diff --git a/src/battle/BattleState.lua b/src/battle/BattleState.lua
index 9334bf92..b45ebfe7 100644
--- a/src/battle/BattleState.lua
+++ b/src/battle/BattleState.lua
@@ -385,8 +385,8 @@ local function displayName(b)
 end
 
 -- Apply the "Enemy " prefix to a pre-built message from a module that
--- only knows the raw nickname (Status.beforeMove/residual,
--- TrainerAI.useItem): splice it in before the first name occurrence.
+-- only knows the raw nickname (Status.beforeMove/residual): splice it
+-- in before the first name occurrence.
 local function prefixEnemy(msg, battler)
   if battler.isPlayer then return msg end
   local s = msg:find(battler.name, 1, true)
@@ -3044,8 +3044,11 @@ function BattleState:executeAction(user, target, action)
     -- trainer class AI actions (engine/battle/trainer_ai.asm)
     if action.special == "aiItem" then
       self.aiUses = (self.aiUses or 1) - 1
+      -- useItem's messages arrive final: its item line prints the raw
+      -- nickname on purpose (no "Enemy " in AIPrintItemUseText), so the
+      -- prefix splice must not touch them.
       for _, m in ipairs(TrainerAI.useItem(self, action.item)) do
-        self:sayNext(prefixEnemy(m, self.enemy))
+        self:sayNext(m)
       end
       self:drainNext()
       require("src.core.Sound").play(self.data, "Heal_Ailment")
diff --git a/src/battle/Status.lua b/src/battle/Status.lua
index 8fad8716..a42062ae 100644
--- a/src/battle/Status.lua
+++ b/src/battle/Status.lua
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 -- back to the vanilla records, which is bit-identical behavior.
 
 local Strings = require("src.core.Strings")
+local romText = require("src.core.RomText")
 
 local Status = {}
 
@@ -34,8 +35,8 @@ end
 -- sentence rather than the noun: "hurt by poison" and "hurt by the burn"
 -- decline differently once translated, so a shared fragment cannot be the
 -- translatable unit.
-local function damageOverTime(template)
-  return function(battler)
+local function damageOverTime(label, template)
+  return function(battler, _, battle)
     local mon = battler.mon
     local base = math.max(1, math.floor(mon.stats.hp / 16))
     local dmg = base
@@ -44,7 +45,7 @@ local function damageOverTime(template)
       battler.toxicCounter = battler.toxicCounter + 1
     end
     mon.hp = math.max(0, mon.hp - dmg)
-    return { Strings(template, name(battler)) }
+    return { romText(battle and battle.data, label, template, name(battler)) }
   end
 end
 
