Pokémon Trainer

For the character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl referred to as "Pokémon Trainer," see Red (game).

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Pokémon Trainers

A Pokémon Trainer (Japanese: ポケモントレーナー Pokémon Trainer) is a person who catches, trains, cares for, and battles Pokémon. The majority of people within the known Pokémon world are all Trainers.

Many Trainers leave home at about the age of 10, sometimes accompanied with a starter Pokémon obtained from a Pokémon professor. Many will travel around one or more regions, doing such things as gathering information for a Pokédex, perfecting their technique, collecting badges, and working to become a Pokémon master. No matter what their specialties or aims, there is one code that they all follow - when two Trainers make eye contact, they must have a battle.

Trainers from different classes: A Grunt, a Lass, and a Bug Catcher

Pokémon Trainers come in all sorts of classes: Youngsters tend to stay close to home, and Bug Catchers swarm about the Bug-filled forests; Hikers traverse mountains and caves, and Cool Trainers aspire to compete in the Pokémon League. A Trainer's class may reflect their Pokémon of choice, the areas they prefer, their technique, and their level of skill; however, even among their classes, Trainers may vary greatly.

Many towns have a Gym run by a strong and experienced Trainer known as a Gym Leader. Other Trainers may challenge a Gym Leader, and if the Gym Leader is defeated in battle, he or she awards them a Pokémon League badge. However, the Gym Leader may award the Trainer a badge for other reasons, since the badge is a symbol of the Trainer's skill. For example, Ash Ketchum won several of his early badges by refusing to take an unfair advantage or going out of his way to save a gym, which proved himself as an exceptional Trainer outside of battle.

Above the level of Gym Leaders are the Elite Four Trainers, Pokémon League champions, and Frontier Brains. These Trainers are considered the cream of the crop, and can only be challenged if a Trainer has met requirements such as winning eight badges. Should a Trainer defeat other Trainers at this level, it is not uncommon for him or her to be offered a place in these high ranks.

However, just as there are many Trainers with noble goals and lawful methods, there are also corrupt Trainers, including a number of villainous teams. These Trainers often use powerful Pokémon to take what they want and further their plans.

Trivia

• For DP005, Professor Oak's lecture is about the Pokémon Trainer. He writes this Pokémon senryū about it: さあ10さい　ぼくもわたしも　トレーナー Sā jussai, boku mo watashi mo torēnā. "Ah, the age 10; we will all be Trainers."
• A playable character called "Pokémon Trainer" will be introduced in the game Super Smash Bros. Brawl. His appearance is based on Red from Generation III, and he uses members of the evolution families of the Kanto starters to battle against the others.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Main article: Red (game)

See also

• List of trainer classes