Playthrough tier listRuby & Sapphire

Best Normal Pokémon in Ruby & Sapphire

Norman, your father and the fifth gym leader, fights with Slaking and Vigoroth, and Slakoth lives in Petalburg Woods from the start. We graded 24 Normal Pokémon you can get in Ruby & Sapphire, S to D, for beating the game. Slaking leads.

24gradedOct 18, 2026updated

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Trade-in
Gift
Ruby only

STop1 PokémonCarries a Ruby & Sapphire run against most of the bossesClick any Pokémon for its gradeTap a card for its grade

Slaking

Click any Pokémon for its gradeTap a card for its grade

AStrong7 PokémonA strong pick for most of the game

ZangooseRuby only

UrsaringTrade-in only

SnorlaxTrade-in only

Porygon2Trade-in only

KangaskhanTrade-in only

TaurosTrade-in only

ClefableTrade-in only

BSolid7 PokémonDoes the job with some help

Exploud

Swellow

StantlerTrade-in only

MiltankTrade-in only

GranbullTrade-in only

RaticateTrade-in only

FurretTrade-in only

CSituational9 PokémonStruggles against several bosses

Linoone

Vigoroth

Slakoth

DunsparceTrade-in only

TogeticTrade-in only

EeveeTrade-in only

TeddiursaTrade-in only

PorygonTrade-in only

ClefairyTrade-in only

DBottom38 PokémonHard to use for beating the game

Dodrio

Kecleon

CastformGift

Spinda

Girafarig

Delcatty

Wigglytuff

Loudred

Whismur

Taillow

Azurill

Swablu

Zigzagoon

Doduo

Skitty

Jigglypuff

Igglybuff

FearowTrade-in only

AipomTrade-in only

PersianTrade-in only

LickitungTrade-in only

BlisseyTrade-in only

PidgeotTrade-in only

NoctowlTrade-in only

Farfetch'dTrade-in only

DittoTrade-in only

SmeargleTrade-in only

CleffaTrade-in only

SnubbullTrade-in only

RattataTrade-in only

SentretTrade-in only

TogepiTrade-in only

SpearowTrade-in only

MeowthTrade-in only

ChanseyTrade-in only

PidgeottoTrade-in only

PidgeyTrade-in only

HoothootTrade-in only

What 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

2 reads blended into one listreblend in Showing62 24 in Ruby & Sapphire + 38 trade-ins

Board breakdown

Every Normal Pokémon you can get is checked here against the 13 Ruby & Sapphire gym leader, Elite Four and Champion fights, Roxanne to Steven. Slaking does well in 8 of them, 5 fights have no Normal answer, and the versions differ in 6 fights.

Is Slaking worth a team slot over Linoone?

Yes, since Slaking does well in 8 of 13 fights, starting with Brawly, and helps in 2 more than Linoone.

Each row is one Normal pick and its 13 boxes are the fights in order. A filled box means it does well there: Slaking has 8, first at Brawly.

