Clay

If you were looking for the character of the day from Crisis at Ferroseed Research! with the Japanese name of "Clay", see Case (BW081).

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Clay ヤーコン Yakon
"The Underground Boss"
Artwork from Black and White by Yusuke Ohmura
Gender	Male
Eye color	Brown
Hair color	Brown
Hometown	Driftveil City
Region	Unova
Trainer class	Gym LeaderBWB2W2 Pokémon TrainerB2W2
Generation	V
Games	Black and White Black 2 and White 2, Masters EX
Leader of	Driftveil Gym
Badge	Quake Badge
Specializes in	Ground types
Game animation debut	The Uprising
English voice actor	Steve Kramer (Generations) Unknown (Masters EX)
Japanese voice actor	Shūhei Matsuda (Generations) Naomi Kusumi (Masters EX)
Anime debut	The Mighty Accelguard to the Rescue!
English voice actor	Sean Schemmel
Japanese voice actor	Tsuguo Mogami

Clay (Japanese: ヤーコン Yakon) is a businessman in the mining industry who is the Gym Leader of Driftveil City's Gym, known officially as the Driftveil Gym. He specializes in Ground-type Pokémon. He gives the Quake Badge to Trainers who defeat him.

In the core series games

Clay appears in Pokémon Black and White as the Gym Leader of Driftveil City's Gym. This Gym will be the fifth to be challenged by the player. Trainers who defeat Clay will receive the Quake Badge. Shortly after, he appears on Route 6 to aid the player in removing the Galvantula web blocking the entrance to the Chargestone Cave. After his Krokorok removes the web, he gives TM78 (Bulldoze) to the player. He also reappears again at N's Castle where he and the other Unova Gym Leaders hold off the Seven Sages.

When the player is cornered by the Seven Sages, Clay is the first of the Unova Gym Leaders to march in. He asks the player if he is tired out yet, then the rest of the Unova Gym Leaders, except for Cilan, Chili and Cress, walk in and take positions opposite each sage in pairs. Drayden then tells the player to proceed in pursuit of N.

Once the player gains access to the Driftveil Gym, Clay will be standing outside of the Gym, opposite Ghetsis and some Team Plasma Grunts. Ghetsis refers to Clay as the "Miner King".

When the player encounters the Driftveil Gym Leader inside of Twist Mountain on their first visit after obtaining the Mistralton Gym Badge, he will say that Twist Mountain belongs to him and that the player and Cheren can train on it should they wish to do so.

One of the Trainers the player can battle inside the Driftveil Gym says that Clay is a company president. However, it is not known what business Clay owns. Another Trainer that can be battled inside the Driftveil Gym says that Clay stays at the bottom of the Gym to remind himself that he once had nothing. A backpacker inside the Nacrene City Pokémon Center says that Clay found Fossils on Twist Mountain and donated them to the Nacrene City Museum.

In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, he returns as a Gym Leader. The TM Clay gives away remains the same, though he gives it out immediately after the battle rather than outside Chargestone Cave, as there is no longer any Galvantula web blocking the entrance.

After the Gym battle, Clay will take the player up his private lift to the entrance of the Gym and then leaves. Outside of the Gym, he is with Hugh and notices that the player and Hugh are friends, and then proceed to show the two Trainers to the Pokémon World Tournament south of Driftveil City. Once there, he goes inside and tells them both to join in the Driftveil Tournament. Cheren is already there and participates as well. After the tournament, Roxie turns up and learns about the tournament, and leaves again. Clay follows and leaves the player to continue the adventure.

