The third generation (generation III) of the Pokémon franchise features 386 fictional species of creatures and 135 Pokémon introduced to the core video game series in the 2002 Game Boy Advance games Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, and later in the 2004 game Pokémon Emerald. These games were accompanied by the television series Pokémon Advanced, which aired from November 21, 2002, until August 28, 2003, in Japan.

The following list details the 135 Pokémon of generation III in order of their National Pokédex number. The first Pokémon, Treecko, is number 252 and the last, Deoxys, is number 386. Alternate forms that result in type changes are included for convenience. Mega Evolutions and regional forms are included on the pages for the generation in which they were introduced.

Design and development Pokémon are a species of fictional creatures created for the Pokémon media franchise. Developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo, the Japanese franchise began in 1996 with the video games Pokémon Red and Green for the Game Boy, which were later released in North America as Pokémon Red and Blue in 1998. In these games and their sequels, the player assumes the role of a Trainer whose goal is to capture and use the creatures' special abilities to combat other Pokémon. Some Pokémon can transform into stronger species through a process called evolution via various means, such as exposure to specific items. Each Pokémon have one or two elemental types, which define its advantages and disadvantages when battling other Pokémon. A major goal in each game is to complete the Pokédex, a comprehensive Pokémon encyclopedia, by capturing, evolving, and trading with other Trainers to obtain individuals from all Pokémon species.

Nintendo Life noted in a retrospective that the third generation of Pokémon has a very different "feel" from the two generations that came before it because almost all of its 135 new Pokémon – save for Azurill and Wynaut – have no relation to those of the previous generations. Ruby and Sapphire features two "Mythical Pokémon" – Jirachi and Deoxys – both of which became available to coincide with their respective anime movies.

Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire significantly increased the number of "Dark" and "Steel"-type Pokémon in the series, as only a few Pokémon in previous generations used these typings. Hardcore Gamer also noted that many of the new Pokémon made use of "dual typing", where Pokémon have both a primary and a secondary type. This was not nearly as common in Red and Blue or Gold and Silver.

List of Pokémon

Treecko Grovyle Sceptile Torchic Combusken Blaziken Mudkip Marshtomp Swampert Poochyena Mightyena Zigzagoon Linoone Wurmple Silcoon Beautifly Cascoon Dustox Lotad Lombre Ludicolo Seedot Nuzleaf Shiftry Taillow Swellow Wingull Pelipper Ralts Kirlia Gardevoir Surskit Masquerain Shroomish Breloom Slakoth Vigoroth Slaking Nincada Ninjask Shedinja Whismur Loudred Exploud Makuhita Hariyama Azurill Nosepass Skitty Delcatty Sableye Mawile Aron Lairon Aggron Meditite Medicham Electrike Manectric Plusle Minun Volbeat Illumise Roselia Gulpin Swalot Carvanha Sharpedo Wailmer Wailord Numel Camerupt Torkoal Spoink Grumpig Spinda Trapinch Vibrava Flygon Cacnea Cacturne Swablu Altaria Zangoose Seviper Lunatone Solrock Barboach Whiscash Corphish Crawdaunt Baltoy Claydol Lileep Cradily Anorith Armaldo Feebas Milotic Castform Kecleon Shuppet Banette Duskull Dusclops Tropius Chimecho Absol Wynaut Snorunt Glalie Spheal Sealeo Walrein Clamperl Huntail Gorebyss Relicanth Luvdisc Bagon Shelgon Salamence Beldum Metang Metagross Regirock Regice Registeel Latias Latios Kyogre Groudon Rayquaza Jirachi Deoxys

