diff --git a/src/battle/BattleState.lua b/src/battle/BattleState.lua
index a0b138b8..05ae0aa4 100644
--- a/src/battle/BattleState.lua
+++ b/src/battle/BattleState.lua
@@ -27,70 +27,18 @@ local Timing = require("src.core.Timing")
 local TrainerAI = require("src.battle.TrainerAI")
 local TurnOrder = require("src.battle.TurnOrder")
 local TypeChart = require("src.battle.TypeChart")
+local RomText = require("src.core.RomText")
 local Strings = require("src.core.Strings")
 local WideBattle = require("src.battle.WideBattle")
 
+local romText = RomText
+
 local BattleState = {}
 BattleState.__index = BattleState
 BattleState.isOpaque = true
 
--- pokered prints the battle lines itself (engine/battle/core.asm and the
--- move-effect banks), and the importer extracts every one of them, so the
--- port paraphrasing them in Lua meant the screen showed a near-miss of the
--- game's own wording while the cache held the real line -- and on a
--- localized import it showed English over translated data.
---
--- fromRom prefers the extracted text and keeps the literal as the catalog
--- fallback, for a cache built before the label and for the pure-module
--- tests that run without a dataset.  The battle text's slots ({USER},
--- {TARGET}, the {RAM:...} buffers) are NOT in the token registry that
--- TextBox.substitute serves -- it only resolves {PLAYER}, {RIVAL} and
--- three string buffers -- so they are spliced here, in argument order,
--- before the box ever sees the string.  {PLAYER}/{RIVAL} are left alone
--- for that later pass.
--- {PLAYER}/{RIVAL} are the two slots TextBox.substitute can fill on its
--- own, so they are only consumed here when the caller clearly supplies
--- them: an argument count matching every slot.  Matching just the other
--- slots leaves those two for the later pass.  Anything else means the
--- extracted line cannot carry what the call has to say -- a few labels
--- stop at a dynamic marker the decoder does not follow, e.g.
--- _EnemysWeakText extracts as "The enemy's weak!\nGet'm! " with nowhere
--- to put the name -- so the engine's own wording stands in rather than
--- printing a sentence with a hole in it.
-local function fromRom(data, label, fallback, ...)
-  local text = data and data.text and data.text[label]
-  if not text then return Strings(fallback, ...) end
-  local args = { ... }
-  if #args == 0 then return text end
-
-  local slots, named = 0, 0
-  for token in text:gmatch("%b{}") do
-    slots = slots + 1
-    if token == "{PLAYER}" or token == "{RIVAL}" then named = named + 1 end
-  end
-  local fillNamed
-  if #args == slots then
-    fillNamed = true
-  elseif #args == slots - named then
-    fillNamed = false
-  else
-    return Strings(fallback, ...)
-  end
-
-  local index = 0
-  return (text:gsub("%b{}", function(token)
-    if not fillNamed and (token == "{PLAYER}" or token == "{RIVAL}") then
-      return token
-    end
-    index = index + 1
-    local value = args[index]
-    if value == nil then return token end
-    return tostring(value)
-  end))
-end
-
 function BattleState:romText(label, fallback, ...)
-  return fromRom(self.data, label, fallback, ...)
+  return romText(self.data, label, fallback, ...)
 end
 -- Letterbox voids around the 160x144 battle canvas fill white so the
 -- window reads as one continuous battle screen (no black bars).
diff --git a/src/battle/EffectRegistry.lua b/src/battle/EffectRegistry.lua
index e9d978e4..a6789ade 100644
--- a/src/battle/EffectRegistry.lua
+++ b/src/battle/EffectRegistry.lua
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 local MoveEffects = require("src.battle.MoveEffects")
 local Runtime = require("src.mods.Runtime")
 local StatusRegistry = require("src.battle.StatusRegistry")
+local romText = require("src.core.RomText")
 local Strings = require("src.core.Strings")
 local Timing = require("src.core.Timing")
 
