Roark
| Roark ヒョウタ Hyouta | |
| "Call me Roark the Rock!" | |
 Art from Diamond and Pearl | |
| Gender | Male |
|---|---|
| Eye color | Cordovan |
| Hair color | Cordovan |
| Hometown | Oreburgh City |
| Region | Sinnoh |
| Relatives | Byron (father), Underground Man (grandfather), Unnamed mother (anime) |
| Trainer class | Gym LeaderDPPt Pokémon TrainerB2W2 |
| Generation | IV, V |
| Games | Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum Black 2 and White 2, Masters |
| Leader of | Oreburgh Gym |
| Badge | Coal Badge |
| Specializes in | Rock types |
| Anime debut | Shapes of Things to Come! |
| English voice actor | Craig Blair Zoe Martin (child) |
| Japanese voice actor | Masataka Azuma Satsuki Yukino (child) |
Roark (Japanese: ヒョウタ Hyouta) is the Gym Leader of Oreburgh City's Gym, known officially as the Oreburgh Gym. He hands out the Coal Badge to Trainers who defeat him. He specializes in Rock-type Pokémon. He is Byron's son and the grandson of the Underground Man.
In the games
Roark's team is made up entirely of Rock-type Pokémon. After he is defeated, he will give the player the Coal Badge and TM76 (Stealth Rock); the Badge gives the player the ability to use Rock Smash outside of battle. Roark, as the Oreburgh Mine's safety supervisor, lets the Trainers of Oreburgh train in the mines. Despite his young age, he keeps the mine running safely and efficiently. After losing, he feels embarrassed that his Cranidos lost to a Trainer without any Badges and cautions the protagonist that the following leaders are a lot tougher. Roark later appears in the Underground, welcoming the player on their first visit there, and explaining a handful of features of the area. Like the other Gym Leaders, he can be fought again at the Battleground in Platinum Version.
As a child, Roark spent a significant amount of time playing on Iron Island.
Apparently, Riley was considered for position of Oreburgh Gym Leader first, but he declined and suggested Roark for the position, and Roark was instead instated.
Pokémon
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl
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Pokémon Platinum
Gym battle
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Rematch
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Pokémon Black 2 and White 2
Pokémon World Tournament
Roark uses three of these Pokémon in Single Battles, four in Double and Rotation Battles, and all six in Triple Battles. He will always lead with his signature Pokémon, Rampardos.
Sinnoh Leaders Tournament
Type Expert/World Leaders Tournament
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Quotes
Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum
- Oreburgh Mine
- "OK, stand back and watch this. Using the hidden move Rock Smash, a boulder blocking your way..."
- "Fallen boulders need to be smashed so they're out of the way. If you could get the Badge from the Gym in town, you'd be able to do this too. Of course, you'd have to beat the Gym Leader first. That'd be me!"
- Before battle
- "Welcome! This is the Oreburgh Pokémon Gym! I'm Roark, the Gym Leader! I'm but one Trainer who decided to walk proudly with Rock-type Pokémon! As the Gym Leader, I need to see your potential as a Trainer. And, I'll need to see the toughness of the Pokémon that battle with you!"
- After the opponent sends out their last Pokémon
- "Think you can take down the next Pokémon like you did earlier?"
- When the opponent's last Pokémon is at critical health
- "No way! Not yet! Not giving up!"
- Upon being defeated
- "W-what? That can't be! My buffed-up Pokémon!"
- After being defeated
- "This is embarrassing... I went and lost to a Trainer who didn't have a single Gym Badge... But that's tough. You were strong, and I was weak. That's all there is. According to Pokémon League rules, I have to give you our Gym Badge since you've beaten me, the Leader. Here's your official Pokémon League Coal Badge."
- "Having that Coal Badge means your Pokémon can now use the hidden move Rock Smash outside of battle. You should also take this, too."
