Roark

Roark ヒョウタ Hyouta
"Call me Roark the Rock!"
Art from Diamond and Pearl
Gender	Male
Eye color	Cordovan
Hair color	Cordovan
Hometown	Oreburgh City
Region	Sinnoh
Relatives	Byron (father), Underground Man (grandfather), Unnamed mother (anime)
Trainer class	Gym LeaderDPPt Pokémon TrainerB2W2
Generation	IV, V
Games	Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum Black 2 and White 2
Leader of	Oreburgh Gym
Badge	Coal Badge
Specializes in	Rock types
Animated debut	Shapes of Things to Come!
English voice actor	Craig Blair Zoe Martin (child)
Japanese voice actor	Masataka Azuma Satsuki Yukino (child)

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. He is Byron's son and the grandson of the Underground Man.

In the games

Roark's team is made up entirely of Rock-type Pokémon. After he is defeated, he will give the player the Coal Badge and TM76 (Stealth Rock); the Badge gives the player the ability to use Rock Smash outside of battle. Roark, as the Oreburgh Mine's safety supervisor, lets the Trainers of Oreburgh train in the mines. Despite his young age, he keeps the mine running safely and efficiently. 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, welcoming the player on their first visit there, and explaining a handful of features of the area. Like the other Gym Leaders, he can be fought again at the Battleground in Platinum Version.

As a child, Roark spent a significant amount of time playing on Iron Island.

Apparently, Riley was considered for this position first, but he declined and suggested Roark for the position, and Roark was instead instated as the Oreburgh Gym Leader.

Pokémon

This listing is of Roark's Pokémon in the games in which he has appeared.

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl

File:SpriteRoark.png Leader Roark Oreburgh Gym Diamond and Pearl Leader and Professor Roark Oak Oreburgh Gym Diamond and Pearl Reward: $1680

Types: Rock Ground Ability: Rock Head Held item: None Geodude♂ Lv.12 Rock Throw Rock Physical   --       Stealth Rock Rock Status   --       Curse Unknown Status   --       Curse Unknown Status   --       Types: Rock Ground Ability: Rock Head Held item: None Onix♂ Lv.12 Rock Throw Rock Physical   --       Screech Normal Status   --       Stealth Rock Rock Status   --       Curse Unknown Status   --       Type: Rock Unknown Ability: Mold Breaker Held item: None Cranidos♂ Lv.14 Headbutt Normal Physical   --       Pursuit Dark Physical   --       Leer Normal Status   --       Curse Unknown Status   --

Pokémon Platinum

Gym match

File:RoarkPlatinum.gif Leader Roark Oreburgh Gym Platinum Leader and Professor Roark Oak Oreburgh Gym Platinum Reward: $1680

Types: Rock Ground Ability: Rock Head Held item: None Geodude♂ Lv.12 Rock Throw Rock Physical   --       Stealth Rock Rock Status   --       Curse Unknown Status   --       Curse Unknown Status   --       Types: Rock Ground Ability: Rock Head Held item: None Onix♂ Lv.12 Rock Throw Rock Physical   --       Screech Normal Status   --       Stealth Rock Rock Status   --       Curse Unknown Status   --       Type: Rock Unknown Ability: Mold Breaker Held item: None Cranidos♂ Lv.14 Headbutt Normal Physical   --       Pursuit Dark Physical   --       Leer Normal Status   --       Curse Unknown Status   --

Rematch

File:RoarkPlatinum.gif Leader Roark Battleground Platinum Leader and Professor Roark Oak Battleground Platinum Reward: $7800

