Ash's friends

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This article is about Ash's main and temporary traveling companions. If you were looking for a general list of people Ash has met on his journey, see Character of the day.


Ash and his traveling companions from the XY series, (L-R) Clemont, Serena and Bonnie.

Ash's friends are the traveling companions that Ash Ketchum has had with him on his journey on his quest to become a Pokémon Master. While he started his journey alone, many people have joined his party while touring the Pokémon world; usually at least one new companion joins—and another leaves—every time a new region is visited.

Johto is the only region where Ash did not acquire a new friend that would travel with him, excluding Brock, who came back after his absence, and Todd Snap and Ritchie, who both traveled with him temporarily.

Original series

Misty

Main article: Misty (anime)

Misty joined Ash in Pokémon Emergency!, traveling with him because she wanted him to replace her bike, which was destroyed by his Pikachu. She would continuously travel with him until Gotta Catch Ya Later!, when she returned to Cerulean City nearly full-time to lead her family's Gym, though she briefly traveled to Hoenn and met up with Ash's Advanced Generation group, and again to "escort" her back home.

Pokémon

Misty
Hometown: Cerulean City First joined in Kanto
Episodes traveled with Ash
EP002-EP273, AG044-AG045, AG132-AG134, Mewtwo Returns, The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon
Method Pre-series Kanto Orange Johto Hoenn Frontier
Caught 116054 060 222 130370
Hatched 175 298
Evolved 061186 176
Given Egg
Released 176
Unknown/Other 118120121 Egg


Brock

Main article: Brock (anime)

Brock first joined Ash in Showdown in Pewter City after Ash battled him in the Pewter City Gym. After his father Flint offered to take over the duties of Gym Leader, Brock followed Ash through Kanto, leaving briefly from Poké Ball Peril to A Tent Situation to work for Professor Ivy. After this episode, Brock returned to be with Ash and Misty until Gotta Catch Ya Later!, though he, unlike Misty, would return shortly, in You Can Never Taillow, sticking with Ash until Home is Where the Start is!. He would again return in Two Degrees of Separation!, and so traveled through Sinnoh with Ash until Memories are Made of Bliss!.

Pokémon

Brock
Hometown: Pewter City First joined in Kanto
Episodes traveled with Ash
EP005-EP083, EP116-EP273, AG004-AG192, DP002-DP191, Mewtwo Returns, The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon
Method Pre-series Kanto Johto Hoenn Frontier Sinnoh
Caught 041 204 258270 438 453
Hatched 440
Evolved 042169205 271272 259208 185113
Given 095 037 Egg
Give Away 037
Unknown 074


Tracey Sketchit

Main article: Tracey Sketchit

After Brock left to work for Professor Ivy, Ash's traveling group was down to two, as it had been for the first five episodes of Kanto. However, this would not last very long, as in The Lost Lapras Ash met a Pokémon watcher named Tracey who essentially invited himself along for the rest of the Orange Islands saga. Traveling with Ash, he wished to attain his ultimate goal of meeting Professor Oak, which he did when Ash returned to Kanto in A Tents Situation. After this, he remained in Pallet Town to be Professor Oak's assistant.

Pokémon

Tracey
Hometown:
Unknown
First joined in
the Orange Archipelago
Episodes traveled with Ash
EP084-EP116
Method Pre-series Orange Hoenn / Frontier
Caught 123
Given Away Egg
Unknown 048183


Advanced Generation series

May

Main article: May (anime)

Ash may have traveled to Hoenn alone; however, shortly after his arrival, he met May, a young girl who desired to travel around the world and a fellow Trainer who was just starting her journey, and then ended up destroying her bike just like that of Misty. Though she initially did not care for Pokémon battles, she eventually found Pokémon Contests, in which she competed while in Hoenn and then later in Kanto. May traveled with Ash through the entire Advanced Generation saga, from Get the Show on the Road to Home is Where the Start Is!, after which she went off to Johto to compete in Contests there. She, like Misty, reappeared briefly during the Diamond & Pearl series to compete in the Wallace Cup.