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, Steven

SlakingGym 1 Roxanne: has troubleGym 2 Brawly: does wellGym 3 Wattson: no clear edgeGym 4 Flannery: does wellGym 5 Norman: no clear edgeGym 6 Winona: does wellGym 7 Tate & Liza: no clear edgeGym 8 Wallace: does wellSidney: does wellPhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: does wellDrake: does wellSteven: does wellFrom the startSlakothPetalburg Woods5% of encounters#036SlakothLevel 18#037VigorothLevel 36#038Slakingfinal form by Tate & Liza
Does wellBrawlyFlanneryWinonaWallaceSidneyGlaciaDrakeStevenHas troubleRoxanneNo clear edgeWattson, Norman, Tate & Liza, Phoebe
LinooneGym 1 Roxanne: has troubleGym 2 Brawly: no clear edgeGym 3 Wattson: no clear edgeGym 4 Flannery: does wellGym 5 Norman: no clear edgeGym 6 Winona: does wellGym 7 Tate & Liza: has troubleGym 8 Wallace: does wellSidney: does wellPhoebe: has troubleGlacia: does wellDrake: does wellSteven: no clear edgeFrom the startZigzagoonRoute 10360% of encounters#012ZigzagoonLevel 20#013Linoonefinal form by Wattson
Does wellFlanneryWinonaWallaceSidneyGlaciaDrakeHas troubleRoxanne, Tate & Liza, PhoebeNo clear edgeBrawly, Wattson, Norman, Steven
ZangooseGym 1 Roxanne: not on your team yetGym 2 Brawly: not on your team yetGym 3 Wattson: not on your team yetGym 4 Flannery: does wellGym 5 Norman: no clear edgeGym 6 Winona: does wellGym 7 Tate & Liza: no clear edgeGym 8 Wallace: does wellSidney: does wellPhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: does wellDrake: does wellSteven: no clear edgeAfter badge 3Route 11419% of encounters
Not yet: Roxanne to WattsonDoes wellFlanneryWinonaWallaceSidneyGlaciaDrakeNo clear edgeNorman, Tate & Liza, Phoebe, Steven
ExploudGym 1 Roxanne: has troubleGym 2 Brawly: no clear edgeGym 3 Wattson: has troubleGym 4 Flannery: no clear edgeGym 5 Norman: has troubleGym 6 Winona: does wellGym 7 Tate & Liza: has troubleGym 8 Wallace: does wellSidney: does wellPhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: does wellDrake: does wellSteven: no clear edgeFrom the startWhismurRusturf Tunnel100% of encounters#045WhismurLevel 20#046LoudredLevel 40#047Exploudfinal form by Tate & Liza
Does wellWinonaWallaceSidneyGlaciaDrakeHas troubleRoxanne, Wattson, Norman, Tate & LizaNo clear edgeBrawly, Flannery, Phoebe, Steven
KecleonGym 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: does wellGym 7 Tate & Liza: has troubleGym 8 Wallace: does wellSidney: does wellPhoebe: has troubleGlacia: does wellDrake: does wellSteven: has troubleAfter badge 5Route 1181% of encounters
Not yet: Roxanne to NormanDoes wellWinonaWallaceSidneyGlaciaDrakeHas troubleTate & Liza, Phoebe, Steven
SpindaGym 1 Roxanne: not on your team yetGym 2 Brawly: not on your team yetGym 3 Wattson: not on your team yetGym 4 Flannery: does wellGym 5 Norman: no clear edgeGym 6 Winona: does wellGym 7 Tate & Liza: has troubleGym 8 Wallace: does wellSidney: does wellPhoebe: has troubleGlacia: does wellDrake: no clear edgeSteven: no clear edgeAfter badge 3Route 11370% of encounters
Not yet: Roxanne to WattsonDoes wellFlanneryWinonaWallaceSidneyGlaciaHas troubleTate & Liza, PhoebeNo clear edgeNorman, Drake, Steven
CastformGym 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: does wellGym 7 Tate & Liza: has troubleGym 8 Wallace: does wellSidney: no clear edgePhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: does wellDrake: does wellSteven: no clear edgeAfter badge 5Weather Institute, Route 119Lv 25
Not yet: Roxanne to NormanDoes wellWinonaWallaceGlaciaDrakeHas troubleTate & LizaNo clear edgeSidney, Phoebe, Steven
DelcattyGym 1 Roxanne: not on your team yetGym 2 Brawly: not on your team yetGym 3 Wattson: not on your team yetGym 4 Flannery: does wellGym 5 Norman: no clear edgeGym 6 Winona: does wellGym 7 Tate & Liza: has troubleGym 8 Wallace: does wellSidney: no clear edgePhoebe: has troubleGlacia: no clear edgeDrake: does wellSteven: has troubleDelcatty after badge 3SkittyFrom the startRoute 1162% of encounters#061SkittyMoon Stone#062DelcattyMoon Stone in Meteor Falls
Not yet: Roxanne to WattsonDoes wellFlanneryWinonaWallaceDrakeHas troubleTate & Liza, Phoebe, StevenNo clear edgeNorman, Sidney, Glacia
WigglytuffGym 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: does wellGym 7 Tate & Liza: has troubleGym 8 Wallace: does wellSidney: does wellPhoebe: has troubleGlacia: no clear edgeDrake: does wellSteven: has troubleAfter badge 5JigglypuffRoute 11510% of encounters#138JigglypuffMoon Stone#139WigglytuffMoon Stone in Meteor FallsNormal moves use Attack 70, not Sp. Atk 75
Not yet: Roxanne to NormanDoes wellWinonaWallaceSidneyDrakeHas troubleTate & Liza, Phoebe, StevenNo clear edgeGlacia
SwellowGym 1 Roxanne: has troubleGym 2 Brawly: does wellGym 3 Wattson: has troubleGym 4 Flannery: no clear edgeGym 5 Norman: no clear edgeGym 6 Winona: no clear edgeGym 7 Tate & Liza: has troubleGym 8 Wallace: no clear edgeSidney: does wellPhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: no clear edgeDrake: no clear edgeSteven: has troubleFrom the startTaillowRoute 11620% of encounters#025TaillowLevel 22#026Swellowfinal form by Flannery
Does wellBrawlySidneyHas troubleRoxanne, Wattson, Tate & Liza, StevenNo clear edgeFlannery, Norman, Winona, Wallace, Phoebe, Glacia, Drake
DodrioGym 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: has troubleGym 8 Wallace: does wellSidney: does wellPhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: no clear edgeDrake: no clear edgeSteven: has troubleAfter badge 6DoduoSafari Zone northwest15% of encounters#092DoduoLevel 31#093Dodriofinal form by Tate & Liza
Not yet: Roxanne to WinonaDoes wellWallaceSidneyHas troubleTate & Liza, StevenNo clear edgePhoebe, Glacia, Drake
GirafarigGym 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: no clear edgePhoebe: no clear edgeGlacia: does wellDrake: no clear edgeSteven: no clear edgeAfter badge 6Safari Zone southeast20% of encountersAttack 80, not Sp. Atk 90
Not yet: Roxanne to WinonaDoes wellWallaceGlaciaNo clear edgeTate & Liza, Sidney, Phoebe, Drake, Steven

