I don't wanna be "the bee's knees". I don't wanna be any kind of "knees"! I just wanna be a normal girl, with normal knees.
„
~ Ruby Rose
“
Of course I'm happy with Crescent Rose. I just really like seeing new ones. It's like meeting new people... but better...
„
~ Ruby Rose
“
And secondly, I don't need people to help me grow up. I drink milk.
„
~ Ruby Rose
“
Justice will be swift! Justice will be painful! It will be DELICIOUS!
„
~ Ruby Rose
“
I don’t care what you say! We WILL stop them, and I WILL stop you! BET ON THAT!
„
~ Ruby Rose
“
I'm willing to do whatever I can to help because I trust you. But why couldn't you trust me?
„
~ Ruby Rose
“
You told me once that bad things just happen. You were angry when you said it, and I didn't want to listen. But you were right. Bad things do happen, all the time, every day. Which is why I'm out here, to do whatever I can, wherever I can, and hopefully do some good.
„
~ Ruby Rose
“
We've all lost something, and I've seen what loss can do to people. But if we gave up every time we lost, then we'd never be able to move forward.
„
~ Ruby Rose
“
You're not alone. We can do this together.
„
~ Ruby Rose
“
We've seen what you're capable of. The lamp showed us. It showed us everything. We've seen that you can't be killed. But we've also seen you fail. We don't have to kill you to stop you. And we will stop you.
Ruby Rose is the main protagonist of RWBY. She is a Huntress, having been trained at the now-defunct Beacon Academy. Ruby's weapon of choice is her High-Caliber Sniper-Scythe known as Crescent Rose, which she designed herself.
Ruby first appeared in the "Red" Trailer visiting the grave of her mother, Summer Rose. After an invitation from Professor Ozpin following a short battle with Roman Torchwick, Ruby attends Beacon Academy in order to become a Huntress. During her time at Beacon, Ruby became a member and the leader of Team RWBY, consisting of herself, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, and her own elder half-sister, Yang Xiao Long.
However, following the Fall of Beacon, Ruby travels to Haven Academy as a member of Team RNJR with the remaining members of Team JNPR. After the Battle of Haven, Team RWBY is reunited again and they continue to participate in the war against Salem and her forces.
Following a battle with Neopolitan in the Central Location, Ruby was dropped into the void by Cinder Fall, and ended up in what appears to be a beach-like dimension.
Statistics
Key:Volume 1-6 | Volume 7-8
Tier: 9-B, Higher with Crescent Rose, Higher with Dust | 8-A, Higher with Crescent Rose, Higher with Dust
Ruby harnesses the recoil to enhance her mobility in combat, firing shots to propel herself short distances, simultaneously attacking and evading opponents. She also uses her weapon's recoil to launch herself into the air, as demonstrated when she is launched into the air by Weiss Schnee while facing the Nevermore. In close range combat, Ruby can fire a shot immediately before a swing, using the recoil to increase the force and speed of her attack. She can also embed the scythe's blade into the ground to prevent the weapon's recoil from throwing off her aim with the sniper rifle component, allowing for rapid, accurate shots. A scythe also has a small, hook-like, double-pronged, jagged blade at the bottom of the shaft. Ruby can unfold a bladed, allowing for both a normal blade and two prongs to slice enemies at the same time for more power. In this form, a muzzle is also rotated 90 degrees which enables the muzzle blast to rotate Ruby instead of strictly launching her forward with recoil, increasing the slicing power drastically. The scythe can also be thrown in such a way that it returns to the user. After arriving in Atlas, James Ironwood had Pietro Polendina upgrade Crescent Rose, giving Ruby the ability to activate a trigger on the upper handle that will then rotate a scythe's blade 180 degrees, becoming a war scythe, and making her able to attack in both sides. This is first displayed in the Schnee Dust Company Mine #2, when Ruby slays a Centinel through the use of her rotated blade.