Pokémon

May
Hometown: Petalburg City First joined in Hoenn
Episodes traveled with Ash
AG001-AG192, DP076-DP079, The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon
Method Hoenn Frontier Johto Sinnoh
Caught 265300001446
Hatched 133
Evolved 266267256 257 008002003 471
Given 255 007 Egg


Max

Main article: Max

Max is May's younger brother. He does not have any Pokémon of his own because he is too young, but he often befriends certain Pokémon. He traveled with the group from There's no Place Like Hoenn until Home is Where the Start Is, when he went home to Petalburg City. However, he made a promise to Ash that as soon as he got his own Pokémon, he would battle Ash.

Max
Hometown:
Petalburg City
First joined in
Hoenn
Episodes traveled with Ash
AG003-AG192, The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon


Diamond & Pearl series

Dawn

Main article: Dawn (anime)

Like his journey into Hoenn, Ash ventured to Sinnoh alone, where, in When Pokémon Worlds Collide!, he would meet Dawn. From that point, after saving Ash's Pikachu and having her bike fried in a similar way to May's and Misty's, Dawn would travel with Ash and Brock through Sinnoh, which she did until Memories are Made of Bliss! when all three friends split up.

Dawn rejoins Ash's group in the Best Wishes series in Piplup, Pansage, and a Meeting of the Times! to compete in the Pokémon World Tournament Junior Cup. Dawn would leave the group in Goodbye, Junior Cup - Hello Adventure! and travel to Johto to compete in the Wallace Cup.

Pokémon

Dawn
Hometown:
Twinleaf Town
First joined in
Sinnoh
Episodes traveled with Ash
DP003-DP191, BW086-BW093
Method Sinnoh
Caught 427417*418220
Released 417*
Hatched 155
Evolved 424221473156
Given 393 Egg 468
In training 424
Traded 418
Trade 190


Best Wishes series

Iris

Main article: Iris (anime)

Iris is said to be a wild girl, as proven by the fact that she swings on vines. She decided to travel throughout Unova with Ash.

Pokémon

Iris
Hometown:
Village of Dragons
First joined in
Unova
Episodes traveled with Ash
BW002-BW141
Method Pre-series Unova Johto
Caught 529 587 149 443
Evolved 530
Given 610


Cilan

Main article: Cilan (anime)

Cilan, a Pokémon Connoisseur and one of the Gym Leaders of the Striaton City Gym, travels with Ash and Iris in their journey through Unova.

Pokémon

Cilan
Hometown:
Striaton City
First joined in
Unova
Episodes traveled with Ash
BW006-BW141
Method Pre-series Unova
Caught 557 618 550B
Evolved 558
Released 550B
Given 511


XY series

Clemont

Main article: Clemont (anime)

Clemont is an inventor Ash met after being ejected out of the Lumiose City Gym. His backpack, called the "Clemontic Gear", carries a variety of inventions and gadgets.

Pokémon

Clemont
Hometown:
Lumiose City
First joined in
Kalos
Episodes traveled with Ash
XY003-XY062, XY067-Present
Method Pre-series Kalos
Caught 659 702 404
Evolved 695 405
Given 650
Unknown 081082694


Bonnie

Main article: Bonnie (anime)

Bonnie is Clemont's little sister. She is a young and cheerful girl, who despite being too young to officially train Pokémon, holds a great interest in them. She is proud of her big brother's accomplishments, but is not above criticizing him.

Pokémon

Bonnie
Hometown:
Lumiose City
First joined in
Kalos
Episodes traveled with Ash
XY003-Present
Method Kalos
Caring for 702???


Serena

Serena in her second outfit
Main article: Serena (anime)

Serena is a beginning Pokémon Trainer from Kalos. She is a fashionable girl who met Ash once before when they were younger. While the daughter of a famous Rhyhorn racer, Serena eventually sets her goal to be a famous Pokémon Performer.

Pokémon

Serena
Hometown:
Vaniville Town
First joined in
Kalos
Episodes traveled with Ash
XY007-Present
Method Kalos
Given 653
Caught 674133
Evolved 654700


Temporary traveling companions

Todd

Main article: Todd Snap

Todd Snap accompanied Ash, Misty, and Brock from Pokémon Paparazzi to The Breeding Center Secret. He later meets up with Ash again in Moving Pictures during his journey through Johto, trying to take a photograph of the legendary Articuno. They meet an elderly couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, and Todd has the honor of taking their anniversary photo for them. Later on, in Freeze Frame Todd finally finds Articuno and manages to get a photograph of it. He then departs from the group once more.