- "That TM76 contains the move Stealth Rock. It's a move that inflicts damage on foes that switch into battle. Incidentally, a TM will teach its move to a Pokémon instantly. But a TM will break when you use it, so make certain you want a Pokémon to learn that move."
- If talked to again
- "In this region of Sinnoh, there are seven other Gym Leaders. I should warn you — they're a lot tougher than I am!"
- The Underground
- "Hey! <Player>! Is this maybe your first time here? Welcome to Sinnoh's Underground! Huh? Where is this, you ask? Doesn't the Radar make it obvious? This is a giant underground network of passages underneath Sinnoh. Huh? What am I doing down in this expanse of a place? That's kind of hard to answer. I mean, you can do pretty much anything you want down here. For instance, you can dig up Treasure, Spheres, and make a Secret Base. You can play with your friends down here, too. You should talk to the Underground Man in Eterna City. I have to get going now. I'll see you around!"
- Resort AreaPt
- "Hi! Could I take a peek inside your Villa?"
- Yes: "Thanks!"
- No: "...Oh, sorry. Am I intruding on something?"
- Any of the following
- "The Underground extends even underneath the Resort Area. I wonder... If I really tried, would I be able to extend it to even places like Kanto and Johto?"
- "If it were me, I would display the things I dig up. You know, from places like the mine and the Underground. I would turn the place into my personal museum."
- "If it were me, I'd like to put a Fossil over there. You don't think so? No? I think a Fossil would match this decor."
- "This place feels different from an underground Secret Base. That reminds me: what color is your underground Flag now?"
- "What I think about while digging underground... What did the Pokémon see before they became Fossils? I'd love to go back and see them as they were back then."
If Byron is not at the Battleground
- Before battle
- "Would you like to battle? You'll get to see a different me than you saw at my Gym."
- When the opponent's last Pokémon is at critical health
- "No way! Not yet! Not giving up!"
- Upon being defeated
- "W-what? That can't be! My buffed-up Pokémon!"
- After being defeated
- "Pokémon from ancient times... Fossils that are yet to be discovered... I wonder if I can find new Fossils if I dig all over Sinnoh?"
If Byron is also at the Battleground
- Before battle
- "I went down to the Underground every day. I toughened up my Pokémon by digging up Fossils nonstop. Could I show you how tough I made them in a battle?"
- Yes: "Here goes! These are my rocking Pokémon, my pride and joy!"
- No: "This is another topic, but you know those Spheres you can dig up? Yes, those Spheres. The ones in the Underground. Why do you suppose Spheres grow if you leave them buried? It's not a huge issue or anything, but doesn't it strike you as odd?"
- If talked to again after the player answered "No": "Look, can I have some time? I feel lucky to have run into you here, so can I challenge you to a battle?"
- When the opponent's last Pokémon is at critical health
- "No way! Not yet! Not giving up!"
- Upon being defeated
- "W-what? That can't be! My buffed-up Pokémon!"
- After being defeated
- "When I became a Gym Leader, I finally realized how great my dad is. Not that I'd ever admit that to him, of course."
- If talked to again
- "...We lost control there. Next time I'd like to challenge you to a Fossil-digging race underground."
Pokémon Black 2 and White 2
- Before battle (first round)
- "I need to see your potential as a Trainer. And, I'll need to see the toughness of the Pokémon that battle with you!"
- Before battle (second round)
- "Every day, I toughened myself up by digging up Fossils nonstop. Could I show you how tough I am in a battle?"
- Before battle (final round)
- "Here goes! This'll be a rocking battle!"
- Upon being defeated
- "Wh-what? That can't be! My buffed-up Pokémon!"
- If the player is defeated
- "See? I'm proud of my rocking battle style!"
- After battle (if the player won)
- "...We lost control there. Next time, I'd like to challenge you to Fossil-digging race underground in the Sinnoh region."
- After battle (if the player lost)
- "Thanks! The battle gave me confidence that I may be able to beat my dad!"
- In the lobby (after the tournament)
- "With skill like yours, it's natural for you to win. Still, wasn't it hard to train Pokémon that much? By the way, are there any Fossils in Nacrene City's museum?"
