Explorers
- This article is about the group from Pokémon Horizons. For the games, see Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky.
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 The generals[1] of the Explorers prior to the Mega Voltage arc | ||||||||||||
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The Explorers (Japanese: エクスプローラーズ Explorers) are the main antagonists in Pokémon Horizons: The Series up to the Rising Again arc, led by Gibeon and, following his death, Spinel. Initially, the Explorers referred to a trio of century-old adventurers—Lucius, Rystal, and Gibeon—whose goal was to find Laqua, but underwent a major restructure by Gibeon, turning it into a global villainous organization whose goal is to obtain, monopolize, and extract the powers of the mysterious Laquium found at Laqua and use it for the benefit of humans and Pokémon. Under Spinel's tenure, the goal of the Explorers shifted towards global domination from the shadows via media manipulation and public reliance on his Laquium-based Strong Sphere project.
The Explorers have a strong connection to Exceed, a company founded by Gibeon that is used as a front to conduct research on Laquium.
History
Pre-series
100 years prior to the events of Pokémon Horizons: The Series, the group known as Explorers was founded by Lucius, Gibeon, and Rystal as they journeyed together to find the Pokémon paradise, Laqua.
Eventually, the trio arrived at their destination and, musing over how such a bountiful environment was created, decided to venture in further deep. In the deepest parts of Laqua, they found a cluster of Laquium, a highly energetic substance in the form of pink crystals that was forcing the surrounding vegetation to overgrow, leaving the land barren. Lucius and Rystal immediately recognized the danger it posed and decided to leave Laqua, but Gibeon insisted on meddling with it and had his White Zygarde dig the cluster out, causing it to activate and begin growing uncontrollably. Despite the efforts of Zygarde and Lucius's Six Heroes, the Laquium kept on spreading and caused a fissure to open under Gibeon, swallowing him swole and leaving him presumed dead. At this moment, Pagogo, Rystal's Terapagos, transformed into its Stellar Form, shared its power with the Six Heroes, and sealed the Laquium, along with Lucius, within a giant energy barrier. As a result of this, Lucius got trapped in Laqua, Pagogo reverted into a dormant state, and the Six Heroes got scattered around the world, with Rystal being the only one to escape unscathed, holding onto the promise of protecting the future of her and Lucius's daughter.
Unbeknownst to everyone, however, Gibeon managed to survive due to Laquium's power and, three days later, stumbled out of Laqua and into Pericarp Town, where he had his injuries treated by one of the villagers. With Laquium extending his lifespan, Gibeon lived for the next hundred years, during which he established a base of operations near Mount Pericarp and reformed the Explorers into its modern-day iteration, aiming to obtain Pagogo and the Six Heroes in order to undo the sealing barrier and extract the crystals directly from the source. He also founded Exceed, through which he was able to study Laquium's properties.
At some point following the Explorers' restructure, Hamber joined them in gratitude for Gibeon's guidance during his time as an aimless adventurer. Now Gibeon's second-in-command and family butler, Hamber became responsible for recruiting and coaching the new generals of the organization: Amethio, Coral, Sidian, and Chalce, in that order. The remaining general, Spinel, was a brilliant Exceed researcher that was personally selected by Gibeon.
A year prior to the events of the series, Hamber approached Diana, his former traveling companion, and offered to aid her in her adventures, but this was actually an attempt to obtain her pendant, which was Pagogo in its dormant form. She, however, saw through his lies and escaped. Later, Hamber discovered that the pendant had been passed down to Diana's granddaughter, Liko, and assigned Amethio and his subordinates, Zirc and Onia, to retrieve it.
Pokémon Horizons: The Series
The Explorers debuted in The Pendant That Starts It All (Part One). During a school break, Amethio approached Liko at Indigo Academy's dormitories and, while under the guise of a representative of Diana, lied about being entasked to pick up the pendant in order to return it to her grandmother. Feeling something was amiss, Liko attempted to escape from him and his cohorts, Zirc and Onia, but ended up cornered on a rooftop until Friede swooped in at the right time and engaged Amethio in a battle. Upon witnessing the collateral damage the battle was causing, Liko tried to run away and almost got hit by a stray Psycho Cut if not by her pendant suddenly generating an energy field in order to shield her, which Friede used as an opening to escape with her to the Brave Olivine. The Explorers, however, did not give up and followed them to the airship, even amidst a vicious thunderstorm. There, Friede and Amethio clashed again, albeit briefly, as this time, Liko stepped in, having her Sprigatito unleash a Leafage powerful enough to break the barrier around the battlefield and expose everyone to the unrelenting weather. This forced the Explorers to retreat, but not without taking the Grass Cat Pokémon as a hostage.
