Pokémon Trainer
- For the character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl referred to as "Pokémon Trainer," see Red (game)#In the Super Smash Bros. Series.
- "Trainer" redirects here. For the type of Pokémon Trading Card Game card, see Trainer card.
A Pokémon Trainer (Japanese: ポケモントレーナー Pokémon Trainer) is a person who catches, trains, cares for and battles with Pokémon. The majority of people within the known Pokémon world are Trainers.
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Background
Many Trainers leave home at about the age of ten, sometimes accompanied with a starter Pokémon obtained from a Pokémon professor, such as Oak. Many will travel around one or more regions, doing such things as gathering information for a Pokédex, perfecting their technique, collecting badges, and working to become a Pokémon Master. No matter what their specialties or aims, there is one code that they all follow - when two Trainers make eye contact, they must have a battle.
Pokémon Trainers come in all sorts of classes: Youngsters tend to stay close to home, and Bug Catchers swarm about the Bug-filled forests; Hikers traverse mountains and caves, Fishermen are rarely far from water, and Ace Trainers aspire to compete in the Pokémon League. A Trainer's class may reflect their Pokémon of choice, the areas they prefer, their technique, and their level of skill; however, even within each class, Trainers may vary greatly.
Many towns have a Gym run by a strong and experienced Trainer known as a Gym Leader. Other Trainers may challenge a Gym Leader, and if the Gym Leader is defeated in battle, he or she awards them a Pokémon League badge. However, in the Pokémon anime, the Gym Leader may award the Trainer a badge for other reasons, since the badge is a symbol of the Trainer's skill. For example, Ash Ketchum won several of his early badges by refusing to take an unfair advantage or going out of his way to save a Gym, which proved himself as an exceptional Trainer outside of battle.
Above the level of Gym Leaders are the Elite Four Trainers and Pokémon League Champion. There are also a special class of Trainers known as the Frontier Brains, but they are unique to Pokémon Emerald, Pokémon Platinum, and Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver and part of a privately owned institution known as the Battle Frontier, and so may not be recognized by the League. These Trainers are considered the cream of the crop, and can only be challenged if a Trainer has met requirements such as winning eight badges. Should a Trainer defeat other Trainers at this level, it is not uncommon for him or her to be offered a place in these high ranks.
However, just as there are many Trainers with noble goals and lawful methods, there are also corrupt Trainers, including a number of villainous teams. These Trainers often use powerful Pokémon to take what they want and further their plans.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
- Main article: Red (game)
There is a playable character called "Pokémon Trainer" in the game Super Smash Bros. Brawl. His appearance is based on Red's Generation III design, and he uses members of the evolution families of the Kanto starters to battle against the others.
As a Trainer class
In the games, Pokémon Trainer (rendered as "PKMN Trainer") is used as the Trainer class for certain storyline characters. These opponents tend to be the most powerful non-arena trainers the player will face, notably including the rivals of all generations; Red from Pokémon Gold and Silver, Crystal, and HeartGold and SoulSilver, Steven from Pokémon Emerald, and Cynthia from Black and White. In link battles, all players have this Trainer class.
Trivia
- For Gettin' Twiggy With It!, Professor Oak's lecture is about the Pokémon Trainer. He writes this Pokémon senryū about it: さあ10さい ぼくもわたしも トレーナー Sā jussai, boku mo watashi mo torēnā. "Ah, the age 10; we will all be Trainers."
- Even though it is stated in the anime that a person may not become a Trainer until the age of 10, there are many Trainers in other media that are obviously below the minimum age, such as the Trainer classes Twins, Tuber, and Preschooler. Preschooler Hellen emphasizes the fact that she is four years old.
In other languages
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See also
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The Pokémon League | 
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| Participation Pokémon Trainer • Pokémon battle Gym Leaders • Gyms • Badges Frontier Brains • Symbols • Prints Championship Matches Elite Four • Orange League Battle Frontiers Hoenn and Kanto • Sinnoh and Johto |
Pokémon League Conferences Indigo • Silver • Ever Grande • Lily of the Valley Pokémon League Locations Indigo Plateau • Mt. Silver* • Ever Grande City Pokémon League*/Lily of the Valley Island* • Pokémon League Regional Pokémon Leagues Indigo • Orange • Johto Hoenn • Sinnoh • Unova | ||
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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. |