Dust
Ruby producing a massive dust sneeze
Ruby using Fire Dust
Ruby Shooting Nora with Lightning Dust
Ruby using Gravity Dust to make herself faster
As an energy source, Dust can be triggered by the Aura of Humans and Faunus. Because of this, one's Semblance can also affect it. Ruby mainly uses Gravity Dust, which increases her speed and adds extra recoil to her weapon so that she can move around better. She can also be seen using Fire dust on enemies that are weak to to fire, like the Geist Grimm with the wooden arm. Fire Dust can also cause a massive explosion when it hits it's target. Lastly, Ruby has been seen using Lightning dust on her enemies. Lightning dust is able to violently electrocute opponents, which causes them to become paralyzed.
Relic of Knowledge
The Relic of Knowledge has the ability to summon Jinn, who can answer only three questions every one hundred years. These questions can be about anything so long as they don't pertain to the future. It also stops time around Jinn and the user. When brought together with the other Relics, it has the power to summon The Gods.
Scroll
Scrolls are shown to have a range of sensory and interfacing functions capable of monitoring the Aura levels of the user and their team.
Identification
It was shown in "A Minor Hiccup" that Scrolls can also be used as methods of identification and as mobile data storage devices. Both functions are used by Weiss at the Cross Continental Transmit System Tower. Shown by Qrow in "Argus Limited", Scrolls also act as official Huntsmen identification.
Digital Keys: Seen when Ruby Rose asks Jaune Arc if he locked himself out of his room and he denies it, showing her his Scroll as proof.
Licenses: Scrolls are capable of storing and displaying a Huntsman or Huntress' license in lieu of a separate physical card. In "Pomp and Circumstance", James Ironwood promotes the members of Team RWBY and Team JNR to fully licensed Huntsmen, which is proven when the student licenses on their Scrolls upgrade to full licenses.
Contemporary smartphone functionality
Internet-style browsing with Home and Search functions.
The device can store data in digital files and folders.
Electronic Mail functions, Social Media, Networking, and Financial apps.
Media playback. Scrolls can be used to record, store and playback video and audio.
The device can transmit and receive data both through a port on the bottom, as well as through direct contact. Weiss receives files through the port in the CCT, and Ironwood places his Scroll face-down on Ozpin's desk to show a projection in "It's Brawl in the Family".
Scrolls can make and receive phone calls, with a dedicated contacts list for ease of dialing.
Communication:
In the "Volume 4 Character Short", Scrolls are shown to be capable of conference calls, connecting at least four Scrolls to the same audio call.
The "mail" function has shown to offer text-only and voice messaging options.
While in voice message mode, Jaune's Scroll showed an audio pattern analyzer window. It is not clear if this is a standard part of the audio playback software or if it is an individual preference set by Jaune.
Live Video Streaming. In both "The Emerald Forest, Pt.2" and "Fall", Ozpin uses his device to watch live camera feeds of prospective students. People have been shown watching the Vytal Festival Tournament via their handhelds. In "Battle of Beacon", Mercury used a Scroll to broadcast live video of the active battle.
Short-distance communication. When outside the range of an active CCTS Tower, Scrolls are shown to be able to wirelessly communicate with one another across a limited distance. Scrolls automatically detect the strength of nearby signals and can identify another Scroll's owner if they have been entered in the user's contacts. In "Argus Limited", Ruby is shown monitoring the distance the front of the train is from them based on the signal strength of Nora's Scroll. In "The Grimm Reaper", Jaune learns that Team RWBY has reached Argus when he notices that his Scroll is detecting Ruby's signal.
Blocking communications. During the events of "Gravity", General Ironwood blocked communications between Ruby and her friends and allies using his own scroll after turning against them. This was likely a privilege he had as the General of the Atlas Military, who had direct control over the Atlas CCT. Pietro Polendina was able to use his own access to the CCT to restore communications to Team RWBY's Scrolls.
Relaying information from surveillance devices in real time.
Gaming Device Functionality
"Lessons Learned" showed that Scrolls can be used as game controllers, similar to how wireless devices in the real world can be programmed to replace dedicated controllers.
"Argus Limited" expands upon this by showing that scrolls can be used as a mobile gaming device. Ruby is shown playing a game on her scroll in Team RWBY's room on the train.
RWBY: Amity Arena takes advantage of this to present itself as a canonical scroll game played on Remnant.
