Falkner

Falkner ハヤト Hayato
"The Elegant Master of Flying Pokémon"
Art from HeartGold and SoulSilver
Gender	Male
Eye color	Black*, Blue*
Hair color	Blue
Hometown	Violet City
Region	Johto
Relatives	Father (predecessor as Gym Leader), Walker (father)*
Trainer class	Gym LeaderGSCHGSS Pokémon TrainerB2W2
Generation	II, IV, V
Games	Gold, Silver, Crystal, Pokémon Stadium 2, HeartGold, SoulSilver, Black 2, White 2, Masters EX
Leader of	Violet Gym
Badge	Zephyr Badge
Specializes in	Flying types
Game animation debut	GOTCHA!
English voice actor	Howard Wang (Masters EX)
Japanese voice actor	Kohsuke Tanabe (Masters EX)
Anime debut	Fighting Flyer with Fire
English voice actor	Matthew Mitler
Japanese voice actor	Akira Ishida

Falkner (Japanese: ハヤト Hayato) is the Gym Leader of Violet City's Gym, known officially as the Violet Gym. He hands out the Zephyr Badge to Trainers who defeat him. He specializes in Flying-type Pokémon.

In the core series games

Falkner appears in Pokémon Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold, and SoulSilver, where he is the first Gym Leader players will encounter. A master of Flying-type Pokémon, Falkner runs the Violet Gym, which he inherited from his father; the Pokémon he uses in battle also formerly belonged to him. Falkner's father is reported to be traveling, but is never seen in the game.

Known as "The Elegant Master of Flying Pokémon", Falkner is adored as a cool and handsome Trainer. Falkner reveres his father, and aspires to follow in his footsteps to become the greatest bird Pokémon master. Falkner uses, notably, the lowest leveled Pokémon found in any Gym in any region. In fact, his Pidgeotto is underleveled. Once defeated in battle, he awards winners with the Zephyr Badge and a Technical Machine: TM31 (Mud-Slap) in Generation II; TM51 (Roost) in Generation IV. In each generation, his Pokémon know the respective TM; Falkner uses this move as part of his battle strategy.

Like all Gym Leaders in HeartGold and SoulSilver, Falkner ventures out of his Gym occasionally. Once the player has obtained the Soul Badge, Falkner will journey every Monday to Celadon City so he can visit the Department Store. He can be found talking with Janine of Fuchsia City on the fourth floor, and will exchange Pokégear phone numbers with the player. Once this has been completed, Falkner can be invited to the Fighting Dojo in Saffron City every Saturday morning to be faced in a rematch with a stronger team of Pokémon. He may also participate in the Pokéathlon's Supreme Cup in the Jump Course with his Pidgeot, Swellow, and Staraptor.

Pokémon

Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal

Leader Falkner Violet Gym Gold, Silver, and Crystal Reward: $900
Types: Normal Flying Held item: None Pidgey♂ Lv.7 Tackle Normal   --       Mud-Slap Ground   --       Struggle Normal   --       Struggle Normal   --       Types: Normal Flying Held item: None Pidgeotto♂ Lv.9 Tackle Normal   --       Gust Flying   --       Mud-Slap Ground   --       Struggle Normal   --

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

Gym battle

Leader Falkner Violet Gym HeartGold and SoulSilver Reward: $1560
Types: Normal Flying Ability: Keen Eye Held item: None Pidgey♂ Lv.9 Tackle Normal Physical   --       Sand-Attack Ground Status   --       Curse Unknown Status   --       Curse Unknown Status   --       Types: Normal Flying Ability: Keen Eye Held item: None Pidgeotto♂ Lv.13 Tackle Normal Physical   --       Roost Flying Status   --       Gust Flying Special   --       Curse Unknown Status   --

Rematch

Leader Falkner Fighting Dojo HeartGold and SoulSilver Reward: $6720

Types: Normal Flying Ability: Intimidate Held item: None Staraptor♂ Lv.50 U-turn Bug Physical   --       Close Combat Fighting Physical   --       Brave Bird Flying Physical   --       Attract Normal Status   --       Types: Normal Flying Ability: Insomnia Held item: None Noctowl♂ Lv.52 Air Slash Flying Special   --       Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --       FeatherDance Flying Status   --       Roost Flying Status   --       Types: Normal Flying Ability: Guts Held item: Flame Orb Swellow♂ Lv.52 Protect Normal Status   --       Double Team Normal Status   --       Facade Normal Physical   --       Endeavor Normal Physical   --       Types: Dark Flying Ability: Insomnia Held item: None Honchkrow♂ Lv.54 Dark Pulse Dark Special   --       Night Slash Dark Physical   --       Sucker Punch Dark Physical   --       Thunder Wave Electric Status   --       Types: Water Flying Ability: Keen Eye Held item: None Pelipper♂ Lv.48 Surf Water Special   --       Ice Beam Ice Special   --       Hidden Power Fighting Special   --       Tailwind Flying Status   --       Types: Normal Flying Ability: Keen Eye Held item: None Pidgeot♂ Lv.56 Return Normal Physical   --       Double Team Normal Status   --       Swagger Normal Status   --       Roost Flying Status   --

