Pokémon Trainer: Difference between revisions

:''For fighter info, see [[Pokémon Trainer (SSBB)]] and [[Pokémon Trainer (SSBU)]].''

:''Leaf redirects here. For the Mexican player, see [[Smasher:Leaf]]''

|image = {{tabber|title1=Red|tab1=[[File:FRLGMaleTrainer.png|200px]]|title2=Leaf|tab2=[[File:FireRed LeafGreen Leaf.png|170px]]}}

|caption = [[File:PokemonSymbol.svg|50px]]

Official artwork of {{iw|bulbapedia|Red|game}} and {{iw|bulbapedia|Leaf|game}}, the Pokémon Trainers from [[bulbapedia:Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Versions|''Pokémon FireRed'' and ''LeafGreen Versions'']].

|lastappearance = [[bulbapedia:Pokémon Sword and Shield|''Pokémon Sword'' and ''Shield'']] (2019, general concept)<br>''{{s|bulbapedia|Pokémon Masters EX}}'' (2019, Red and Leaf)

A '''Pokémon Trainer''' ({{ja|ポケモントレーナー|Pokemon Torēnā}}, ''Pokémon Trainer'') is a {{s|bulbapedia|human}} from the ''{{uv|Pokémon}}'' series. The {{s|bulbapedia|player character}}s in the series belong to the Pokémon Trainer "occupation", as do most of the other human characters. Pokémon Trainers debuted in the series' [[bulbapedia:Generation I|first generation]]. In the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series, the {{iw|bulbapedia|player character}} in the ''Pokémon'' series is represented as the fighter known simply as "Pokémon Trainer", who is represented by {{iw|bulbapedia|Red|game}} in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' and both Red and {{iw|bulbapedia|Leaf|game}} in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''.

Throughout each journey, the Trainer will battle hundreds of other Trainers, encounter countless Pokémon in the wild, and be involved in subplots involving thwarting the schemes of [[bulbapedia:villainous teams|criminal organizations that consist of trainers]]. While the playable Pokémon Trainers were initially depicted as exclusively male, the option to choose the gender of the playable Trainer has been available as of {{s|bulbapedia|''Pokémon Crystal Version''}}. Each game's protagonist options are similar, but they are all distinct characters in-universe. Playable Trainers also have one or more {{s|bulbapedia|rival}}s, whose motivations and characterizations vary significantly.  {{s|bulbapedia|''Pokémon Black and White Versions''}} introduced player characters slightly older than the previously established norm of 10-12 years old, while ''{{s|bulbapedia|Pokémon X and Y}}'' introduced Trainer customization, allowing the player to choose from a variety of skin, hair, clothing and cosmetic options. While Pokémon Trainers have always been an integral part of the ''Pokémon'' experience, the mobile game ''{{s|bulbapedia|Pokémon Masters}}'' makes them a primary focus of the game alongside the Pokémon themselves, allowing the player to recruit Trainers and their partner Pokémon to battle in teams.

In [[bulbapedia:Pokémon Red and Blue|''Pokémon Red'' and ''Blue'']], the sole {{s|bulbapedia|player character}} amed Red is a male, 11-year-old Pokémon Trainer who is gifted his {{s|bulbapedia|starter Pokémon}} - [[Squirtle]], [[Bulbasaur]] or [[Charmander]] - by {{s|bulbapedia|Professor Oak}}, whose grandson serves as the Trainer's rival. The hero then travels through the {{s|bulbapedia|Kanto}} region to collect the eight {{s|bulbapedia|Gym Badge}}s and defeat the nefarious {{s|bulbapedia|Team Rocket}}, eventually becoming the Indigo League Champion after defeating his rival in one final battle. This carries through to the remakes, [[bulbapedia:Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Versions|''Pokémon FireRed'' and ''LeafGreen Versions'']], but with the added option of choosing a female playable character instead, as per games from ''Crystal'' onwards.

All Pokémon Trainer protagonists can be named by the player, but the male ''Red'' and ''Blue'' protagonist would go on to become a recurring character known as {{iw|bulbapedia|Red|game}}. Since his debut, Red has gone on to appear as the final opponent of the {{s|bulbapedia|Johto}} games atop {{s|bulbapedia|Mt. Silver}}; an opponent in the {{s|bulbapedia|Pokémon World Tournament}} in [[bulbapedia:Pokémon Black and White Versions 2|''Pokémon Black'' and ''White Versions 2'']]; and the co-leader of the {{s|bulbapedia|Battle Tree}} in [[bulbapedia:Pokémon Sun and Moon|''Pokémon Sun'' and ''Moon'']] alongside his rival {{iw|bulbapedia|Blue|game}}. In all cases, Red's team consists of Pokémon that were caught during major events of his original quest, with [[bulbapedia:Red's Pikachu (game)|his Pikachu]] serving as his signature Pokémon; however, later appearances (including the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series) establish [[Charizard]] as another signature Pokémon for him depending on the canon. His female counterpart, likewise, would later be codified as the character {{iw|bulbapedia|Leaf|game}} in the games' internal data and her later appearances. Another female character exists known as {{iw|bulbapedia|Green|game}} who is very similar to Leaf, but it is unknown whether they are different versions of the same character, although both are conflated into a single character in the ''{{s|bulbapedia|Pokémon Adventures}}'' manga.