@@ -63,53 +64,63 @@ Status.RECORDS = {
     id = "SLP", label = "SLP", hudLabel = "SLP",
     catchBonus = 25, shakeBonus = 10,
     beforeMovePriority = 40,
-    beforeMove = function(battler)
+    beforeMove = function(battler, _, battle)
       battler.sleepTurns = (battler.sleepTurns or 1) - 1
       if battler.sleepTurns <= 0 then
         battler.mon.status = nil
-        return false, { Strings("%s\nwoke up!", name(battler)) } -- wakes, loses the turn
+        -- wakes, loses the turn
+        return false, { romText(battle and battle.data, "_WokeUpText",
+          "%s\nwoke up!", name(battler)) }
       end
-      return false, { Strings("%s\nis fast asleep!", name(battler)) }
+      return false, { romText(battle and battle.data, "_FastAsleepText",
+        "%s\nis fast asleep!", name(battler)) }
     end,
     onInflict = function(battle, target, opts, display)
       target.sleepTurns = battle.rng(1, 7)
-      return { Strings("%s\nfell asleep!", display) }
+      return { romText(battle.data, "_FellAsleepText",
+        "%s\nfell asleep!", display) }
     end,
   },
   FRZ = {
     id = "FRZ", label = "FRZ", hudLabel = "FRZ",
     catchBonus = 25, shakeBonus = 10,
     beforeMovePriority = 30,
-    beforeMove = function(battler)
-      return false, { Strings("%s\nis frozen solid!", name(battler)) }
+    beforeMove = function(battler, _, battle)
+      return false, { romText(battle and battle.data, "_IsFrozenText",
+        "%s\nis frozen solid!", name(battler)) }
     end,
     canInflict = function(target) return not hasType(target, "ICE") end,
-    onInflict = function(_, _, _, display)
-      return { Strings("%s\nwas frozen solid!", display) }
+    onInflict = function(battle, _, _, display)
+      return { romText(battle and battle.data, "_FrozenText",
+        "%s\nwas frozen solid!", display) }
     end,
   },
   PSN = {
     id = "PSN", label = "PSN", hudLabel = "PSN",
     catchBonus = 12, shakeBonus = 5,
-    residual = damageOverTime(Strings.source("%s's\nhurt by poison!")),
+    residual = damageOverTime("_HurtByPoisonText",
+      Strings.source("%s's\nhurt by poison!")),
     canInflict = function(target) return not hasType(target, "POISON") end,
-    onInflict = function(_, target, opts, display)
+    onInflict = function(battle, target, opts, display)
       if opts.toxic then
         target.toxicCounter = 1
-        -- _BadlyPoisonedText
-        return { Strings("%s's\nbadly poisoned!", display) }
+        return { romText(battle and battle.data, "_BadlyPoisonedText",
+          "%s's\nbadly poisoned!", display) }
       end
-      return { Strings("%s\nwas poisoned!", display) }
+      return { romText(battle and battle.data, "_PoisonedText",
+        "%s\nwas poisoned!", display) }
     end,
   },
   BRN = {
     id = "BRN", label = "BRN", hudLabel = "BRN",
     catchBonus = 12, shakeBonus = 5,
     statPenalty = { stat = "attack", div = 2 },
-    residual = damageOverTime(Strings.source("%s's\nhurt by the burn!")),
+    residual = damageOverTime("_HurtByBurnText",
+      Strings.source("%s's\nhurt by the burn!")),
     canInflict = function(target) return not hasType(target, "FIRE") end,
-    onInflict = function(_, _, _, display)
-      return { Strings("%s\nwas burned!", display) }
+    onInflict = function(battle, _, _, display)
+      return { romText(battle and battle.data, "_BurnedText",
+        "%s\nwas burned!", display) }
     end,
   },
   PAR = {
@@ -117,10 +128,11 @@ Status.RECORDS = {
     catchBonus = 12, shakeBonus = 5,
     statPenalty = { stat = "speed", div = 4 },
     beforeMovePriority = 10,
-    beforeMove = function(battler, rng)
+    beforeMove = function(battler, rng, battle)
       -- cp 25 percent / jr nc: fully paralyzed on rand < 63 (63/256)
       if rng(0, 255) < 63 then
-        return false, { Strings("%s's\nfully paralyzed!", name(battler)) }
+        return false, { romText(battle and battle.data, "_FullyParalyzedText",
+          "%s's\nfully paralyzed!", name(battler)) }
       end
       return true, {}
     end,
@@ -128,9 +140,10 @@ Status.RECORDS = {
       -- ParalyzeEffect_: Electric-type moves can't paralyze Ground-types
       return not (opts.moveType == "ELECTRIC" and hasType(target, "GROUND"))
     end,
-    onInflict = function(_, _, _, display)
-      -- _ParalyzedMayNotAttackText (primary and secondary paralysis)
-      return { Strings("%s's\nparalyzed! It may\nnot attack!", display) }
+    onInflict = function(battle, _, _, display)
+      -- primary and secondary paralysis share this line
+      return { romText(battle and battle.data, "_ParalyzedMayNotAttackText",
+        "%s's\nparalyzed! It may\nnot attack!", display) }
     end,
   },
 }
@@ -166,7 +179,8 @@ function Status.beforeMove(battler, rng, battle)
   end
   if battler.flinched then
     battler.flinched = false
-    return false, { Strings("%s\nflinched!", name(battler)) }
+    return false, { romText(battle and battle.data, "_FlinchedText",
+      "%s\nflinched!", name(battler)) }
   end
   local record = Status.recordFor(battleStatuses(battle), mon.status)
   local handler = record and record.beforeMove
@@ -184,23 +198,27 @@ function Status.beforeMove(battler, rng, battle)
   end
   if battler.boundTurns and battler.boundTurns > 0 then
     battler.boundTurns = battler.boundTurns - 1
-    msgs[#msgs + 1] = Strings("%s\ncan't move!", name(battler))
+    msgs[#msgs + 1] = romText(battle and battle.data, "_CantMoveText",
+      "%s\ncan't move!", name(battler))
     return false, msgs
   end
   if battler.disabledTurns then
     battler.disabledTurns = battler.disabledTurns - 1
     if battler.disabledTurns <= 0 then
       battler.disabledTurns, battler.disabledSlot = nil, nil
-      table.insert(msgs, Strings("%s's\ndisabled no more!", name(battler)))
+      table.insert(msgs, romText(battle and battle.data, "_DisabledNoMoreText",
+        "%s's\ndisabled no more!", name(battler)))
     end
   end
   if battler.confusedTurns then
     battler.confusedTurns = battler.confusedTurns - 1
     if battler.confusedTurns <= 0 then
       battler.confusedTurns = nil
-      table.insert(msgs, Strings("%s\nsnapped out of\nconfusion!", name(battler)))
+      table.insert(msgs, romText(battle and battle.data, "_ConfusedNoMoreText",
+        "%s\nsnapped out of\nconfusion!", name(battler)))
     else
-      table.insert(msgs, Strings("%s\nis confused!", name(battler)))
+      table.insert(msgs, romText(battle and battle.data, "_IsConfusedText",
+        "%s\nis confused!", name(battler)))
       -- cp 50 percent + 1 / jr c: hurt itself on rand >= 128 (128/256)
       if rng(0, 255) < 128 then
         return false, msgs, true -- hurt itself
@@ -241,7 +259,8 @@ function Status.residual(battler, opponent, battle)
     dmg = math.min(dmg, mon.hp)
     mon.hp = mon.hp - dmg
     opponent.mon.hp = math.min(opponent.mon.stats.hp, opponent.mon.hp + dmg)
-    table.insert(msgs, Strings("LEECH SEED saps\n%s!", name(battler)))
+    table.insert(msgs, romText(battle and battle.data, "_HurtByLeechSeedText",
+      "LEECH SEED saps\n%s!", name(battler)))
   end
   return msgs
 end
diff --git a/src/battle/TrainerAI.lua b/src/battle/TrainerAI.lua
index 08b9aca0..c086c113 100644
--- a/src/battle/TrainerAI.lua
+++ b/src/battle/TrainerAI.lua
@@ -20,9 +20,16 @@
 
