Falkner

Falkner ハヤト Hayato
"The Elegant Master of Flying Pokémon"
Art from HeartGold and SoulSilver
Gender	Male
Eye color	Black*, Blue*
Hair color	Blue
Hometown	Violet City
Region	Johto
Relatives	Father (Predecessor as Gym Leader)
Trainer class	Gym Leader
Generation	II, IV
Games	Gold, Silver, Crystal, Pokémon Stadium 2, HeartGold, SoulSilver
Leader of	Violet Gym
Badge	Zephyr Badge
Specializes in	Template:Type2s
Anime debut	Fighting Flyer with Fire
English voice actor	Matthew Mitler
Japanese voice actor	Akira Ishida

Falkner (Japanese: ハヤト Hayato) is the Violet City Gym Leader. He can be battled by the player in the Violet Gym. Falkner specializes in Template:Type2 Pokémon, and he gives anyone who defeats him a Zephyr Badge.

In the games

Headshot of Falkner from Pokémon Gold and Silver

Falkner appears in Pokémon Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold, and SoulSilver, where he is the first Gym Leader players will encounter. A master of Template:Type2 Pokémon, Falkner runs the Violet Gym, which he inherited from his father; the Pokémon he uses in battle also formerly belonged to him. Falkner's father is reported to be traveling, but is never seen in the game (unlike Janine's father).

Known as "The Elegant Master of Flying Pokémon", Falkner is adored as a cool and handsome trainer. He is, however, overshadowed by his absent father, who is said to have been cooler and even more handsome. Perhaps because of this, Falkner aspires to be the greatest bird master. Falkner uses, notably, the lowest leveled Pokémon found in any Gym in any region. His Pidgeotto, in fact, is at an illegitimate level. Once defeated in battle, he will award winners with the Zephyr Badge and a Technical Machine: TM31 (Mud-Slap) in Generation II; TM51 (Roost) in Generation IV. In each generation, his Pokémon know the respective TM; Falkner uses this move as part of his battle strategy.

Like all Gym Leaders in HeartGold and SoulSilver, Falkner will venture out of his Gym occasionally. Once the player has obtained the Soul Badge, Falkner will journey every Monday to Celadon City so he can visit the Department Store. He can be found talking with fellow Gym Leader Janine, of Fuchsia City, on the fourth floor, and will exchange Pokégear phone numbers with the player. Once this task has been completed, Falkner will travel to the Fighting Dojo in Saffron City every Saturday morning to accept a rematch with a stronger team of Pokémon. In addition, he may also participate in the Pokéathlon's Supreme Cup in the Jump Course with his Pidgeot, Swellow, and Staraptor.

Falkner is also in Pokémon Stadium 2's Johto Gym Leader Castle. Unlike other Gym Leaders in this game, all of his Pokémon are of his specialist type.

Pokémon

This listing is of Falkner's Pokémon in the video games he has appeared in.

Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal

File:LeaderFalkner GSC.png Leader Falkner Violet Gym Gold, Silver, and Crystal Leader and Professor Falkner Oak Violet Gym Gold, Silver, and Crystal Reward: $900
Types: Normal Flying Held item: None Pidgey♂ Lv.7 Tackle Normal   --       Mud-Slap Ground   --       Unknown   --       Unknown   --       Types: Normal Flying Held item: None Pidgeotto♂ Lv.9 Tackle Normal   --       Mud-Slap Ground   --       Gust Flying   --       Unknown   --

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

Gym match

File:FalknerHGSS.gif Leader Falkner Violet Gym HeartGold and SoulSilver Leader and Professor Falkner Oak Violet Gym HeartGold and SoulSilver Reward: $1560
Types: Normal Flying Ability: Keen Eye Held item: None Pidgey♂ Lv.9 Tackle Normal Physical   --       Sand-Attack Ground Status   --       Unknown Unknown   --       Unknown Unknown   --       Types: Normal Flying Ability: Keen Eye Held item: None Pidgeotto♂ Lv.13 Tackle Normal Physical   --       Roost Flying Status   --       Gust Flying Special   --       Unknown Unknown   --

Second battle (Rematch)

