Villainous team
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Villainous teams (English: Team ~; Japanese: -団 -dan) are criminal organizations which form the core of the storyline of Pokémon games.There are seven as of Generation IV: Team Rocket, found in Generation I, Generation II and the Generation III remakes; Team Aqua and Team Magma, found in the Generation III main games; Cipher and Team Snagem, found in the GameCube games; Team Galactic, found in the Generation IV main games; and the Go-Rock Squad, of Pokémon Ranger. Whatever their goals are in their respective games, the one thing they all have in common is that they acheive their results through the misuse of Pokémon.
Comparisons
Whereas Team Rocket has vague goals and is Mafia-like (or perhaps Yakuza-like, considering the Japanese background), Team Aqua and Team Magma have clear goals and are cult-like, fanatically believing that achieving their goals will bring about the best interests of the people of the world. Cipher and Team Snagem work together to steal Pokémon from others and create Shadow Pokémon from them, while the leader of Team Galactic wishes to recreate the universe in his image with the powers of Dialga or Palkia. The Go-Rock Squad plan to take over the Pokémon Rangers by capturing powerful Pokémon, making them cause disasters, then commanding the Pokémon to stop by using Stylers so they will be regarded as Heroes. Each has an iconic leader - Giovanni (later missing), Archie, Maxie, Evice and Greevil, Gonzap, Cyrus, and Gordor respectively.
Team Rocket had extensive presence in Generation I, known activities include running the Celadon Game Corner, invading Silph Co., and murdering at least one Pokémon. Even in the anime, where law enforcement officers are clearly present, Team Rocket's activities continue unhindered, as if they were above the law. (Analysis?)
In contrast, Team Aqua and Team Magma's activities are at extremes: simple theft: stealing a Pokémon, a meteorite, and one submarine; and causing catastrophes: halting the activity of a volcano and causing droughts and heavy rains by awakening Groudon and Kyogre, while Cipher steals countless Pokémon and closes their hearts artificially to make them into fighting machines.
Similarly to Team Rocket, Team Galactic appears to run the Veilstone Game Corner. However, unlike the other teams, Team Galactic has several facilites. A warehouse and Galactic Veilstone Building reside in Veilstone City, and the Galactic Eterna Building is located at Eterna City. Team Galactic is far more successful than the other teams in accomplishing their goals, as they have captured Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf, created the Red Chain, and temporarily capture Dialga or Palkia until the player character and the lake trio foils them.
The above refers to the games; however, there is a darker interpretation of the teams in the manga Pokémon Special.
Trademark characteristics
Team Rocket
They wear black costumes and have a red "R" as their crest. Many variations of the costume have been seen. Their leader is Giovanni.
In the games
Giovanni was the leader of the Viridian City Gym until Blue took over.
In the anime
Team Rocket has appeared in almost every episode since the second, usually as the bumbling trio Jessie, James, and Meowth, though at times Giovanni as well as other members will appear.
In the manga
Team Aqua
They wear blue costumes that look like pirate outfits. They have an anchor-looking "A" as their crest. Their leader is Archie. Team Aqua tries to expand the ocean and awaken Kyogre.
In the games
Team Aqua are the main antagonists of Sapphire and Emerald, but they are heroes in Ruby.
In the anime
In the manga
Team Magma
They wear red jumpsuit outfits, which have been variously interpreted to look like Ninja costumes or an appearance of the Devil. They have a stylized "M", appearing like a volcano, as their team's signature crest. Their leader is Maxie. Team Magma attempts to wake Groudon and expand the land area of the world.
In the games
Team Magma are the antagonists in Ruby and Emerald, and are heros in Sapphire.
In the anime
In the manga
Cipher
In the games
In Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD this group aims to turn every Pokémon in the world into Shadow Pokémon.
In the anime
Due to the Orre region not appearing at all in the anime, everything associated with it does not appear as well. Due to the connection between Shadow Pokémon and Vicious's Dark Balls, it would not be surprising if this team were based off of him.
In the manga
Team Snagem
In the games
In Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD this team tries to steal every Pokémon in the world using their special device, the Snag Machine.
In the anime
In the manga
Team Galactic
Galactic Grunts wear black and white jumpsuits that vaguely resemble spacesuits and wear their hair in teal bowl cuts. Their leader is Cyrus, who wishes to awaken Dialga or Palkia in order to destroy the universe and rebuild it in his image. Their team's crest is a stylized letter "G" (Possibly to make it resemble a spiral galaxy). Whereas the other teams usually have large logos on their uniforms, Team Galatic's logos are small, being barely visible on their battle sprites.
In the games
In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, this team's leader wishes to remake the universe in his image with the powers of Dialga and Palkia.
In the anime
Saturn is the only one, along with two grunts, of the team that appears so far. They first appeared in A Secret Sphere of Influence!, though it was just a brief cameo at the end of the episode. Here, they commisioned Team Rocket to steal the Adamant Orb and frame Nando for the crime. At the end, they commented that they did a lousy job at it. This was not revealed until their next appearance, DP060. Saturn tries to locate the Unown and control them using a cube with an Arceus pattern. His Bronzor was revealed in this episode.
In the manga
Go-Rock Squad
In the games
In Pokémon Ranger, this team attempts to capture the legendary beasts with their own version of the Capture Styler.
