Best Bug Pokémon in Ruby & Sapphire
Hoenn has no Bug gym leader. Wurmple fills Route 101 from the start, and Nincada turns into Ninjask and Shedinja at Lv 20. We graded 16 Bug Pokémon you can get in Ruby & Sapphire, S to D, for beating the game. Heracross and Armaldo lead.
- Trade-in
- Fossil: pick 1 of 2
Heracross
ArmaldoFossil: pick 1 of 2
ScizorTrade-in only
Pinsir
Masquerain
Beautifly
Ninjask
AnorithFossil: pick 1 of 2
ParasectTrade-in only
ButterfreeTrade-in only
ScytherTrade-in only
Illumise
Volbeat
Shedinja
Dustox
Surskit
Silcoon
Wurmple
Nincada
Cascoon
VenomothTrade-in only
BeedrillTrade-in only
ForretressTrade-in only
YanmaTrade-in only
AriadosTrade-in only
LedianTrade-in only
ShuckleTrade-in only
ParasTrade-in only
MetapodTrade-in only
CaterpieTrade-in only
VenonatTrade-in only
KakunaTrade-in only
WeedleTrade-in only
PinecoTrade-in only
SpinarakTrade-in only
LedybaTrade-in onlyWhat each tier means
- STop Carries a Ruby & Sapphire run against most of the bosses
- AStrong A strong pick for most of the game
- BSolid Does the job with some help
- CSituational Struggles against several bosses
- DBottom Hard to use for beating the game
Board breakdown
Here each Bug Pokémon you can get meets the 13 Ruby & Sapphire gym leader, Elite Four and Champion fights in order, Roxanne to Steven. Masquerain does well in 6 of them, 3 fights have no Bug answer, and both versions play out the same.
The Bug Pokemon to raise is Masquerain, with 6 of 13 fights, starting with Roxanne.
Heracross sits higher on the board, yet Masquerain helps in 2 more fights and comes 6 badges sooner.
Each row is one Bug pick and its 13 boxes are the fights in order. A filled box means it does well there: Masquerain has 6, first at Roxanne.
Gym 1, Roxanne
Gym 2, Brawly
Gym 3, Wattson
Gym 4, Flannery
Gym 5, Norman
Gym 6, Winona
Gym 7, Tate & Liza
Gym 8, Wallace
Elite Four, Sidney
Elite Four, Phoebe
Elite Four, Glacia
Elite Four, Drake
Champion, StevenGym 1 RoxanneGym 2 BrawlyGym 3 WattsonGym 4 FlanneryGym 5 NormanGym 6 WinonaGym 7 Tate & LizaGym 8 WallaceElite Four SidneyElite Four PhoebeElite Four GlaciaElite Four DrakeChampion Steven- MasquerainGym 1 Roxanne: does wellGym 2 Brawly: does wellGym 3 Wattson: has troubleGym 4 Flannery: does wellGym 5 Norman: has troubleGym 6 Winona: no clear edgeGym 7 Tate & Liza: has troubleGym 8 Wallace: does wellSidney: does wellPhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: no clear edgeDrake: does wellSteven: no clear edgeFrom the startSurskitRoute 1021% of encounters
#032SurskitLevel 22
#033Masquerainfinal form by FlanneryDoes wellRoxanneBrawlyFlanneryWallaceSidneyDrakeHas troubleWattson, Norman, Tate & LizaNo clear edgeWinona, Phoebe, Glacia, Steven - HeracrossGym 1 Roxanne: not on your team yetGym 2 Brawly: not on your team yetGym 3 Wattson: not on your team yetGym 4 Flannery: not on your team yetGym 5 Norman: not on your team yetGym 6 Winona: not on your team yetGym 7 Tate & Liza: no clear edgeGym 8 Wallace: does wellSidney: does wellPhoebe: has troubleGlacia: does wellDrake: no clear edgeSteven: does wellAfter badge 6Safari Zone northeast5% of encountersNot yet: Roxanne to WinonaDoes wellWallaceSidneyGlaciaStevenHas troublePhoebeNo clear edgeTate & Liza, Drake