File:FalknerHGSS.gif Leader Falkner Fighting Dojo HeartGold and SoulSilver Leader and Professor Falkner Oak Fighting Dojo HeartGold and SoulSilver Reward: $6720

Types: Normal Flying Ability: Intimidate Held item: Sitrus Berry Staraptor♂ Lv.50 U-turn Bug Physical   --       Close Combat Fighting Physical   --       Brave Bird Flying Physical   --       Attract Normal Status   --       Types: Water Flying Ability: Keen Eye Held item: None Pelipper♂ Lv.48 Surf Water Special   --       Ice Beam Ice Special   --       Hidden Power Normal Special   --       Tailwind Flying Status   --       Types: Normal Flying Ability: Insomnia Held item: None Noctowl♂ Lv.52 Air Slash Flying Special   --       Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --       FeatherDance Flying Status   --       Roost Flying Status   --       Types: Normal Flying Ability: Guts Held item: Flame Orb Swellow♂ Lv.52 Protect Normal Status   --       Double Team Normal Status   --       Endeavor Normal Physical   --       Facade Normal Physical   --       Types: Dark Flying Ability: Insomnia Held item: None Honchkrow♂ Lv.54 Thunder Wave Electric Status   --       Dark Pulse Dark Special   --       Sucker Punch Dark Physical   --       Night Slash Dark Physical   --       Types: Normal Flying Ability: Keen Eye Held item: None Pidgeot♂ Lv.56 Double Team Normal Status   --       Swagger Normal Status   --       Return Normal Physical   --       Roost Flying Status   --

Pokéathlon

	Jump  Course Supreme Cup
Swellow  Jump
Pidgeot  Jump
Staraptor  Jump

Pokémon Stadium 2

Round 1

Leader Falkner Violet Gym Pokémon Stadium 2 Leader and Professor Falkner Oak Violet Gym Pokémon Stadium 2 Reward: None

Types: Normal Flying Held item: PRZCureBerry Pidgeot♂ Lv.50 Whirlwind Normal   --       Quick Attack Normal   --       Fly Flying   --       Mud-Slap Ground   --       Types: Normal Flying Held item: Stick Farfetch'd♂ Lv.50 False Swipe Normal   --       Slash Normal   --       Fly Flying   --       Mud-Slap Ground   --       Types: Normal Flying Held item: Mint Berry Noctowl♂ Lv.50 Take Down Normal   --       Fly Flying   --       Confusion Psychic   --       Mud-Slap Ground   --       Types: Ice Flying Held item: Bitter Berry Delibird♀ Lv.50 Present Normal   --       Headbutt Normal   --       Blizzard Ice   --       Mud-Slap Ground   --       Types: Normal Flying Held item: Sharp Beak Fearow♂ Lv.50 Drill Peck Flying   --       Swift Normal   --       Mirror Move Flying   --       Mud-Slap Ground   --       Types: Normal Flying Held item: Burnt Berry Togetic♂ Lv.50 Double-Edge Normal   --       Fly Flying   --       Fire Blast Fire   --       Psychic Psychic   --

Round 2

Leader Falkner Violet Gym Pokémon Stadium 2 Leader and Professor Falkner Oak Violet Gym Pokémon Stadium 2 Reward: None

Types: Normal Flying Held item: PRZCureBerry Pidgeot♂ Lv.50 Double-Edge Normal   --       Sky Attack Flying   --       Steel Wing Steel   --       Mud-Slap Ground   --       Types: Fire Flying Held item: Scope Lens Charizard Lv.50 Flamethrower Fire   --       Fly Flying   --       Earthquake Ground   --       Mud-Slap Ground   --       Types: Normal Flying Held item: Miracle Berry Dodrio Lv.50 Drill Peck Flying   --       Tri Attack Normal   --       Steel Wing Steel   --       Mud-Slap Ground   --       Types: Electric Flying Held item: Bright Powder Zapdos Lv.50 Thunderbolt Electric   --       Drill Peck Flying   --       Sky Attack Flying   --       Mud-Slap Ground   --       Types: Ground Flying Held item: Focus Band Gligar Lv.50 Metal Claw Steel   --       Wing Attack Flying   --       Quick Attack Normal   --       Sludge Bomb Poison   --       Types: Steel Flying Held item: Quick Claw Skarmory♀ Lv.50 Steel Wing Steel   --       Drill Peck Flying   --       Sky Attack Flying   --       Mud-Slap Ground   --

Quotes

Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal

• Before battle

"I'm Falkner, the Violet Pokémon Gym leader! People say you can clip flying-type Pokémon's wings with a jolt of electricity... I won't allow such insults to bird Pokémon! I'll show you the real power of the magnificent bird Pokémon!"