In For Sure! 'Cause Sprigatito's with Me!, Amethio battled against Friede once again; this time, however, the Professor was just distracting him to allow Liko to find Sprigatito in the warehouse where they were hiding. While this was happening, Zirc managed to plant a tracker on Brave Olivine's hull. This allowed for the Explorers to follow the ship all the way to Roy's island via submarine, where both parties clashed once more in Found You, Fuecoco! and The Ancient Poké Ball. As Liko's Sprigatito and Roy's soon-to-be Fuecoco were being overwhelmed by Amethio's Ceruledge, the girl's pendant synced with the boy's Ancient Poké Ball, which finally opened up. From the artifact, emerged a mighty Black Rayquaza, who indiscriminately rained devastation all over the beach with a singular Draco Meteor, forcing the Explorers to retreat. Later, during a meeting with the other Explorers' higher-ups, Gibeon, the organization's leader, removed Amethio from the mission of collecting the pendant and assigned it to Spinel. Afterwards, Amethio communicated to Zirc and Onia that he was going to pursue the Black Rayquaza from now on, believing its connection with the pendant to hold the key to the mystery behind it.
In The Future I Choose, it was revealed that Spinel was spying on the Rising Volt Tacklers during their time in Paldea in order to learn more about them. The knowledge he acquired was put to use over the following episodes, as he commenced his attack on them. First, in An Unexpected Picnic!, he positioned his fleet of Magneton around the Brave Olivine to create an electromagnetic interference to mess with the data array of the ship, rendering it powerless during a system reboot. After successfully scaring them away at the beginning of the following episode, Friede followed one of the Magneton all the way to Levincia, where he was ambushed by it and Spinel's Beheeyem, which were being commanded from a distance by their Trainer, seemingly in order to have his strength tested. The next day, Spinel created a false advertisement for some Spicy Herba Mystica to lure Liko into a back alley in Levincia. There, he had his Beheeyem put her on a trance with its psychic powers, allowing him to collect her pendant without any mishaps. Over the next episode, a dazed Liko was left wandering around the city while the Rising Volt Tacklers were caught in a web of misinformation laid out by Spinel, which pointed her whereabouts to Artazon instead. At the end of the day, with the collective efforts of Roy and Dot, she was able to fully regain her memory.
In Quaxly, We Can Do It, Friede and the young Rising Volt Tacklers begun their counterattack to find the culprit and get the pendant back. The Professor went after a leaving cruise, where he was greeted and challenged by a mysterious man—this, however, was one more red herring from Spinel. While this was happening, Dot and her Quaxly managed to pinpoint the pendant's location to a docked cargo ship and alerted her friends. The three of them battled against Spinel's Magneton and Beheeyem and won, but were no match for his Umbreon. At that moment, backed up against a wall, Liko's feelings begun resonating with the pendant, which shone brightly and gave Spinel's hiding location away. After Sprigatito returned the item to her Trainer, the pendant activated again and released Arboliva of the Six Heroes from its Ancient Poké Ball. Then, the group grabbed hold of the Olive Pokémon's arms before it jumped overboard, leaving Spinel at the ship with the understanding that Liko herself is the key to the pendant's secrets.
In The Lonely Hatenna, Amethio, Zirc, and Onia arrived in Galar after tracking the Black Rayquaza to Galar Mine. In the following episode, their path once again crossed with the Rising Volt Tacklers': Amethio immediately engaged Friede in battle, while Zirc and Onia faced off against Roy, Liko, and Captain Pikachu. However, the battles came to a rather abrupt end when a Galarian Moltres with an Ancient Poké Ball appeared and started attacking them. At the end of the next episode, it was revealed that the Explorers had witnessed the recapture of Moltres and Liko's pendant turning into a mysterious Pokémon, with Amethio deciding to go after the Rising Volt Tacklers in order to steal it.
In Reunion at the Ancient Castle!, Amethio, Zirc, and Onia reported their findings to Hamber, who quickly contacted other generals to head with him to the Galar region: he recruited Coral and Sidian, as Spinel and Chalce were occupied in the Explorers' laboratory. Amethio's team followed Liko, Roy, and Friede to an ancient castle near Hammerlocke, where they surrounded them in order to take the mysterious Pokémon away. The confrontation extended into the following episode and ended up with Amethio's first official loss to Friede. Meanwhile, Hamber and his Dusknoir arrived at the place and confronted Diana, who questioned him about the Explorers' motives to target them. Then, a commotion provided by the arrival of Coral and Sidian allowed for her to escape the scene, as well as for Amethio's team to leave before being caught in the crossfire. The two generals cornered Liko and Roy, only for Captain Pikachu to arrive and rescue them, fending off her Glalie and his Garganacl at once. This, however, made Coral snap and recklessly order her Glalie to use Self-Destruct, allowing the Rising Volt Tacklers to escape and leaving the ancient castle in ruins.
