Pokemon Ruthless Ruby is a 3DS ROM Hack by Z PokeMan based on Pokemon Omega Ruby in English. It was last updated on September 11, 2026.
Also, be sure to check out Pokemon Project Ultra.
Description
Pokémon Ruthless Ruby is a full difficulty and balance overhaul of Omega Ruby. Most trainers with more than one Pokémon are fought as Double Battles, and a lot of the teams have been rebuilt to actually work together instead of just being six strong Pokémon thrown on the same team. I’ve always liked ORAS, but I wanted the major battles to feel like the trainers actually had a plan instead of just having higher levels and stronger Pokémon. Ruthless Ruby is my attempt at turning Omega Ruby into a much harder Double-Battle-focused run without making it feel boring and repetitive.
Features
- Most trainers with 2+ Pokémon are Double Battles
- Hard level caps that increase as you progress through the story
- Completely reworked Gym Leaders, rivals, Team Magma bosses, Elite Four, and Champion
- Gym Leaders built around their own battle mechanics and strategies
- Better trainer movesets, abilities, and held items
- Massive QOL, cheaper TMs, new TMs after each badge, cheap Heart Scales, and competitive items !
- More switching, pivots, spread-move synergy, and immunity-based team building
- Game is complete but may need a few bugs worked
- Shiny starters
- A few Pokémon typing and ability changes
- Gen 1–6 Pokémon used throughout the game
- Variety of Pokémon between trainers
- Mega Evolution becomes more common later in the game
- Candy Pouch to cut down on grinding
- Reusable PokéVial
- HM-free Cut, Rock Smash and Strength, Surf, Waterfall,Dive
- Harder difficulty
- New Gym mechanics like automatic sand for Roxane and tailwind for Winona and much more for brutal challenges
- Elite Four is ruthlessly put together
- General balance and QoL changes throughout the whole game
Changelog
V1.4.12
- Candy Pouch and PokeVial are fixed. Both are reusable and stay in your bag after you use them.
- Ability Patch works, but the Pokemon needs to be damaged first. If it is at full HP, the game will not let you use the Patch. Take a little damage, use the Patch, and it will change the Pokemon to its Hidden Ability. Ability Capsule works normally.
- The Nature Specialist is in every Pokemon Center. It costs P500 and changes the actual Nature shown on the Pokemon summary screen.
- Nature Specialist locations: Oldale, Petalburg, Rustboro, Dewford, Slateport, Mauville, Verdanturf, Fallarbor, Lavaridge, Fortree, Lilycove, Mossdeep, Sootopolis, Pacifidlog, Ever Grande, Battle Resort
- Horde encounters remain available through Sweet Scent.
- Shiny odds are 1/256, and the Pokemon rebalances are included.
