Raihan
| Raihan キバナ Kibana | |
| "The tamer of dragons!" | |
 Artwork from Sword and Shield | |
| Gender | Male |
|---|---|
| Eye color | Teal |
| Hair color | Black |
| Hometown | Hammerlocke |
| Region | Galar |
| Trainer class | Gym Leader |
| Generation | VIII |
| Games | Sword and Shield, Masters EX |
| Leader of | Hammerlocke Stadium |
| Badge | Dragon Badge |
| Specializes in | Dragon types |
| Game animation debut | Sky |
| English voice actor | Nazeeh Tarsha (Twilight Wings) Mike Dent[1] (Masters EX) |
| Japanese voice actor | Kousuke Toriumi[2] (Twilight Wings, Masters EX) |
| Anime debut | Toughing It Out! |
| English voice actor | Danny Kramer |
| Japanese voice actor | Tatsuhisa Suzuki |
Raihan (Japanese: キバナ Kibana) is the Gym Leader of Hammerlocke's Gym, known officially as Hammerlocke Stadium. He specializes in Dragon-type Pokémon. He gives the Dragon Badge to Trainers who defeat him. He's also well-known for utilizing weather tactics in his battles.
In the core series games
Raihan is the eighth and final Gym Leader of the Galar League, and he is recognized as the strongest Gym Leader in Galar. He is also the self-proclaimed rival of Champion Leon, and despite having a losing streak of 0 to 10 against him, he is the only person who has come close to beating him, having managed to knock out more of Leon's Pokémon than anyone else. He's said to be strong enough to become a Champion if he moved to another region, but has refused to do so out of desire of wanting to defeat Leon. He is often seen taking selfies on his Rotom Phone, a habit he initially picked up to remind him of the pain of defeat, but one which eventually spread to other parts of his lifestyle.
While Raihan specializes in the Dragon type, he will often use Pokémon of other types to set up weather conditions such as sandstorm and harsh sunlight. Uniquely amongst Galar's Gyms, Raihan's Gym also heavily focuses on Double Battles.
In Pokémon Sword and Shield, Raihan first appears during the game's opening cut-scene, having an exhibition match with Leon. The player first meets Raihan in Hammerlocke to get his permission to visit the local vault, which contains tapestries about Galar's history. Once the player has earned seven Gym Badges, they challenge and defeat Raihan. Immediately afterwards, Raihan is also challenged and beaten by Hop. The player rematches Raihan in the Champion Cup in Wyndon and beats him once again. When Rose starts the Darkest Day, Raihan organizes the evacuation of Hammerlocke to keep people safe from the event.
During the post-game, Raihan helps the player, Hop, and Piers in defeating a group of Dynamax Pokémon let loose at the Hammerlocke Stadium by Sordward and Shielbert. During this encounter, Raihan admits that Piers managed to give him a tough challenge in the Champion Cup, despite his refusal to use Dynamax, and suggests that they should have a battle where neither of them uses it.
League Cards
This is a transcript of the back of Raihan's League Cards in Pokémon Sword and Shield.
- Normal League Card
- "Raihan is commonly regarded as the most skilled Gym Leader in the Galar region. He has striven for victory in every environment, and as a result, he has adopted a battle style where he utilizes weather effects to their fullest. It is rumored that he could easily become another region's Champion should he choose to move, but it seems that to Raihan, defeating Leon is much more important. His uploaded selfies are quite popular. Occasionally he'll post a photo that only shows a sandstorm."
- Rare League Card
- "Raihan started taking selfies so as to never forget the pain of his defeats, but more recently he has been taking photos showing off his training routine, his fashion choices, and the like, causing some fans to leave harsh comments whenever he loses to Leon. It's true that Raihan is on a ten-nil losing streak against Leon, but no other Pokémon Trainer has managed to KO as many of Leon's Pokémon as Raihan has. Raihan no doubt looks forward to taking a selfie after finally defeating Leon."
Pokémon
Raihan keeps his Pokémon in Ultra Balls.
Pokémon Sword and Shield
In all battles, Raihan will Gigantamax his Duraludon at the first opportunity.