In As Long as I'm with My Friends, while the Rising Volt Tacklers had been once again caught in false information spread by Spinel, the generals of the Explorers had a meeting to discuss their next move. They eventually concluded that the best course of action would be pursuing the Black Rayquaza itself instead of Terapagos in order to stay ahead. In Roar of the Black Rayquaza, Amethio's team detected the Black Rayquaza in the Lapras Sea, and as such they immediately went after it. However, despite his best efforts, he lost very easily when trying to battle it. Amethio also witnessed Terapagos transforming into its Terastal Form as it conjured up its strength in order to protect Liko. In the following episode, after asking Hamber to train him in order to become stronger, they held a training match between their Ghost-type Pokémon, which ended up with a victory to Hamber after he Terastallized his Dusknoir. Afterwards, he gave a Tera Orb to Amethio and set him in the direction of mastering the Terastal phenomenon in order to draw out its full power.
After Amethio's failure, Spinel came up with a new plan to catch the Black Rayquaza, aided by Coral, Sidian, and Chalce. Prior to Transform! Hero of the Seas, Palafin, the Explorers led the construction of a tower on an island near Levincia as part of the plan, which the Rising Volt Tacklers were made aware of in A Challenge from the Explorers and started being enacted in The Plan to Capture Rayquaza. The tower itself was a red herring; its true purpose was to separate Friede from the rest of the group. The real plan involved attracting Rayquaza by simulating Terapagos's energy signature through a resonance generator, wearing it down by attacking it with powerful, super effective moves, and finally catching it in an Ultra Ball. The Rising Volt Tacklers managed to stall the Explorers for time enough to allow Dot to create a shutdown program and disable the resonance generator, allowing Rayquaza to free itself from the onslaught of attacks, Rayquaza then unleashed another Draco Meteor attack which ruined the Explorers' efforts. Once again, Coral let her temper overcome her better judgment and commanded Glalie to use Self-Destruct, which collided with Rayquaza's Dragon Pulse. The resulting explosion was powerful enough to blast the Legendary Pokémon directly into the hull of the Brave Olivine. In the following episode, the four generals retreated. As Liko, Roy, and Friede were battling against the Black Rayquaza, Amethio arrived at the scene and worked in conjunction with them. Despite his Ceruledge and Friede's Charizard having Terastallized, they ended up defeated by a single Dragon Ascent. At the end of the episode, the generals had another meeting and were instructed by Gibeon to stay low and wait for the Rising Volt Tacklers to gather the Six Heroes for them, but to still keep their eyes on them for the time being. Gibeon then claimed that his and Lucius's adventure was not over yet as his Zygarde watched.
In Welcome to Naranja Academy!, Chalce is shown to be undercover at Naranja Academy as a teacher named "Chive" and forged enrollment papers for Coral and Sidian as students under the fake names of "Cornbread" and "Seasoning", so they can also help her with their unknown, undercover mission at the school. In the following episode, Cornbread attempted to challenge Katy for her Tera Training, but she lost to Liko in a cake-baking contest and was disqualified. At some point, Cornbread and Seasoning were approved in the Tera Training after battling Kofu and Tulip, respectively. In Trending Terastallization! Dance, Dance, Quaxly!, Cornbread and Seasoning were briefly noticed by director Clavell while they were watching Liko, Roy, and Dot making their way to Dot's battle against Iono.
In The Treasure of Eternity, while Friede was investigating about the Treasure of Eternity in the Exceed company that he once worked in, Spinel made his efforts useless and stole the piece of Treasure of Eternity, which in reality was a piece of Laquium. In the same episode, Hamber and Amethio had a face to face meeting with Gibeon, revealing he's Amethio's grandfather. Gibeon explained that they needed more Laquium and that Terapagos's "awakening" was the key to Laqua. Amethio also claimed he's nothing like his father, who failed the organization in the past. Amethio then got a report from Zirc and Onia who were spying on Spinel, resulting in Amethio intending on finding out what Spinel was up to.
In Showdown! The Paldea Elite Four, Cornbread battled Larry alongside Kofu while Seasoning battled Rika alongside Tulip, but they were both defeated.
In The Approaching Shadow!, Amethio tracked Spinel down to Glaseado Mountain. Aware he was being followed, Spinel lured Amethio away into an encounter with Liko, which led to a battle between the two. Just as it seemed that Amethio would win, Spinel interrupted the battle to test the Laquium on his Umbreon, turning it feral and much stronger. This angered Terapagos, who used its Terastal Form to destroy the Laquium shard and purify Umbreon of its effects. Noting he had acquired the results he was looking for, Spinel fled while Liko and Amethio chased after him. Unbeknownst to Liko and Amethio, Spinel was luring them into a trap and left them stranded inside a nearby cave. Elsewhere on the mountain, Coral and Sidian shedded their school disguises in order to stall Roy and Dot and prevent them from helping Liko. Aftewards, he told Chalce of Amethio's relationship with Gibeon, and that if they were to have a future, they would need to get him out of the way. Chalce agreed with his reasoning and began to collude with him, beginning the start of a schism in the organization.
In Liko and Amethio, when Grusha came to assist Roy and Dot, Coral and Sidian were ordered by Chalce to retreat. Later, at the Explorers headquarters, Spinel showed his allies footage of Amethio and Liko working together to escape the cave he trapped them in, framing it as an act of betrayal. Despite attempting to explain himself, Gibeon coldly refused to listen to Amethio and relieved him of all duties.
