Paulo

Paulo キリヤ Kiriya
Art from Pokémon Masters
Gender	Male
Eye color	Gray
Hair color	Blonde
Hometown	Unknown
Region	Pasio
Trainer class	Pokémon Trainer
Generation	VII
Games	Masters EX
Member of	Team Break (former)
Rank	Boss
Game animation debut	Pokémon Masters Animated Trailer
English voice actor	Khoi Dao
Japanese voice actor	Ryōhei Kimura

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

Paulo (Japanese: キリヤ Kiriya) is one of the player's rivals in Pokémon Masters EX. During the Villain Arc, he temporarily becomes one of the primary antagonists as the leader of Team Break. He forms a sync pair with Dusk Form Lycanroc, which is capable of Dynamaxing. This pair was made available through a Poké Fair sync pair scout beginning on September 4, 2023. This pair can be raised to 6★ EX since it first released.

In the games

Paulo is a Trainer who grew up in the same town as his friend Tina. When they were young, he and Tina found a wild Dratini that they started taking care of in secret. However, one day, a Collector chanced upon them and caught the Dratini. When he found out that the Collector only caught it for the money, Paulo grew furious, but because he wasn't a Trainer yet, he couldn't do anything to stop the Collector from taking Dratini. From then on, he vowed to get stronger so that he would never have to lose anything important to him again.

In the present day, Paulo comes to Pasio to challenge the Pokémon Masters League. He initially forms a sync pair with his Rockruff, but after an encounter with Team Rocket where he and Tina nearly have their Pokémon stolen, he stops battling with Rockruff in favor of using other, stronger Pokémon.

Described as an exceptional student, Paulo is thoughtful and studious, though his pursuit of strength often gets the best of him and causes him to make hasty decisions. He exhibits a strong sense of justice, often being seen battling against Team Break and other organizations. Paulo puts immense pressure on himself; he consistently expresses frustration towards his lack of strength and often stubbornly insists on taking on difficult tasks, even after being told they're dangerous. He occasionally demonstrates a lack of self-confidence, tending to downplay his accomplishments and focusing on his weaknesses. However, he shows great perseverance and bravery in his pursuit of strength and taking down villainous organizations and he is open to trying different approaches towards Pokémon training.

Paulo grows increasingly self-reliant over the course of his journey, eventually rejecting outright the notion that relying on others can help him grow stronger. He is determined to become stronger on his own so that he can protect himself and everyone he cares about, no matter what it takes. Ultimately, he determines that the only way for him to accomplish this is by wiping out all the evil organizations on Pasio.

PML Arc

The player first encounters Paulo near the end of Chapter 2, where their team runs into him in a cave. After being mistaken for a Team Break member by Barry, he introduces himself and helps the player's team fight off some actual members of Team Break. He thanks the player for their help and is invited to join their team for the Pokémon Masters League, to which he denies, revealing his plan to form his own team. He then advises the player to search for more teammates in the volcano area.

Paulo is next seen in Chapter 7, having lost to Norman in an attempt to earn the Patience Badge. Upon finding out Team Break is in the area, he assists in fighting them off again. Afterwards, Norman gives him the Badge despite his loss, and Paulo vows to grow stronger before leaving.

In Chapter 10, the player once again encounters Paulo, this time having lost to Hapu. Team Break is in the area once again, and Paulo runs off to defeat them in hopes of getting permission to battle Hapu again. He is defeated instead, and the player comes to his rescue. Once Hapu leaves, he explains he needs to figure out his issues, wishes the player luck in their next battle, and walks off.

In Interlude 1, Paulo is seen at the opening ceremony for the PML tournament, revealing that he had formed a team and obtained every Badge to qualify for the tournament. He promises to see the player in the finals.

Paulo is briefly seen in Chapter 21. Brock and Rosa comment on him having made it to the finals.

At the beginning of Chapter 22, Paulo is defending a Youngster from having his Pokémon stolen by some Team Break thugs, but they manage to corner him. Fortunately, Wikstrom and Wulfric show up to drive them off. After thanking them for their help, Paulo asks them to join his team for the PML tournament. In the present, Paulo makes good on his promise to the player by battling them in the second round of the finals. To his dismay, he loses the battle. He forces a smile before walking off to the beach. With no tournament to continue in, he disbands his team. After Wikstrom and Wulfric leave, Paulo breaks down, expressing his frustration and inability to understand why he lost, and walks into a cave.

