List of Pokémon characters facts for kids

This is a list of characters in the Pokémon franchise, including the games, anime series and manga series. Characters may appear in multiple continuities, sometimes in the same basic role (e.g. Giovanni) and sometimes in very different roles (e.g. Brock).

All references to the "video games" collectively refer to Pokémon Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver, Crystal, Ruby, Sapphire, FireRed, LeafGreen, Emerald, Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold, SoulSilver, Black, White, Black 2, White 2, X, Y, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire, Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon, Let's Go, Pikachu!, Let's Go, Eevee!, Sword and Shield.

Names in bold are the names from the English language versions of the video games or anime. Names within parentheses in plain text are the anglicized form of the characters' original Japanese language name if different from the English language version. Italicized names are the romanized version of the Japanese language name if different from the anglicized version.

Characters

Protagonists

The protagonists of the main Pokémon video games series. The upper row is their image of the remake or enhanced versions and the lower row is their original image.

The protagonist of the video games can be renamed by the player, but each has an array of default names. As the anime and the manga are, to differing degrees, based on the games, other Pokémon protagonists (or supporting characters) are often named after and share many characteristics with the game protagonists.

• Red (レッド, Red): The protagonist of Pokémon Red, Green, Blue and Yellow and the male protagonist of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen.
  • Green/Leaf (ブルー/リーフ, Blue/Leaf): The female protagonist of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. The character has been referred to as both Leaf (Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen) and Green (Pokémon: Let's Go). Originally planned to be in Pokémon Red, Green and Blue as seen in the original game beta and the official guidebook artwork.
• Ethan (ゴールド/ヒビキ, Hibiki): The protagonist of Pokémon Gold and Silver and the male protagonist of Pokémon Crystal, HeartGold and SoulSilver. Prior to the remakes, fans referred to the character as Gold.
  • Kris (クリス/コトネ, Kris): The female protagonist of Pokémon Crystal.
  • Lyra (クリス/コトネ, Kotone): The female protagonist of Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.
• Brendan (ユウキ, Yūki) and May (ハルカ, Haruka): The male and female protagonists of Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald and Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.
• Lucas (コウキ, Kōki) and Dawn (ヒカリ, Hikari): The male and female protagonists of Pokémon Diamond, Pearl and Platinum.
• Hilbert (トウヤ, Tōya) and Hilda (トウコ, Tōko): The male and female protagonists of Pokémon Black and White.
• Nate (キョウヘイ, Kyōhei) and Rosa (メイ, Mei): The male and female protagonists of Pokémon Black 2 and White 2.
• Calem (カルム, Karumu) and Serena (セレナ, Serena): The male and female protagonists of Pokémon X and Y.
• Elio (ヨウ, Yō) and Selene (ミヅキ, Mizuki): The male and female protagonists of Pokémon Sun and Moon and Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.
• Chase (カケル, Kakeru) and Elaine (アユミ, Ayumi): The male and female protagonists of Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!.
• Victor (マサル, Masaru) and Gloria (ユウリ, Yūri): The male and female protagonists of Pokémon Sword and Shield.

Rivals

Each game will have one or more rivals. Some rivals can be renamed, while some rivals cannot. They roughly correspond to several other characters in the anime and the manga. The rivals will usually pick a starter Pokémon which has a type advantage over the player's own. In the more recent games, the rival will pick the starter with a type disadvantage against the player, most likely to make the rival battles easier.

• Blue (グリーン, Green): The rival of Pokémon Red, Green, Blue and Yellow and Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. He is pushy and competitive, but is generally a good Pokémon Trainer. He is the grandson of Professor Oak and the player's childhood friend. After that he became the champion waiting for player to challenge. Blue is the basis for Gary Oak in the anime. IGN listed Blue as the 98th best villain in video games, though they stressed that it was difficult to view him as a villain. However, they did say that he was kind of a "douche", citing his attempt to prevent the player character from getting a map. Three years later in Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal and their remakes, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, he becomes a Gym Leader for Viridian City.
• Silver (シルバー, Silver): The rival of Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal and Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. This character steals his first Pokémon from Professor Elm and tends to see Pokémon as tools, to use and discard. Unlike the first rival, his view on Pokémon makes him a mediocre trainer, though the sage in the Sprout Tower recognises that he is talented and has great potential. He eventually realizes his wrongdoings and changes his ways by treating his Pokémon and even the player with respect. He is finally revealed to be the son of Team Rocket Boss Giovanni.
• Wally (ミツル, Mitsuru): The rival in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald and Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. In the beginning, he is a sickly young boy who needs help in catching a Pokémon. When he goes to the player's father for advice, Norman directs the player to help him catch a Pokémon. Using Norman's Zigzagoon, the player helps Wally catch a Ralts. The next time he battles the protagonist, he seems healthier and is in tune with his Pokémon. He battles the player for the last official time in Victory Road and waits there, always ready for another battle.
• Barry (ジュン, Jun): The rival of Pokémon Diamond, Pearl and Platinum. He is often impatient and is determined to be the best Trainer of all time. He is best friends with the player and his father, Palmer, owns the Battle Tower in Sinnoh. Sometimes he will aid the player. He tends to accidentally crash into people quite often as he runs about.
• Cheren (チェレン, Cheren): One of the rivals of Pokémon Black and White. Cheren is intelligent and trustworthy; he often gives the player character advice and battles the player to test his skills. Like the player, he aims to become the Champion. He is one of the player's childhood friends. Two years later, in Black 2 and White 2, he becomes Aspertia City's Gym Leader. If the player used the Memory Link function in Black 2 and White 2, he challenges the player using his final team from Black and White. His name is from the Bulgarian word for black: черен (cheren).
• Bianca (ベル, Bel): One of the rivals of Pokémon Black and White. Bianca is spontaneous and sometimes unreliable, but she develops over the course of the journey. She also has a strong side, which she shows when she goes on a Pokémon journey against her father's wishes. She is one of the player's childhood friends. Two years later in the events of Black 2 and White 2, Bianca becomes an assistant to Professor Juniper and gives the player their starter Pokémon. If the player used the Memory Link function in Black 2 and White 2, she challenges the player using her final team from Black and White. Bianca's name is from the Italian word for white, while her Japanese name "Bel" has the same meaning from Russian: бел (bel).
• Hugh (ヒュウ, Hue): The rival of Pokémon Black 2 and White 2. He is from Aspertia City and one of the player's childhood friends. Like the player characters and is also seeking to become a Pokémon Master. Throughout the game, the player helps Hugh retrieve his sister's Purrloin which was stolen by Team Plasma.
• Shauna (サナ, Sana): One of the rivals and friends of Pokémon X and Y. She is energetic and curious, but still does not know what she wants to gain from her experiences. She gives the player character a nickname at the outset of their journey. Like the other rivals, she is available as a Multi Battle partner at the Battle Maison.
• Tierno (ティエルノ, Tierno): One of the rivals and friends of Pokémon X and Y. He is more interested in finding new Pokémon to make a perfect Pokémon Dance Team.
• Trevor (トロバ, Trevor): One of the rivals and friends of Pokémon X and Y. He is studious and wishes to fill up all three parts of the Kalos Region's Pokédex.
• Hau (ハウ, Hau): One of the rivals of Pokémon Sun and Moon and Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. Compared to previous rivals, he is more friendly.
• Gladion (グラジオ, Gladio): One of the rivals of Pokémon Sun and Moon and Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. This young man lends his strength to Team Skull as an enforcer. He places a high value on being strong in Pokémon battles. His partner Pokémon is the mysterious Type: Null, which later becomes Silvally. He is Lusamine's son and Lillie's brother.
• Trace (シン, Shin): The rival of Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!.
• Hop (ホップ, Hop): The main rival in Pokémon Sword and Shield. He is the younger brother of Leon, the Champion of Galar.
• Bede (ビート, Beet): One of the rivals in Pokémon Sword and Shield. He is an arrogant trainer whose Pokémon journey is sponsored by Chairman Rose. After being disqualified from the Gym Challenge, Opal takes him under her wing and strongarms him into becoming her successor as the Ballonlea Gym Leader. He initially specializes in Psychic-type Pokémon, but switches to Fairy types after becoming a Gym Leader.
• Marnie (マリィ, Mary): One of the rivals in Pokémon Sword and Shield. She is the younger sister of Piers, whose design is based on that of a skunk and is the Gym Leader of Spikemuth. Team Yell, a group of football hooligans composed of Gym Trainers from Spikemuth, are her troublesome fans. After the game's conclusion, she succeeds Piers as the Spikemuth Gym Leader. She specializes in Dark-type Pokémon.
• Klara (クララ, Kurara): The rival in the Isle of Armor story in Sword. She specializes in Poison-type Pokémon.
• Avery (セイボリー, Savory): The rival in the Isle of Armor story in Shield. He specializes in Psychic-type Pokémon.

Professors

The Pokémon Professors give new Pokémon trainers a starting Pokémon appropriate to their region and entrust them with a task (be it completing a Pokédex, delivering an object or otherwise offering encouragement). They are also leading researchers of Pokémon-related topics and mentor Pokémon trainers in a general way.

