Oreburgh Pokémon Gym Leader: Roark
Call me Roark the Rock!
The Oreburgh Gym is a narrow building built of stone. Two paths exist: a raised path that avoids the Trainers and a middle path that takes challengers straight through the Gym. Roark waits on a raised hill at the end of the paths. Although only two Trainers actually appear in the Gym, most of the Workers in the Oreburgh Mine are also members who relax at the Gym in their free time.
While Roark is the Gym Leader here, it is revealed that Byron had originally asked Riley to be the Gym Leader here until Riley turned the offer down in favor of Roark.
The Oreburgh Gym first appeared in Shapes of Things to Come!, where Paul challenged Roark to a Gym battle and beat him. Ash watched this match, and challenged Roark himself in the next episode, but lost because his concentration was instead on besting Paul.
After doing some heavy training in Wild in the Streets! and getting some advice from Dawn in the process, Ash re-challenged Roark in O'er the Rampardos We Watched!. This time, he won the battle, earning him the Coal Badge.
In Ancient Family Matters!, it was revealed that prior to Roark becoming a Gym Leader, his father Byron was the Gym Leader of Oreburgh City. He ultimately left to become the Leader of the Gym in Canalave City.
Pokémon used in the Gym
Used by Byron
It is unknown what Pokémon Byron used in his Gym battles here.
Geodude was the first Pokémon Roark used against Paul. It first battled Paul's Azumarill, and despite being at a major disadvantage, it defeated the Aqua Rabbit Pokémon as if it were nothing. Geodude then went up against Elekid, and this time it had a type-advantage, but it was defeated by a single super-effective Brick Break attack. It was also used as the second Pokémon in Ash's rematch and faced Aipom. Although it put up a good fight, Aipom's speed and agility turned out to be too much for Geodude, causing it to be defeated by her super-effective Focus Punch.
The powerhouse of Roark's team, Onix was used as Roark's second Pokémon during his match against Paul. It first went up against Elekid and while it was able to weaken it, Onix was struck by Elekid's Static and was paralyzed, allowing it to be defeated by Chimchar. Onix was also used during Roark's first match against Ash and easily won the battle for its Trainer, knocking out an already exhausted Turtwig and Pikachu. During the rematch, Pikachu made up for its loss and defeated Onix with Iron Tail.
Rampardos is Roark's main Pokémon. It first appeared as a Cranidos. It was used to battle Paul, but lost. Then, against Ash, it won. It knows many powerful attacks such as Zen Headbutt and Flamethrower. While battling Team Rocket, it evolved into Rampardos. In the rematch, Rampardos defeated Ash's Aipom and Pikachu and almost defeated Turtwig, but Turtwig managed to win.
Many episodes later, it reappeared with Roark, where it battled against Byron's Bastiodon.
Oreburgh Gym appeared in a flashback in The Rival, where Barry was seen challenging Roark there. Using his Piplup against Roark's Cranidos, Barry was able to win the match, earning himself his first Badge.
The Oreburgh Gym appeared in A Conk in Cranidos's Cranium as the first Gym that Platinum challenged. Diamond and Pearl were thrown out by the Gym statue for the duration of the Gym challenge, consisting of Gym Trainers and the Gym Leader himself. They, however, managed to help Platinum win the battle against Roark from the outside by concealing information in their manzai routine, which they performed through a window.
Roark received Cranidos when it was an Egg prior to its debut. Roark used it during Platinum's first Gym challenge. It was able to weaken her Piplup with Shock Wave as Roark was aware of the type disadvantage his Pokémon had against Water types. However, even with its Double Team, it was defeated by the Penguin Pokémon's Water Pulse, which confused it and made it knock itself out.
Roark used his Onix during Platinum's Gym battle after switching out Cranidos. It was able to defeat Platinum's Ponyta, but lost to her Piplup despite the Penguin Pokémon being hit by the effect of Stealth Rock.
The following is a list of cards mentioning or featuring Oreburgh City Gym in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
Pokémon in Oreburgh Gym Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format. Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.
