Pokémon Champion
A Pokémon Champion or Pokémon League Champion (Japanese: リーグ優勝者 League champion; チャンピオン Champion) is the highest known level of rank for a Pokémon Trainer. It usually refers to a Trainer who has completed a Pokémon League by collecting all the necessary badges, and either winning a regional Pokémon tournament or defeating the Elite Four and the previous Pokémon Champion (if there is one). There is usually only one Pokémon Champion per region at a time. It is assumed that the Champion must defend their title against challengers, although this is never explicitly stated.
In the games, Kanto and Johto share a League Champion, while the other regions with a Pokémon League have their own.
Players who become the Pokémon Champion will notice that it is mostly a symbolic honor, as they are unable to battle challengers or take up any other league duties. In addition, the former Champion will still remain at the Pokémon League and can be battled again even after being deposed.
In the games
A Champion (Japanese: チャンピオン Champion) is a type of Pokémon Trainer that first debuted in the Generation I games. It is the name given for the Trainer who last defeated the Elite Four and the previous Pokémon Champion.
After becoming Champion, the player returns home, rather than staying at the Pokémon League to fight challengers, and the previous Champion keeps the position; however, this may not be official Pokémon League rules, as Champion Blue keeps his position.
Sprites
Indigo
| File:RBBlue.png | File:YellowChampionBlue.png | File:LanceGSCsprite.png | File:FL Blue.png | File:LanceHGSS.gif |
| Blue's Champion sprite from Red and Blue |
Blue's Champion sprite from Yellow |
Lance's sprite from Gold and Silver, and Crystal |
Blue's Champion sprite from FireRed and LeafGreen |
Lance's sprite from HeartGold and SoulSilver |
Hoenn
| File:RS Steven.png | File:E-Wallace.png |
| Steven's sprite from Ruby and Sapphire |
Wallace's sprite from Emerald |
Sinnoh
| File:DP Shirona.png | File:CynthiaPlatinum.gif |
| Cynthia's sprite from Diamond and Pearl |
Cynthia's sprite from Platinum |
Unova
| style="border-radius: 80px; -moz-border-radius: 80px; -webkit-border-radius: 80px; -khtml-border-radius: 80px; -icab-border-radius: 80px; -o-border-radius: 80px; border: 2px solid #Template:Adeku color dark; background: #Template:Adeku color light; width:80px"| File:Spr BW Adeku.png |
| Adeku's sprite from Black and White |
In the anime
The path to becoming Champion differs between the anime and the games. In the anime, instead of fighting the Elite Four, there is a tournament among accomplished Trainers; however, Lucian mentioned that the winner of the Sinnoh League has the opportunity to battle the Elite Four and their Champion. Even an Elite Four member can usurp the Champion by battling them.
In the manga
List of Champions
In the games
| Name | Hometown | League |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | Pallet Town | Indigo League |
| Lance | Blackthorn City | Indigo League and Johto League |
| Steven Stone | Mossdeep City | Hoenn League |
| Wallace | Sootopolis City | Hoenn League |
| Cynthia | Celestic Town | Sinnoh League |
| Adeku | Unova League | |
| The player | Pallet Town, New Bark Town, Littleroot Town, Twinleaf Town or Nuvema Town (depending) |
All games, after defeating the previous Champion |
In the anime
In the manga
In the Pokémon Adventures manga
| Name | Hometown | League |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Pallet Town | Ninth Tri-Annual Pokémon League competition |
| Professor Oak | Pallet Town | First Tri-Annual Pokémon League competion |
| Wallace | Sootopolis City | Hoenn League |
| Steven Stone | Hoenn League |
Trivia
- The player is always introduced to the Champion before challenging the Elite Four.
- In HeartGold and SoulSilver, all Champions from previous paired versions appear. Blue, the Champion from Red and Green, Red and Blue and FireRed and LeafGreen, is the Viridian Gym Leader, Lance from Gold and Silver is of course the current Indigo Plateau Champion, Steven from Ruby and Sapphire alerts the player to Latias/Latios roaming and later gives the player a Hoenn starter Pokémon, and Cynthia from Diamond and Pearl appears in the Sinjoh Ruins. Only Wallace does not appear; however, he was Champion only in a third version (Emerald), while all others aside from Steven were Champions in all games of their region.
- Red, although not a Champion at the time, also appears and can be fought at Mt. Silver. He is the only player character Champion to appear.
- The Gym Leaders in the French versions are called Champions, while the Champion is called maitre. Maitre means master, while Champion simply means champion.
In other languages
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| Pokémon Champions | |
|---|---|
| Core series | Blue • Lance • Red • Steven • Wallace • Cynthia • Alder • Iris • Diantha • Trace • Leon • Mustard • Peony • Nemona • Geeta • Kieran • Drayton • Most player characters |
| Masters EX | Blue • Lance • Red • Steven • Cynthia • Alder • Iris • Diantha • Leon • Scottie • Bettie • Ash • Nemona • Geeta • Calem • Serena • Marnie • Bede • Hop • Leaf • Nate • Rosa • Silver |
| Other spin-offs |
Ronald (TCG GB) • Mark (TCG GB) • Mint (TCG GB) • Glenn (Pokkén) |
| Anime | Lance • Cynthia • Wallace • Alder • Diantha • Steven • Ash Ketchum • Leon • Iris • Nemona • Geeta |
| Other animation | Blue (Origins) • Red (Origins) • Calem (Generations) • Edgar Troy (PttP) • Ava (PttP) |
| Adventures | Professor Oak • Red • Sidney • Phoebe • Glacia • Drake • Steven • Wallace • Cynthia • Alder • Iris • Diantha • Leon • Mustard • Peony • Nemona |
| Other manga | Shigeru (Zensho) • Satoshi (Zensho) • Rald (Battle Frontier) |
|
The Pokémon League | 
| |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation Trainer • Battle • Gym Leaders Gyms • Badges • Referee Championship matches Elite Four • Orange League Champion League Pokémon League Conferences Indigo • Silver • Ever Grande • Lily of the Valley Vertress • Lumiose • Manalo |
Regional Pokémon Leagues Indigo • Orange* • Johto • Hoenn • Sinnoh Unova • Kalos • Alola • Galar • Paldea Areas of jurisdiction Pokémon League Reception Gate • Hall of Fame Palace of Victory • Cerulean Cave Others Pokémon Association • PIA World Coronation Series (Masters Eight Tournament) | ||
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This Trainer Class article is part of Project CharacterDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each character found in the Pokémon games. |