• Professor Samuel Oak (Professor Yukinari Ōkido (オーキド・ユキナリ博士, Ōkido Yukinari-hakase)): A Pokémon researcher and the grandfather of Blue/the rival in Pokémon Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, FireRed and LeafGreen. He is often considered the leading Pokémon expert, often giving lectures to Pokémon academies and hosting a radio show in Goldenrod City and specializes in Pokémon behavioral science. Alongside his research, he is also authorized by the Pokémon League to give new Pokémon trainers one of the three Kanto starter Pokémon: Bulbasaur, Squirtle and Charmander. In the anime, he gives Ash his Pikachu after Ash arrives too late to receive one of the usual three starter Pokémon. In Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition, he simply gives the player a Pikachu after the rival takes the Eevee that Oak intended to give the player. He is a master Pokémon poet. All Pokémon he "baby-sits" are loyal to him and he had a Charmeleon as a young boy. In Pokémon 4Ever, it is shown that he traveled forward in time to the future when he was a boy and Ash became friends with him. When Ash tells Professor Oak about him, he replies that he is sure that "Sammy" will always be his friend, even though Misty later realizes that Ash never told him his name; the current Professor Oak is later seen looking through a book of old drawings he made as a kid (the predecessor to the Pokédex, which he invented with the other professors).
• Professor Elm (Professor Utsugi (ウツギ博士, Utsugi-hakase)): An absent-minded Pokémon researcher and former student of Professor Oak. In Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal, he is authorized by the Pokémon League to give new Pokémon trainers one of the three Johto starter Pokémon: Chikorita, Cyndaquil and Totodile. He is also credited as discovering that Pikachu is an evolved Pokémon. In the Pokémon anime, Jessie, James and Meowth temporarily steal a Totodile from him (in reality he tells them to take it, thinking they are Nurse Joy). His 'absent minded professor' stereotype is even more pronounced in the games as he often forgets to visit his family and his wife worries that he may not remember to eat. He specializes in research regarding Pokémon breeding and is credited with the discovery of Pokémon eggs.
• Professor Birch (Professor Odamaki (オダマキ博士, Odamaki-hakase)): A Pokémon researcher, known for his fieldwork and research on Pokémon habitual distribution. In Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, he is authorized by the Pokémon League to give new Pokémon trainers one of the three Hoenn starter Pokémon: Treecko, Torchic and Mudkip. He is the father of the rival character. In the anime, he gives May her Torchic. In the manga, he is the father of Sapphire.
• Professor Rowan (Professor Nanakamado (ナナカマド博士, Nanakamado-hakase)): The Pokémon Professor in the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl games, having returned to Sinnoh after four years of traveling abroad. A senior researcher to and old friend of Professor Oak, Professor Rowan is known for his research on Pokémon evolution. He is authorized to give trainers one of three Sinnoh starter Pokémon, Turtwig, Chimchar or Piplup. In the anime, he gives Dawn her Piplup.
• Professor Aurea Juniper (Professor Araragi (アララギ博士, Araragi-hakase)): The Pokémon Professor in the Pokémon Black and White games, the only female professor to appear in the video game series. Professor Juniper specializes in research involving the origins of Pokémon. She is authorized by the Pokémon League to give new trainers one of three Unova starter Pokémon, Snivy, Tepig and Oshawott. In the game, she leaves a present at the player's house containing starter Pokémon for the player and the player's rivals, Bianca and Cheren. In the anime, she gives Trip a Snivy and allows Ash to keep an Oshawott that escapes from her lab. Her father, Cedric Juniper, was also a Pokémon Professor and has since retired; in the games, he upgrades the player's Pokédex to the National mode after the player defeats N and Ghetsis.
• Professor Augustine Sycamore (Professor Platane (プラターヌ博士, Puratānu-hakase)): A professor who debuts in the Pokémon games Pokémon X and Y. He frequently battles the player from time to time. Unlike previous professors who gave out the regions' new starter Pokémon, Kalos's starter Pokémon Chespin, Fennekin and Froakie are given to one of the player character's friends. Instead, Professor Sycamore gives the player a choice amongst one of Kanto's starter Pokémon: Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle.
• Professor Kukui (ククイ博士, Kukui-hakase): The Pokémon Professor in Pokémon Sun and Moon. Professor Kukui studies Pokémon moves.
• Professor Magnolia (マグノリア博士, Magunoria-hakase): The Pokémon Professor in Pokémon Sword and Shield. She studies the Dynamax phenomenon.
• Professor Sonia Sonia becomes the Galar professor after announcing her discovery of the legend of the darkest day in front of the Hammerlocke gym in Pokémon Sword and Shield. She is a close friend of Nessa.

Gym Leaders

Gym Leaders (ジムリーダー, Jimu Rīdā) are trainers who lead Pokémon Gyms, and offer Gym badges to Pokémon trainers who can defeat them. Usually, this challenge takes the form of a Pokémon battle, but, occasionally, the challenges are a trial of skill or endurance, or the badges are given in return for extraordinary services rendered. Each main region has at least eight Gym Leaders. Any trainer who earns eight Gym Badges is eligible to go on to face the Elite Four or participate in the Pokémon League Championships.

