Pokémon Trainer: Difference between revisions

As of [[bulbapedia:Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Versions|''Pokémon FireRed'' and ''LeafGreen Versions'']], Red also has a female counterpart, known as {{s|bulbapedia|Leaf|game}} in said games' internal data and her later appearances. Red, Leaf, and their {{s|bulbapedia|cross-canon counterparts}} have trained the evolutionary lines of the Kanto {{s|bulbapedia|starter Pokémon}}: {{s|bulbapedia|Bulbasaur}}, {{s|bulbapedia|Charmander}} and [[Squirtle]]. In the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series, the Pokémon Trainer "fights" by sending these starter Pokémon out to battle, with the Bulbasaur line represented by [[Ivysaur]], and the Charmander line represented by [[Charizard]]. Befitting their status as iconic Trainers, both Red and Leaf appear as Sync Pairs in ''Pokémon Masters''. While Red has no spoken dialogue (a character quirk based on his appearance as a boss in the Johto games), Charizard is his partner Pokémon, affirming it as one of his signature Pokémon. Conversely, Leaf has fully voiced dialogue, similar to her appearance in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'', but her partner Pokémon is [[Eevee]] - an alternate starter option in some games - rather than one of the traditional Kanto starters.

A Pokémon Trainer makes an official appearance as a playable character in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''. The Trainer in ''Brawl'' is [[bulbapedia:Red (game)|Red]], the protagonist of [[bulbapedia:Pokémon Red and Green Versions|''Pokémon Red'', ''Green'']], [[bulbapedia:Pokémon Blue Version (Japanese)|''Blue'']] and [[bulbapedia:Pokémon Yellow Version|''Yellow Versions'']], and the male protagonist of [[bulbapedia:Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Versions|''Pokémon FireRed'' and ''LeafGreen Versions'']]. However, he is simply referred to as "Pokémon Trainer" to reflect how players can name the playable Trainers within each of the ''Pokémon'' games. Instead of using his original design from {{s|bulbapedia|Generation I}}, he uses his redesign from {{s|bulbapedia|Generation III}}.

It should be noted that it would be rather inaccurate to call the Trainer himself a playable fighter, as selecting him is akin to selecting a {{SSBB|Zelda}}/{{SSBB|Sheik}}-style character with three interchangeable forms; in the Trainer's case, these are the three Pokémon he has in his collection: {{SSBB|Squirtle}}, {{SSBB|Ivysaur}}, and {{SSBB|Charizard}}. The Trainer visually issues commands in the background of the stage to the Pokémon in the foreground, corresponding with the actions input by the player to the current Pokémon as the real fighter. Conversely, one can say that the player controls the Trainer, who in turn commands the Pokémon.

However, the Trainer's team is heavily burdened by unique mechanics: [[Pokémon Change]] is [[lag]]gy to the point of being very punishable, while his team's defensive and especially offensive potentials are very inconsistent because of [[Pokémon Change#Stamina|stamina]] and [[type effectiveness]]. Outside of these issues, Ivysaur's abysmal air game, poor recovery, unimpressive range, and heightened susceptibility to the very common [[flame]] effect collectively render it among players as not only the Trainer's least effective Pokémon, but also one of the worst characters in the entire game.

Due to the limitations of the [[Nintendo 3DS]]' processing power,<ref>[http://sourcegaming.info/2015/07/09/i-answer-some-questions-sakurai-famitsu-column-vol-461-464/ "I Answer Some Questions" Sakurai Famitsu column vol. 461-464, on Ice Climbers, clones, and Smash Run]</ref> transformation-type characters were split apart and became standalone characters for ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]''. In Pokémon Trainer's case, only [[Charizard (SSB4)|Charizard]] returned as a playable character, while Squirtle and Ivysaur were fully cut.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xUWnQu2Grs Super Smash Bros. Direct 4.8.2014]</ref> However, Red (under the name "Pokémon Trainer"), Squirtle and Ivysaur make cameos as collectible trophies. On a related note, {{iw|bulbapedia|Calem|game}} and {{iw|bulbapedia|Serena|game}}, the playable Trainers from [[bulbapedia:Pokémon X and Y|''Pokémon X'' and ''Y'']], also appear together as a singular trophy under the name "Pokémon Trainer (Pokémon X & Y)".

Pokémon Trainer returns as a playable character in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'', albeit as an [[unlockable character]] instead of a [[starter character]]. As a result, {{SSBU|Squirtle}} and {{SSBU|Ivysaur}} also returned by default, while {{SSBU|Charizard}} was reintegrated into the team. In addition to Red reappearing as the default Pokémon Trainer, his female counterpart, [[bulbapedia:Leaf (game)|Leaf]], makes her ''Super Smash Bros.'' series debut as an [[Alternate costume|alternate character]].

Pokémon Trainer has been noticeably reworked in order to streamline the character's unique playstyle. The removal of both [[Pokémon Change#Stamina|stamina]] and [[type effectiveness]] significantly improves the team's overall consistency. In addition, [[Pokémon Change]]'s drastically faster speed and newfound usability in the air collectively make it much less committal, as well as allow the Trainer to rotate between Pokémon to the point of using their unique attributes to adapt to different situations at a much better pace.