Pokémon

Pokémon Black and White

Leader Clay Driftveil Gym Black and White Reward: $3720

Types: Ground Dark Ability: Moxie Held item: None Krokorok♂ Lv.29 Swagger Normal Status   --       Torment Dark Status   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --       Bulldoze Ground Physical   --       Types: Water Ground Ability: Swift Swim Held item: None Palpitoad♂ Lv.29 Aqua Ring Water Status   --       BubbleBeam Water Special   --       Muddy Water Water Special   --       Bulldoze Ground Physical   --       Types: Ground Steel Ability: Sand Rush Held item: None Excadrill♂ Lv.31 Hone Claws Dark Status   --       Slash Normal Physical   --       Rock Slide Rock Physical   --       Bulldoze Ground Physical   --

Pokémon Black 2 and White 2

Gym battle

Easy Mode/Normal Mode

Leader Clay Driftveil Gym Black 2 and White 2 Reward: $3600/$3960

Types: Ground Dark Ability: Intimidate Held item: None Krokorok♂ Lv.28/31 Crunch Dark Physical   --       Sand Tomb Ground Physical   --       Bulldoze Ground Physical   --       Torment Dark Status   --       Type: Ground Unknown Ability: Sand Veil Held item: None Sandslash♂ Lv.28/31 Crush Claw Normal Physical   --       Bulldoze Ground Physical   --       Fury Cutter Bug Physical   --       Rollout Rock Physical   --       Types: Ground Steel Ability: Sand Force Held item: Sitrus Berry Excadrill♂ Lv.30/33 Slash Normal Physical   --       Rock Slide Rock Physical   --       Metal Claw Steel Physical   --       Bulldoze Ground Physical   --

Challenge Mode

Leader Clay Driftveil Gym Black 2 and White 2 Reward: $4320

Types: Ground Dark Ability: Intimidate Held item: Sitrus Berry Krokorok♂ Lv.34 Crunch Dark Physical   --       Sandstorm Rock Status   --       Torment Dark Status   --       Bulldoze Ground Physical   --       Type: Ground Unknown Ability: Sand Veil Held item: None Sandslash♂ Lv.34 Bulldoze Ground Physical   --       Crush Claw Normal Physical   --       Hone Claws Dark Status   --       Rock Slide Rock Physical   --       Types: Rock Ground Ability: Sturdy Held item: None Onix♂ Lv.34 Explosion Normal Physical   --       Bulldoze Ground Physical   --       Rock Polish Rock Status   --       Rock Slide Rock Physical   --       Types: Ground Steel Ability: Sand Force Held item: Sitrus Berry Excadrill♂ Lv.36 Slash Normal Physical   --       Bulldoze Ground Physical   --       Metal Claw Steel Physical   --       Rock Slide Rock Physical   --

Pokémon World Tournament

Clay uses three of these Pokémon in Single Battles, four in Double and Rotation Battles, and all six in Triple Battles. He will always lead with his signature Pokémon, Excadrill.

Driftveil/Mix Tournament

PKMN Trainer Clay Pokémon World Tournament Black 2 and White 2 Reward: 1BP

Types: Ground Steel Ability: Sand Rush or Sand Force Held item: None Excadrill♂/♀ Lv.25/50 Bulldoze Ground Physical   --       Slash Normal Physical   --       Metal Claw Steel Physical   --       Hone Claws Dark Status   --       Types: Ground Psychic Ability: Levitate Held item: None Claydol Lv.25/50 Bulldoze Ground Physical   --       Psybeam Psychic Special   --       Sandstorm Rock Status   --       Rock Tomb Rock Physical   --       Types: Ground Dark Ability: Intimidate or Moxie Held item: None Krokorok♂/♀ Lv.25/50 Bulldoze Ground Physical   --       Assurance Dark Physical   --       Sand Tomb Ground Physical   --       Torment Dark Status   --       Types: Water Ground Ability: Swift Swim or Hydration Held item: None Palpitoad♂/♀ Lv.25/50 Round Normal Special   --       Supersonic Normal Status   --       Mud Shot Ground Special   --       BubbleBeam Water Special   --       Types: Ground Dark Ability: Intimidate or Moxie Held item: None Krokorok♂/♀ Lv.25/50 Dig Ground Physical   --       Sandstorm Rock Status   --       Bite Dark Physical   --       Swagger Normal Status   --       Types: Water Ground Ability: Swift Swim or Hydration Held item: None Palpitoad♂/♀ Lv.25/50 Round Normal Special   --       Aqua Ring Water Status   --       Mud Shot Ground Special   --       Rain Dance Water Status   --

