Ariana

Ariana アテナ Athena
Art from HeartGold and SoulSilver
Gender	Female
Eye color	Red
Hair color	Red
Hometown	Unknown
Region	Johto
Trainer class	Executive
Generation	II, III, IV
Games	Gold, Silver, Crystal, FireRed, LeafGreen, HeartGold, SoulSilver
Member of	Team Rocket
Rank	Executive

Ariana (Japanese: アテナ Athena) is one of the four Team Rocket Executives introduced in Pokémon Gold and Silver. Her name was not revealed until Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.

In the games

At first, Ariana seems to appear in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen as an unnamed female Team Rocket Admin in the Rocket Warehouse on Chrono Island. After the player defeats her, she seems to understand their motivations for opposing Team Rocket and flips a switch to redirect the spinners nearby to give the player easier access back from the warehouse entrance.

Three years later, Ariana is the only female Rocket Executive in the reborn Team Rocket in Johto. She appears to be Archer's second-in-command, although upon first challenging the player, she calls herself the interim boss of Team Rocket in place of Giovanni. The player battles her twice, first in the Team Rocket HQ, in a Double Battle with a Grunt on her side and Lance on the player's side (in Generation II, the player battles her alone), and again in the Goldenrod Radio Tower, where she is the last challenge before Archer. When defeated in the Team Rocket HQ, she notes that the player is strong enough to become an Executive if they joined Team Rocket, and after being beaten in the Radio Tower admits that she admires the player's power.

Like the other Executives, Ariana was given a major makeover in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. Her identity was expanded on, her color scheme was noticeably changed, and her hair was restyled.

Pokémon

Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal

First battle

Rocket Executive Rocket Hideout Gold, Silver, and Crystal Rocket and Professor Executive Oak Rocket Hideout Gold, Silver, and Crystal Reward: $1800

Type: Poison Unknown Held item: None Arbok♀ Lv.23 Leer Normal   --       Bite Dark   --       Wrap Normal   --       Poison Sting Poison   --       Types: Grass Poison Held item: None Gloom♀ Lv.23 Sweet Scent Normal   --       Absorb Grass   --       Acid Poison   --       Sleep Powder Grass   --       Types: Dark Flying Held item: None Murkrow♀ Lv.25 Peck Flying   --       Haze Ice   --       Pursuit Dark   --       Struggle Normal   --

Second battle

Rocket Executive Goldenrod Radio Tower Gold, Silver, and Crystal Rocket and Professor Executive Oak Goldenrod Radio Tower Gold, Silver, and Crystal Reward: $2304

Type: Poison Unknown Held item: None Arbok♀ Lv.32 Glare Normal   --       Bite Dark   --       Wrap Normal   --       Poison Sting Poison   --       Types: Grass Poison Held item: None Vileplume♀ Lv.32 Sweet Scent Normal   --       Absorb Grass   --       Acid Poison   --       Sleep Powder Grass   --       Types: Dark Flying Held item: None Murkrow♀ Lv.32 Peck Flying   --       Haze Ice   --       Pursuit Dark   --       Night Shade Ghost   --

Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen

Team Rocket Admin Rocket Warehouse FireRed and LeafGreen Team Rocket and Professor Admin Oak Rocket Warehouse FireRed and LeafGreen Reward: $1728

Type: Poison Unknown Ability: Unknown Held item: None Muk♂ Lv.53 Rock Tomb Rock   --       Minimize Normal   --       Sludge Bomb Poison   --       Screech Normal   --       Type: Poison Unknown Ability: Intimidate Held item: None Arbok♂ Lv.54 Sludge Bomb Poison   --       Earthquake Ground   --       Iron Tail Steel   --       Bite Dark   --       Types: Grass Poison Ability: Chlorophyll Held item: None Vileplume♂ Lv.55 Stun Spore Grass   --       Giga Drain Grass   --       Sludge Bomb Poison   --       Sleep Powder Grass   --

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

First battle

Executive Ariana Team Rocket HQ HeartGold and SoulSilver Executive and Team Rocket Ariana Grunt Team Rocket HQ HeartGold and SoulSilver Reward: $2960