- ArmaldoGym 1 Roxanne: not on your team yetGym 2 Brawly: not on your team yetGym 3 Wattson: not on your team yetGym 4 Flannery: not on your team yetGym 5 Norman: no clear edgeGym 6 Winona: does wellGym 7 Tate & Liza: does wellGym 8 Wallace: no clear edgeSidney: does wellPhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: does wellDrake: no clear edgeSteven: no clear edgeAfter badge 4AnorithClaw Fossil, Route 111 desertrevive at Devon Corporationpick one fossilLv 20
#135AnorithLevel 40
#136Armaldofinal form by Tate & LizaNot yet: Roxanne to FlanneryDoes wellWinonaTate & LizaSidneyGlaciaNo clear edgeNorman, Wallace, Phoebe, Drake, Steven - IllumiseGym 1 Roxanne: not on your team yetGym 2 Brawly: not on your team yetGym 3 Wattson: has troubleGym 4 Flannery: no clear edgeGym 5 Norman: has troubleGym 6 Winona: does wellGym 7 Tate & Liza: no clear edgeGym 8 Wallace: does wellSidney: does wellPhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: does wellDrake: has troubleSteven: no clear edgeAfter badge 2Route 117Ruby: 18% of encountersSapphire: 1% of encountersNot yet: Roxanne, BrawlyDoes wellWinonaWallaceSidneyGlaciaHas troubleWattson, Norman, DrakeNo clear edgeFlannery, Tate & Liza, Phoebe, Steven
- VolbeatGym 1 Roxanne: not on your team yetGym 2 Brawly: not on your team yetGym 3 Wattson: has troubleGym 4 Flannery: has troubleGym 5 Norman: no clear edgeGym 6 Winona: has troubleGym 7 Tate & Liza: does wellGym 8 Wallace: does wellSidney: does wellPhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: does wellDrake: has troubleSteven: no clear edgeAfter badge 2Route 117Ruby: 1% of encountersSapphire: 18% of encountersNot yet: Roxanne, BrawlyDoes wellTate & LizaWallaceSidneyGlaciaHas troubleWattson, Flannery, Winona, DrakeNo clear edgeNorman, Phoebe, Steven
- PinsirGym 1 Roxanne: not on your team yetGym 2 Brawly: not on your team yetGym 3 Wattson: not on your team yetGym 4 Flannery: not on your team yetGym 5 Norman: not on your team yetGym 6 Winona: not on your team yetGym 7 Tate & Liza: no clear edgeGym 8 Wallace: no clear edgeSidney: does wellPhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: does wellDrake: no clear edgeSteven: does wellAfter badge 6Safari Zone northwest5% of encountersNot yet: Roxanne to WinonaDoes wellSidneyGlaciaStevenNo clear edgeTate & Liza, Wallace, Phoebe, Drake
- BeautiflyGym 1 Roxanne: no clear edgeGym 2 Brawly: does wellGym 3 Wattson: has troubleGym 4 Flannery: no clear edgeGym 5 Norman: has troubleGym 6 Winona: has troubleGym 7 Tate & Liza: no clear edgeGym 8 Wallace: does wellSidney: does wellPhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: no clear edgeDrake: has troubleSteven: has troubleFrom the startWurmpleRoute 10145% of encounters
#014WurmpleLevel 7
#015SilcoonLevel 10
#016Beautiflyfinal form by Roxanneabout half of WurmpleDoes wellBrawlyWallaceSidneyHas troubleWattson, Norman, Winona, Drake, StevenNo clear edgeRoxanne, Flannery, Tate & Liza, Phoebe, Glacia - DustoxGym 1 Roxanne: has troubleGym 2 Brawly: does wellGym 3 Wattson: has troubleGym 4 Flannery: no clear edgeGym 5 Norman: has troubleGym 6 Winona: has troubleGym 7 Tate & Liza: no clear edgeGym 8 Wallace: does wellSidney: does wellPhoebe: has troubleGlacia: no clear edgeDrake: has troubleSteven: has troubleFrom the startWurmpleRoute 10145% of encounters#014WurmpleLevel 7