Sprites
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| Sprite from Diamond and Pearl |
Sprite from Platinum |
Sprite from Black 2 and White 2 |
VS sprite from Platinum |
Model from Masters |
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File:Badge Case Roark.png | 
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| Overworld sprite from Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum |
Overworld sprite from Black 2 and White 2 |
Sprite from the Badge Case | VS Model from Masters | |
In the anime
Roark is the Oreburgh City Gym Leader as well as the foreman of the Oreburgh Mine and the chief of Ancient Pokémon Expedition Operations.
Roark first appeared in Shapes of Things to Come!, in which he was seen excavating for buried fossils at the Oreburgh Mine. He later battled Paul, during which he demonstrated his strong abilities, even beating Paul's Azumarill with his Geodude. However, his powerhouse, Cranidos, was not powerful enough to defeat Elekid. With this victory, Paul earned the Coal Badge from Roark.
Following his defeat, Roark recovered and battled Ash the following day in A Gruff Act to Follow!. Roark's Cranidos quickly knocked out Aipom, Ash was later forced to recall Pikachu as well, but Turtwig’s super effective Razor Leaf attacks led to Cranidos's defeat. Onix made quick work of Turtwig in the next round, then its Screech attack knocked Pikachu out and Ash was left defeated.
In Wild in the Streets!, Roark used Cranidos to confront a wild Aerodactyl which had been released into Oreburgh City by Team Rocket. While Dawn had her Piplup and Buneary pin Aerodactyl to the ground, Cranidos later evolved into Rampardos and sent Team Rocket blasting off.
In O'er the Rampardos we Watched, Ash challenged Roark in a rematch. Onix and Geodude were defeated by Ash's Pikachu and Aipom respectively. His powerhouse Rampardos battled against Ash's whole team, but it was knocked out by Turtwig. Being the victor, Ash earned his first Sinnoh League Badge, the Coal Badge.
He reappeared in Ancient Family Matters!, where he confronted his father Byron in Canalave City over some family tensions. Roark revealed that his father left the Oreburgh Gym to him after he was requested to take over the Canalave Gym. Roark was shocked and saddened by his father's sudden departure, thinking that he didn't care what happened to him or his mother. The pair argued over who loved fossils the most, and it escalated into a battle. Byron's Bastiodon and Roark's Rampardos were evenly matched, but the battle was interrupted after Team Rocket set off alarms when they stole Byron's fossil collection. The father and son duo joined forces to defeat Team Rocket, and Pikachu sent Team Rocket blasting off. Later, Byron revealed that he had always treasured a fossil of a Sunkern's leaf that Roark had given to him as a child ten years earlier, and Roark accepted that his father did care about him all along.
In Dealing With Defensive Types!, he was the referee for Ash's Gym battle against Byron.
Roark made a cameo appearance during the ending credits of Zoroark: Master of Illusions.
Character
Roark is a compassionate individual who often complements his challengers on their strategies during a Gym battle. Roark is ambitious, but he puts a lot of pressure on himself to perform his best in his leading roles at the Oreburgh Mines and as Gym Leader. He also shares his father Byron's enthusiasm for fossil Pokémon, and has deep interests in investigating the past.
Roark has trained his Pokemon to be fast and relentless in battle. While his style of battle is largely offense based, his defense strategies however are much like his father. He utilizes his Pokémon's Abilities to combat status condition ailments and negate damage, while the move Stealth Rock causes damage to any of the opponent's substituted Pokémon before the round begins.
Pokémon
This listing is of Roark's known Pokémon in the anime:
| Debut | Shapes of Things to Come! |
|---|---|
| Voice actors | |
| Japanese | Shin'ichirō Miki |
| English | Michael Haigney |
Geodude was the first Pokémon Roark used against Paul. It first battled Paul's Azumarill, and despite being at a major disadvantage, it defeated the Aqua Rabbit Pokémon as if it were nothing. Geodude then went up against Elekid, and this time it had a type advantage, but it was defeated by a single super effective Brick Break attack. It was also used as the second Pokémon in Ash's rematch and faced Aipom. Although it put up a good fight, Aipom's speed and agility turned out to be too much for Geodude, causing it to be defeated by her powerful Focus Punch.