Pokéathlon

	Jump  Course Supreme Cup
Swellow  Jump
Pidgeot  Jump
Staraptor  Jump

Pokémon Black 2 and White 2

Pokémon World Tournament

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

Johto Leaders Tournament

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

Types: Normal Flying Ability: Keen Eye or Tangled Feet Held item: Sitrus Berry Pidgeot♂/♀ Lv.50 Brave Bird Flying Physical   --       Tailwind Flying Status   --       Heat Wave Fire Special   --       U-turn Bug Physical   --       Types: Normal Flying Ability: Keen Eye Held item: Liechi Berry Fearow♂/♀ Lv.50 Drill Peck Flying Physical   --       Drill Run Ground Physical   --       Heat Wave Fire Special   --       U-turn Bug Physical   --       Types: Normal Flying Ability: Run Away or Early Bird Held item: Wacan Berry Dodrio♂/♀ Lv.50 Brave Bird Flying Physical   --       Thrash Normal Physical   --       Pursuit Dark Physical   --       Acupressure Normal Status   --       Types: Dark Flying Ability: Insomnia or Super Luck Held item: Salac Berry Honchkrow♂/♀ Lv.50 Air Cutter Flying Special   --       Dark Pulse Dark Special   --       Icy Wind Ice Special   --       Nasty Plot Dark Status   --       Types: Psychic Flying Ability: Synchronize or Early Bird Held item: Petaya Berry Xatu♂/♀ Lv.50 Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --       Psychic Psychic Special   --       Heat Wave Fire Special   --       Calm Mind Psychic Status   --       Types: Normal Flying Ability: Insomnia or Keen Eye Held item: Ganlon Berry Noctowl♂/♀ Lv.50 Hypnosis Psychic Status   --       Dream Eater Psychic Special   --       Reflect Psychic Status   --       Air Slash Flying Special   --

Type Expert/World Leaders Tournament

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

Types: Normal Flying Ability: Keen Eye or Tangled Feet Held item: Life Orb Pidgeot♂/♀ Lv.50 Air Slash Flying Special   --       Return Normal Physical   --       Double Team Normal Status   --       Swagger Normal Status   --       Types: Poison Flying Ability: Inner Focus Held item: Red Card Crobat♂/♀ Lv.50 Taunt Dark Status   --       Confuse Ray Ghost Status   --       Acrobatics Flying Physical   --       Super Fang Normal Physical   --       Types: Rock Flying Ability: Rock Head or Pressure Held item: Focus Sash Aerodactyl♂/♀ Lv.50 Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Ice Fang Ice Physical   --       Rock Slide Rock Physical   --       Protect Normal Status   --       Types: Dark Flying Ability: Insomnia or Super Luck Held item: Choice Scarf Honchkrow♂/♀ Lv.50 Brave Bird Flying Physical   --       Night Slash Dark Physical   --       Icy Wind Ice Special   --       Heat Wave Fire Special   --       Types: Psychic Flying Ability: Synchronize or Early Bird Held item: Leftovers Xatu♂/♀ Lv.50 Psyshock Psychic Special   --       Stored Power Psychic Special   --       Roost Flying Status   --       Calm Mind Psychic Status   --       Types: Normal Flying Ability: Guts Held item: Flame Orb Swellow♂/♀ Lv.50 Facade Normal Physical   --       Protect Normal Status   --       Endeavor Normal Physical   --       Aerial Ace Flying Physical   --

The Battle Between Legendary Pokémon

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

Types: Psychic Flying Ability: Pressure Held item: Leftovers Lugia Lv.50 Psyshock Psychic Special   --       Aeroblast Flying Special   --       Calm Mind Psychic Status   --       Recover Normal Status   --       Types: Normal Flying Ability: Tangled Feet Held item: Charti Berry Pidgeot♂ Lv.50 Air Slash Flying Special   --       Tailwind Flying Status   --       Brave Bird Flying Physical   --       Quick Attack Normal Physical   --       Types: Normal Flying Ability: Tinted Lens Held item: Yache Berry Noctowl♀ Lv.50 Hypnosis Psychic Status   --       Air Slash Flying Special   --       Reflect Psychic Status   --       Heat Wave Fire Special   --

In the side series games

Pokémon Stadium 2

Falkner appears in Pokémon Stadium 2's Johto Gym Leader Castle. Unlike other Gym Leaders in this game, all of his Pokémon are of his specialist type. Notably, he even uses a Legendary Pokémon; Zapdos.