Types: Rock Flying Ability: Rock Head Held item: None Aerodactyl♂ Lv.62 Stone Edge Rock Physical   --       Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Dragon Claw Dragon Physical   --       Aerial Ace Flying Physical   --       Types: Rock Steel Ability: Sturdy Held item: None Probopass♂ Lv.61 Stone Edge Rock Physical   --       Earth Power Ground Special   --       Discharge Electric Special   --       Stealth Rock Rock Status   --       Type: Rock Unknown Ability: Mold Breaker Held item: None Rampardos♂ Lv.63 Head Smash Rock Physical   --       Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Zen Headbutt Psychic Physical   --       Avalanche Ice Physical   --       Types: Rock Ground Ability: Rock Head Held item: None Golem♂ Lv.61 Stone Edge Rock Physical   --       Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Brick Break Fighting Physical   --       Flamethrower Fire Special   --       Types: Rock Dark Ability: Sand Stream Held item: Sitrus Berry Tyranitar♂ Lv.65 Stone Edge Rock Physical   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --       Fire Fang Fire Physical   --       Aerial Ace Flying Physical   --

Pokémon Black 2 and White 2

Pokémon World Tournament

Pokémon can be either male or female.

Sinnoh Leaders Tournament

Pokémon Trainer Roark Pokémon World Tournament Black 2 and White 2 Pokémon Trainer and Professor Roark Oak Pokémon World Tournament Black 2 and White 2 Reward: 1 BP

Types: Rock Unknown Ability: Mold Breaker Held item: Salac Berry Rampardos Lv.50 Stone Edge Rock Physical   --       Zen Headbutt Psychic Physical   --       Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Outrage Dragon Physical   --       Types: Rock Steel Ability: Held item: Chople Berry Probopass Lv.50 Power Gem Rock Special   --       Earth Power Ground Special   --       Sandstorm Rock Status   --       Stealth Rock Rock Status   --       Types: Rock Unknown Ability: Held item: Liechi Berry Sudowoodo Lv.50 Stone Edge Rock Physical   --       Hammer Arm Fighting Physical   --       Wood Hammer Grass Physical   --       Sucker Punch Dark Physical   --       Types: Rock Ground Ability: Held item: Rindo Berry Onix Lv.50 Stone Edge Rock Physical   --       Roar Normal Status   --       Sandstorm Rock Status   --       Stealth Rock Rock Status   --       Types: Rock Ground Ability: Held item: Passho Berry Golem Lv.50 Stealth Rock Rock Status   --       Gyro Ball Steel Physical   --       Hammer Arm Fighting Physical   --       Curse Ghost Status   --       Types: Water Rock Ability: Held item: Rindo Berry Relicanth Lv.50 Rock Slide Rock Physical   --       Amnesia Psychic Status   --       Sleep Talk Normal Status   --       Rest Psychic Status   --

Type Expert/World Leaders Tournament

Pokémon Trainer Roark Pokémon World Tournament Black 2 and White 2 Pokémon Trainer and Professor Roark Oak Pokémon World Tournament Black 2 and White 2 Reward: 1 BP

Types: Rock Unknown Ability: Mold Breaker Held item: Focus Sash Rampardos Lv.50 Stone Edge Rock Physical   --       Superpower Fighting Physical   --       Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Avalanche Ice Physical   --       Types: Rock Steel Ability: Held item: Air Balloon Probopass Lv.50 Stealth Rock Rock Status   --       Earth Power Ground Special   --       Discharge Electric Special   --       Pain Split Normal Status   --       Types: Rock Flying Ability: Defeatist Held item: Life Orb Archeops Lv.50 Stone Edge Rock Physical   --       Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Focus Blast Fighting Special   --       Quick Attack Normal Physical   --       Types: Bug Rock Ability: Held item: Power Herb Crustle Lv.50 Rock Slide Rock Physical   --       X-Scissor Bug Physical   --       SolarBeam Grass Special   --       Shell Smash Normal Status   --       Types: Rock Ground Ability: Held item: Choice Band Golem Lv.50 Stone Edge Rock Physical   --       Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Sucker Punch Dark Physical   --       Explosion Normal Physical   --       Types: Water Rock Ability: Held item: Liechi Berry Relicanth Lv.50 Head Smash Rock Physical   --       Waterfall Water Physical   --       Rock Polish Rock Status   --       Yawn Normal Status   --

Quotes

Oreburgh Mine

"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 so 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!"

Oreburgh Gym

• Before battle

"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!"

• After sending out last Pokémon

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

• During battle

"No way! Not yet! Not giving up!"

• When defeated

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

• After being defeated

"This is embarrassing... 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."

