Team Aqua
- If you were looking for the theme deck fromEX Team Magma vs Team Aqua, seeTeam Aqua (TCG).
- Aqua redirects here. For the ferry service that runs betweenJohto andKanto, seeS.S. Aqua.
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 Artwork of Aqua Grunts fromOmega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire | ||||||||||||||||
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Team Aqua (Japanese:アクア団Aqua-dan, literallyAqua Gang) is one of the twovillainous teams with their organization based in theHoenn region, alongside their rivals,Team Magma. In Generation III, Team Aqua's ultimate goal is to expand the amount of water in the world while in Generation VI, they are trying to return the world to a state for Pokémon by awakeningKyogre to wipe out human civilization and return the world to its beginnings, so that Pokémon can live untainted by humanity's progress.
In the core series games
Team Aqua appears only in the Hoenn-based gamesPokémon Ruby, Sapphire, andEmerald, as well as their remakesPokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, where they scheme to bring Kyogre out of its slumber.
Generally,Team Aqua Grunts have weaker Pokémon, withZubat andPoochyena (andGrimer in Alpha Sapphire) plentiful among them; however, they also use Pokémon of other types. Typically they areWater types such asCarvanha (andWailmer in Emerald). The team is headed byArchie and his two immediate subordinatesMatt andShelly.
Pokémon Sapphire
Though they are first encountered early in the game, their first major plot is to use theMeteorite to cease the eruption ofMt. Chimney, which would cause rainwater to fill the cooled-down crater. When this is thwarted by theplayer, they set themselves up inLilycove City's cove, planning their next moves. Their final action in the storyline is to steal a submarine fromSlateport harbor, which they use to travel to theSeafloor Cavern with theRed Orb, where Kyogre awaits. Kyogre, however, is not able to be controlled, and leaves for theCave of Origin inSootopolis City where it must be captured by the player or defeated.
Pokémon Ruby
Team Aqua is relegated to a supporting role in Ruby, withTeam Magma instead performing the same actions (with different reasoning) and awakeningGroudon instead.
Pokémon Emerald
Team Aqua's deeds are partly the same inPokémon Emerald as they are in Sapphire, with them stealing the sub to obtain Kyogre. After awakening Kyogre and seeing Kyogre and Groudon clash together, both Team Magma'sMaxie and Team Aqua's Archie realize what they've done has caused a terrible disaster, and make peace with one another afterGroudon andKyogre have been taken care of byRayquaza.
Pokémon Alpha Sapphire
In Pokémon Alpha Sapphire, Team Aqua's role in the story remains largely the same but their motivation has been significantly altered. While in the original versions of Ruby and Sapphire Team Aqua saw a world with more seas as ideal for both Pokémon and humans, in Alpha Sapphire Team Aqua wishes to expand the sea to wipe out human civilization and return the world to its beginnings, so that Pokémon can live untainted by humanity's progress. This puts them in direct opposition to Team Magma, who in this version of the story believe that the land must be expanded to progress human living conditions.
In the spin-off games
Pokémon Masters EX
Archie and the twoTeam Aqua Admins,Matt andShelly, appear inPokémon Masters EX.
Team Aqua debut inVillain Arc chapter "Delta of Land, Sea and Sky," in which Team Rocket causes Kyogre to rampage. A manipulated Matt utilizes the power ofsync stones to control Archie's Kyogre to defeatTeam Magma.
| Dex | Trainer | NDex | Pokémon | Type | Weakness | Role | EX role | Base potential | Availability | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #128 |  | Archie | #0382 |  | Kyogre | Water | Grass |  |  | ★★★★★☆EX | Master Fair Sync Pair Scout |
In animation
Pokémon the Series
Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire
Team Aqua was introduced inStairway to Devon where a member of the team infiltrated theDevon Corporation and stole two capsules of "Creation Fluid". His plans were stopped by Team Rocket's Jessie and James, who intended to steal the same thing, with all parties involved not realizing that "Creation Fluid" was nothing more than water. InOn a Wingull and a Prayer!, this same member took a boat ofMr. Briney's to escape from the police and headed for the open ocean, where a Team Aqua submarine rescued him. This particular grunt is voiced byDarren Dunstan in English.
Team Aqua later appeared inA Three Team Scheme andUnfair Weather Friends. Their final, and most prominent appearance was inGaining Groudon andThe Scuffle of Legends, when they and Team Magma began the battle betweenKyogre andGroudon.
Pokémon Generations
Team Aqua appeared inThe Cavern, whereArchie and threeGrunts explored theSeafloor Cavern in search ofKyogre. Upon finding Kyogre, the Aqua Leader used theBlue Orb to awaken Kyogre'sPrimal form, despiteShelly's protests. Their scheme didn't go as planned, however, and the team was forced to watch as Kyogre devastated theHoenn region. Aboard theSubmarine Explorer 1, Archie and Shelly were last seen getting attacked by Primal Kyogre.