In Infiltrating the System! Naranja Academy in Danger!, the Explorers infiltrated Naranja Academy to steal information regarding Terapagos. Chalce had Sidian and Coral stand guard against interference while she worked on stealing the data. Penny found out about this and informed Dot and her friends to stop them. Sidian battled against Liko but was defeated despite Terastallizing his Garganacl which caused him to retreat. Coral, meanwhile, was defeated by Roy and was forced to retreat by Sidian much to her anger. Despite interference from Dot's Pokémon and Penny counter-hacking her attempts, Chalce was still able to steal the data about Terapagos before fleeing by teleporting with her Xatu.
In Shine on, Terastallization! Liko vs. Roy!, Chalce brought the data to Spinel, who began to study it in earnest. She also informed him that Hamber had asked her about the information, but she refused to divulge anything to him, leaving Spinel pleased.
In Over the Top!, Hamber ordered Coral and Sidian to follow the Rising Volt Tacklers to Area Zero. In the next episode, Coral separated from Sidian as they watched the group, met, and accidentally caught a Scream Tail, which she nicknamed "Screamypuff" (オニプリン Onipurin). In the next one, they both witnessed the battle between the Rising Volt Tacklers and Lucius's Gouging Fire and then the summoning of the remaining of the Six Heroes, Rayquaza. In Beyond the Shining Rainbow, after watching the Rising Volt Tacklers gain Rayquaza, Coral and Sidian left Area Zero to report their findings. After reporting their findings, Gibeon told everyone to prepare to head for Laqua. Meanwhile, Amethio and his allies intended to find out what Spinel was up to, but got caught. Fortunately, Hamber rescued them and informed of Gibeon's past with Lucius. After hearing this information, Amethio and his allies decided to head for Laqua in order to protect his grandfather.
In Where the Land Meets the Sky, Chalce spotted Friede talking to Liko, Roy, and Dot through the phone and returned to Exceed to tell the other Explorers about the Rising Volt Tacklers' presence there. In The Pokémon Paradise of Laqua!, Spinel confronted Friede while Coral, Sidian, and Chalce confronted Liko, Roy, and Dot after Pagogo removed the barrier around the Laquium. In the next episode, the four generals battled Friede and the younger members, which led to their defeat, but they bought Gibeon enough time to reach the Laquium.
In Guided by the Black Rayquaza!, Amethio attempted to warn Gibeon about Spinel's apparent betrayal, only to have his concerns dismissed. Gibeon ordered Zygarde to mine a large cluster of Laquium, but it shattered, revealing a still-living Lucius inside. Lucius explained that Zygarde asked Rayquaza to find Trainers capable of gathering the Six Heroes and restoring Pagogo to full strength in order to destroy the Laquium. Angered, Gibeon summoned the generals, who used machines to activate the Laquium core and make it grow uncontrollably. After convincing Zygarde to fight by his side, Gibeon confronted Amethio and the younger Rising Volt Tacklers to keep them from thwarting him.
In The Earthshaking White Zygarde, Gibeon commanded Zygarde in a ferocious battle against Liko, Roy, Dot and Amethio. Zygarde's immense power eventually overwhelmed Roy and Dot, but with clever use of teamwork, Liko's newly-evolved Meowscarada was able to hit Zygarde with aid from Amethio's Ceruledge. Convinced by Liko and the others' strength, Zygarde forfeited the battle before breaking down into its component Cells and abandoning Gibeon. Devastated, Gibeon questioned how he was yet again foiled by someone of Lucius's bloodline before Lucius and Amethio explained it was the bond between Liko, her friends, and their Pokémon that led them to victory.
In Where the Adventure Leads, after Gibeon passed away due to the purification of the Laquium core, Spinel took over as the new leader of the organization. He also occupied Laqua for the Explorers and used his Laquium Sphere to drive the Six Heroes (except Rayquaza) berserk, causing the six of them to fight each other and inflict great destruction to the paradise. As seen in Eyes to the Skies Once Again (Part Two), in the aftermath of these events, the Explorers captured the rampaging heroes, holding them captive and dormant in their base. At some point, Amethio was separated from Zirc and Onia and went missing. Even though Spinel made a report claiming that he had betrayed the Explorers and perished in Laqua with Gibeon, Cervantis and Hamber did not believe it. A year after those events, Spinel reformed the Explorers, casting the group as a heroic organization to the public and putting the blame of the destruction in Laqua on the Rising Volt Tacklers instead. In Following Traces of Laquium, Hamber tasked Zirc and Onia to find Amethio and gather Gibeon's former Zygarde Cells without letting Spinel know of their actions, giving them one of the Cells and a Zygarde Cube to help them in their task.
In The Strong Sphere, the Explorers were revealed to be creating Strong Spheres, devices for Trainers to imbue their Pokémon with Laquium mist. Coral and Sidian were tasked with advertising the product, using it against Liko and Roy in a Double Battle. The Laquium-infused Pokémon easily defeated them without much input, causing it to be well received, as the public was unaware of the connection between the Strong Spheres and the phenomenon afflicting wild Pokémon.
