The Pokemon series has developed a reputation for inconsistency over the years. However, one aspect of the game where fans have come to expect consistency is within the rosters of new Pokemon introduced in each generation. Game Freak always does a tremendous job of offering new and exciting creatures for players to catch and train. That's not to say that there are never any duds. Every rule has its exceptions. But overall, the Regional Dex of each generation is one of the highlights of the game.
When Gen 3 was introduced on the GameBoy Advance in 2003, it was through Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire, and the Regional Pokedex did not disappoint. Gen 3 gave fans some fantastic new Pokemon and brought back some of the strongest creatures from past generations. However, some are more powerful than others. Here are the strongest Pokemon in the Ruby and Sapphire games, according to their stats.
The Best First Gen Fire Type Pokemon
One of the most popular and powerful types of Pokemon is the classic Fire Type. These are the best Fire Type Pokemon in Generation 1.
Updated July 11, 2024, by Ben Painter: Generation 3 holds a special place in fan's hearts and Ruby & Sapphire kicked off things in 2003. There are some insane Pokemon in those games. It is the only generation to have two pseudo-legendary Pokemon, along with a whole host of Legendary Pokemon for fans to catch and use against some of the hard fights in Hoenn. There are not just Generation 3 Pokemon on this list but Pokemon from the previous two generations that gamers can use during a playthrough of Pokemon Ruby or Sapphire.
27 Altaria
Base Stat Total: 490
- Type: Dragon/Flying
- Where To Find in Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire: Sky Pillar, Evolve from Swablu
Altaria is a Dragon/Flying-type with a defensive focus in its stats. Dragon/Flying offers a healthy amount of resistance at a total of 5 with immunity to Ground, but the combination does come with a scary 4x Ice weakness.
Altaria's abilities aren't particularly amazing, Natural Cure gets rid of status conditions when it's switched out, and Cloud Nine removes the effects of weather conditions, although the actual weather still stays. Altaria's pre-evolution, Swablu, can be found on Routes 114 and 115. But gamers can go ahead and catch Altaria at Sky Pillar, which is only available after the Elite Four.
Altaria's Base Stats:
|
HP: |
75 |
|
Attack: |
70 |
|
Defense |
90 |
|
Sp. Atk: |
70 |
|
Sp. Def: |
105 |
|
Speed: |
80 |
|
Total: |
490 |
26 Exploud
Base Stat Total: 490
- Type: Normal
- Where To Find in Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire: Evolve from Loudred
Exploud is a pure Normal-type Pokemon and a mixed attacker with a high HP stat. As is the tradition of a Normal-type, Exploud has a very wide movepool. It learns good attacking moves ranging from the Normal, Fire, Ice, Electric, Fighting, Ground, Ghost, and Psychic-types.
As for the abilities, they are again not outstanding. Soundproof makes Exploud immune to any sound-based attacks, which can be helpful, but not to an extreme degree. Scrappy allows Exploud to hit Ghost-type Pokemon with Normal moves. This effect is actually not bad, so this is definitely the better of the two abilities. Exploud's base form of Whismur can be found at Route 116 or the Rusturf Tunnel.
Exploud Base Stats:
|
HP: |
104 |
|
Attack: |
91 |
|
Defense |
63 |
|
Sp. Atk: |
91 |
|
Sp. Def: |
63 |
|
Speed: |
68 |
|
Total: |
490 |
25 Armaldo
Base Stat Total: 495
- Type: Rock/Bug
- Where To Find in Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire: Evolve from Anorith
Armaldo and Cradily are the Fossil Pokemon of Generation 3. Armaldo is the more offensively focused one, as it has very high Attack and Defense with poor Speed.
Its type combination of Rock/Bug gives it only two resistances, to Normal and Poison, but it balances this out with just three weaknesses: to Rock, Steel, and Water. It gets Battle Armor and Swift Swim as its abilities. Battle Armor blocks all Critical Hits and Swift Swim doubles Armaldo's Speed stat in the Rain.