#017CascoonLevel 10
#018Dustoxfinal form by Roxanneabout half of WurmpleDoes wellBrawlyWallaceSidneyHas troubleRoxanne, Wattson, Norman, Winona, Phoebe, Drake, StevenNo clear edgeFlannery, Tate & Liza, Glacia - NinjaskGym 1 Roxanne: no clear edgeGym 2 Brawly: has troubleGym 3 Wattson: has troubleGym 4 Flannery: no clear edgeGym 5 Norman: no clear edgeGym 6 Winona: has troubleGym 7 Tate & Liza: no clear edgeGym 8 Wallace: does wellSidney: does wellPhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: no clear edgeDrake: no clear edgeSteven: no clear edgeFrom the startNincadaRoute 11620% of encounters
#042NincadaLevel 20
#043Ninjaskfinal form by WattsonDoes wellWallaceSidneyHas troubleBrawly, Wattson, WinonaNo clear edgeRoxanne, Flannery, Norman, Tate & Liza, Phoebe, Glacia, Drake, Steven - ShedinjaGym 1 Roxanne: no clear edgeGym 2 Brawly: has troubleGym 3 Wattson: has troubleGym 4 Flannery: no clear edgeGym 5 Norman: has troubleGym 6 Winona: has troubleGym 7 Tate & Liza: no clear edgeGym 8 Wallace: no clear edgeSidney: no clear edgePhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: has troubleDrake: has troubleSteven: has troubleFrom the startNincadaRoute 11620% of encounters#042NincadaLevel 20
#044Shedinjafinal form by Wattsonneeds free slot, Poke BallNo does-well fightsHas troubleBrawly, Wattson, Norman, Winona, Glacia, Drake, StevenNo clear edgeRoxanne, Flannery, Tate & Liza, Wallace, Sidney, Phoebe
Best pair
Bring another type for Wattson, Norman and Phoebe.
One row per fight, Roxanne to Steven, with the best Bug pick you can have by then. Tap a fight for its team and every pick. First with none: Wattson.
Gyms
- Masquerainas Surskit
Team
Does well (1)Masquerainas SurskitMoves: Bubble
No clear edge (3)Ninjaskas NincadaShedinjaas NincadaBeautifly
Has trouble (1)Dustox
- Masquerainas Surskit+2 more
Team
Does well (3)Masquerainas SurskitMoves: BubbleBeautiflyMoves: GustDustoxMoves: Gust
- Has trouble: Surskit
- Closest: Anorith
- Armaldoas Anorith+1 more
- Armaldo+1 more
- Heracross+6 more
League
- Armaldo+8 more
Team
- MightyenaLv 46
Dark - ShiftryLv 48
GrassDark - CacturneLv 46GrassDark
- SharpedoLv 48
WaterDark - AbsolLv 49DarkAce
Does well (9)ArmaldoMoves: Fury CutterHeracrossMoves: Focus PunchVolbeatMoves: Signal BeamNinjaskMoves: Leech LifePinsirMoves: Focus PunchMasquerainMoves: Silver WindBeautiflyMoves: Silver WindDustoxMoves: Silver WindIllumiseMoves: Focus Punch and Thunder
No clear edge (1)Shedinja
- MightyenaLv 46
- Closest: Illumise
- Armaldo+4 more
- Heracross+1 more
Team
- SkarmoryLv 57
Steel
Flying - ClaydolLv 55
Ground
Psychic - AggronLv 56Steel
Rock - CradilyLv 56RockGrass
- ArmaldoLv 56Rock
Bug - MetagrossLv 58SteelPsychicAce
Does well (2)HeracrossMoves: Focus Punch, Megahorn and Rock TombPinsirMoves: Focus Punch, Thief and Rock Tomb
No clear edge (5)IllumiseVolbeatArmaldoMasquerainNinjask
- SkarmoryLv 57
Heracross, Armaldo and Volbeat get more from Bug moves, which use Attack, their higher stat; Masquerain hits softer.
That costs Masquerain some power, but it still helps in 6 fights.
Each card is one thing that can change a Bug team before you commit: move stats.
- Bug moves use Attack
- Masquerain
- Heracross
- Armaldo
- Volbeat