Pokémon Champion

This article is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this article to add missing information and complete it. Reason: in the anime and in the manga information

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A Pokémon League Champion (Japanese: リーグ優勝者 League Champion), normally referred to as simply Champion or Pokémon Champion (Japanese: チャンピオン Champion), is the highest known level of rank for a Pokémon Trainer. The title is also colloquially referred to as League Champ (Japanese: ポケモン リーグの ちょうてん Pokémon League's Greatest).

It usually refers to a Trainer who has completed a Pokémon League by collecting all the necessary Badges, and either winning a regional Pokémon tournament or defeating the Elite Four and the previous Pokémon Champion (if there is one). There is usually only one Pokémon Champion per region at a time. Kanto and Johto share a Champion, while other regions have their own. It is assumed that the Champion must defend their title against challengers, although this is never explicitly stated.

In the games

Champion is a Trainer class that first debuted in the Generation I games. It is the title held by the Trainer who last defeated the Elite Four and the previous Pokémon Champion. Each Champion is always stronger than the Elite Four members and most other Trainers, and has a party of six Pokémon to test their opponents' strength. To challenge the Champion, Trainers must defeat all four Elite Four members without leaving the Pokémon League area, and cannot access the Pokémon League Pokémon Center and Poké Mart until after defeating the Champion or losing at any point during the challenge. If a challenger is defeated by the Champion, just like the Elite Four, they are sent back to the Pokémon League and must start over.

Since in every main series game the player goes on to defeat the standing Champion, every player character could be considered a Champion. However, for players, becoming the Champion is mostly a symbolic honor, as they are unable to battle challengers or take up any other league duties. In addition, the former Champion will still remain at the Pokémon League, retaining the title of Pokémon Champion.

In Black and White, Cynthia tells the player that once every few years, the Champions from all the regions come together and battle to find the strongest among them. In the Pokémon World Tournament in Black 2 and White 2, which takes place 2 years later, all the Champions the player battles in previous games participate in the tournament.

The following are known Champions in the games:

Indigo League			Hoenn League		Sinnoh League	Unova League
Gen I and III	Gen II and IV	Gen I and III	Ruby and Sapphire	Emerald		Black and White	Black 2 and White 2
Blue	Lance	Red	Steven	Wallace	Cynthia	Alder	Iris

In the anime

The path to becoming Champion differs between the anime and the games. In the anime, instead of fighting the Elite Four, there is a tournament among accomplished Trainers; however, Lucian mentioned that the winner of the Sinnoh League has the opportunity to battle the Elite Four and their Champion. Even an Elite Four member can usurp the Champion by battling them.

The following are the Champions known in the anime:

Name	Hometown	League
Lance	Blackthorn City	Indigo League
Jon Dickson	Sento Cherry Town	Silver Conference
Tyson	Mauville City	Ever Grande Conference
Tobias		Lily of the Valley Conference
Virgil		Vertress Conference
Captain		Orange League
Drake	Pummelo Island	Orange League
Ash Ketchum	Pallet Town	Orange League and Battle Frontier
Cynthia	Celestic Town	Sinnoh League
Wallace	Sootopolis City	Hoenn League
Alder	Floccesy Town	Unova League

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga, the Champion of each region is the winner of an elimination tournament held every three years in each region. The most notable one is the Indigo Plateau Tournament in Kanto. Aside from the Hoenn and Unova Elite Four, the Elite Four in the manga do not have any clear connections to the Champion.

The following are the known Champions in the Pokémon Adventures manga:

Name	Hometown	League
Red	Pallet Town	Ninth Tri-Annual Pokémon League competition
Professor Oak	Pallet Town	First Tri-Annual Pokémon League competition
Wallace	Sootopolis City	Hoenn League
Steven Stone		Hoenn League
Drake		Hoenn League
Glacia		Hoenn League
Phoebe		Hoenn League
Sidney		Hoenn League
Cynthia		Sinnoh League
Alder		Unova League

Trivia

• The player has always met the Champion before challenging the Elite Four.
• In French localizations, Gym Leader is Champion, while Champion is Maître, meaning master.