Gym battle
This battle is a Double Battle.
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Second battle
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Champion tournaments
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Galarian Star Tournament
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In spin-off games
Pokémon Masters EX
- Main article: Raihan (Masters)
Raihan forms a sync pair with his Duraludon in Pokémon Masters EX.
Artwork
Sprites
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| Icon from the Galarian Star Tournament menu |
League Cards
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| Raihan's League Card in Sword and Shield |
Raihan's rare League Card in Sword and Shield |
Quotes
- Main article: Raihan/Quotes
In the anime
Main series
Prior to his introduction to the series, Raihan entered the current World Coronation Series competition just to challenge Leon. During the current season, Raihan was skilled enough to grow rapidly in his rank, soon entering the Master Class.
In Toughing It Out!, Raihan had a battle against Leon during the World Coronation Series in Wyndon. His Duraludon battled Leon's Charizard only to be defeated after a tough battle between the two Trainers. After his victory, Leon greets Raihan for the battle and Raihan says he intends to train more so that he can defeat his rival.
Raihan reappeared in a flashback in Sword and Shield, Slumbering Weald!.
In Sword and Shield: "From Here to Eternatus!", Raihan helped Sonia against a group of Macro Cosmos employees who had accosted her outside the Energy Plant and Hammerlocke Stadium. In the following episode, he easily defeated them and then left Sonia so he could take care of rampaging Dynamax Pokémon in the area. After Goh caught Eternatus and the Darkest Day ended, he and Duraludon were seen looking on as the Kommo-o they were battling reverted back to its normal state.
Character
Like his game counterpart, Raihan has a strong rivalry with Leon, and it is the real reason he entered the World Coronation Series. As expected of a Masters Eight member, Raihan is an exceptional Trainer, being able to enter the Master Class shortly after the current season of the competition begins and is strong enough to knock out several Pokémon from Rose's associates with a single move.
Raihan is also very flirtatious, as seen when he defended Sonia from Rose's associates, during which he called her a "beautiful woman". After fending off Rose's crew, Raihan remarked that he would have asked Sonia out on a date if the circumstances weren't critical and also referred to her as a "lovely lady".
Pokémon
This listing is of Raihan's known Pokémon in the anime:
 
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| Duraludon is Raihan's only known Pokémon, as well as his ace. It is capable of Gigantamaxing. Raihan used it in his battle against Leon, where it went up against Charizard, only to be defeated.
In Sword and Shield... The Legends Awaken!, Raihan used Duraludon to defeat the Pokémon of Oleana's subordinate and other Macro Cosmos employees. Later, after the Darkest Day ended, Duraludon was seen battling a Dynamaxed Kommo-o. Duraludon's known moves are Metal Claw, Iron Defense, Stone Edge, Steel Beam, and Breaking Swipe. | ||
| Debut | Toughing It Out! | |
|---|---|---|
| Voice actors | ||
| Japanese | Yūichi Nakamura | |
Achievements
Pokémon competitions
- World Coronation Series - Rank 7 (prior to Toughing It Out!)
Voice actors
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Artwork
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| Official artwork from Pokémon Journeys: The Series |
Pokémon: Twilight Wings
In Early-Evening Waves, Raihan was briefly seen on a magazine cover. In Sky, Raihan had a battle against Leon at Wyndon Stadium.
In The Gathering of Stars, Raihan was seen at Hammerlocke Stadium with his Flygon, receiving an invitation letter for the Galarian Star Tournament from Leon. He was later seen at Wyndon Stadium, walking out onto the field for the tournament's opening ceremony.
Pokémon
This listing is of Raihan's known Pokémon in Pokémon: Twilight Wings:
On hand
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| Goodra was the first Pokémon used by Raihan during his battle against Leon. It went up against Leon's Aegislash, but it was unable to defeat it. | ||
| Debut | Sky | |
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| Voice actors | ||
| Japanese | ||
| English | Allegra Clark | |
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| Flygon was used during the battle between Leon and Raihan. It defeated Leon's Aegislash and then went up against his Dragapult. It reappeared in The Gathering of Stars.