• Brock (Takeshi (タケシ)): Gym Leader of Pewter City and an expert on Rock-type Pokémon. In the Pokémon anime, he joins Ash on his adventure, leaving his post to his father, Flint. Also, he's a ladies' man. However, in Pokémon Chronicles, he returns to find his mother leading the gym, using Water-type Pokémon.
• Misty (Kasumi (カスミ)): Gym Leader of Cerulean City and an expert in Water-type Pokémon. In the anime, she leaves this post for a time to join Ash on his adventure. In Pokémon Chronicles, Misty returns to take over as the Gym Leader from her sisters and becomes one of the main characters, often co-starring with Tracey Sketchit, Casey or one of her sisters: Daisy, Lily and Violet.
• Lt. Surge (Matis (マチス, Machisu): Gym Leader of Vermilion City and an expert in Electric-type Pokémon. Unlike the majority of the characters in the game, Surge is American born, rather than being native to Kanto. In the Japanese versions of the games, he speaks in broken Japanese, with many of his words parsed in katakana.
• Erika (エリカ): An expert in Grass-type Pokémon. Runs the Celadon City Gym (which doubles as a greenhouse). In the anime, Erika also works as a perfume maker. In Pokémon Adventures, Erika serves as the leader of the Kanto Gym Leaders who are unaffiliated with Team Rocket.
• Koga (Kyō (キョウ)): An expert on Poison-type Pokémon, a ninja who also patrols the Safari Zone in Fuchsia City. Runs the Fuchsia City Gym in Pokémon Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, FireRed and LeafGreen. In Pokémon Gold and Silver, he leaves his gym to join the Elite Four and is replaced by his daughter Janine. He is a former Team Rocket executive in the Pokémon Adventures manga, who goes on to form the new Elite Four with Bruno, Karen and Will.
• Sabrina (Natsume (ナツメ)): A specialist in Psychic-type Pokémon, in Saffron City. In the anime, she is a cold, emotionless woman born with powerful psychic abilities, including telekinesis, telepathy and transmutation, which she used in destructive ways as a child. In the anime, she carries around a green-haired doll that is actually a physical manifestation of the childlike spirit she abandoned in favor of practicing her psychic abilities. In the video games, she is still a psychic, but she is not portrayed as evil. The protagonist is told of how she beat the leader of "The Fighting Dojo" by robbing it of its gym status. Sabrina returns in Black 2 and White 2 in the Pokéstar Studios mini games as a movie actor playing a villain.
• Blaine (Katsura (カツラ)): An expert in Fire-type Pokémon. He enjoys testing his potential challengers with quizzes on their knowledge of Pokémon and appears to be an old friend of Mr. Fuji. Originally resided on Cinnabar Island, but moved to the Seafoam Islands after Cinnabar was destroyed by a volcano, with the intention of rebuilding the gym on Cinnabar some day.
• Falkner (Hayato (ハヤト)): Violet City Gym Leader and an expert on Flying-type Pokémon. Falkner inherited ownership of the gym from his father.
• Bugsy (Tsukushi (ツクシ)): Azalea Town Gym Leader and an expert on Bug-type Pokémon. He is a child prodigy who has an almost encyclopedic knowledge of Pokémon.
• Whitney (Akane (アカネ)): Goldenrod City Gym Leader and an expert on Normal-type Pokémon. She is known to throw tantrums when she loses, but is otherwise a cheerful Gym Leader and a good sport once she calms down. If defeated she would actually refuse to give the player a badge at first, although she eventually comes around. She plays a larger role in HeartGold and SoulSilver, including meeting the player again at the Pokéathelon Dome. In the anime, she is much more level-headed, though she tends to get lost in Goldenrod City quite easily.
• Morty (Matsuba (マツバ)): Ecruteak City Gym Leader and an expert on Ghost-type Pokémon. Morty has vaguely defined psychic abilities, although not quite as strong as Sabrina's. In Pokémon Crystal, he is a friend of Eusine, a trainer searching for Suicune. He believes that he is destined to meet the legendary Pokémon of Ecruteak.
• Chuck (Shijima (シジマ)): Cianwood City Gym Leader and an expert on Fighting-type Pokémon. He spends most of his time in his Gym, much to the chagrin of his wife. In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Chuck was the childhood teacher of the rival, Blue.
• Jasmine (Mikan (ミカン)): Olivine City Gym Leader and an expert on Steel-type Pokémon. She initially refuses the player's challenge because she is tending to a sick Ampharos that provides light for the city lighthouse. Only after giving the Ampharos proper medicine can Jasmine be challenged. Jasmine notably appears in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl and Pokémon Platinum in Sunyshore City and also as a competitor in Master Rank Pokémon Contests with her Steelix Rusty (Nail (ネール, Nēru)).
• Pryce (Yanagi (ヤナギ)): Mahogany Town Gym Leader and an expert on Ice-type Pokémon. In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Pryce leads Neo Team Rocket under the alias of the "Masked Man" or Mask of Ice (マスク・オブ・アイス, Masuku Obu Aisu). In public, he serves as the leader of the Johto Gym Leaders in a similar capacity to Erika, Winona, Byron, and Clay. Pryce is considerably more benign in the anime series, though he has a bitter attitude toward Pokémon since the mysterious disappearance of his loyal Piloswine during his youth.
• Clair (Ibuki (イブキ)): Blackthorn City Gym Leader and an expert on Dragon-type Pokémon. Clair is the younger cousin of Elite Four member and Champion, Lance. After being defeated, Clair sourly forces the player to complete a trial in a nearby cave before being awarded a Badge.
• Janine (Anzu (アンズ)): An expert in Poison-type Pokémon. Janine is Koga's daughter and in Pokémon Gold and Silver takes over the Fuchsia City Pokémon Gym after her father joins the Elite Four. She makes the Gym's invisible maze even more confusing by filling it with lesser Pokémon trainers disguised as herself, to mislead challengers.
• Roxanne (Tsutsuji (ツツジ)): Rustboro City Gym Leader and an expert on Rock-type Pokémon. She is also a teacher at the Pokémon Trainer's School in Rustboro.
• Brawly (Tōki (トウキ)): Dewford Town Gym Leader and an expert on Fighting-type Pokémon. He trains by surfing the waves along Dewford beach, and claims that the swell helps build up his Pokémon's muscles. In the anime, he also has a private island which has a training facility and a battle field that has geysers on it. He used to train with Bruno, the Elite Four member from Kanto.
• Wattson (Tessen (テッセン)): Mauville City Gym Leader and an expert on Electric-type Pokémon. An old man, Wattson is almost always seen smiling and likes a good joke. He and the Trick Master are good friends in Pokémon Adventures. In the anime, any visitor who enters the Gym by the front door takes as an inadvertent roller coaster ride, ending up against a mechanical Raikou.
• Flannery (Asuna (アスナ)): Lavaridge Town Gym Leader and an expert on Fire-type Pokémon. Like Falkner, she supposedly inherited her Gym; Flannery's predecessor was her grandfather and she is relatively new in her role as Lavaridge's Gym Leader.
• Norman (Senri (センリ)): Petalburg City Gym Leader and an expert on Normal-type Pokémon. In Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald, Norman is the protagonist's father. In the anime, he is the father of May and Max and Caroline's husband. In the Pokémon Adventures manga, he is the father of Ruby and a close friend of Professor Birch.
• Winona (Nagi (ナギ)): Fortree City Gym Leader and an expert on Flying-type Pokémon. In Pokémon Adventures, she is the de facto leader of the Gym Leaders of Hoenn against the plots of Team Aqua and Team Magma. In the anime, she owns a shiny Swellow.
• Tate and Liza (Fū & Lan (フウとラン, Fū to Ran)): The twins are the Mossdeep City Gym Leaders and experts on Psychic-type Pokémon. Their parents work at the Mossdeep Space Center. In the anime, it is revealed that Liza is older than Tate by minutes from birth and also happens to be a more experienced trainer than him.
• Wallace (Mikuri (ミクリ)): Wallace is the Sootopolis City Gym Leader in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. He is an expert on Water-type Pokémon and also happens to be a skilled artist. In Pokémon Emerald, Wallace becomes the Pokémon League Champion, leaving the post of Gym Leader to his mentor, Juan. In the anime, he does not make an appearance until the Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl anime series, where he is a Contest Master hailing from the Hoenn region who holds a Contest called the Wallace Cup.
• Juan (Adan (アダン)): An expert on Water-type Pokémon. He was Wallace's mentor and ran the Sootopolis City Gym before him. After Wallace became the Pokémon League Champion, he returned to run the Gym. Juan can speak French and does so in the original Japanese version and Chuang Yi's English translation of Pokémon Adventures.
• Roark (Hyōta (ヒョウタ)): Oreburgh City Gym Leader and an expert on Rock-type Pokémon. His father is Byron, who is the Gym Leader of Canalave City. He is first found in the mine near Oreburgh City. He and his father Byron are avid fossil hunters and Roark introduces the player character to the Underground.
• Gardenia (Natane (ナタネ)): Eterna City Gym Leader and an expert on Grass-type Pokémon. In the anime, she is extremely enthusiastic about Grass-type Pokémon and would often approach one despite not being worried about being attacked. In the Diamond, Pearl and Platinum games, she shows her discontent for Ghost-type Pokémon as she warns the player about them outside the Old Chateau at the Eterna Forest and notes that she is worried about what would happen if a dual Grass/Ghost type and Bug/Grass-type Pokémon does exist.
• Maylene (Sumomo (スモモ)): Veilstone City Gym Leader and an expert on Fighting-type Pokémon. Her father is often seen at the casino in Veilstone City and he describes his daughter as a tough one. She also appears in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver at an eating contest in Celadon City and as a participant in the Pokéathlon.
• Crasher Wake (Maximum Mask (マキシマム仮面, Makishimamu Kamen)): Pastoria City Gym Leader and an expert on Water-type Pokémon. Wake is dressed up like a masked wrestler. He is widely known as professional wrestler in the Sinnoh region and is often mentioned on various TV shows. He also makes several appearances in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.
• Fantina (Melissa (メリッサ, Merissa)): Hearthome City Gym Leader and an expert on Ghost-type Pokémon. She comes from a foreign land and she speaks in a broken form of the language of the game and her own original language; in the Japanese and French language games this is English, while other language editions have her as French. She is also a skilled tango dancer. Fantina can often be found participating in Master Rank Super Contests in the Hearthome Contest Hall. In Diamond and Pearl, although Hearthome City is visited fairly early, Fantina will refuse to battle until the player has earned four Badges; in Pokémon Platinum, she can be challenged during the player's first visit to the city, placing her as the third Gym Leader in the game. She also appears as a possible contestant in Pokémon Super Contests in Platinum, entering with her Drifblim Loony (Balloon (ばるん, Barun)).
• Byron (Tōgan (トウガン)): Canalave City Gym Leader and an expert on Steel-type Pokémon. He is the father of Roark, who is also a Gym Leader. He and his son are avid diggers and fossil hunters. In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Byron acts as the leader of the Sinnoh Gym Leaders against Team Galactic.
• Candice (Suzuna (スズナ)): Snowpoint City Gym Leader and an expert on Ice-type Pokémon. After the Elite Four are conquered, she will grant the player access to the Snowpoint Temple. In the anime, she is a childhood friend of Dawn's rival, Zoey. In Platinum, Maylene admires her for her studiousness.
• Volkner (Denji (デンジ)): The Sunyshore City Gym Leader and an expert on Electric-type Pokémon. Volkner is close friends with Flint of the Sinnoh Elite Four. He has become disillusioned after a long series of unworthy opponents.
• Cilan (Dent (デント, Dento)), Chili (Pod (ポッド, Poddo)) and Cress (Corn (コーン, Kōn)): triplets and waiters who share duties as the Striaton City Gym Leaders. The player challenges the Gym Leader whose Pokémon is strong against the player's starter; Cilan has the Grass type Pansage, Chili has the Fire type Pansear and Cress has the Water type Panpour. Cilan appears as a main character in the anime, joining Ash on his journey after he is awarded Striaton Gym's Trio Badge for defeating him and his brothers. While they do not reprise their roles as Gym Leaders in Black 2 and White 2, they do appear in the post-game as NPCs that the player can meet and then participate in a unique battle with them on a regular basis.
• Lenora (Aloe (アロエ, Aroe)): Nacrene City Gym Leader and paleontologist who uses Normal-type Pokémon. Lenora has her Gym located inside Nacrene City's museum, of which she is also the director. Her devoted husband, Hawes (Kidachi (キダチ)), is the assistant director. While she does not reprise her role as a Gym Leader in Black 2 and White 2, she remains the director of the Nacrene Museum.
• Burgh (Arti (アーティ, Āti)): Castelia City Gym Leader; he is a skilled painter and a Bug type specialist. Burgh's Gym is modeled after a beehive and features many of his works of art. He is friends with Lenora. In Black 2 and White 2, Burgh is still the Castelia Gym Leader, but his Gym is now coated in silk from cocoons. The top floor is entirely smothered in paint.
• Elesa (Kamitsure (カミツレ)): Nimbasa City Gym Leader and a model; Elesa specializes in Electric-type Pokémon. The Nimbasa City Gym is located in an amusement park and the Pokémon Gym is filled with roller coasters. Elesa helps to convince Bianca's father to allow his daughter to become a Pokémon trainer and also tells Clay to lower the drawbridge into Driftveil City for the player. She returns as the Nimbasa Gym Leader in Black 2 and White 2, but she has moved her Gym into a fashion studio complete with runway.
• Clay (Yacon (ヤーコン, Yākon) ): Driftveil City Gym Leader and CEO of an unknown company, who specializes in Ground-type Pokémon. Clay uses Ground-type Pokémon in his cavernous mine-like gym. He tests the player before allowing a Gym Challenge by asking the player help arrest the Team Plasma members in his town. He also leads the other Unova Gym Leaders against Team Plasma interests in these games and the Pokémon Adventures manga. In Black 2 and White 2, he retains his role as the Driftveil Gym Leader, though his Gym's puzzle now revolves around a maze of platforms obscured by darkness.
• Skyla (Fūro (フウロ)): Mistralton City Gym Leader; Skyla uses Flying-type Pokémon in her gym on an airstrip. She also works as a commercial pilot, flying cargo planes. Before she lets the player challenge her, she visits the Celestial Tower to help a hurt Pokémon she saw on her last flight. Her Gym has a puzzle based on air cannons that shoot the player around. In Black 2 and White 2, she remains the Mistralton Gym Leader and her gym's puzzle involves fans that blows the player in specific directions to move through the Gym. She also flies the player to Lentimas Town.
• Brycen (Hachiku (ハチク)): Icirrus City's Gym Leader; Brycen is an Ice type specialist and former movie star. After sustaining an injury on set, Brycen sought out Alder who suggested that he become a Pokémon trainer. He stresses the importance of concealing his identity from others and wears a mask. Brycen steps down from his role as Gym Leader two years later and in Black 2 and White 2 returns to his old career in films, allowing the player to encounter him in the PokéStar Studios minigame. He is known for playing the role of a villain known as "Brycen-Man."
• Drayden (Shaga (シャガ)) and Iris (アイリス, Airisu): The two Gym Leaders of Opelucid City and Dragon type specialists. The Gym features a puzzle based on different switches and the movement of statues within the building. While both characters are present in each version of the games, Drayden is battled in Black while Iris is battled in White; the character who is not the Gym Leader will be the Move Tutor for Draco Meteor instead. In Black 2 and White 2, Drayden becomes the sole Opelucid City Gym Leader while Iris has become the regional champion in the two years following the previous games. Iris appears as a main character in the anime. In the episode: "Drayden Versus Iris: Past, Present, and Future!", it is revealed that Iris went to Drayden's school in Opelucid City as a child. Being from a small, communal village, Iris had a very difficult time fitting in. At the end of the episode, Iris learns that Drayden went to talk to her village elder while she was still enrolled and the two decided she would inherit the Gym from Drayden.
• Roxie (Homika (ホミカ)): Roxie is the Gym Leader of Virbank City and specializes in Poison-type Pokémon. Her gym is a music club and she is often seen with her signature bass guitar that looks like a Scolipede. Roxie debuts in the anime in the first-season finale of the Japanese Pocket Monsters: Best Wishes! broadcast; Ash challenges her for his eighth Unova League Gym Badge, as Opelucid City was not accessible.
• Marlon (Shizui (シズイ)): Marlon is the Gym Leader of Humilau City and is a specialist in Water-type Pokémon. Inside his gym is a gigantic pond filled with lilypads that the player must navigate around on. In the Japanese edition, he speaks with a Kyushu accent, indicating he's possibly from Hoenn. He is fond of giving advice to new trainers and does things at his own pace, which sometimes makes him appear dim-witted.
• Viola (ビオラ, Biora): Viola is the Santalune City (Hakudan City (ハクダンシティ, Hakudan Shiti)) Gym Leader, with the building her Gym is housed in filled with a spider web. She specializes in Bug types and is also an accomplished photographer.
• Grant (Zakuro (ザクロ)): Grant is a Rock type Gym Leader of Cyllage City who enjoys mountain biking, rock climbing and many sports. His gym is an enormous rock-climbing tower at the top of which he resides.
• Korrina (Corni (コルニ, Koruni)): Korrina is the Fighting type Gym Leader of the seaside Shalour City (Shara City (シャラシティ, Shara Shiti)) who rides around on roller skates. She is knowledgeable about the secrets about Mega Evolution and her gym is styled after a roller rink.
• Ramos (Fukuji (フクジ)): Ramos is the Grass type Gym Leader of Courmaline City. He is an avid gardener and his gym is fraught with traps and puzzles based on plants. He also uses stereotypes of seniors, calling the player "sprout" as a pun on both the plant and the word used for "young person".
• Clemont (Citron (シトロン, Shitoron)): Clemont is an Electric type Gym Leader of Lumiose City who is interested in science and enjoys inventing things as much as spending time with his Pokémon. The player can also meet his younger sister Bonnie (Eureka (ユリーカ, Yurīka)). His gym is in the Lumiose Tower, accessible only through a series of quizzes and elevators. In the anime, both characters become Ash's travelling companions during his travels in Kalos, but Clemont initially hides his status as a Gym Leader and Bonnie takes over Brock's infamous running gag, only she asks girls to marry her brother and is removed by him out of embarrassment, instead of the other way around.
• Valerie (Mache (マーシュ, Māshu)): Valerie is the Gym Leader of Laverre City who specializes in Fairy-type Pokémon. Her gym resembles a labyrinthine dollhouse that the player must navigate to find her. Originally hailing from the Johto region, she is a fashion designer who always wanted to be a Pokémon.
• Olympia (Gojika (ゴジカ)): Olympia is the Psychic type Gym Leader of Anistar City. Her Gym almost appears as if it is on another planet and is hinted to be the result of her warping reality inside the gym with her psychic powers.
• Wulfric (Urup (ウルップ, Uruppu)): Wulfric is the Ice type Gym Leader of Snowbelle City. The player first meets him at the Pokémon Village, before challenging him at his Gym.
• Milo (Yarrow (ヤロー)): a farmer and Gym Leader of Turffield who specializes in Grass-type Pokémon. His main Pokémon is a Dynamax Eldegoss. If rematched in the Champion Cup after completing the game, he switches to a Gigantamax Flapple (in Sword) or Appletun (in Shield).
• Nessa (Rurina (ルリナ)): A young model and Gym Leader of Hulbury who specializes in Water-type Pokémon. Her main Pokémon is a Drednaw, which she Dynamaxes in the Gym Challenge and switches with a female Drednaw that Gigantamaxes in the Champion Cup. She is also a close friend of Sonia.
• Kabu (カブ): Gym Leader of Motostoke who specializes in Fire-type Pokémon. His main Pokémon is a Gigantamax Centiskorch. He is from the Hoenn region.
• Bea (Saitou (サイトウ)): The Galar Karate Prodigy and a Gym Leader of Stow-on-Side exclusive to Sword who specializes in Fighting-type Pokémon. Her main Pokémon is a Gigantamax Machamp. She is Allister's older sister.
• Allister (Onion (オニオン)): The Silent Boy of Mystery and a Gym Leader of Stow-on-Side exclusive to Shield who specializes in Ghost-type Pokémon. His main Pokémon is a Gigantamax Gengar. He is Bea's younger brother.
• Opal (Poplar (ポプラ)): A Master of the Theatre and a Gym Leader of Ballonlea who specializes in Fairy-type Pokémon. Her main Pokémon is a Gigantamax Alcremie. Her quizzes represent a faerie's guile.
• Gordie (Makuwa (マクワ)): Gym Leader of Circhester exclusive to Sword who specializes in Rock-type Pokémon. His main Pokémon is a Gigantamax Coalossal. He is Melony's son and has his own fanclub.
• Melony (Melon (メロン)): Gym Leader of Circhester exclusive to Shield who specializes in Ice-type Pokémon. Her main Pokémon is a Gigantamax Lapras. She is Gordie's mother.
• Piers (Nezu (ネズ)): An aspiring rock star and the Gym Leader of Spikemuth who specializes in Dark-type Pokémon and the leader of Team Yell. Unlike other Gym Leaders, he refuses to Dynamax his Pokémon. His main Pokémon is an Obstagoon. Marnie is his younger sister.
• Raihan (Kibana (キバナ)): Gym Leader of Hammerlocke who specializes in Dragon-type Pokémon and weather manipulation. His main Pokémon is a Gigantamax Duraludon. He was Leon's rival and an appreciator of art.