In other languages

Language Title Japanese チャンピオン Mandarin Chinese 冠軍 (Guàn​jūn) Dutch Kampioen Finnish Mestari French Maître German Champ Greek Πρωταθλητής Italian Campione Korean 챔피언 (Champion) Polish Czempion Portuguese Campeão Romanian Campion Spanish Campeón

Trainer classes in the Pokémon core series

Kanto Ace Trainer* • Beauty • Biker • Bird Keeper • Black Belt* • Bug Catcher • Burglar • Camper* • ChampionGSCFRLGHGSSPE Channeler • Elite FourGSCFRLGHGSSPE • Engineer • Fisherman • Gamer* • Gentleman • Gym Leader*GSCFRLGHGSSPE Hiker • Juggler • Lass • Picnicker* • Poké Maniac* • Pokémon Trainer*GSCPE • Psychic • RivalFRLG • Rocker • Roughneck* Sailor • Scientist • Super Nerd • Swimmer • Tamer • Team Rocket Boss*FRLGHGSSPE • Team Rocket Grunt* • Youngster BoarderHGSS • Double TeamHGSS • FirebreatherGSCHGSS • GuitaristGSCHGSS • MediumGSCHGSS PokéfanGSCHGSS • School Kid*GSCHGSS • SkierHGSS • TeacherGSCHGSS • TwinsGSCFRLGHGSS Cool CoupleFRLG • Crush KinFRLG • Sis and BroFRLG • Young CoupleFRLGHGSS Coach TrainerPE • Karate MasterPE • Punk GuyPE • Team RocketPE • Team Rocket AdminPE Master TrainersPE Unused Trainer class: ChiefRGBY Johto Ace Trainer* • Beauty • Biker • Bird Keeper • Black Belt* • Boarder • Bug Catcher • Burglar • Camper Champion • Executive* • Firebreather • Fisherman* • Gentleman • Guitarist • Hiker • Juggler • Kimono Girl • Lass Leader • Medium • Picnicker • Pokéfan • Poké Maniac* • PKMN Trainer • Policeman* • Psychic • RivalHGSS • Sage Sailor • School Kid* • Scientist • Skier • Super Nerd • Swimmer • Teacher • Team Rocket Grunt* • Twins • Youngster Mystery Man*CHGSS • Double TeamHGSS • ElderHGSS • PasserbyHGSS • Young CoupleHGSS Battle Frontier only:HGSS Aroma Lady • Artist • Battle Girl • Cameraman • Clown • Collector • Cowgirl • Cyclist • Dragon Tamer • Idol Jogger • Lady • Ninja Boy • Parasol Lady • PI • Poké Kid • PKMN Breeder • PKMN Ranger • Rancher • Reporter Rich Boy • Roughneck • Ruin Maniac • Socialite • Tuber • Veteran • Waiter • Waitress • Worker Arcade Star • Castle Valet • Factory Head • Hall Matron • Tower Tycoon Hoenn Ace Trainer* • Aqua AdminSEAS • Aqua LeaderSEAS • Aroma Lady • Battle Girl • Beauty • Bird Keeper • Black Belt Bug Catcher • Bug Maniac • Camper • Champion • Collector • Dragon Tamer • Elite Four • Expert • Fisherman Gentleman • Guitarist • Hex Maniac • Hiker • Interviewers* • Kindler • Lady • Lass • Leader • Magma AdminREOR Magma LeaderREOR • Ninja Boy • Old Couple • Parasol Lady • Picnicker • Poké Fan* • Poké Maniac* • Pokémon Breeder* Pokémon Ranger* • Pokémon Trainer* • Psychic • Rich Boy • Ruin Maniac • Sailor • Schoolkid* • Sis & Bro* • Swimmer Team Aqua GruntSEAS • Team Magma GruntREOR • Teammates* • Triathlete • Tuber • Twins • Winstrate • Young Couple • Youngster Ace DuoORAS • Brains & BrawnORAS • BackpackerORAS • DelinquentORAS • Fairy Tale GirlORAS • Fare PrinceORAS Free DiverORAS • LeadersORAS • LorekeeperORAS • Mysterious SistersORAS • ProprietorORAS • Rotation GirlORAS Scuba DiverORAS • Secret Base ExpertORAS • Secret Base TrainerORAS • SootopolitanORAS • Street ThugORAS Battle Frontier only:E Arena Tycoon • Dome Ace • Factory Head • Palace Maven • Pike Queen • Pyramid King • Salon Maiden Battle Institute and Battle Maison only:ORAS Artist • Battle Chatelaine • Butler • Chef • Furisode Girl • Garçon • Gardener • Madame • Maid • Monsieur • Owner • Preschooler Punk