Flygon's only known move is Stone Edge. | ||
| Debut | Sky | |
|---|---|---|
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| Duraludon was the last Pokémon used by Raihan during the battle. It went up against Leon's Gigantamax Charizard.
None of Duraludon's moves are known*. | ||
| Debut | Sky | |
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Traveling with
 Rotom Phone |
GOTCHA!
Raihan briefly appeared in GOTCHA!.
In the manga
Pokémon Journeys: The Series
Raihan appeared in JNM10, where Raihan battled Leon for the title of Monarch in the World Coronation Series. Just like in the anime, he was defeated after an intense battle.
Pokémon
This listing is of Raihan's known Pokémon in the Pocket Monsters manga:
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| Duraludon is Raihan's only known Pokémon, as well as his ace. It is capable of Gigantamaxing. Raihan used it in his battle against Leon, where it went up against Charizard, only to be defeated.
Duraludon's known moves are Metal Claw, Stone Edge, and Steel Beam. | ||
| Debut | JNM10 | |
|---|---|---|
Pokémon Adventures
Raihan debuted in PASS11. He was first seen at the gates of Hammerlocke, speculating on which Trainers would be able to earn the right to face him in the Gym Challenge. Later, in front of the Hammerlocke gate, Raihan met Sōdo Tsurugi, who had come to see the vault. After a short battle that ended in Raihan's victory, Raihan took Sōdo to the vault, only for them to find Sonia under attack by a wild Oranguru. By teaming up, Raihan and Sōdo managed to calm Oranguru down.
Later, when large rumbling came from the Hammerlocke Energy Plant, Raihan had Leon and Sonia move citizens to safety while he went inside to investigate. There, he encountered Rose and Oleana, who were experimenting with Wishing Stars to find a new source of electricity and prevent an energy crisis a thousand years away. Raihan agreed to keep what he learned secret, but questioned Rose's real intentions, noting that the Wishing Stars Rose had looked like an offering to something.
Pokémon
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| Duraludon is Raihan's first known Pokémon. It was first seen with its Trainer as he wondered about the Trainers participating in the Gym Challenge.
None of Duraludon's moves are known. | ||
| Debut | PASS11 | |
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| Sandaconda is Raihan's second known Pokémon. It was first used in Raihan's battle against Sōdo, where it emerged victorious.
Sandaconda's known moves are Sandstorm, Skull Bash, and Slam. | ||
| Debut | PASS12 | |
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| Goodra is Raihan's third known Pokémon. It was first used to help Raihan sneak into the Energy Plant.
None of Goodra's moves are known. | ||
| Debut | PASS17 | |
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| Flygon is Raihan's fourth known Pokémon. It was first used to help Raihan sneak into the Energy Plant.
None of Flygon's moves are known. | ||
| Debut | PASS17 | |
|---|---|---|
Traveling with
Rotom Phone |
Trivia
- Raihan's uniform number is "241", which can be read in Japanese as goroawase for 強い tsuyoi, meaning "powerful".
- Raihan and his Gym Trainers' uniforms resemble Lance's outfit from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.
- The anime references this by having Lance reveal that his outfit was based on said uniforms.
- Raihan is one of three Gym Leaders that are battled together in a Double Battle for a Gym Badge, the other two being Tate and Liza.
Names
| Language | Name | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | キバナ Kibana | From 黄花藤 kibanafuji (common laburnum) and possibly 牙 kiba (fang) |
| English | Raihan | From golden rain and golden chain (names for the common laburnum) |
| German, Spanish, French, Brazilian Portuguese |
Roy | From Laburnum anagyroides (scientific name of the common laburnum) and possibly roy (Middle French for king) |
| Italian | Laburno | From laburno (laburnum) |
| Korean | 금랑 Geumrang | From 금사슬나무 geumsaseunnamu and 노랑꽃등 norangkkotdeung (names for the common laburnum) |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 奇巴納 / 奇巴纳 Qíbānà | Transcription of his Japanese name |
| Chinese (Cantonese) | 奇巴納 Kèihbānaahp |
References
| Trainers in the World Coronation Series | ||||||||
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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. |