Miscellaneous
Built-in camera, Ruby pulled her Scroll out after mentioning she was going to take pictures of the CCT Tower. The camera lens of Weiss Schnee's Scroll can be seen on the back of the right-hand handgrip when she uses the device's ID function in a lift at the CCT Tower.
Beacon Locker Equipment. In Dance Dance Infiltration Ruby called her weapon locker which delivered itself to her.
Built-in flashlight. In "The Coming Storm", Ruby used her Scroll to illuminate a dark room.
Medical imaging. In "Dark", Klein Sieben uses his scroll to view Penny Polendina's internals. The image is displayed in real-time and the sensors are powerful enough to see through metal. This functionality is likely unique to Scrolls belonging to medical practitioners.
Notable Techniques
Petal Burst
Ruby using Petal Burst
Ruby using Petal Burst on Weiss
Ruby using Petal Burst Nora
Ruby using Petal Burst to avoid an attack
Ruby's Semblance, Petal Burst (also known as Speed), allows her to dash with an inhuman speed in whatever direction she chooses, often leaving trails of rose petals in her wake. In "Best Day Ever", Ruby is shown to be capable of creating powerful tailwinds with her Semblance; if she gathers enough momentum, the resulting turbulence is capable of lifting people off the ground. Within the episode "Ace Operatives", it was stated by Harriet Bree that Ruby's Semblance is not like other speed-type Semblances, though she does not elaborate. It is later revealed by Penny in "Strings" that Ruby's Semblance allows her to disassemble herself at a molecular level and reassemble at a chosen location, negating her mass. With practice, she has proven able to do the same with anyone she is in contact with, similar to Ren's Semblance; she can carry at least four people along with her. This allows her to go around obstacles or through paths that she would not otherwise fit. This is shown when she uses her semblance on Nora Valkyrie in order to finish off a huge Geists Grimm. She also uses this again on Weiss Schnee to go into a train car before the train went into a tunnel. She has also proven able to negate gravity while using her Semblance; in "The Final Word", she uses her Semblance mid-fall to circle up and around Neopolitan, attacking her from behind.
Petal Tornado
Ruby uses her Semblance in order to create a huge tornado in order to lift her opponent into the air and attack them with her weapon before shooting them. This attack knocks her opponent off balance and makes the opponent immobile while caught in it.
Silver Eyes
Ruby using Silver Eyes after witnessing her friend, Pyrrha Nikos, dying
Ruby using Silver Eyes against Cinder in Haven Academy
Ruby using Silver Eyes to blind the Apathy
Ruby using Silver Eyes against Cinder Fall
Ruby using Silver Eyes against The Hound
Ruby inherited her Silver Eyes from her mother, Summer Rose
Silver-Eyed Warriors have powers that are fueled by strong desires to preserve life. According to Maria, it’s emotional, much like Semblances.
As preservation is considered an extension of creation, Silver Eyes can work against Grimm as they are manifestations of destruction. Legend has it that Silver-Eyed Warriors are able to strike down Grimm with a single look. According to Maria, Silver Eyes can turn Grimm to stone, blind them or vaporize them. In "End of the Beginning", Ruby Rose is told that when she unleashed her power, she "froze" the Wyvern atop Beacon's tower. It is later known that she did so by turning it to stone. Although immobilized, the Wyvern was not killed outright by Ruby's powers, and remains alive, continuing to draw Grimm to the area. In the past, Maria used her eyes on a Nevermore, turning it into stone. Some Grimm, such as the Leviathan, are not as badly affected, and display some resistance, as the Leviathan was only encased in stone and not completely turned into it. When used against special Grimm, such as the Apathy, who are able to drain emotions and willpower, a single flash from Ruby's eyes momentarily broke their power. Exactly how the powers manifest is not known beyond the fact that blinding streams of light, almost resembling wings, or a radial flash of light can come from the wielder's eyes. For the first few times, Ruby used her powers when her friends were in potentially fatal situations. But under Maria's guidance, Ruby is able to use her powers with control. At her prime, Maria was able to use her eyes in a split second after being temporarily disarmed, showing that calling upon the light becomes easier over time and faster to use. According to Maria, the key to using the power is to focus on the relationship the wielder has with their loved ones and protecting them. This is consistent with the reactive uses of Ruby's eyes in the past. While difficult to actively train, one can create a state of mind in order to tap into the power when needed.
