Every fan of the Pokémon franchise, whether they are brand-new to the world of Pokémon or a veteran player, has their own opinion on what makes a Pokémon Trainer powerful. Some will say a Trainer is great because of the Pokémon in their overall roster, and most of all, in their main battling team. Others may remark on how a Trainer is powerful because of their quick thinking and adaptability, able to win even the toughest fights.
Many of the most well-known Pokémon Trainers in history are from the beloved Kanto region. Some Trainers, such as the Elite Four member Agatha, have been working with Pokémon for decades and are now masters of their craft. Other Trainers, such as Ash Ketchum, are on the road to becoming Pokémon Masters, yet have still created quite a legacy for themselves.
Sabrina Was a True Threat in Pokémon: Indigo League
A Fearsome Psychic Able To Communicate Telepathically With Her Pokémon
Though many Trainers in the Pokémon world are friendly, there are also several that one knows never to make an enemy of, even if they are not inherently evil. Sabrina, a Psychic-type Gym Leader from Saffron City, is portrayed as a mysterious yet good-natured Trainer in the games and animated series such as Pokémon Origins. However, she is much more terrifying in Pokémon: Indigo League, showcased as a Gym Leader who was obsessed with becoming stronger. Her desire for power caused her to act out coldly, even imprisoning her own parents in a psychic dollhouse.
Sabrina, throughout the Pokémon media, was born with psychic powers herself, making her a perfect Trainer for the Psychic-type. The Gym Leader is even able to give out commands to her Pokémon without speaking a word, as the two are able to telepathically communicate. After escaping her clutches, Ash and his friends seek the help of a playful Haunter, as the Ghost/Poison-type's Ghost-type moves would be supereffective against Sabrina's Pokémon. In the end, Haunter's cheerfulness would allow Sabrina to laugh for the first time in ages, helping her relax and see the error of her ways.
Gary Oak Acted as Ash’s Rival in the Earlier Episodes
The Skilled Trainer Later Decided To Become a Researcher
Since the two were little kids, Ash and his childhood friend Gary Oak have always had a rivalry. Their competition would only grow more intense after the two became Pokémon Trainers, with Gary being quick to make fun of Ash for oversleeping on the day he was meant to pick out a Pokémon. Much to Ash's annoyance, Gary seemed to breeze through battles and gained Gym Badges easily. He was also amazing at catching and training Pokémon, collecting many for his Pokédex entries.
Gary would finally admit that he thought his childhood friend was a good Trainer after he was able to defeat Jessie and James as the Viridian City Gym, who were acting as substitutes for Giovanni. By the time the two had their last battle in the Johto region, Gary had grown much more supportive of Ash, and told him he was planning on changing his career path. Gary thus decided to become a Pokémon researcher like his grandfather, Professor Oak. Though he spends more time researching than battling, Gary is still a phenomenal Trainer and has aided many allies since.
Agatha Is a Legendary Master of Ghost-Type Pokémon
Agatha’s Gengar Is a True Force To Be Reckoned With
Agatha, one of the legendary Trainers of the Kanto Elite Four, is famous for her short temper. Hotheadedness aside, Agatha is feared by many Trainers for her formidable team of Ghost-type Pokémon, a type that she has worked very hard with in order to be considered a Pokémon Master. Agatha's perspective on how Pokémon should be used conflicts with many peers, as she believes Pokémon should only be used for the sake of battling. Despite this, she is shown to be close with her companions, most notably her partner Gengar.
Agatha is Professor Oak's former rival, and often comments on how the famous Professor is no longer as strong as he once was. Meanwhile, in the original Pokémon anime, Agatha was the acting Gym Leader for the Viridian City Gym after Giovanni's departure. Like every piece of Pokémon media, her main Pokémon was Gengar, who was able to defeat Ash's team in battle. Despite this loss, Agatha was impressed by Ash's battling skills, and wished him luck before he went to challenge the Battle Frontier.
Lance Has Acted as an Elite Four Member and a Champion
This Trainer Works With Several Types of Pokémon
No matter the role he takes on, the Dragon-type Trainer Lance is sure to leave those around him in awe. Lance is well-known for the battles he has participated in alongside his partner Pokémon Dragonite, yet he is also famous for having a powerful Shiny Gyarados. In fact, the Water/Flying-type Pokémon can also Mega Evolve into Shiny Mega Gyarados. In Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu! And Pokémon Let's Go, Eevee!, Lance is shown to have a Key Stone like his anime counterpart, though he has a Mega Charizard X instead of a Mega Shiny Gyarados. Usually, Lance acts as the final member of the Kanto Elite Four, though in the original Generation II games and their Generation IV remakes, he is instead the Champion of Kanto, as Red is away training.
