Wallace

Artist, and Lover of Water
Wallace
Species	Human
Hair color	Green
Base	Sootopolis City
Relatives	Lissia (niece)
Debut	Pokémon: Ruby Version/Pokémon: Sapphire Version

This article is about the Pokémon character, for the Fire Emblem character, see Wallace (Fire Emblem).

Wallace is a Pokémon trainer who originally appeared as the eighth and final Hoenn gym leader who must be battled in Pokémon: Ruby and Sapphire Versions and later in the remakes Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. He also alternately appeared as the Elite Four Champion in Pokémon: Emerald Version. Wallace specializes in Water-type Pokémon.

Background

Wallace was the gym leader of the Sootopolis City gym. He learned under the previous gym leader, Juan. As a descendant of the ancient Sootopolitans and a keeper of their traditions known as a Lorekeeper, Wallace was charged with protecting the Cave of Origin and was one of the only people capable of undoing the seal on the entrance to the Sky Pillar. He was admired throughout Sootopolis for his skills in battle as well as for his looks. He believed in dignity and respect, and he preferred Pokémon of grace. Wallace liked to use his Pokémon to perform aquatic illusions. He even competed in Pokémon Contests for some time and acted as a mentor to his niece Lisia. Once he saw that her talent surpassed his, he felt content focusing on being a gym leader.

He was also close friends with the young champion of Hoenn's Pokémon League, Steven Stone.

Ruby/Sapphire

He first appeared during the crisis in which either Groudon or Kyogre were awakened. He and Steven guided Brendan/May to the Cave of Origin, because the trainer had either the Red or Blue Orb, which was needed to battle and defeat Groudon or Kygore, and natives of Sootopolis were not allowed to enter the cave. After the crisis was averted, Wallace returned to his gym and waited there until Brendan/May challenged and defeated him. He awarded the trainer with the Rain Badge as well as TM 03: Water Pulse (or HM05: Waterfall in Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire). In Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire, he proceeded to tell the trainer that many paths were open to them. He directed them on one path, to Ever Grande City to take on the Elite Four, and he also told them that if they wanted to seek the path of completing the Pokédex, they should seek out Professor Birch and his advanced Pokédex.

Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire

Wallace later played a role in the Delta Episode of Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, where Steven eventually asked him to open the path to the Sky Pillar for Brendan/May. Wallace agreed and met with the trainer by the entrance, but before he allowed them to enter, he challenged them to a battle as a trial required by ancient tradition. Brendan/May defeated Wallace once again, and he applauded their performance with poetic descriptions. He himself could not enter a holy place like the Spear Pillar due to it being forbidden for Sootopolitans, so he decided to return to the city to try to think of a contingency plan just in case the worst came to pass. Wallace apologized to the young trainer for leaving the fate of the world in their hands once again and wished them luck.

After the crisis was averted, Steven talked with Wallace about his intentions to travel and see the world, and he expressed his hopes that Wallace would be behind him to lend a hand. Wallace agreed to, as he jokingly put it, "bow to the whims of the pampered heir" and do what he asked of him.

He also entered Pokémon Contest Spectaculars, and Brendan/May could compete against him and Lisia in a Master Rank contest of the Beauty category. In the aftermath, he introduced Brendan/May and Lisia to each other and told them that they were both fine trainers with bright futures ahead of them. As for his own future, he mentioned that he was considering giving Contests another try, but he also teased the idea of taking the title of Pokémon League Champion from Brendan/May.

Emerald

Wallace left the gym with Juan in charge to take Steven's place as the champion of the Pokémon League, although he still considered Steven to be superior to him. However, he returned to Sootopolis during the crisis of Groudon and Kyogre's battle due to his duty protecting the Cave of Origin. Brendan/May found Wallace in the Cave of Origin, where he hypothesized that Rayquaza could stop the crisis if they found their way to the Sky Pillar. Wallace went there ahead of Brendan/May and unlocked it, but soon after they arrived Wallace decided to return to Sootopolis because he had grown worried.

After Groudon and Kyogre's battle ended, Wallace thanked Brendan/May by giving them HM 07: Waterfall. Wallace then returned to the Pokémon League headquarters in Ever Grande City, where he remained until challenged by Brendan/May and defeated. He described the trainer as being "infuriatingly" elegant and then led him away to register him as Pokémon League champion.

Black 2/White 2

Wallace appeared in Black and White 2 as a competitor in the Pokémon World Tournament. He took part in the Champions Tournament, implying that he had canonically become a champion.

Pokémon Roster

Wallace uses the following Pokémon in his appearances:

Ruby/Sapphire/Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire

Wallace in Ruby and Sapphire

• Luvdisc
• Whiscash
• Sealeo
• Seaking
• Milotic

For the second battle with Wallace in the Delta Episode of Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, he uses his roster from Emerald. He also uses his Milotic for Pokémon Contest Spectaculars.

Emerald

• Wailord
• Tentacruel
• Ludicolo
• Gyarados
• Whiscash
• Milotic

Black 2/White 2

• Milotic
• Sharpedo
• Walrein
• Ludicolo
• Swampert
• Starmie

Other Appearances

• Wallace appears in several subsequent episodes of the Pokémon anime. He does not appear until the Diamond and Pearl series, where he hosts and judges a Pokémon Contest called the Wallace Cup. His background as a gym leader and Hoenn champion is also mentioned.
• Wallace appear in the Ruby/Sapphire arc of the Pokémon Adventures manga as a supporting character. He is introduced as being very flashy and a professional at Pokémon Contests, which initially attracts Ruby to him and leads to Ruby learning under him. However, Wallace also shows a level of responsibility which causes them to part after Ruby refuses to be responsible. Wallace is shown to have had a relationship in the past with Winona. In flashback it is shown that Wallace had become the Pokémon League champion by defeating Steven Stone, but he gave up the title so that he could succeed Juan as gym leader with the ulterior motive of being closer to Winona. However, their relationship (a parallel to Ruby and Sapphire's), leads to a falling-out with Winona hinting at her feeling suffocated by always having a stronger man around her. Near the end of the arc Steven passes the champion's cloak to him before sacrificing himself, although his death was later undone. Wallace and Winona make a brief appearance in an Emerald chapter where they attend a wedding on a cruise with Ruby and Sapphire, with Winona confiding in Sapphire about their relationship's problems.

Trivia

• His name may be derived from 'water'.
• Although he only officially becomes champion of the Hoenn League in the Emerald canon, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire foreshadow the possibility of him becoming champion, which also matches up with his participation in the Champions Tournament in Black 2/White 2.