Karen

If you were looking for the character of the day with the Japanese name Karen, see Mary (EP139).

Karen カリン Karin
Art from HeartGold and SoulSilver
Age	25*
Gender	Female
Eye color	Silvery-blue
Hair color	Silvery-blue
Hometown	Unknown
Region	Kanto or Johto
Trainer class	Elite Four
Generation	II, IV
Games	Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold, SoulSilver, Stadium 2, Masters
Elite Four of	Indigo Plateau
Specializes in	Dark types

Karen (Japanese: カリン Karin) is a Dark-type Trainer and member of the Indigo Elite Four.

In the games

Karen is the final member of the Indigo League Elite Four in the Generation II and IV games. She prefers Dark-type Pokémon because she likes the tough and wild image they portray, and believes that skilled Trainers should try to win with the Pokémon they like the most.

Karen also appears as the final Elite Four member in Pokémon Stadium 2's Johto Gym Leader Castle. Here, her strategy mainly focuses on incapacitating her opponent by stacking up status conditions, like confusion, infatuation, and paralysis, onto the opposing Pokémon.

Pokémon

This listing is for Karen's Pokémon in the video games in which she has appeared.

Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal

Elite Four Karen Indigo Plateau Gold, Silver, and Crystal Reward: $4700

Type: Dark Unknown Held item: None Umbreon♂ Lv.42 Faint Attack Dark   --       Confuse Ray Ghost   --       Mean Look Normal   --       Sand-Attack Ground   --       Types: Grass Poison Held item: None Vileplume♀ Lv.42 Stun Spore Grass   --       Acid Poison   --       Petal Dance Grass   --       Moonlight Normal   --       Types: Dark Flying Held item: None Murkrow♀ Lv.44 Faint Attack Dark   --       Whirlwind Normal   --       Pursuit Dark   --       Quick Attack Normal   --       Types: Ghost Poison Held item: None Gengar♀ Lv.45 Lick Ghost   --       Spite Ghost   --       Curse ???   --       Destiny Bond Ghost   --       Types: Dark Fire Held item: None Houndoom♀ Lv.47 Crunch Dark   --       Flamethrower Fire   --       Roar Normal   --       Pursuit Dark   --

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

First battle

Elite Four Karen Indigo Plateau HeartGold and SoulSilver Reward: $5640

Type: Dark Unknown Ability: Synchronize Held item: None Umbreon♂ Lv.42 Double Team Normal Status   --       Confuse Ray Ghost Status   --       Faint Attack Dark Physical   --       Payback Dark Physical   --       Types: Grass Poison Ability: Chlorophyll Held item: None Vileplume♀ Lv.42 Stun Spore Grass Status   --       Petal Dance Grass Special   --       Acid Poison Special   --       Moonlight Normal Status   --       Types: Dark Flying Ability: Super Luck Held item: None Murkrow♀ Lv.44 Sucker Punch Dark Physical   --       Faint Attack Dark Physical   --       Pluck Flying Physical   --       Whirlwind Normal Status   --       Types: Ghost Poison Ability: Levitate Held item: None Gengar♀ Lv.45 Focus Blast Fighting Special   --       Destiny Bond Ghost Status   --       Spite Ghost Status   --       Lick Ghost Physical   --       Types: Dark Fire Ability: Flash Fire Held item: Sitrus Berry Houndoom♀ Lv.47 Nasty Plot Dark Status   --       Dark Pulse Dark Special   --       Flamethrower Fire Special   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --

Rematch

Elite Four Karen Indigo Plateau HeartGold and SoulSilver Reward: $7680

Types: Dark Ice Ability: Pressure Held item: None Weavile♀ Lv.62 Ice Punch Ice Physical   --       Night Slash Dark Physical   --       Low Kick Fighting Physical   --       Ice Shard Ice Physical   --       Type: Dark Unknown Ability: Super Luck Held item: None Absol♀ Lv.62 Detect Fighting Status   --       Perish Song Normal Status   --       Night Slash Dark Physical   --       Psycho Cut Psychic Physical   --       Types: Ghost Dark Ability: Pressure Held item: None Spiritomb♀ Lv.62 Curse ??? Status   --       Confuse Ray Ghost Status   --       Pain Split Normal Status   --       Sucker Punch Dark Physical   --       Types: Dark Fire Ability: Flash Fire Held item: None Houndoom♀ Lv.63 Nasty Plot Dark Status   --       Dark Pulse Dark Special   --       Flamethrower Fire Special   --       Sludge Bomb Poison Special   --       Types: Dark Flying Ability: Super Luck Held item: None Honchkrow♀ Lv.64 Thunder Wave Electric Status   --       Whirlwind Normal Status   --       Drill Peck Flying Physical   --       Sucker Punch Dark Physical   --       Type: Dark Unknown Ability: Synchronize Held item: Sitrus Berry Umbreon♂ Lv.64 Confuse Ray Ghost Status   --       Curse ??? Status   --       Payback Dark Physical   --       Sucker Punch Dark Physical   --

Pokémon Stadium 2

Round 1

Elite Four Karen Johto Gym Leader Castle Stadium 2 Reward: N/A

Type: Dark Unknown Held item: Quick Claw Umbreon♀ Lv.50-100 Confuse Ray Ghost   --       Pursuit Dark   --       Psychic Psychic   --       Attract Normal   --       Types: Grass Poison Held item: Mint Berry Victreebel♀ Lv.50-100 Stun Spore Grass   --       Acid Poison   --       Razor Leaf Grass   --       Attract Normal   --       Types: Dark Flying Held item: Bitter Berry Murkrow♂ Lv.50-100 Mud-Slap Ground   --       Faint Attack Dark   --       Fly Flying   --       Attract Normal   --       Type: Fire Unknown Held item: None Magmar♂ Lv.50-100 Confuse Ray Ghost   --       Fire Punch Fire   --       Thief Dark   --       Attract Normal   --       Types: Ghost Poison Held item: PRZCureBerry Gengar♂ Lv.50-100 Confuse Ray Ghost   --       Psychic Psychic   --       Lick Ghost   --       Attract Normal   --       Types: Grass Poison Held item: Ice Berry Vileplume♀ Lv.50-100 Stun Spore Grass   --       Giga Drain Grass   --       Sludge Bomb Poison   --       Attract Normal   --

Round 2

Elite Four Karen Johto Gym Leader Castle Stadium 2 Reward: N/A

Type: Dark Unknown Held item: Focus Band Umbreon♂ Lv.50-100 Swagger Normal   --       Screech Normal   --       Faint Attack Dark   --       Psychic Psychic   --       Type: Normal Unknown Held item: BrightPowder Persian♂ Lv.50-100 Swagger Normal   --       Screech Normal   --       Headbutt Normal   --       Shadow Ball Ghost   --       Types: Dark Flying Held item: Scope Lens Murkrow♂ Lv.50-100 Swagger Normal   --       Mean Look Normal   --       Psych Up Normal   --       Drill Peck Flying   --       Types: Water Psychic Held item: Quick Claw Slowbro♀ Lv.50-100 Swagger Normal   --       Surf Water   --       Thunder Wave Electric   --       Submission Fighting   --       Type: Ghost Unknown Held item: MysteryBerry Misdreavus♀ Lv.50-100 Mean Look Normal   --       Perish Song Normal   --       Pain Split Normal   --       Psychic Psychic   --       Type: Electric Unknown Held item: King's Rock Electrode Lv.50-100 Swagger Normal   --       Headbutt Normal   --       Thunderbolt Electric   --       Thunder Wave Electric   --

Quotes

Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal

• Before battle

"I am Karen of the Elite Four. You're <player>? How amusing. I love dark-type Pokémon. I find their wild, tough image to be so appealing. And they're so strong. Think you can take them? Just try to entertain me. Let's go."

• Being defeated

"Well, aren't you good. I like that in a trainer."

