AZ

AZ AZ AZ
Art from X and Y
Age	3,000+
Gender	Male
Hometown	Unknown
Region	Kalos
Relatives	Younger brother (deceased) Lysandre (younger brother's descendant)
Trainer class	Pokémon Trainer
Generation	VI
Games	X and Y

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

AZ (Japanese: AZ) is a mysterious man who appears in Pokémon X and Y. He is the former king of the Kalos region and the creator of the ultimate weapon. In modern Kalos, he has the appearance of a disheveled homeless man. He is said to be over 9 feet (3 meters) tall.

In the games

AZ is first seen on Route 13. When the player encounters him, he mutters about "the flower Pokémon," then leaves.

He appears once again much later, being held prisoner by Lysandre in the lowest levels of Lysandre Labs. When he is found, he explains the story of Kalos's history from three thousand years prior: there once was a man who had a Pokémon he loved very much. A war broke out in Kalos, and that Pokémon went to fight in the war, where it was killed. The man received the body of his beloved Pokémon some time later, and out of unspeakable grief, he built a giant device to restore it to life. He succeeded, but he was unable to overcome his despair and turned the machine into a weapon, with which he destroyed both sides of the war to bring it to an end. His Pokémon, disgusted with the fact that the machine was powered by the life energy of other Pokémon, left him. Lysandre reveals that AZ's name is the same as the king from three thousand years ago, and that he had the key to the weapon around his neck; Lysandre has taken him prisoner and claimed the key in order to use the weapon to destroy all of humanity except for Team Flare.

After the player defeats Lysandre once and for all in the Team Flare Secret HQ beneath Geosenge Town, AZ—now freed from his prison—approaches and thanks them for stopping the weapon from being used again.

AZ makes a final appearance in Lumiose City after the player has defeated Diantha and become Champion. During the parade arranged by Professor Sycamore to celebrate the player's success, AZ approaches the stage and challenges the player to a battle, wishing to learn about what a Trainer truly is. After the battle, AZ smiles, thanking the player for freeing him from his long torment, thus fully revealing that he is indeed the man from his story. Then, he sees a sparkle in the sky. Having sensed the liberation of AZ's heart, his beloved Floette—who was granted eternal life alongside him three thousand years ago—finally returns to him. AZ collapses to his knees, overjoyed that his Pokémon has finally returned. He is not seen again after this.

Documents kept in Lysandre Labs reveal more of AZ's story: he had a younger brother who wished to claim Kalos out of his own greed. After AZ ended the war by launching his weapon, his brother realized the error of his ways and sought to make amends for his actions by burying the weapon in an attempt to prevent it from ever being used again.

Although not by name, AZ is mentioned several times during the Delta Episode of Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. He and his actions 3,000 years ago are first mentioned by Mr. Stone, who tells that his grandfather got the idea to use the same energy used by the ultimate weapon to improve the lives of people and Pokémon alike, thus leading to the creation of Infinity Energy, which the Devon Corporation used to grow into one of the top industries in Hoenn. Later, the player overhears Wallace talking with his master, learning that the tree planted in front of the entrance to the Cave of Origin was given to the people of Sootopolis by a "huge man who visited from the Kalos region." Underneath the tree grows a flower of the same kind as the one carried by AZ's Floette. AZ is mentioned once more by Zinnia at the Sky Pillar, telling that "a tall visitor from a distant land" once witnessed how Mega Rayquaza stopped a fight between Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre, having said, "It is the Δ (Delta), born of the great disturbances in this world. By the bonds born of mankind's wish and the power of the stones, it will calm the troubles that plague the world."