 local TypeChart = require("src.battle.TypeChart")
 local Strings = require("src.core.Strings")
+local romText = require("src.core.RomText")
 
 local TrainerAI = {}
 
+-- pokered's <USER>/<TARGET> text macros print "Enemy " before the
+-- enemy mon's nickname (home/text.asm PlaceMoveUsersName)
+local function displayName(b)
+  return b.isPlayer and b.name or ("Enemy " .. b.name)
+end
+
 local HEAL_AMOUNT = { POTION = 20, SUPER_POTION = 50, HYPER_POTION = 200 }
 local X_STAT = { X_ATTACK = "attack", X_DEFEND = "defense", X_SPEED = "speed" }
 
@@ -95,12 +102,16 @@ function TrainerAI.switchAction(battle)
   return { special = "aiSwitch", index = alive[1] }
 end
 
--- Apply an aiItem action to the enemy battler; returns messages.
+-- Apply an aiItem action to the enemy battler; returns messages, already
+-- final: the item line prints the raw nickname (AIPrintItemUseText has no
+-- "Enemy " prefix in pokered), the stat lines carry it via displayName, so
+-- the caller must not run these through prefixEnemy.
 function TrainerAI.useItem(battle, item)
   local enemy = battle.enemy
   local trainerName = battle.trainer.name
   local itemName = battle.data.items[item] and battle.data.items[item].name or item
-  local msgs = { Strings("%s\nused %s!", trainerName, itemName) }
+  local msgs = { romText(battle.data, "_AIBattleUseItemText",
+    "%s\nused %s!", trainerName, itemName, enemy.name) }
   if item == "FULL_HEAL" then
     enemy.mon.status = nil
     enemy.toxicCounter = nil
@@ -113,10 +124,10 @@ function TrainerAI.useItem(battle, item)
   elseif X_STAT[item] then
     local stat = X_STAT[item]
     enemy.stages[stat] = math.min(6, (enemy.stages[stat] or 0) + 1)
-    table.insert(msgs, Strings("%s's\n%s rose!", enemy.name, stat:upper()))
+    table.insert(msgs, Strings("%s's\n%s rose!", displayName(enemy), stat:upper()))
   elseif item == "GUARD_SPEC" then
     enemy.mist = true
-    table.insert(msgs, Strings("%s's\nprotected against\nstat changes!", enemy.name))
+    table.insert(msgs, Strings("%s's\nprotected against\nstat changes!", displayName(enemy)))
   end
   return msgs
 end
diff --git a/src/inventory/ItemEffects.lua b/src/inventory/ItemEffects.lua
index ad1e2165..f7c1b9b3 100644
--- a/src/inventory/ItemEffects.lua
+++ b/src/inventory/ItemEffects.lua
@@ -12,9 +12,19 @@
 
 local Flags = require("src.script.Flags")
 local Strings = require("src.core.Strings")
+local romText = require("src.core.RomText")
 
 local ItemEffects = {}
 
+local function notTime(data, save)
+  return romText(data, "_ItemUseNotTimeText",
+    "OAK: %s!\nThis isn't the\ntime to use that!", save.player.name)
+end
+
+local function noEffect(data)
+  return romText(data, "_ItemUseNoEffectText", "It won't have\nany effect.")
+end
+
 local HEAL_AMOUNT = {
   POTION = 20, SUPER_POTION = 50, HYPER_POTION = 200,
   FRESH_WATER = 50, SODA_POP = 60, LEMONADE = 80,
@@ -82,6 +92,14 @@ local function cureActiveToxic(battle, target)
   end
 end
 
+-- the per-item cure lines (item_effects.asm .cureStatusAilment picks the
+-- text by item id); FULL_RESTORE lands here too when it acts as a cure
+local CURE_TEXT = {
+  ANTIDOTE = "_AntidoteText", BURN_HEAL = "_BurnHealText",
+  ICE_HEAL = "_IceHealText", AWAKENING = "_AwakeningText",
+  PARLYZ_HEAL = "_ParlyzHealText", FULL_HEAL = "_FullHealText",
+}
+
 -- battle-only stat boosters (engine/items/item_effects.asm ItemUseXStat)
 local X_ITEMS = {
   X_ATTACK = "attack", X_DEFEND = "defense", X_SPEED = "speed",
@@ -130,8 +148,7 @@ function ItemEffects.use(data, save, itemId, target, battle, moveIndex, ow)
   if battle and (VITAMINS[itemId] or STONES[itemId] or itemId == "PP_UP"
                  or itemId == "RARE_CANDY" or itemId == "COIN_CASE"
                  or (itemDef and itemDef.machine)) then
-    return "failed", { Strings("OAK: %s!\nThis isn't the\ntime to use that!",
-                               save.player.name) }
+    return "failed", { notTime(data, save) }
   end
 
