Action Replay for Pokémon Ruby: DS Slot Won't Work

No. Action Replay devices for Game Boy Advance (GBA) are physically and electronically incompatible with the Nintendo DS slot.

Why It Fails

• Different cartridge format: GBA carts (32-pin) vs. DS carts (17-pin) — different pinouts, voltage, bus protocol.
• DS slot lacks GBA hardware: Only original DS and DS Lite have GBA slots (bottom). DSi/3DS lack them entirely.
• Software mismatch: GBA Action Replay code engine doesn't run in DS mode.

Correct Solutions

1. Original hardware: GBA/SP/Micro + GBA Action Replay + Pokémon Ruby cart.
2. DS/Lite with GBA slot: Insert GBA Action Replay in bottom slot, Ruby in top — but AR must be GBA-version.
3. Emulation: mGBA, VBA-M on PC/phone with cheat support built-in.
4. Flashcarts: EZ-Flash Omega (GBA) or R4i (DS) with cheat databases.

Warning: Cheats can corrupt saves, break events, or disable achievements. Back up saves first.