Girl • Punk Guy • Rising Star • Roller Skater • Schoolboy • Schoolgirl • Scientist • Tourist • Veteran • Waitress • Worker Sinnoh Ace Trainer • Aroma Lady • Artist • Battle Girl • Beauty • Bird Keeper • Black Belt • Bug Catcher • Cameraman • Camper • Champion Clown • Collector • Commander • Cowgirl • Cyclist • Double Team • Dragon Tamer • Elite Four • Fisher* • Gentleman • Guitarist Gym Leader* • Hiker • Idol • Interviewers • Jogger • Lady • Lass • Madame* • Ninja Boy • Parasol Lady • Picnicker • PI • Poké Fan* Poké Kid • Pokémon Breeder* • Pokémon Ranger* • Pokémon Trainer* • Police Officer* • Psychic • Rancher • Ranchers* Reporter • Rich Boy • Roughneck • Ruin Maniac • Sailor • School Kid • Scientist • Skier • Swimmer • Team Galactic Boss* Team Galactic Grunt* • Tower Tycoon • Tuber • Twins • Veteran • Waiter • Waitress • Worker • Young Couple • Youngster Arcade StarPt • Castle ValetPt • Factory HeadPt • Hall MatronPt • MaidPt • GAME FREAK'sBDSP Unova Ace Trainer • Artist • Backers • Backpacker • Baker • Battle Girl • Biker • Black Belt • Champion • Clerk Cyclist • Dancer • Depot Agent • Doctor • Elite Four • Fisherman • GAME FREAK • Gentleman • Gym Leader* Harlequin • Hiker • Hooligans • Hoopster • Infielder • Janitor • Lady • Lass • Linebacker • Maid • Motorcyclist • Musician Nurse • Nursery Aide • Parasol Lady • Pilot • Pokéfan • PKMN Breeder • PKMN Ranger • Pokémon Trainer* • Policeman Preschooler • Psychic • Rich Boy • Roughneck • School Kid • Scientist • Smasher • Socialite • Striker • Subway Boss Swimmer • Team Plasma • Team Plasma Grunt • The RichesBW • Twins • Veteran • Waiter • Waitress • Worker • Youngster BeautyB2W2 • Boss TrainerB2W2 • GuitaristB2W2 Pokéstar Studios only:B2W2 A-list Actor • Actor • Actress • Big Star • Celebrity • Chic Actress • Child Star • Comedian Fine Actor • Movie Star • New Actress • Star Actor • Suit Actor • Unique Star • Veteran Star Pokémon World Tournament only:B2W2 Junior Representative • Master Representative • Senior Representative World Champion • World Finalist • World Runner-up Blueberry Academy only:SV BB League Champion • BB League Elite Four • Blueberry Academy Director Director • Instructor • League Club • Student • Top Champion See also: Sevii Islands Aroma Lady • Biker • Bird Keeper • Black Belt • Bug Catcher • Camper • Cool Couple • Cooltrainer • Crush Girl Crush Kin • Cue Ball • Fisherman • Gentleman • Hiker • Juggler • Lady • Lass • Painter • Picnicker • PokéManiac PKMN Breeder • PKMN Ranger • Psychic • Ruin Maniac • Scientist • Sis and Bro • Swimmer • Tamer Team Rocket Admin • Team Rocket Grunt • Twins • Tuber • Young Couple • Youngster Trainer Tower only: Beauty • Burglar • Engineer • Rocker • Sailor • Super Nerd Kalos Ace Duo • Ace Trainer • Artist • Artist Family • Backpacker • Battle Girl • Beauty • Black Belt • Brains & Brawn Butler • Champion • Chef • Driver • Elite Four • Fairy Tale Girl • Fisherman • Furisode Girl • Garçon • Gardener Hex Maniac • Hiker • Honeymooners • Lass • Leader • Lumiose Gang Member • Mysterious Sisters • Owner Poké Fan • Poké Fan Family • Pokémon Breeder • Pokémon Professor • Pokémon Ranger • Pokémon Trainer Preschooler • Psychic • Punk Couple • Punk Girl • Punk Guy • Rangers • Rising Star • Roller Skater Schoolboy • Schoolgirl • Scientist • Sky Trainer • Successor • Suspicious Child • Suspicious Lady Suspicious Woman • Swimmer • Team