Unova Leaders Tournament

PKMN Trainer Clay Pokémon World Tournament Black 2 and White 2 Reward: 1BP

Types: Ground Steel Ability: Sand Rush or Sand Force Held item: Liechi Berry Excadrill♂/♀ Lv.50 Drill Run Ground Physical   --       Rock Slide Rock Physical   --       Submission Fighting Physical   --       Swords Dance Normal Status   --       Types: Ground Psychic Ability: Levitate Held item: Ganlon Berry Claydol Lv.50 Earth Power Ground Special   --       Sandstorm Rock Status   --       Psychic Psychic Special   --       Cosmic Power Psychic Status   --       Types: Ground Dark Ability: Intimidate or Moxie Held item: Chople Berry Krookodile♂/♀ Lv.50 Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --       Rock Slide Rock Physical   --       Outrage Dragon Physical   --       Types: Water Ground Ability: Swift Swim or Poison Touch Held item: Rindo Berry Seismitoad♂/♀ Lv.50 Ice Punch Ice Physical   --       Drain Punch Fighting Physical   --       Earth Power Ground Special   --       Muddy Water Water Special   --       Types: Ice Ground Ability: Oblivious or Snow Cloak Held item: Ice Gem Mamoswine♂/♀ Lv.50 Sandstorm Rock Status   --       Stone Edge Rock Physical   --       Ice Shard Ice Physical   --       Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Types: Ground Ghost Ability: Iron Fist or Klutz Held item: Ghost Gem Golurk Lv.50 Shadow Punch Ghost Physical   --       Stone Edge Rock Physical   --       Hammer Arm Fighting Physical   --       Earthquake Ground Physical   --

Type Expert/World Leaders/Mix Master Tournament

PKMN Trainer Clay Pokémon World Tournament Black 2 and White 2 Reward: 1BP

Types: Ground Steel Ability: Sand Rush or Sand Force Held item: Focus Sash Excadrill♂/♀ Lv.50 Drill Run Ground Physical   --       Rock Slide Rock Physical   --       Submission Fighting Physical   --       Swords Dance Normal Status   --       Types: Ground Dragon Ability: Levitate Held item: Liechi Berry Flygon♂/♀ Lv.50 Earth Power Ground Special   --       Fire Blast Fire Special   --       Outrage Dragon Physical   --       Stone Edge Rock Physical   --       Types: Ground Dark Ability: Intimidate or Moxie Held item: Choice Band Krookodile♂/♀ Lv.50 Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Aqua Tail Water Physical   --       Rock Slide Rock Physical   --       Fire Fang Fire Physical   --       Types: Water Ground Ability: Swift Swim or Poison Touch Held item: Life Orb Seismitoad♂/♀ Lv.50 Grass Knot Grass Special   --       Focus Blast Fighting Special   --       Earth Power Ground Special   --       Hydro Pump Water Special   --       Types: Ice Ground Ability: Oblivious or Snow Cloak Held item: Ice Gem Mamoswine♂/♀ Lv.50 Fissure Ground Physical   --       Stone Edge Rock Physical   --       Ice Shard Ice Physical   --       Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Types: Ground Ghost Ability: Iron Fist or Klutz Held item: Leftovers Golurk Lv.50 Shadow Punch Ghost Physical   --       Substitute Normal Status   --       Focus Punch Fighting Physical   --       Earthquake Ground Physical   --

National Gymquirer

Jingle: "Woo hoo! All right! It's 'The National Gymquirer'!"

Page: "That's right! We collect the hottest gossip about Gym Leaders seen around town! Here is today's letter. From someone going by the name Veildrifter. Thank yooou! 'You know how Gym Leader Clay never takes off his hat? Well, the other day I finally saw him take it off... And underneath his big hat was a fluffy knit hat! He wears two hats! Weird, huh?' Hmm... That seems like it would be way too warm! Still, I wonder if that isn't just Clay's hair sticking up all funny... 'The National Gymquirer'! We eagerly await your letters!"

In spin-off games

Pokémon Masters EX

Main article: Clay (Masters)

Clay appears in Pokémon Masters EX, forming a sync pair with his Palpitoad, which can be evolved into Seismitoad.