In Orla, Grounded, a pair of Explorers members named Indi and Rubina debuted. They, along with two Exceed employees, were sent to pick up an order of Strong Sphere outer shells made by Karna, only to be stopped by Ult. The employees tried to convince Karna of Exceed's good intentions, but after Liko and the others informed her of the truth, she angrily refused to work with them anymore. Indi and Rubina stepped in with the intention of taking the shells Karna made, only to realize that Liko and her friends were the Trainers who repeatedly got in the Explorers' way. They both sent out a Paldean Tauros and used them to challenge Liko's group, using the Strong Spheres to boost their Pokémon. In the next episode, despite their use of Laquium, Liko's group managed to defeat the Explorers after exploiting a weakness in Laquium, forcing them to retreat. Indi and Rubina retreated alongside Exceed, reporting their failure to Spinel, who excused them and vowed to take down the Rising Volt Tacklers again.
In Terastallization vs. Mega Evolution!, Zirc and Onia continued their task of locating Amethio, being out at sea, though they had little success in objective. In Nidothing Love!, Zirc and Onia told Liko that Amethio was missing and asked for her help personally to find him.
In Charcadet's Wish, after paying a visit to Amethio's mansion, Liko, Zirc and Onia, with help from Liko's Charcadet and Cervantis, found Amethio but in hiding to avoid being captured by Spinel's agents on an island off the coast of Levincia where he first met Ceruledge as a Charcadet which was their only family vacation years ago. Zirc and Onia begged Amethio to take Exceed and the Explorers back from Spinel, but he refused, stating that with Gibeon's passing, he was powerless to do anything. With words of encouragement from Liko and a battle with her Charcadet, Amethio managed to regain the resolve to fight against Spinel's machinations. Despite this, Amethio refused to go with Zirc and Onia, stating that as members of the Explorers, there were things they could accomplish on the inside that he couldn't. Accepting this, Zirc passed on the Zygarde Cube to Amethio before leaving the island with Onia. Afterward, Zirc and Onia reported to Hamber that Amethio was safe and sound, though Hamber was unaware that Chalce was monitoring him.
In The Dusk Ball That Wouldn't Open, Indi and Rubina attempted to trade with Ryan, who had stolen Ult's Dusk Ball in order to exchange it for a Strong Sphere. Ult interrupted the transaction and a battle quickly occurred, with the two Explorers sending out a Unovan and Galarian Darmanitan. Though they had the upper hand due to Ryan's Grafaiai being inexperienced, the tide quickly turned against them when the Dusk Ball reacted to Ult's feelings, revealing a Dragonite that easily overwhelmed both Darmanitan, forcing them to retreat. In the following episode, they met with Spinel, who quickly discovered Ult eavesdropping on them and had him taken into custody, though his Sableye was able to escape and discovered Roy. While observing him, Chalce expressed concern about Spinel's hastiness, but he told her that Amethio's return had complicated matters. Roy later found and freed Ult, only for Indi and Rubina to quickly discover them and result in another battle. This time, they were assisted by four Rabsca that were emitting Gravity, getting the upper hand, even against Dragonite. Ult's resolve to protect the ones he cared resulted in the discovery of his Dragonite being able to Mega Evolve, and Mega Dragonite easily defeated the enemies, while Roy and his Mega Lucario defeated Indi and Rubina, taking advantage of the opening to escape.
In Taking the Next Steps, the Rising Volt Tacklers decided to contact Amethio's father, Cervantis, for information about the Six Heroes. Cervantes agreed to do so, though the message was intercepted by the Explorers.
In Tinkatuff's Hammer Wasn't Made in a Year!, Coral and Sidian were continuing to promote the Strong Spheres in Galar when they attempted to get some leisure time after one such event. However, they were swarmed by their fans, though a manager arrived and took them away. The manager revealed to the two that they were told to head to an unknown location in Paldea, hiring a Galarian Cabbie to do so. The cabbie initially refused until seeing Coral, and when Coral refused to go, the manager forced her inside. On the way, they were knocked down by a Tinkatuff, which was shortly followed up by Dot and her Pokémon. Although Sidian wished to head to their destination, Coral refused and battled Dot. Tinkatuff was able to forge a new hammer from Corviknight's feathers, evolving into Tinkaton and sending Glalie flying away with a Brutal Swing, prompting the two generals to chase after it. Meanwhile, Indi and Rubina confronted Liko, Roy and Ult at the warehouse instead of Cervantis.
In The Six Heroes Unleashed!, Indi and Rubina with three other agents used the Super Strong Sphere on five of the Six Heroes to battle Liko, Roy, and Ult, as this was Spinel's plan to take down the Rising Volt Tacklers by using their allies against them. In the next episode, despite the Heroes knocking out most of Liko, Roy, Ult, and Amethio's Pokémon with help from Coral and Sidian, they ended up retreating after the effects of the Super Strong Spheres worn off on the five Pokémon.