Flare • Team Flare Admin • Team Flare Boss • Team Flare Grunt Tourist • Twins • Veteran • Waitress • Worker • Youngster Battle Chateau ranks: By male: Baron • Viscount • Earl • Marquis • Duke • Grand Duke By female: Baroness • Viscountess • Countess • Marchioness • Duchess • Grand Duchess Battle Institute and Battle Maison only: Battle Chatelaine • Lady • Madame • Maid • Monsieur • Rich Boy Unused Trainer classes: Ace Surfer • Swimmers Alola Ace Duo • Ace Trainer • Aether Branch Chief • Aether Foundation • Aether Foundation Employee Aether President • Athletic Siblings • Backpacker • Beauty • Bellhop • Black Belt • Captain • Collector • Cook • Dancer Eevee User • Elite Four • Espeon User • Firefighter • Fisherman • Flareon User • GAME FREAK • Gentleman • Glaceon User Golf Buddies • Golfer • Hiker • Honeymooners • Island Kahuna • Janitor • Jolteon User • Karate Family • Lass • Leafeon User Madame • Office Worker • Pokémon Breeder • Pokémon Professor • Pokémon Trainer • Police Officer • Preschooler Principal • Punk Girl • Punk Guy • Punk Pair • Rising Star • Rising Star Duo • Scientist • Sightseer • Swimmer • Swimmers Swimmer Girls • Sylveon User • Teacher • Team Skull • Team Skull Admin • Team Skull Boss • Team Skull Grunt Trial Guide • Twins • Umbreon User • Vaporeon User • Veteran • Veteran Duo • Worker • Youngster • Youth Athlete ActorUSUM • Capoeira CoupleUSUM • Dancing FamilyUSUM • Kantonian GymUSUM • Master & ApprenticeUSUM ReporterUSUM • Sparring PartnersUSUM • SurferUSUM • Team AquaUSUM • Team FlareUSUM • Team GalacticUSUM Team MagmaUSUM • Team PlasmaUSUM • Team Rainbow RocketUSUM • Team Rainbow Rocket GruntUSUM Tourist CoupleUSUM • Ultra Forest KartenvoyUS • Ultra Recon SquadUSUM Battle Tree, Battle Royal Dome, and Battle Agency only: Battle Legend • Pokémon Center Lady • Pro Wrestler Galar Artist • Backpacker • Beauty • Black Belt • Cabbie • Café Master • Cameraman • Champion • Colleagues • Cook • Dancer • Daring Couple Doctor • Fisher • GAME FREAK's • Gym Challenger • Gym Leader • Gym Trainer • Gentleman • Hiker • Interviewers • Lass • League Staff Macro Cosmos's • Madame • Medical Team • Model • Music Crew • Musician • Office Worker • Poké Kid • Pokémon Breeder Pokémon Trainer • Police Officer • Postman • Rail Staff • Reporter • Schoolboy • Schoolgirl • Swimmer • Team Yell Grunt • Worker • Youngster Expansion Pass only: Dojo Master • Dojo Matron • Master Dojo Student Hisui Clan Leader • Ginkgo Guild Member • Pokémon Wielder • The Bandit The Galaxy Team's • The Survey Corps' • The Security Corps' • Warden Paldea Artist • Backpacker • Black Belt • Cabbie • Champion • Cook • Courier • Director • Dragon Tamer • Elite Four • Gym Leader Gym Trainer • Hiker • Instructor • Janitor • Model • Musician • Office Worker • Poké Maniac • Pokémon Trainer Scientist • Student • Team Star • Team Star Grunt • Top Champion • Waiter • Waitress • Worker • Youngster The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero only: Glitterati Kitakami Backpacker • Black Belt • Courier • Delinquent • Dragon Tamer • Festival Boy • Festival Girl • Glitterati Hiker • Kitakami Ogre Clan • Office Worker • Photographer • Poké Maniac • Pokémon Trainer • Ruffian Mochi Mayhem only: Grandma • Grandpa

This Trainer Class article is part of Project CharacterDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each character found in the Pokémon games.