Sootopolis City (Japanese: ルネシティRune City) is a city located off the eastern mainland of Hoenn.
Sootopolis City is located inside a crater formed by a volcano. Many years ago, an underwater volcano erupted and forced itself up from the depths creating a crater, the hollowed volcano. Its crater emerged from the sea and became filled with rainwater. People soon began to dwell in the crater for its warm, fresh water and a city soon came forth. To get around the city, people have to climb many flights of stairs and Dive under the sea. This made many of the locals get into good shape. Sootopolis City has a fantastic nighttime view. The stars peer in through the top of the crater.
Sootopolis City plays a major part in the games, as it is the location where the player has their first encounter with a legendary Pokémon, and obtains their final Badge.
In the Pokémon games, Sootopolis City can only be reached by diving through an underwater cavern or by Flying. Sootopolis is surrounded by Route 126.
Barboach and Shroomish can be shown to a pair of residents, who will calculate their size and reward prizes of Ethers and Elixirs accordingly. In Pokémon Emerald, they will calculate the sizes of Seedot and Lotad instead.
Wallace was the Gym Leader in this city. He uses Water-type Pokémon, and is the one who handed out the eighth Gym Badge of Hoenn. However, his former teacher Juan resumed his role as the Gym Leader in Pokémon Emerald, with the student moving on to become Champion of the Hoenn League and replacing Steven from previous versions.
Demographics
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire
In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, the population of Sootopolis City is 39. This is a large population considering the city being settled inside a dormant volcano and its isolation from the other Hoenn cities.
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.
Sootopolis City appears to be based on the Greekisland of Santorini, also known as Thera.
The background music used in this city is a remix of music from Pokémon Pinball, specifically that which plays during the "Name Entry" screen.
In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, if the player goes to the highest house on the right side of the city (the side with the Pokémon Center), stands on the stairs outside, and hits the "left" direction on the d-pad, it is possible to use a glitch to walk on part of the rock wall. This was corrected in Pokémon Emerald.
This is the only city in the Pokémon world which requires the use of Dive in order to be reached for the first time.
Junichi Masuda named an NPC in Sootopolis after his then new-born daughter, Kiri.
Sootopolis City is the most recent place where Groudon and Kyogre have battled each other in the wild.
In addition, it is the last location where the weather trio met at once.
As of Generation V, Sootopolis City is the only city or town located in the middle of a single route, and also surrounded completely by one.
Name origin
Language
Name
Origin
Japanese
ルネシティ Rune City
Possibly from ルネサンス, Renaissance. Can also be derived from 流 ru (flow), 琉璃 ruri (lapis lazuli or its blue color), and 熱 netsu (heat).
English
Sootopolis City
From soot, which is expelled when a volcano erupts, and polis, Greek for city.
French
Atalanopolis
Possibly from Atlantis and polis, Greek for city. May also be derived from Vanessa atalanta, whose French name (Vulcain) is derived from volcano.
German
Xeneroville
Possibly from xeno- (foreign), cenere (Italian for ash), or nero (Italian for black) and ville.
Italian
Ceneride
From cenere, ash.
Spanish
Arrecípolis
From arrecife, coral reef, and polis, Greek for city.
Korean
루네시티 Rune City
Same as the Japanese name.
Chinese (Mandarin)
琉璃市 Liúlí Shì
Means "Colored glaze city". Alternatively, it can also mean "glass city".