@@ -106,7 +107,7 @@ function EffectRegistry.runDamaging(battle, ctx, record)
     -- Explosion/Selfdestruct still animate on a miss (HandleIfPlayerMoveMissed)
     if not (record and record.explode) then battle:cancelMoveAnim() end
     missBeat(battle, record)
-    battle:sayNext(Strings("%s's\nattack missed!", displayName(user)))
+    battle:sayNext(romText(battle.data, "_AttackMissedText", "%s's\nattack missed!", displayName(user)))
     -- MoveHitTest's INVULNERABLE branch sets the same wMoveMissed as a
     -- failed accuracy roll (core.asm:5260), and the miss handler still
     -- runs the explode effect ("even if Explosion or Selfdestruct
@@ -135,7 +136,7 @@ function EffectRegistry.runDamaging(battle, ctx, record)
       -- Explosion/Selfdestruct still animate on a miss (HandleIfPlayerMoveMissed)
       if not (record and record.explode) then battle:cancelMoveAnim() end
       missBeat(battle, record)
-      battle:sayNext(Strings("%s's\nattack missed!", displayName(user)))
+      battle:sayNext(romText(battle.data, "_AttackMissedText", "%s's\nattack missed!", displayName(user)))
       -- Jump Kick crash, Explode self-destruct
       if record and record.onMiss then record.onMiss(ctx, "accuracy") end
       user.trappingTurns = nil
@@ -163,7 +164,7 @@ function EffectRegistry.runDamaging(battle, ctx, record)
     if not counterable or (battle.lastDamage or 0) == 0 then
       battle:cancelMoveAnim()
       missBeat(battle, record)
-      battle:sayNext(Strings("%s's\nattack missed!", displayName(user)))
+      battle:sayNext(romText(battle.data, "_AttackMissedText", "%s's\nattack missed!", displayName(user)))
       return
     end
     dmg = math.min(65535, battle.lastDamage * 2)
@@ -187,7 +188,7 @@ function EffectRegistry.runDamaging(battle, ctx, record)
     -- type immunity zeros damage and sets wMoveMissed in Gen 1, so no anim
     if not (record and record.explode) then battle:cancelMoveAnim() end
     missBeat(battle, record)
-    battle:sayNext(Strings("It doesn't affect\n%s!", displayName(target)))
+    battle:sayNext(romText(battle.data, "_DoesntAffectMonText", "It doesn't affect\n%s!", displayName(target)))
     if record and record.onMiss then record.onMiss(ctx, "immune") end
     return
   end
@@ -195,7 +196,7 @@ function EffectRegistry.runDamaging(battle, ctx, record)
     -- 0.25x floored the damage to zero: the original registers a miss
     if not (record and record.explode) then battle:cancelMoveAnim() end
     missBeat(battle, record)
-    battle:sayNext(Strings("%s's\nattack missed!", displayName(user)))
+    battle:sayNext(romText(battle.data, "_AttackMissedText", "%s's\nattack missed!", displayName(user)))
     if record and record.onMiss then record.onMiss(ctx, "floored") end
     return
   end
@@ -247,8 +248,8 @@ function EffectRegistry.runDamaging(battle, ctx, record)
     -- multi-hit loop (core.asm .moveDidNotMiss before the jump back
     -- to GetPlayerAnimationType), so crit/effectiveness reprint on
     -- every strike -- damage was only rolled once
-    if info.crit then battle:sayNext(Strings("Critical hit!")) end
-    if info.ohko then battle:sayNext(Strings("One-hit KO!")) end
+    if info.crit then battle:sayNext(romText(battle.data, "_CriticalHitText", "Critical hit!")) end
+    if info.ohko then battle:sayNext(romText(battle.data, "_OHKOText", "One-hit KO!")) end
     -- PrintCriticalOHKOText closes with `ld c, 20 / jp DelayFrames` at its
     -- .done label (core.asm:3812-3814) -- and the no-crit path jumps to that
     -- same label (:3799), so this hold is paid on EVERY landed hit, not just
@@ -257,9 +258,9 @@ function EffectRegistry.runDamaging(battle, ctx, record)
     -- comes from.
     battle:waitNext(Timing.CRIT_OHKO_TEXT)
     if info.typeMult > 10 then
-      battle:sayNext(Strings("It's super\neffective!"))
+      battle:sayNext(romText(battle.data, "_SuperEffectiveText", "It's super\neffective!"))
     elseif info.typeMult < 10 then
-      battle:sayNext(Strings("It's not very\neffective..."))
+      battle:sayNext(romText(battle.data, "_NotVeryEffectiveText", "It's not very\neffective..."))
     end
     if Runtime.wants("battle.damage_dealt") then
       Runtime.emit("battle.damage_dealt", {
@@ -277,9 +278,9 @@ function EffectRegistry.runDamaging(battle, ctx, record)
   if hits > 1 then
     -- player: _MultiHitText; enemy: _HitXTimesText (always plural)
     if user.isPlayer then
-      battle:sayNext(Strings("Hit the enemy\n%d times!", hits))
+      battle:sayNext(romText(battle.data, "_MultiHitText", "Hit the enemy\n%d times!", hits))
     else
-      battle:sayNext(Strings("Hit %d times!", hits))
+      battle:sayNext(romText(battle.data, "_HitXTimesText", "Hit %d times!", hits))
     end
   end
 
@@ -291,7 +292,7 @@ function EffectRegistry.runDamaging(battle, ctx, record)
   elseif moveInst.struggle then
     -- struggle recoils even when its effect id resolves to no record
     local recoil = math.max(1, math.floor(dmg / 2))
-    battle:sayNext(Strings("%s's\nhit with recoil!", displayName(user)))
+    battle:sayNext(romText(battle.data, "_HitWithRecoilText", "%s's\nhit with recoil!", displayName(user)))
     battle:applyDamage(user, recoil)
   end
 
diff --git a/src/battle/MoveEffects.lua b/src/battle/MoveEffects.lua
index 8beb22f3..d04e843c 100644
--- a/src/battle/MoveEffects.lua
+++ b/src/battle/MoveEffects.lua
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ local Logger = require("src.core.Logger")
 local StatusRegistry = require("src.battle.StatusRegistry")
 local TurnOrder = require("src.battle.TurnOrder")
 local TypeChart = require("src.battle.TypeChart")
+local romText = require("src.core.RomText")
 local Strings = require("src.core.Strings")
 
