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.

In the anime

Roark appears in the episodes between DP015 and DP018.

He battled Paul in his debut. In this battle, he showed his strong abilities (even beating Paul's Azumarill with his Geodude). However, his powerhouse, Cranidos, wasn't powerful enough to defeat Paul's Elekid. Because of this, Paul earned the Coal Badge from the Leader.

Following his defeat at the hands of Paul, he battled and defeated Ash.

He used Cranidos to battle the prehistoric Pokémon unleashed in Oreburgh; during the conflict, Cranidos evolved into Rampardos.

He faced Ash again in a rematch. Onix and Geodude were defeated by Pikachu and Aipom. His powerhouse Rampardos battled against Ash's whole team and was defeated by Turtwig. Being the victor, Ash earned the Coal Badge.

Roark's Japanese voice actor is 我妻正崇 Masataka Azuma.

Pokémon

• Cranidos → Rampardos (Seiyū: うえだゆうじ Yūji Ueda)
• Onix
• Geodude (Seiyū: 三木眞一郎 Shin'ichirō Miki)

In the games

His team is made up of all Rock-type Pokémon. After he is defeated, he will give the player the Coal Badge, TM76 Stealth Rock, and the ability to use Rock Smash outside of battle. Roark lets the trainers of Oreburgh train in the Oreburgh mines. Despite his young age, he keeps the mine running safely and efficiently. Roark is the mine's safety supervisor, and is considered an expert in several fields. 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, where he enjoys a variety of activities. He mentions them to the player upon their first visit to the Underground. Roark spent his childhood playing on Iron Island.

Pokémon

Template:Team

In the Pokémon Special manga

In Pokémon Special's Diamond and Pearl saga, he owns a Cranidos which he uses in his battle against Berlitz.

Quotes

"OK, stand back and watch this. Using the hidden move Rock Smash, a boulder blocking your way... (Boulder gets broken to pieces) Fallen boulders need to be smashed to 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!"

"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!"

"Think you can take down the next Pokémon like you did earlier?"

"W-what? That can't be! My buffed-up Pokémon!

This is embarassing... 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."

Trivia

• He is Byron's son.
• Roark is the third Gym Leader encountered first in the region that uses Template:Type2 Pokémon, the other two being Brock and Roxanne.
• Roark is also the only Gym Leader who wears eyeglasses.

Names

External links

• Serebii.net Sinnoh Leaders Page
• Hyouta's Profile on Pokeani (Japanese)

Gym Leaders of the Sinnoh region
Oreburgh Gym Roark	Eterna Gym Gardenia	Veilstone Gym Maylene	Pastoria Gym Crasher Wake
Hearthome Gym Fantina	Canalave Gym Byron	Snowpoint Gym Candice	Sunyshore Gym Volkner