Alola Trial Captains and Island Kahunas

• llima (イリマ): llima is the Trial Captain of Melemele Island and Normal type specialist. His Trial takes place in Verdant Cavern, tasking the player with fighting Rattata or Yungoos, depending on the version, before fighting the Totem Arceus.
• Hala (ハラ): Hala is the Kahuna of Melemele Island. He fights with Fighting-type Pokémon.
• Lana (Suiren (スイレン)): Lana is one of the three Trial Captains of Akala Island. She uses Water-type Pokémon and has the player investigate splashes in the water at Brooklet Hill, before battling Totem Kyogre. In the Ultra versions, she has the player herd Wishiwashi to attract and battle Totem Tapu Fini.
• Kiawe (Kaki (カキ)): Kiawe is one of the three Trial Captains of Akala Island. His Trial takes place at Wela Volcano Park, where the player watches the dances of Alolan Marowak, before fighting Totem Primal Groudon. He uses Fire-type Pokémon.
• Mallow (Mao (マオ)): Mallow is one of the three Trial Captains of Akala Island. She tasks the player to gather ingredients in Lush Jungle to lure Totem Tapu Bulu. She uses Grass-type Pokémon.
• Olivia (Lychee (ライチ) (Raichi)): Olivia is the Kahuna of Akala Island. She specializes in Rock-type Pokémon.
• Sophocles (Mamane (マーマネ)): Sophocles is one of two Trial Captains of Ula'ula Island. He uses a device to attract Totem Tapu koko to the Hokulani Observatory, but causes a power outage/power surge. The player's Trial involves an audio quiz to open the security door or a Charjabug Roller mini-game to power his Totem-calling device. He uses Electric-type Pokémon.
• Acerola (アセロラ): Acerola is the Ghost type Trial Captain of Ula'ula Island. She tasks the player to track down Ghost-type Pokémon at an abandoned supermarket, culminating in a battle with Totem Lunala.
• Nanu (Kuchinashi (クチナシ)): Nanu is the Kahuna of Ula'ula Island, specializing in Dark-type Pokémon. He is a police officer, living on Route 17, outside Team Skull's base at Po Town.
• Mina (Matsurika (マツリカ)): Mina is the Fairy type Trial Captain of Poni Island. Her Ultra-exclusive trial involves collecting various colored petals to make a special flower to draw out Totem Tapu Lele.
• Hapu (ハプウ (Hāpu'u)): Hapu is the Kahuna of Poni Island. The player first meets her on Akala Island with her Mudsdale. She uses Ground-type Pokémon.

Elite Four and Champions

The Elite Four (四天王, Shitennō, lit. "Four Heavenly Kings") is an order of four exceptionally skilled Pokémon trainers. Like the Gym Leaders, they also specialize on a type of Pokémon but are far stronger. The player must first defeat them all so that they may gain the right to challenge the Pokémon Champion. The player must obtain all eight badges from each respective region's gym leaders in order to face the Elite Four. The Galar region does not have an Elite Four.

At the start of every game series, each region has their own respective regional League Champion. They are meant to be the strongest trainer within their own region and are far superior to the Elite Four or any Gym Leader. Their position of Pokémon Champion is constantly open to challenge to any Pokémon trainer who gains eight badges and defeats the Elite Four and once they defeat the Champion in a Pokémon battle, they automatically earn the title for themselves. Whenever the title of Champion is passed on, it is honored by an inauguration into the Hall of Fame.

• Lorelei (Kanna (カンナ)): Lorelei is a specialist of Ice-type Pokémon. She is originally from the Sevii Islands and she collects Pokémon Dolls. She appears in the Orange Islands series of the anime, where she is known as Prima in the English version. In Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, she rescues the player from Team Rocket and takes on three of the Grunts at once, leaving the player to battle the fourth. She is a villain in Pokémon Adventures, who attempts to take over the world with the other Elite Four. She later allies with Red and Blue to save her home.
• Bruno (Shiba (シバ)): Bruno is an expert on Fighting types and a friend and training partner of Brawly. He constantly trains his own body along with his Pokémon and he wishes to fight the best trainers in the world, which is why he is part of the group. He regularly trains on the Sevii Islands and utilizes the spa for his Pokémon. He appears in the first episode of the anime as a combatant on television and he later meets Ash when he seeks out Bruno to learn of his "secret" to become a great trainer. Bruno is an unwilling villain in Pokémon Adventures, where he is forced by Agatha to fight for her. He later forms the Johto Elite Four with Will, Karen and Koga. Bruno attaches his Poké Balls to the ends of a set of nunchaku and unleashes his Pokémon at high speeds to give him an advantage.
• Agatha (Kikuko (キクコ)): An elderly woman who specializes in Ghost-type Pokémon. In the anime, she appears in the episode "The Scheme Team" where she is acting Gym Leader for the Viridian City Gym, defeating Ash in a battle. She is one of the main antagonists of the Yellow chapter of Pokémon Adventures, along with Lance. She attempts to destroy most of humanity from their base on Cerise Island. She controls Bruno against his will by utilizing the mind-controlling powers of her ghost Pokémon and she is a former rival of Professor Oak, though their relationship eventually grew very bitter when he decided to pursue his own research career rather than stick with their group, which according to Oak, was only interested in finding new ways to control Pokémon, which the professor found unethical.
• Lance (Wataru (ワタル)): Lance, known as one of the best Pokémon trainers in the world, specializes in dragon Pokémon. He is Clair's cousin, having previously trained with her in Blackthorn City. He helps the protagonist in the second-generation games in the fight against Team Rocket. He appears in the anime, where he helps Ash's group defeat Team Rocket, catching a red Gyarados that is part of their experiments and later helps to stop the battle between Groudon and Kyogre. He is the main antagonist of the Yellow chapter of Pokémon Adventures who wishes to destroy humanity due to all of the pollution and their hurting of Pokémon. He later becomes an ally of Silver, who he sends on various missions. He is promoted to a Pokémon League champion of the Indigo Plateau in the sequel games. He is defeated by the Galar champion in Pokémon Sword and Shield.
• Will (Itsuki (イツキ)): A Psychic type specialist, who wears formal clothes and a mask. In the Pokémon Adventures manga, he was kidnapped by the Mask of Ice as a child and raised to be his servant. He is initially one of the leaders of Neo Team Rocket, but he eventually goes on to form the new Elite Four with Karen, Koga and Bruno. He takes over Lorelei's place.
• Karen (Karin (カリン)): A Dark type specialist; she likes Dark types because she finds their wild and tough nature appealing. In the Pokémon Adventures manga, she was kidnapped as a child and raised by Mask of Ice to be his servant. Like Will, she is initially a leader of Neo Team Rocket until she joins the others to form the new Elite Four. She takes over Agatha's place.
• Sidney (Kagetsu (カゲツ)): A Dark type specialist, who believes that the dark-side is beautiful and that "might is right." He is always upbeat and congratulates those who defeat him.
• Phoebe (Fuyō (フヨウ)): A Ghost type specialist, whose grandparents are responsible for guarding the Blue, Red and Green Orbs at Mt. Pyre. She takes control of Regice, together with Glacia, in the Pokémon Adventures manga.
• Glacia (Prim (プリム, Purimu)): An Ice type specialist, who came to Hoenn while looking for a warmer climate that, as she claims, help her Pokémon grow strong.
• Drake (Genji (ゲンジ)): A Dragon type specialist. He battles Ash in the anime and he wins overwhelmingly due to Ash's overconfidence.
• Steven Stone (Daigo Tsuwabuki (ツワブキ・ダイゴ)) is the Champion of the Hoenn League in Ruby, Sapphire, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. He is the son of the president of Devon Corporation and aids the player in their battles against Teams Magma and Aqua. In Emerald, he has retired from competitive battling, but can be challenged at Meteor Falls as the game's ultimate superboss. His signature Pokémon is his Metagross.
• Aaron (Ryō (リョウ)): Aaron uses Bug Pokémon, calling them beautiful and perfect. He appears in the anime preparing for a championship battle against Cynthia. When he meets Ash, who tells him about his experience with Cynthia, Aaron tells Ash about how he abandoned his Wurmple during his youth. He does his best to train and understand Bug types out of regret for his mistake. He is later shown to have lost his match.
• Bertha (Kikuno (キクノ)): An elderly Ground type specialist. She appears in the anime along with Cynthia.
• Flint (Ōba (オーバ)): Flint is a Fire type specialist, who meets the protagonist in Sunyshore City. He is a friend of Volkner and he has a younger brother named Buck. Flint's also seen on TV battling Cynthia in the final episode of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.
• Lucian (Goyō (ゴヨウ)): Lucian is a Psychic type trainer, who is an avid reader. He battles with Dawn in the anime and he is shown on television battling Cynthia.
• Cynthia (Shirona (シロナ)): Cynthia is the Sinnoh League Champion, who uses mostly female Pokémon. She is very interested in mythology and history and spends her time researching and exploring various sites associated with Legendary Pokémon of the Sinnoh region. In the game, she helps the protagonist fight against Team Galactic and she also assists them once Giratina appears and takes Cyrus into the Distortion World. While she does not have a particular associated Pokémon type preference, her signature Pokémon is Garchomp. In the anime, Ash first meets with Cynthia after she defeats Paul in a battle; she later helps the group fight against Team Galactic. In Black and White and their sequels, Cynthia travels to Undella Town for vacation in the spring and summer, where the player can battle her.
• Shauntal (Shikimi (シキミ)): Shauntal is a Ghost-type Pokémon Trainer. Her hobby is writing books. She can also be seen at Cynthia's holiday home in Undella Town on occasion. According to one of her stories, she once battled Volkner.
• Grimsley (Gīma (ギーマ)): Grimsley is a Dark-type Pokémon Trainer. The son of a distinguished family that fell into ruin, he has since become an expert gambler.
• Caitlin (Cattleya (カトレア, Katorea)): Caitlin is a Psychic-type Pokémon Trainer; she is described as having psychic powers which she had trouble controlling in the past due to her explosive temper. She travels to the region of Unova to learn how to control them and become a better trainer. She previously appeared in the Generation IV games' Battle Frontier and was in charge of running the Battle Castle but was unable to battle, with her valet taking that responsibility in her place.
• Marshal (Renbu (レンブ)): Marshal is a Fighting-type Pokémon Trainer. He is one of Alder's apprentices.
• Alder (Adeku (アデク)): Alder is the former Champion of the Unova League, who helps the player battle Team Plasma throughout Unova. N successfully challenges him to battle and wins, forcing the player to fight N. The player can later challenge Alder after finishing the main story of the game. While he does not specialize in a particular Pokémon type, half of his Pokémon are Bug types and his signature Pokémon is Volcarona. He later reveals he had another Volcarona that died before the games begin. He retires from his position by the time Black 2 and White 2 take place, but can be battled in his home in Floccesy Town after the player has completed the main story.
• Malva (Pachira (パキラ, Pakira)): Malva is a Fire-type Pokémon Trainer. A hot-headed news reporter and a self-proclaimed star of the Holo Caster, she is also a former member of Team Flare and expresses animosity towards the player for the team's defeat. Looker later blackmails her into helping the player stop Xerosic's plans.
• Siebold (Zumi (ズミ)): Siebold is a Water-type Pokémon Trainer. He is a chef, whose customers notably include Valerie and Grant and compares the art of cooking to the art of Pokémon battles.
• Wikstrom (Gampi (ガンピ, Ganpi)): Wikstrom is a Steel-type Pokémon Trainer. He wears a suit of armor and is eager to battle challengers.
• Drasna (Dracaena (ドラセナ, Dorasena)): Drasna is a Dragon-type Pokémon Trainer, inspired to train Dragon types after her grandparents from Sinnoh told her about the region's mythology surrounding Dialga and Palkia. She is just happy to battle and enjoys it when trainers and their Pokémon like each other.
• Diantha (Carnet (カルネ, Karune)): Diantha is the Kalos League Champion, but she does not reveal this to the player when they first meet in Lumiose City. She is known in the Kalos Region as a popular celebrity, appearing in films and advertisements, but it is not until the end of the game does the player discover her place in the Pokémon League. She does not specialize in a particular Pokémon type, but her signature Pokémon is her Mega Gardevoir.
• Kahili (カヒリ): A Flying type specialist and professional golfer.
• Leon: Leon is the Champion of the Galar League in Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield. He has a younger brother, Hop, who serves as the main character's rival. His main Pokémon is Charizard which can Gigantamax in the Championship match.