During the game's end credits, he is seen having a battle with Erika.

Pokémon

Round 1

File:S2 Leader Falkner.png Gym Leader Falkner Johto Gym Leader Castle Stadium 2

Types: Normal Flying Held item: PRZCureBerry Pidgeot♂ Lv.50-100 Whirlwind Normal   --       Quick Attack Normal   --       Fly Flying   --       Mud-Slap Ground   --       Types: Normal Flying Held item: Stick Farfetch'd♂ Lv.50-100 False Swipe Normal   --       Slash Normal   --       Fly Flying   --       Mud-Slap Ground   --       Types: Normal Flying Held item: Mint Berry Noctowl♀ Lv.50-100 Take Down Normal   --       Fly Flying   --       Confusion Psychic   --       Mud-Slap Ground   --       Types: Ice Flying Held item: Bitter Berry Delibird♀ Lv.50-100 Present Normal   --       Headbutt Normal   --       Blizzard Ice   --       Mud-Slap Ground   --       Types: Normal Flying Held item: Sharp Beak Fearow♂ Lv.50-100 Drill Peck Flying   --       Swift Normal   --       Mirror Move Flying   --       Mud-Slap Ground   --       Types: Normal Flying Held item: Burnt Berry Togetic♂ Lv.50-100 Double-Edge Normal   --       Fly Flying   --       Fire Blast Fire   --       Psychic Psychic   --

Round 2

File:S2 Leader Falkner.png Gym Leader Falkner Johto Gym Leader Castle Stadium 2

Types: Normal Flying Held item: PRZCureBerry Pidgeot♂ Lv.50-100 Double-Edge Normal   --       Sky Attack Flying   --       Steel Wing Steel   --       Mud-Slap Ground   --       Types: Normal Flying Held item: MiracleBerry Dodrio♂ Lv.50-100 Drill Peck Flying   --       Tri Attack Normal   --       Steel Wing Steel   --       Mud-Slap Ground   --       Types: Ground Flying Held item: Focus Band Gligar♀ Lv.50-100 Metal Claw Steel   --       Wing Attack Flying   --       Quick Attack Normal   --       Sludge Bomb Poison   --       Types: Fire Flying Held item: Scope Lens Charizard♂ Lv.50-100 Flamethrower Fire   --       Fly Flying   --       Earthquake Ground   --       Mud-Slap Ground   --       Types: Steel Flying Held item: Quick Claw Skarmory♀ Lv.50-100 Steel Wing Steel   --       Drill Peck Flying   --       Sky Attack Flying   --       Mud-Slap Ground   --       Types: Electric Flying Held item: BrightPowder Zapdos Lv.50-100 Thunderbolt Electric   --       Drill Peck Flying   --       Sky Attack Flying   --       Mud-Slap Ground   --

In the spin-off games

Pokémon Puzzle Challenge

Falkner appears as an opponent in Pokémon Puzzle Challenge. He uses a Pidgey to battle.

Pokémon Masters EX

Main article: Falkner (Masters)

Falkner forms a sync pair with Swellow, Pidgeot, and Noctowl in Pokémon Masters EX. Falkner became a playable sync pair on August 5, 2021.

Dex	Trainer		NDex	Pokémon		Type	Weakness	Role	EX role	Base potential	Availability
#139		Falkner	#0277		Swellow♂	Flying	Ice			★★★★★☆EX	Sync Pair Scout
#139		Falkner	#0018		Pidgeot♂	Flying	Electric			★★★★☆☆EX	Battle Points
#139		Falkner	#0164		Noctowl♂	Flying	Electric			★★★★★☆EX	Variety Sync Pair Scout

Gallery

Artwork

Headshot from Generation II	Official artwork from Crystal

Sprites

In the core series

Sprite from Generation II	Sprite from HeartGold and SoulSilver	VS sprite from HeartGold and SoulSilver	Sprite from Black 2 and White 2
Overworld sprite from Generation II	Overworld sprite from HeartGold and SoulSilver		Overworld sprite from Black 2 and White 2

In other games

	File:S2 Leader Falkner.png
Portrait from Puzzle Challenge	Portraits from Stadium 2

Quotes

Main article: Falkner/Quotes

In the anime

Main series

Falkner in the anime

Falkner appeared in Fighting Flyer with Fire. When Ash's Pikachu was stolen by Team Rocket, Falkner arrived and rescued it with the help of his Pidgeot. He flies around on a hang-glider in order to be as close to Flying Pokémon as he possibly could be. He is usually seen with his Hoothoot on his shoulder. Falkner conducts his matches on the roof of the Gym, accompanied by his many students who chant in unison during his battles.

