Champion

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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.

Although the player character is always introduced to the Champion before challenging the Elite Four, there is often nothing to suggest their status, so it is often a "surprise" to find out that that person is the Champion.

After becoming Champion, the player returns home, rather than staying at the Pokémon League to fight challengers. The previous Champion keeps his/her position. This may be a decision of the player character and his/her family rather than official Pokémon League rules, as Champion Blue also keeps his position.

List of champions

Kanto/Johto

Kanto/Johto Champion Sprites Blue's Champion sprite from Red and Blue Blue's Champion sprite from Yellow Lance's sprite from Gold, Silver, and Crystal Blue's Champion sprite from FireRed and LeafGreen Lance's sprite from HeartGold and SoulSilver

Hoenn

Hoenn Champion Sprites Steven's sprite from Ruby and Sapphire Wallace's sprite from Emerald

Sinnoh

Sinnoh Champion Sprites Cynthia's sprite from Diamond and Pearl Cynthia's sprite from Platinum

Trivia

• Unlike the Elite Four, all five Champions have appeared in the anime at some point (Gary counting in Blue's place).
• As of Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, all the Champions (excluding Wallace) own at at least one pseudo-legendary Pokémon at some point in their respective games, and have them all amongst themselves (Lance has Dragonite, Salamence, and Garchomp in the rematch against him in HeartGold and SoulSilver, Steven has a Metagross in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, and Blue has a Tyranitar in the rematch against him in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen). Cynthia has a Garchomp as well in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum.
• In HeartGold and SoulSilver, all champions from paired versions appear. Blue, the Champion from Pokémon Red and Green, is the Viridian Gym Leader, Lance from Pokémon Gold and Silver is of course the current Indigo Plateau Champion, Steven from Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire alerts the player to Latias/Latios's roaming and later gives the player a Hoenn starter, and Cynthia from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl appears in the Shinto 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.

In other languages

• French: Maitre
• German: Champ
• Italian: Campione
• Korean: 챔피언 (Champion)
• Spanish: Campeón

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.