Other
Standard Tactics: Ruby will try to shoot her opponent from a distance with any type of dust that is appropriate for the situation. If the opponent starts off close, she will use her semblance to close the gap and attack her opponent. Ruby is also really good at making plans in the middle of a fight as well but can often act on impulse if things aren't going her way.
Weaknesses: If Ruby's Aura runs out, she will be left much weaker and she won't be able to use her Semblance. Ruby is not very good at hand to hand combat which is why she relies on her weapon to fight. Ruby is inexperienced with her silver eyes and they only activate when she, or her loved ones are going to get hurt.
Trivia
Though the reason for this is unknown, Ruby was given her mother's surname rather than father's to pass on.
Although Ruby is often depicted to favor sweets like cookies, her favorite food is actually strawberries.
At the RTX Australia 2016 RWBY Panel, Ruby's Skype username was RlyRlyKoolKid.
Ruby's Huntress license number is 63600-34572-12560.
Despite sharing similar emblems and a red-and-black color scheme to Adam Taurus, Monty confirmed that Ruby and Adam are not related to each other and that their emblems differ from each other in terms of "scatter and wilt".
Ironically, Ruby and Adam have never actually met face-to-face in the series.
Ruby shares her emblem design with her mother. Though in merchandise Ruby's is typically red and Summer's is typically portrayed white.
Miles Luna stated that a lot of inspiration for Ruby came from Gon from the manga and anime series "Hunter x Hunter" in that while they may always be at the forefront of everything, they act as a "connecting tissue" for a lot of the characters stories.
Monty has confirmed that Ruby is left-handed. However, she is seen wielding her weapon with her right hand just as easily, implying trained ambidexterity. Monty has stated that it is "common to switch both hands while fighting, especially to make it interesting." In "No Safe Haven", Ruby is seen writing a letter with her right hand.
Ruby Rose is a playable character in BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle. A demo of her in the game was tweeted by Gray G. Haddock on October 3rd, 2017.
According to the statistics, Ruby is a speed-type character and has moderate attack power despite her lack of unarmed combat. In addition, she is considered as the "most cutest" as describe by the series' fans.
In the teaser trailer for Camp Camp, another animated series produced by Rooster Teeth, a figurine of Ruby was briefly seen in the cubicle belonging to "Maggie Tominey".
In Episode 4 for gen:LOCK, another animated series produced by Rooster Teeth, one of the main characters, Cameron MacCloud, can be seen dressed as Ruby (Volume 1-3) in the Ether.
On July 19th, 2019, a limited event collaboration between RWBY and SMITE was announced. Team RWBY is confirmed to appear as voiced skins.
Ruby is a skin for Thanatos.
Ruby appeared in the Steven Spielberg film Ready Player One. Many people claim that she can be seen in the background in the scene with some Halo soldiers, which is a nod to Red vs. Blue, another Rooster Teeth web-series.
On June 29th Ruby joins her team, Salem and Qrow as playable skins in Paladins during a crossover with RWBY. She appears as a skin for Vora.
Ruby, alongside Blake, Nora, and Jaune, is one of the few characters who owns an object for sale at the Rooster Teeth store – which includes her Rose Pajama Pants, her headphones, her Beacon Academy backpack, and her cloak. They are now sold out.
In order to get into character before recording lines, her voice actor, Lindsay Jones, often yells Yang's name in Ruby's voice multiple times. They also stand in the recording booth barefoot and sometimes listen to "Red Like Roses Part II".
Per the word of Lindsay Jones, Ruby is not allowed to say swear words, possibly she was still too young.
Keys: End-Game Adachi and Volume 8 Ruby were used.
Conditions: Ruby has to find out that Adachi is the one behind all of the murders in the town and find a way to stop him at all costs. Once she finds him, she'll have to either arrest him herself or get the investigation team to assist her. If Ruby is not able to capture Adachi before he kills or traps her then she loses.