View source for Non-player character

[[File:Lets Go Pikachu Eevee Professor Oak.png|thumb|100px|The first NPC introduced in the Pokémon series, Pallet Town's Professor Oak]]

A '''non-player character''' (commonly abbreviated as '''NPC''') is a character in a {{pkmn|games|Pokémon game}} whose actions cannot be controlled by the person operating the handheld or console. The direct opposite of an NPC is the [[player character]].

==Functions of non-player characters==
Non-player characters are typically present in [[core series]] games to further the progress of the player. Their duties vary. Early in the games they tend to offer advice for new players, similar to the [[Trainer Tips]] signage. Later in the game, as the player is more experienced, this function is less prominent, however at this point there still remain characters who encourage or hint at a visit to a certain area to fulfill a given task.

NPCs also supply the player with free [[item]]s once, or with Pokémon in an [[in-game trade]] or as [[gift Pokémon|gifts]]. Sometimes, these cannot be received in another manner without trading. Several NPCs hand out items on a daily basis, such as the [[Berry Master]]s of [[Hoenn]] and [[Sinnoh]].

The final typical variety of non-player characters is of those who compete or battle with the player, including [[villainous team]]s, the player's [[rival]](s), [[Gym Leader]]s, and the [[Elite Four]]. This interaction may occur in {{pkmn|Contest}}s or {{pkmn|Musical}}s; or {{pkmn|battle}}s in [[route]]s between cities, [[Gym]]s, the [[Pokémon League]], or [[Battle Tower]]s, for example. 

In the [[core series]] games, many non-battling NPCs are typically characterized by their tendency to move one step in a random direction every few moments.

==Important non-player characters==
===Kanto===
* '''[[Professor Oak]]''' - Professor Oak works in [[Professor Oak's Laboratory|his laboratory]] in [[Pallet Town]], giving away [[starter Pokémon]] to first time Trainers. He gives {{ga|Red}}, {{ga|Blue}}, and {{ga|Leaf}} their starter Pokémon in {{game5|Red|Blue|Yellow|FireRed|LeafGreen}} as well as giving a starter to {{ga|Chase}}, {{ga|Elaine}}, and {{ga|Trace}} in [[Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!]]. He is an idol to many Trainers and researchers, including [[Professor Elm]], and always plays an important supporting role in the many games that he appears in.

* '''{{ga|Blue}}''' - Blue is the grandson of [[Professor Oak]] and is the main character's [[rival]] in the [[Generation I]] games and [[Generation III]] remakes. Blue becomes the [[Pokémon Champion]] but is quickly defeated by {{ga|Red}}{{sup/1|RB}}{{sup/1|Y}}{{sup/3|FRLG}}/{{ga|Leaf}}{{sup/3|FRLG}}, the [[player character|player's character]]. He is notable for being cocky and arrogant whenever the player's character encounters him; after losing, his typical way to bid goodbye is "Smell ya later!" In [[Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!]], despite moving away from Pallet Town, he stays around to help Professor Oak, and occasionally helps {{ga|Chase}}/{{ga|Elaine}} to beat Team Rocket.{{sup/7|PE}} After Giovanni has been beaten by {{ga|Red}}{{sup/2|GSC}}<sup>/</sup>{{sup/4|HGSS}} or {{ga|Chase}}/{{ga|Elaine}}{{sup/7|PE}}, Blue later takes over as the [[Viridian Gym]] [[Gym Leader|Leader]].

* '''[[Bill]]''' - Bill is a talented and famous inventor. He invented the original [[Pokémon Storage System]] and [[Time Capsule]]. In {{game2|Red|Blue|Yellow}}, Bill can be found at the [[Sea Cottage]], initially performing an experiment on Pokémon teleportation. He will also give away an [[S.S. Ticket]] so that the player can board the [[S.S. Anne]].

* '''{{ga|Trace}}''' - Trace is a childhood friend and rival of the {{player}} in [[Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!]]. A very cheerful person with a lot of enthusiasm, though is a bit cowardly when he notices a [[Ghost (literal)|actual ghost]]. He is shown to have a lot of respect to trainers, even if he loses. 

===Johto===
* '''[[Professor Elm]]''' - Professor Elm is the resident [[Pokémon Professor]] of [[New Bark Town]] in [[Johto]]. Saying so himself, Professor Elm studies unusual Pokémon abilities. He also specializes in [[Pokémon breeding]], and is credited with the discovery of [[Pokémon Egg]]s. Elm gives one of the three [[starter Pokémon]] of Johto—{{p|Chikorita}}, {{p|Cyndaquil}}, and {{p|Totodile}}—to the player so that they will have an easier time of getting to [[Mr. Pokémon]]'s house.