Pokémon

Pokémon X and Y

Pokémon Trainer AZ Lumiose City X and Y Reward: N/A

Type: Fire Unknown Ability: White Smoke Held item: None Torkoal♂ Lv.60 Lava Plume Fire Special   --       Stone Edge Rock Physical   --       Body Slam Normal Physical   --       Return Normal Physical   --       Types: Ground Ghost Ability: No Guard Held item: None Golurk Lv.60 Phantom Force Ghost Physical   --       Heavy Slam Steel Physical   --       Mega Punch Normal Physical   --       Return Normal Physical   --       Types: Psychic Flying Ability: Magic Guard Held item: None Sigilyph♂ Lv.60 Psychic Psychic Special   --       Air Slash Flying Special   --       Cosmic Power Psychic Status   --       Return Normal Physical   --

Befriended

Floette ♀

Debut	Pokémon X and Y

Floette is first mentioned by AZ when the player initially encounters him on Route 13, where he mutters to himself about "the flower Pokémon".

It is later revealed in AZ's story of the history of the Kalos region that Floette was sent to fight in a war that broke out in the Kalos region, in which she subsequently died. Out of grief, AZ built the ultimate weapon to revive her, and succeeded. She left him after realizing that the life energy of other Pokémon was used to bring her back to life.

Floette's last appearance is during the parade arranged by Professor Sycamore in Lumiose City. After AZ battles the player and is liberated from his torment, she floats down from the sky and finally returns to him. Neither Floette nor AZ are seen after this.

Unlike other Floette, she has a unique color scheme and holds a different flower.

Quotes

Route 13

"The Pokémon… The flower Pokémon… The Pokémon that was given eternal life…"

Lysandre Labs

"Listen, one who will face Lysandre…"

"A terribly long time ago…"

"There was a man and a Pokémon. He loved that Pokémon very much."

"A war began."

"The man's beloved Pokémon took part in the war."

"Several years passed."

"He was given a tiny box."

"The man wanted to bring the Pokémon back. No matter what it took."

"The man built a machine to give it life."

"He brought his beloved Pokémon back."

"The man had suffered too much. His rage had not subsided."

"He could not forgive the world that had hurt the Pokémon he loved."

"He turned the machine into the ultimate weapon."

"The man became a bringer of destruction that ended the war."

"The Pokémon that was given life must have known…"

"That the lives of many Pokémon were taken to restore its life."

"The resurrected Pokémon left the man."

"Get the key back. It should not be used. Everything will vanish again. Do you want to know unending pain…like I have?"

Geosenge Town

"A long time ago. A very long time ago."

"The man made an ultimate weapon. Using it required the life force of many Pokémon… The Pokémon granted eternal life learned this."

"The resurrected eternal Pokémon left the man's side. The man was surprised and sad. He had revived it so they could be together…"

"Day after day passed, but they were never to meet. Eventually, he became a mere shell of a man. A man condemned to wander forever by the light of the weapon…"

"And a Pokémon that also wanders eternally…"

"Where is it now? What do I have to do to meet it?"

Lumiose City

• Before battle

"Battle with me."

"I want to know what a “Trainer” is."

• After the battle

"Thank you very much for battling with me. Now I finally feel free…"

"Free from the part of me mired in sorrow--the part of me that built the ultimate weapon…"

"Floette…"

"It's been 3,000 years…"

Sprites

VS Model from X and Y

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

AZ in Pokémon Adventures

AZ debuts in the X & Y arc. He is first seen in the underground section of the Team Flare Secret HQ, where Emma wanders into after breaking into the place with her friend, X. AZ notices Emma's presence and reveals himself to be locked inside of a jail cell.

In the TCG

Main article: AZ (Phantom Forces 91)

Full Art print of AZ

AZ was introduced as a Supporter card in the Pokémon Trading Card Game during the English XY Series (the Japanese XY Era). It was first released in the Japanese Phantom Gate expansion before debuting in English in the Phantom Forces expansion, with both prints featuring an illustration based on the Ken Sugimori artwork of the character. It was also released as a Full Art card in both expansions, with an illustration by Naoki Saito. AZ allows the player to return a Pokémon to their hand, with all cards attached to it being discarded.