Geodude's known moves are Hidden Power, Rollout, and Seismic Toss.
| Debut | Shapes of Things to Come! |
|---|---|
| Voice actors | |
| Japanese | Unshō Ishizuka |
| English | Unshō Ishizuka |
- Main article: Roark's Onix
The powerhouse of Roark's team, Onix was used as Roark's second Pokémon during his match against Paul. It first went up against Elekid and while it was able to weaken it, Onix was struck by Elekid's Static and was paralyzed, allowing it to be defeated by Chimchar. Onix was also used during Roark's first match against Ash and easily won the battle, knocking out an already exhausted Turtwig and Pikachu. During the rematch, Pikachu made up for his loss and defeated Onix with Iron Tail.
It reappeared in a flashback in Dealing With Defensive Types!.
| Debut | Shapes of Things to Come! |
|---|---|
| Voice actors | |
| Japanese | Kenta Miyake |
| English | Kenta Miyake |
- Main article: Roark's Rampardos
Rampardos is Roark's main Pokémon. It first appeared as a Cranidos. It was used to battle Paul, but lost. Then, against Ash, it won. It's rock hard head and incredible speed make it a difficult opponent, and it was shown to be able to launch itself into the air making it also good against Flying Pokémon. While battling Team Rocket, it evolved into Rampardos. In the rematch, Rampardos defeated Ash's Aipom followed by Pikachu, and it almost defeated Turtwig, but Turtwig managed to win.
It reappeared in Ancient Family Matters!, where it battled against Byron's Bastiodon.
Voice actors
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In the manga
In the Pokémon Adventures manga
Roark first appears arriving in Oreburgh City after exploring the underground with the Underground Man at Eterna City and speaking with his father, Byron, at Canalave City. He meets Platinum, a new Trainer who wishes to challenge and sets up a match for the next day.
The next day, Platinum challenges the Oreburgh Gym for their match. After getting through the Trainers inside, she faces Roark in an official Gym battle. In the match, Roark's Cranidos proves to be a powerful opponent for Platinum's Piplup, but the match eventually ends in Platinum's favor. Defeated, Roark awards Platinum with her first Badge, the Coal Badge. Later, he talks with Byron over the phone about his recent loss to Platinum and they begin talking about another subject.
Later, it is revealed that the aforementioned subject was about a mysterious group that had been going in and out of Canalave to read ancient texts at the library. With the recent disappearance of two scientists, Roark worries that his father would start jumping to conclusions about the littlest things. Later, when Byron is forced to find her, Maylene, and Platinum someone to train them so they can confront Team Galactic, he considers Roark at first but soon changes his mind to Volkner.
Later, Roark, along with Fantina and Gardenia, faces the Team Galactic Commanders on the Spear Pillar. After Candice, Maylene, Byron, and Crasher Wake join the fight, Roark and Fantina team up to face Saturn. Eventually, they emerge victorious and attempt to fight Cyrus before he can finish his ritual. Due to a rift in space-time, they are forced to use the Sinnoh Underground to get to Cyrus, but they manage to come up right at the exact spot he was in.
All the Gym Leaders attempt to stop Cyrus's plan by breaking one of his Red Chains. Though a difficult struggle, they manage to succeed, but they bring upon Cyrus's wrath in the process and are defeated.
After the final battle with Cyrus ends, Roark and the other Gym Leaders are taken to a hospital due to their heavy injuries.
Pokémon
This listing is of Roark's Pokémon in the Pokémon Adventures manga.
