Quick Overview:
Emerald Azure is a rom hack for Pokémon Emerald. Emerald Azure brings an entirely new story for you to enjoy. There are new locations, NPCs, and gyms. Emerald Azure is also difficulty-focused. The Rom Hack uses the Radical Red dex as a base (all stat changes, abilities, movepools, etc, from the Radical Red dex are present here). The Rom Hack also currently contains 116 variant forms (counting all evolutions), 9 new Eeveelutions, 26 new Mega Evolutions, along with a plethora of custom signature moves for the new variants. You can find more information further down. The download link can also be found below.
Last Update:
4/27/26
(View the changelog on Hackdex for details.)
Story Overview
Heaven hums in desolate white,
Darkness extinguishes light.
Voices pray as one,
"Azure has begun."
Emerald Azure features every evil organization from the Pokémon universe. Each organization has its own goals and desires, with some teaming up with one another. Some of these partnerships are real, and some are temporary, used as leverage or for some secret motive. The groups will clash against one another and against the player, with an overarching storyline that everything will build up toward. The story is still a work in progress as the ROM is not fully complete. You can still experience a good amount of story. More is added with each update.
Darkness extinguishes light.
Voices pray as one,
"Azure has begun."
Emerald Azure features every evil organization from the Pokémon universe. Each organization has its own goals and desires, with some teaming up with one another. Some of these partnerships are real, and some are temporary, used as leverage or for some secret motive. The groups will clash against one another and against the player, with an overarching storyline that everything will build up toward. The story is still a work in progress as the ROM is not fully complete. You can still experience a good amount of story. More is added with each update.
All Features:
- New Story (Currently up to Gym 9
- New Gyms & New Locations
- Difficulty (Like Radical Red)
- Unique Enemy AI
- Quests
- Minigames
- Field Effects
- Level Cap Progression
- 150+ Variant Pokémon Forms
- 9 Eeveelutions
- 26 New Mega Evolutions
- Radical Red Dex as a base (Buffs & changes)
- Gen 1-9
- New Signature Moves
- New Signature Abilities for variant form Pokémon
- Overworld Static Encounters
- Optional Bosses (with rewards) [Some of them are tricky to find!]
- EV / IV Allocation from anywhere!
- Infinite Candy to get your Pokémon to the level cap!
- Emerald Expansion features (following pokemon, sleep clause, type icons, move effectiveness, etc)
- And so much more!
Discord:
https://discord.gg/NfBcTjQFGD
Updates and feature previews will be announced on Discord before any updates are posted here. Discord is the main source for information on the rom-hack's development. You can also make suggestions there or help test upcoming updates.
Screenshots:
Keep in mind this is a work in progress project. Content shown is subject to change.
Help Wanted:
Recruitment to join the team is open for the following positions:
- Testers: Test out the game and find bugs. Also provide suggestions and insight on how to strengthen the overall gameplay.
- Artists: Design variant sprites, design overworld sprites, and trainer art, etc.
- Audio: Create music! As well as sound effects.
- Writers: Assist with story development and plot progression
- Mappers: Help plan out new locations, static encounters, etc.
Reach out to me through this project's Discord if you would like to assist.
I am also interested in feedback! Do you enjoy the ROM? Do you hate the ROM? Let me know!
Difficulty Disclaimer:
I loved playing Radical Red's Hardcore mode, and I loved playing Emerald Imperium. So... you can expect this rom hack to be difficult, but it will be fair. Enemy teams will not use legendary or mythical Pokémon unless there is a story-relevant reason for them to have that Pokémon. All gym leaders will follow a specific theme and will not contain random off-types. For example, Rustboro's gym uses Rock & Ground types. South Dewford's team is entirely Dark type. Dewford's gym is entirely fighting type. Wattson's gym will be Electric Steel themed (race-car theme), and so on.
All trainers have EV-trained Pokémon. You have access to stat-editing, so you are expected to assign EVs to your Pokémon. All trainers (with custom teams, which is 90% of them) have smart AI. Their Pokémon will also be at the level cap (this isn't the case for all trainers in the first few zones, to help ease the player in)
A few general difficulty points:
All trainers have EV-trained Pokémon. You have access to stat-editing, so you are expected to assign EVs to your Pokémon. All trainers (with custom teams, which is 90% of them) have smart AI. Their Pokémon will also be at the level cap (this isn't the case for all trainers in the first few zones, to help ease the player in)
A few general difficulty points:
- Trainers (both enemy and you) can not use healing items (like potions) in trainer battles
- Set battle mode is forced
- The Enemy AI will never cheat and know what Pokémon you are switching into. The enemy DOES know your entire Pokemon team, so it can make smart predictions. It'll never know 100% though.
- Enemy trainers will have access to TM, Tutor, and Egg moves. I keep this to a reasonable amount early on. The player also has a good amount of TMs they can find early on to help counter this.
