Proton

Proton (Japanese: ランス Lance) is one of the four Team Rocket Executives introduced in Pokémon Gold and Silver. However, his true identity wasn't revealed until Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.

In the games

Proton is first seen and battled in the Slowpoke Well, where Team Rocket is trying to cut off Slowpoke tails to make a profit. Later, the player meets and battles him for the second time in Goldenrod Radio Tower.

Proton is labeled as the scariest and cruelest of Team Rocket, yet also remains one of the more popular executives. A grunt in the Radio Tower admits to how she admires him. Proton seems to be very wrathful, using the very word several times in his dialogue.

In Generation II he appeared only once, in the Goldenrod Radio Tower, with an ordinary Grunt originally taking his place in Slowpoke Well.

Proton has existed since Pokémon Gold and Silver. However, his existence was easy to miss because all Rocket Executives used the same sprite (which showed Archer's canonical design), making it seem like there was only one Executive. Proton stayed without a canonical design until Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. His name was also revealed in those games (for other three Executives as well). The same situation happened to Petrel.

Pokémon

Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal

First battle

File:GSC Rocket GruntM.png [[Team Rocket Grunt (Trainer class)|Team Rocket Grunt]] [[Slowpoke Well|Slowpoke Well]] Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal [[Team Rocket Grunt (Trainer class)|Team Rocket Grunt]] and Professor Oak [[Slowpoke Well|Slowpoke Well]] Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal Reward: $560
Types: Poison Unknown Held item: None Koffing♂ Lv.14 Tackle Normal   --       Smog Poison   --       Unknown   --       Unknown   --

Second battle

File:GSC Rocket ExecutiveM.png [[Rocket Executive (Trainer class)|Rocket Executive]] [[Goldenrod Radio Tower|Goldenrod Radio Tower]] Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal [[Rocket Executive (Trainer class)|Rocket Executive]] and Professor Oak [[Goldenrod Radio Tower|Goldenrod Radio Tower]] Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal Reward: $5184
Types: Poison Flying Held item: None Golbat♂ Lv.36 Wing Attack Flying   --       Confuse Ray Ghost   --       Leech Life Bug   --       Bite Dark   --

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

First battle

File:RocketLanceHGSS.png [[Rocket Executive (Trainer class)|Rocket Executive]] Proton [[Slowpoke Well|Slowpoke Well]] HeartGold and SoulSilver [[Rocket Executive (Trainer class)|Rocket Executive]] and Professor Proton Oak [[Slowpoke Well|Slowpoke Well]] HeartGold and SoulSilver Reward: $480
Types: Poison Flying Ability: Inner Focus Held item: None Zubat♂ Lv.8 Leech Life Bug Physical   --       Supersonic Normal Status   --       Unknown Unknown   --       Unknown Unknown   --       Types: Poison Unknown Ability: Levitate Held item: None Koffing♂ Lv.12 Poison Gas Poison Status   --       Tackle Normal Physical   --       Smog Poison Special   --       SmokeScreen Normal Status   --

Second battle

File:RocketLanceHGSS.png [[Rocket Executive (Trainer class)|Rocket Executive]] Proton [[Goldenrod Radio Tower|Goldenrod Radio Tower]] HeartGold and SoulSilver [[Rocket Executive (Trainer class)|Rocket Executive]] and Professor Proton Oak [[Goldenrod Radio Tower|Goldenrod Radio Tower]] HeartGold and SoulSilver Reward: $1320

Types: Poison Flying Ability: Inner Focus Held item: None Golbat♂ Lv.28 Wing Attack Flying Physical   --       Confuse Ray Ghost Status   --       Leech Life Bug Physical   --       Bite Dark Physical   --       Types: Poison Unknown Ability: Levitate Held item: None Weezing♂ Lv.33 Sludge Poison Special   --       Double Hit Normal Physical   --       SmokeScreen Normal Status   --       Smog Poison Special   --

Quotes

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

Slowpoke Well

• Before battle

"What do we have here? I am often labeled as the scariest and cruelest guy in Team Rocket... I strongly urge you not to interfere with our business!"

• After sending out last Pokémon

"It doesn't matter where we go, there's always someone that doesn't agree with us..."

• During battle

"Are you serious? Did you come here thinking you could mess with our plans?"

• When defeated

"Grr... For a kid to be this good... I didn't see it coming."

• After being defeated

"Humph... Team Rocket was indeed broken up three years ago. But we continued our activities underground. A small obstacle like you won't be much of a problem for our mission. I advise you to be very afraid of what is to come!"

Radio Tower

• Before battle

"Now, wait just one second! Aren't you the one who got in our way at the Slowpoke Well? I see... You're doing all this because you want to make me angry. Be careful! But since you seem to wish it, I'll show you the full extent of a Team Rocket Executive's wrath!"

• After sending out last Pokémon

"Seriously, you'd chase me this far?!"

• During battle

"Ugh... What are you?!"

• When defeated

"Phew..."

• After being defeated

"You may have won this time... But all you did was make Team Rocket's wrath grow..."

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

The Four Generals in the manga

Proton appears in the HeartGold & SoulSilver arc of the Pokémon Adventures manga alongside the other three executives. They appear at the end of the first round to take over control of Team Rocket from Carr, saying that they will stay true to Giovanni's intentions.

Trivia

• The fact that all male Executives were unnamed and used the same sprite in Generation II was very confusing for fans. It has led many to think that Proton and Petrel are two new characters, introduced in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. However, closer research has proven that Proton has existed since then, appearing in the same place in Goldenrod Radio Tower and training Golbat, just like his Generation IV counterpart. However, a Weezing was added to his team, which he had during his mission in Slowpoke Well (originally, a Grunt appeared there).

Names