• After being defeated

"Strong Pokémon. Weak Pokémon. That is only the selfish perception of people. Truly skilled trainers should try to win with their favorites. I like your style. You understand what's important. Go on — — the Champion is waiting."

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

• Before battle

"I am Karen of the Elite Four. You're <player>? How amusing. I love Dark-type Pokémon. I'm known for my overpowering tactics. Think you can take them? Just try to entertain me. Let's go."

• After sending out last Pokémon

"This is far from being backed into a corner!"

• Last Pokémon at critical health

"You're no ordinary Trainer to have gotten this far."

• Being defeated

"Well, aren't you good. I like that in a Trainer."

• After being defeated

"Strong Pokémon. Weak Pokémon. That is only the selfish perception of people. Truly skilled Trainers should try to win with the Pokémon they love best. I like your style. You understand what's important. Go on — — the Champion is waiting."

Pokémon Puzzle Challenge

This article is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this article to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Quotes seem to vary, perhaps depending on how well the player did.

---

• Normal

"I'm verrry good. Will you challenge me? I'm sure this will be a good match. Let's begin!"

"Well, you were good. That was nice, but you could be even stronger."

• Hard

"Well, this should be pretty fun. First, I'll tell you this... I'm verrry good. Will you challenge me? I hope this will be a good match. Let's begin!"

"Well, you were good. I like that. Go on ahead. The champion awaits."

• Super Hard

"Well, this should be fun. First, I'll tell you this... I'm verrry good. Will you challenge me? I hope this will be a good match. Let's begin!"

"Well, you were good. Go on ahead. The champion awaits."

• Intense

"Well, this should be fun. First, I'll tell you this... I'm verrry good. Will you take me on? I hope this will be a good match. Let's begin!"

"Well, you were good. I like that. Go on ahead. The champion awaits."

Pokémon Stadium 2

• After defeating the Blackthorn Gym

"You won through the ranks to reach me. I'm impressed. We, the Elite Four, will face you from here."

• Before battle

"I am Karen. Would you care for a showdown with my Dark-type Pokémon?"

"I am unlike the three you've already met."

"You've assembled a charming team. Our battle should be a good one."

• Sending out first Pokémon

"There!"

• Sending out a new Pokémon

"<Pokémon>, go!"

"<Pokémon>, please!"

"<Pokémon>, don't fail me!"

"<Pokémon>, you know what to do!"

• Recalling a Pokémon

"That should be enough!"

"You're no good for this!"

"Switch out!"

"Good, that's enough!"

• Own Pokémon faints

"This can't be happening!"

"Hmm... Is that how you want to play it?"

• Own Pokémon lands a critical hit

"We weren't deliberately aiming for the weak spot."

• Player's Pokémon lands a critical hit

"It hit the weak spot precisely. You're good."

• Commanding her Pokémon to use Swagger

"<Pokémon>, be proud--Swagger."

• Successfully confusing or flinching the player's Pokémon

"So? Isn't it outstanding?"

"That showed subtle elegance."

• Successfully infatuating the player's Pokémon

"Oh, look. It's infatuated."

• Successfully paralyzing the player's Pokémon

"I was hoping for that."

• Own Pokémon being hurt by a binding move

"Nothing can be done about that."

• If the player is defeated

"It's working well."

• After being defeated

"No! I can't win. How did you become so strong?"

"I will not stray from my chosen path."

"The Champion is looking forward to meeting you."

• After winning

"That's about what I expected."

"Well, that was relatively entertaining."

"Come visit me anytime."

• If the battle ended in a draw

"A draw...? But how...?"

• If the player runs from the battle

"You're going to reappraise matters, aren't you?"

Artwork

Headshot from Generation II

Sprites

In the core series

Sprite from Generation II	Sprite from HeartGold and SoulSilver	VS sprite from HeartGold and SoulSilver
Overworld sprite from Generation II	Overworld sprite from HeartGold and SoulSilver

In other games

Portrait from Stadium 2	Model from Masters	VS model from Masters

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Karen in Pokémon Adventures

History

Past

Karen, along with Will, Green, Silver, Sham, and Carl, was one of the children raised by the Masked Man to be his servants. Unlike Silver and Green, Karen was not kidnapped and went to the Masked Man willingly out of boredom.