Trivia

• AZ is one of the three Trainers fought in the main story's final battle that is not the regional Champion, the others being Ghetsis and Brendan/May.
• AZ is the tallest person in the main series games.
• Despite being classified as a Pokémon Trainer, AZ uses the Gym Leader music when battled.
• The player can win or lose to AZ when he is battled; the player will not black out and the story will progress either way.
• AZ's final line "It's been 3,000 years..." has become a popular internet meme, with Floette being replaced with something else that was long awaited, most notably Pokémon Bank and Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.
• AZ may be based on the medieval Christian legend of the Wandering Jew. AZ may also be based on the Mesopotamian king Gilgamesh; in the Epic of Gilgamesh, the titular king traveled long and far in his quest for immortality for himself after the death of his closest companion, Enkidu.
• AZ may be depicted in paintings within Parfum Palace. When one of the paintings is examined after defeating AZ at the end of the story, the player notes that it reminds them of him. A younger AZ is also depicted in a mural displayed in Lumiose Museum.
• AZ is the oldest known human in the history of Pokémon, games or otherwise.
• All of the Pokémon that AZ uses in battle are Pokémon associated with ancient civilization or longevity; Torkoal is based on a tortoise, which can live for multiple centuries, and both Golurk and Sigilyph are Pokémon thought to be from ancient times. Also, all know Return, indicating a high friendship level with AZ.
• An interview with Junichi Masuda in Game Informer magazine reveals that AZ's Floette was given to him by his late mother and was taken by force by the soldiers fighting in the war.
  • The interview also reveals that AZ's great height is due to the influence of the ultimate weapon's power on his body, and that he continued to age despite being immortal.
• AZ shares several similarities with N from the Generation V games.
  • Both use names made up of just capital letters.
  • They both befriend the player at the end of the game.
  • Both of their identities are unknown until late in the game.
  • Both are related to the leaders of villainous teams.

Names

Language	Name	Origin
Japanese, English, Italian, Korean	AZ	From the letters A and Z, meaning the beginning and end
French, Spanish	A.Z.	From his Japanese name
German	Azett	From A and Zett (German reading of Z)