Nuzlocking:
Nuzlocke Hall of Fame
If you are able to complete the game with a nuzlocke (while following the HoF rules) then you will be added to the Hall of Fame. This comes with the following rewards:
# Hall of Fame Rules:
1. Your run must be live-streamed on Twitch or Youtube.
2. Your run needs to have started on the most recent update version.
3. Shiny clause is allowed. If you encounter a shiny you can catch it. You are not allowed to grind for shiny Pokémon on a route though. Using Shiny Token on a Pokemon you captured from a route will allow you to catch another non-shiny on that same route.
4. You are allowed to use the Gacha Shop on Wazoo Island twice. You are allowed to use the Gacha Minigame in Littleroot twice. You are allowed to use the Gacha Minigame in Mauville City three times.
5. Trades do not count for encounters. You can freely use trade NPCs.
6. Static overworld encounters count as route encounters.
7. Quest reward mons, such as the present quest in Rustboro City, do not count as encounters. You can get these Pokemon and use them and still have a location encounter.
8. In Tropic Pine you are allowed to use the Quick Ball cheat code, the cherish ball cheat code, & one code that grants a level 1 Pokemon.
9. You must be in the Emerald Azure Discord.
10. The entire run needs to be streamed. It can be across multiple days (obviously) but do not have moments where progression happens without it being visible on stream. This is to ensure Nuzlocke rules are followed.
11. Save states, reloading, etc is not allowed.
12. Editing IVs is optional. You can max IVs or keep them as you catch them.
13. Species clause for variants: If you have an AZ Buneary and find a base buneary, you can decide to catch it or to claim species clause (to give an example).
13. All other general nuzlocke rules apply unless they are specifically overruled in the above rules.
If you are able to complete the game with a nuzlocke (while following the HoF rules) then you will be added to the Hall of Fame. This comes with the following rewards:
- You will be added into the game as a boss fight. A custom trainer sprite will be made for you. You can design the team you want your character to have (Only for the first ten)
- You will be given a unique role in the Discord
- You will be added to the official Hall of Fame list.
# Hall of Fame Rules:
1. Your run must be live-streamed on Twitch or Youtube.
2. Your run needs to have started on the most recent update version.
3. Shiny clause is allowed. If you encounter a shiny you can catch it. You are not allowed to grind for shiny Pokémon on a route though. Using Shiny Token on a Pokemon you captured from a route will allow you to catch another non-shiny on that same route.
4. You are allowed to use the Gacha Shop on Wazoo Island twice. You are allowed to use the Gacha Minigame in Littleroot twice. You are allowed to use the Gacha Minigame in Mauville City three times.
5. Trades do not count for encounters. You can freely use trade NPCs.
6. Static overworld encounters count as route encounters.
7. Quest reward mons, such as the present quest in Rustboro City, do not count as encounters. You can get these Pokemon and use them and still have a location encounter.
8. In Tropic Pine you are allowed to use the Quick Ball cheat code, the cherish ball cheat code, & one code that grants a level 1 Pokemon.
9. You must be in the Emerald Azure Discord.
10. The entire run needs to be streamed. It can be across multiple days (obviously) but do not have moments where progression happens without it being visible on stream. This is to ensure Nuzlocke rules are followed.
11. Save states, reloading, etc is not allowed.
12. Editing IVs is optional. You can max IVs or keep them as you catch them.
13. Species clause for variants: If you have an AZ Buneary and find a base buneary, you can decide to catch it or to claim species clause (to give an example).
13. All other general nuzlocke rules apply unless they are specifically overruled in the above rules.
Download:
The Romhack is tested using MGBA, Afterplay (Web Based), GoGBA (Mobile), and SkyEmu (Web Based) emulators.
Credits:
Official Team Members:
- Kacey_ (Creator)
Kristal, Skallhati, Marix20, Anarlaurendil, Geno, Steelman2004, EndlessTGX, Tibjib, PurrfectDoodle, Nico.
jos_louis (Soulstones Dev) for letting me use his variant designs!
EchoTheThird for his Insurgence sprites
AsNKrysis for his Aevian variants
Tilesets:
leob0505, PurpleZaffre, Ekat99, spaceemotion, Phyromatical, Amethyst, Crim, Smeargletail, Princess-Phoenix, Heartlessdragoon, Vurtax, M,agiscarf, Kyle Dove, Kane89, Aveontrainer, Rejuvenation Team
Trainer Sprites:
OgJazz, Elinthind, aveontrainer, Galaxeeh, Black Fragrant, Pawkkie, RavePossum, Horo, RBRNNova, DiegoWT, Kyledove
Commissioned Artwork:
hero.drawing (This is their Discord)
General Sprites:
HighNoonMoon
Lolw3e932
Ulithiumdragon
Teraneck
EmperorOfManJebBush
Chaiiry
Ruki
Gnomowladny
Miused, Mickelpickelyt, Delta2318, 5qu3I3t0n, Emeiry, icejkai, rbrnnova, beliot419, minto-sama, j-treecko252
Skeizerr
General:
Radical Red (for their dex changes and inspiration)
Emerald Imperium (Inspiration)
Pokemon Soulstones (Sprite contributions)
Pokemon Reborn & Blazing Emerald (Inspiration / ideas)
Emerald Expansion Team (For using Emerald Expansion!)