Todd
Hometown:
Unknown
First joined in
Kanto
Episodes traveled with Ash
EP055-EP057, EP187-EP189


Ritchie

Main article: Ritchie

Ritchie accompanied Ash, Misty, and Brock from The Mystery is History to A Promise is a Promise while he was searching for a mysterious Pokémon that can be found in the Whirl Islands, which turned out to be a Lugia.

Pokémon

Ritchie
Hometown:
Frodomar City (dub only)
First joined in
Johto
Episodes traveled with Ash
EP220-EP222
Method Pre-series Post-Kanto
Evolved 005
Unknown 025 004 Butterfree Pupitar Taillow


Professor Birch

Main article: Professor Birch

Professor Birch accompanied Ash, Brock, May, and Max as they traveled through the forests of Dewford.

Pokémon

Professor Birch
Hometown:
Littleroot Town
First joined in
Hoenn
Episodes traveled with Ash
AG027-AG028
Method Pre-series Hoenn
Befriended Poochyena
Gives away Treecko Torchic Mudkip


Cheryl

Main article: Cheryl

Cheryl accompanied Ash, Brock, and Dawn through the Eterna Forest.

Pokémon

Cheryl
Hometown:
Unknown
First joined in:
Sinnoh
Episodes traveled with Ash
DP030-DP032
Method Pre-series Sinnoh
Caught 412
Evolved 414
Unknown Chansey Wormadam Wormadam Wormadam


Barry

Main article: Barry (anime)

Barry accompanied Ash, Brock, and Dawn while Ash was trying to earn the Relic Badge. He then traveled with them to the Pokémon Ping Pong Tournament.

Pokémon

Barry
Hometown:
Twinleaf Town
First joined in:
Sinnoh
Episodes traveled with Ash
DP101-DP103, DP122-DP124
Method Pre-series
Caught Heracross
Unknown 395 Staraptor Roserade Skarmory Hitmonlee


Lyra

Main article: Lyra (anime)

Lyra met Ash, Dawn, and Brock during the Johto Festival in An Egg Scramble!. She and Khoury accompanied them to Lilypad Town and left the group in Bagged then Tagged! when she returned to Johto.

Pokémon

Lyra
Hometown:
New Bark Town
First joined in
Sinnoh
Episodes traveled with Ash
DP143-DP147
Method Johto
Given Chikorita
Unknown 183 Girafarig


Khoury

Main article: Khoury

Khoury met Ash, Dawn, and Brock during the Johto Festival when Lyra introduced them in An Egg Scramble!. He and Lyra accompanied them to Lilypad Town and left the group in Bagged then Tagged! when he returned to Johto.

Pokémon

Khoury
Hometown:
New Bark Town
First joined in
Sinnoh
Episodes traveled with Ash
DP143-DP147
Method Johto Sinnoh
Caught Gible
Evolved 159
Given 158


Bianca

Main article: Bianca (anime)

Bianca first met Ash in Minccino Neat And Tidy where she gave him his Badge case from Professor Juniper. She later accompanies him, Iris, and Cilan for a short time on their way to Nimbasa City. However, upon hearing that Ash had three Badges, she was inspired to catch up to him and left to collect Badges on her own. Since then, Bianca has temporarily joined the group numerous times during their journey.

Pokémon

Bianca
Hometown:
Unknown
First joined in:
Unova
Episodes traveled with Ash
BW024-BW025, BW062-BW063
Method Unova
Caught 572 Shelmet
Evolved 499 Escavalier 500
Given 498
Traded Shelmet
Trade Karrablast


Luke

Main article: Luke

Luke first met Ash, Iris, and Cilan in his hometown where they helped him produce a movie. He later accompanies them to Nimbasa Town where he stays with them during the Club Battle tournament before heading back home at the end of The Club Battle Finale: A Heroes Outcome!.