   if BALLS[itemId] then
@@ -148,13 +165,14 @@ function ItemEffects.use(data, save, itemId, target, battle, moveIndex, ow)
       -- data/scripts/story.lua's snorlaxWake)
       local mapId, npc = adjacentSleepingSnorlax(save, ow)
       if npc then
-        return "flute_wake", { data.text._PlayedFluteHadEffectText
-          or Strings("{PLAYER} played the\nPOKé FLUTE.") },
+        return "flute_wake", { romText(data, "_PlayedFluteHadEffectText",
+          "{PLAYER} played the\nPOKé FLUTE.") },
           { mapId = mapId, npc = npc }
       end
       -- otherwise: play the tune, nothing happens (ItemUsePokeFlute's
       -- PlayedFluteNoEffectText branch)
-      return "flute_field", { Strings("Played the POKé\nFLUTE.\fNow, that's a\ncatchy tune!") }
+      return "flute_field", { romText(data, "_PlayedFluteNoEffectText",
+        "Played the POKé\nFLUTE.\fNow, that's a\ncatchy tune!") }
     end
     local woke = false
     local function wake(mon)
@@ -169,17 +187,20 @@ function ItemEffects.use(data, save, itemId, target, battle, moveIndex, ow)
     -- WakeUpEntireParty runs on the enemy's bench too
     for _, mon in ipairs(battle.enemyParty or {}) do wake(mon) end
     if not woke then
-      return "failed", { Strings("Played the POKé\nFLUTE.\fNow, that's a\ncatchy tune!") }
+      return "failed", { romText(data, "_PlayedFluteNoEffectText",
+        "Played the POKé\nFLUTE.\fNow, that's a\ncatchy tune!") }
     end
-    return "flute", { Strings("%s played the\nPOKé FLUTE.", save.player.name),
-                      Strings("All sleeping\nPOKéMON woke up!") }
+    return "flute", { romText(data, "_PlayedFluteHadEffectText",
+                        "%s played the\nPOKé FLUTE.", save.player.name),
+                      romText(data, "_FluteWokeUpText",
+                        "All sleeping\nPOKéMON woke up!") }
   end
 
   -- battle-only items
   if X_ITEMS[itemId] or itemId == "DIRE_HIT" or itemId == "GUARD_SPEC"
      or itemId == "POKE_DOLL" then
     if not battle then
-      return "failed", { Strings("OAK: %s!\nThis isn't the\ntime to use that!", save.player.name) }
+      return "failed", { notTime(data, save) }
     end
     local b = battle.player
     -- PIKAHAPPY_USEDXITEM (item_effects.asm ItemUseXAccuracy /
@@ -201,7 +222,8 @@ function ItemEffects.use(data, save, itemId, target, battle, moveIndex, ow)
       -- effect, so at +6 it is still consumed and StatModifierUpEffect
       -- just prints "Nothing happened!"
       if cur >= 6 then
-        return "consumed", { Strings("Nothing happened!") }
+        return "consumed", { romText(data, "_NothingHappenedText",
+          "Nothing happened!") }
       end
       b.stages[stat] = cur + 1
       return "consumed", { Strings("%s's\n%s rose!", b.name, stat:upper()) }
@@ -210,7 +232,8 @@ function ItemEffects.use(data, save, itemId, target, battle, moveIndex, ow)
     -- the item, even when it is already active
     if itemId == "DIRE_HIT" then
       b.focusEnergy = true
-      return "consumed", { Strings("%s's\ngetting pumped!", b.name) }
+      return "consumed", { romText(data, "_GettingPumpedText",
+        "%s's\ngetting pumped!", b.name) }
     end
     if itemId == "GUARD_SPEC" then
       b.mist = true
@@ -219,10 +242,10 @@ function ItemEffects.use(data, save, itemId, target, battle, moveIndex, ow)
     if itemId == "POKE_DOLL" then
       if battle.kind ~= "wild" then
         -- ItemUsePokeDoll jumps to ItemUseNotTime in trainer battles
-        return "failed", { Strings(
-          "OAK: %s!\nThis isn't the\ntime to use that!", save.player.name) }
+        return "failed", { notTime(data, save) }
       end
-      return "consumed_escape", { Strings("The wild POKéMON\nran away!") }
+      return "consumed_escape", { romText(data, "_WildRanText",
+        "The wild POKéMON\nran away!", battle.enemy and battle.enemy.name) }
     end
   end
 