References

Non-player characters in the core series games

Kalos Professor Sycamore • Grace • Calem • Serena • Shauna • Tierno • Trevor • Alexa • Cassius • Inver • Sina • Dexio • Gurkinn Bonnie • Diantha • AZ • Looker • Emma • Mr. Bonding • Phil the Photo Guy • Memory Girl • Pokémon Fan Club Chairman Team Flare • Gym guide • Gym Leaders • Elite Four • Battle Chatelaines • Name Rater • Day-Care Couple • Judge See also: Kanto Professor Oak • Mom (Kanto) • Mom (LGPE) • Red • Blue • Green • Trace • Daisy • Old man • Bill • Celio • Mr. Fuji • Safari Zone Warden • Copycat • Primo • Koichi Pokémon Fan Club Chairman • Erik and Sara • Teala • Mina • Cal • Steven Stone • Maylene • Cameron • Mr. Game • Morimoto Team Rocket • Gym guide • Gym Leaders • Elite Four • Professor's aides • Magikarp salesman • Name Rater • Day-Care Person • Mr. Hyper Johto Professor Elm • Professor Oak • Mom • Ethan • Lyra • Silver • Mr. Pokémon • Eusine • Lance • Red • Kiyo • Baoba • Magnus • Earl • Kurt • Carrie • Dude Mary • Buena • Radio Director • Haircut brothers • Webster • Master • Li • Wilma • Primo • Maximo • Jet • Caitlin • Cynthia • Cameron • Mr. Game • Felicity • Teala Team Rocket • Gym guide • Gym Leaders • Frontier Brains • Kimono Girls • Week Siblings • Name Rater • Poké Seer • Day-Care Couple • Professor's aides Hoenn Professor Birch • Mom • May • Brendan • Wally • Wanda • Steven Stone • Wallace • Scott • Mr. Briney • Mr. Stone • Gabby and Ty • Lanette Brigette • Professor Cozmo • Pokémon Fan Club Chairman • Rydel • Winstrate family • Captain Stern • Trick Master • Treasure Hunter • Dock Apprentice • Pokémon Center Ladies • Old guys • Mr. Bonding • Teala • Aarune • Lisia • Zinnia • Looker • Inver • Chaz • Fossil Maniac • Kiri • Memory Girl Team Aqua • Team Magma • Gym Leaders • Elite Four • Frontier Brains • Battle Chatelaines • Gym guide • Name Rater • Day-Care Couple • Stats judge Sevii Celio • Bill • Lostelle • Lorelei • Selphy • Teala Team Rocket • Day-Care Couple Sinnoh Professor Rowan • Professor Oak • Johanna • Barry • Lucas • Dawn • Cynthia • Looker • Stat Trainers (Cheryl • Riley • Mira • Buck • Marley) Bebe • Teala • Felicity • Roseanne • Rad Rickshaw • Eldritch • Wilma • Jasmine • Caitlin • Julia • Jordan • Dexter • Keira • Mr. Backlot • Morimoto Underground Man • Mr. Goods • Mr. Fuego • Pokétch Co. President • Dr. Footstep • Pokémon Fan Club Chairman • Helena • Ketch Appy Team Galactic • Gym guide • Gym Leaders • Elite Four • Frontier Brains • Name Rater • Day-Care Couple • Professor's assistants • Stats judge Unova Professor Juniper • Mom (BW) • Mom (B2W2) • Cheren • Bianca • Bianca's father • Hugh • Hugh's sister • Cedric Juniper • Fennel • Amanita Cilan • Chili • Cress • Lenora • Hawes • Loblolly • Charles • Iris • Drayden • Alder • Benga • Curtis • Yancy • Brycen • Sabrina • Pop Roxie Hilbert • Hilda • Nate • Rosa • Ingo • Emmet • Cynthia • Looker • N • Colress • Morimoto • Nishino • Pokémon Fan Club Chairman Team Plasma • Clyde • Gym Leaders • Elite Four • PWT participants • Name Rater • Day-Care Couple • Judge • Magikarp salesman Alola Professor Kukui • Mom • Lillie • Nebby • Hau • Rotom • Professor Burnet • Molayne • Samson Oak • Ryuki • Mohn Red • Blue • Wally • Cynthia • Grimsley • Colress • Sina • Dexio • Looker • Anabel • Necrozma • Morimoto • Iwao Team Skull • Aether Foundation • Ultra Recon Squad • Team Rainbow Rocket Trial Captains • Island kahunas • Elite Four • Name Rater • Judge • Mr. Hyper • Gester Galar Professor Magnolia • Mum • Hop • Bede • Marnie • Sonia • Leon Sordward • Shielbert • Mustard • Klara • Avery • Honey • Hyde • Peony • Peonia • Calyrex • Ball Guy Watt Traders • Ingredients Sellers • Digging Duo • Camping King Team Yell • Macro Cosmos • Dan • Gym Leaders • Morimoto • Cara Liss • Jack Hisui Cogita • Arceus • Choy • Anthe • Miss Fortunes (Charm • Clover • Coin) • Vessa Galaxy Team • Diamond Clan • Pearl Clan • Ginkgo Guild Paldea Professor Sada • Professor Turo • Mom • Nemona • Koraidon • Miraidon • Geeta • Arven • Penny • Heath Clavell • Jacq • Dendra • Miriam • Raifort • Saguaro • Salvatore • Tyme • Harrington Carmine • Kieran • Briar • Cyrano • Terapagos • Billy and O'Nare Team Star • Gym Leaders • Elite Four • Pokémon League representatives Kitakami Carmine • Kieran • Briar • Caretaker • Yukito and Hideko • Ogerpon • Pecharunt • Perrin • Billy and O'Nare Koraidon • Miraidon • Jacq • Nemona • Arven • Penny • Terapagos • Professor Sada • Professor Turo Blueberry Cyrano • Briar • Carmine • Kieran • Koraidon • Miraidon • Geeta • Rika • Clavell • Perrin • Snacksworth • Synclaire BB Elite Four • Special Coaches • Guidance counselors

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.