+ List of Pokémon species introduced in generation III (2002) Name Type(s) Evolves from Evolves into Notes Treecko(0252) ||align=center| Grass Grovyle (#253) Wild Treecko live in overgrown forests and attack anyone who approaches their territory. It has claws on its feet that allow it to scale walls. It can sense humidity with its tail, and uses it to predict the weather. In 2022, a genus of Anyphaena spider was named Anyphaena treecko after the Pokémon. Grovyle(0253) ||align=center| Grass Treecko (#252) Sceptile (#254) It uses the leaves growing on its body to camouflage itself in forests. Its thigh muscles allow it to jump between tree branches to attack or run from opponents. A Grovyle plays a major role in the plot of the spin-off games Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Explorers of Darkness, and Explorers of Sky. In 2021, a species of Anyphaena spider was named Anyphaena grovyle after the Pokémon, along with the closely related Anyphaena sceptile. Sceptile(0254) ||align=center| Grass Grovyle (#253) Mega Evolution It can slice trees down with its leaves, but prefers raising them. The seeds on its back contain nutrients. An acrobatic species, it can jump between tree branches to attack foes from above or behind. It gained a Mega Evolution in generation VI. In 2021, a newly discovered species of Anyphaena spider was named Anyphaena sceptile after the fictional species of Pokémon. Torchic(0255) ||align=center| Fire Combusken (#256) It has a flame sac inside it, making it warm to the touch. It can spit fireballs. It dislikes darkness because it cannot see its surroundings. During the promotion of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire in America, a special Game Boy Advance with a Torchic theme was released at the New York Pokémon Center back in 2003. This said Game Boy Advance was also released in Japan to commemorate the 5th anniversary of the first Pokémon Centers opening up in Japan Combusken(0256) ||align=center| Fire / Fighting Torchic (#255) Blaziken (#257) It can kick 10 times per second. Its cries intimidate and distract foes. Blaziken(0257) ||align=center| Fire / Fighting Combusken (#256) Mega Evolution Its leg muscles allow it to jump over a 30-story building. It can blow fire from its wrists and ankles to burn its foes. Every few years, it sheds its feathers, and new ones grow in their place. It gained a Mega Evolution in generation VI. It received an Ability called Speed Boost in generation V, which caused it to be banned to the "Ubers" tier in the Smogon competitive scene from generations V to VII, before falling to the "UUBL" tier in generation VIII, but due to the limited Pokémon roster of Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, it was banned to Ubers in its competitive scene. Blaziken has received generally positive reception. IGN readers ranked Blaziken the 50th best Pokémon ever. Game Informer ranked it the 36th best Pokémon. In a poll by Official Nintendo Magazines Tom East, Blaziken was voted the third-best Fire-type Pokémon. They stated, "A kung fu chicken? What's not to like?". In a poll of the best Pokémon from Ruby and Sapphire in celebration of the games having 10 years under their belt, Blaziken was ranked in third place. Another poll of the best Pokémon introduced in Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald placed Blaziken third. GamesRadar used Blaziken as an example of a human-shaped Pokémon done right. The Escapist's John Funk wrote that Blaziken was an "awesome" example of a Pokémon that players who refused to play past Red and Blue were missing out on. Game Informers Jeff Marchiafava felt that Blaziken was less cool than other Fire-type Pokémon and stated that it has a 1970s "vibe". While he felt that the Mega Evolution was an improvement, he called it a "Mega Disappointment". Kotaku's Eric Jou also felt that it had a weak design and cited it as an example of Ruby and Sapphires weak Pokémon designs. Several critics and websites have noted that Blaziken would be a good choice for a playable character in Super Smash Bros.Wii Feature: Challenger Approaching: Your Say! – Official Nintendo Magazine Mudkip(0258) ||align=center| Water Marshtomp (#259) The fin on its head can sense changes in the air and water currents, acting as a radar. It is strong enough to lift boulders. Videos, images and copypastas involving Mudkip began surfacing in 2005, and by 2007, the Pokémon, along with variations of the misspelled phrase "so i herd u liek mudkipz", have become internet memes which originated from a post on 4chan and received tribute videos on YouTube. The hacktivist group Anonymous has been known to reference the "u liek mudkipz" meme during protests, the most famous example being the group's 2008 protests against the Church of Scientology. Marshtomp(0259) ||align=center| Water / Ground Mudkip (#258) Swampert (#260) It is adapted to living and moving in mud, where other Pokémon struggle to move. It has a thin film on its body that allows it to live on land. Swampert(0260) ||align=center| Water / Ground Marshtomp (#259) Mega Evolution It can lift and break boulders weighing over a ton, swim faster than a jetski, and swim while towing a ship. It can sense changes in the weather, and piles up boulders to protect its nest against storms. It gained a Mega Evolution in generation VI. Poochyena(0261) ||align=center| Dark Mightyena (#262) It hunts in packs. It barks to intimidate foes and chases prey until exhaustion. Despite its strategies, it is a cowardly species, and will turn tail if the foe fights back. Mightyena(0262) ||align=center| Dark Poochyena (#261) It lives and hunts in packs of around 10 Pokémon, with a concrete hierarchy. The leader coordinates attacks, and tries to prevent its prey from escaping battle. Zigzagoon(0263) ||align=center| Normal Linoone (#264) It walks in a zigzag pattern. A curious species, it takes interest in everything it finds, and is constantly looking for items on the ground. It may play dead to fool opponents. It has a Dark/Normal-type Galarian form. Linoone(0264) ||align=center| Normal Zigzagoon (#263) It can run at per hour, though it struggles with turning. It has a Dark/Normal-type Galarian form. Wurmple(0265) ||align=center| Bug Silcoon (#266)Cascoon (#268) It feeds on leaves, and can pull the bark off a tree to consume its sap. To defend itself from predators like Swellow and Starly, it can eject poison from the spikes on its tail. It evolves into either Silcoon or Cascoon seemingly at random; there is no conclusive evidence regarding how it works. Silcoon(0266) ||align=center| Bug Wurmple (#265) Beautifly (#267) It cannot move much due to being in a cocoon, but has its eyes to check for danger. It conserves energy for evolution. Beautifly(0267) ||align=center| Bug / Flying Silcoon (#266) Despite its appearance, it is an aggressive species. It uses its proboscis to feed on pollen, nectar, water, fruit juices, and the bodily fluids of its prey. Cascoon(0268) ||align=center| Bug Wurmple (#265) Dustox (#269) It hides in leaves and in the gaps between branches, or attaches dead leaves to its body for camouflage. Its silk is said to have superior texture and luster to that of Silcoon. Dustox(0269) ||align=center| Bug / Poison Cascoon (#268) It is nocturnal, and attracted to light. To defend itself, it spreads toxic scales. In urban areas, Dustox swarm around streetlights and bonfires, and eat the leaves from nearby trees. Lotad(0270) ||align=center| Water / Grass Lombre (#271) The leaf on its back is similar to a water lily. It ferries small Pokémon across lakes with it. While its leaf is too big and heavy for it to properly lift on land, it may travel on the ground when looking for clean water. Lombre(0271) ||align=center| Water / Grass Lotad (#270) Ludicolo (#272)It sleeps during the day and pranks others during the night. It may pull on fishing hooks to annoy fishermen. It is covered in a slimy film. It feeds on moss that grows underwater. Ludicolo(0272) ||align=center| Water / Grass Lombre (#271) It enjoys dancing. Its cells produce energy when hit with the sound waves of cheerful or festive music. Seedot(0273)