@@ -231,7 +254,7 @@ function ItemEffects.use(data, save, itemId, target, battle, moveIndex, ow)
   -- restore every move with no menu.
   if itemId == "ETHER" or itemId == "MAX_ETHER"
      or itemId == "ELIXER" or itemId == "MAX_ELIXER" then
-    if not target then return "failed", { Strings("It won't have\nany effect.") } end
+    if not target then return "failed", { noEffect(data) } end
     local restored = false
     local full = itemId == "MAX_ETHER" or itemId == "MAX_ELIXER"
     local allMoves = itemId == "ELIXER" or itemId == "MAX_ELIXER"
@@ -253,9 +276,10 @@ function ItemEffects.use(data, save, itemId, target, battle, moveIndex, ow)
       restored = mv and restore(mv) or false
     end
     if not restored then
-      return "failed", { Strings("It won't have\nany effect.") }
+      return "failed", { noEffect(data) }
     end
-    return "consumed", { Strings("%s's PP\nwas restored!", monName(data, target)) }
+    -- pokered's line names no mon, so the extracted text takes no args
+    return "consumed", { romText(data, "_PPRestoredText", "PP was restored.") }
   end
 
   -- PIKAHAPPY_USEDITEM (item_effects.asm ItemUseMedicine, item id up to
@@ -280,10 +304,11 @@ function ItemEffects.use(data, save, itemId, target, battle, moveIndex, ow)
       target.status = nil
       cureActiveToxic(battle, target)
       require("src.core.Sound").play(data, "Heal_Ailment")
-      return "consumed", { Strings("%s's\nstatus returned\nto normal!", monName(data, target)) }
+      return "consumed", { romText(data, CURE_TEXT.FULL_HEAL,
+        "%s's\nstatus returned\nto normal!", monName(data, target)) }
     end
     if not target or target.hp <= 0 or target.hp >= target.stats.hp then
-      return "failed", { Strings("It won't have\nany effect.") }
+      return "failed", { noEffect(data) }
     end
     -- wHPBarOldHP: the bar animation starts from the HP the mon had BEFORE
     -- the item landed (item_effects.asm latches it with the party menu still
@@ -295,7 +320,10 @@ function ItemEffects.use(data, save, itemId, target, battle, moveIndex, ow)
     else
       target.hp = math.min(target.stats.hp, target.hp + heal)
     end
-    local msgs = { Strings("%s's HP\nwas restored!", monName(data, target)) }
+    -- _PotionText's second slot is the recovered amount ({NUM:
+    -- wHPBarHPDifference}); the engine fallback never prints it
+    local msgs = { romText(data, "_PotionText", "%s's HP\nwas restored!",
+                     monName(data, target), target.hp - before) }
     if itemId == "FULL_RESTORE" then
       target.status = nil
       cureActiveToxic(battle, target)
@@ -307,17 +335,18 @@ function ItemEffects.use(data, save, itemId, target, battle, moveIndex, ow)
   local cures = STATUS_HEAL[itemId]
   if cures then
     if not target or not target.status or not cures[target.status] then
-      return "failed", { Strings("It won't have\nany effect.") }
+      return "failed", { noEffect(data) }
     end
     target.status = nil
     cureActiveToxic(battle, target)
     require("src.core.Sound").play(data, "Heal_Ailment")
-    return "consumed", { Strings("%s's\nstatus returned\nto normal!", monName(data, target)) }
+    return "consumed", { romText(data, CURE_TEXT[itemId],
+      "%s's\nstatus returned\nto normal!", monName(data, target)) }
   end
 
   if itemId == "REVIVE" or itemId == "MAX_REVIVE" then
     if not target or target.hp > 0 then
-      return "failed", { Strings("It won't have\nany effect.") }
+      return "failed", { noEffect(data) }
     end
     target.status = nil
     target.hp = itemId == "REVIVE" and math.floor(target.stats.hp / 2) or target.stats.hp
@@ -329,13 +358,14 @@ function ItemEffects.use(data, save, itemId, target, battle, moveIndex, ow)
     if battle and battle.participants then
       battle.participants[target] = true
     end
-    return "consumed", { Strings("%s\nis revitalized!", monName(data, target)) },
+    return "consumed", { romText(data, "_ReviveText",
+      "%s\nis revitalized!", monName(data, target)) },
            { healedFrom = 0 }
   end
 
   if itemId == "RARE_CANDY" then
     if not target or target.level >= 100 then
-      return "failed", { Strings("It won't have\nany effect.") }
+      return "failed", { noEffect(data) }
     end
     local Growth = require("src.pokemon.Growth")
     local Stats = require("src.pokemon.Stats")
@@ -348,12 +378,13 @@ function ItemEffects.use(data, save, itemId, target, battle, moveIndex, ow)
     -- PIKAHAPPY_LEVELUP on a candy level (item_effects.asm:1540)
     require("src.world.PikachuFollower")
       .modifyHappiness(save, "LEVELUP", target)
-    return "consumed", { Strings("%s grew\nto level %d!", monName(data, target), target.level) },
+    return "consumed", { romText(data, "_RareCandyText",
+      "%s grew\nto level %d!", monName(data, target), target.level) },
            { leveledTo = target.level }
   end
 