Type: Poison Unknown Ability: Intimidate Held item: None Arbok♀ Lv.25 Glare Normal Status   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --       Wrap Normal Physical   --       Poison Sting Poison Physical   --       Types: Grass Poison Ability: Chlorophyll Held item: None Gloom♀ Lv.25 Sweet Scent Normal Status   --       Mega Drain Grass Special   --       Acid Poison Special   --       Sleep Powder Grass Status   --       Types: Dark Flying Ability: Super Luck Held item: None Murkrow♀ Lv.27 Night Shade Ghost Special   --       Wing Attack Flying Physical   --       Astonish Ghost Physical   --       Pursuit Dark Physical   --       Type: Psychic Unknown Ability: Held item: None Drowzee♂ Lv.18 Disable Normal Status   --       Confusion Psychic Special   --       Headbutt Normal Physical   --       Poison Gas Poison Status   --       Type: Poison Unknown Ability: Held item: None Grimer♂ Lv.20 Mud-Slap Ground Special   --       Disable Normal Status   --       Minimize Normal Status   --       Sludge Poison Special   --

Second battle

Executive Ariana Goldenrod Radio Tower HeartGold and SoulSilver Executive and Professor Ariana Oak Goldenrod Radio Tower HeartGold and SoulSilver Reward: $2560

Type: Poison Unknown Ability: Intimidate Held item: None Arbok♀ Lv.32 Glare Normal Status   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --       Wrap Normal Physical   --       Poison Sting Poison Physical   --       Types: Grass Poison Ability: Chlorophyll Held item: None Vileplume♀ Lv.32 Sweet Scent Normal Status   --       Mega Drain Grass Special   --       Acid Poison Special   --       Sleep Powder Grass Status   --       Types: Dark Flying Ability: Super Luck Held item: None Murkrow♀ Lv.32 Night Shade Ghost Special   --       Wing Attack Flying Physical   --       Astonish Ghost Physical   --       Pursuit Dark Physical   --

Quotes

Gold, Silver and Crystal

Team Rocket HQ

• Before battle

"Hold it right there! We can't have a brat like you on the loose. It's harmful to Team Rocket's pride, you see. However strong you may be, you can't take both of us at the same time. Sorry, baby. Now get ready to be thrashed."

"What? You had an accomplice? Where is your sense of honor? As the interim boss in place of Giovanni, I'll show you how wrong it is to meddle with Team Rocket!"

• After being defeated

"Tch, you really are strong. It's too bad. If you were to join Team Rocket, you could become an Executive."

• After battle

"…This hideout is done for… But that's fine. The broadcast experiment was a total success. It doesn't matter what happens to this hideout now. We have much bigger plans. You'll come to appreciate Team Rocket's true power soon enough. Enjoy yourself while you can… Fufufufu…"

Radio Tower

• Before battle

"Remember me from the Hideout in Mahogany Town? I lost then, but I won't this time."

• After being defeated

"This can't be happening! I fought hard, but I still lost…"

• If talked to after battle

"<player>, isn't it? A brat like you won't appreciate the magnificence of Team Rocket. That's too bad. I really admire your power."

Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen

Rocket Warehouse

• Before battle

"I don't know or care if what I'm doing is right or wrong… I just put my faith in Giovanni and do as I am told."

• After being defeated

"I… I'm shattered…

• After battle

"You're doing things according to your beliefs and morals. I understand now… I've made it so you can come back in through there. Why don't you go get rested and refreshed for what lies ahead? The Admin after me outranks me thoroughly as a Trainer. You'd bettersteel yourself for one harsh challenge."

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

Team Rocket HQ

• Before battle

"Hold it right there!"

"We can't let a brat like you do as you please forever. It'll hurt Team Rocket's pride over and over again. Making it lessen, you see. …So, it's time to finish you. However strong you may be, if the two of us fight at the same time, you'll have no chance of winning. Don't you agree? Hee hee hee! Sorry, baby. Now, get ready to be thrashed."

"What? You had an accomplice? Where is your sense of dignity? As interim boss in the place of Giovanni, I'll show you how wrong it is to meddle with Team Rocket!"

• When defeated

"Tch, you really are strong. It's too bad. If you were to join Team Rocket, you could become an Executive."

• After being defeated

"But that's fine. The broadcast experiment was a total success. It doesn't matter what happens to this hideout now. We have much bigger plans. You'll come to appreciate Team Rocket's true power soon enough. Enjoy yourself while you can… Hee hee hee…."

Radio Tower

• Before battle

"Hey, you… Remember me from the hideout in Mahogany Town? This time… Hee hee hee. This time… it looks like you're really all alone. All alone… So it should be quite easy. Bring it! Let's finish this!"