* '''{{ga|Silver}}''' - Silver's first appearance was when he was seen lurking near a window to the Elm Pokémon Laboratory; he later broke in, stealing a Pokémon. He later used this Pokémon to battle Ethan/Kris/Lyra, doing this many times as they journeyed through Johto. This is not the only Pokémon he has stolen, as he also stole a {{p|Sneasel}} from a man in [[Cianwood City]], and uses it in battle for the rest of the game.

* '''[[Eusine]]''' - Eusine appears in {{game|Crystal}} and their enhanced remakes {{game|HeartGold and SoulSilver|s}}. He is first seen researching the [[Burned Tower]], together with [[Morty]]. Later, he battles the {{player}} in [[Cianwood City]] after seeing {{p|Suicune}} escaping from the town, hoping that by battling the player he will earn Suicune's respect as a Trainer. After Suicune has been captured, he returns to his hometown, [[Celadon City]], and can be found in Celadon [[Pokémon Center]] waiting for the player to catch all three [[legendary beasts]].

* '''{{ga|Ethan}}/{{ga|Lyra}}''' - {{tt|Ethan/Lyra|Ethan is the NPC if Lyra is the player character, and vice versa}} appears as the {{player}}'s neighbor and teach the player how to catch Pokémon.

===Hoenn===
* '''[[Professor Birch]]''' - Professor Birch distributes [[Pokédex]]es and one of the three [[starter Pokémon]] of Hoenn: {{p|Treecko}}, {{p|Torchic}}, and {{p|Mudkip}}, to aspiring Hoenn Trainers in the [[Generation III]] and [[Generation VI]] games. In addition, after Trainers complete the [[List of Pokémon by Hoenn Pokédex number (Generation III)|Hoenn Pokédex]] in {{game|Emerald}}, he will give them one of the three starter Pokémon of [[Johto]]: {{p|Chikorita}}, {{p|Cyndaquil}}, and {{p|Totodile}}. In {{g|Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire}}, after various story objectives have been met, he will give the player one of the Johto, [[Unova]] and [[Sinnoh]] starters. He is known to be more outgoing than the other Pokémon Professors, and often his research takes him outdoors. His field of study is primarily how Pokémon behave in the wild.

* '''{{ga|Brendan}}/{{ga|May}}''' - {{tt|Brendan/May|depending on the player's gender}} is the original rival in the [[Hoenn]] games. They are the son or daughter of Professor Birch, and primarily assist in his research.

* '''[[Wally]]''' - Wally is a sick young boy who asks [[Norman]], the [[Petalburg City|Petalburg]] [[Gym Leader]], to help him catch a Pokémon before he moves to [[Verdanturf Town]] to live with his aunt and uncle. [[Norman]] instructed his child, the {{player}}, to assist Wally, and loaned Wally a {{p|Zigzagoon}}. Using this, Wally was able to capture a {{p|Ralts}}. Wally eventually runs away from home and challenges the player at the end of {{ho|Victory Road}} in [[Ever Grande City]], seemingly totally recovered from his illness. He remains there, and it is possible to fight him several times per day. In {{g|Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire}} he battles the player once they have achieved a 50 battle streak at the [[Battle Maison Replica|Battle Maison]], and can be battled there every day successively.

* '''[[Scott]]''' - Scott appears throughout {{game|Emerald}} in various locations in [[Hoenn]], where he can be talked to by the player. He appears in [[Petalburg City]] after [[Wally]] catches his first Pokémon, [[Pokémon Trainers' School]], before beating [[Roxanne]], [[Slateport City]] near the [[Battle Tent]], and several other locations. When the player first arrives at the {{gdis|Battle Frontier|III}}, Scott will award them with 1[[Battle Point|BP]] for each time they spoke.

* '''[[Mr. Briney]]''' - Mr. Briney is first seen near the [[Rusturf Tunnel]], asking the {{player}} to recover his {{p|Wingull}}, [[Peeko]], from a [[Team Aqua]] or [[Team Magma]] Grunt. Once Peeko is rescued and returned to Mr. Briney, he will offer to give the protagonist rides in his boat to Dewford Town and Slateport City until they gain the Badge from [[Norman|their father]]. He later becomes the captain of the [[S.S. Tidal]]. His house is located on {{rt|104|Hoenn}}.

* '''[[Mr. Stone]]''' - Mr. Stone is the president of the [[Devon Corporation]], and is the father of [[Steven Stone]]. After recovering the [[Devon Parts|Devon Goods/Parts]] from either a member of [[Team Aqua]] or [[Team Magma]], he gives the main character a [[PokéNav]]{{sup/3|RSE}}/{{DL|PokéNav Plus|BuzzNav}}{{sup/6|ORAS}} and asks them to deliver a [[letter]] to {{Steven}} in [[Dewford Town]]. Once the letter is delivered, he will give the player an [[Exp. Share]]{{sup/3|RSE}}. He assists the player and Steven during the [[Delta Episode]] post-game storyline{{sup/6|ORAS}}.