 local MoveEffects = {}
@@ -39,12 +40,12 @@ local function changeStage(battle, who, stat, delta, fromEnemy)
     if who.mist then
       return { Strings("%s is\nprotected by MIST!", displayName(who)) }
     end
-    return { Strings("But, it failed!") }
+    return { romText(battle.data, "_ButItFailedText", "But, it failed!") }
   end
   local cur = who.stages[stat] or 0
   local new = math.max(-6, math.min(6, cur + delta))
   if new == cur then
-    return { Strings("Nothing happened!") }
+    return { romText(battle.data, "_NothingHappenedText", "Nothing happened!") }
   end
   who.stages[stat] = new
   -- effects.asm:505-506: after any stat-stage change, modified stats are
@@ -89,10 +90,10 @@ end
 local function statusMove(status)
   return function(battle, user, target, move)
     if target.mon.status then
-      return { Strings("But, it failed!") }
+      return { romText(battle.data, "_ButItFailedText", "But, it failed!") }
     end
     if status == "PSN" and target.substituteHP then
-      return { Strings("But, it failed!") }
+      return { romText(battle.data, "_ButItFailedText", "But, it failed!") }
     end
     local msgs = inflictStatus(battle, target, status, {
       toxic = move and move.id == "TOXIC",
@@ -100,7 +101,7 @@ local function statusMove(status)
       source = move and move.id,
     })
     if #msgs == 0 then
-      return { Strings("But, it failed!") }
+      return { romText(battle.data, "_ButItFailedText", "But, it failed!") }
     end
     return msgs
   end
@@ -112,7 +113,7 @@ local function statusSide(status, chance)
     -- target (regardless of the burn roll)
     if move and move.type == "FIRE" and target.mon.status == "FRZ" then
       target.mon.status = nil
-      return { Strings("Fire defrosted\n%s!", displayName(target)) }
+      return { romText(battle.data, "_FireDefrostedText", "Fire defrosted\n%s!", displayName(target)) }
     end
     if battle.rng(0, 255) >= chance then return {} end
     return inflictStatus(battle, target, status, {
@@ -145,10 +146,10 @@ end
 
 local function confuse(battle, target, pierceSub)
   if target.confusedTurns or (target.substituteHP and not pierceSub) then
-    return { Strings("But, it failed!") }
+    return { romText(battle.data, "_ButItFailedText", "But, it failed!") }
   end
   target.confusedTurns = battle.rng(2, 5)
-  return { Strings("%s\nbecame confused!", displayName(target)) }
+  return { romText(battle.data, "_BecameConfusedText", "%s\nbecame confused!", displayName(target)) }
 end
 
 -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -182,53 +183,53 @@ MoveEffects.primary = {
   LEECH_SEED_EFFECT = function(battle, user, target)
     -- leech_seed.asm has no substitute check: seeding lands through one
     if target.leechSeeded then
-      return { Strings("But, it failed!") }
+      return { romText(battle.data, "_ButItFailedText", "But, it failed!") }
     end
     for _, t in ipairs(target.curTypes) do
-      if t == "GRASS" then return { Strings("But, it failed!") } end
+      if t == "GRASS" then return { romText(battle.data, "_ButItFailedText", "But, it failed!") } end
     end
     target.leechSeeded = true
-    return { Strings("%s\nwas seeded!", displayName(target)) }
+    return { romText(battle.data, "_WasSeededText", "%s\nwas seeded!", displayName(target)) }
   end,
 
   HEAL_EFFECT = function(battle, user, target, move)
     local mon = user.mon
     if move.id == "REST" then
-      if mon.hp == mon.stats.hp then return { Strings("But, it failed!") } end
+      if mon.hp == mon.stats.hp then return { romText(battle.data, "_ButItFailedText", "But, it failed!") } end
       mon.hp = mon.stats.hp
       mon.status = "SLP"
       user.sleepTurns = 2
       user.toxicCounter = nil
-      return { Strings("%s\nstarted sleeping!", displayName(user)) }
+      return { romText(battle.data, "_StartedSleepingEffect", "%s\nstarted sleeping!", displayName(user)) }
     end
-    if mon.hp == mon.stats.hp then return { Strings("But, it failed!") } end
+    if mon.hp == mon.stats.hp then return { romText(battle.data, "_ButItFailedText", "But, it failed!") } end
     mon.hp = math.min(mon.stats.hp, mon.hp + math.floor(mon.stats.hp / 2))
-    return { Strings("%s\nregained health!", displayName(user)) }
+    return { romText(battle.data, "_RegainedHealthText", "%s\nregained health!", displayName(user)) }
   end,
 
   LIGHT_SCREEN_EFFECT = function(battle, user)
-    if user.lightScreen then return { Strings("But, it failed!") } end
+    if user.lightScreen then return { romText(battle.data, "_ButItFailedText", "But, it failed!") } end
     user.lightScreen = true
-    return { Strings("%s's\nprotected against\nspecial attacks!", displayName(user)) }
+    return { romText(battle.data, "_LightScreenProtectedText", "%s's\nprotected against\nspecial attacks!", displayName(user)) }
   end,
 
   REFLECT_EFFECT = function(battle, user)
-    if user.reflect then return { Strings("But, it failed!") } end
+    if user.reflect then return { romText(battle.data, "_ButItFailedText", "But, it failed!") } end
     user.reflect = true
-    return { Strings("%s\ngained armor!", displayName(user)) }
+    return { romText(battle.data, "_ReflectGainedArmorText", "%s\ngained armor!", displayName(user)) }
   end,
 