• When defeated

"...Darn! My Dad's cherished bird Pokémon... All right. Take this. It's the official Pokémon League ZephyrBadge."

• After being defeated

"ZephyrBadge raises the attack power of Pokémon. It also enables Pokémon to use Flash, if they have it, anytime. Here--take this too."

"By using a TM, Pokémon will instantly learn a new move. Think before you act--a TM can be used only once. TM31 contains Mud-Slap. It reduces the enemy's accuracy while it causes damage. In other words, it is both defensive and offensive."

"There are other Pokémon Gyms in cities and towns ahead. You should test your skills at these Gyms. I'm going to train hard to become the greatest bird master!"

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

Violet Gym

• Before battle

"I'm Falkner, the Violet City Pokémon Gym Leader! People say you can clip Flying-type Pokémon's wings with a jolt of electricity... I won't allow such insults to bird Pokémon! I'll show you the real power of the magnificent bird Pokémon!"

• After sending out last Pokémon

"The wind is finally with us!"

• During battle

"We can still fly!"

• When defeated

"I understand... I'll bow out gracefully."

• After being defeated

"...For pity's sake! My dad's cherished bird Pokémon... But a defeat is a defeat. All right. Take this official Pokémon League Badge. This one is the Zephyr Badge. With that Badge, Pokémon, including traded Pokémon up to Lv. 20, will obey you without question. It also enables you to use the hidden move Rock Smash anytime outside of battle."

"By using a TM, a Pokémon will instantly learn a new move. Think before you act - a TM can be used only once. TM51 contains Roost. It restores half the max HP."

"There are Pokémon Gyms in cities and towns ahead. Make good use of them! As for your next move... I would suggest Azalea Town."

"There are Pokémon Gyms in cities and towns ahead. You should test your skills at these Gyms. As for your next move... I would suggest Azalea Town. I'm going to train harder to become the greatest Bird Keeper of all!"

Fighting Dojo

• Before battle

"Hi! I've been waiting for you! It's a pleasure to be able to battle you again!"

• After being defeated

"Mmm... It's still a long way to become the best Trainer..."

Pokégear Registering (Celadon Department Store)

"Out of all the Trainers out there, the best Trainer would have to be my dad."

Janine: "Ha! You don't know a thing! The best Trainer in the world is Koga, one of the Elite Four! Namely--my dad!"

"You are mistaken. My dad treats Poké..."

Janine: "Please stop this! Why don't you just admit that my dad is the true Trainer!"

"You were listening, right? You agree my dad is greater, right?"

Yes: "You do? Just as I thought! You know something? I'm sure we'll enjoy talking about my dad! Here is my number! Give me a call Saturday morning if you want to hear about my dad!"'

No: "You don't? I thought you were smarter than that. Oh, well. You'll change your mind eventually."

Janine: "Bah!"

"So, you did change your mind. You now think my dad is greater?"

Pokégear Phone

• Calling you:

"Hey, this is Falkner. How are you doing? The scaffolding in my Gym was in bad shape when you came to battle, eh? Every year, we give the place a thorough scrubbing. It's a challenge. But the bird Pokémon help us out, so we're able to manage."

• Calling him:

"Hello... OK, now I can hear you. Yeah, I'm in top form. Are there Gym Leaders you haven't battled yet? Step up! Get on it!"

"Hello... OK, now I can hear you. Yeah, I'm in top form. Let's see... I'm free Saturday morning usually. Please, give me a call then."