In ''Super Smash Bros.'', a human, potentially a Pokémon Trainer, can be seen walking in the background during Pikachu's portion of the opening movie.

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.

[[File:Pokémon Trainer - Brawl Trophy.png|thumb|left|100px|Pokémon Trainer's trophy in ''Brawl''.]]

;Pokémon Trainer

:''A person who raises Pokémon and trains them as partners in battle. In battle, a Trainer gives orders to the Pokémon and uses items. It's not an exaggeration to say battles can be won or lost on a Trainer's single strategic move. Trainers pour their hearts into their Pokémon and share anger, sadness, and joy as they adventure in hopes of becoming Pokémon Masters.''

{{Trophy games|console1=GBA|game1=[[Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen]]}}

! Character(s)

| ''{{uv|Pokémon}}'' series

| {{Head|Pikachu|g=SSBB|s=16px}}{{Head|Jigglypuff|g=SSBB|s=16px}}{{Head|Pokémon Trainer|g=SSBB|s=16px|l=Pokémon Trainer (SSBB)}}{{Head|Lucario|g=SSBB|s=16px}}

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 {{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)".

[[File:PokemonTrainerTrophy3DS.png|thumb|left|100px|Pokémon Trainer's trophy in ''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS''.]]

[[File:PokemonTrainerTrophyWiiU.png|thumb|right|100px|Pokémon Trainer's trophy in ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U''.]]

:{{flag|ntsc}}: ''Pop quiz! What do Misty, Brock, Cynthia, Iris, and Ash all have in common? That's right-- they're all Pokémon Trainers! This Pokémon Master in the making is the same. Back in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, [[bulbapedia:Pokémon Theme|he fought to be the very best-- like no one ever was. To smash them was his real test-- to launch them was his cause]]!''

:{{flag|pal}}: ''Quiz time! What do Misty, Brock, Cynthia, Iris and Ash all have in common? That's right - they're all Pokémon Trainers! This Pokémon Master in the making is just the same. He fought to be the very best - like no one ever was - back in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. To smash them was his real test - to launch them was his cause.''

{{Trophy games|console1=GB|game1=Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue (09/1998)|console2=GBA|game2=Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen (09/2004)}}

[[File:PokemonTrainerXYTrophy3DS.png|thumb|left|100px|Pokémon Trainer's trophy in ''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS''.]]

;Pokémon Trainer (Pokémon X & Y) {{flag|ntsc}} / Trainers (Pokémon X and Y) {{flag|pal}}

:{{flag|ntsc}}: ''We suppose it's possible you've missed out up till now, so let us explain: in Pokémon, you set out from your hometown on a Pokémon journey, catching Pokémon and fighting battles with them. In Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, you reach the next town and find yourself embroiled in a tale of... No, wait—no spoilers!''

:{{flag|pal}}: ''If you've been living under a rock for some years now, let us explain. In Pokémon, you start from your home town on your own Pokémon journey, catching Pokémon and fighting battles with them. In Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, you reach the next town and find yourself embroiled in a tale of... Well, we won't spoil it for you.''

[[File:Pokémon Trainer (solo) SSBU.png|thumb|right|Pokémon Trainer (male), as he appears in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''.]]

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, {{iw|bulbapedia|Leaf|game}}, makes her ''Super Smash Bros.'' series debut as an [[Alternate costume|alternate character]].

{{clear}}

*The male and female Pokémon Trainers are the only playable ''Pokémon'' characters that are human. However, they do have three playable Pokémon fight on their behalf.

*The female Pokémon Trainer and [[Zero Suit Samus]] are the only characters to debut in a remake.

*Pokémon Trainer is one of the few human ''Pokémon'' characters to appear as a trophy, and the only one to do so in ''Brawl'' and {{forwiiu}}. Other human characters include {{s|bulbapedia|Professor Oak}} and {{s|bulbapedia|Misty}} in ''Melee'', and {{s|bulbapedia|Professor Sycamore}} in {{for3ds}}. {{iw|bulbapedia|Calem|game}} and {{iw|bulbapedia|Serena|game}} appear as a trophy in the latter, but as an extension of the Pokémon Trainer player character concept.

**As with [[Villager]], [[Robin]], [[Corrin]] and [[Inkling]], the male and female Pokémon Trainers have been established as separate characters; ''{{s|bulbapedia|Pokémon Masters}}'' features both Red (male) and Leaf (female) as separate trainers.

*In some languages, Pokémon Trainer has two different names to refer to the male and female versions. [[Villager]], [[Wii Fit Trainer]], [[Inkling]], [[Byleth]] and the [[Mii|Mii Fighters]] also share this trait.