Paulo appears in Chapter 24 alongside other reinforcements to allow the player to battle Elesa as he helps to fight off Team Break.

Paulo briefly appears in Chapter 29, where he walks past Lear. Lear notices a weird look in his eyes, but doesn't say anything to him about it.

Paulo's final appearance in the PML arc has him overhearing some former Team Break members talking about forging their own path in Chapter 30. He mentions seeing a path of his own and leaves once again. He then appears a few times in the ending montage.

Villain Arc

Paulo appears in every chapter of the Villain Arc, usually helping to take down whatever evil organizations are causing trouble. He is the titular character of the Paulo Interlude chapter, in which he reflects on the things he's learned and decides what the path forward will be for him now that the PML is over.

Kanto - Team Rocket Returns

Paulo teams up with the player character (Scottie or Bettie), Lillie, and Blue to search for Red, who went missing after going to investigate Team Rocket. Along the way, while separated from the rest of the group, Paulo is approached by a Team Rocket Grunt who senses his desire for power and invites him to join Team Rocket.

Later, Paulo is walking outside alone, where he's approached by Lillie. She asks him what's bothering him, and he says that what he's doing now isn't enough, and he needs to change his approach if he wants to get stronger. Lillie tells him that she's still trying to get stronger, too, and from her experience, it's easier to get stronger when you work together with others. Paulo assures her he knows that, but privately he thinks that relying on others to get stronger isn't going to work for him.

The next morning, Paulo travels with the group to Team Rocket's hideout, where they confront Giovanni. However, he manages to escape. Paulo wants to join Red and Blue in going after him, but Misty and Erika tell him that he and Rockruff need some time to rest. After resting, Paulo sets out with Misty, Erika, Lillie, and the player to find Giovanni again. They find him just in time to see Mewtwo go out of control from the power drawn out by Giovanni's sync stone, which their group soon discovers is causing Pokémon all over Pasio to go out of control as well. Paulo marvels at the power they have, even knowing that it comes at a price.

Misty and Erika decide to go after Mewtwo, and they ask Paulo, Lillie, and the player to stay behind and help calm down the raging Pokémon. However, Paulo insists on coming with them, assuring them that he and Rockruff can protect themselves and won't be a burden. Misty and Erika agree to let him come and invite Lillie and the player along as well, and the group heads into a forest in search of Mewtwo. They find Giovanni with a large group of Team Rocket Grunts, and he claims that they don't have the tower to stop Mewtwo. Misty asks him if the "power" he's talking about is the power gained from hurting Pokémon and using Pokémon like puppets, and he says that children like them wouldn't understand - though, while looking at Paulo, he says some of them might understand one day.

After they catch up to Mewtwo, Giovanni approaches it and invites it to form a sync pair with him. It stops rampaging, as they've formed a bond strong enough to keep Mewtwo under control. Paulo is in awe of this power - the "true power of sync stones", as Giovanni calls it - that can be drawn out by a strong bond and a sync stone, regardless of whether the bond is good or evil.

This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Role in the Sinnoh, Johto, Hoenn, Unova, Kalos, Alola, and Galar Villain Arc

Paulo - The Path Forward

He is eventually tricked by Ghetsis into bringing Lear's Hoopa to Team Plasma's base, only for Ghetsis to seemingly kill his Rockruff when he attempts to stop Team Plasma from taking Hoopa. This causes Paulo to snap, and he induces Hoopa's transformation into Hoopa Unbound using his sync stone, forcing Ghetsis and the Shadow Triad to retreat. Paulo then declares that he shall become the "last evil," wiping out all who use Pokémon for selfish purposes.

To this end, Paulo takes over the remnants of Team Break, providing them with a new purpose after their failure to disrupt the PML. He uses Hoopa's power to summon numerous Legendary Pokémon, which he gives to Team Break's members for use in attacking the members of other organizations, including Team Plasma, the Aether Foundation, and Team Skull. Team Break's rapid rise to power troubles the other teams, prompting them to begin taking countermeasures. At Team Break's hideout, as the group's members celebrate their success, Paulo muses that they do not realize he is manipulating them to eliminate the other teams so they will be the last evil team remaining, meaning his and Team Break's eventual downfall will bring about peace.

