Pokémon League
- This article is about Pokémon League Championship. For the location in Sinnoh, see Pokémon League (Sinnoh).
The Pokémon League (Japanese: ポケモンリーグ) is the official group that organizes competitions for registered Pokémon trainers. It serves as an umbrella that oversees the regional leagues.
There are five known regional leagues under the Pokémon League: the Indigo League in the Kanto region, the Orange League in the Orange Archipelago, the Johto League in the Johto region, the Hoenn League in the Hoenn region, and the Sinnoh League in the Sinnoh region. It is uncertain whether or not the competition in the Whirl Islands is sanctioned under the Pokémon League.
In order to participate in regional competitions, one must acquire a certain number of Gym Badges signifying the defeat of that region's Gym Leaders.
In the anime, the League is known for its many traditions, including the opening celebration which evokes the flame of Moltres.
The Pokémon League apparently manufactures and distributes Pokémon merchandise, such as Ash Ketchum's Official Pokémon League Expo hat.
In the games
In the games, every region in a main series game has a Pokémon League:
- Kanto and Johto share the Indigo League at the Indigo Plateau.
- Hoenn has the Hoenn League at Ever Grande City.
- Sinnoh has the Sinnoh League at an unnamed island.
Types of competitions
There are two types of League competitions.
Competitions against the Elite Four
Qualifying trainers may battle each member of the Elite Four along the reigning League Champion.
Winners will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
The Indigo and Johto Leagues share a single Elite Four and Champion that meet on Indigo Plateau. The other leagues each have their own Champions.
Championship competitions
- Main article: Pokémon League Conference
Periodically, regional championship competitions will be held for qualifying trainers to come together and battle their Pokémon. Hundreds of the best trainers participate in these competitions.
Rules vary from region to region, but generally championship competitions are divided into three parts: qualifying rounds, preliminary rounds, and final rounds. Highly skilled trainers will move on to compete with a smaller pool of competitors. The trainer that defeats all other competitors is deemed the winner of the competition. Losing trainers who participate in the competitions will be ranked accordingly.
Chairman Charles Goodshow serves as the president of the League Competition Committee and oversees all the regional competitions.