In HZ124, the Explorers were confronted by the younger members of the Rising Volt Tacklers and Amethio in an attempt to rescue the remaining Six Heroes. However, Spinel planned for it as he set up a trap for them when they get inside their HQ. In the next episode, the Explorers lose the remaining Six Heroes when the younger members and Amethio free them from their control. After the battle, Indi and Rubina informed Spinel that the recordings were complete, leaving him satisfied despite losing the Six Heroes as he pulled up a screen. At the same time, Chalce rolled her eyes, appearing to disapprove of his methods, while Coral and Sidian started doubting the Strong Sphere. Spinel would later use the recordings to frame the Rising Volt Tacklers again, claiming that they had broken into their facility and stole the remaining Six Heroes that were being cared by them. This was also Spinel's plan to force the Rising Volt Tacklers to go into hiding and promoting the Strong Sphere.
In HZ130, the Explorers released the Strong Spheres to the general public. Chalce informed Spinel that Naranja Academy had banned their usage, which he attributed to the Rising Volt Tacklers. Worried about their cooperation with Amethio, Spinel ordered Chalce, Coral, and Sidian to go on a night patrol around Mount Pericarp, reassuring her that he would fulfill her wish. During the patrol, they were confronted by Hamber, who asked them to rebel against Spinel, explaining that the Strong Spheres would destroy the bond between them and their Pokémon. They refused to listen and battled him. Hamber revealed his third Pokémon, Bloodmoon Ursaluna, which defeated Glalie and Garganacl. Chalce used Mega Evolution on her Medicham to defeat the Pokémon. As Chalce ordered agents to apprehend him, Ursaluna created a cloud of dust, allowing Hamber to escape. Deeming him no longer a threat, they resumed their patrol, while Hamber, hidden nearby, felt he had done all he could and left the rest to Amethio.
In HZ133, the Explorers got word from Spinel that the Rising Volt Tacklers have return to Laqua with their allies, as he send the agents to stop them. Indi and Rubina reveal during their battle against Dot, Nemona, and Penny that they're aware of the Rising Volt Tacklers' plan that requires all of the 18 Tera Types. Through Hamber's help, Indi and Rubina were defeated as they retreated in order to get ready for the next stage of their plan. Meanwhile, Coral, Sidian and Chalce had a three on three battle against Roy, Ult and Friede, in which the former two admitted their dislike of the Strong Spheres, with all three ultimately losing the battle in the following episode. Seeing Liko, Diana, and Ann with Amethio, Onia, and Zirc, Spinel had his upgraded Laquium-activating machine cause the wild Pokémon who still lived in Laqua go berserk. Through the group's efforts, the Laquium-activating machine were destroyed with Zygarde, Zirc, and Onia taking the wild Pokémon somewhere safe. After the Rising Volt Tacklers and their allies regroup, Spinel with Indi and Rubina make their appearances.
In HZ135, Spinel ordered Indi and Rubina to stop the Rising Volt Tacklers, being able to take down Penny's Sylveon, seemingly stopping their plan. At this point, the other three generals arrived, with Chalce realizing that Spinel had no intentions of honoring her request while Sidian stated that the Strong Spheres had no future with Pokémon. Coral had her Scream Tail substitute Sylveon. Admitting that he had not trusted them either and disappointed that they didn't agree with his views, Spinel voluntarily merged himself with the core, reinforcing its resistance from the purification attempt. In the next episode, the Rising Volt Tacklers were able to force Spinel out of the core. Desperate to keep it intact, he forced Umbreon to fight Liko and her Meowscarada, only to be beaten and the core purified. Spinel tried to recall Umbreon, but she had lost all trust in him and abandoned him, leading to him chasing after her in vain. In the aftermath, the truth was exposed and Spinel was jailed for his crimes, while Cervantis took leadership of the Explorers and regained control of Exceed. All of the remaining generals have left the Explorers. Coral and Sidian travel together while stil being famous, Hamber left on a journey with Diana, and Chalce resumes her teaching career.
Notable members
Main members
This is the list of the main Explorers members up to the most recent Japanese episode:
Modern Explorers
This is the list of the Explorers members after the organization was reformed by Gibeon in the modern era. As of Where the Adventure Leads, with Spinel's rise to leadership of the Explorers, some new members of the organization were introduced in the animated series.
In Charcadet's Wish, two unnamed members of the organization were shown hunting Amethio during the year-long period that passed during Where the Adventure Leads, which indicates that there are more members of the Explorers than those shown in the series. In The Six Heroes Unleashed!, another group of Explorers agents appeared, this time working under Indi and Rubina's orders. In Roy vs. Friede: Wings of Fire!, several Explorers agents were seen guarding Laqua and mining Laquium crystals. While in HZ124, several Explorers agents, both male and female, confronted the Rising Volt Tacklers and Amethio when they stormed the HQ.