Gold, Silver & Crystal arc

Karen debuted with Will at the Ilex Forest, where they were tasked to guard the area. When Green arrived to stop the Masked Man's plan to capture Celebi, she was attacked by Karen and Will. With the Ho-Oh and Lugia they borrowed from the Masked Man, Karen and Will exploited Green's fear of birds to torture her. When Green learned that Karen and Will also defeated and captured Silver, she overcame her fear of birds and sent out Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres to fight. Green and her allies, Red and Blue, each used one of the legendary birds to battle Karen and Will. With the assistance of many Pokémon sent from all across Johto and Kanto, Ho-Oh and Lugia were freed from the Masked Man's control and fly away. Defeated, Karen made her escape.

After the Masked Man's defeat, Karen and Will were approached by Bruno and Koga, who offered to form an alliance since all four of them were once members of various criminal organizations.

HeartGold & SoulSilver arc

It is revealed that Karen, Will, Bruno, and Koga were all made members of the Johto Elite Four by the Pokémon Association. The Johto Elite Four went to the Pokéathlon as an act of promotion for the Pokémon League. There, they met Gold, who they challenged to the Power Course. Karen was the only Elite Four member who didn't participate in the events.

Pokémon

This listing is of Karen's Pokémon in the Pokémon Adventures manga.

Eevee → Umbreon

Debut	The Last Battle VII

Karen's Umbreon is Karen's main Pokémon. It was first used to battle Green's Snubbull at the Ilex Forest, but was defeated. Later, it fought Green's Snubbull while riding on top of Green's Moltres. By using the moon to power itself up, Umbreon defeated Snubbull. In The Escape, it was revealed that Umbreon evolved from an Eevee.

Umbreon's known moves are Faint Attack, Moonlight, and Bite.

Murkrow (×2)

Debut	The Last Battle VII

These two Murkrow were used by Karen to take her and Will to safety after the Masked Man's defeat.

None of their moves are known.

Houndoom

Debut	Attaway, Aipom!

Houndoom first appeared alongside its Trainer at the Pokéathlon. It was not seen participating in any events.

None of Houndoom's moves are known.

Borrowed

Ho-Oh

Debut	Oh, It's Ho-Oh!

Main article: Tower duo (Adventures)

The Masked Man lent Ho-Oh to Karen in order to guard the Ilex Forest. Karen used Ho-Oh to battle Green, Red, and Blue, who used Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres, respectively. During the battle, many Pokémon sent from people from Kanto and Johto came to assist. The Pokémon latched on to Ho-Oh and Lugia, and their combined power freed the two from the Masked Man's control. Now freed, Ho-Oh and Lugia flew off to parts unknown.

In the Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure manga

Karen in Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure

Karen appeared in Betting on the Name of the Strongest!. When Jō obtained all eight Badges, he was shown battling Karen. After defeating her, Jō went on to battle Lance.

Pokémon

Umbreon

Debut	Betting on the Name of the Strongest!

Umbreon is Karen's only known Pokémon. It battled Jō's Totodile and lost.

None of Umbreon's moves are known.

In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga

Karen in the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga

Red encounters Karen in A Challenge to the Elite Four! as part of the newly reformed Elite Four. Her role in this manga is similar to Lance's in the Generation II games and the remakes where she was the last one fought as Lance himself was absent.

When Red arrived in the Pokémon League, Will, Koga and Bruno fell from the Elite Four Tower, seemly defeated by Karen. Red ask them what happened, but Koga asked him to ask Karen herself. Red manages to get to the top and finds Karen, along with her's, Koga's, Bruno's and Will's Pokémon. Red asked Karen what happened between her and the rest of the Elite Four, but Karen says it is none of his business. However, with her teammates' Pokémon, Red is outnumbered. Clefairy then takes out a giant sieve to "sieve" out the opponents, leaving behind only Karen's Umbreon. Umbreon proves to be a tough opponent, but Clefairy succeeds in beating it.