• After sending out last Pokémon

"Hey, what do you think you're doing?!"

• During battle (less than half HP)

"Wh… Wha… Why are you so strong?!"

• When defeated

"Aaaieeeee! This can't be happening! I fought hard, but I still lost…"

• After being defeated

"What a waste… not to use your strength to do bad things! Feh… People like you will never in a million years understand our brilliance! It's too bad… I've really come to respect your strength."

Sprites

	File:S2 Rocket ExecutiveF.png
Ariana's sprite from Gold, Silver, and Crystal	Ariana's sprite from Stadium 2	Ariana's sprite from FireRed and LeafGreen	Ariana's sprite from HeartGold and SoulSilver	Ariana's VS sprite from HeartGold and SoulSilver

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Ariana in Pokémon Adventures

Ariana appears in the HeartGold & SoulSilver arc alongside the other three Executives. She, along with her fellow teammates, take control of Team Rocket from Carr, saying that they will stay true to Giovanni's intentions.

Ariana later ambushes Silver and Crystal to prevent them from intruding and interrupting their plans. Using her Pokémon, she manages to pin Silver to a tree while she faces Crystal alone. Despite the type advantage Crystal's Pokémon have, she is easily defeated by Ariana's powerful team. However, using his Rhyperior and the Earth Plate he obtained from Petrel, Silver manages to save Crystal and send Ariana and her Pokémon flying.

Now facing Crystal alone, Ariana finishes off her Pokémon and explains her and her teammate's roles in capturing the legendary Pokémon Arceus. Suddenly, Arceus appears in front of them and Crystal attempts to capture it, shocking the Generals in the process. Despite her tenacity, Crystal ultimately fails in capturing the Pokémon and is sent flying into a tree.

The Generals chase Arceus down and find it battling Gold at the Ruins of Alph. Once Arceus takes them to the Sinjoh Ruins, the four Generals restrain Arceus and force it onto the Mystri Stage. Using its great powers, they force Arceus to create the legendary Pokémon Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina.

Believing they have pleased their boss, Giovanni, Ariana, Proton, and Archer begin tearing up. However, Silver distracts them by flying towards the Pokémon so Gold and Crystal can finish off the other legendary Pokémon. Once they do so, Arceus, now freed from its restraints, uses its powers to send Ariana and the other Generals flying.

Pokémon

Arbok

Debut	VS Parasect

Arbok was first used to attack Carr after he attempted to take over Team Rocket. Later, it was used to battle Crystal on Route 38 and pinned Silver to a tree. At the Sinjoh Ruins, Arbok was used to drag Arceus onto the Mystri Stage.

Arbok's known moves are Dig, Glare, Poison Sting and Ice Fang.

Gloom → Vileplume ♀

Debut	VS Parasect

Vileplume was first used to battle Crystal at Route 38. Despite having a type disadvantage, it manages to easily defeat Crystal's Archy. Later, was used to stop Silver from reaching the Pokémon Arceus was creating.

Vileplume's only known move is Acid.

Murkrow

Debut	VS Parasect

Murkrow is Ariana's mode of flight transportation. It was first used to battle Crystal and easily defeated her Monlee. Later, it was used to drag Arceus onto the Mystri Stage.

Murkrow's known moves are Drill Peck and Fly.

Trivia

• As she is the only female Executive in the Johto's Team Rocket, she could be easily adapted from her Generation II design in Generation IV. In this respect, she is the female counterpart of Archer, who was based on the original male Executive. However, Proton and Petrel, originally using the same sprite as Archer, had to be designed from scratch.
• Sham from Pokémon Adventures is based on Ariana's original Generation II design, and is named differently because of the lack of names for the executives at the time. This makes her Ariana's cross-canon counterpart.
• The Murkrow which mimics Petrel's voice could possibly be Ariana's Murkrow, as it runs offscreen in her direction after unlocking the door.
  • However, the Murkrow does not leave the office in Generation II, so this cannot be the case in the Generation II games.

Names

Language	Name	Origin
Japanese	アテナ Athena	From Athena, a Lockheed Martin expendable launch system.
English	Ariana	From Ariane, a series of vehicles for space launch use.
French	Ariane	Same as English name.
German	Athena	Same as Japanese name.
Italian	Atena	Same as Japanese name.
Spanish	Atenea	Same as Japanese name.
Korean	아테나 Athena	Same as Japanese name.

This game character article is part of Project CharacterDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each character found in the Pokémon games.