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Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald Version Exclusives

Every paired game release in Pokémon history has had version-exclusive Pokémon. Version-exclusive Pokémon cannot be found in every game in a 'set' of games, requiring the player to trade with players with other games in the set to complete their Pokédex. This page lists the version-exclusive Pokémon in Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, and makes note of some other version-specific Pokémon attributes.

Species

Several species of Pokémon are altogether unavailable without trading with other games. This list shows which Pokémon are only available in some (but not all) of Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald. This does not include Pokémon that evolve via trade, even though they are technically "unavailable without trading".

Paired version exclusives

With the initial paired versions of a set of Pokémon games, it is usually the case that there are 'paired Pokémon' that are available in the same areas between the two games, but one Pokémon in the pair is exclusive to one game and the other is exclusive to the other game. The table below shows the paired Pokémon in Ruby and Sapphire, and indicates also if they are available in Emerald.

Although, normally, Latios is only obtainable in Ruby and Latias in Sapphire, the other one of the two can be obtained on Southern Island with the use of the Eon Ticket item, accessible either from an e-Reader event in 2003 or by mixing records with a copy of Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald that has access to Southern Island.

Paired Species (Ruby)		Paired Species (Sapphire)		Emerald
	Seedot		Lotad	Seedot, Lotad
	Nuzleaf		Lombre	Nuzleaf, Lombre
	Shiftry		Ludicolo	Shiftry, Ludicolo
	Mawile		Sableye	Mawile, Sableye
	Zangoose		Seviper	Seviper
	Solrock		Lunatone	Solrock
	Latios		Latias	Latios, Latias
	Groudon		Kyogre	Groudon, Kyogre

Missing Pokémon in Emerald

In addition to the above-listed version exclusives, several Pokémon are missing from Emerald altogether without trading. These Pokémon are:

• Surskit and Masquerain
• Meditite and Medicham
• Roselia

National Pokédex Pokémon in Emerald

After defeating the Elite Four in Emerald, the player can get access to several new areas that did not exist in Ruby and Sapphire which give the player access to a variety of National Pokédex Pokémon. These Pokémon are:

• Meowth and Persian
• Ditto
• Hoothoot and Noctowl
• Ledyba and Ledian
• Spinarak and Ariados
• Mareep, Flaaffy, and Ampharos
• Sudowoodo
• Aipom
• Sunkern and Sunflora
• Wooper and Quagsire
• Pineco and Forretress
• Gligar
• Snubbull and Granbull
• Shuckle
• Teddiursa and Ursaring
• Remoraid and Octillery
• Houndour and Houndoom
• Stantler
• Smeargle
• Miltank

With access to the event-exclusive Auroraticket, Mysticticket, and Old Sea Map items, Emerald players can also access Deoxys, Lugia, Ho-Oh, and Mew, which cannot be caught in the wild in Ruby and Sapphire.

Deoxys

Deoxys' Forme depends on the game it is in. In Ruby and Sapphire, it will always be Normal Forme, and in Emerald, it will always be Speed Forme.

Encounter Methods

Several Pokémon may be available in all games, but have different encounter methods depending on the game. The full list is shown below.

Pokémon		Games			Encounter Methods
	Seedot	R	S	E	Walking
		R	S	E	Walking, In-Game Trade
	Makuhita	R	S	E	Walking, In-Game Trade
		R	S	E	Walking
	Goldeen	R	S	E	Fishing
		R	S	E	Surfing, Fishing
	Graveler	R	S	E	Rock Smash
		R	S	E	Walking, Rock Smash
	Skitty	R	S	E	Walking, In-Game Trade
		R	S	E	Walking
	Plusle	R	S	E	Walking
		R	S	E	Walking, In-Game Trade
	Corsola	R	S	E	Fishing, In-Game Trade
		R	S	E	Fishing
	Horsea	R	S	E	Fishing
		R	S	E	Fishing, In-Game Trade

Version-Preferred Species

Several Pokémon may be available in multiple games, but have different encounter rates or locations that cause them to become more common in one game than another. Those Pokémon are listed here, though only with the wild locations that are subject to this preferential treatment.