NextSpinda 5Castform 4Delcatty 4

Best pair

Slaking + Linoone8/13 togetherevery fight a Normal pick wins

Which bosses from Roxanne to Steven have no Normal answer you can get?

You will find no Normal answer for Roxanne, Wattson, Norman, Tate & Liza and Phoebe.

One row per fight, Roxanne to Steven, with the best Normal pick you can have by then. Tap a fight for its team and every pick. First with none: Roxanne.

Gyms

Has trouble: Zigzagoon
Team
1. GeodudeLv 14RockGround
2. NosepassLv 15RockAce
Has trouble (4)Slakingas SlakothLinooneas ZigzagoonExploudas WhismurSwellowas Taillow
Full fight
Slakingas Slakoth+1 more
Team
1. MachopLv 17Fighting
2. MakuhitaLv 18FightingAce
Does well (2)Slakingas SlakothMoves: StrengthSwellowas TaillowMoves: Wing Attack
No clear edge (2)Linooneas ZigzagoonExploudas Whismur
Full fight
Closest: Vigoroth
Team
1. MagnemiteLv 22ElectricSteel
2. VoltorbLv 20Electric
3. MagnetonLv 23ElectricSteelAce
No clear edge (2)Slakingas VigorothLinoone
Has trouble (2)Exploudas LoudredSwellowas Taillow
Full fight
Slakingas VigorothRuby +4 moreSapphire +3 more
Team
1. SlugmaLv 26Fire
2. SlugmaLv 26Fire
3. TorkoalLv 28FireAce
Does well (5)Slakingas VigorothMoves: StrengthSpindaMoves: DigZangooseRuby onlyMoves: DigLinooneMoves: DigDelcattyMoves: Dig
No clear edge (2)SwellowExploudas Loudred
Full fight
RubyClosest: Zangoose
SapphireClosest: Vigoroth
TeamNormal-type team
1. SlakingLv 28Normal
2. VigorothLv 30Normal
3. SlakingLv 31NormalAce
No clear edge (6)ZangooseRuby onlySlakingas VigorothSwellowLinooneSpindaDelcatty
Has trouble (1)Exploudas Loudred
Full fight
Slakingas VigorothRuby +8 moreSapphire +7 more
Team
1. SwellowLv 31NormalFlying
2. PelipperLv 30WaterFlying
3. SkarmoryLv 32SteelFlying
4. AltariaLv 33DragonFlyingAce
Does well (9)Slakingas VigorothMoves: Thunderbolt and Ice BeamZangooseRuby onlyMoves: Thunderbolt and Ice BeamCastform GiftMoves: Thunderbolt and Ice BeamLinooneMoves: Thunderbolt and Ice BeamDelcattyMoves: Thunderbolt and Ice BeamKecleonMoves: Thunderbolt and Ice BeamWigglytuffMoves: Thunderbolt and Ice BeamExploudas LoudredMoves: Shock Wave and Ice BeamSpindaMoves: Shock Wave and Rock Tomb
No clear edge (1)Swellow
Full fight
Closest: Slaking
Team
1. LunatoneLv 42RockPsychicAce
2. SolrockLv 42RockPsychic
No clear edge (3)SlakingZangooseRuby onlyGirafarig
Has trouble (9)LinooneExploudKecleonSpindaCastform GiftDelcattyWigglytuffSwellowDodrio
Full fight
SlakingRuby +10 moreSapphire +9 more
Team
1. LuvdiscLv 40Water
2. WhiscashLv 42WaterGround
3. SealeoLv 40IceWater
4. SeakingLv 42Water
5. MiloticLv 43WaterAce
Does well (11)SlakingMoves: Thunder and Solar BeamExploudMoves: Shock Wave and Solar BeamZangooseRuby onlyMoves: Thunder and Solar BeamCastform GiftMoves: Thunder and Solar BeamGirafarigMoves: Thunder and StrengthDelcattyMoves: Thunder and Solar BeamKecleonMoves: Thunder and Solar BeamLinooneMoves: Thunder and Hyper BeamWigglytuffMoves: Thunder and Solar BeamDodrioMoves: FlySpindaMoves: Shock Wave and Uproar
No clear edge (1)Swellow
Full fight