Lance is a fierce Trainer both on and off the battlefield. In the original Pokémon anime, he is shown to be competitive and independent yet deeply loyal towards his Pokémon. In Pokémon Generations, however, he is a much more fearsome character. His most prominent role was in the episode "The Lake of Rage", where he teamed up with Ethan to sneak into Team Rocket's headquarters in Mahogany Town. Lance and his Dragonite showed no mercy for the building's equipment nor their foes, whether they were Pokémon or people.
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Ash Ketchum Strives To Become a True Pokémon Master
The Famed Champion of the Masters Eight Tournament
The legendary Trainer of the original Pokémon anime, Ash Ketchum, came from humble beginnings like many other famous Trainers. Growing up in Pallet Town, Ash dreamed of the day he would be able to choose his starter Pokémon from Professor Oak's Pokémon Lab. Unfortunately, he ends up oversleeping on the day he is able to choose his starter, leaving Ash with an independent Electric-type named Pikachu. Though the two initially do not get along, they are soon able to work together as a team and embark on a grand adventure together.
Ash's main dream is to become a Pokémon Master, and he has since trained all sorts of Pokémon from different regions around the world. Some of his most famous allies include the determined Infernape, the swift Sceptile, and even the fierce Charizard. At the end of the original anime, Ash competed in the Masters Eight Tournament alongside several famous Champions and won after defeating his final opponent, Champion Leon of Galar. Since then, Ash and Pikachu have journeyed to new places, leaving many longtime fans wondering where the dynamic duo could be now.
Blue Oak Is Even More Powerful Than His Alternate Counterpart
A Powerful Champion as Well as a Gym Leader
Though his counterpart in the original Pokémon anime, Gary Oak, is very powerful, Blue Oak is even more so. This anime counterpart of the legendary Trainer is directly based on the character of the same name from the video games, making him a more experienced Trainer. Unlike his counterpart in the original Pokémon anime, this animated version of Blue remained a Trainer, even becoming Champion in the process as seen in the Pokémon Generations episode "The Challenger." Though the Elite Four members were tough, Blue was shown with his signature confidence and won every battle easily.
Like in the games, Blue would later become Champion, and welcomed his longtime rival Red to the end of the Elite Four as his final opponent. In Pokémon Origins, another miniseries detailing events from the games, Blue is once again shown as the competitive and unusually powerful rival of his neighbor Red. Aside from collecting Gym Badges from every Gym in Kanto and assisting Red in his fight against Team Rocket, Blue also faced off against Mewtwo but was sadly knocked out. Though he is one of the most formidable Trainers in Kanto by the end of the miniseries, he is still upset about what he has failed to do compared to Red, especially after his rival manages to capture the Legendary Pokémon Mewtwo.
Red Is Even More Renowned Than Ash Ketchum
The First Hero of the Pokémon Franchise
Long before Ash Ketchum became renowned via Pokémon: Indigo League, a boy named Red had already cemented his legacy as the original Pokémon hero. Red was first seen in Generation I, where he is the player character as well as a local from the small yet cozy Pallet Town. Though he is often portrayed as a person of few words, Red is shown to also be a curious and friendly young man with a strong sense of justice. As he embarks on a journey to gain every Gym Badge and Kanto and hopefully become the next Champion, Red also finds himself battling against Team Rocket, an evil organization with ties to the Pokémon League. He has several roles later on in the later games, including as the final boss in the original Generation II games and their Generation IV remakes.
Red does not show up often in Pokémon Generations, yet he does have a prominent direct counterpart in Pokémon Origins. As the protagonist of the miniseries, the audience follows Red along on his quest to become Champion, which closely resembles his game counterpart. Unlike his game counterpart, however, Red speaks more often and is shown to be an occasionally clumsy young Trainer with a big heart. He matures over time thanks to his many experiences with Pokémon battles and his encounters with Team Rocket, becoming a Trainer well-known for his desire to help out anyone in need.
