Team Magma
- If you're looking for the theme deck from EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua, see Team Magma (TCG).
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Artwork of Magma Grunts from R/S | ||||||||||||||||
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Team Magma (Japanese: マグマ団 Magma-dan, literally Magma Gang) is one of two villainous teams found in the Hoenn region, alongside their rivals, Team Aqua. Team Magma's ultimate goal is to expand the amount of landmass in the world by awakening Groudon.
In the games
Team Magma appears only in the Hoenn-based games Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, where they scheme to bring Groudon out of its slumber.
Generally, Team Magma Grunts have weaker Pokémon, with Zubat and Poochyena plentiful among them, however, they also use Pokémon of other types; typically they are Fire-type and Ground-type Pokémon such as Numel (and Baltoy in Emerald). The team is headed by Maxie and his two immediate subordinates Tabitha and Courtney.
In Ruby
Though they are first encountered early in the game, their first major plot is to use a Meteorite to cause Mt. Chimney to erupt and expand the land. When this is thwarted by the player, they set themselves up in Lilycove City's cove, planning their next moves. Their final action in the storyline is to steal a submarine from Slateport harbor, which they use to travel to the Seafloor Cavern with the Blue Orb, where Groudon awaits. Groudon, however, is not able to be controlled, and leaves for the Cave of Origin in Sootopolis City where it must be captured by the player or defeated.
In Sapphire
Team Magma is relegated to a supporting role in Sapphire, with Team Aqua instead performing the same actions (with different reasoning) and awakening Kyogre instead.
In Emerald
Team Magma's deeds are partly the same in Pokémon Emerald as they are in Ruby and Sapphire, with the plot to cause Mt. Chimney's eruption featured, as well as a new plot to steal rocket fuel from the Mossdeep Space Center. Groudon is eventually awakened deep within a cavern used by Team Magma deep inside of Mt. Chimney. Both Team Magma's Maxie and Team Aqua's Archie realize what they've done has caused a terrible disaster, and make peace with one another after Groudon and Kyogre have been taken care of by Rayquaza.
In the anime
Like Team Rocket, Team Magma appears in the second episode of their own series, however, their rivals in Team Aqua do not make an appearance until several more episodes have passed. Much of the time, their focus is on uncovering clues about the location of Groudon, however, in A Three Team Scheme! and Fight for the Meteorite!, they come into confrontation with Team Aqua. This happens as well as in Gaining Groudon and The Scuffle of Legends, where their feud ends in a large and destructive fight between the two super-ancient Pokémon they chased.
Unlike Giovanni, Maxie himself never so much as picks up a Poké Ball, instead allowing his underlings to do the fighting for him. Tabitha generally oversees the activities of the team, while Courtney does not appear at all. Brodie infiltrates many places as a master of disguise, however, it is unknown whether his rank is above that of a Grunt or not. Formerly, Butler from Jirachi: Wish Maker worked as a scientist for Team Magma, intending to resurrect a Groudon from a fossil, but was fired when he was unable to bring the project to fruition.
Like in the games, they use both Dark-type and Fire-type Pokémon, even those not necessarily in the Hoenn Pokédex. Brodie's team includes a Ditto, complimenting his nature. Team Magma seems to be very much organized; respect is always shown to those of higher rank, while Maxie's orders are always heeded.
In the manga
In the Pokémon Adventures manga
In Pokémon Adventures, Team Magma's goal is to increase the landmass of the Hoenn region; because of this they have a bitter rivarly with Team Aqua. To reach their goal they aim at capturing Groudon, the land Pokémon that had been sleeping in the Seafloor Cavern for a long time, after its battle with Kyogre, the water Pokémon. Their plans were foiled by Ruby and Sapphire. After his plans becoming unsuccesful, Maxie went insane because he had bonded with the orbs and stated to destory the Hoenn region with Archie. His plans were again foiled by Ruby and Sapphire.
In the manga Team Magma appears much less organized than their game and anime counterparts. The administrators instead number as three, with Courtney and Tabitha joined by Mack to comprise the Three Fires, with Maxie as their only superior. Unlike the anime and games, in Pokémon Adventures, the Three Fires are seen to be allowed to carry out Maxie's orders in whatever way they see fit, and perhaps as a result of the lack of central leadership, do not show much respect towards Maxie at all.
Unlike in other media where they are shown to have several types of Pokémon, Team Magma members specialize strictly in the Fire type in Pokémon Adventures.
In the TCG
Team Magma is featured in the Pokémon Trading Card Game in the EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua expansion. Their ambitions and specialties here reflect the other media they appear in. Unlike Team Rocket, which initially featured Dark Pokémon as an emphasis for their status as a villainous team, evolved Pokémon belonging to Team Magma are dual Darkness-type. This mechanic would also be used on subsequent Team Rocket-related Pokémon in the EX Team Rocket Returns expansion.
In other languages
Language | Name | Origin |
---|---|---|
Japanese | マグマ団 Magma-dan | From the word "magma". |
English | Team Magma | From the Japanese name. |
Finnish | Magmaryhmä | Means "Magma Group". |
Spanish | Equipo Magma | From the Japanese name. |
Team Magma | From the English name. | |
Chinese (Mandarin) | 火岩隊 Huǒyán Duì | Literally "Fire rock brigade". 火岩 may come from 熔岩 róngyán (lava) or 火焰 huǒyàn (flame). |
See also
Team Magma | ||
Team Magma Hideout • Jagged Pass Hideout | ||
Leader | Administrators | |
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Maxie (Masters) | Tabitha | Courtney (Masters) |
Other members | ||
Team Magma Grunts • Butler (Jirachi: Wish Maker) Brodie (Pokémon the Series) • Blaise (Adventures) | ||
Former members | ||
Zinnia (Masters) |