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
Ruby & Sapphire arc
Team Aqua were portrayed as more influential than their counterpartsTeam Magma. Their leader Archie, as the director of Hoenn TV, was able to orchestrate a cover-up of Team Aqua schemes and the identity of the team itself, while reportingTeam Magma schemes and airing anti-Team Magma propaganda whenever they could. This was howGabby andTy seemed to be unable to tell the full story of what happened toMr. Stone onRoute 104, or the ending of volcanic activity onMt. Chimney, a successful scheme led by theAqua Admins. In addition, Team Aqua's headquarters inLilycove City was able to house countless aquariums ofWater-type Pokémon.
Team Aqua's influence on the media eventually became too much for one man - Magma LeaderMaxie, who went to Lilycove to confront Archie. Archie eventually settled on a truce with Maxie which involved the two teams combining forces to reach the same destination together, as while Team Magma held the submarine built byCaptain Stern, Team Aqua had control of theDevon Parts they stole from Mr. Stone, which enabled the submarine to reach its destination.
The ending of volcanic activity was expected to bring the conditions necessary forKyogre to quickly gain areas of influence once it awakened. However, this was not the case, and Archie sentAmber over to investigate. Once Archie obtained theBlue Orb, he trapped Amber in the submarine they took to get to theSeafloor Cavern, as well as the Blue Orb's previous holderTabitha. Moreover, Archie took out the Devon Parts from the submarine and put it on auto-pilot so that it would burst. Despite surviving this event, Amber swore his allegiance to Team Aqua and joined forces with his fellow Admins to confront the HoennGym Leaders who were also impeding Kyogre's advance.
Emerald arc
Archie disbanded Team Aqua shortly after assuminghis new guise.
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire arc
Archie returned at the same time thatNeo Team Aqua (Japanese:新生アクア団Neo Aqua Gang) were formed by new incarnations ofMatt andShelly, to cooperate withZinnia.
In the TCG
Team Aqua is featured in thePokémon Trading Card Game in theEX Team Magma vs Team Aqua andDouble Crisis expansions. Their ambitions and specialties here reflect the other media they appear in. UnlikeTeam Rocket, which initially featuredDark Pokémon as an emphasis for their status as a villainous team, evolved Pokémon belonging to Team Aqua are dualDarkness-type. This mechanic would also be used on subsequent Team Rocket-related Pokémon in theEX Team Rocket Returns expansion.
Gallery
Logo shown before battle inPokémon Emerald
Team Magma and Team Aqua inPokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Trivia
- InSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate,Pichu can wear the Team Aqua bandana as one of its alternate costumes. The costume is the fifth of Pichu's eight options.
- Despite their name, theme, specialisation and motives revolving around water, none of Team Aqua’s Pokémon know anyWater-type moves in their debut in Pokémon Sapphire.
Names
| Language | Name | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | アクア団Aqua-dan | Fromaqua (water) |
| English, German, French | Team Aqua | |
| European Spanish | Equipo Aqua | |
| Team Aqua[n 1] | ||
| Latin American Spanish | Equipo Aqua | |
| Italian | Team Idro | From the prefixidro- (hydro-, relating to water) |
| Korean | 아쿠아단Aqua-dan | Transcription of its Japanese name |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 海洋隊Hǎiyáng Duì /Hóiyèuhng Déui | From 海洋hǎiyáng / hóiyèuhng (ocean) |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 海洋队Hǎiyáng Duì | |
| Chinese (Taiwan) | 水艦隊Shuǐjiàn Duì[n 2] | From 水shuǐ / séui (water) and 艦 / 舰jiàn / laahm (warship) |
| Chinese (Hong Kong) | 水艦隊Séuilaahm Déui[n 3] | |
| Chinese (mainland China) | 水舰队Shuǐjiàn Duì[n 4] | |
| Czech | Tým Aqua | From its Japanese and English name |
| Finnish | Aquaryhmä | From its Japanese and English name |
| Hindi | टीम अक्वाTeam Aqua | Transcription of its English name |
| Polish | Zespół Aqua | From its Japanese and English name |
| Brazilian Portuguese | Equipe Aqua | From its Japanese and English name |
| European Portuguese | Equipa Aqua | From its Japanese and English name |
| Russian | Команда АкваKomanda Akva | From its Japanese and English name |
| Vietnamese | Đội Aqua | Transcription of its Japanese name |
Notes
- ↑Pokémon animated series
- ↑Pokémon animated series,Pokémon Adventures
- ↑Pokémon animated series (TVB dub), Pokémon Adventures
- ↑Pokémon Adventures (first and second edition)
Related articles
 Team Aqua | ||
| Team Aqua Hideout | ||
| Leader | Administrators | |
 |  |  |
| Archie (Masters) | Matt | Shelly |
| Other members | ||
|---|---|---|
| Team Aqua Grunts •Amber (Adventures) | ||
| Former members | ||
| Zinnia | ||
