Pokémon Champion
A Pokémon Champion (Japanese: チャンピオン Champion) or Pokémon League Champion (Japanese: リーグ優勝者 League 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
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 trainer class given for the Trainer who last defeated the Elite Four and the previous Pokémon Champion. Each Champion always has a full party of six tough Pokémon to test their opponents' strength. If the opponent cannot defeat the Champion, just like the Elite Four, they are sent back to the Pokémon League and must start over. Kanto and Johto share a Champion, while other regions have their own.
Since in every main series game the player goes on to defeat the standing Champion, every player character could be considered a Champion. However, for players, becoming the Champion 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.
The following are the Champions who the player battles in the games:
| Indigo and Johto Leagues | Hoenn League | Sinnoh League | Unova League | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gen. I and III | Gen. II and IV | Ruby and Sapphire | Emerald | ||
| Blue | Lance | Steven | Wallace | Cynthia | Alder |
| File:FL Blue.png | File:LanceHGSS.gif | File:RS Steven.png | File:E-Wallace.png | File:CynthiaPlatinum.gif | 
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In the anime
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This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. |
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.
The following are the Champions known in the anime:
In the manga
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This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. |
Pokémon Adventures
In the Pokémon Adventures manga, the Champion is the winner of an elimination tournament held at the Indigo Plateau. Although the Elite Four appear in this manga, it is unclear whether they have any connection to the Champion as they do in the games.
The following are the known Champions 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
- Every Champion from the games has appeared in the anime (if one counts Gary in Blue's place).
- The player has always met the Champion before challenging the Elite Four.
- In HeartGold and SoulSilver, every Champion from previous paired versions (Blue, Lance, Steven and Cynthia) appears.
- A Gym Leader in the French versions is called Champion, while the Champion is called maître. Maître means master, while Champion simply means champion.
- Every Champion except for Blue has shared their battle theme with another Trainer. Lance's theme is shared with Red when the player battles him at Mt. Silver. Steven's theme is given to Wallace after the latter becomes Champion in Emerald. Cynthia's theme is used against Palmer in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. Finally, Alder's theme is used during the battle against Ingo and Emmet, the Subway Bosses.
- In Black and White, Cynthia tells the player that once every few years, the Champions from all the regions come together and battle to find the strongest among them.
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 |
| 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) |
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The Pokémon League | 
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|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