   if STONES[itemId] then
-    if not target then return "failed", { Strings("It won't have\nany effect.") } end
+    if not target then return "failed", { noEffect(data) } end
     -- Yellow's starter Pikachu never evolves: ItemUseEvoStone runs
     -- IsThisPartyMonStarterPikachu (OT identity match) before
     -- TryEvolvingMon and bails with the voiced cry + RefusingText.
@@ -363,10 +394,8 @@ function ItemEffects.use(data, save, itemId, target, battle, moveIndex, ow)
        and target.ot == save.player.name
        and target.otId == save.player.id then
       require("src.core.Sound").playCry(data, "PIKACHU")
-      local raw = data.text and data.text._RefusingText
-      local line = raw and raw:gsub("{RAM:[^}]*}", monName(data, target))
-        or Strings("%s\nis refusing!", monName(data, target))
-      return "failed", { line }
+      return "failed", { romText(data, "_RefusingText",
+        "%s\nis refusing!", monName(data, target)) }
     end
     local speciesDef = data.pokemon[target.species]
     for _, evo in ipairs(speciesDef.evolutions) do
@@ -374,44 +403,48 @@ function ItemEffects.use(data, save, itemId, target, battle, moveIndex, ow)
         return "consumed", nil, { evolveTo = evo.species }
       end
     end
-    return "failed", { Strings("It won't have\nany effect.") }
+    return "failed", { noEffect(data) }
   end
 
   -- vitamins: +2560 stat exp, refused at 25600+ (ItemUseVitamin,
   -- engine/items/item_effects.asm)
   local vitaminStat = VITAMINS[itemId]
   if vitaminStat then
-    if not target then return "failed", { Strings("It won't have\nany effect.") } end
+    if not target then return "failed", { noEffect(data) } end
     target.statExp = target.statExp or {}
     local cur = target.statExp[vitaminStat] or 0
     if cur >= 25600 then
-      return "failed", { Strings("It won't have\nany effect.") }
+      return "failed", { noEffect(data) }
     end
     target.statExp[vitaminStat] = math.min(65535, cur + 2560)
     local Stats = require("src.pokemon.Stats")
     target.stats = Stats.calc(data.pokemon[target.species], target.level,
                               target.dvs, target.statExp)
     target.hp = math.min(target.hp, target.stats.hp)
+    -- _VitaminStatRoseText's slot order is localization-dependent (the
+    -- Spanish ROM puts the stat before the name), so the extracted line
+    -- cannot be filled positionally; the engine wording stands
     return "consumed", { Strings("%s's %s\nrose!", monName(data, target),
       vitaminStat == "hp" and "HP" or vitaminStat:upper()) }
   end
 
   -- PP UP boosts the move the player picked (ItemUsePPUp's move menu)
   if itemId == "PP_UP" then
-    if not target then return "failed", { Strings("It won't have\nany effect.") } end
+    if not target then return "failed", { noEffect(data) } end
     local mv = target.moves[moveIndex or 1]
     local mdef = mv and data.moves[mv.id]
     if mdef and (mv.ppUps or 0) < 3 then
       mv.ppUps = (mv.ppUps or 0) + 1
       -- each PP UP adds maxPP/5 uses on top of the base maximum
       mv.pp = mv.pp + math.floor(mdef.pp / 5)
-      return "consumed", { Strings("%s's PP\nincreased!", mdef.name) }
+      return "consumed", { romText(data, "_PPIncreasedText",
+        "%s's PP\nincreased!", mdef.name) }
     end
-    return "failed", { Strings("It won't have\nany effect.") }
+    return "failed", { noEffect(data) }
   end
 
   if itemDef and itemDef.machine then
-    if not target then return "failed", { Strings("It won't have\nany effect.") } end
+    if not target then return "failed", { noEffect(data) } end
     local speciesDef = data.pokemon[target.species]
     local ok = false
     for _, m in ipairs(speciesDef.tmhm) do
@@ -422,11 +455,16 @@ function ItemEffects.use(data, save, itemId, target, battle, moveIndex, ow)
       -- plays SFX_DENIED before MonCannotLearnMachineMoveText (the generic
       -- ItemUseNotTime/NoCyclingAllowedHere paths are silent)
       require("src.core.Sound").play(data, "Denied")
-      return "failed", { Strings("%s can't\nlearn that move!", monName(data, target)) }
+      local moveName = data.moves[itemDef.machine.move].name
+      return "failed", { romText(data, "_MonCannotLearnMachineMoveText",
+        "%s can't\nlearn that move!",
+        monName(data, target), moveName, moveName) }
     end
     for _, mv in ipairs(target.moves) do
       if mv.id == itemDef.machine.move then
-        return "failed", { Strings("It knows that\nmove already!") }
+        return "failed", { romText(data, "_AlreadyKnowsText",
+          "It knows that\nmove already!",
+          monName(data, target), data.moves[itemDef.machine.move].name) }
       end
     end
     -- HMs are never consumed; TMs are single-use
@@ -435,21 +473,21 @@ function ItemEffects.use(data, save, itemId, target, battle, moveIndex, ow)
 