Frontier Brains

The Frontier Brains (フロンティアブレーン, Furontia Burēn) are a group of powerful Pokémon trainers from the Battle Frontier that appears in Pokémon Emerald, Pokémon Platinum and Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. Each Brain resides at a Frontier facility and has his or her own title. After defeating a Frontier Brain, the trainer will receive a Silver Symbol (1st time) or Gold Symbol (2nd time). In Platinum, the trainer will receive a Silver Medal (1st time) or Colored Medal (2nd time).

In the anime, Ash Ketchum travels the land of Kanto after his journey in Hoenn, defeating the Frontier Brains. Instead of being on the Battle Frontier island, the facilities are in cities in Kanto.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga, a mysterious boy called Emerald, who has a connection with Latias and Latios, comes to the Battle Frontier island to defeat the Frontier Brains. Todd, a character from the anime and the Pokémon Snap games, watches Emerald go through the frontier. Similarly, Platinum Berlitz challenges the Frontier Brains of Sinnoh alongside Looker in order to learn more about the Distortion World in a later chapter of the manga.

• Salon Maiden Anabel (Tower Tycoon Lila (タワータイクーン リラ, Tawā Taikūn Rira)) resides in the Battle Tower. She uses a variety of Pokémon. In the manga, she is the leader of the Frontier Brains and her Battle Tower is considered "special". In the anime, Ash challenges her before Pyramid King Brandon. After Ash and Anabel's battle, it is hinted that Anabel had fallen in love with Ash. She gives the Ability Symbol. She appears in Pokémon Sun and Moon, working alongside Looker in investigating the Ultra Beasts, although with almost no memory of her time in the Battle Frontier.
• Dome Ace Tucker (Dome Superstar Heath (ドームスーパースター ヒース, Dōmu Sūpāsutā Hīsu)) resides in the Battle Dome. Tucker prefaces battles with narcissistic comments and enjoys the sound of a crowd chanting his name. He uses Pokémon that are one of a kind, for example, the final evolutions of starter Pokémon. He turns over the Tactics Symbol.
• Palace Maven Spenser (Palace Guardian Ukon (パレスガーディアン ウコン, Paresu Gādian Ukon)) resides in the Battle Palace. In Pokémon Adventures, he once touched the Blue Orb, which controls Kyogre, so he can tell who also has touched it. When battling him, Emerald is not allowed to issue commands to his Pokémon, who must battle based on their instincts and sense of strategy; challenges against Spenser require the trainer to have faith in the Pokémon he has chosen. He hands out the Spirit Symbol.
• Arena Tycoon Greta (Arena Captain Kogomi (アリーナキャプテン コゴミ, Arīna Kyaputen Kogomi)) resides in the Battle Arena. A blunt girl who likes to face powerful trainers; she hands out the Guts Symbol to those who defeat her.
• Factory Head Noland (Factory Head Datsura (ファクトリーヘッド ダツラ, Fakutorī Heddo Datsura)) resides in the Battle Factory in Hoenn. As the Factory Head, he is able to view the Battle Swap data of any trainer and advocates gaining experience rather than relying solely on acquired knowledge. Noland battles with a randomly selected team each time he is challenged, which can include any Pokémon except those that are not admissible in the Battle Frontier. He hands out the Knowledge Symbol. In the Pokémon Adventures manga, he is the first to battle with Emerald and is in charge of the raising and caring for all the rental Pokémon.
• Pike Queen Lucy (Tube Queen Azami (チューブクイーン アザミ, Chūbu Kuīn Azami)) resides in the Battle Pike. Lucy prefers to use serpent-like Pokémon. She is very tall, quiet and pale, with knee length black hair and sharp looking eyes. Never saying much, defeated or otherwise, she does state that it took a great deal of work to get to her level of skill. Instead of a series of battles like the other facilities, Lucy's Pike consists of rooms that randomly have either a double battle, a wild Pokémon, a healing station, a trainer battle or a random conversation. She hands over the Luck Symbol. In the Pokémon Adventures manga, she is the second to battle with Emerald.
• Pyramid King Brandon (Pyramid King Jindai (ピラミッドキング ジンダイ, Piramiddo Kingu Jindai)) resides in the Battle Pyramid. A man who appreciates the grand life of an explorer, he uses trios of Legendary Pokémon. In Pokémon Adventures, he remarks that he favors one-hit knockout moves and had captured Regirock, Regice and Registeel after the trio disappeared following the battle in Hoenn to stop Groudon and Kyogre. In the anime, Ash notably faces Brandon several times before finally defeating him as the final Frontier Brain. Brandon hands out the Bravery Symbol.
• Tower Tycoon Palmer (Tower Tycoon Kurotsugu (タワータイクーン クロツグ, Tawā Taikūn Kurotsugu)) resides in the Battle Tower in Sinnoh and later, in Johto. He was first introduced in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl as the leader of the Battle Tower, which was later incorporated into Pokémon Platinum's Battle Frontier. He gives away the Silver Tower Print to trainers that defeat him once, and the Gold Tower Print to trainers that beat him twice.
• Factory Head Thorton (Factory Head Nejiki (ファクトリーヘッド ネジキ, Fakutorī Heddo Nejiki)) resides in the Battle Factory in Sinnoh and later, in Johto. Like Factory Head Noland, Thorton's team is randomly selected each time he is challenged and can include any Pokémon except those inadmissible to the Battle Frontier. He gives away the Silver Factory Print to trainers that defeat him once and the Gold Factory Print to trainers that defeat him twice.
• Hall Matron Argenta (Stage Madonna Kate (ステージマドンナ ケイト, Sutēji Madonna Keito)) resides in the Battle Hall in Sinnoh and later, in Johto. Argenta uses a strange strategy to test trainers and forces them to choose one Pokémon to battle 10 Pokémon of each type during their challenge. She gives away the Silver Hall Print to trainers that defeat her once, and the Gold Hall Print to trainers that beat her twice.
• Arcade Star Dahlia (Roulette Goddess Dahlia (ルーレットゴーデス ダリア, Rūretto Gōdesu Daria)) resides in the Battle Arcade in Sinnoh and later, in Johto. Her challenge consists in using a roulette simulator that randomly chooses a special condition for the upcoming battle. She gives away the Silver Arcade Print to trainers that defeat her once, and the Gold Arcade Print to trainers that beat her twice. She is also known to be a great dancer according to some trainers at her facility.
• Castle Valet Darach (Castle Butler Cochran (キャッスルバトラー コクラン, Kyassuru Batorā Kokuran)) and Lady Caitlin (Cattleya (カトレア, Katoreya)) reside in the Battle Castle in Sinnoh and later, in Johto. Darach is the butler of Caitlin (who later became a member of Unova's Elite Four), who is the one in charge of running the facility by determining how much Castle Points (CP) are awarded to the player in the castle. He fights in her place using her Pokémon. Managing and using CP is an important factor for this facility. Darach gives away the Silver Castle Print to trainers that defeat him once, and the Gold Castle Print to trainers that beat him twice.

Battle Chatelaines

In Pokémon X and Y, the Battle Maison is introduced as a new system where the bosses are the sister Battle Chatelaines (バトルシャトレーヌ, Batoru Shatorēnu). Each serves as a leader of a different type of battle style and are faced after winning a series of battles against other trainers in succession. They also appear in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, serving the same role.

• Nita (Lanuit (ラニュイ, Ranyui)) is the Battle Chatelaine for Single Battles.
• Evelyn (Lesoir (ルスワール, Rusuwāru)) is the Battle Chatelaine for Double Battles.
• Dana (Lajournée (ラジュルネ, Rajurune)) is the Battle Chatelaine for Triple Battles.
• Morgan (Lematin (ルミタン, Rumitan)) is the Battle Chatelaine for Rotation Battles.

When challenging the Multi Battle system, the sisters pair up amongst each other.

