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'''Villainous teams''' (English: Team ~; Japanese: -団 ''-dan'') are [[wp:Organized crime|criminal organizations]] which form the core of the storyline of [[Pokémon games]].There are seven as of [[Generation IV]]: [[Team Rocket]], found in [[Generation I]], [[Generation II]] and the Generation III remakes; [[Team Aqua]] and [[Team Magma]], found in the [[Generation III]] main games; [[Cipher]] and [[Team Snagem]], found in the [[GameCube]] games; [[Team Galactic]], found in the [[Generation IV]] main games; and the [[Go-Rock Squad]], of [[Pokémon Ranger]]. Whatever their goals are in their respective games, the one thing they all have in common is that they acheive their results through the misuse of Pokémon.

=Comparisons=

Whereas [[Team Rocket]] has vague goals and is [[wp:Mafia|Mafia-like]] (or perhaps [[wp:Yakuza|Yakuza-like]], considering the Japanese background), Team Aqua and Team Magma have clear goals and are [[wp:Cult|cult-like]], fanatically believing that achieving their goals will bring about the best interests of the people of the world. Cipher and Team Snagem work together to steal Pokémon from others and create [[Shadow Pokémon]] from them, while the leader of Team Galactic wishes to recreate the universe in his image with the powers of {{p|Dialga}} or {{p|Palkia}}. The Go-Rock Squad plan to take over the Pokémon Rangers by capturing powerful Pokémon, making them cause disasters, then commanding the Pokémon to stop by using Stylers so they will be regarded as Heroes. Each has an iconic leader - [[Giovanni]] (later missing), [[Archie]], [[Maxie]], [[Evice]] and [[Greevil]], [[Gonzap]], [[Cyrus]], and [[Gordor]] respectively. 

Team Rocket had extensive presence in [[Generation I]], known activities include running the [[Celadon Game Corner]], invading [[Silph Co.]], and murdering at least one Pokémon. Even in the [[Pokémon anime|anime]], where law enforcement officers are clearly present, Team Rocket's activities continue unhindered, as if they were above the law. (Analysis?)

In contrast, [[Team Aqua]] and [[Team Magma]]'s activities are at extremes: simple theft: stealing [[Peeko|a Pokémon]], a meteorite, and one submarine; and causing catastrophes: halting the activity of [[Mt. Chimney|a volcano]] and causing droughts and heavy rains by awakening {{p|Groudon}} and {{p|Kyogre}}, while [[Cipher]] steals countless Pokémon and closes their hearts artificially to make them into fighting machines.

Similarly to Team Rocket, [[Team Galactic]] appears to run the [[Veilstone Game Corner]]. However, unlike the other teams, Team Galactic has several facilites. A warehouse and [[Galactic Veilstone Building]] reside in [[Veilstone City]], and the [[Galactic Eterna Building]] is located at [[Eterna City]]. Team Galactic is far more successful than the other teams in accomplishing their goals, as they have captured {{p|Uxie}}, {{p|Mesprit}}, and {{p|Azelf}}, created the [[Red Chain]], and temporarily capture {{p|Dialga}} or {{p|Palkia}} until the player character and the [[lake trio]] foils them.

The above refers to the games; however, there is a darker interpretation of the teams in the manga [[Pokémon Special]].

=Trademark characteristics=

==[[Team Rocket]]==
They wear black costumes and have a red "R" as their crest. Many variations of the costume have been seen. Their leader is [[Giovanni]].
===In the games===
[[Giovanni]] was the leader of the [[Viridian City]] Gym until [[Blue (game)|Blue]] took over.

===In the anime===
Team Rocket has appeared in almost every episode since [[EP002|the second]], usually as the bumbling trio [[Jessie]], [[James]], and [[Meowth (Team Rocket)|Meowth]], though at times [[Giovanni]] as well as other members will appear.

===In the manga===

==[[Team Aqua]]==
They wear blue costumes that look like pirate outfits. They have an anchor-looking "A" as their crest. Their leader is [[Archie]]. Team Aqua tries to expand the ocean and awaken {{p|Kyogre}}.
===In the games===
Team Aqua are the main antagonists of [[Pokémon Sapphire|Sapphire]] and [[Pokémon Emerald|Emerald]], but they are heroes in [[Pokémon Ruby|Ruby]].

===In the anime===
===In the manga===

==[[Team Magma]]==
They wear red jumpsuit outfits, which have been variously interpreted to look like [[wp:Ninja|Ninja]] costumes or an appearance of the [[wp:Devil|Devil]]. They have a stylized "M", appearing like a volcano, as their team's signature crest. Their leader is [[Maxie]].  Team Magma attempts to wake {{p|Groudon}} and expand the land area of the world.

===In the games===
Team Magma are the antagonists in Ruby and Emerald, and are heros in Sapphire.
===In the anime===
===In the manga===

==[[Cipher]]==
===In the games===
In [[Pokémon Colosseum]] and [[Pokémon XD]] this group aims to turn every Pokémon in the world into [[Shadow Pokémon]].

===In the anime===
Due to the [[Orre]] region not appearing at all in the anime, everything associated with it does not appear as well. Due to the connection between [[Shadow Pokémon]] and [[Vicious]]'s [[Dark Ball]]s, it would not be surprising if this team were based off of him.

===In the manga===

==[[Team Snagem]]==
===In the games===
In Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD this team tries to steal every Pokémon in the world using their special device, the [[Snag Machine]].
===In the anime===
===In the manga===

==[[Team Galactic]]==
Galactic Grunts wear black and white jumpsuits that vaguely resemble spacesuits and wear their hair in teal bowl cuts. Their leader is [[Cyrus]], who wishes to awaken {{p|Dialga}} or {{p|Palkia}} in order to destroy the universe and rebuild it in his image. Their team's crest is a stylized letter "G" (Possibly to make it resemble a spiral galaxy). Whereas the other teams usually have large logos on their uniforms, Team Galatic's logos are small, being barely visible on their battle sprites.
===In the games===
In [[Pokémon Diamond and Pearl]], this team's [[Cyrus|leader]] wishes to remake the universe in his image with the powers of {{p|Dialga}} and {{p|Palkia}}.

===In the anime===
[[Saturn]] is the only one, along with two grunts, of the team that appears so far. They first appeared in [[DP036|A Secret Sphere of Influence!]], though it was just a brief cameo at the end of the episode. Here, they commishined Team Rocket to steal the Adamant Orb and frame [[Nando]] for the crime. At the end, they commented that they did a lousy job at it. This was not revealed until their next appearance, [[DP060]], in which Saturn's VA is revealed. He tries to locate the Unown and control them using a cube with an Arceus pattern. His Bronzor was revealed in this episode.

===In the manga===

==[[Go-Rock Squad]]==
===In the games===
In [[Pokémon Ranger]], this team attempts to capture the [[legendary beasts]] with their own version of the [[Capture Styler]].

===In the anime===

===In the manga===

[[Category:Anime characters]]
[[Category:Game characters]]