Rustboro City (Japanese: カナズミシティ Kanazumi City) is a metropolis located in western Hoenn. It is the fourth-largest city in Hoenn, after Mauville City, Lilycove City and Slateport City. Rustboro City has an unusual yet unique cityscape in the Hoenn region. The buildings' architectures are designed with stones, giving it an old-town feeling.
According to the Cutter's daughter, Rustboro was expanded to accommodate its growing size with the help of the Cutter's Pokémon which cleared the trees. The Devon Corporation is headquartered in the northwest side of the city. The first Gym is located here with Roxanne as the Gym Leader.
Slogan
The city probing the integration of nature and science. (Japanese: しぜんと かがくの ゆうごうを ついきゅうする まち The city probing the integration of nature and science.)
Places of interest
Devon Corporation
- Main article: Devon Corporation
Rustboro serves as the establishment for the Devon Corporation, a company which makes many items for Pokémon Trainers. The company headquarters is located in the northwest corner of the city, and takes the appearance of a large, old-fashioned looking building. A sign outside reads:
DEVON CORPORATION
"For all your living needs, we make
it all."
Apart from developing improved and innovative items, the company also revives Pokémon from Fossils. The Devon Corporation's workers are also attempting to build impossible machines such as one that can transform people into Pokémon. In the south section of the town is an apartment complex for Devon employees.
Cutter's house
A Cutter lives near the Pokémon Center with his daughter.
When the city of Rustboro was undergoing expansion, the Cutter had his Pokémon use Cut to help clear the land of trees. He will give the player HM01 (Cut). According to May/Brendan, he has a younger brother in Mauville City, which is the person that gives out HM06 (Rock Smash) in Generation III.
In-game trade
A house hosting an in-game trade is located next to the Gym in Rustboro City. By talking to a little kid, the player is given the option to make an in-game trade. In Ruby and Sapphire and Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, the player trades a Slakoth for a Makuhita. Makuhita is nicknamed Makit and is holding an X Attack. In Emerald, the player trades a Ralts (found on Route 102) for a Seedot. Seedot is nicknamed Dots and is holding a Chesto Berry.
Pokémon Trainers' School
- Main article: Pokémon Trainers' School
The Pokémon Trainers' School is located east of the Pokémon Center. A sign outside reads:
POKéMON TRAINER'S SCHOOL
"We'll teach you anything about
POKéMON!"
Inside are five students and a teacher, who gives the player the Quick Claw. Talking to the students also reveals helpful information. Behind the teacher is the blackboard with the list of status conditions (Poison, Burn, Freeze, Paralysis, and Sleep) that may affect Pokémon in a battle. In the anime, Roxanne, the local Gym Leader, runs the school.
Walda's house
In Pokémon Emerald, a sad young girl named Walda lives between the Pokémon Center and the Devon Corporation building. If the proper 'funny' word is given to her caretaker, she will reward the player with a new wallpaper for the Pokémon Storage System.
Rustboro Gym
- Main article: Rustboro Gym
Rustboro Gym is the first Gym a player must face in the Hoenn region. It is located in the northern part of Rustboro, east of the Devon Corporation. The sign outside reads:
RUSTBORO CITY POKéMON GYM
LEADER: ROXANNE
"The ROCK-loving honors student!"
The Gym Leader is Roxanne, who specializes in Rock-type Pokémon. The Stone Badge is awarded for defeating Roxanne. The Gym is a maze; there are two paths, one path which battles the Gym Trainers, while the other path lets the players go through without battling.
Role
Delta Episode
During the Delta Episode, after receiving Steven's call in Petalburg City, Steven will be waiting outside the Devon Corporation building in Rustboro City for the player, escorting the player to Mr. Stone's office when they arrive.
In his office, Mr. Stone tells the player about the history of the Devon Corporation, then asks the player to retrieve a Meteorite Shard from Granite Cave. Throughout the Delta Episode, Mr. Stone mentions where Steven has most recently headed to.
After listening to Zinnia's grandmother at Meteor Falls, Steven heads to the Devon Corporation building in Rustboro City. When the player arrives there, a scientist runs out the front door, running away from a Team MagmaOR/AquaAS Grunt. That grunt then challenges the player, followed by a second and third grunt, all of whom run away after their own defeat. After defeating the third grunt, the scientist reveals that the device to control the Link Cable was stolen by CourtneyOR/MattAS and that Steven has headed off to the Mossdeep Space Center.
Demographics
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire
In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, the population of Rustboro City is 57, making it the third largest city in Hoenn, behind Lilycove City and Slateport City.
Pokémon Emerald
In Pokémon Emerald, the population of Rustboro City is 61, making it the second largest city in Hoenn, behind Lilycove City, which has over twice the population of Rustboro.
Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
In Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, Rustboro City has a total population of 63, making it the fourth largest city in Hoenn.
Poké Mart
Lower cashier (Generation VI)
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Upper cashier (Generation VI)
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Items
Pokémon
Generation III
Pokémon
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Games
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Location
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Levels
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Rate
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Special Pokémon
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R
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S
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E
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The same as the traded Pokémon
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One
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R
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S
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E
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The same as the traded Pokémon
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One
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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.
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Generation VI
Pokémon
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Games
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Location
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Levels
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Rate
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Special Pokémon
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OR
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AS
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9
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One
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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.
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Trainers
Pokémon Emerald
Note: If the last used healing spot was not in Rustboro City when the player blacks out or uses Teleport, the battle will take place on Route 104, instead.
If the player chose Treecko:
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Reward: $900
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Reward: $900
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If the player chose Torchic:
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Reward: $900
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Reward: $900
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If the player chose Mudkip:
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Reward: $900
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Reward: $900
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Pokémon Omega Ruby
Trainer
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Pokémon
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Trainers with a PokéNav by their names will be registered in the Trainer's Eyes or Match Call function after the first battle, and may have a rematch with the player with higher-level Pokémon.
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Pokémon Alpha Sapphire
Trainer
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Pokémon
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Muk♂
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Lv.51
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No item
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Trainers with a PokéNav by their names will be registered in the Trainer's Eyes or Match Call function after the first battle, and may have a rematch with the player with higher-level Pokémon.
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Appearance
In the anime
Rustboro City debuted in All Things Bright and Beautifly!, where Ash and his friends arrived at the Rustboro Contest Hall, located in its southern outskirts, and discovered that a Pokémon Contest was scheduled to take place there in just a few hours. After a meeting with Janet and Chaz, two skilled Pokémon Coordinators, they learned about the proceedings of the competition and decided to enter. However, the receptionist was not accepting new entries as the event had already reached the maximum number of contestants allowed. Nonetheless, they received a Contest Pass each and decided to watch the Contest, with May and Max agreeing to work as Janet's assistants. During that Contest, Ash started teaching his Pikachu to use Iron Tail in preparation for taking on the Rustboro Gym after seeing Chaz's Sentret demonstrate the move.
In addition to Janet and Chaz, Jessie also entered the Contest, but failed to even get past the Appeals Round due to trying to get her Seviper to use moves it didn't know. Both Janet and Chaz got through the Appeals Round and went on to face each other in the finals of the Battle Round. The two had a close battle, but ultimately, Janet had more points left by the time the timer ran out. As a result, she was declared the winner of the Rustboro Contest, earning her third Ribbon. Throughout the competition, May was amazed by the performances and the different kind of battling, inspiring her to become a Pokémon Coordinator.
In Gonna Rule The School!, Ash and his friends attended the Pokémon Trainers' School and first met Roxanne, the Rustboro Gym Leader and Trainers' School headmistress. Max spent much of his short time attending the school with Tommy, Kenny, and Anita. Later, all the Beginner Class students and Roxanne helped defeat Team Rocket.
In The Winner by a Nosepass, Ash faced Roxanne at the Rustboro Gym. After a gruelling match, during which Pikachu managed to master Iron Tail, Ash emerged victorious and earned his first Hoenn League Badge. The match was filmed by some of Roxanne's students to become a learning resource at the Rustboro Trainers' School.
In Stairway to Devon, Max spilled soda on the PokéNav, causing it to malfunction. While attempting to avoid May so she wouldn't find out, Max bumped into Mr. Stone, who agreed to fix the PokéNav and take him on a guided tour through his company, the Devon Corporation. During the tour, Mr. Stone and Max spotted a mysterious scientist, later revealed to be a Team Aqua Grunt, who stole two capsules from the Fossil restoration lab. The thief was eventually cornered by Mr. Stone, Ash, and his friends, with Team Rocket inadvertently causing the grunt to lose the stolen goods. While the thief managed to escape, Max was able to recover the tubes for Mr. Stone.
In On a Wingull and a Prayer!, Ash and his friends visited the desolate harbor of Rustboro City to take a boat to Dewford Town. After missing the morning service boat, the group decided to wait for the afternoon ferry. During that time, the group re-encountered the Team Aqua Grunt from the Devon Corporation heist, who hoped to take Mr. Briney's boat and make his getaway. The grunt took Mr. Briney's Wingull, nicknamed Peeko, as a hostage. While Mr. Briney recovered Peeko using his other boat, the S.S. Wingull, the grunt escaped with Mr. Briney's boat. Afterwards, he was recovered by his fellow grunts, who were waiting out at sea with a submarine. As a reward for their assistance, Mr. Briney escorted Ash and his friends to Dewford Island.