* '''[[Sasha]]''' - In the [[Generation III]] games, Sasha lives in a house at the South End of [[Mauville City]]. Upon speaking to her, Sasha will express that she longs for a bike so that she may travel to [[Slateport City]] and buy Harbor Mail. If the player decides to bring said Mail to her, she will gladly trade it for a Coin Case which the Player can then use to play the games in the {{main|Mauville Game Corner}}. In {{g|Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire}}, as there is no Game Corner, there was no need to include Sasha, so she is nowhere to be found. It is believed in this world that she was able to get the Bike she wanted, and set out on her own adventure.

===Sinnoh===
* '''[[Professor Rowan]]''' - Professor Rowan works in [[Sandgem Town]] with {{ga|Dawn}}/{{ga|Lucas}} and their family. This makes him the only Professor from the handheld games who does not live in the player's hometown. He left to go to [[Kanto]] to study Pokémon with [[Professor Oak]] for four years, until coming back reaching a conclusion: that [[Sinnoh]] holds greater secrets. He has a stern personality that makes him seem intimidating and mean, but he is actually very kind and patient. He also has lots of energy as shown when he was attacked by Team Galactic; he tried to fight back and was hard to handle.

* '''{{ga|Barry}}''' - Barry is always in a hurry and extremely impatient, and because of this, often crashes into other people or misses important details. He is incredibly determined and it is very difficult to discourage him; the only thing that has done this so far was his crushing loss to the [[Team Galactic]] {{tc|Commander}}, [[Jupiter]] at [[Lake Acuity]]. Barry is also one to take risks and quickly jump into action; it was this behavior that caused the player and himself to be attacked by [[Wild Pokémon|wild]] {{p|Starly}}, setting off the chain reaction that would result in the player receiving their first Pokémon.

* '''[[Looker]]''' - Looker is the codename for a character introduced in {{game|Platinum}}. In {{game|Platinum}}, Looker is an important character, encountering the {{player}} multiple times over their journey across [[Sinnoh]]. He speaks with odd grammatical constructs, implying that he is not entirely fluent with the {{pkmn|nation}}al language. He first meets the player in [[Jubilife City]], giving them the [[Vs. Recorder]], and appears often when Team Galactic is near. His motives are clear: his mission is to stop Team Galactic from causing havoc in the Sinnoh region.

* '''{{ga|Lucas}}/{{ga|Dawn}}''' - {{tt|Lucas/Dawn|depending on the player's gender}} serves as Professor Rowan's assistant. They will teach the player how to catch Pokémon and help in some parts of the game, such as teaming up with the player against [[Team Galactic]] for Double Battles.

===Unova===
* '''[[Professor Juniper]]''' - Professor Juniper debuted in [[Generation V]], where, like the other professors, she will give the {{player}} a [[Pokédex]] in her lab; however, in {{2v2|Black|White}} she leaves a present containing the [[starter Pokémon]] at the player's house for the player, [[Bianca]], and [[Cheren]]. She also demonstrates how to catch a Pokémon to the player. She specializes in the origins of Pokémon. She is the first core series Pokémon Professor who is female.

* '''[[Bianca]]''' - Bianca is a childhood friend and rival of the {{player}} in {{game|Black and White|s}}. Though she is somewhat unreliable and a bit of an airhead, she also has a strong side, as shown when she embarks on a [[Pokémon journey]] despite her father's strong opposition. In {{game|Black and White|s|Black 2 and White 2|2}}, she presents the player with their [[starter Pokémon]].

* '''[[Cheren]]''' - Cheren is a childhood friend of {{ga|Hilbert}}/{{ga|Hilda}} who, like the player, lives in the starting town of [[Nuvema Town]]. He is an intelligent boy knowledgeable in Pokémon, and will as such offer the player advice during the course of their journey. His goal is to become the {{pkmn|Champion}}. He is also a [[rival]].

* '''[[N]]''' - N is the leader of [[Team Plasma]] who appears in {{game|Black and White|s}}. Throughout the game, he seems to be a strange, mysterious man who constantly battles the player, until he asks the player to ride [[Nimbasa City#Rondez-View Ferris Wheel|Nimbasa City's Ferris wheel]] with him. At this point, he reveals he is the leader of [[Team Plasma]]. He is encountered twice more before interrupting the player's battle with [[Alder]]. He summons his castle from the earth and challenges the player to battle him. The player chases him through the castle, where the final battle occurs with N having caught either {{p|Reshiram}} or {{p|Zekrom}}. After his defeat, his guardian [[Ghetsis]] is disappointed once again and battles the player. N then disappears, not to be seen again until {{2v2|Black|White|2}}.