Armaldo Base Stats:
|
HP: |
75 |
|
Attack: |
125 |
|
Defense |
100 |
|
Sp. Atk: |
70 |
|
Sp. Def: |
80 |
|
Speed: |
45 |
|
Total: |
495 |
24 Cradily
Base Stat Total: 495
- Type: Rock/Grass
- Where To Find in Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire: Evolve from Lileep
Cradily is one of the best examples of a "difficult to KO" Pokemon. It has middling attacking stats, but good HP, Defense, and Special Defense, at the cost of being very slow. Its unique type combination of Rock/Grass gives it an odd mixture of weaknesses to Ice, Fighting, Steel, and Bug, with two resistances to Normal and Electric. Cradily also learns several moves to increase its lasting power, such as Leech Seed, Ingrain, Giga Drain, and Stockpile.
Finally, Cradily's Abilities are Suction Cups and Storm Drain. Suction Cups prevent Cradily from being switched out for any reason. Useful for keeping your stat changes. Storm Drain not only gives Cradily immunity from Water moves, but it also redirects them in Double Battles and gives it a Special Attack boost whenever it's hit by one.
In Ruby and Sapphire, only 1 of either Cradily or Armaldo can be picked from on Route 111. It is possible to get both in Emerald, but the game must be beaten first.
Cradily Base Stats:
|
HP: |
86 |
|
Attack: |
81 |
|
Defense |
97 |
|
Sp. Atk: |
81 |
|
Sp. Def: |
107 |
|
Speed: |
43 |
|
Total: |
495 |
23 Claydol
Base Stat Total: 500
- Type: Ground/Psychic
- Where To Find in Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire: Sky Pillar, Evolve from Baltoy
Claydol is a Ground/Psychic-type Pokemon with very high defensive stats and average offensive ones. Ground/Psychic is very a "give and take" combination, as it comes with six weaknesses, but with four resistances and two immunity.
In addition, Claydol's only ability is Levitate, giving it another immunity to Ground. Claydol makes for a good Reflect and Light Screen setter thanks to its defenses, not only increasing the survivability of itself but its combat partners also. Claydol's first form of Baltoy can be found on Route 111.
Claydol Base Stats:
|
HP: |
60 |
|
Attack: |
70 |
|
Defense |
105 |
|
Sp. Atk: |
70 |
|
Sp. Def: |
120 |
|
Speed: |
75 |
|
Total: |
500 |
22 Wailord
Base Stat Total: 500
- Type: Water
- Where To Find in Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire: Route 129 (Surfing)
Wailord is a pure Water-type Pokemon. It has tremendous HP, and solid attacking stats, but poor defenses and Speed. Pure Water is a very good type, as it comes with only two weaknesses and four resistances. Wailord has 3 abilities; Water Veil, Oblivious, and Pressure.
Best Offensive Pokemon Of Each Type
For those looking to prioritize strength in the world of Pokemon, these are the best offensive Pokemon of each type.
To start off, Pressure isn't very helpful. All it does is make its opponent use two Power Points (PP) instead of one when they attack. Water Veil prevents Wailord from getting a burn, useful for allowing it to keep using its Physical moves at full power. Oblivious blocks Infatuation, Intimidate, and Taunt, which are all useful effects to avoid. Wild Wailmer can be found just about anywhere there is water via fishing.
Wailord Base Stats:
|
HP: |
170 |
|
Attack: |
90 |
|
Defense |
45 |
|
Sp. Atk: |
90 |
|
Sp. Def: |
45 |
|
Speed: |
60 |
|
Total: |
500 |
21 Tentacruel
Base Stat Total: 515
- Type: Water/Poison
- Where To Find in Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire: Abandoned Ship (surfing and Super Rod)
Created in Generation 1, Tentacruel is a Water/Poison-type Pokemon that has a base stat total of 515. It has exceptionally high Speed and Special Defense stats, which complement its amazing defensive-type combination. This combines to make Tentacruel a tough opponent, as it can take a ton of Special Attack hits with little to no issues. Tentacruel is a very strong Pokemon despite how common it is, and makes a great addition to almost any lineup.