   MIST_EFFECT = function(battle, user)
-    if user.mist then return { Strings("But, it failed!") } end
+    if user.mist then return { romText(battle.data, "_ButItFailedText", "But, it failed!") } end
     user.mist = true
     -- _ShroudedInMistText (lowercase "mist")
-    return { Strings("%s's\nshrouded in mist!", displayName(user)) }
+    return { romText(battle.data, "_ShroudedInMistText", "%s's\nshrouded in mist!", displayName(user)) }
   end,
 
   FOCUS_ENERGY_EFFECT = function(battle, user)
-    if user.focusEnergy then return { Strings("But, it failed!") } end
+    if user.focusEnergy then return { romText(battle.data, "_ButItFailedText", "But, it failed!") } end
     user.focusEnergy = true
-    return { Strings("%s's\ngetting pumped!", displayName(user)) }
+    return { romText(battle.data, "_GettingPumpedText", "%s's\ngetting pumped!", displayName(user)) }
   end,
 
   HAZE_EFFECT = function(battle, user, target)
@@ -255,33 +256,33 @@ MoveEffects.primary = {
       target.skipMove = true
     end
     target.mon.status = nil
-    return { Strings("All STATUS changes\nare eliminated!") }
+    return { romText(battle.data, "_StatusChangesEliminatedText", "All STATUS changes\nare eliminated!") }
   end,
 
   SUBSTITUTE_EFFECT = function(battle, user)
-    if user.substituteHP then return { Strings("%s\nhas a SUBSTITUTE!", displayName(user)) } end
+    if user.substituteHP then return { romText(battle.data, "_HasSubstituteText", "%s\nhas a SUBSTITUTE!", displayName(user)) } end
     local cost = math.floor(user.mon.stats.hp / 4)
     -- substitute.asm only fails on subtraction underflow (current HP
     -- strictly below maxHP/4); at equality the substitute is built and
     -- the user is left standing on exactly 0 HP (it faints only when
     -- the engine next checks HP, not here)
     if user.mon.hp < cost then
-      return { Strings("Too weak to make\na SUBSTITUTE!") }
+      return { romText(battle.data, "_TooWeakSubstituteText", "Too weak to make\na SUBSTITUTE!") }
     end
     user.mon.hp = user.mon.hp - cost
     user.substituteHP = cost + 1
     -- _SubstituteText
-    return { Strings("It created a\nSUBSTITUTE!") }
+    return { romText(battle.data, "_SubstituteText", "It created a\nSUBSTITUTE!") }
   end,
 
   CONVERSION_EFFECT = function(battle, user, target)
     -- conversion.asm fails against a mid-Fly/Dig target (INVULNERABLE)
     if target.invulnerable then
-      return { Strings("But, it failed!") }
+      return { romText(battle.data, "_ButItFailedText", "But, it failed!") }
     end
     user.curTypes = { target.curTypes[1], target.curTypes[2] }
     -- _ConvertedTypeText
-    return { Strings("Converted type to\n%s's!", displayName(target)) }
+    return { romText(battle.data, "_ConvertedTypeText", "Converted type to\n%s's!", displayName(target)) }
   end,
 
   -- MIMIC_EFFECT lives in BattleState:resolveMimic: MimicEffect
@@ -312,27 +313,27 @@ MoveEffects.primary = {
       table.insert(user.curMoves, { id = mv.id, pp = 5, mimic = true })
     end
     -- _TransformedText: the copied name prints bare (wNameBuffer)
-    return { Strings("%s\ntransformed into\n%s!", displayName(user), target.name) }
+    return { romText(battle.data, "_TransformedText", "%s\ntransformed into\n%s!", displayName(user), target.name) }
   end,
 
   DISABLE_EFFECT = function(battle, user, target)
-    if target.disabledSlot then return { Strings("But, it failed!") } end
+    if target.disabledSlot then return { romText(battle.data, "_ButItFailedText", "But, it failed!") } end
     local usable = {}
     for i, mv in ipairs(target.curMoves) do
       if mv.pp > 0 then table.insert(usable, i) end
     end
-    if #usable == 0 then return { Strings("But, it failed!") } end
+    if #usable == 0 then return { romText(battle.data, "_ButItFailedText", "But, it failed!") } end
     local slot = usable[battle.rng(1, #usable)]
     target.disabledSlot = slot
     target.disabledTurns = battle.rng(1, 8)
     local id = target.curMoves[slot].id
     -- _MoveWasDisabledText: "X's / MOVE was / disabled!"
-    return { Strings("%s's\n%s was\ndisabled!", displayName(target),
+    return { romText(battle.data, "_MoveWasDisabledText", "%s's\n%s was\ndisabled!", displayName(target),
                                                 battle.data.moves[id].name) }
   end,
 
   SPLASH_EFFECT = function()
-    return { Strings("No effect!") }
+    return { romText(battle.data, "_NoEffectText", "No effect!") }
   end,
 }
 
