8 Ruby8 SapphireUpdated NOV 5, 2026

Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire Version Exclusives

Ruby and Sapphire each lock eight Pokémon to one version, and seven of each side’s eight can be yours before the League. One of them is the legendary on the box: Groudon in Ruby, Kyogre in Sapphire, and you get a single battle with it in the Cave of Origin. The eighth, Latios in Ruby or Latias in Sapphire, starts roaming Hoenn after the Hall of Fame, and even the villains change: Team Magma in Ruby, Team Aqua in Sapphire.

WHICH VERSION ARE YOU PLAYING?
Pick the version you’re playing and the other side’s exclusives get a Trade marker.Saved on this device: Ruby. Anything only Sapphire has is marked Trade.Saved on this device: Sapphire. Anything only Ruby has is marked Trade.
Side by side

Every exclusive and where to catch it

Each row sets a Ruby exclusive beside its usual Sapphire counterpart. Every stage lists where you get it and the first badge the game needs before you can.

6 of 6 rows
Ruby8 PokémonYour version
Total stats
Sapphire8 PokémonYour version
Before the LeagueEvery line but the roaming Eon Pokémon starts before the League. Mawile and Sableye live in Granite Cave, on Dewford Town’s island, which Mr. Briney’s boat reaches after your first badge. Zangoose, Seviper, Solrock and Lunatone wait past the rocks on Route 111 north of Mauville City, which need Rock Smash and the third badge. Shiftry’s Leaf Stone lies on Route 119, reached by Surf, and both ways to get a Water Stone for Ludicolo need Dive.5 Ruby5 Sapphire
ShiftryGrassDarkTrade
SeedotRoute 102Route 114CatchStart
NuzleafSeedot Lv 14Route 114EvolveStart
ShiftryNuzleaf + Leaf Stone (Route 119, reached by Surf)StoneBadge 5
LudicoloWaterGrassTrade
LotadRoute 102Route 114CatchStart
LombreLotad Lv 14Route 114EvolveStart
LudicoloLombre + Water Stone (Abandoned Ship hidden floor by Dive, or a Blue Shard for the Route 124 Treasure Hunter)StoneBadge 7
MawileSteelTrade
MawileGranite CaveCave of OriginVictory RoadSky PillarCatchBadge 1
SableyeDarkGhostTrade
SableyeGranite CaveCave of OriginVictory RoadSky PillarCatchBadge 1
ZangooseNormalTrade
ZangooseRoute 114CatchBadge 3
SeviperPoisonTrade
SeviperRoute 114CatchBadge 3
SolrockRockPsychicTrade
SolrockMeteor Falls (Walking, Surf)CatchBadge 3
LunatoneRockPsychicTrade
LunatoneMeteor Falls (Walking, Surf)CatchBadge 3
GroudonGroundTrade
GroudonStory battle at the bottom of the Cave of Origin, Sootopolis City (Lv 45); one chance onlyCave of Origin (Static encounter)CatchBadge 7
KyogreWaterTrade
KyogreStory battle at the bottom of the Cave of Origin, Sootopolis City (Lv 45); one chance onlyCave of Origin (Static encounter)CatchBadge 7
After the LeagueOnce you beat Steven and enter the Hall of Fame, a TV news report back home sets Latios (Ruby) or Latias (Sapphire) roaming Hoenn at Lv 40, in tall grass and on the water.1 Ruby1 Sapphire
LatiosDragonPsychicTrade
LatiosRoams Hoenn after the Hall of Fame (Lv 40), in grass and on waterRoaming Hoenn (Walking, Surf)RoamingPost-game
LatiasDragonPsychicTrade
LatiasRoams Hoenn after the Hall of Fame (Lv 40), in grass and on waterRoaming Hoenn (Walking, Surf)RoamingPost-game
Timeline

When each version’s exclusives show up

The first badge each Pokémon needs: the badge that opens the sea route to Granite Cave, lets Rock Smash, Surf or Dive work outside battle, or comes before the Cave of Origin. Exclusive lines before the League: Ruby: 5, Sapphire: 5.

StartNew gameBadge 1RoxanneBadge 2BrawlyBadge 3WattsonBadge 4FlanneryBadge 5NormanBadge 6WinonaBadge 7Tate & LizaBadge 8WallacePost-gameAfter StevenRuby7 on the timelineYour gameSeedotMawileZangooseSolrockShiftryGroudonLatiosSapphire7 on the timelineYour gameLotadSableyeSeviperLunatoneLudicoloKyogreLatias
What it changes in your run

Exclusives against every boss

For each battle, these are the exclusives you can have by then that hit at least half the boss’s team super effectively with one of their own types. Level and stone evolutions count up to the boss’s highest level, Groudon and Kyogre count from the seventh badge, and Levitate is factored in.