Sprites

File:LeaderFalkner GSC.png	File:FalknerHGSS.gif
Falkner's sprite from Generation II	Falkner's sprite from Generation IV	Falkner's VS sprite from Generation IV	Falkner's artwork from Pokémon Stadium 2

In the anime

Falkner's only anime appearance was in the episode Fighting Flyer with Fire.

When Ash's Pikachu was stolen by Team Rocket, Falkner arrived and rescued it with the help of his Pidgeot. He flew around on a glider, yearning to be as close to Flying Pokémon as he possibly could be. He is usually seen with his Hoothoot on his shoulder.

Falkner has a self-righteous attitude when it comes to Pokémon training, which angered Ash. Falkner also expressed an intense dislike for the assumption many trainers make that Flying-type Pokémon will always lose to Template:Type2s, but proved to be slightly hypocritical as he criticized Ash's poor choice of using Chikorita (a Template:Type2 that is weak to Flying-types) in their match.

The Violet Gym itself is a very tall, spiral-shaped building. Falkner conducts his matches on the roof of the Gym, accompanied by many students who chant in unison during his battles.

Ash was able to win the Zephyr Badge, despite his Charizard's wing being severely injured during the match.

Pokémon

		Hoothoot
		Hoothoot was the first Pokémon Falkner used in his battle with Ash. Hoothoot defeated Chikorita rather easily with a few Fly, Peck, and Tackle attacks, but couldn't hit Pikachu due to its Agility. Eventually it lost to Pikachu's Thunderbolt and Quick Attack.
Debut	Fighting Flyer with Fire
Voice actors
Japanese	Yuji Ueda
English	Yuji Ueda

		Dodrio
		Dodrio was the second Pokémon Falkner sent out to battle Ash's Pikachu. At first Dodrio seemed to have the upper hand with its Agility, Fury Attack, and Drill Peck. When Pikachu tried to attack, Falkner ordered Dodrio to Fly, much to Ash's surprise - and Dodrio jumped high in the air. Ash then decided to use that method himself, and ordered Pikachu to dodge Dodrio's Tri Attack by jumping to the air. From above, Pikachu used Thunder, winning the round.
Debut	Fighting Flyer with Fire

		Pidgeot
		Main article: Falkner's Pidgeot Ash first saw Pidgeot before the battle, when Falkner used it to get rid of Team Rocket. In their battle, Pidgeot defeated Pikachu with a single Whirlwind attack, but then lost to Charizard after a long battle.
Debut	Fighting Flyer with Fire
Voice actors
Japanese	Megumi Hayashibara
English	Megumi Hayashibara

Voice actors

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Falkner is a part-time police officer, first seen in Elekid Incorporated in uniform. Falkner is the arresting officer at the scene after Silver stole Totodile from Professor Elm's laboratory, pinning the burnt yard on Gold. Gold, however, cooperates with Falkner (under threat of interrogation and being arrested) when it is revealed he is the only one to have seen Silver's face, although Gold totally blows it on purpose so he could go after Silver himself. Falkner offers Gold and Joey a place to stay for the night at the police station in Cherrygrove City, but Gold turns it down and runs off with Joey in tow.

Falkner properly introduces himself in Sunkern Treasure when they meet once again. He is revealed not yet to be the Violet Gym Leader, but is training his team in attempt to acquire the position his father (the previous Gym Leader) left behind mysteriously; this is Falkner's dream. Skarmory, a foe Falkner says he's encountered before, then attacks the duo, having been said to be terrorizing the area and is currently attacking herds of Sunkern. Falkner sends Noctowl and Pidgeotto to attack it, but notes they aren't delivering much damage. Gold helps Falkner by sending out his freshly caught Sunbo to bounce Exbo into range of the Skarmory, dealing a heavy blow using Ember. Falkner then catches it, adding it to his team, and invites Gold to train with him. Gold declines the offer, as he has Silver to catch, but they makes plans to meet later once their objectives are met. In this chapter, Bill is also on his way to find Falkner, to tell him a date for his Gym Leader qualification exam has been set.

Falkner in the HGSS chapter

In VS. Ariados, it is revealed Falkner passed the Gym Leader exam.