@@ -422,7 +423,7 @@ end
 
 -- drain_hp.asm halves the RAW wDamage IN PLACE (minimum 1) and heals
 -- that amount, so Counter would see the halved value
-local function drainHalf(text)
+local function drainHalf(label, text)
   return function(ctx)
     local heal = math.max(1, math.floor(ctx.rawDamage / 2))
     ctx.battle.lastDamage = heal
@@ -430,8 +431,9 @@ local function drainHalf(text)
     mon.hp = math.min(mon.stats.hp, mon.hp + heal)
     ctx.drain()
     -- `text` arrives as a source string (Strings.source at the call
-    -- site keeps it in the catalog); look it up here, at use time
-    ctx.say(Strings(text, displayName(ctx.target)))
+    -- site keeps it in the catalog); the ROM's own line wins when the
+    -- import carries it, and both are resolved here, at use time
+    ctx.say(romText(ctx.battle.data, label, text, displayName(ctx.target)))
   end
 end
 
@@ -449,7 +451,7 @@ end
 -- SUPER_FANG hits Ghosts, and only OHKO_EFFECT calls this (#616).
 local function immuneMsg(ctx)
   if TypeChart.effectiveness(ctx.move.type, ctx.target.curTypes) == 0 then
-    return Strings("It doesn't affect\n%s!", displayName(ctx.target))
+    return romText(ctx.battle.data, "_DoesntAffectMonText", "It doesn't affect\n%s!", displayName(ctx.target))
   end
   return nil
 end
@@ -509,12 +511,12 @@ MoveEffects.full = {
       -- removed): overkill and substitute hits recoil at full strength
       local recoil = math.max(1, math.floor(ctx.rawDamage
                                             / (ctx.moveInst.struggle and 2 or 4)))
-      ctx.say(Strings("%s's\nhit with recoil!", displayName(ctx.user)))
+      ctx.say(romText(ctx.battle.data, "_HitWithRecoilText", "%s's\nhit with recoil!", displayName(ctx.user)))
       ctx.battle:applyDamage(ctx.user, recoil)
     end,
   },
   DRAIN_HP_EFFECT = {
-    afterDamage = drainHalf(Strings.source("Sucked health from\n%s!")),
+    afterDamage = drainHalf("_SuckedHealthText", Strings.source("Sucked health from\n%s!")),
   },
   DREAM_EATER_EFFECT = {
     -- only works on sleeping targets (checked before damage)
@@ -522,7 +524,7 @@ MoveEffects.full = {
       if ctx.target.mon.status ~= "SLP" then return false, "But, it failed!" end
       return true
     end,
-    afterDamage = drainHalf(Strings.source("%s's\ndream was eaten!")),
+    afterDamage = drainHalf("_DreamWasEatenText", Strings.source("%s's\ndream was eaten!")),
   },
 
