Team Magma

Team Magma in Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald: Maxie's plan to raise the land

Team Magma appears in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald and their remakes, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. Led by Maxie, with Tabitha and Courtney as his Admins, it wants to wake the legendary Groudon and expand the world's landmass. The originals frame more land as good for people and Pokémon alike; Omega Ruby recasts it as room for human civilization to grow. Grunts use Poochyena and Zubat alongside Ground types such as Numel.

Its first big scheme is using a Meteorite to make Mt. Chimney erupt. In Ruby the team goes on to awaken Groudon with the wrong orb, enraging it instead of controlling it. In Emerald, where both teams are active, Maxie and Archie realize the disaster their legendaries have caused and make peace once Rayquaza calms them.

Team Magma in the anime

In Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire, Team Magma debuts in A Ruin with a View and spends much of its screen time chasing clues to Groudon's whereabouts. It clashes with Team Aqua in episodes such as Fight for the Meteorite!, and the feud ends in Gaining Groudon and The Scuffle of Legends with a destructive battle between Groudon and Kyogre.

Team Magma on cards: from EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua to Celebrations

EX Team Magma vs Team Aqua (March 2004) introduced Team Magma's Pokémon, and the team's evolved Pokémon carry a second type, Darkness, alongside their usual one. Its Team Magma holos are Team Magma's Aggron, Claydol, Groudon, Houndoom, Rhydon and Torkoal; the Groudon is illustrated by Kazuo Yazawa. The rest of the roster runs through Aron and Lairon, Baltoy, Houndour, Numel and Camerupt, Rhyhorn, Poochyena and Mightyena, and Zangoose.

Double Crisis (March 2015), a small special set built around the two teams, brought Team Magma back with new cards led by the Ultra Rare Team Magma's Groudon EX, plus the Item Team Magma's Great Ball and the Stadium Team Magma's Secret Base. The Celebrations Classic Collection (October 8, 2021) then reprinted Team Magma's Groudon with Kazuo Yazawa's 2004 art.

Cards to know

• Team Magma's Groudon (Team Magma vs Team Aqua #9)

  The team's legendary as a holo, illustrated by Kazuo Yazawa.

• Team Magma's Groudon EX (Double Crisis #15)

  The Ultra Rare centerpiece of Team Magma's half of Double Crisis.

• Team Magma's Groudon (Celebrations Classic Collection #CC011)

  The 2021 reprint of the 2004 holo, with the original art.

• Team Magma's Houndoom (Team Magma vs Team Aqua #10)

  One of the six Team Magma holos in the 2004 set, with art by Ken Ikuji.

• Team Magma's Aggron (Team Magma vs Team Aqua #7)

  Another 2004 holo, illustrated by Hiromichi Sugiyama.