Team Rocket

Team Rocket (ロケット団, Roketto-dan, Rocket Gang) is the crime syndicate in Pokémon Red, Blue, Green and Yellow and their remakes, Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen, Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!. They desire to exploit Pokémon to further their goal of world domination.

• Giovanni (Sakaki (サカキ)): An expert in Ground-type Pokémon and the leader of Team Rocket. Runs the Viridian City Gym in Pokémon Red, Blue, Green and Yellow and their remakes, Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. He later disappears and is not seen again, though Team Rocket attempts to locate him in Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal and their remakes, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.
• Jessie (Musashi (ムサシ)) and James (Kojirō (コジロウ)): The first Team Rocket members who appear in the anime along with their talking Meowth partner and Wobbuffet (who was introduced in season 3). They act as the main antagonists and have appeared in almost every episode of the series since their debut in the second episode of season 1. They also appear as mini-bosses in Yellow, Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! The duo's name is a reference to Jesse James, an outlaw. A common gag in the show is that at the end of the episode, they "blast off" due to an explosion or a Thunderbolt. However, in the Sun and Moon series, they are rescued by a Bewear at the last minute and taken back to the forest where they reside together. Their Japanese names are references to two famed swordsmen in Japanese history, Sasaki Kojirō and Miyamoto Musashi, who famously fought each other on the Island of Ganryū in 1612, resulting in Musashi's victory and Kojirō's death.
• Gideon (スミオ (Sumio)): The head Team Rocket scientist in Sevii Islands.
• Archer (Apollo (アポロ, Aporo)): One of the Team Rocket Admins in FireRed and LeafGreen and the Team Rocket Admin in Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!.

Neo Team Rocket

Neo Team Rocket is the crime syndicate in Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal and their remakes, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. They seek to find and bring Giovanni back to lead. In the Pokémon Adventures manga, they seek to create Arceus to complete their goals.

• Proton (Lance (ランス, Ransu)): One of the Neo Team Rocket Executives. He is the most ruthless of the executives, leading the operation in the Slowpoke's Well in HeartGold and SoulSilver, but is admired by the others for his actions.
• Petrel (Lambda (ラムダ, Ramuda)): One of the Neo Team Rocket Executives. He is a master of disguise and is not as evil-minded as the other Neo Team Rocket Executives.
• Ariana (Athena (アテナ, Atena)): One of the Neo Team Rocket Executives. She claims herself to be the interim leader of Neo Team Rocket.
• Archer (Apollo (アポロ, Aporo)): The head Neo Team Rocket Executive.

Team Magma and Team Aqua

Team Magma and Team Aqua (マグマ団・アクア団, Maguma-dan Akua-dan, Magma Gang and Aqua Gang) are the two villainous groups in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire and their remakes, Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire (depending the game's version), that each seek to cause huge alterations to the planet's ecosystem. In Pokémon Emerald, both of the groups are enemies.

Team Magma

Team Magma (マグマ団, Maguma-dan, Magma Gang) are enemies to the player in Pokémon Ruby, Emerald and Omega Ruby. They want to expand the lands through the use of Groudon.

• Maxie (Matsubusa (マツブサ)): The leader of Team Magma, leading the group in their goal of waking Groudon to cause a drought to dry out the oceans and expand landmasses to make the world a better place.
• Tabitha (Homura (ホムラ)): One of the Team Magma Admins. He leads the group to steal the Meteorite from Professor Cozmo at Meteor Falls and brings it to Maxie at Mt. Chimney.
• Courtney (Kagari (カガリ)): One of the Team Magma Admins. She leads the group at the Weather Institute attempting to steal Castform.

Team Aqua

Team Aqua (アクア団, Akua-dan, Aqua Gang) are the player's enemies in Pokémon Sapphire, Emerald and Alpha Sapphire. They wish to expand the seas by awakening Kyogre.

• Archie (Aogiri (アオギリ)): The leader of Team Aqua, leading the group in their goal of waking Kyogre to cause a heavy rainfall to flood the landmasses and expand the oceans to make the world a better place.
• Matt (Ushio (ウシオ)): One of the Team Aqua Admins. He leads the group to steal the Meteorite from Professor Cozmo at Meteor Falls, and brings it to Archie at Mt. Chimney.
• Shelly (Izumi (イズミ)): One of the Team Aqua Admins. She leads the group at the Weather Institute attempting to steal Castform.

Team Galactic

Team Galactic (ギンガ団, Ginga-dan, Galaxy Gang) first appear in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, being the evil team tormenting the region of Sinnoh. They desire to make a new dimension to their preferred designs by making the mythical Red Chain to control Dialga and Palkia (depending the game's version). To accomplish this, they kidnap Uxie, Mesprit and Azelf for their plans. In Pokémon Platinum, they want both but are stopped when Giratina comes out of the Distortion World and drags everything back in with it. In the anime series, They are almost successful in creating a new dimension, but are stopped when Ash and his friends save Uxie, Mesprit and Azelf, forcing Cyrus to step into the new dimension as it collapses. Later, Looker arrests Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Charon, causing Mars to exclaim that "... this is the end of Team Galactic."

• Cyrus (Akagi (アカギ)): The leader of Team Galactic. Although it appears he wants to work with his team to create a new dimension, he really wants to create the dimension solely for himself, making it one devoid of emotions that he sees as weak and useless.
• Mars (マーズ, Māzu): One of Team Galactic Commanders. She leads the group's actions at the Valley Windworks and also the assault at Lake Verity. In Platinum, she displays a dislike towards Charon and quits Team Galactic afterwards, looking to save Cyrus from the Distortion World.
• Jupiter (ジュピター, Jupitā): One of Team Galactic Commanders. She leads the team at Eterna City's headquarters when they are investigating the city's Pokémon statue and the assault at Lake Acuity. In Platinum, after Mars quits, Jupiter decides to leave Team Galactic as well.
• Saturn (サターン, Satān): One of Team Galactic Commanders. He leads the operations at Lake Valor as well as the group's headquarters in Veilstone City. After Cyrus's defeat, he decides to lead Team Galactic on a more virtuous mission of seeking alternative energy sources.
• Charon (Pluto (プルート, Purūto)): One of Team Galactic Commanders, introduced in Platinum. He designs the devices that allow the group to control Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf and bring forth Giratina. He later tries to lead the group in obtaining the power of Heatran, but the player defeats him and he is arrested by Looker. The player can read his notes and it is hinted that he befriended the Rotom found near Eterna City.

Team Plasma

Team Plasma (プラズマ団, Purazuma-dan, Plasma Gang) is the antagonistic group in Pokémon Black and White who seeks to liberate Pokémon from humans. They are led by a boy known only as N and the Seven Sages who will capture Zekrom and Reshiram (depending on the game version), intending to use the Dragon Pokémon to force people to abandon capturing Pokémon. In reality, N is a pawn used by his adoptive father Ghetsis, one of the Seven Sages, who raised him for the sole purpose of being able to tame the legendary Pokémon and then disposing of him, so that he can take control of Unova. In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, Team Plasma intends to use the power of Kyurem to take over the Unova Region and the rest of the world.

• N (エヌ, Enu): N is the king and leader of Team Plasma. He is a very mysterious trainer who shows up at random and inconvenient times and believes that all humans and Pokémon should be separated. He is almost always seen using Pokémon that can only be found in the area that he is fought in. He was forced to grow up with abused Pokémon, as a plot by his adoptive father, Ghetsis, so that he would want to liberate all Pokémon from humans. By following through with the plan, he captures either Zekrom in Black or Reshiram in White (the player will capture the opposite colored one) in order to show the world his power so that they will follow through with his plan to liberate all Pokémon. N returns in Black 2 and White 2 in a supporting role, enabling the games' mascot Kyurem to transform into its iconic form for the game version. In the end game, N can be challenged, using his legendary Pokémon from the previous game, and upon defeat the Dragon transforms into a Key Item the player can use to capture the Dragon himself or herself. After another in-game event, N becomes a character the player can challenge on a monthly basis, with the team changing with the games' seasonal cycle. His full name is Natural Harmonia Gropius (ナチュラル・ハルモニア・グロピウス, Nachuraru Harumonia Guropiusu).
• The Seven Sages (七賢人, Shichi Kenjin): The high-ranking members of Team Plasma. Throughout the course of the gameplay, the player encounters each of the sages but will not be able to battle them. After the defeat of N and before becoming the Pokémon Champion, the player must locate all of the Sages scattered throughout the Unova region.
  • Ghetsis (G-Cis (ゲーチス, Gēchisu)): Ghetsis is the true leader of Team Plasma and N's father, having raised the boy to serve as a charismatic leader while secretly running the true operations of the group behind the boy's back. For much of Black and White, he presents himself as a seemingly benevolent, well-meaning figure, but is steadily hinted at - and ultimately revealed as - the main villain of both sets of games and the main antagonist, rather than N. When N was only a child, Ghetsis kept him away from humans and closer to abused Pokémon, so that he would later develop resentment against humans who live side by side with their Pokémon and not realise how many good people actually existed. Because of this, Ghetsis was able to easily manipulate N into believing that he would be the "hero" that would help free all the Pokémon world from their owners. Afterwards, it is implied that Ghetsis planned to get rid of N once he had accomplished his mission: becoming the sole controller of Unova's Pokémon and using them as an army to conquer the entire world and rule it as a dictator. However, the actions of the player - who has helped inspire N to see beyond his old views - lead to N's defeat. This infuriates Ghetsis, who reveals his true colors and attempts of complete world domination to stop the player himself. After his defeat he begins losing his mind, but retains enough clarity to escape with the help of his loyal servants, the Shadow Triad. In Black 2 and White 2, he uses Colress as a proxy leader of Team Plasma to conceal its own identity. When met, he will state that Kyurem is an empty shell, and that he will pour his ambitions into that shell. He uses the Legendary Pokémon to freeze Unova and its people, with the ultimate goal of conquer the world with its great power. In Giant Chasm, he will command Kyurem to freeze the player alive with the Pokémon's signature move, Glaciate, but will be stopped by N. Unfortunately, he predicted that N's love for Pokémon will lead him to Kyurem and then merges Kyurem and Zekrom (Black 2) or Reshiram (White 2) to create Black Kyurem (Black 2) or White Kyurem (White 2), respectively. After Black/White Kyurem is defeated, Ghetsis then challenges the player to a battle. After losing, he loses the last of his sanity and the Shadow Triad move him away - later revealing that his mind has completely broken from the shock of his failures. His full name is Ghetsis Harmonia (ゲーチス・ハルモニア, Gēchisu Harumonia, G-Cis Harmonia in Japanese).
  • Zinzolin (Vio (ヴィオ)): Associated with the color purple. Despite claiming to dislike the cold, he can be found in Cold Storage after defeating Ghetsis. He seems to specialize in Ice-Types.
  • Rood (Rot (ロット, Rotto)): Associated with the color red. He returns in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 as part of the old Team Plasma and is battled at their warehouse in Driftveil City. He seems to specialize in the Normal Type. He entrusts N's Zorua into the player's care and assists the player at the Giant Chasm against Ghetsis' faction.
  • Gorm (Asura (アスラ)): Associated with the color blue.
  • Bronius (Sumura (スムラ)): Associated with the color brown.
  • Giallo (ジャロ, Jaro): Associated with the color yellow.
  • Ryoku (Ryokushi (リョクシ)): Associated with the color green.
• The Shadow Triad ("Dark Trinity" (ダークトリニティ, Dāku Toriniti)): Three ninja-like young men who are Ghetsis's faithful servants because he once saved their lives. They have the ability to teleport and usually "escort" the player to N or Ghetsis. After Ghetsis's defeat and arrest (and later unexplained break-out), the Shadow Triad appears one last time on the Marvelous Bridge, where they explain that Ghetsis ordered them to bring the player the 3 Orbs of Dialga, Palkia and Giratina (Adamant, Lustrous and Griseous, respectively) and that despite their loyalty to him, he has ordered them to not look for him. The Shadow Triad returns in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 and battles the player several times in the game. They are also revealed to possess a Liepard which had evolved from a Purrloin which was stolen from the rival character's younger sister five years earlier, leading him to foster a deep hatred for the organization. At first, this includes Rood's faction as well. After Team Plasma disbands, the Triad remains at Icirrus City, where they can be challenged on a monthly basis. Using the Unova Link Function unlocks a cutscene involving Cilan, Chili and Cress fighting against The Shadow Triad (and losing) - thus disbanding the rumors that the two groups are one and the same. The Shadow Triad were once rumored to be the Striaton City Gym Leaders Cilan, Cress and Chili.
• Anthea (the Goddess of Love (愛の女神, Ai no Megami)) and Concordia (the Goddess of Peace (平和の女神, Heiwa no Megami)): Two characters who appear towards the end of the main story of Black and White who serve N. Concordia tells the player the story of N and how Ghetsis raised him, while Anthea heals the player's Pokémon in preparation for the final battle against N. They can also be seen in the game's first opening sequence where they watch as N is crowned as the king of Team Plasma by Ghetsis. It was revealed that Anthea and Concordia are N's foster Sisters. They appear in Black 2 and White 2 in Rood's Pokémon volunteer house in Driftveil City, where they tell the player of Ghetsis' ambitions and what he did to further them, as well as N's early childhood before Ghetsis found him. According to them, N had spent this part of his life in a forest with a Darmanitan and a Zorua (the latter of which can be acquired from Rood) as he had distressed people with an unusual ability to commune with Pokémon.
• Colress (Achroma (アクロマ, Akuroma)): Colress is an independent Pokémon researcher and a proxy leader of Team Plasma, who works to learn about the powers of Pokémon and tries to bring out the true strength within them. He battles the player several times throughout the game to test the player's ability and the power of the player's Pokémon. He eventually aligns with Team Plasma, as they will allow him to study Pokémon the way he wishes. After Team Plasma is defeated, again, he helps the group reform their ways. He can then be battled at the P2 Laboratory. He returns in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, giving the player the means to fuse Necrozma with Solgaleo/Lunana once they catch the former and helping the player and their allies in defeating Team Rainbow Rocket in the post-game story. He has a larger antagonistic role in the anime, as he is building a device that would allow Ghetsis to control Reshiram and he takes control of various Pokémon, including Team Rocket's Meowth, in an effort to fine tune it. He specializes in Steel-type Pokémon.