   -- charge moves: first turn just charges; Fly AND Dig go
@@ -568,7 +570,7 @@ MoveEffects.full = {
           user.thrashTurns, user.thrashMove, user.thrashAnnounced = nil, nil, nil
           if not user.confusedTurns then
             user.confusedTurns = ctx.rng(2, 5)
-            ctx.say(Strings("%s\nbecame confused!", displayName(user)))
+            ctx.say(romText(ctx.battle.data, "_BecameConfusedText", "%s\nbecame confused!", displayName(user)))
           end
         end
       end
@@ -577,7 +579,7 @@ MoveEffects.full = {
   JUMP_KICK_EFFECT = {
     onMiss = function(ctx, reason)
       if reason ~= "accuracy" then return end
-      ctx.say(Strings("%s\nkept going and\ncrashed!", displayName(ctx.user)))
+      ctx.say(romText(ctx.battle.data, "_KeptGoingAndCrashedText", "%s\nkept going and\ncrashed!", displayName(ctx.user)))
       ctx.damage(ctx.user, 1)
     end,
   },
@@ -606,7 +608,7 @@ MoveEffects.full = {
     afterDamage = function(ctx)
       local battle = ctx.battle
       battle.payDay = (battle.payDay or 0) + 2 * ctx.user.mon.level
-      ctx.say(Strings("Coins scattered\neverywhere!"))
+      ctx.say(romText(ctx.battle.data, "_CoinsScatteredText", "Coins scattered\neverywhere!"))
     end,
   },
   SWIFT_EFFECT = { neverMiss = true },
@@ -648,27 +650,27 @@ MoveEffects.full = {
         end
         if ok then
           if move.id == "ROAR" then
-            ctx.say(Strings("%s\nran away scared!", displayName(target)))
+            ctx.say(romText(ctx.battle.data, "_RanAwayScaredText", "%s\nran away scared!", displayName(target)))
           elseif move.id == "WHIRLWIND" then
-            ctx.say(Strings("%s\nwas blown away!", displayName(target)))
+            ctx.say(romText(ctx.battle.data, "_WasBlownAwayText", "%s\nwas blown away!", displayName(target)))
           else
-            ctx.say(Strings("%s\nran from battle!", displayName(user)))
+            ctx.say(romText(ctx.battle.data, "_RanFromBattleText", "%s\nran from battle!", displayName(user)))
           end
           battle.result = "run"
           battle.afterQueue = "finish"
         elseif move.id == "TELEPORT" then
           battle:cancelMoveAnim()
-          ctx.say(Strings("But, it failed!"))
+          ctx.say(romText(ctx.battle.data, "_ButItFailedText", "But, it failed!"))
         else
           battle:cancelMoveAnim()
-          ctx.say(Strings("It didn't affect\n%s!", displayName(target)))
+          ctx.say(romText(ctx.battle.data, "_DidntAffectText", "It didn't affect\n%s!", displayName(target)))
         end
       elseif move.id == "TELEPORT" then
         battle:cancelMoveAnim()
-        ctx.say(Strings("But, it failed!"))
+        ctx.say(romText(ctx.battle.data, "_ButItFailedText", "But, it failed!"))
       else
         battle:cancelMoveAnim()
-        ctx.say(Strings("%s\nis unaffected!", displayName(target)))
+        ctx.say(romText(ctx.battle.data, "_IsUnaffectedText", "%s\nis unaffected!", displayName(target)))
       end
     end,
   },
@@ -686,7 +688,7 @@ MoveEffects.full = {
     callsMove = function(ctx)
       local last = ctx.target.lastMove
       if not last then
-        ctx.say(Strings("The MIRROR MOVE\nfailed!"))
+        ctx.say(romText(ctx.battle.data, "_MirrorMoveFailedText", "The MIRROR MOVE\nfailed!"))
         return nil
       end
       return last
diff --git a/src/core/RomText.lua b/src/core/RomText.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ef15eb81
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/RomText.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+-- The line the game itself prints, with the engine's wording as backup.
+--
+-- pokered prints most of what the player reads -- battle messages, item
+-- results, field prompts -- and the importer extracts every one of those
+-- labels.  Writing the sentence again in Lua meant the screen showed a
+-- near-miss of the game's own wording while the cache held the real line,
+-- and on a localized import it showed English over translated data.
+--
+-- Callers pass the pokered label plus the literal they used to print, so
+-- the literal stays catalog-backed (Strings) for a cache built before the
+-- label, for a total conversion that dropped it, and for the pure-module
+-- tests that run without a dataset.
+--
+-- The slots the extracted text carries ({USER}, {TARGET}, the {RAM:...}
+-- buffers) are NOT in the token registry TextBox.substitute serves -- that
+-- one only resolves {PLAYER}, {RIVAL} and three string buffers -- so they
+-- are filled here, in argument order, before the box ever sees the string.
+--
+-- {PLAYER}/{RIVAL} are the two the registry CAN fill later, so they are
+-- only consumed here when the caller clearly supplies them: an argument
+-- count matching every slot.  Matching just the other slots leaves those
+-- two alone for that pass.  Anything else means the extracted line cannot
+-- carry what the call has to say -- a few labels stop at a dynamic marker
+-- the decoder does not follow, e.g. _EnemysWeakText extracts as "The
+-- enemy's weak!\nGet'm! " with nowhere to put the name -- so the engine's
+-- own wording stands in rather than printing a sentence with a hole in it.
+
+local Strings = require("src.core.Strings")
+
+return function(data, label, fallback, ...)
+  local text = data and data.text and data.text[label]
+  if not text then return Strings(fallback, ...) end
+  local args = { ... }
+  if #args == 0 then return text end
+
+  local slots, named = 0, 0
+  for token in text:gmatch("%b{}") do
+    slots = slots + 1
+    if token == "{PLAYER}" or token == "{RIVAL}" then named = named + 1 end
+  end
+  local fillNamed
+  if #args == slots then
+    fillNamed = true
+  elseif #args == slots - named then
+    fillNamed = false
+  else
+    return Strings(fallback, ...)
+  end
+
+  local index = 0
+  return (text:gsub("%b{}", function(token)
+    if not fillNamed and (token == "{PLAYER}" or token == "{RIVAL}") then
+      return token
+    end
+    index = index + 1
+    local value = args[index]
+    if value == nil then return token end
+    return tostring(value)
+  end))
+end
diff --git a/src/world/OverworldController.lua b/src/world/OverworldController.lua
index e075605a..ffb6aa40 100644
--- a/src/world/OverworldController.lua
+++ b/src/world/OverworldController.lua
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ local TextBox = require("src.render.TextBox")
 local Transition = require("src.render.Transition")
 local Warp = require("src.world.Warp")
 local Zoom = require("src.render.Zoom")
+local romText = require("src.core.RomText")
 local Strings = require("src.core.Strings")
 