- Main article: Roark's Rampardos
Roark received Rampardos when it was an Egg prior to its debut and it eventually hatched into a Cranidos. Roark used it during Platinum's first Gym challenge. It was able to weaken her Piplup with Shock Wave as Roark was aware of the type disadvantage his Pokémon had with Water types. However, even with its Double Team it was defeated by the Penguin Pokémon's Water Pulse which confused it and it knocked itself out.
In Brash Bronzong I, Cranidos evolved into a Rampardos.
Roark used his Onix during Platinum's Gym battle after switching out Cranidos. It was able to defeat Platinum's Ponyta but lost to her Piplup despite being hit by the effect of Stealth Rock.
Onix's known moves are Double-Edge, Stealth Rock, and Slam, and its Ability is Rock Head.
In the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure! manga
Roark first appeared in Oreburgh City after Hareta had been kidnapped by Galactic Grunts, defeating them with his Cranidos. Afterwards Hareta challenged him to a Gym battle. Using a combination of Bide, Bubble Beam and the Oran Berry Roark had given him, Hareta managed to defeat Roark and earn the Coal Badge.
Pokémon
- Main article: Roark's Cranidos
Roark's Cranidos was used to rescue Hareta after he was tied up by Wurmple's String Shot. Then, he used it in Hareta's Gym battle and lost to his Piplup with the help of an Oran Berry Roark gave earlier.
Geodude appeared in a flashback where it tried to comfort Roark when he was young after Byron pushed him too hard to become a Gym Leader.
None of Geodude's moves are known.
In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga
Roark made an appearance in PMDP07 of the Pocket Monsters DP manga.
Pokémon
 Cranidos |
In the TCG
This listing is of cards mentioning or featuring Roark or his Pokémon in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
| Roark's Pokémon Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format. Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats. | |||||||
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| Card | Type | English Expansion |
Rarity | # | Japanese Expansion |
Rarity | # |
Rampardos 
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Rising Rivals | 
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11/111 | Bonds to the End of Time |
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051/090 |
| Aerodactyl
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Rising Rivals | 
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55/111 | Bonds to the End of Time | 
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049/090 |
Trivia
- His Japanese Leader title is ザ・ロックと いわれた おとこ.
- Roark is the third Gym Leader encountered first in the region that uses Rock-type Pokémon, the other two being Brock and Roxanne.
- He and his father's Badges are references to the term Coal Mine. Plus, they both have mines in or near their respective town (Oreburgh Mine and Iron Island, which was once a mine).
- He is the only Sinnoh Gym Leader not to use any fully evolved Pokémon in his Gym battle in the games.
- He is also the only Sinnoh Gym Leader whose Pokémon do not change in the slightest between Diamond and Pearl and Platinum.
- He is the only Gym Leader to have a parent that is a Gym Leader in the same region at the same time.
Names
| Language | Name | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ヒョウタ Hyouta | From 瓢箪 hyōtan (calabash gourd), matching with his father Tougan who is named after the wax gourd |
| English | Roark | From rock and ore |
| German | Veit | From Eveit (eveite), a mineral isostructural with adamite which matches his father's German name Adam |
| Spanish | Roco | From roca (rock) |
| French | Pierrick | From pierre (stone) |
| Italian | Pedro | From pietra (stone) |
| Korean | 강석 Gangseok | From 강 (强) gang (strong) and 석 (石) seok (rock) or 광석 (礦石) gwangseok (ore) |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 瓢太 Piáotài | From the Japanese name 瓢太 Hyōta. Shares the character 瓜 with his father's name 東瓜. |
| Chinese (Cantonese) | 瓢太 Pìuhtaai | |
| Russian | Рорк Rork | Transcription of his English name |
| Vietnamese | Hyota | Transcription of his Japanese name |
Related articles
References
- Pokémon.com Shapes of Things to Come!
- Pokémon.com A Gruff Act to Follow!
- Pokémon.com Wild in the Streets!
- Pokémon.com O'er The Rampardos We Watched!
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This game character article is part of Project CharacterDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each character found in the Pokémon games. |