7of 13 battlesRubyBattles where at least one exclusive has an answer.
8of 13 battlesSapphireOnly Sapphire has an answer for Steven.
BATTLERuby exclusives that helpSapphire exclusives that help
GYM 1 · ROCKRoxanneBoth help
NuzleafGrass hits 2 of 22 of 2
LombreWater hits 2 of 22 of 2
GYM 2 · FIGHTINGBrawlyNeither helps
No exclusive helps here
GYM 3 · ELECTRICWattsonNeither helps
No exclusive helps here
GYM 4 · FIREFlanneryBoth help
SolrockRock hits 3 of 33 of 3
LunatoneRock hits 3 of 33 of 3LombreWater hits 3 of 33 of 3
GYM 5 · NORMALNormanNeither helps
No exclusive helps here
GYM 6 · FLYINGWinonaBoth help
SolrockRock hits 3 of 43 of 4
LunatoneRock hits 3 of 43 of 4
GYM 7 · PSYCHICTate & LizaBoth help
ShiftryGrass hits 2 of 22 of 2MawileSteel hits 2 of 22 of 2
SableyeDark hits 2 of 22 of 2LombreWater hits 2 of 22 of 2
GYM 8 · WATERWallaceBoth help
ShiftryGrass hits 5 of 55 of 5
LudicoloGrass hits 5 of 55 of 5
ELITE FOUR · DARKSidneyNeither helps
No exclusive helps here
ELITE FOUR · GHOSTPhoebeBoth help
ShiftryDark hits 4 of 54 of 5
SableyeDark hits 4 of 54 of 5
ELITE FOUR · ICEGlaciaBoth help
SolrockRock hits 5 of 55 of 5ShiftryGrass hits 3 of 53 of 5
LunatoneRock hits 5 of 55 of 5LudicoloGrass hits 3 of 53 of 5
ELITE FOUR · DRAGONDrakeNeither helps
No exclusive helps here
CHAMPIONStevenEdge: Sapphire
No exclusive helps here
KyogreWater hits 3 of 63 of 6LudicoloWater hits 3 of 63 of 6

Counts use each exclusive’s own types, not its full moveset. The battle pages have the movesets.

Complete your Pokédex

How to Trade Between Ruby and Sapphire

Pick your version to see only the Pokémon you need to trade for. Until then, both lists show.

How to get Sapphire exclusives in Ruby

How to get Ruby exclusives in Sapphire

  • Both players need: a Pokédex; until you have one, the Cable Club stays closed
  • Where: the Cable Club, on the second floor of any Pokémon Center
  • Connect with: a Game Link Cable between two Game Boy Advance systems; Ruby and Sapphire don’t work with the Wireless Adapter

Emerald, FireRed and LeafGreen trade with Ruby and Sapphire over the same cable, and every Ruby and Sapphire exclusive is in the Hoenn Pokédex. FireRed and LeafGreen players first need the National Pokédex and the Network Machine on One Island. Emerald has Seviper and Solrock but not Zangoose or Lunatone, and both Groudon and Kyogre after the Hall of Fame.

Your trade list

Ruby exclusives to trade into Sapphire

Trades 0 of 6Pokédex 0 of 8

Grouped by the point in a Ruby run where your friend can first get each one. Ticks are saved on this device.

Available from the start

SeedotRoute 102, Route 114
NuzleafSeedot Lv 14
ShiftryNuzleaf + Leaf Stone (Route 119, reached by Surf)

Trade for one Seedot and evolve the rest yourself.

Available after Badge 1 (Roxanne)

MawileGranite Cave, Cave of Origin, Victory Road, Sky Pillar

Available after Badge 3 (Wattson)

ZangooseRoute 114
SolrockMeteor Falls

Available after Badge 7 (Tate & Liza)

GroudonCave of Origin

Available after you beat Steven

LatiosRoaming Hoenn

Sapphire exclusives to trade into Ruby

Trades 0 of 6Pokédex 0 of 8

Grouped by the point in a Sapphire run where your friend can first get each one. Ticks are saved on this device.

Available from the start

LotadRoute 102, Route 114
LombreLotad Lv 14
LudicoloLombre + Water Stone (Abandoned Ship hidden floor by Dive, or a Blue Shard for the Route 124 Treasure Hunter)

Trade for one Lotad and evolve the rest yourself.

Available after Badge 1 (Roxanne)

SableyeGranite Cave, Cave of Origin, Victory Road, Sky Pillar

Available after Badge 3 (Wattson)

SeviperRoute 114
LunatoneMeteor Falls

Available after Badge 7 (Tate & Liza)

KyogreCave of Origin

Available after you beat Steven

LatiasRoaming Hoenn
Beyond the Pokémon

Every Difference Between Ruby and Sapphire

Other ways the two versions differ, outside the wild encounters.

What changes in other games

Story legendary

RubyYour version
SapphireYour version
Good to know

Each version’s legendary is also the Pokémon on its box art.

Roaming Eon Pokémon after the Hall of Fame

RubyYour version
SapphireYour version

Orb given at Mt. Pyre

RubyYour version
  • Red OrbWhat it doesAwakens Groudon in the Cave of Origin
SapphireYour version
  • Blue OrbWhat it doesAwakens Kyogre in the Cave of Origin

Lanette’s gift doll (Route 114)

RubyYour version
SapphireYour version

Opening cutscene

RubyYour version
SapphireYour version

Quick differences

Villain teamRubyTeam Magma: Leader Maxie, Admins Tabitha (Mt. Chimney, hideout) and Courtney (Weather Institute, Seafloor Cavern)SapphireTeam Aqua: Leader Archie, Admins Matt (Mt. Chimney, hideout) and Shelly (Weather Institute, Seafloor Cavern)
Weather during the legendary crisisRubyDrought (harsh sunlight)SapphireHeavy rain
Trick House final prize tentRubyRed TentSapphireBlue Tent
Preset namesRubyBoys: Landon, Terry, Seth, Tom. Girls: Terra, Kimmy, Nicola, SaraSapphireBoys: Sean, Terry, Seth, Tom. Girls: Marina, Kimmy, Nicola, Sara
Pokédex entries202 of 386 entries differAll 202 Hoenn Pokédex entries read differently in Ruby and Sapphire; the other 184 of the 386 are the same in both.

Same in both

  • Gym leaders, their towns and badges, and the field move each badge lets you use
  • The Elite Four (Sidney, Phoebe, Glacia and Drake) and Champion Steven
  • Professor Birch, your rival Brendan or May, and the starters Treecko, Torchic and Mudkip
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