 -- isOverworld marks the live world state for WorldAPI's stack scan
@@ -1570,7 +1571,7 @@ function OverworldState:goFishing(rod)
     -- PrintText and only clears it once the verdict box is done, so the rod
     -- must NOT vanish with the dots box (#321).
     if not enc then
-      Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game, Strings("Not even a nibble!"), function()
+      Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game, romText(Game.data, "_NoNibbleText", "Not even a nibble!"), function()
         -- the rod OAM goes out with the verdict box (res BIT_LEDGE_OR_FISHING
         -- straight after PrintText) but the player keeps the patched tiles
         -- until the overworld reloads them a few frames later
@@ -1581,7 +1582,7 @@ function OverworldState:goFishing(rod)
       end))
       return
     end
-    Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game, Strings("Oh!\nIt's a bite!"), function()
+    Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game, romText(Game.data, "_ItsABiteText", "Oh!\nIt's a bite!"), function()
       -- the bite goes straight into battle, which reloads the sprite tiles
       self.fishing = nil
       self.player.fishing = nil
@@ -1763,7 +1764,7 @@ function OverworldState:tryBookshelf(fx, fy)
     if self.map.def.tileset == "MANSION"
        and self.map:tileAt(fx * 2, fy * 2) == 0x38 then
       Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game, t._DiglettSculptureText
-        or Strings("It's a sculpture\nof DIGLETT.")))
+        or romText(Game.data, "_DiglettSculptureText", "It's a sculpture\nof DIGLETT.")))
       return true
     end
     Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game, t._PokemonBooksText
@@ -1780,7 +1781,7 @@ function OverworldState:tryBookshelf(fx, fy)
     local line = (self.player.cellX % 2 == 0) and t._IndigoPlateauStatuesText2
                  or t._IndigoPlateauStatuesText3
     Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game,
-      (t._IndigoPlateauStatuesText1 or Strings("INDIGO PLATEAU")) .. "\f"
+      (t._IndigoPlateauStatuesText1 or romText(Game.data, "_IndigoPlateauStatuesText1", "INDIGO PLATEAU")) .. "\f"
       .. (line or Strings("POKéMON LEAGUE HQ"))))
   end
   return true
@@ -1837,7 +1838,7 @@ function OverworldState:tryHiddenObject(fx, fy)
       save.hiddenTaken = save.hiddenTaken or {}
       if save.hiddenTaken[key] then return false end
       if not require("src.inventory.Bag").add(save, h.item, 1, Game.data) then
-        Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game, Strings("You can't carry\nany more items!")))
+        Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game, romText(Game.data, "_CantCarryMoreText", "You can't carry\nany more items!")))
         return true
       end
       save.hiddenTaken[key] = true
@@ -1871,20 +1872,20 @@ function OverworldState:tryHiddenObject(fx, fy)
     if h.x == fx and h.y == fy then
       if h.state == "out_of_order" then
         Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game, txt._GameCornerOutOfOrderText
-          or Strings("OUT OF ORDER\nThis is broken.")))
+          or romText(Game.data, "_GameCornerOutOfOrderText", "OUT OF ORDER\nThis is broken.")))
       elseif h.state == "out_to_lunch" then
         Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game, txt._GameCornerOutToLunchText
-          or Strings("OUT TO LUNCH\nThis is reserved.")))
+          or romText(Game.data, "_GameCornerOutToLunchText", "OUT TO LUNCH\nThis is reserved.")))
       elseif h.state == "keys" then
         Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game, txt._GameCornerSomeonesKeysText
-          or Strings("Someone's keys!\nThey'll be back.")))
+          or romText(Game.data, "_GameCornerSomeonesKeysText", "Someone's keys!\nThey'll be back.")))
       elseif not save.inventory.COIN_CASE then
         Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game, txt._GameCornerCoinCaseText
-          or Strings("A COIN CASE is\nrequired!")))
+          or romText(Game.data, "_GameCornerCoinCaseText", "A COIN CASE is\nrequired!")))
       elseif (save.coins or 0) == 0 then
         -- AbleToPlaySlotsCheck: a COIN CASE with no coins can't play
         Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game, txt._GameCornerNoCoinsText
-          or Strings("You don't have\nany coins!")))
+          or romText(Game.data, "_GameCornerNoCoinsText", "You don't have\nany coins!")))
       else
         -- one machine per visit is secretly lucky
         -- (wLuckySlotHiddenEventIndex, engine/slots/game_corner_slots.asm)
@@ -1968,7 +1969,7 @@ function OverworldState:tryHiddenObject(fx, fy)
   for _, h in ipairs(extras.printTrash and extras.printTrash[self.map.id] or {}) do
     if h.x == fx and h.y == fy then
       Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game, txt._VermilionGymTrashText
-        or Strings("Nope, there's\nonly trash here.")))
+        or romText(Game.data, "_VermilionGymTrashText", "Nope, there's\nonly trash here.")))
       return true
     end
   end
@@ -2010,7 +2011,7 @@ function OverworldState:tryCardKeyDoor(fx, fy)
   local t = Game.data.text
   if not Game.save.inventory.CARD_KEY then
     Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game,
-      t._CardKeyFailText or Strings("Darn! It needs a\nCARD KEY!")))
+      t._CardKeyFailText or romText(Game.data, "_CardKeyFailText", "Darn! It needs a\nCARD KEY!")))
     return true
   end
   require("src.core.Sound").play(Game.data, "Go_Inside")
@@ -2028,7 +2029,7 @@ function OverworldState:tryCardKeyDoor(fx, fy)
   end
   Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game,
     (t._CardKeySuccessText1 or Strings("Bingo!"))
-    .. (t._CardKeySuccessText2 or Strings("\nThe CARD KEY\nopened the door!"))))
+    .. (t._CardKeySuccessText2 or romText(Game.data, "_CardKeySuccessText2", "\nThe CARD KEY\nopened the door!"))))
   return true
 end
 