"In this region of Sinnoh, there are seven other Gym Leaders. I should warn you — they're a lot tougher than I am!"

The Underground

"Hey! <player>! Is this maybe your first time here? Welcome to Sinnoh's Underground! Huh? Where is this, you ask? Doesn't the Radar make it obvious? This is a giant underground network of passages underneath Sinnoh. Huh? What I am doing down in this expanse of a place? That's kind of hard to answer. I mean, you can pretty much anything you want down here. For instance, you can dig up Treasure, Spheres, and make a Secret Base. You can play with your friends down here, too. You should talk to the Underground Man in Eterna City. I have to get going now. I'll see you around!"

Villa

"If it were me, I'd like to put a Fossil over there. You don't think so? No? I think a Fossil would match this decor."

"The Underground extends even underneath the Resort Area. I wonder... If I really tried, would I be able to extend it to even places like Kanto and Johto?"

"What I think about while digging underground...What did the Pokémon see before they became Fossils? I'd love to go back and see them as they were back then."

Battleground

• Before battle

"I went down to the Underground every day. I toughened up my Pokémon by digging up Fossils nonstop. Could I show you how tough I made them in a battle?"

"Look, can I have some time? I feel lucky to have run into you here, so can I challenge you to a battle?" (If No is the first answer)

Yes: "Here goes! These are my rocking Pokémon, my pride and joy!"

No: "This is another topic, but you know those Spheres you can dig up? Yes, those Spheres. The ones in the Underground. Why do you suppose Spheres grow if you leave them burried? It's not a huge issue or anything, but doesn't it strike you as odd?"

• During battle

"No way! Not yet! Not giving up!"

• When defeated

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

• After being defeated

"...We lost control there. Next time I'd like to challenge you to a Fossil-digging race underground."

Battleground (alternate)

• Before battle

"Would you like to battle? You'll get to see a different me than you saw at my Gym."

"Oh, you do want to battle?" (If No is the first answer)

Yes: "I've got a Tyranitar I'm going to send out. It's tougher than even my dad's Aggron!"

No: "Hmm... That's a heartbreaking answer."

• During battle

"No way! Not yet! Not giving up!"

• When defeated

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

• After being defeated

"Pokémon from ancient times... Fossils that are yet to be discovered... I wonder if I can find new Fossils if I dig all over Sinnoh?"

Sprites

File:SpriteRoark.png	File:RoarkPlatinum.gif
Roark's sprite from Diamond and Pearl	Roark's sprite from Platinum	Roark's sprite from Generation V	Roark's overworld sprite from Generation IV	Roark's overworld sprite from Generation V	Roark's VS sprite from Platinum

In the anime

Roark in the anime

Roark appears in the episodes between Shapes of Things to Come! and O'er the Rampardos we Watched. He battled Paul in his debut episode. 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 Elekid. With this win Paul earned the Coal Badge from Roark. Following his defeat, Roark battled and defeated Ash in the following episode.

He used Cranidos to battle the prehistoric Pokémon, Aerodactyl unleashed in Oreburgh City. During the conflict, his Cranidos evolved into Rampardos.

Roark then 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.

A younger Roark with his first Fossil

Roark appeared again in Ancient Family Matters!, visiting his father, Byron in Canalave City. He argued with Byron over which of them loves Fossils more and has a short battle with him. He reveals that Byron suddenly left Oreburgh Gym to him when he was requested to take over the Canalave Gym. Roark was shocked and saddened by his father's sudden departure, thinking that he didn't care what happened to him or his mother. Later, Byron reveals that he had always treasured a Fossil of a Sunkern's leaf that Roark had given to him as a child ten years earlier, and Roark accepts that his father did care about him all along.

Along with being the foreman of the Oreburgh Mine, Roark is also the chief of Ancient Pokémon Expedition Operations.

In Dealing With Defensive Types!, he was the referee for Ash's Gym battle against Byron.