Final Chapter - Where Ideals Cross Paths

When the other villainous teams go into hiding during Team Break's campaign, Paulo leads a pair of members to confront Giovanni at Team Rocket's base. However, while they are able to easily defeat Archer and Ariana, Giovanni surprises Paulo by seizing control of Hoopa from him. Giovanni explains that, similarly to Mewtwo, Hoopa's rampaging leaves it in need of a partner who can help it focus its power with a clear mind free of doubt, which Paulo lacks. As he has lost control of Hoopa and the legendary Pokémon it summoned, Team Break abandons Paulo and joins Giovanni, who leaves to launch Team Rocket's conquest of Pasio. Later, while expressing regret for his actions at the Pokémon Center, Paulo learns from Tina, Tricia, Trinnia, and Trista that Rockruff is alive. Prior to its transformation, Hoopa teleported the badly injured Rockruff away before Ghetsis and Kyurem could strike it down. Tina found Rockruff and brought it to the Pokémon Center, where Tricia, Trinnia and Trista helped it recover. This reunion motivates Paulo to seek redemption for his mistakes, and he joins Tina and the others in their plan to stop Giovanni and save Hoopa by reverting it back to its Confined Form.

Lycanroc (Dusk Form)

Raising this sync pair to 6★ EX will unlock Song Key 00046, which allows "Battle! (Paulo)" to be played in the Jukebox.

Paulo キリヤ Kiriya
No.	175
Description	This Trainer came to Pasio from another region. Due to past experiences, he despises anything evil and once went down the wrong path in pursuit of strength. Currently, his goal is to combat evil with the heart.

			Type			Rock
			Move type			Rock
			Role			Sprint
			EX Role			Support
			Base Potential			★★★★★☆EX
Lycanroc ♂		Weakness			Ground
Bathed in the setting sun of evening, Lycanroc has undergone a special kind of evolution. An intense fighting spirit underlies its calmness.
Stats		HP	Attack	Defense	Sp. Atk	Sp. Def	Speed
Lv. 140, Base Potential		650	424	190	268	190	463
Lv. 140, Max Potential		810	464	270	308	270	503
Mega Lycanroc
Lv. 140, Base Potential		—	—	—	—	—	—
Lv. 140, Max Potential		—	—	—	—	—	—

Moves

Name	Type	Category	Move gauge	Base Power	Max Power	Accuracy	Target	Description
Stone Edge	Rock	Physical	3	100	120	80%	An opponent	Critical hits land more easily.
Accelerock	Rock	Physical	0 (3 uses)	75	90	100%	An opponent	No additional effect.
Willful Howl	Normal	Status	0 (1 use)	—	—	—	All allies	Activation Condition: When the user uses a sync move once. Deactivation Condition: Cannot be deactivated. Uses a maximum of 3 slots of the user’s move gauge. The more amount used, the more it raises the Attack, Defense, Sp. Def, and Speed of all allied sync pairs (can be raised by up to 4 stat ranks maximum). Increases the Physical Moves ↑ Next effect of all allied sync pairs by 2 ranks.
Gotta Think!	None	Status	0 (1 use)	—	—	—	Self	Reduces the user’s sync move countdown by 1. Raises the user’s Attack by 4 stat ranks. Raises the user’s critical-hit rate by 2 stat ranks.
Sync moves
On the Path Together Rock Impact	Rock	Physical	—	200	240	—	An opponent	This attack’s power increases during a sandstorm. (6★ EX) effect: The first time the user’s sync move is used each battle, the sync move countdown is reduced by three. EX Role effect: The stat increase after a sync move is doubled once per battle.
Max moves
Max Rockfall*	Rock	Physical	0 (1 use)	400	480	—	An opponent	Causes a sandstorm.
Max Rockfall*	Rock	Physical	0 (1 use)	400	480	—	An opponent	Causes a sandstorm.
Max Guard	Normal	Status	0 (1 use)	—	—	—	An ally	Applies the Damage Guard Next effect to an ally.

