Darach
| Darach コクラン Kokuran | |
 Artwork from Platinum | |
| Gender | Male |
|---|---|
| Hometown | Unknown |
| Region | Sinnoh*/Johto* |
| Trainer class | Castle Valet (Frontier Brain) |
| Generation | IV |
| Games | Pokémon HeartGold, SoulSilver, and Platinum |
| Commemorative print | Castle Print |
Castle Valet Darach (Japanese: キャッスルバトラー コクラン Castle Butler Kokuran) is the Frontier Brain in charge of running the Battle Frontier's Battle Castle. Darach is the only character in the games to have the Trainer class Castle Valet (Japanese: キャッスルバトラー Castle Butler).
In the games
He is the Frontier Brain of the Battle Castle in the Sinnoh and Johto regions. Darach is the host and caretaker of the Battle Castle, managing CP awarded to or spent by Trainers. He is also Caitlin's butler and battles for her in the Frontier Brain battle. Caitlin is the princess of the castle and determines how much CP should the player receive depending on the outcome of the battle.
Pokémon
Darach has these Pokémon when he is challenged for a print:
Silver Print challenge
Team A
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Team B
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Gold Print challenge
Team A
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Team B
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Quotes
First battle
Before the battle:
Darach: Welcome. I am Darach, as you know, and I am the Castle Valet. Lady Caitlin, my employer, is not one to accept defeat willingly. However, for a reason I'm not at liberty to disclose, she cannot battle. Consequently, I will do battle in her ladyship's place. ...Let me assure you that you won't be shortchanged by facing me. En garde!
After the battle:
Darach: My Pokémon could not be faulted in any way or form. My hat's off to you.
Darach: <player>, you are truly in possession of a superlative talent! I drew on every reserve of experience and etiquette handed down through our heritage of glorious servitude. But even then, I failed To fend off your inspired and inspiring challenge. I shall see to appeasing Lady Caitlin's displeasure at my loss. <player>, please do return to our Battle Castle. We will be delighted and honored to have you back!
Caitlin: ... Darach! CP for this Trainer at once!
Darach: <player>, good show. A hard-fought win, yes? Lady Caitlin has instructed me to award you x CP.
Darach: Congratulations on clearing seven consecutive battles. For your valiant effort, <player>, please accept this BP. We'll return any items that we were holding for you.
Second battle
Before the battle:
Darach: Your mastery of Pokémon is as breathtaking as ever. <player>, you certainly are to be commended. ...However, if I may say so, I noticed something about the way you battle. After all, I have the opportunity to watch you closely firsthand. So, what is it that I noticed? As a Trainer myself, it is but proper etiquette to show you in a battle. Let us begin! En garde!
After the battle:
Darach: Your skills are superlative as ever! My admiration knows no bounds.
Darach: I am humbled... What I'd perceived to be a weakness was only illusory... Or, perhaps you corrected it in the course of our battle. Regardless, your performance was stunning again. Though she cannot say it, Lady Caitlin appears quite taken by your style. For her sake at the very least, please do return to our Battle Castle!
Caitlin: ... Darach! CP for this Trainer at once!
Darach: <player>, good show. A hard-fought win, yes? Lady Caitlin has instructed me to award you x CP.
Darach: Congratulations on clearing seven consecutive battles. For your valiant effort, <player>, please accept this BP. We'll return any items that we were holding for you.
Sprites
| File:Spr Darach Caitlin PtHGSS.gif | File:VSDarach and Caitlin.png |
| Darach and Caitlin's sprite from Platinum |
Darach and Caitlin's VS sprite from Platinum |
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
Darach appeared alongside Lady Caitlin in the Platinum arc of Pokémon Adventures. Darach was Platinum's first challenge and despite his strong Pokémon, he was eventually defeated.
Pokémon
| Gallade was the first Pokémon that Darach used in his battle against Platinum. He managed to defeat Platinum's Rapidash and Lopunny, but was defeated when Lopunny's Cute Charm prevented him from dodging a Dizzy Punch, allowing Empoleon to take advantage of his confused status and defeat him.
Gallade's known moves are Slash, Psycho Cut, and Night Slash. | ||
| Debut | ??? | |
|---|---|---|
| Houndoom was the second Pokémon that Darach used in his battle against Platinum. It briefly fought Platinum's Lopunny and was defeated by her Empoleon.
Houndoom's only known move is Fire Fang. | ||
| Debut | ??? | |
|---|---|---|
| Staraptor was the third Pokémon that Darach used in his battle against Platinum. It used confusing moves and kept healing itself in its battle against Platinum's Empoleon but was defeat when she froze it with Blizzard
Staraptor's known moves are Double Team and Roost. | ||
| Debut | ??? | |
|---|---|---|
In the TCG
This listing is of cards mentioning or featuring Darach or his Pokémon in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
| Name | Type | Level | Rarity | Set | Set no. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staraptor FB |  |
50 |  |
Supreme Victors | 11/147 |
| Empoleon FB |  |
50 |  |
Supreme Victors | 27/147 |
| Staraptor FB LV.X | |
X |  |
Supreme Victors | 147/147 |
Trivia
- It could be assumed that Darach is the true Frontier Brain of the Battle Castle, due to Caitlin's place on a throne, her portraits in the castle, her appearing behind Darach and the term "Castle Valet". He is also the only one battled among them. Therefore, Caitlin may be acting as a mistress and watching the battle from the throne. It is also possible that Caitlin is the Frontier Brain and just has Darach battle for her with her Pokémon. In the games, the latter seems true, but in Pokémon Adventures, it seems to be the former.
- Despite their in-game sprite showing them both together, he and Caitlin do not participate in a double battle. This situation is much like the Twins of the Generation II games, and Jessie and James in Pokémon Yellow.
- It should be noted, however, that the situations with the Twins, Jessie and James in the aforementioned games had different circumstances, since double battles were a concept not yet introduced.
- Darach is the only Generation IV Frontier Brain with a 'signature Pokémon,' his Empoleon.
- A minor character in the Battle Castle says, "Mr Darach...His feelings for Lady Caitlin are all bottled up...Oh, how I pine for him...", which could imply that Darach has feelings for Caitlin, but refuses to show these emotions to her.
- Darach's in-battle sprite has the most frames of any animated sprite, with five as opposed to the usual three.
Names
| Language | Name | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | コクラン Kokuran | The Japanese name for an orchid of the Liparis genus. |
| English | Darach | A Gaelic word for "oak". |
| French | Parsley | From "parsley". |
| German | Perenus | From the perennial plant. |
| Italian | Paride | |
| Spanish | Kokuran | Original Japanese name. |
| Korean | 코크런 Kokeureon | A corruption of his Japanese name. |
 Sinnoh and Johto Battle Frontier
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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. |
