water Gun · Supersonic · Protect · Aerial Ace
  • Skarmory
    Skarmory Lv32 Sand Attack · Fury Attack · Steel Wing · Aerial Ace
  • Altaria
    Altaria Lv33 Earthquake · Dragon Breath · Dragon Dance · Aerial Ace
07 Tate & Liza Gym Cap42

Leader Tate&Liza

  • Lunatone
    Lunatone Lv42 Light Screen · Psychic · Hypnosis · Calm Mind
  • Solrock
    Solrock Lv42 Sunny Day · Solar Beam · Psychic · Flamethrower
08 Wallace Gym Cap43

Leader Wallace

  • Luvdisc
    Luvdisc Lv40 Water Pulse · Attract · Sweet Kiss · Flail
  • Whiscash
    Whiscash Lv42 Rain Dance · Water Pulse · Amnesia · Earthquake
  • Sealeo
    Sealeo Lv40 Encore · Body Slam · Aurora Beam · Water Pulse
  • Seaking
    Seaking Lv42 Water Pulse · Rain Dance · Fury Attack · Horn Drill
  • Milotic
    Milotic Lv43 Water Pulse · Twister · Recover · Ice Beam
09 Sidney League Cap49

Elite Four Sidney

  • Mightyena
    Mightyena Lv46 Roar · Take Down · Sand Attack · Crunch
  • Shiftry
    Shiftry Lv48 Fake Out · Double Team · Swagger · Extrasensory
  • Cacturne
    Cacturne Lv46 Leech Seed · Feint Attack · Needle Arm · Cotton Spore
  • Sharpedo
    Sharpedo Lv48 Crunch · Swagger · Surf · Slash
  • Absol
    Absol Lv49 @ Sitrus Berry Aerial Ace · Snatch · Swords Dance · Slash
10 Phoebe League Cap51

Elite Four Phoebe

  • Dusclops
    Dusclops Lv48 Shadow Punch · Confuse Ray · Curse · Future Sight
  • Banette
    Banette Lv49 Shadow Ball · Spite · Feint Attack
  • Sableye
    Sableye Lv50 Shadow Ball · Psychic · Attract · Feint Attack
  • Banette
    Banette Lv49 Shadow Ball · Psychic · Toxic · Skill Swap
  • Dusclops
    Dusclops Lv51 @ Sitrus Berry Shadow Ball · Ice Beam · Confuse Ray · Earthquake
11 Glacia League Cap53

Elite Four Glacia

  • Glalie
    Glalie Lv50 Light Screen · Crunch · Hail · Ice Beam
  • Sealeo
    Sealeo Lv50 Surf · Body Slam · Hail · Ice Ball
  • Sealeo
    Sealeo Lv52 Attract · Dive · Hail · Blizzard
  • Glalie
    Glalie Lv52 Shadow Ball · Crunch · Hail · Ice Beam
  • Walrein
    Walrein Lv53 @ Sitrus Berry Surf · Body Slam · Blizzard · Sheer Cold
12 Drake League Cap55

Elite Four Drake

  • Shelgon
    Shelgon Lv52 Rock Tomb · Dragon Claw · Protect · Crunch
  • Altaria
    Altaria Lv54 Take Down · Dragon Breath · Dragon Dance · Refresh
  • Flygon
    Flygon Lv53 Dig · Dragon Breath · Fly · Sandstorm
  • Flygon
    Flygon Lv53 Flamethrower · Crunch · Dragon Breath · Sand Attack
  • Salamence
    Salamence Lv55 @ Sitrus Berry Flamethrower · Dragon Claw · Fly · Crunch
13 Steven League Cap58

Champion Steven

  • Skarmory
    Skarmory Lv57 Toxic · Aerial Ace · Spikes · Steel Wing
  • Claydol
    Claydol Lv55 Reflect · Light Screen · Ancient Power · Earthquake
  • Aggron
    Aggron Lv56 Thunder · Earthquake · Solar Beam · Dragon Claw
  • Cradily
    Cradily Lv56 Giga Drain · Ancient Power · Sludge Bomb · Confuse Ray
  • Armaldo
    Armaldo Lv56 Water Pulse · Ancient Power · Aerial Ace · Slash
  • Metagross
    Metagross Lv58 @ Sitrus Berry Earthquake · Psychic · Meteor Mash · Hyper Beam

Trainer levels by location

First battles against route trainers in Ruby, sorted by the typical level of their strongest Pokémon — a quick way to see where the level curve climbs. Rematches are not included.

50 locations with documented trainers
LocationTrainersLevelsTypical ace
Rusturf Tunnelpartly documented110Lv10
Rustboro City36–15Lv11
Dewford Town412–18Lv14
Route 103185–36Lv16
Mauville City616–23Lv19
Route 1141716–35Lv21
Route 112816–33Lv24
Lavaridge Town622–28Lv24
Route 110547–46Lv26
Route 116148–35Lv26
Route 1092111–36Lv26
Route 1113015–39Lv26
Route 1181515–34Lv26
Route 105525–27Lv26
Route 10283–36Lv27
Route 104196–36Lv27
Route 10688–35Lv27
Route 1131417–35Lv27
Route 108424–27Lv27
Petalburg City827–31Lv27
Route 1172612–37Lv28
Jagged Pass1120–40Lv28
Route 107925–39Lv28
Petalburg Woodspartly documented63–33Lv29
Route 1151819–40Lv29
Route 119partly documented2820–39Lv30
Mt. Chimneypartly documented822–39Lv30
Fortree City528–33Lv30
Route 1202028–41Lv30
Route 1231516–43Lv31
Mt. Pyrepartly documented117–42Lv32
Route 129425–35Lv33
Route 132333–35Lv33
Route 127715–45Lv34
Route 133619–34Lv34
Route 1211330–42Lv34
Lilycove City631–34Lv34
Route 134532–35Lv34
Route 130233–34Lv34
Route 126432–35Lv35
Route 131533–36Lv35
Route 1251033–45Lv36
Mossdeep City735–42Lv36
Route 1281330–48Lv39
Route 1241433–51Lv41
Sootopolis City936–43Lv41
Victory Road1541–57Lv44
S.S. Tidal812–45Lv45
Meteor Falls1038–52Lv46
Ever Grande City546–58Lv53

Nuzlocke tips for Ruby & Sapphire

  • Double battles are new — Tate & Liza fight you two-on-two at the Mossdeep City gym.
  • Hoenn has a lot of water. Late routes are dominated by a few common species, so secure strong catches before the sea routes.
  • Gifts include a Wynaut egg in Lavaridge Town, Castform at the Weather Institute, a Root or Claw Fossil from Mirage Tower and Beldum from Steven’s house after the Elite Four.

New to the challenge? Start with the Nuzlocke rules, or bring friends with the Soul Link rules.

FAQ

What is the first level cap in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire?

The first cap is level 15: Roxanne’s strongest Pokémon is Nosepass at level 15. Keep every party member at or below level 15 for that battle.

What level is the Champion in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire?

Steven sets the final main-story cap at level 58, with Metagross as the ace.

How many boss battles are there in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire?

This guide lists 13 main-story battles, 6 optional story battles against rivals and villains for Ruby.

Can I randomize Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire?

Yes. The PokéRuns Randomizer supports Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire and runs entirely in your browser. When you send the randomized world to your tracker, it uses your ROM’s real boss teams and level caps.

Sources

Caps and teams come from the PokéRuns tracker data (updated 2026-09-07), compiled from:

  • pokemondb.net 1
  • serebii.net 123
  • serebii.net Pokéarth route trainer data

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