@@ -2045,7 +2046,7 @@ function OverworldState:trashCanSwitch(canIndex)
   local t = Game.data.text
   local save = Game.save
   local tc = Game.data.field.hiddenExtras.trashCans
-  local trashText = t._VermilionGymTrashText or Strings("Nope, there's\nonly trash here.")
+  local trashText = t._VermilionGymTrashText or romText(Game.data, "_VermilionGymTrashText", "Nope, there's\nonly trash here.")
   -- "Don't do the trash can puzzle if it's already been done."
   if save.flags.EVENT_2ND_LOCK_OPENED then
     Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game, trashText))
@@ -2144,7 +2145,7 @@ function OverworldState:billsHousePC()
   if flags.EVENT_USED_CELL_SEPARATOR_ON_BILL
      or not flags.EVENT_BILL_SAID_USE_CELL_SEPARATOR then
     Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game, t._BillsHouseMonitorText
-      or Strings("TELEPORTER is\ndisplayed on the\nPC monitor.")))
+      or romText(Game.data, "_BillsHouseMonitorText", "TELEPORTER is\ndisplayed on the\nPC monitor.")))
     return
   end
   require("src.core.Music").stop()
@@ -2469,7 +2470,7 @@ function OverworldState:talkTo(npc)
   -- the string "0" as truthy, so screen it out and fall through to text.
   if d.item and d.item ~= "0" and d.item ~= 0 then
     if not require("src.inventory.Bag").add(Game.save, d.item, 1, Game.data) then
-      Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game, Strings("You can't carry\nany more items!")))
+      Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game, romText(Game.data, "_CantCarryMoreText", "You can't carry\nany more items!")))
       return
     end
     Game.save.itemsTaken = Game.save.itemsTaken or {}
@@ -2537,7 +2538,7 @@ function OverworldState:talkTo(npc)
   if entry then
     if entry.mart then
       npc:facePlayer(self.player)
-      Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game, Strings("Hi there!\nMay I help you?"), function()
+      Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game, romText(Game.data, "_PokemartGreetingText", "Hi there!\nMay I help you?"), function()
         Screens.push(Game, "ShopMenu", entry.mart)
         unfreeze()
       end))
@@ -2732,7 +2733,7 @@ end
 -- POKéMON" and "fighting fit".
 function OverworldState:nurseHeal(onDone, npc)
   local t = Game.data.text
-  local bye = t._PokemonCenterFarewellText or Strings("We hope to see\nyou again!")
+  local bye = t._PokemonCenterFarewellText or romText(Game.data, "_PokemonCenterFarewellText", "We hope to see\nyou again!")
   local hello = t._PokemonCenterWelcomeText
                 or Strings("Welcome to our\nPOKéMON CENTER!")
   if not Game.save.usedPokecenter then
@@ -2807,21 +2808,21 @@ end
 -- for the original serial handshake; declining prints "Please come again!"
 function OverworldState:cableClubReceptionist(onDone)
   local t = Game.data.text
-  local welcome = t._CableClubNPCWelcomeText or Strings("Welcome to the\nCable Club!")
+  local welcome = t._CableClubNPCWelcomeText or romText(Game.data, "_CableClubNPCWelcomeText", "Welcome to the\nCable Club!")
   if not Game.save.flags.EVENT_GOT_POKEDEX then
     -- CableClubNPC .didNotConnect path before the pokedex
     Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game, welcome .. "\f"
       .. (t._CableClubNPCMakingPreparationsText
-          or Strings("We're making\npreparations.\vPlease wait.")), onDone))
+          or romText(Game.data, "_CableClubNPCMakingPreparationsText", "We're making\npreparations.\vPlease wait.")), onDone))
     return
   end
   local apply = t._CableClubNPCPleaseApplyHereHaveToSaveText
-    or Strings("Please apply here.\fBefore opening\nthe link, we have\vto save the game.")
+    or romText(Game.data, "_CableClubNPCPleaseApplyHereHaveToSaveText", "Please apply here.\fBefore opening\nthe link, we have\vto save the game.")
   Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game, welcome .. "\f" .. apply, nil,
     { choice = function(yes)
       if not yes then
         Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game,
-          t._CableClubNPCPleaseComeAgainText or Strings("Please come\nagain!"), onDone))
+          t._CableClubNPCPleaseComeAgainText or romText(Game.data, "_CableClubNPCPleaseComeAgainText", "Please come\nagain!"), onDone))
         return
       end
       Game:writeSave()
@@ -3303,7 +3304,7 @@ function OverworldState:onStepComplete()
     if Game.save.repelSteps == 0 then
       -- no encounter on the exact wear-off step (wild_encounters.asm
       -- .lastRepelStep returns CantEncounter)
-      Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game, Strings("REPEL's effect\nwore off.")))
+      Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game, romText(Game.data, "_RepelWoreOffText", "REPEL's effect\nwore off.")))
       return
     end
   end
@@ -3669,7 +3670,7 @@ function OverworldState:safariStep()
   if not st or not self:inSafariStepZone() then return false end
   st.steps = st.steps - 1
   if st.steps > 0 then return false end
-  self:safariGameOver(Strings("PA: Ding-dong!\nTime's up!"))
+  self:safariGameOver(romText(Game.data, "_TimesUpText", "PA: Ding-dong!\nTime's up!"))
   return true
 end
 
@@ -3678,7 +3679,7 @@ function OverworldState:safariGameOver(text)
   Game.save.safari = nil
   local t = Game.data.text
   Game.stack:push(TextBox.new(Game,
-    (text or "") .. "\f" .. (t._GameOverText or Strings("PA: Your SAFARI\nGAME is over!")),
+    (text or "") .. "\f" .. (t._GameOverText or romText(Game.data, "_GameOverText", "PA: Your SAFARI\nGAME is over!")),
     function()
       local exit_ = FieldDefaults.fieldValue(Game.data, "safari", "exitWarp")
       self:startWarpTo(exit_.map, exit_.x, exit_.y, exit_.facing or "down")