Gallery

Sprites

Sprite from Black and White	Sprite from Black 2 and White 2
Overworld sprite from Generation V	VS sprite from Generation V

Quotes

Main article: Clay/Quotes

In the anime

Main series

Clay in the anime

Clay debuted in The Mighty Accelguard to the Rescue!. Ash and his friends met him right after they had arrived at Driftveil City, and Ash asked him for a battle. However, he refused to battle Ash at the time because he had to check out a mine at the edge of town. Ash would try to battle Clay again in Stopping the Rage of Legends! Part 1 but he refused yet again. He claimed that he could not have a battle with him if he did not have any Revival Herbs. When Ash asked what they were, Clay criticized him for not knowing and said that he probably wouldn't be worth battling. However, he did promise a battle if he brought him some Revival Herbs.

Clay as a child

After Ash obtained the herbs in Stopping the Rage of Legends! Part 2, he immediately went to Clay in the next episode. He was surprised that Ash was able to get the herbs and finally accepted his challenge. Ash managed to defeat Clay and he gave him the Quake Badge.

He reappeared in a flashback in Curtain Up, Unova League!. He also made a cameo appearance in the ending credits of Genesect and the Legend Awakened.

Character

Clay is shown to have started his life as a miner when he was around Ash's age with his Excadrill. One of his mines would later become the Driftveil Gym. He greatly values experience through hard work and views Ash's youth and inexperience with contempt, though he later gains a new respect for the young Trainer after their battle. Clay prefers a frontal assault style of battling and becomes enraged when Ash uses strategy like his Snivy's Attract to stop his Palpitoad.

Pokémon

This listing is of Clay's known Pokémon in the anime:

Krokorok

Debut	Battling the King of the Mines!
Voice actors
Japanese	Kiyotaka Furushima
English	Marc Thompson

Clay's Krokorok first appeared in Battling the King of the Mines!, where it was used to battle Ash's Oshawott. At first, Krokorok used dust to blind Oshawott, allowing it to land many successful hits. However, Oshawott was finally able to clean his eyes with his Water Gun and then defeat Krokorok with Razor Shell. It reappeared in a flashback in Crowning the Scalchop King!.

Krokorok's known moves are Dig, Sandstorm, Bite, and Stone Edge.

Palpitoad ♂

Debut	Battling the King of the Mines!
Voice actors
Japanese	Akeno Watanabe
English	Carter Cathcart

Clay's Palpitoad first appeared in Battling the King of the Mines!, where he was used in a Gym battle against Ash. He easily defeated Ash's Oshawott, after which he battled Snivy. Snivy started by using Attract on Palpitoad, which became infatuated. This made him unable to attack and an easy target for Snivy, which hit him with all of her attacks and finally defeated him with a Leaf Storm.

Palpitoad's known moves are Hydro Pump, Sludge Bomb, and Rock Smash.

Excadrill

Debut	Battling the King of the Mines!
Voice actors
Japanese	Kensuke Satō
English	Tom Wayland

Main article: Clay's Excadrill

Clay's Excadrill was used in a Gym battle against Ash's Snivy. It was easily able to block all of Snivy's attacks and then knock her out. Ash then used Roggenrola, which could avoid being knocked out by Excadrill's Horn Drill due to its Sturdy Ability. Later, Roggenrola evolved into a Boldore and defeated the Subterranean Pokémon with its newly learned Rock Blast and Rock Smash attacks, despite being at a major disadvantage.

Voice actors

Language Voice actor Japanese 最上嗣生 Tsuguo Mogami English Sean Schemmel Mandarin Chinese 于正昇 Yú Zhèngshēng Danish Peter Aude Finnish Mikael Eklund Italian Mario Zucca Norwegian Harald Mæle Polish Janusz Wituch (BW057-BW059) Paweł Wiśniewski (BW060-present) Brazilian Portuguese Luiz Antônio Lobue Russian Дмитрий Филимонов Dmitry Filimonov Spanish Latin America Humberto Vélez Spain Fernando Elegido

Pokémon Generations

の	This article is missing information on this character's English voice actor. You can help by adding this information.

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Clay in Pokémon Generations

Clay appeared in The Uprising, where he was seen outside N's Castle trying to stop the Seven Sages. Together with several other Unova Gym Leaders, he battled the many Team Plasma Grunts to prevent them from achieving Team Plasma's goals.