Tentacruel can be found by surfing or using the Super Rod in the Abandoned Ship, but its pre-evolution Tentacool can be found basically anywhere there's water, using surfing or fishing.
Tentacruel Base Stats:
|
HP: |
80 |
|
Attack: |
70 |
|
Defense |
65 |
|
Sp. Atk: |
80 |
|
Sp. Def: |
120 |
|
Speed: |
100 |
|
Total: |
515 |
20 Gardevoir
Base Stat Total: 518
- Type: Psychic (Psychic/Fairy from Generation 6)
- Where To Find in Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire: Evolve Kirlia
Introduced in Generation 3, Gardevoir is a pure Psychic-type Pokemon with a base stat total of 518. It is decently fast with amazing Special Attack and Defense, making it quite a heavy hitter. It is a very difficult Pokemon to use in Ruby and Sapphire, as it can only be found on one route in its earliest evolution, and its encounter rate is very low. On top of that, the line is incredibly weak until it hits the Gardevoir evolution at level 30. Your time is far from wasted though, as Gardevoir is a solid Pokemon.
The only way to get a Gardevoir is to fully evolve its base form, Ralts, which only shows up on Route 102 in the grass. It only spawns 4% of the time, making catching one quite the hunt.
Gardevoir Base Stats:
|
HP: |
68 |
|
Attack: |
65 |
|
Defense |
65 |
|
Sp. Atk: |
125 |
|
Sp. Def: |
115 |
|
Speed: |
80 |
|
Total: |
518 |
19 Flygon
Base Stat Total: 520
- Type: Ground/Dragon
- Where To Find in Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire: Evolve Vibrava
Flygon is a Ground/Dragon-type Pokemon with a base stat total of 520. The stats are balanced overall, excluding its physical Attack and Speed, which are a lot higher than the rest. Ground/Dragon is an excellent type combination offensively, but this does come at the cost of Flygon not being the easiest Pokemon to use.
15 Johto Pokemon With The Wrong Type
These Pokemon from the Johto region have some truly bizarre typing, despite their designs clearly suggesting a sensible type that would suit them.
It doesn't become its final form until level 45, and the second evolution of this line, Vibrava, is middling compared to the base and final forms, so it is a hurdle you have to surmount. Flygon is only usable by fully evolving a Trapinch, which can be found on Route 111 35% of the time. If playing the Emerald version specifically, it can also show up in the Mirage Tower with a 50% spawn rate.
Flygon Base Stats:
|
HP: |
80 |
|
Attack: |
100 |
|
Defense |
80 |
|
Sp. Atk: |
80 |
|
Sp. Def: |
80 |
|
Speed: |
100 |
|
Total: |
520 |
18 Aggron
Base Stat Total: 530
- Type: Steel/Rock
- Where To Find in Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire: Evolve Lairon
The Iron Armor Pokemon, Aggron is a Steel/Rock-type, with a base stat total of 530, with a physical focus. Aggron excels in defense and attack. It can hit hard but also take attacks well. This comes in handy as this Pokemon has two 4x weaknesses to both Ground and Fighting. Being Steel-type it has a lot of resistances, seven in Generation 3.
Both pre-evolutions of Aggron can be found at Victory Road, although it's not recommended to catch them there due to how late in the game that location is. It's better to catch an Aron in Granite Cave and evolve it from there. It can be found early on but will need to be level 42 to reach its final form.
Aggron Base Stats:
|
HP: |
70 |
|
Attack: |
110 |
|
Defense |
180 |
|
Sp. Atk: |
60 |
|
Sp. Def: |
60 |
|
Speed: |
50 |
|
Total: |
530 |