Rustboro City appeared again in Mega Evolution Special III, where Alain, Mairin, and Steven arrived there, following the energy signature of the giant rock they had previously encountered. Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre also followed the energy, and clashed with each other just off the coast of Rustboro City. The battle was eventually stopped by Rayquaza, although the giant rock was taken away by Lysandre's submarine to be studied at Lysandre Labs.
Much of Rustboro City is tall buildings and thriving, but its seaport and the neighboring suburb appear derelict. In On a Wingull and a Prayer!, May was particularly disappointed to learn that the famous "Rustboro City Pasta" restaurant was closed up. Rustboro's coastline is largely open water, with sharp rocks like Triangle Rock further out.
Gallery
In the manga
Ash & Pikachu
Rustboro City appeared in Trust In Each Other!!, where Ash, like in the anime, took on and defeated Roxanne at the Rustboro Gym.
Pokémon Adventures
Rustboro City first appeared in Blowing Past Nosepass I, where Sapphire arrived there in order to challenge the Rustboro Gym. After passing the exam required to challenge the Gym Leader, Sapphire was allowed to challenge Roxanne. After emerging victorious and earning the Stone Badge, Sapphire headed to Dewford Town by sea on the back of her Wailord in Stick This in Your Craw, Crawdaunt! I.
In I More Than Like You, Luvdisc I, Ruby, Gabby, and Ty were revealed to have passed through Rustboro City on their way to Fallarbor Town.
In Diancie Shines, the S.S. Tidal was shown approaching Rustboro City.
Pokémon Pocket Monsters
Rustboro City appeared in Extra Heavyweight Battle, where Red and his Pokémon visited Pokémon Trainers' School.
Trivia
- As Hoenn coincides with Kyushu, Rustboro coincides approximately with Fukuoka and Kitakyushu.
- Rustboro City is very similar to Saffron City of Kanto and Jubilife City of Sinnoh. All three cities are home to their region's corporate giants.
- It is also similar to Pewter City of Kanto and Goldenrod City of Johto. Their geographic locations to their regions are very remarkably similar, as well as being only accessible through a forest during the beginning of the games. Rustboro is more like Pewter in that both cities are the second city visited with a Gym, but first to be beaten by the player. Both Pewter and Rustboro's Gyms specialize in Rock-type Pokémon, and play a role in the player obtaining Fossil Pokémon.
- In Pokémon Emerald, May or Brendan will normally battle the player when they go south to Route 104 after rescuing Peeko at Rusturf Tunnel. This interaction can be skipped by using Teleport or blacking out if the last used healing spot was not Rustboro City's Pokémon Center, as the player would therefore be teleported to a different town or city. However, if this is done, then May or Brendan will instead battle the player on Route 104 (with the same team), when the player attempts to enter Mr. Briney's house.
- In Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, there is an Easter egg findable in Rustboro City, involving the Ace Trainer who gives the player a Float Stone. After giving it to the player, he will explain its effect of halving the holder's weight. If the player then leaves and re-enters the floor, the Ace Trainer has turned into a Hiker, who tells that he has put on a lot of weight recently for some reason.
Name origin
Language
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Name
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Origin
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Japanese
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カナズミシティ Kanazumi City
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From 金 kana (metal) and 炭 sumi (charcoal)
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English, Danish
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Rustboro City
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From rust and borough
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German
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Metarost City
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From Metall (metal) and Rost (rust)
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Spanish
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Ciudad Férrica
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From férrico (ferric, pertaining to iron)
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French
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Mérouville
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From métal (metal), rouille (rust), and ville (city)
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Italian
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Ferrugipoli
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From ferro (iron), ruggine (rust), and the suffix -poli (city)
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Korean
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금탄도시 Geumtan Dosi*
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From 금 (金) geum (gold; metal) and 탄 (炭) tan (charcoal)
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금탄시티 Geumtan City*
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Chinese (Mandarin)
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卡那茲市 / 卡那兹市 Kǎnàzī Shì
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Partial transcription of its Japanese name
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Chinese (Cantonese)
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卡那茲市 Kānáhjī Síh*
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加奈濟市 Gānoihjai Síh*
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From the Japanese name 加奈済 Kanazumi
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Polish
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Rustboro* Miasto Rustboro*
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From its English name
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Brazilian Portuguese
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Cidade de Rustboro
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From its English name
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Russian
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Растборо Сити Rastboro Citi
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Transcription of its English name
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Swedish
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Rustboro-staden
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From its English name
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Vietnamese
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Thành phố Kanazumi
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Transcription of its Japanese name
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