Pokémon Go Ruby vs Sapphire, including how to choose Ruby or Sapphire for Go Tour Hoenn and version differences

How to choose Ruby or Sapphire in Pokémon Go

To choose between Ruby or Sapphire for the Go Tour: Hoenn event in Pokémon Go, you must first complete the Primal Rumblings special research quest.

This quest was released on Friday, 17th February and is available for all players, because, aside from the Masterwork Research: Wish Granted quest, Go Tour: Hoenn is free for every Pokémon Go trainer.

You’ll receive a Ticket after completing the second, and final, step in the Primal Rumblings quest. This Ticket can be found in your Item Bag and, when selected, will allow you to choose between the Ruby or Sapphire teams.

Once you’ve made your selection, and been asked if you’re sure about it, you’ll receive a badge representing your choice.

It’s important to note that you can not change your team once your selection is made, so pick wisely. If you’d like to know the version differences between the Ruby and Sapphire teams, then continue reading!

If you partook in the Go Tour: Hoenn Las Vegas event, then your team choice will carry over and you can not change it.

Ruby vs Sapphire challenge and version differences in Pokémon Go Tour Hoenn explained

Inspired by Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire for the Game Boy Advance, the Go Tour: Hoenn event asks you to pick between two teams - Ruby or Sapphire. There are a number of differences between the two teams which you should keep in mind when making your choice.

Version differences

Here’s a quick breakdown on the differences between the Ruby and Sapphire versions of the Go Tour: Hoenn Global event, which we explore in more detail after the lists:

Ruby version differences:

• Ruby version badge
• Contribute to Ruby team during the hourly Field Research challenges
• Latios will spawn in the wild
• Taking a snapshot with Latios in the wild earns you another encounter with the legendary

While the following bonuses are available to all players, if the Ruby team wins the hourly Field Research challenge there will be:

• Increased number of Primal Groudon raids
• Pokémon on Ruby additional wild encounters list will spawn

Sapphire version differences:

• Sapphire version badge
• Contribute to Sapphire team during the hourly Field Research challenges
• Latias will spawn in the wild
• Taking a snapshot with Latias in the wild earns you another encounter with the legendary

The following bonuses are available to all players if the Sapphire teams wins the hourly Field Research challenge:

• Increased number of Primal Kyogre raids
• Pokémon on Sapphire additional wild encounters list will spawn

Your team choice decides which side you fall during the Field Research Challenge during every hour of the event.

This challenge tasks you with completing a special Field Research each hour of the event - between 10am to 6pm (local time) on both Saturday, 25th February and Sunday, 26th February 2023 - and whichever team completes more of this Field Research globally will enjoy two bonuses during the following hour.

The first bonus involves having a selection of additional Pokémon spawn more frequently during the hour, which you can find listed further along in this guide.

The second bonus is having an increased number of Primal Raids for the Primal Legendary connected to the team you selected, with these raids being available for all players. If Ruby wins the challenge, then there will be an increased number of Primal Groudon raids, but, if Sapphire wins, there will be more Primal Kyogre raids.

Outside of the Field Research Challenge, the team you pick decides which bonus encounter you get from taking a snapshot of Latias or Latios in the wild.

If you’re in the Ruby team and take a picture of Latios in the wild, you’ll gain another encounter with this Pokémon. Meanwhile, if you choose Sapphire, you’ll earn an additional encounter with Latias if you take a snapshot of this Pokémon.

Finally, you’ll receive a badge representing the team you choose after making your selection.

It’s important to note that players who attended the Go Tour: Hoenn Las Vegas event can not change their team selection.

What’s the same in both versions?

Aside from what’s covered above, everything will stay the same no matter which version you pick for the Go Tour: Hoenn Global event.

You can still buy a ticket for the Masterwork Research: Wish Granted quest, complete the Chasing Legends special research quest, catch all of the habitat hour Pokémon and partake in Primal Raids for both Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre.

Unlike past Go Tour events, this means you don’t have to find another player to complete any Collection Challenges. This means Go Tour: Hoenn is much better for players who live in rural areas or prefer to play the game alone, because it ensures everyone can enjoy the event without having to worry about missing out any aspect of it.

Though we do recommend investing in some Remote Raid Passes if you’re not part of a local Pokémon Go group or playing with friends…

Pokémon Go Tour Hoenn Ruby and Sapphire: Which is the best team?

When it comes to choosing between the Ruby and Sapphire teams of the Go Tour: Hoenn Global event, it’s all down to personal preference.

Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre share the same powerful stats, so you don’t have to pick a team with the aim of focusing on the stronger legendary. Instead, we recommend taking the time to gather enough energy for both evolutions.

You could base your decision on whether you have Latias or Latios in your Pokédex, since your team choice will give you the chance to catch one of these legendary Pokémon in the wild.

It’s also worth taking the additional wild encounters each team offers into account, especially since they include the regionally exclusive Pokémon - Volbeat and Illumise. If you’re missing one of these Pokémon, then we recommend choosing their specific team to increase your chances of catching it during the event.

Personally, I choose Ruby because, since I already have the Platinum Water-type Badge, the additional wild encounters it offers gives me the chance to focus on the Ground-type Badge. (And because I played Pokémon Ruby on the GBA growing up…)

The Max Out Season is here and includes a new global event, Wild Area, and the current 2024 Halloween event brings us Morpeko and the Halloween cup. You can now catch Dynamax Pokémon through Max Battles. First, however, you need to visit Power Spots to collect Max Particles and complete the To the Max! quest. Don't forget to try out Routes, Gift Exchange and Party Play while you're hunting down rare Pokémon, fighting in the Go Battle League or competing in PokéStop Showcases.

Ruby additional wild encounters during Pokémon Go Tour Hoenn

If you decide to be on the Ruby team during Go Tour: Hoenn Global and your team has won the past hour’s Field Research challenge, the following Pokémon will appear more frequently in the wild during the next hour:

• Plusle
• Volbeat
• Trapinch
• Solrock
• Sunny Form Castform

Remember - all of the Pokémon listed above have had their shiny forms released into Pokémon Go!

Sapphire additional wild encounters during Pokémon Go Tour Hoenn

If you pick the Sapphire team during Go Tour: Hoenn Global and your team has won the past hour’s Field Research challenge, the following Pokémon will appear more frequently in the wild during the next hour:

• Minun
• Illumise
• Wailmer
• Lunatone
• Rainy Form Castform

Don’t forget - all of the Pokémon above have had their shiny forms released into Pokémon Go!

Hope you enjoy the Go Tour: Hoenn Global event - no matter which team you pick!