Team Flare

Team Flare (フレア団, Furea-dan, Flare Gang) is the evil team appearing in Pokémon X and Y. Their main goal is to "create a beautiful world", which eventually manifests itself into mass genocide of all human and Pokémon life but themselves, using an ancient weapon once used by a king of Kalos, an ancestor of their leader Lysandre, from 3000 years ago. While their plan involved harnessing the power of Xerneas and Yveltal (depending the game's version), Team Flare's scheme in the anime involves controlling Zygarde and the sundial as their weapon of holocaust

• Lysandre (Fleur-de-Lis (フラダリ, Furadari)): The leader of Team Flare, seeking to attain eternal beauty. He follows the player's progress closely, seeking the player in his plans and revealing the history of Kalos and the king AZ, his ancestor, who nearly wiped out all life. After his identity as Team Flare's leader is revealed, he admits that he wishes to use his ancestor's weapon to enact a mass extinction, believing the Mega Ring to be central to his plans. The player ultimately defeats Lysandre, and when Lysandre attempts to activate the weapon, despite the player having captured its power source Xerneas (X)/Yveltal (Y), the weapon crumbles and destroys the headquarters. Although the player and his/her friends, as well as most of the members of Team Flare, manage to escape, Lysandre is never seen escaping the destruction, therefore he is presumed dead. In the anime, using Lysandre Labs as a front, Lysandre manipulates Alain to provide him with Mega Evolution while his subordinates managed to capture the blue-core Zygarde in his plan to control both Zygarde Cores while destroying Lumoise City as a display of Team Flare's power. But after losing to Ash, Alain and a redeemed Malva, as well as losing both Zygarde Cores, Lysandre resorts to using a Zygarde fabrication created from the Megalith and have it absorb the energies of the Anistar sundial to invoke a global genocide. But the Zygarde Cores assume their 100% form to destroy the fabrication, with Lysandre seemingly killed in the process.
• Xerosic (Xerosicy (クセロシキ, Kuseroshiki)): One of the Team Flare scientists. He is the group's head scientist, leading the building of the ultimate weapon. In the post-game, he also creates the Expansion Suit and hires Emma to be its user. At the end of the post game, he is arrested by Looker.
• Celosia (Correa (コレア, Korea)): One of the Team Flare scientists. She and Bryony lead the group in their attack on the Poké Ball Factory.
• Team Flare scientists: The scientists of Team Flare.
  • Aliana (Akebi (アケビ)): One of the Team Flare scientists. She leads the group in their infiltration of Kalos's Power Plant.
  • Bryony (Bara (バラ)): One of the Team Flare scientists. She and Celosia lead the group in their attack on the Poké Ball Factory.
  • Mable (Momiji (モミジ)): One of the Team Flare scientists. She leads the group in their Frost Cavern operations, angering a native Abomasnow.

Team Skull

Team Skull (スカル団, Skull-dan, Skull Gang) is a gang of street thugs who are the resident villain team of Alola, secretly working with the Aether Foundation on the promise of money. They were disbanded following the events of the games.

• Guzma (グズマ): Guzma is the boss of Team Skull and battles without mercy. He at one point went through the Island Challenge, but did not meet the criteria to become a Captain. He has history with Professor Kukui. He can be teamed up with at the Battle Tree in Double Battles and in the Ultra versions, he helps the player defeat Team Rainbow Rocket out of his loyalty to Lusamine. After that, he appears as a possible Title Defense challenger.
• Plumeria (プルメリ, Plumeri): Plumeria is Team Skull's admin and helps to keep the team in order. She cares for the grunts beneath her, making her less antagonistic than previous admins. She appears as a possible fighter in Title Defense.
• Gladion (グラジオ, Glazio): This young man lends his strength to Team Skull as an enforcer. He places a high value on being strong in Pokémon battles. His partner Pokémon is the mysterious Type: Null, which eventually evolves into Silvally. He is Lusamine's son and Lillie's brother. He also appears as a possible fighter in Title Defense and in the Ultra versions leaves Alola post-game to travel to other regions to become stronger; he appears as a Title Defense challenger after a month has passed in those games.

Aether Foundation

The Aether Foundation is an organization appearing in Pokémon Sun and Moon seemingly dedicated to the conservation of Pokémon. However, it is revealed that they are also researching the Ultra Beasts and while they are not technically a criminal syndicate, their president sought to harness the power of Cosmog to bring the Ultra Beasts into Alola (in the original games)/travel to Ultra Megalopolis to battle Necrozma (in the Ultra versions) with no regard for the consequences of doing so.

• Lusamine (ルザミーネ): The leader of the Aether Foundation, the mother of Lillie and Gladion and the real villain of the original Sun and Moon games. She is obsessed with the Ultra Beasts, specifically the Nihilego species having fallen under their influence; Gladion speculates her fixation started after her husband vanished while studying them. She went as far as unleashing them upon Alola by overclocking Nebby's power before wanting to live a solitary life amongst the Nihilego in their home realm. She then ends up allowing herself to be taken over by a Nihilego at the games' climax in a last-ditch attempt to destroy the heroes (making her the only villain in the franchise whose final battle is fought against as a mutant version of themselves). While she is now living in Kanto to have the last of the Nihilego poison removed from her and trying to rebuild her relationship with Lillie, her ultimate fate in the original games remains unknown. However it is implied that she is now wanted by the International Police for her actions against Alola while she was possessed. The Ultra versions depict her in a completely different light; devoid of Nihilego's influence and therefore her Ultra Beast obsession, believing she's doing the right thing, working also with the Ultra Recon Squad and harnessing Nebby's power so that she can fight Necrozma, but is defeated easily by the stealer of light. She reforms at the end, giving her children the independence she had denied them for so long and choosing not to directly interfere with their lives anymore, but is captured by Team Rainbow Rocket and taken hostage in the post-game. After Team Rainbow Rocket's defeat, she then appears as a possible Title Defense challenger at the start of every month, a role previously taken by Faba (see below)
• Faba (ザオボー, Sauboh): The Aether Foundation's admin. He challenges the player multiple times to stop the player when Lillie gets kidnapped. In the original games, he also appears as a possible fighter in Title Defense, appearing every start of the month, having been demoted from his position of Branch Chief. In the post-game story of the Ultra versions, he betrays the Aether Foundation to Team Rainbow Rocket for his own benefit. Because of this, he is demoted to the position of intern following Giovanni's defeat, with Lusamine taking his place in Title Defense in these games.
• Wicke (ビッケ): The vice-chief of the Aether Foundation. Unlike the other two, she helps the player attempt to stop Lusamine's plans. She also appears in the post-game, helping the player with the Ultra Beast mission in the original versions.

Team Rainbow Rocket

Team Rainbow Rocket (レインボーロケット団, Rainbow Rocket-dan, Rainbow Rocket Gang) is the crime syndicate in the side-quest of Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. They plan to rule all worlds with an army of Ultra Beasts.

• Giovanni (サカキ (Sakaki)): Giovanni is the leader of Team Rainbow Rocket.
• Maxie (Matsubusa (マツブサ)): An alternate version of himself appeared as a member of Team Rainbow Rocket. This Maxie was successful in expanding the land but fell into a large fissure at that very moment and ended up in the game's world. He has Groudon as part of his team.
• Archie (Aogiri (アオギリ)): An alternate version of Archie appeared as a member of Team Rainbow Rocket. This Archie was successful in expanding the sea but was engulfed by a large wave during the moment of his victory and ended up in the game's world. He has Kyogre as part of his team.
• Cyrus (Akagi (アカギ)): An alternate version of Cyrus appeared as a member of Team Rainbow Rocket. This Cyrus was successful in recreating the universe but was engulfed by a mysterious shadow during the moment of his victory and was transported to the game's world. He has Dialga (Ultra Sun)/Palkia (Ultra Moon) as part of his team.
• Ghetsis (G-Cis (ゲーチス, Gēchisu)): An alternate version of Ghetsis appeared as a member of Team Rainbow Rocket. This Ghetsis was successful in separating people and Pokémon and became the absolute leader of its own world. He has Zekrom (Ultra Sun)/Reshiram (Ultra Moon) as part of his team. Unlike the other leaders, he secretly plotted to manipulate and overthrow Giovanni and refused to accept defeat. His true goal in this version is to use an army of Ultrabeasts and Pokémon to conquer not only the new world but all the worlds, becoming the universal dictator. He even threatened to harm Lillie, only for Colress of the game's world to appear and send him back to the world he came from.
• Lysandre (Fleur-de-Lis (フラダリ, Furadari)): An alternate version of Lysandre appeared as a member of Team Rainbow Rocket. This Lysandre was successful in Team Flare's plan but was blinded by a bright light at the moment the ultimate weapon was fired and ended up in the game's world. He has Xerneas (Ultra Sun)/Yveltal (Ultra Moon) as part of his team.

