Petalburg City (Japanese: トウカシティTouka City) is located in southwestern Hoenn. Despite Petalburg being the first city with a Gym, the Gym is not accessible until after obtaining four Badges. Norman, the father of the players, is also the Petalburg Gym Leader.
When a player first arrives at this city and talks to Norman, a boy named Wally will come in asking for help to catch a Pokémon. Using Zigzagoon, a Pokémon Norman lends, and the player's support, Wally catches his first Pokémon: a Ralts. The Pokémon Center has a man near the PC who will let players put key words on their Trainer Cards.
Wally's house is located in the west section of the town, next door to the Gym. Wally, the main rival of Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald, and his family live here. After defeating Petalburg Gym, Wally's family will give the player HM03 (Surf).
The Petalburg Gym is the official Gym of Petalburg City. It is based on Normal-typePokémon. The Gym Leader is Norman. Norman is the father of the player in Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald. He uses Normal-type Pokémon and gives out the Balance Badge. Between the entrance and Gym Leader Norman are a series of rooms, each containing a Trainer. The Trainers have special ways to battle, as displayed on the doors leading to their rooms. They include One-Hit KO Room, Accuracy Room, Attack Room, Defense Room, Speed Room, and Recovery Room. Once three rooms in a row are completed, they can access the Gym Leader Room with Norman. When defeated, Norman will give the player the Balance Badge as well as TM42 (Facade) as a reward.
Demographics
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire
In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire the population of Petalburg City is 30. Compared to other Hoenn towns and cities Petalburg City is an average-sized city.
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.
Ash and May first arrived there in There's no Place Like Hoenn. After meeting up with May's family and Ash having a unofficial battle with Norman that ended in a loss, they left together with May's brother, Max. They returned to Petalburg City in Love, Petalburg Style!, where Ash and the gang had a confrontation with the Team Rocket trio. Ash had a official Gym battle with Norman in the following episode, where he gained a Gym badge.
Trivia
Petalburg's Japanese motto is しぜんと ひとが ふれあう まち"The city where people mingle with nature".