The Great Nyehehe (inspiring the Nyehehe character being added)
Eevee Expo Community (Assistance & motivation)
Beta Testers (Non-Team Members):
lyokuu, lone_nomad, sheep1shly
Audio:
Blue Warrior, Total Yosh, King Meteor, Matt Furda, Mike, Dr. Fruitcake, Blue Boo, SNN, Dentelle, Shadow, Paper_Luigi, Matthew Seldon, Alluro95, Fluff, Sean Handwek, Mark Jansen, Britan Grimmer, Susan Carriere, Chibi Vegito, DoctorJ, Jarel Jones, Robert Smith, Tyler Prevost, Temjin, Anubis, Crono, Cyber Buddha, Joshua Kaufman, Ryan J. Bury
Battle Backgrounds:
Pokezelda
CRFU
Kaya
Miscellaneous Code / Graphic:
Silvergold
Archie (UI contribution), Mudskip (Graphic contribution), Ghoulslash (UI shell code for save-game select), Grunt Lucas, Pret, Rioluwott.
Ruby
Ibsbezerra (Falling leaf code)
PSF (Quest journal code)
HashtagMarky (Rotom Phone UI)
Bivurnum (Stardew Valley Fishing Minigame)
Mountblanc (Sword & Shield UI)
- Kacey_ (Creator)
- Hammy (Lead Tester)
- Blitzydragon (Sprite Artist)
- Yogggi (Sprite Artist)
- Kristal (Sprite Artist)
- Kaien (Pineapple Man)
- n1gh7bl4d3 (Tester)
- Jerry (Tester)
Kristal, Skallhati, Marix20, Anarlaurendil, Geno, Steelman2004, EndlessTGX, Tibjib, PurrfectDoodle, Nico.
jos_louis (Soulstones Dev) for letting me use his variant designs!
EchoTheThird for his Insurgence sprites
AsNKrysis for his Aevian variants
Tilesets:
leob0505, PurpleZaffre, Ekat99, spaceemotion, Phyromatical, Amethyst, Crim, Smeargletail, Princess-Phoenix, Heartlessdragoon, Vurtax, M,agiscarf, Kyle Dove, Kane89, Aveontrainer, Rejuvenation Team
Trainer Sprites:
OgJazz, Elinthind, aveontrainer, Galaxeeh, Black Fragrant, Pawkkie, RavePossum, Horo, RBRNNova, DiegoWT, Kyledove
Commissioned Artwork:
hero.drawing (This is their Discord)
General Sprites:
HighNoonMoon
Lolw3e932
Ulithiumdragon
Teraneck
EmperorOfManJebBush
Chaiiry
Ruki
Gnomowladny
Miused, Mickelpickelyt, Delta2318, 5qu3I3t0n, Emeiry, icejkai, rbrnnova, beliot419, minto-sama, j-treecko252
Skeizerr
General:
Radical Red (for their dex changes and inspiration)
Emerald Imperium (Inspiration)
Pokemon Soulstones (Sprite contributions)
Pokemon Reborn & Blazing Emerald (Inspiration / ideas)
Emerald Expansion Team (For using Emerald Expansion!)
The Great Nyehehe (inspiring the Nyehehe character being added)
Eevee Expo Community (Assistance & motivation)
Beta Testers (Non-Team Members):
lyokuu, lone_nomad, sheep1shly
Audio:
Blue Warrior, Total Yosh, King Meteor, Matt Furda, Mike, Dr. Fruitcake, Blue Boo, SNN, Dentelle, Shadow, Paper_Luigi, Matthew Seldon, Alluro95, Fluff, Sean Handwek, Mark Jansen, Britan Grimmer, Susan Carriere, Chibi Vegito, DoctorJ, Jarel Jones, Robert Smith, Tyler Prevost, Temjin, Anubis, Crono, Cyber Buddha, Joshua Kaufman, Ryan J. Bury
Battle Backgrounds:
Pokezelda
CRFU
Kaya
Miscellaneous Code / Graphic:
Silvergold
Archie (UI contribution), Mudskip (Graphic contribution), Ghoulslash (UI shell code for save-game select), Grunt Lucas, Pret, Rioluwott.
Ruby
Ibsbezerra (Falling leaf code)
PSF (Quest journal code)
HashtagMarky (Rotom Phone UI)
Bivurnum (Stardew Valley Fishing Minigame)
Mountblanc (Sword & Shield UI)
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