* '''[[Hugh]]''' - Hugh is a childhood friend and rival of the {{player}} in {{2v2|Black|White|2}}. He is described as feeling passionately for Pokémon battles and Pokémon strength. He is also a doting older brother to his sister; he hates Team Plasma because it stole a {{p|Purrloin}} he had caught for his sister. He battles with and against the player many times throughout the game.

* '''{{ga|Nate}}/{{ga|Rosa}}''' - {{tt|Nate/Rosa|depending on the player's gender}} appears in Nimbasa City. They will team up with the player to fight against the {{tc|Subway Boss}}es [[Ingo]] and [[Emmet]]. After defeating them, Nate/Rosa will give the player a [[Vs. Recorder]], and will reappear as the player's tag partner for the [[Battle Subway]]'s Multi and Super Multi battles.

===Kalos===
* '''[[Professor Sycamore]]''' - Professor Sycamore is the resident Pokémon Professor of [[Kalos]]. He does not directly give the player and his friends their Kalos region [[starter Pokémon]], he will give the player a choice of one of the original [[Kanto]] starter Pokémon upon meeting him in person.

* '''{{ga|Calem}}/{{ga|Serena}}''' - {{tt|Calem/Serena|depending on the player's gender}} is one of the player's four friends and serves as their friendly rival.

* '''[[Shauna]]''' - Shauna is one of the player's four friends. She is very energetic and curious to see how her friends will progress on their journeys.

* '''[[Tierno]]''' - Tierno is one of the player's four friends. He is an aspiring dancer who wants to form a Pokémon dance team.

* '''[[Trevor]]''' - Trevor is one of the player's four friends. He is the one who brings the Kalos [[starter Pokémon]] and the Kalos [[Pokédex]]. He wants to be the first among his friends to complete his Pokédex.

* '''[[Sina]]''' - Professor Sycamore's assistant. She tends to cut off Dexio when she's excited. Throughout the journey she and Dexio encounter the player multiple times to grant them Pokédex updates, check up on their progress, hand them items, or give friendly advice.

* '''[[Dexio]]''' - Professor Sycamore's assistant. He always travels with Sina to take care of Professor Sycamore's tasks.

* '''[[Emma]]''' - A girl that lived in the alleyways until she was taken in by Looker. She's a key character in the post game quest chain involving Looker.

===Alola===
* '''[[Professor Kukui]]''' - Professor Kukui is a passionate man who studies Pokémon [[moves]]. He introduces the player, who has just moved, to the [[Alola]] region.

* '''[[Lillie]]''' - A mysterious girl who loves reading, but dislikes Pokémon battles. She is working as an assistant of Professor Kukui for unknown, personal reasons, and is looking into the origins of the mysterious {{p|Cosmog}}, "[[Nebby]]".

* '''[[Hau]]''' - One of the player's rivals. A friendly boy who quickly befriends the player after they move in, and the grandson of the [[Island Kahuna|Kahuna]] of [[Melemele Island]], [[Hala]]. He starts his career as a Pokémon Trainer at the same time as the player.

* '''[[Gladion]]''' - The player's other rival. An initally unfrienly young man that works as an unoffical memeber of [[Team Skull]]. He is tyring to become stronger to harness the hidden potential locked within his partner, {{TP|Gladion|Type: Null}}.

* '''[[Samson Oak]]''' - Professor Oak's cousin. He studies the [[regional form]]s of the Pokémon of Alola.

===Galar===
* '''[[Professor Magnolia]]''' - Professor Magnolia discovered the causes and conditions of the [[Dynamax]] phenoneom in [[Galar]].

* '''[[Sonia]]''' - Professor Magnolia's granddaughter and a childhood friend of Galar's {{pkmn|Champion}}, [[Leon]], and [[Gym Leader]] [[Nessa]]. She follows the player while researching the history of Galar's legends after 

* '''[[Hop]]''' - The player's primary rival. He's the younger brother of Leon, and wishes to succeed him.

* '''[[Bede]]''' - One of the player's rivals. A haughty boy personally sponsored by his guardian and Chairman of the Galar Pokémon League, [[Rose]]. He is looking for [[Wishing Star]]s for an unknown purpose.

* '''[[Marnie]]''' - Another one of the player's rivals. A stoic but well-mannered young girl who wants to become Champion to support her hometown of [[Spikemuth]]. She is followed everywhere by her personal fan club, [[Team Yell]].

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===Complete list of named non-player characters===
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| {{NPC|normal|kanto=yes|johto=yes|hoenn=yes|sinnoh=yes|unova=yes|kalos=yes|alola=yes|galar=yes}}
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[[Category:Game characters]]
[[Category:Terminology]]

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