Pokémon		Games			Encounter Methods
	Zigzagoon	R	S	E	Walking: Routes 101 (45%), 102 (30%), 103 (60%), 104, 110, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, and 123, Petalburg Woods
		R	S	E	Walking: Routes 101 (10%), 102 (15%), 103 (20%), 118, and 119
	Poochyena	R	S	E	Walking: Routes 101 (10%), 102 (15%), and 103 (30%)
		R	S	E	Walking: Routes 101 (45%), 102 (30%), 103 (60%), 104, 110, 116, 117, 120, 121, and 123, Petalburg Woods
	Linoone	R	S	E	Walking: Routes 118, 119, 120, 121, and 123
		R	S	E	Walking: Routes 118 and 119
	Mightyena	R	S	E	Walking: Routes 120, 121, and 123
	Seedot	R	S	E	Walking: Routes 102 (20%) and 114 (30%)
		R	S	E	Walking: Routes 102 (1%), 117 (1%), and 120 (1%)
	Lotad	R	S	E	Walking: Routes 102 (20%) and 114 (30%)
	Nuzleaf	R	S	E	Walking: Route 114 (10%)
		R	S	E	Walking: Route 114 (1%)
	Lombre	R	S	E	Walking: Route 114 (10%)
		R	S	E	Walking: Route 114 (20%)
	Minun	R	S	E	Walking: Route 110 (15%)
		R	S	E	Walking: Route 110 (2%)
	Plusle	R	S	E	Walking: Route 110 (2%)
		R	S	E	Walking: Route 110 (15%)
	Illumise	R	S	E	Walking: Route 117 (18%)
		R	S	E	Walking: Route 117 (1%)
	Volbeat	R	S	E	Walking: Route 117 (1%)
		R	S	E	Walking: Route 117 (18%)
	Duskull	R	S	E	Walking: Routes 121 and 123, Mt. Pyre Inside 1F, 2F, and 3F, Inside 4F, 5F, and 6F (90%), Outside, and Summit (85%)
		R	S	E	Walking: Mt. Pyre Inside 4F, 5F, and 6F (10%) and Summit (13%)
	Shuppet	R	S	E	Walking: Mt. Pyre Inside 4F, 5F, and 6F (10%) and Summit (13%)
		R	S	E	Walking: Routes 121 and 123, Mt. Pyre Inside 1F, 2F, and 3F, Inside 4F, 5F, and 6F (90%), Outside, and Summit (85%)
	Mawile	R	S	E	Walking: Granite Cave B1F and B2F, Cave of Origin 1F, B1F, B2F, and B3F, Sky Pillar 1F, 3F, and 5F, Victory Road B2F (35%)
		R	S	E	Walking: Victory Road B1F and B2F (5%)
	Sableye	R	S	E	Walking: Granite Cave B1F (10%) and B2F (20%), Cave of Origin 1F, B1F, B2F, and B3F (30%), Sky Pillar 1F, 3F, and 5F (30%), Victory Road B2F (35%)
	Koffing	R	S	E	Walking: Fiery Path (25%)
		R	S	E	Walking: Fiery Path (2%)
	Grimer	R	S	E	Walking: Fiery Path (2%)
		R	S	E	Walking: Fiery Path (25%)

Evolutions

Some evolutions of Pokémon can only be obtained in the wild, in an in-game trade, via purchase, or via static encounter in some of Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald. This list shows which Pokémon are limited. The player can of course always evolve their pre-evolved form, so these Pokémon are not completely inaccessible.

Pokémon		Games			Encounter Methods
	Mightyena	R	S	E	Walking: Routes 120, 121, and 123
	Banette	R	S	E	Walking: Sky Pillar 1F, 3F, and 5F
	Dusclops	R	S	E	Walking: Sky Pillar 1F, 3F, and 5F