After her defeat, Karen reveals to Red what actually happened. The Elite Four were exhausted from training, thus Karen decided to tell them a joke. After Karen shares the same joke to Red and his Pokémon, only Clefairy finds it funny and laugh, while Red and his other Pokémon fell down at the dumb joke. Apparently, Will, Koga and Bruno also fell down the building after hearing her dumb joke.

Pokémon

Vileplume

Debut	A Challenge to the Elite Four!

Vileplume was one of the Pokémon that was "sieved" by Clefairy.

None of Vileplume's moves are known.

Gengar

Debut	A Challenge to the Elite Four!

Gengar was one of the Pokémon that was "sieved" by Clefairy.

None of Gengar's moves are known.

Umbreon

Debut	A Challenge to the Elite Four!

Umbreon is the Pokémon that Clefairy battled with. In the first part of the battle, Clefairy treated it as a dog by showing Umbreon to some chicken, in which Umbreon liked. Later, Umbreon's Sand-Attack and Mean Look put Clefairy at a disadvantage. Tyrogue pointed out to a bright sun in which Clefairy can use to win. Clefairy uses Light Screen so that the sun's ray can reflect it and turns it into SolarBeam, which defeated Umbreon.

Umbreon's known moves are Sand-Attack and Mean Look.

In the TCG

This listing is of cards mentioning or featuring Karen or her Pokémon in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Karen's Pokémon Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format. Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.
Card	Type	English Expansion	Rarity	#	Japanese Expansion	Rarity	#
Karen's Rapidash		Tyranitar Half Deck			Pokémon VS		087/141
Karen's Magmar					Pokémon VS		088/141
Karen's Flareon					Pokémon VS		089/141
Karen's Tyranitar					Pokémon VS		090/141
Karen's Umbreon					Pokémon VS		091/141
Karen's Houndoom					Pokémon VS		092/141
Other related cards
Card	Type	English Expansion	Rarity	#	Japanese Expansion	Rarity	#
Karen's TM 01	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		125/141
Karen's TM 02	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		126/141
Karen	Su	XY Black Star Promos		XY177	XY-P Promotional cards		256/XY-P
					The Best of XY		142/171
		Yellow A Alternate cards		XY177a	The Best of XY		183/171

Trivia

• Karen is the only Elite Four member in HeartGold and SoulSilver who does not use a Pokémon that is part of a three-stage evolutionary line in her rematch team.
  • She is also the only one who, in her rematch with the player, uses a different final Pokémon from the one used in the initial battle. In her case, she replaces Houndoom with Umbreon, though Houndoom is still present in her party.
• Karen appears as an opponent in Pokémon Puzzle Challenge. She uses a Murkrow to battle.

Names

Language	Name	Origin
Japanese	カリン Karin	From 花梨 karin (Burmese rosewood) or 榠樝 karin (Chinese quince)
English, Italian, Spanish	Karen	Similar to Japanese name. Also contains the last five letters of 'darken'.
French	Marion	Contains the word noir (black) backwards.
German	Melanie	From the ancient Greek word μέλας melas (black, dark). Also similar to Melancholie (melancholia).
Spanish*	Morgana	From Morgan le Fay.
Korean	카렌 Karen	Similar to Japanese name.
Chinese (Mandarin)	梨花 Líhuā * 梨林 Lílín *	From 花梨 Karin, with the characters reversed. Possibly from 花梨 karin and 花林 karin.
Chinese (Cantonese)	梨花	From 花梨 Karin, with the characters reversed.
Thai	คาริน Karin	Same as Japanese name.
Vietnamese	Karin	Transliteration of her Japanese name.

Related articles

• Images on the Bulbagarden Archives

Indigo League
Generations I, III, and VII
Elite Four Lorelei	Elite Four Bruno	Elite Four Agatha	Elite Four Lance	Champion Blue Trace
Generations II and IV
Elite Four Will	Elite Four Koga	Elite Four Bruno	Elite Four Karen	Champion Lance

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