   if itemId == "OLD_ROD" or itemId == "GOOD_ROD" or itemId == "SUPER_ROD" then
     if battle then
-      return "failed", { Strings("OAK: %s!\nThis isn't the\ntime to use that!", save.player.name) }
+      return "failed", { notTime(data, save) }
     end
     -- FishingInit (engine/items/item_effects.asm): cp wWalkBikeSurfState, 2
     -- (surfing) sets carry, and every ItemUseXRod does jp c, ItemUseNotTime
     -- on that carry -- surfing refuses the rod with the same OAK text as
     -- the mid-battle case above, no rod-specific message (#533)
     if ow and ow.player and ow.player.surfing then
-      return "failed", { Strings("OAK: %s!\nThis isn't the\ntime to use that!", save.player.name) }
+      return "failed", { notTime(data, save) }
     end
     return "fish", itemId
   end
 
   if itemId == "BICYCLE" then
     if battle then
-      return "failed", { Strings("OAK: %s!\nThis isn't the\ntime to use that!", save.player.name) }
+      return "failed", { notTime(data, save) }
     end
     return "bicycle"
   end
@@ -459,18 +497,19 @@ function ItemEffects.use(data, save, itemId, target, battle, moveIndex, ow)
   end
   if itemId == "TOWN_MAP" then
     if battle then
-      return "failed", { Strings("OAK: %s!\nThis isn't the\ntime to use that!", save.player.name) }
+      return "failed", { notTime(data, save) }
     end
     return "townmap"
   end
   if itemId == "ITEMFINDER" then
     if battle then
-      return "failed", { Strings("OAK: %s!\nThis isn't the\ntime to use that!", save.player.name) }
+      return "failed", { notTime(data, save) }
     end
     return "itemfinder"
   end
   if itemId == "COIN_CASE" then
-    return "failed", { Strings("Coin count:\n%d", save.coins or 0) }
+    return "failed", { romText(data, "_CoinCaseNumCoinsText",
+      "Coin count:\n%d", save.coins or 0) }
   end
   if itemId == "REPEL" or itemId == "SUPER_REPEL" or itemId == "MAX_REPEL" then
     local steps = itemId == "REPEL" and 100 or itemId == "SUPER_REPEL" and 200 or 250
@@ -478,7 +517,7 @@ function ItemEffects.use(data, save, itemId, target, battle, moveIndex, ow)
     return "consumed", { Strings("%s used\n%s!", save.player.name, name) }
   end
 
-  return "failed", { Strings("OAK: %s!\nThis isn't the\ntime to use that!", save.player.name) }
+  return "failed", { notTime(data, save) }
 end
 
 return ItemEffects
diff --git a/src/pokemon/Evolution.lua b/src/pokemon/Evolution.lua
index c2df1741..b92352b6 100644
--- a/src/pokemon/Evolution.lua
+++ b/src/pokemon/Evolution.lua
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ local Screens = require("src.ui.Screens")
 local Stats = require("src.pokemon.Stats")
 local TextBox = require("src.render.TextBox")
 local Strings = require("src.core.Strings")
+local romText = require("src.core.RomText")
 
 local Evolution = {}
 
@@ -140,7 +141,8 @@ function Evolution.learnEvolutionMoves(game, mon, onDone)
       table.insert(mon.moves, { id = moveId, pp = mdef.pp })
       Runtime.emit("pokemon.move_learned", { mon = mon, moveId = moveId })
       game.stack:push(TextBox.new(game,
-        Strings("%s learned\n%s!", name, mdef.name), nextStep))
+        romText(game.data, "_LearnedMove1Text",
+          "%s learned\n%s!", name, mdef.name), nextStep))
     else
       -- LearnMoveFromLevelUp with a full moveset: the forget UI
       Screens.push(game, "MoveLearnMenu", mon, moveId, nextStep)
@@ -161,8 +163,12 @@ function Evolution.evolve(game, mon, newSpecies, onDone, via)
   Music.play(game.data, Music.special(game.data, "evolution"))
   local oldName = mon.nickname or game.data.pokemon[mon.species].name
   Evolution.apply(game, mon, newSpecies, via)
-  local msg = Strings("What?\n%s is\nevolving!\fCongratulations!\nYour %s\nevolved into\n%s!",
-                      oldName, oldName, game.data.pokemon[newSpecies].name)
+  -- the congrats page keeps the engine wording: _EvolvedText extracts
+  -- truncated (it stops at a dynamic marker the decoder does not follow)
+  local msg = romText(game.data, "_IsEvolvingText",
+                "What?\n%s is\nevolving!", oldName)
+    .. "\f" .. Strings("Congratulations!\nYour %s\nevolved into\n%s!",
+                 oldName, game.data.pokemon[newSpecies].name)
   game.stack:push(TextBox.new(game, msg, function()
     Music.restoreMap(game.data)
     -- re-run the evolved species' level-up learn check before onDone
diff --git a/src/ui/EvolutionState.lua b/src/ui/EvolutionState.lua
index 5954d553..c6aebd0c 100644
--- a/src/ui/EvolutionState.lua
+++ b/src/ui/EvolutionState.lua
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 local Font = require("src.render.Font")
 local Music = require("src.core.Music")
 local Strings = require("src.core.Strings")
+local romText = require("src.core.RomText")
 