Pokémon

This listing is of Roark's known Pokémon in the anime:

Geodude

Debut	Shapes of Things to Come!
Voice actors
Japanese	Shin'ichirō Miki
English	Michael Haigney

Geodude is the first Pokémon Roark used against Paul. It is first sent up against Paul's Azumarill but despite the type-disadvantage, it is able to defeat the Aqua Rabbit Pokémon. Geodude then goes up against Elekid and this time it had a type-advantage, but was defeated by Elekid's Brick Break. It is also used as the second Pokémon in Ash's rematch and matches up against his Aipom. Despite putting up a good fight, it is defeated, due to Aipom's speed.

Geodude's known moves are Hidden Power, Rollout, and Seismic Toss.

Onix

Debut	Shapes of Things to Come!
Voice actors
Japanese	Unshō Ishizuka
English	Unshō Ishizuka

The powerhouse of Roark's team, Onix is used second during the match against Paul. It first goes up against Elekid and while it is able to weaken it, Onix is struck by Elekid's Static and is paralyzed, allowing it to be defeated by Chimchar. Onix is used second during Roark's first match against Ash and easily wins the battle for its Trainer, knocking out an already exhausted Turtwig and Pikachu, although during the rematch, Pikachu makes up for its loss and defeats Onix with Iron Tail.

Onix's known moves are Slam, Double-Edge, Stealth Rock, and Screech, and its Ability is Rock Head.

Cranidos → Rampardos

Debut	Shapes of Things to Come!
Voice actors
Japanese	Kenta Miyake
English	Kenta Miyake

Main article: Roark's Rampardos

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 reappears with Roark, where it battles against Byron's Bastiodon.

Voice actors

Language Voice actor Japanese 我妻正崇 Masataka Azuma 雪野五月 Satsuki Yukino (child) English Craig Blair Zoe Martin (child) Czech Pavel Tesař Jana Páleníčková (child) European French David Macaluso Brazilian Portuguese Sérgio Corsetti(DP015-DP018) Yuri Chesman(DP107-DP108) Spanish Latin America Ricardo Mendoza (DP015-DP018) Unknown voice actor (DP107-DP108) Spain Cholo Moratalla Mar Bordallo (child)

In the manga

In the Pocket Monsters DP manga

Roark makes an appearance in Pocket Monsters DP.

Pokémon

Cranidos

Debut	Volume 1

Main article: Roark's Cranidos

Cranidos is the only known Pokémon Roark obtains.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Roark and his Cranidos with Gardenia and her Roserade

Roark first appears arriving in Oreburgh City after exploring the underground with the Underground Man at Eterna City and speaking with his father, Byron, at Canalave City. He meets Platinum, a new Trainer who wishes to challenge and sets up a match for the next day.

The next day, Platinum challenges the Oreburgh Gym for their match. After getting through the Trainers inside, she faces Roark in an official Gym battle. In the match, Roark's Cranidos proves to be a powerful opponent for Platinum's Piplup, but the match eventually ends in Platinum's favor. Defeated, Roark awards Platinum with her first Badge, the Coal Badge. Later, he talks with Byron over the phone about his recent loss to Platinum and they begin talking about another subject.

Later, it is revealed that the aforementioned subject was about a mysterious group that had been going in and out of Canalave to read ancient texts at the library. With the recent disappearance of two scientists, Roark worries that his father would start jumping to conclusions about the littlest things. Later, when Byron is forced to find her, Maylene, and Platinum someone to train them so they can confront Team Galactic, he considers Roark at first but soon changes his mind to Volkner.

Later, Roark, along with Fantina and Gardenia, faces the Team Galactic Commanders on the Spear Pillar. After Candice, Maylene, Byron, and Crasher Wake join the fight, Roark and Fantina team up to face Saturn. Eventually, they emerge victorious and attempt to fight Cyrus before he can finish his ritual. Due to a rift in space-time, they are forced to use the Sinnoh Underground to get to Cyrus, but they manage to come up right at the exact spot he was in.

All the Gym Leaders attempt to stop Cyrus's plan by breaking one of his Red Chains. Though a difficult struggle, they manage to succeed, but they bring upon Cyrus's wrath in the process and are defeated.