Skills

Name	Description
Passive Skills
Paulo’s Resolve	Reduces the user’s sync move countdown by 1 after using its max move. Extends the duration of a sandstorm when a sandstorm is caused while the user is on the field. Protects all allied sync pairs from damage from a sandstorm.
“Quick Move”: Sync CD ↓ 9	Reduces the user’s sync move countdown by 1 when it uses a move that has the quick move effect tag.
“Quick Move”: Physical Boost ↑1 9	Increases the user’s Physical Moves ↑ Next effect by 1 rank when it uses a move that has the quick move effect tag.
Theme Skills
Rock Sprint	Raises allies' Attack and Sp. Atk by 12 when using Rock-type attacks. Raises the Speed of all allied sync pairs by 12.
Rival Sprint	Raises the Attack and Sp. Atk of all allied sync pairs by 1. Raises the Speed of all allied sync pairs by 1.
Knowledgeable Sprint	Raises the Attack and Sp. Atk of all allied sync pairs by 2. Raises the Speed of all allied sync pairs by 2.
Expedition Skills
Rare ↑ 2 Soothing ↓ 1 Wistful ↓ 1	Raises the following discovery level by 2: Rare Cache Lowers the following discovery levels by 1: Fiery Crystal Soothing Crystal

Sync Grid

Paulo and Lycanroc's sync grid is an expanded grid, made available when the sync pair was first released.

Other Pokémon

Evolved

Paulo had a Rockruff before it evolved into Dusk Form Lycanroc.

Rockruff ♂

Borrowed

These Pokémon were all loaned to Paulo by Lear as part of an experiment to explore the potential of sync pairs.

Alakazam

Tyranitar

Gyarados

Hydreigon

Metagross

Controlled via sync stone

Hoopa (Hoopa Unbound)

Availability

Battle appearances

Paulo has also been shown to pair alongside Rockruff and can be battled against in:

• PML Arc: Chapter 22: Rival Face-Off!

Sync pair stories

• A Day with Paulo

Quotes

Main article: Paulo/Quotes

Gallery

Paulo's sync move mindscape		Artwork from the Paulo chapter of the Villain Arc
VS model (Normal colors)	6★ model (Normal colors)	VS model (EX colors)	6★ model (EX colors)
Trainer emote Nice!	Trainer emote Watch out!	Trainer emote Let's do this!	Trainer emote Thanks!

In the anime

Paulo in the Pokémon Masters Animated Trailer

Pokémon Masters Animated Trailer

Paulo briefly appeared in the Pokémon Masters Animated Trailer in a montage alongside his Rockruff.

Pokémon

Rockruff

Debut	Pokémon Masters Animated Trailer

Rockruff is Paulo's only known Pokémon.

None of Rockruff's moves are known.

Trivia

Origin

Dusk Form Lycanroc's Dex entry comes from Pokémon Ultra Sun.

Names

Language	Name	Origin
Japanese	キリヤ Kiriya	From 桐 kiri (princesstree)
English	Paulo	From Paulownia, the genus that contains the princesstree
German	Kilian	From Kiribaum (princesstree)
Spanish	Paolo	From Paulownia
French	Kyrill	From kiri (Japanese for princesstree)
Italian	Owen	From Paulownia
Korean	고상 Gosang	From 고상 (高尚) gosang (noble, refined), referring to the symbolic meaning of the princesstree in the language of flowers
Chinese (Mandarin)	梧桐 Wútóng	From 梧桐 wútóng / ǹgh-tùhng (Chinese parasol tree)
Chinese (Cantonese)	梧桐 Ǹgh-tùhng

Willful Howl Language Title Japanese 決意のとおぼえ Ketsui no Tooboe Mandarin Chinese 決心之長嚎 Juéxīn zhī Chángháo French Grondement S German Jauler der inneren Stärke Italian Gridodilotta deciso Korean 결의의멀리짖음 Gyeor-ui-ui Meollijijeum Spanish Aullido del Corazón

Gotta Think! Language Title Japanese 考えるんだ……！ Kangaerunda...! Mandarin Chinese 動腦思考……！ Dòngnǎo Sīkǎo! French Voici ma théorie ! German Reflektieren wir darüber! Italian Devo pensare...! Korean 생각하는거야...! Saeng-gakhaneungeoya! Spanish ¡Tengo que reflexionar!