Current members
| Member | Rank | Debut |
|---|---|---|
 Cervantis |
Boss | The Treasure of Eternity |
 Onia |
Agent | The Pendant That Starts It All (Part One) |
 Zirc |
Agent | The Pendant That Starts It All (Part One) |
 Unnamed (multiple) |
Agents | Charcadet's Wish |
Status unknown
| Member | Rank | Debut |
|---|---|---|
 Indi |
Agent | Orla, Grounded |
 Rubina |
Agent | Orla, Grounded |
Former members
| Member | Rank | Debut |
|---|---|---|
 Gibeon (deceased) |
Boss | The Ancient Poké Ball (voice only) From So Far Away (physical debut) |
 Hamber (Double agent) |
Unknown (currently) Second-in-command (formerly) |
The Treasure After the Storm! |
 Amethio |
General | The Pendant That Starts It All (Part One) |
 Coral |
General | The Ancient Poké Ball |
 Sidian |
General | The Ancient Poké Ball |
 Chalce |
General | The Ancient Poké Ball |
 Spinel |
Boss General (formerly) |
The Ancient Poké Ball |
Original Explorers
This is the list of the original Explorers members from 100 years prior to the events of the series.
| Member | Debut |
|---|---|
 Gibeon |
The Ancient Poké Ball (voice only) From So Far Away (physical debut) |
 Lucius |
The Future I Choose (flashback) Guided by the Black Rayquaza! (physical debut) |
 Rystal |
The Three Explorers |
Bases
This is listing the HQs of the Explorers during the events of Pokémon Horizons: The Series:
| Image | Location | Description | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
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Mount Pericarp | The first of the Explorers base which was spotted by Liko in Where the Land Meets the Sky. | Unknown |
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Manpūku Town | An Explorers base which was invaded by Ult and later Roy in Friends as Two, Me and You. It is where five of the Six Heroes prisoners were kept in. | Paldea |
|
Unknown | The Explorers HQ which was invaded by Liko, Roy, Dot, Ult and Amethio to rescue the Six Heroes in HZ125. | Unknown |
Associates
This is listing characters who are related to the Explorers during the events of Pokémon Horizons: The Series:
| Member | Description | Debut |
|---|---|---|
 Bisharp's Trainer |
This Trainer was a mercenary paid by Spinel to delay Friede while the latter looked for Liko's pendant. | Quaxly, We Can Do It |
 Explorers' subordinates |
This is a group of subordinates who accompanied Hamber during his meeting with Diana. | Terapagos's Adventure |
 Exceed |
Exceed is a company that was founded by Gibeon to improve the lives of humans and Pokémon through the research of Laquium, which is known by the employees as the "Treasure of Eternity". After Spinel became the leader of the Explorers, he also became the company's director in Cervantis's place, drawing the company closer to the Explorers and using it to create and sell a mass-produced device containing Laquium, the Strong Sphere. | The Treasure of Eternity |
Technology
Gadgets
- In The Pendant That Starts It All (Part Two), Amethio, Onia, and Zirc used their watches to change from their disguises into their uniforms. Coral used hers in A Challenge from the Explorers to change from her uniform to civilian clothing and back. Both she and Sidian used theirs in The Approaching Shadow! to change from their academy uniform disguises into their uniforms. Chalce used hers in Infiltrating the System! Naranja Academy in Danger! to change from her teacher disguise into her uniform.
- In For Sure! 'Cause Sprigatito's with Me!, Zirc planted a tracker in the husk of the Rising Volt Tacklers' airship. It was later found and destroyed by Quaxly in The Ancient Poké Ball.
- In Fly! Wattrel!!, Spinel communicated with his Pokémon using a small transceiver attached to them. He also used the transceivers in Quaxly, We Can Do It to communicate with Liko, Roy, and Dot.
- In Fly! Wattrel!! and Quaxly, We Can Do It, Spinel also used an unknown device to see through his Pokémon's eyes. In Liko and Amethio, Spinel used that same device to record Amethio helping Liko out a cave.
- In Better, Farther, Stronger!, the Explorers commanded by Indi and Rubina used several drones to create laser containers for use in moving the five members of the Six Heroes they possessed.
| Watches | Tracker | Transceiver |
|---|---|---|
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Vehicles
- In The Treasure After the Storm!, Amethio contacted Hamber from a submarine. This submarine later made further appearances as Amethio, Zirc and Onia's method of transportation around the world.
- In Fly! Wattrel!! and Quaxly, We Can Do It, Spinel is seen commanding his Pokémon against Friede and later Liko, Roy, and Dot from a van outfitted with high-tech surveillance equipment. This van made further appearances as Spinel's base of operations.
- In Rivals in the Dark of Night!, Hamber, Sidian, and Coral traveled to Galar using an Explorers helicopter. It also used in Over the Top! for Sidian and Coral to sneak into Area Zero.