After the final battle with Cyrus ends, Roark and the other Gym Leaders are taken to a hospital due to their heavy injuries.

Pokémon

This listing is of Roark's Pokémon in the Pokémon Adventures manga.

Egg → Cranidos → Rampardos

Debut	Putting a Crimp in Kricketot

Main article: Roark's Rampardos

Roark received Rampardos when it was an Egg prior to its debut and it eventually hatched into a Cranidos. 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 with Water-types. However, even with its Double Team it was defeated by the Penguin Pokémon's Water Pulse which confused it and it knocked itself out.

In Brash Bronzong Part 1, Cranidos evolved into a Rampardos.

Onix

Debut	A Conk on Cranidos's Cranium

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 being hit by the effect of Stealth Rock.

Onix's known moves are Double-Edge, Stealth Rock, and Slam, and its Ability is Rock Head.

In the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure! manga

Roark first appeared in Oreburgh City after Hareta had been kidnapped by Galactic Grunts, defeating them with his Cranidos. Afterwards Hareta challenged him to a Gym battle. Using a combination of Bide, BubbleBeam and the Oran Berry Roark had given him, Hareta managed to defeat Roark and earn the Coal Badge.

Pokémon

Cranidos

Debut	Hareta's Very First Pokémon Battle!!

Main article: Roark's Cranidos

Roark's Cranidos was used to rescue Hareta after he was tied up by Wurmple's String Shot. Then, he used it in Hareta's Gym battle and lost to his Piplup with the help of an Oran Berry Roark gave earlier.

Geodude

Debut	Team Galactic's Conspiracy Revealed!!

Geodude appeared in a flashback where it tried to comfort Roark when he was young after Byron pushed him too hard to become a Gym Leader.

None of Geodude's moves are known.

In the TCG

This listing is of cards mentioning or featuring Roark or his Pokémon in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Roark's Pokémon 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.
Card	Type	English Expansion	Rarity	#	Japanese Expansion	Rarity	#
Rampardos		Rising Rivals		11/111	Bonds to the End of Time		051/090
Aerodactyl		Rising Rivals		55/111	Bonds to the End of Time		049/090

Trivia

• His Japanese Leader title is ザ・ロックと　いわれた　おとこ.
• Roark is the third Gym Leader encountered first in the region that uses Rock-type Pokémon, the other two being Brock and Roxanne.
• Excluding Roxanne's Pokémon Emerald team, Roark is the first Gym Leader encountered first in the region to use three Pokémon instead of two.
• He and his father's Badges are references to the term Coal Mine. Plus, they both have mines in or near their respective town (Oreburgh Mine and Iron Island, which was once a mine).
• He is the only Sinnoh Gym Leader not to use any fully evolved Pokémon in his Gym battle in the games.
  • He is also the only Sinnoh Gym Leader whose Pokémon do not change in the slightest between Diamond and Pearl and Platinum.
• He is the only Gym Leader to have a parent that is a Gym Leader in the same region at the same time.

Names

Language	Name	Origin
Japanese	ヒョウタ Hyouta	From 瓢箪 hyōtan, calabash gourd. His father, Tougan, is also named after a gourd.
English	Roark	Similar to 'rock'. The 'oar' sounds like 'ore'.
French	Pierrick	From pierre, stone.
German	Veit	From Eveit (eveite), a mineral isostructural to adamite, or Feitknechtit (feitknechtite).
Italian	Pedro	From pietra, stone.
Spanish	Roco	From roca, rock.
Korean	강석 Gangseok	From 'strong' (强, gang) and 'rock' (石, seok). Also, ore is called 광석 (礦石) gwangseok in Korean.
Chinese (Mandarin)	瓢太 Piáotài​	From 瓢太 Hyouta. The character 瓢 contains the character 瓜, which is also in his father's anime name 東瓜 Dōng​guā​.

References

• Pokémon.com Shapes of Things to Come!
• Pokémon.com A Gruff Act to Follow!
• Pokémon.com Wild in the Streets!
• Pokémon.com O'er The Rampardos We Watched!

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

This game character article is part of Project CharacterDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each character found in the Pokémon games.