Sootopolis City (Japanese: ルネシティRune City) is a city located to the east of the Hoenn mainland.
Sootopolis City plays a major part in the games, as it is the location where the player has their encounter with the Legendary PokémonGroudonROR or KyogreSAS, and obtain their final Badge.
Sootopolis City has a fantastic nighttime view, with stars peering in through the top of the crater.
The mystical city where history slumbers. (Japanese: れきしが ねむる しんぴの まちThe mystical city where history slumbers.)
History
Sootopolis City is located inside of a giant crater.
In Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, the crater is that of an underwater volcano which erupted and forced itself out of the sea many years ago, eventually filling with rainwater.
In Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, the crater was formed by a giant meteorite impact into the ocean of the Hoenn region thousands of years ago, eventually filling with rainwater. People soon began to dwell in the crater for its warm, fresh water and a city soon came forth. The great tree in front of the Cave of Origin was received from AZ when he visited from the Kalos region.
To navigate the city, people have to climb many flights of stairs and Dive under the sea. This causes many of the locals to get into good shape.
Role
Delta Episode
During the Delta Episode, after Steven has informed Wallace of the plan to enter the Sky Pillar, Wallace is outside the Cave of Origin talking to the guard about the great tree. He invites the player to follow him to the Sky Pillar's entrance on Route 131, then leaves.
In the house northeast of the Pokémon Center, there are two brothers who are arguing over two different species of Pokémon. The younger brother is a Fisherman, while the older brother is a Hiker.
In Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, they are arguing over the sizes of their favorite Pokémon. If a brother is shown a Pokémon of the species he prefers, he will calculate its size give the player a prize if it is bigger than the largest one he had seen before; the younger brother gives an Ether, while the older brother gives an Elixir.
In Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, they are arguing over the cuteness of their favorite Pokémon. If a brother is shown a Pokémon of the species he prefers with an affection level of at least 4, he will give the player a Max Elixir.
In Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire, the younger brother prefers Barboach and the older brother prefers Shroomish. In Pokémon Emerald, the younger brother prefers Seedot and the older brother prefers Lotad.
In Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire, Wallace is the Gym Leader in this city. He uses Water-type Pokémon, and is the one who hands out the Rain Badge.
In Pokémon Emerald, Wallace is the former Gym Leader, with his former mentor Juan resuming the role due to Wallace moving on to become Champion.
Move Tutor
In Pokémon Emerald, inside the Pokémon Center there is a trainer who will teach a compatible Pokémon Double-Edge one time only.
In Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, in the north-eastern part of Sootopolis City there is a house with an elderly gentleman within it. If the player talks to him with a Dragon-type Pokémon with high friendship, he will offer to teach it Draco Meteor.
Demographics
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire
In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, the population of Sootopolis City is 39. This is a middling population in Hoenn, despite its near isolation from the rest of the region.
Pokémon Emerald
In Pokémon Emerald, the population of Sootopolis City is 43.
Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
In Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, Sootopolis City has a total population of 42.
Kiri will give the player two Berries each day. Kiri is not present while GroudonROR/KyogreSAS is causing abnormal weather in Sootopolis City. She will not give out Berries while Groudon and Kyogre battle, or immediately after Rayquaza appears.E
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.
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.
In the anime, the volcano Sootopolis is built upon opens up at one side, giving access to ferries. It appeared in The Great Eight Fate! and Eight Ain't Enough!, where Ash and his friends visited the city for Ash's final Hoenn League Gym battle. After witnessing a demonstration of Juan's Contest skills, the group was taken to the Sootopolis Gym, where Ash had his final Hoenn Gym battle with Juan. Eventually Ash won, earning him his eighth Hoenn League Badge.
After Maxie awakened Groudon and Kyogre at the Seafloor Cavern, the two Legendary Pokémon eventually came face to face in Sootopolis City, where they began a fierce battle with each other. In order to prevent the immense energy resulted by the battle from going out of control, Steven and the Elite Four used the legendary titans to contain the energy in Sootopolis City. Eventually, the battle was stopped by Ruby and Rayquaza.
Sootopolis City reappeared in the Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire arc, where Zinnia was taken there after Rayquaza rejected her offer to join her in order to destroy the meteoroid headed for Hoenn. Upon Emerald's request, Zinnia agrees to work alongside the Stones, Joseph and Steven, for a solution to avert the impending apocalypse. Eventually a plan was devised which involved the Hoenn Gym Leaders, Elite Four and Frontier Brains, as well as the Draconids, Red and Green, all standing by at Sootopolis to launch a combined attack towards the meteoroid.
Origin
Sootopolis City appears to be based on the Greekisland of Santorini, also known as Thera.
In the flower patch next to the big tree AZ gave, there is a flower in the patch that is the same in design to the flower the Eternal Flower Floette, the Floette that befriended AZ in the Pokémon X and Y storyline. Whether there is an in-game event relating to this is currently unknown.
This is the only city in the Pokémon world which requires the use of Dive in order to be reached for the first time.
Possibly from ルネサンス (Renaissance), 流 ru (flow), 瑠璃 ruri (lapis lazuli or its blue color), and 涅 netsu (underwater soil containing alum that is traditionally used in dying black or dark colors)
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
Rough transliteration of its Japanese name; can be taken as "colored glaze city" or "glass city"