Pokémon

Excadrill

Debut	The Uprising

Main article: Clay's Excadrill

Clay's Excadrill was seen saving Iris and her Druddigon from multiple Liepard belonging to some Team Plasma Grunts.

Voice actors

Language Voice actor Japanese 松田修平 Shuhei Matsuda English Steve Kramer Italian Mario Zucca European Spanish Ángel del Río

GOTCHA!

Clay briefly appeared in GOTCHA!.

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Clay in Pokémon Adventures

Black & White arc

Clay first appeared as a silhouette in Lights, Camera...Action!. While digging around the Desert Resort, Clay and his men unearthed a mysterious stone. Believing the stone to be an ordinary rock, Clay tried throwing it away, only to experience a surge of power rush through his body when he touched it. He debuted in person in Defeating Stoutland, where he called Lenora to inform her of the stone he found. Despite his years as a miner, Clay was unable to find out what the stone was. He requested that Lenora take it to the Nacrene Museum, hoping that her archeological experience would produce better results.

In Drawing Bridges, Clay went to repair the Driftveil Drawbridge, which had been undergoing a malfunction that prevented people from crossing it. There, he encountered Black, a young Trainer that had just run off with a Zorua that was the cause of the malfunction.

In Mine Mayhem, Black attempted to challenge the Driftveil Gym but was turned away due to Clay having a bad mood at the time. Later, Clay sent a Worker retrieve to Black, hoping the boy could help with the stone. During their Gym battle, Clay told Black that Lenora discovered the mysterious stone was the Dark Stone, the dormant form of the Legendary Pokémon Zekrom. He revealed that Team Plasma had been spying on him and Lenora, suggesting they were planning on stealing it. When Clay asked Black to help him and the other Unova Gym Leaders stop Team Plasma, the boy readily accepted. After being defeated, Clay took Black to Mistralton City to meet the others.

In Up in the Air, Clay and Black met with the other Unova Gym Leaders at the Celestial Tower to discuss how to deal with Team Plasma. The Gym Leaders later traveled to Nacrene City to protect the Dark Stone from the Shadow Triad. Despite their teamwork, the Gym Leaders fell to the Shadow Triad's trump card, the Forces of Nature. Clay and the others were kidnapped and taken to Team Plasma's base of operations, N's Castle.

In Dream a Little Dream, Caitlin attempted to find the missing Gym Leaders by using her Gothitelle's Psychic abilities. Though she managed to contact them, the Gym Leaders had their memories of the kidnapping erased, preventing Caitlin from tracking them. During Black's final Gym battle with Drayden, Caitlin relayed a message from the Gym Leaders to Black, giving him the confidence to win the battle and earn his final Badge.

In Cold Hard Truth, Team Plasma launched their attack on the Pokémon League, surrounding the building with N's Castle. As a form of mockery and display of Team Plasma's power, the Gym Leaders were hoisted on cross-like fixtures and displayed in front of the masses. Later, the Gym Leaders were freed by Shoko's Patrat, allowing them to assist in the battle against Team Plasma. After Team Plasma was defeated, Clay and the others watched as N and Zekrom flew off to parts unknown.

Black 2 & White 2 arc

In Giant Chasm, Clay and his men helped free people trapped in buildings that were frozen over by the Plasma Frigate in Opelucid City.

Pokémon

Excadrill

Debut	Lights, Camera...Action!

Main article: Clay's Excadrill

Excadrill is Clay's first known Pokémon. It was first seen digging up a mysterious stone at the Desert Resort. Later, it was shown guarding the Dark Stone along with Clay's other Pokémon while being spied on by the Shadow Triad. Later, it was used to battle Black in a Gym battle and tied with his Pignite, Nite. During the battle with the Shadow Triad, it teamed up with Elesa's Pokémon to protect the Dark Stone. At the League, Excadrill helped face Team Plasma.

Krokorok

Debut	Defeating Stoutland

Krokorok is Clay's second known Pokémon. It was first seen guarding the Dark Stone along with Clay's other Pokémon while being spied on by the Shadow Triad. Later, it was used to battle Black in a Gym battle and was defeated by his Tirtouga, Costa.