Pokémon

Luke
Hometown:
Unknown
First joined in
Unova
Episodes traveled with Ash
BW038-BW042
Method Unova
Caught 570
Unknown Golett Leavanny Larvesta


Meowth

Main article: Meowth (Team Rocket)

After reportedly being "disbanded" from Team Rocket in Meowth's Scrafty Tactics!, Meowth was found unconscious by Ash's Tepig and Iris's Axew. The group nursed him back to health and invited him to accompany them so as to protect him from Trainers wanting to capture the only talking Meowth in Unova. He used his ability to speak to humans and Pokémon many times during their travels together.

He later revealed their travels to be a facade to gain their trust for a mission, and reunited with Jessie and James in Crisis from the Underground Up!.

He would later team up with Ash and his friends for real in A Conspiracy to Conquer! after losing the rest of Team Rocket to the control of the mysterious Madame X and her Malamar, though the team was initially distrusting of him until seeing Madame X in action for themselves. Ash and Meowth were eventually the only ones not hypnotized by Malamar, thanks to Meowth using Fury Swipes on both their faces. After the Malamar was revealed to be the true mastermind and was soon after defeated, Meowth returned to the newly freed Team Rocket.

Meowth
Hometown:
Hollywood
First joined in
Unova
Episodes traveled with Ash
BW043-BW047, XY019

Stephan

Main article: Stephan

Stephan decided to travel with Ash and co. in Climbing the Tower of Success! after taking part in a competition with them. He left the group after winning the Clubsplosion tournament.

Pokémon

Stephan
Hometown:
Unknown
First joined in
Unova
Episodes traveled with Ash
BW069-BW073
Method Unova
Evolved Zebstrika
Unknown Blitzle 539 Liepard

Meloetta

Main article: Meloetta (anime)


Meloetta
Hometown:
Unknown
First joined in
Unova
Episodes traveled with Ash
BW086-BW097

Cameron

Main article: Cameron

After Dawn left the group after the Junior Tournament, Cameron decided to join Ash, Iris, and Cilan. He left the group after he won his eighth and final Badge against Marlon.

Pokémon

Cameron
Hometown:
Unknown
First joined in
Unova
Episodes traveled with Ash
BW093-BW094
Method Unova
Evolved 448
Unknown RioluFerrothornSamurottHydreigonSwannaWatchog

N

Main article: N (anime)

After meeting with Ash and the others again in Saving Braviary!, he agreed to travel with them to Driftveil City. After an encounter with Team Plasma, N was forced to leave the group.

N
Hometown:
Unknown
First joined in
Unova
Episodes traveled with Ash
BW114-BW118

Alexa

Main article: Alexa

Alexa, a journalist from Kalos, met Ash and friends in The Journalist from Another Region! on Harvest Island. She traveled with the group through the Decolore Islands, and joined Ash on his journey to Kalos, but officially split with Ash in Kalos: Where Dreams and Adventures Begin! because her sister Viola was away from Santalune Gym.

Pokémon

Alexa
Hometown:
Unknown
First joined in
Decolore Islands
Episodes traveled with Ash
BW134-XY001
Method Pre-series
Caught 673
Unknown HelioptileNoivern


Korrina

Main article: Korrina

Korrina, the Shalour City Gym Leader, met Ash, Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie in Mega Revelations! on their way to her hometown. The group accompanied her as she traveled to Geosenge Town to understand and master the Mega Evolution of her trusted partner, Lucario. She left the group at Pomace Mountain in The Bonds of Mega Evolution!.

Pokémon

Korrina
Hometown:
Shalour City
First joined in
Kalos
Episodes traveled with Ash
XY030-XY034
Method Pre-series
Unknown RioluMienfooMachoke
Evolved 448


Sawyer

Main article: Sawyer

Sawyer met Ash, Serena and Bonnie in A Fashionable Battle! in the Laverre Gym, where he was asking for a Gym Battle with Valerie. He recognized Clemont as the Lumiose City Gym Leader, as he had had a Gym Battle with him in Battling with Elegance and a Big Smile!. He left the group in Rivals: Today and Tomorrow!.

In XY119, after battling Ash and winning, Sawyer decided to accompany him and his friends to Snowbelle City. The following episode, he watched Ash battle Wulfric before leaving to train for the Pokémon League.

Pokémon

Sawyer
Hometown:
Unknown
First joined in
Kalos
Episodes traveled with Ash
XY073-XY075, XY119-XY120
Method Pre-series Kalos
Evolved 253Shelgon254Doublade
Given 252
Unknown BagonSlurpuffHonedgeClawitzer


Squishy

Main article: Squishy

Squishy first met Ash and the group in From A to Z!. After saving it from Team Flare, the group took it with them with Bonnie taking care of it.