- In The Six Heroes Unleashed! and Better, Farther, Stronger!, Indi and Rubina used a group of Explorers-branded trucks to transport the dormant members of the Six Heroes under their custody.
| Submarine | Van | Helicopter |
|---|---|---|
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Other
- In The Ancient Poké Ball and several subsequent episodes, the Explorers leadership are shown using virtual reality technology to attend meetings at the organization's headquarters. This technology projected holograms of them into the headquarters' meeting chamber, where they could conduct their business as if they were physically in the room. Gibeon, the Explorers' first leader, used similar technology to speak to his subordinates through a holographic monolith projected into the meeting room.
- In The Plan to Capture Rayquaza, the Explorers used a resonance generator that could transmit energy at long distances. After observing Terapagos using his equipment, Spinel was able to recreate Terapagos's energy signature on the resonance generator to attract the Black Rayquaza. It was later deactivated by Dot and then destroyed by Rayquaza.
- In The Truth Revealed!, while looking through Spinel's computer at Exceed, Amethio uncovered documents for a prototype of device called the Laquium Sphere. In Where the Adventure Leads, using the Laquium Sphere, Spinel infected all but one of the Six Heroes with Laquium mist, making them go completely berserk.
- In Guided by the Black Rayquaza!, Gibeon was revealed to have a strange device on his suit that can turn Laquium crystals into mist that is injected into his body through a tube connected to the back of his head. This allows Gibeon to use Laquium to heal his poor health, even allowing him to walk. The device disappeared as Gibeon faded away due to the destruction of Laquium.
- In Guided by the Black Rayquaza!, the Explorers used three machines capable of producing miniature earthquakes in order to stimulate the ground and force the Laquium to grow and expand out of the ground so they can obtain it. They were powered by Spinel's Magnezone's electricity. They were all later destroyed by the rampaging Six Heroes. In HZ134, five of these machines are located around a chunk of Laquium and used to activate it and spread its pink mist around Laqua and Mount Pericarp.
- In Eyes to the Skies Once Again (Part Two), it is revealed that the Explorers captured and placed the Six Heroes, except Rayquaza, as prisoners in pink, energy barriers, which keeps them dormant.
- In The Strong Sphere, Sidian and Coral used Strong Spheres, smaller versions of the Laquium Sphere, during a battle against Liko and Roy. In The Six Heroes Unleashed!, a group of Explorers led by Indi and Rubina revealed upgraded Strong Spheres named Super Strong Spheres, and used them to confront the Rising Volt Tacklers.
| Resonance generator | Earthquake machine | Suit device | Laquium Sphere |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Restraining barriers | Strong Sphere | Super Strong Sphere | |
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Pokémon
- For information regarding Pokémon owned by the named Explorers members, please refer to each of their individual pages.
The following is a list of Pokémon belonging to unnamed Explorers agents in Pokémon Horizons: The Series:
Artwork
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| Concept art of Amethio [2] | Concept art of Zirc and Onia [3] | Concept art of Spinel, Sidian, Chalce, and Coral | Concept art of Gibeon, Lucius, and Rystal from 100 years ago |
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| Concept art of Sidian and Coral in Naranja Academy uniforms | Concept art of Spinel and Chalce from the Mega Voltage arc | ||
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| Concept art of Sidian and Coral from the Mega Voltage arc | Concept art of Indi and Rubina [4] | ||
Trivia
- The Explorers is the first villainous organization created specifically for the animated series.
- The names of the modern-day members of the organization refer to gemstones and rocks used in the creation of jewelry.
Names
| Language | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Arabic | المستكشفين | |
| Chinese | Cantonese | 探夢隊 Tāammuhng Déui |
| Mandarin | 探夢隊 Tànmèng Duì * 探索者队 Tànsuǒzhě Duì * | |
| Czech | Průzkumníci | |
| Danish | Explorers | |
| Dutch | Ontdekkers | |
| Finnish | Etsijät | |
| French | Explorateurs | |
| German | Entdecker | |
| Italian | Esploratori | |
| Korean | 익스플로러즈 Explorers | |
| Norwegian | Oppdagerne | |
| Polish | Pionierzy | |
| Portuguese | Brazil | Desbravadores |
| Portugal | Exploradores | |
| Spanish | Exploradores | |
| Swedish | Utforskarna | |
| Turkish | Kaşifler | |
References
- ↑ They are referred to as "generals" in English-based media, such as the official website and the blurb for The Rising Volt Tacklers vs. The Explorers!. In Japanese, they have been referred to as 幹部 kanbu in a X/Twitter post, used for the terms "Admin" and "Executive" (such as Magma Admin and Rocket Executive)
- ↑ https://twitter.com/anipoke_PR/status/1636676500106919936/photo/1
- ↑ https://twitter.com/anipoke_PR/status/1636676500106919936/photo/1
- ↑ https://x.com/anipoke_pr/status/1933766351602266402?s=61&t=xKtdVidcKfgZ6A5yGeT6RA
Related articles
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| Pokémon Horizons characters | ||||||||||
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| See also: Pokémon the Series characters |
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This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation. |