League

SlakingRuby +8 moreSapphire +7 more
Team
1. MightyenaLv 46Dark
2. ShiftryLv 48GrassDark
3. CacturneLv 46GrassDark
4. SharpedoLv 48WaterDark
5. AbsolLv 49DarkAce
Does well (9)SlakingMoves: Focus Punch and ThunderZangooseRuby onlyMoves: Fury CutterDodrioMoves: FlySwellowMoves: FlyKecleonMoves: Focus Punch and ThunderSpindaMoves: Focus Punch and Shock WaveExploudMoves: Brick Break and Shock WaveLinooneMoves: Rock Smash and ThunderWigglytuffMoves: Focus Punch and Thunder
No clear edge (3)Castform GiftDelcattyGirafarig
Full fight
Closest: Slaking
Team
1. DusclopsLv 48Ghost
2. BanetteLv 49Ghost
3. SableyeLv 50DarkGhost
4. BanetteLv 49Ghost
5. DusclopsLv 51GhostAce
No clear edge (7)SlakingGirafarigDodrioSwellowExploudZangooseRuby onlyCastform Gift
Has trouble (5)LinooneKecleonSpindaDelcattyWigglytuff
Full fight
SlakingRuby +7 moreSapphire +6 more
Team
1. GlalieLv 50Ice
2. SealeoLv 50IceWater
3. SealeoLv 52IceWater
4. GlalieLv 52Ice
5. WalreinLv 53IceWaterAce
Does well (8)SlakingMoves: Focus Punch and ThunderZangooseRuby onlyMoves: Focus Punch and ThunderExploudMoves: Brick Break and Shock WaveSpindaMoves: Focus Punch and Shock WaveCastform GiftMoves: Fire Blast and ThunderKecleonMoves: Focus Punch and ThunderGirafarigMoves: Rock Smash and ThunderLinooneMoves: Rock Smash and Thunder
No clear edge (4)WigglytuffDelcattyDodrioSwellow
Full fight
SlakingRuby +7 moreSapphire +6 more
Team
1. ShelgonLv 52Dragon
2. AltariaLv 54DragonFlying
3. FlygonLv 53GroundDragon
4. FlygonLv 53GroundDragon
5. SalamenceLv 55DragonFlyingAce
Does well (8)SlakingMoves: BlizzardExploudMoves: BlizzardZangooseRuby onlyMoves: BlizzardCastform GiftMoves: BlizzardLinooneMoves: BlizzardKecleonMoves: BlizzardDelcattyMoves: BlizzardWigglytuffMoves: Blizzard
No clear edge (4)DodrioSwellowSpindaGirafarig
Full fight
Slaking
Team
1. SkarmoryLv 57SteelFlying
2. ClaydolLv 55GroundPsychic
3. AggronLv 56SteelRock
4. CradilyLv 56RockGrass
5. ArmaldoLv 56RockBug
6. MetagrossLv 58SteelPsychicAce
Does well (1)SlakingMoves: Thunder, Shadow Ball and Focus Punch
No clear edge (6)ZangooseRuby onlyExploudGirafarigSpindaCastform GiftLinoone
Has trouble (5)KecleonDelcattyWigglytuffSwellowDodrio
Full fight

How do Truant and Zangoose affect a Normal team?

Slaking has Truant: it loafs every other turn, which hands the foe a free move.

Each card is one thing that can change a Normal team before you commit: Truant, the two versions and Gen 3 types.

Slaking has TruantSlakingActs every other turn
6 fights where versions differ
Ruby Sapphire
Only here Zangoose
Same open fights in both versions
No Fairy type yetWigglytuffNormal only