Squishy
Hometown:
Terminus Cave
First joined in
Kalos
Episodes traveled with Ash
XY094-Present

Trivia

  • Every starter Pokémon has been owned by either Ash or one of his friends.
  • Alexa is the only human companion, main or temporary to accompany Ash through the end of one series to the start of the next.
  • In the Best Wishes series, Ash had the most temporary companions.
  • Serena is the only one of Ash's friends that Ash has met prior to the beginning of the series.
  • Clemont is the only one of Ash's friends that has left the group in the middle of a journey.

See also

Anime characters
Protagonists Ash Ketchum (Pikachu) • Misty (Togetic) • BrockTracey SketchitMayMaxDawn (Piplup) • Iris (Haxorus) • CilanSerenaClemontBonnie (Dedenne) • LanaKiaweLillieSophoclesMallowRotom PokédexGoh (Grookey)
Rivals GaryRitchieHarrisonDrewHarleyMorrisonTysonSolidadPaulNandoZoeyKennyConwayBarryUrsulaTripBiancaBurgundyStephanGeorgiaCameronAriaAlainMietteTiernoShaunaTrevorNiniSawyerGladionHoracioHauLeonRaihanHoraceBeaLeague Conference participantsCoordinatorsPerformersWorld Coronation Series participants
Antagonists Jessie (Wobbuffet) • JamesMeowthGiovanniButchCassidyDr. NambaMatoriPierceDr. ZagerGozuTabithaMaxieShellyArchieHunter JSaturnCyrusMarsJupiterCharonColressAldithGhetsisBarretMalamarLysandreMableCelosiaAlianaXerosicBryonyTuppZippRappPlumeriaGuzmaVirenRoseOleana
Professors Professor OakProfessor IvyProfessor ElmProfessor BirchProfessor RowanProfessor CarolinaProfessor JuniperDr. FennelCedric JuniperProfessor SycamoreProfessor KukuiProfessor BurnetProfessor CeriseProfessor MagnoliaSoniaProfessor Amaranth
Relatives Delia KetchumDaisyVioletLilyJames's parentsFlintLolaForrestBrock's siblingsNormanCarolineJohannaChiliCressGraceMeyerLana's fatherLana's motherHarper and SarahRangoSimaMimoKiawe's grandfatherMohnLusamineGladionSophocles's parentsMolayneAbeMallow's motherUluWalkerCamilleHalta
Supporting Officer JennyNurse JoyMagikarp salesmanTodd SnapCharles GoodshowCaseyLizaSakuraLanceClairRaoul ContestaMr. SukizoSteven StoneVivian MeridianRobertScottLilian MeridianSolanaBrandonMarianYuzoRhondaCynthiaReggieAngieLookerIzzy and CaraLyraKhouryTobiasDon GeorgeElderAlderLukeFreddy O'MartianIngoEmmetJervisVirgilNAnthea and ConcordiaPorterAlexaSophieCosetteClembotSanpeiMairinAstridDianthaKorrinaGurkinnMonsieur PierrePalermoKeananMalvaSamson OakAnelaHobbesNinaAnnaLakiDanaYansuWickeFabaIlimaAcerolaDiaChloeChrysaRenParkerTaliaLeiDanikaQuillonHopGym LeadersElite FourFrontier BrainsIsland kahunasMany temporary characters
Supporting Pokémon FearowHo-OhSquirtle SquadPink ButterfreeHaunterJigglypuffMewtwoMimeyLapras herdGranbullPichu BrothersLugiaSilverDelibirdWynautLarvitarKyogre and GroudonArticunoDeoxysLake guardiansForces of NatureMeloettaReshiramSuper-ancient PokémonWooperFlorgesSquishyZ2Guardian deitiesBewearToucannon's flockStoutlandOranguruNebbyStuffulUltra BeastsGrandpa ForestNecrozmaLunalaShayminMewRotom PhonesPelipperThievul trioEternatusDrone RotomHero duoLatiasRecurring wild Pokémon
See also: Pokémon Horizons characters


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