During VS. Raikou and Entei (Part 1) and (Part 2), Falkner is out training Skarmory and Noctowl when he comes across a Bird Keeper poaching. A rainstorm suddenly begins, caused by Raikou's presence. Entei is also there, and Falkner is forced to save the Bird Keeper from being attacked by the duo, escaping on Skarmory. As they fly, the pair of Beasts give chase, and Falkner considers Suicune's recent activity challenging Gym Leaders, and deduces the other two are doing the same. He issues a challenge to them, using Skarmory. Raikou and Entei attack two-on-one, pinning them between fire and electricity. Once they attack at the same time, however, Skarmory uses Agility to dodge as Spark and Fire Blast collide and cancels each other out. Falkner attempts capturing both, but Suicune appears to prevent the Poké Balls from operating with BubbleBeam.

The Bird Keeper suggests escaping, but Falkner isn't interested, instead turning to attack Suicune, who shatters Skarmory's wing. In one last attempt, Falkner tries to capture Suicune, but Raikou and Entei return the previous favor by destroying the Poké Balls. Skarmory begins to plummet to earth. However, Suicune saves the three of them, before the Beast trio flee. With their escape, Falkner laments on how he wouldn't have defeated Raikou and Entei even without Suicune's interference, and formally arrests the Bird Keeper under suspicion of poaching.

Falkner's father is speculated to be Wayne. He also uses Poké Balls that have been turned into boomerangs by attaching Skarmory's shed feathers to their sides.

Pokémon

This listing is of Falkner's Pokémon in the Pokémon Adventures manga.

Pidgeot

Noctowl

Skarmory

In the TCG

This listing is of cards mentioning or featuring Falkner or his Pokémon in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Name	Type	Level	Rarity	Set	Set no.
Falkner's Pidgeot		-		Pokémon VS (no English release)	1/141
Falkner's Fearow		-		Pokémon VS (no English release)	2/141
Falkner's Farfetch'd		-		Pokémon VS (no English release)	3/141
Falkner's Dodrio		-		Pokémon VS (no English release)	4/141
Falkner's Togetic		-		Pokémon VS (no English release)	5/141
Falkner's Delibird		-		Pokémon VS (no English release)	6/141
Falkner's Skarmory		-	H	Pokémon VS (no English release)	7/141
Falkner's TM 01	-	-		Pokémon VS (no English release)	103/141
Falkner's TM 02	-	-		Pokémon VS (no English release)	104/141

Trivia

• His Japanese Leader title is 華麗なる飛行ポケモン使い.
• Falkner is the only Gym Leader, besides Brock in Generation I, who gives out a TM that contains a move (Mud-Slap) that is not of his Gym's specialty type.
  • However, both of his Pokémon in Generation II can learn Mud-Slap.
  • In Generation IV, however, he gives the player TM51, Roost.
• Falkner's Pokémon are the lowest level of any Gym Leader. His level 7 and 9 (9 and 13 in Generation IV) Pokémon include an underleveled Pidgeotto that is unobtainable in games other than Pokémon HeartGold, SoulSilver, and Yellow.
• Falkner is the only Gym Leader from either Kanto or Johto to only use Pokémon of his Gym's specialty type, even in the Pokémon Stadium series.
• Falkner's updated Sugimori artwork depicts him in a pose very similar to that of his Generation II sprite.
• Falkner appears as an opponent in Pokémon Puzzle Challenge. He uses a Pidgey to battle.
• Falkner, in Generation IV, became the first Gym Leader that the player encounters first to give out a TM that is incapable of inflicting any damage.
• Falkner is the only male Gym Leader that specializes in Flying-type Pokémon.

Names

External links

• Hayato's Profile on Pokeani (Japanese)
• Master of the Sky, the fanlisting for Falkner

Gym Leaders of the Johto region
Violet Gym Falkner	Azalea Gym Bugsy	Goldenrod Gym Whitney	Ecruteak Gym Morty
Cianwood Gym Chuck	Olivine Gym Jasmine	Mahogany Gym Pryce	Blackthorn Gym Clair

This game character article is part of Project CharacterDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each character found in the Pokémon games.