 local EvolutionState = {}
 EvolutionState.__index = EvolutionState
@@ -89,9 +90,9 @@ function EvolutionState:update(dt)
     self.done = true
     self.canceled = true
     local TextBox = require("src.render.TextBox")
-    -- mirrors data/generated/text.lua _StoppedEvolvingText
     game.stack:push(TextBox.new(game,
-      Strings("Huh? %s\nstopped evolving!", self.oldName),
+      romText(game.data, "_StoppedEvolvingText",
+        "Huh? %s\nstopped evolving!", self.oldName),
       function()
         Music.restoreMap(game.data)
         game.stack:pop() -- the evolution screen itself
@@ -106,6 +107,8 @@ function EvolutionState:update(dt)
     require("src.core.Sound").playCry(game.data, self.newSpecies)
     local TextBox = require("src.render.TextBox")
     local newName = game.data.pokemon[self.newSpecies].name
+    -- _EvolvedText extracts truncated (it stops at a dynamic marker the
+    -- decoder does not follow), so the engine's wording stands here
     game.stack:push(TextBox.new(game,
       Strings("Congratulations!\nYour %s\nevolved into\n%s!",
               self.oldName, newName),
diff --git a/src/ui/MoveLearnMenu.lua b/src/ui/MoveLearnMenu.lua
index 222f7f1c..f32a60de 100644
--- a/src/ui/MoveLearnMenu.lua
+++ b/src/ui/MoveLearnMenu.lua
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 
 local Font = require("src.render.Font")
 local Strings = require("src.core.Strings")
+local romText = require("src.core.RomText")
 
 local MoveLearnMenu = {}
 MoveLearnMenu.__index = MoveLearnMenu
@@ -43,10 +44,13 @@ function MoveLearnMenu:enter()
   local mdef = game.data.moves[self.newMoveId]
   local name = self:monName()
   self.selecting = false
+  -- _TryingToLearnText is the whole exchange in pokered, delete prompt
+  -- included, so the extracted line carries all four slots at once
   game.stack:push(TextBox.new(game,
-    Strings("%s is\ntrying to learn\v%s!\fBut, %s\ncan't learn more\vthan 4 moves!\f",
-            name, mdef.name, name) ..
-    Strings("Delete an older\nmove to make room\vfor %s?", mdef.name),
+    romText(game.data, "_TryingToLearnText",
+      "%s is\ntrying to learn\v%s!\fBut, %s\ncan't learn more\vthan 4 moves!\f"
+      .. "Delete an older\nmove to make room\vfor %s?",
+      name, mdef.name, name, mdef.name),
     nil, {
       choice = function(yes)
         if yes then
@@ -77,7 +81,8 @@ function MoveLearnMenu:update(dt)
         -- HMCantDeleteText, then back to the forget list
         local TextBox = require("src.render.TextBox")
         self.game.stack:push(TextBox.new(self.game,
-          Strings("HM techniques\ncan't be deleted!")))
+          romText(self.game.data, "_HMCantDeleteText",
+            "HM techniques\ncan't be deleted!")))
         return
       end
       local mdef = self.game.data.moves[self.newMoveId]
@@ -97,7 +102,8 @@ function MoveLearnMenu:confirmAbandon()
   local mdef = game.data.moves[self.newMoveId]
   self.selecting = false
   game.stack:push(TextBox.new(game,
-    Strings("Abandon learning\n%s?", mdef.name), nil, {
+    romText(game.data, "_AbandonLearningText",
+      "Abandon learning\n%s?", mdef.name), nil, {
       choice = function(yes)
         if yes then self:finish(false) else self:enter() end
       end,
@@ -113,12 +119,17 @@ function MoveLearnMenu:finish(learned)
   game.stack:pop()
   local msg
   if learned then
-    -- OneTwoAndText/PoofText/ForgotAndText
-    msg = Strings("1, 2 and... Poof!\f%s forgot\n%s!\fAnd...\f%s learned\n%s!",
-                  name, self.forgot, name, mdef.name)
+    -- pokered pages this as four texts in a row; _ForgotAndText carries
+    -- the "And..." tail
+    msg = romText(game.data, "_OneTwoAndText", "1, 2 and...")
+      .. romText(game.data, "_PoofText", " Poof!")
+      .. romText(game.data, "_ForgotAndText",
+           "\f%s forgot\n%s!\fAnd...", name, self.forgot)
+      .. "\f" .. romText(game.data, "_LearnedMove1Text",
+           "%s learned\n%s!", name, mdef.name)
   else
-    -- DidNotLearnText
-    msg = Strings("%s\ndid not learn\v%s!", name, mdef.name)
+    msg = romText(game.data, "_DidNotLearnText",
+      "%s\ndid not learn\v%s!", name, mdef.name)
   end
   game.stack:push(TextBox.new(game, msg, function()
     if self.onDone then self.onDone(learned) end