Krokorok's only known move is Sand Tomb and its Ability is Moxie.

Palpitoad

Debut	Defeating Stoutland

Palpitoad is Clay's third known Pokémon. It was first seen guarding the Dark Stone along with Clay's other Pokémon while being spied on by the Shadow Triad. Later, it was used to battle Black in a Gym battle and tied with his Munna, Musha.

Palpitoad's only known move is Hyper Voice and its Ability is Swift Swim.

Pocket Monsters BW

Clay in Pocket Monsters BW

Clay makes an appearance in Pocket Monsters BW.

Pokémon

Excadrill

Debut	Use SL Fuel to Dig!

Main article: Clay's Excadrill

Excadrill is Clay's only known Pokémon.

In the TCG

This listing is of cards mentioning or featuring Clay or his Pokémon in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Clay'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	#
Excadrill		Cosmic Eclipse		246/236	Dream League		059/049
Other related cards
Card	Type	English Expansion	Rarity	#	Japanese Expansion	Rarity	#
Clay	Su	Cosmic Eclipse		188/236	Dream League		048/049
					Tag All Stars		199/173

Trivia

• Clay's Japanese Leader title is アンダーグラウンド　ボス.
• All of the Pokémon Clay owns in Black and White and in the anime have, at some point, also been owned by either Ash (Krokorok and Palpitoad) or Iris (Excadrill).

Names

Language	Name	Origin
Japanese	ヤーコン Yākon	From yacón (a root vegetable) and possibly 坤 kon (kun: a trigram in I Ching that represents earth)
English, Brazilian Portuguese	Clay	From clay
German	Turner	From turnip, a root vegetable
Spanish	Yakón	Same as Japanese name
French	Bardane	From bardane (burdock), a root vegetable
Italian	Rafan	From rafano (radish), a root vegetable
Korean	야콘 Yakon	Same as Japanese name
Chinese (Mandarin)	菊老大 Jú Lǎodà	From 菊薯 júshǔ / gūksyùh (yacón) and 老大 lǎodà / lóuhdaaih (boss)
Chinese (Cantonese)	菊老大 Gūk Lóuhdaaih
Vietnamese	Yakon	Transcription of his Japanese name

Related articles

• Images on the Bulbagarden Archives

References

Gym Leaders of the Unova region
Striaton Gym Cilan Chili Cress	Nacrene Gym Lenora	Castelia Gym Burgh	Nimbasa Gym Elesa
Driftveil Gym Clay	Mistralton Gym Skyla	Icirrus Gym Brycen	Opelucid Gym Drayden Iris
Aspertia Gym Cheren	Virbank Gym Roxie	Humilau Gym Marlon

Pokémon Pocket Monsters characters Red • Clefairy • Pikachu • Togepi • Tyrogue • Conkeldurr • Dedenne • Chespin • Froakie PM Green • Blue • Yellow • Gold • Silver Professor Oak • Bill • Bill's wife Brock • Misty • Lt. Surge • Erika • Sabrina • Koga • Blaine • Giovanni • Lorelei • Bruno • Agatha • Lance Professor Elm • Earl • Clefairy Rangers • Kurt • DJ Mary • Chairman • Kiyo Falkner • Bugsy • Whitney • Morty • Jasmine • Chuck • Pryce • Clair • Will • Karen PMRS Ruby • Sapphire • Red • Blue Professor Birch • Mr. Stone • Mr. Briney • Maxie • Tetsuya • Rydel • Rydel's rival Dr. Takeda • Scott Norman • Roxanne • Brawly • Wattson PMDP Dia • Kazuki Professor Rowan • Mars • Looker • Charon Dai Fugō • Okane Daisukī Roark • Aaron PMBW Black • Bianca • Cheren Professor Juniper • N • Cedric Juniper • Ghetsis Cilan • Chili • Cress • Lenora • Burgh • Elesa • Clay • Skyla • Shauntal • Marshal • Grimsley • Caitlin • Alder PMXY Shauna • Professor Sycamore • Serena PMSM Hala • Lillie

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.