On the Path Together Rock Impact Language Title Japanese 進むべき道を共に歩む ロックインパクト Susumubeki Michi o Tomo ni Ayumu Rokku Inpakuto Mandarin Chinese 共同邁步該走的路途之 岩石衝擊 Gòngtóng Màibù Gāi Zǒu de Lùtú zhī Yánshí Chōngjí French Ensemble sur le droit chemin ! Impact Roche ! German Gesteinsstoß des Pfades der Besserung Italian Impatto Roccia: la via da seguire insieme Korean 나아가야 할 길을 함께 걷는 록임팩트 Naagaya Hal Gir-eul Hamkke Geonneun Rok Impaekteu Spanish Impacto Roca del Camino que Seguir

References

Rival and friend characters
Core series Blue • Silver • Brendan/May • Wally • Barry • Lucas/Dawn • Ethan/Lyra • Cheren • Bianca N • Hugh • Calem/Serena • Shauna • Tierno • Trevor • Lillie • Hau • Gladion • Trace Hop • Marnie • Bede • Klara • Avery • Nemona • Arven • Penny • Carmine • Kieran Spin-off games Ronald • Keith • Luca • Sharon • Paulo • Lear • Tina

Team Break
Boss	Other members
Paulo (temporary)	Masked Men	Masked Women

Characters appearing in Pokémon Masters EX

Pasio Scottie • Bettie • Lear • Rachel • Sawyer • Paulo • Tina Kanto Brock • Misty • Lt. Surge • Erika • Blaine • Lorelei • Bruno • Agatha • Janine • Koga • Blue • Giovanni • Leaf • Lance • Professor Oak • Red • Sabrina • Jessie • James • Ash • Elaine • Chase Johto Kris • Bugsy • Whitney • Pryce • Clair • Will • Karen • Lyra • Ethan • Silver • Jasmine • Morty • Falkner • Eusine • Archer • Ariana • Petrel • Proton • Chuck Hoenn Brendan • Roxanne • Brawly • Flannery • Norman • Winona • Tate • Liza • Phoebe • Drake • Noland • Glacia • Zinnia • Steven • Wallace • Wally • Lucy • Lisia • May • Maxie • Archie • Sidney • Courtney • Greta Sinnoh Barry • Roark • Gardenia • Maylene • Crasher Wake • Candice • Flint • Thorton • Cheryl • Marley • Cynthia • Fantina • Dawn • Cyrus • Volkner • Darach • Lucas • Aaron • Bertha • Lucian • Looker • Adaman • Irida • Palmer • Argenta • Akari • Rei • Riley • Dahlia • Volo Unova Rosa • Clay • Skyla • Brycen • Iris • Roxie • Marlon • Shauntal • Marshal • Cheren • Hilbert • Hilda • Elesa • Caitlin • Grimsley • Burgh • Alder • Nate • Bianca • N • Ghetsis • Ingo • Emmet • Hugh • Colress • Lenora • Brycen-Man • Bellelba Kalos Grant • Korrina • Ramos • Wulfric • Siebold • Wikstrom • Viola • Calem • Valerie • Clemont • Serena • Lysandre • Professor Sycamore • Diantha • Evelyn • Nita • Helena • Kali • Shauna • Emma • Olympia • Drasna • Dana • Katherine • Tierno • Morgan • Malva • Trevor Alola Hau • Sophocles • Mina • Olivia • Hapu • Kahili • Nanu • Acerola • Kukui • Plumeria • Guzma • Lusamine • Gladion • Lillie • Molayne • Mallow • Selene • Elio • Lana • Kiawe • Hala • The Masked Royal • Naomi • Anabel • Ryuki Galar Gloria • Piers • Leon • Marnie • Raihan • Nessa • Bea • Hop • Allister • Sonia • Bede • Gordie • Melony • Victor • Ball Guy • Rose • Oleana • Eve • Petey • Kabu • Klara • Avery Paldea Nemona • Penny • Iono • Grusha • Geeta • Jacq • Rika • Poppy • Larry • Arven NPCs Professor Bellis • Trista • Tricia • Trinnia • Meowth • Tabitha • Matt • Shelly • Mars • Jupiter • Saturn • Cilan • Chili • Cress • Kiyo • Shadow Triad • Faba • Arceus • Brandon • Benga • Team Break

This article is part of both Project CharacterDex and Project Sidegames, Bulbapedia projects that, together, aim to write comprehensive articles on characters in the spin-off games.