Team Yell

Team Yell (エール団, Yell-dan, Yell Gang) is the resident villain team of the Galar region. They are a group of troublemakers who want nothing more than Marnie to become Champion.

• Piers (ネズ, Nezu): The leader of Team Yell and the seventh Gym Leader. He specializes in Dark-type Pokémon.
• Joshua (ヨウヘイ, Yōhei): Spikemuth Gym trainer and Team Yell grunt.
• Marnie herself is not a member of Team Yell, but is Piers' sister and the grunts' idol.

Macro Cosmos

Macro Cosmos (マクロコスモス) is the large business conglomerate of the Galar region. Their president seeks to harness the power of Dynamax and Gigantamax to awake Eternatus from 3000 years of slumber into Galar like in the Darkest Day with no regard for the consequences.

• Rose (ローズ): The chairman of the Galar Pokémon League, president of Macro Cosmos, a large business conglomerate and the real villain of Sword and Shield. He's made the Galar Pokémon League world-famous by implementing Gym Battles featuring the Dynamax phenomenon. He is obsessed with solving Galar's future energy crisis, but he wants to awake Eternatus believing harnessing its power would solve the problem. After the player defeats and catches Eternatus, he voluntarily surrenders to the authorities. He specializes in Steel-type Pokémon and his signature Pokémon is a Gigantamax Copperajah.
• Oleana (オリーヴ, Olive): is Rose's admin and is known for her calm and collected personality. She also serves as the vice president of Rose's company and is in fact largely in charge of the day-to-day running of the company. Her team is based around feminine beauty, but her signature Pokémon is a Gigantamax Garbodor. She was saved by Rose as a child.

Other characters

• Bill (Masaki Sonezaki (ソネザキ マサキ, Sonezaki Masaki)): The inventor of the PC storage system in Kanto/Johto. In the games, he manages to turn himself into a human-Pokémon hybrid by accident (This amazes the player's Pikachu in Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition). His favorite Pokémon are Eevee and its evolutions. According to FireRed and LeafGreen, Bill seems to be allergic to dairy products and his first Pokémon was an Abra. In the anime, Bill was presented with green hair, but all other reincarnations of him included brown hair. He is loosely based on Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft.
• Mr. Fuji (フジろうじん, Fuji Rōjin, lit. Elderly Fuji): A kind old man who lives in Lavender Town in the first generation games. He is the founder of the Cinnabar Island laboratory and a former friend of Blaine. He owns a Poké Flute and wishes for the happiness of all Pokémon. He becomes enraged after Team Rocket kills a Marowak and he cares for the orphaned Cubone.
• Celio (Nishiki (ニシキ)): a Pokémon storage system programmer and good friend of Bill who lives in the Sevii Islands. Celio runs the Pokémon Net Center on Knot Island in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. He needs the player's help to finish the incomplete Pokémon Network machine. This machine is capable of transferring Pokémon between Kanto and Hoenn. To assist with this quest, Celio will give the Rainbow Pass and upgrade the Town Map so it shows the locations of the final four Sevii Islands.
• Eusine (Minaki (ミナキ)), called Eugene in Pokémon Chronicles: Eusine is a self-declared Legendary Pokémon expert who appears in Pokémon Crystal. He searches for Suicune for a decade and wishes to see it greatly.
• Lanette (Mayumi (マユミ)): The inventor of Hoenn's storage system in the Pokémon games and developer of the new, more user-friendly storage system interface used in all Pokémon games since Ruby and Sapphire. It is implied in-game that she is close friends with Bill. The player can read an E-mail on Lanette's laptop from Bill complimenting her success with the Hoenn PC system. Her house is littered with books and she rewards visiting players with a doll, asking them not to tell anyone. In the Pokémon Adventures manga she, along with her sister, go to Kanto to upgrade its Pokémon storage system and make it possible to exchange Pokémon with Hoenn.
• Aarune (Girī (ギリー)): Aarune is a character introduced in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire who tells the player about the Secret Base feature in the game.
• Lisia (Lutia (ルチア, Ruchia): Lisia is a character introduced in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire as a Contest Idol in Hoenn. The player occasionally competes against Lisia and her Altaria Ali (Tylulu (チルル, Chiruru)) in the Master Rank Contests. She is eventually revealed to be Wallace's niece.
• Zinnia (Higana (ヒガナ)): Zinnia is a character featured in the "Delta Episode" in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. She has come to Hoenn from a faraway land in order to help stop a meteor from impacting the Earth, intending to capture Rayquaza to meet these goals. However, Rayquaza chooses the player instead and the player is the one to stop the meteor.
• Johanna (Ayako (アヤコ)): The mother of Lucas or Dawn. She will sometimes appear in Pokémon Super Contests with her Kangaskhan Jumpy (Garu-chan (ガルちゃん)).
• Bebe (Mizuki (ミズキ)): The inventor and manager of the PC storage system in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl and Platinum. She developed Sinnoh's Pokémon storage system based on the previous designs of Bill and Lanette. Her house, which is next to the Pokémon Center in Hearthome, is not quite as cluttered as Lanette's. Bebe is good friends with Hayley, who owns a ranch in which Pokémon can be stored and they still keep in contact with each other. After the player obtains the National Dex, she will give them a level 5 Eevee. In Pokémon Platinum, the Eevee is available right away at level 20, without the need of the National Dex.
• "Looker" ("Handsome" (ハンサム, Hansamu)): "Looker" is a member of Interpol who appears in Pokémon Platinum investigating Team Galactic. He appears again in Black and White to seek the player's assistance in apprehending the seven sages of Team Plasma. During the events of Black 2 and White 2, he is in another region searching for N with player character of Black and White. In X and Y, he poses as a detective to investigate Xerosic, a Team Flare scientist. In Sun and Moon, he comes to Alola to assist the player with capturing the Ultra Beasts that were let loose there as the result of Lusamine's machinations.
• Five trainers can join the main character during different events in Diamond, Pearl and Platinum, and all of the trainers each specialize in one particular stat. They are made up of Cheryl (Momi (モミ)), who is scared of Team Galactic; Riley (Gen (ゲン)), a senior protégé of Byron; Mira (Miru (ミル)), who wishes to be like the protagonist; Buck (Baku (バク)), the younger brother of Elite Four member Flint; and Marley (Mai (マイ)), a girl interested in the legendary Pokémon Shaymin. All five of these characters can be met later in the game at the Battle Tower.
• Fennel (Makomo (マコモ)): Fennel is a Pokémon professor in the Unova Region who studies Pokémon trainers as well as the dreams of Pokémon. The player encounters her when Team Plasma abducts a Munna from her research facility to use its Dream Mist powers to reach its goals. She gives players the C-Gear item as well as access to the Pokémon Dream World online system.
• Ingo (Nobori (ノボリ)) and Emmet (Kudari (クダリ)) are the conductors of Nimbasa City's Battle Subway.
• Curtis (Tetsu (テツ)) & Yancy (Ruri (ルリ)): Curtis and Yancy appear as side characters in Black 2 and White 2 depending if the player chooses the female or male player character, respectively. The player finds his/her lost Xtransceiver and begins a friendship with the player character. In the end, the character serves as a way to receive Pokémon with rare abilities by trading, as their job as popular television personalities in the game named Christoph (Tenma (テンマ)) and Nancy (Rukko (ルッコ)), respectively, brings them to the other Pokémon regions.
• Sina (Sina (ジーナ)) & Dexio (Dexio (デクシオ)): Two of Professor Sycamore's assistants. In X and Y, their job was to give the player the Central, Coastal, and Mountain Pokédex and to help the player (in disguises) with stopping Team Flare. The two also appear in Sun and Moon and their Ultra versions as Pokémon trainers who specialize in Ice and Psychic types, respectively.
• AZ (AZ（エーゼット）, Ē Zetto): AZ is a mysterious man, noted for his great height at 9 feet (2.7 m) tall. He developed a deadly weapon during a war 3,000 years prior to the game to revive his deceased Floette, only for Floette to leave him out of disgust. After the player becomes the new Pokémon Champion, AZ challenges the player to a battle, after which AZ realizes the error of his ways and his Floette returns to him.
• Grace (Saki, サキ)): The mother of Calem or Serena and a former Rhyhorn racer.
• Alexa (Pansy (パンジー, Panjī)): Alexa is a journalist in X and Y who works at a publishing house in the central Lumiose City. Her younger sister is Viola, a Gym Leader.
• Cassius (Crocea (クロケア, Kurokea)): The administrator of the PC system in Pokémon X and Y, he was personally recommended for the job by Bill. He had invented the tray system for the Pokémon storage system. He tends to talk pretty rudely, but he likes his job. He is based in Camphrier Town, where the player can talk to his two assistants as well.
• Emma (Matiere (マチエール, Machiēru)): Emma is a young girl who is central to the cases the player takes when working for Looker in X and Y. She and her Espurr Mimi (Mokō (もこお)) move into the offices. She is later kidnapped by Team Flare's Xerosic and made the Expansion Suit's wearer Essentia (Esprit (エスプリ, Espuri)), whom the player must fight to save her.
• Lillie (リーリエ, Lilie): Lillie is an important character in Sun and Moon and their Ultra versions. She hates Pokémon Battles and likes reading. She has Nebby the Cosmog in her bag, which she stole from the Aether Foundation because she didn't want it to get hurt and knowing her mother's intentions would end up possibly killing it. She then takes refuge with Professor Kukui knowing the Aether Foundation would come after her.
• Molayne (Mullein (マーレイン)): The developer of the PC Storage System of Alola.
• Lear: The prince of Pasio in Pokémon Masters EX and he's arrogant, later revealed to be saved by Hoopa when he was younger and later forms a sync pair with it. It hates the protagonist as he/she is a threat to get the Champion of the PML, Pokemon Master League.
• Sawyer: Lear's servant and partner, a bit impatient and pairs up with Honchkrow.
• Rachel: Lear's servant and tolerated his impatience and pairs up with Umbreon, has a lot of fans as well
• Sonia: Sonia is the granddaughter and assistant of Professor Magnolia in Pokémon Sword and Shield. She is the childhood friend of Leon.
• Mustard: Mustard runs the dojo on the Isle of Armor in Pokémon Sword and Shield. He is a former Galar Champion who trained Leon in the past.
• Honey: Honey is Mustard's wife, who takes care of the Dojo on the Isle of Armor.
• Peony: Peony is a former Gym Leader and adventurer on the Crown Tundra studying the tales of Legendary Pokémon in the area. He is Chairman Rose's younger brother.
• Peonia: Peonia is Peony's daughter. She is interested in Dynamax Adventures.

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Personajes de Pokémon para niños