Falkner escorted Ash and his friends to the Violet Gym after agreeing to have a match against Ash. He selected his Hoothoot, and its incredible speed helped it defeat Chikorita. Then, Pikachu was able to knock Hoothoot out of the sky and used Quick Attack to win the round. Next, Falkner selected his Dodrio, and while its speed and high jumps made for a difficult match, Pikachu's Thunderbolt overwhelmed it. Pikachu, however, was defeated by Pidgeot. Ash called on Charizard's assistance against Pidgeot. Falkner appeared to have the upper hand, but Ash soon saw a pattern in Pidgeot's strategy and had Charizard use Fire Spin, followed by a Seismic Toss. Ash was able to win the Zephyr Badge, despite Charizard's wing being severely injured during the match.

He reappeared in a flashback in Why? Wynaut!.

Character

Falkner has a self-righteous attitude when it comes to Pokémon training, which angered Ash. Falkner also expressed an intense dislike for the assumption many Trainers make that Flying-type Pokémon will always lose to Electric-types, but proved to be slightly hypocritical as he criticized Ash's poor choice of using Chikorita, a Grass-type that is weak to Flying-types, in their match.

He is intense in battle and rigorously commands his Pokémon's every move, including their flight paths. He uses his Flying Pokémon's abilities to whip up strong winds, and their wings, or in Dodrio's case its long legs, to evade attacks and swoop down to attack. While he pushes his Pokémon to perform their best, Falkner also thanks them for their efforts.

Pokémon

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

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Hoothoot

Debut	Fighting Flyer with Fire
Voice actors
Japanese	Yūji Ueda
English	Yūji Ueda

Hoothoot was the first Pokémon sent out in the Gym battle between Falkner and Ash. Hoothoot managed to defeat Ash's Chikorita with ease, but was quickly defeated once Ash brought out his Pikachu. Hoothoot was also sometimes seen outside of its Poké Ball with Falkner when not in battle.

It reappeared in a flashback in Why? Wynaut!.

Hoothoot's known moves are Tackle and Peck.

Dodrio

Debut	Fighting Flyer with Fire

Dodrio was the second Pokémon Falkner sent out to battle Ash's Pikachu. At first Dodrio seemed to have the upper hand. When Pikachu tried to attack, Falkner ordered Dodrio to fly - much to Ash's surprise - and Dodrio jumped high in the air. Ash decided to use that method himself, and ordered Pikachu to dodge Dodrio's Tri Attack by jumping to the air. From above, Pikachu used Thunder, knocking out Dodrio and winning the round.

Dodrio's known moves are Agility, Fury Attack, Drill Peck, and Tri Attack.

Pidgeot

Debut	Fighting Flyer with Fire
Voice actors
Japanese	Megumi Hayashibara
English	Megumi Hayashibara

Pidgeot appeared in Fighting Flyer with Fire. When Team Rocket tried to steal Ash's Pikachu, Falkner used Pidgeot to get Pikachu back and send them blasting off again. Falkner later used it in a Gym battle against Ash. It was able to defeat a weakened Pikachu with a single Whirlwind attack.

It was put up against Ash's Charizard in the final round of the battle. With its impressive speed and power, Pidgeot was able to gain the upper hand and injure Charizard making it unable to fly. But with Ash's support and inspiration, Charizard was able to fly again.

Unfortunately, things still looked bad as Pidgeot used Agility to keep dodging Charizard's attacks and attack from behind. Ash luckily had Charizard turn back and use Fire Spin trapping Pidgeot and finished it off with Seismic Toss making Ash the victor.

It reappeared in a flashback in All That Glitters!.

Pidgeot's known moves are Whirlwind, Agility, Wing Attack, and Quick Attack.

Voice actors

Language Voice actor Japanese 石田彰 Akira Ishida English Matthew Mitler Arabic وسام صباغ Wissam Sabbagh Czech Daniel Tůma Finnish Antti Jaakola European French Erico Salamone Italian Luca Sandri (Mediaset dub) Massimo di Benedetto (K2 dub) Polish Artur Krajewski Brazilian Portuguese Alex Wendel Spanish Latin America Eduardo Garza Spain Pablo Sevilla

GOTCHA!

Falkner briefly appeared in GOTCHA!.

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Falkner in Pokémon Adventures

History

Gold, Silver & Crystal arc

Falkner debuts in Elekid Incorporated, where he is seen working as a part-time Police Officer. He finds Gold unconscious at Professor Elm's laboratory and blames him for the fire started on the lawn. Under the threat of arrest, Gold comes with Falkner and explains to him that the true thief was named Silver. When asked to provide a picture of Silver, Gold deliberately gives wrong information so that he can find Silver himself. Falkner offers Gold and Joey a place to stay for the night at the police station in Cherrygrove City, but Gold turns it down and runs off with Joey in tow.

Falkner reappears in Sunkern Treasure, where he is seen training while off-duty. He runs into Gold and properly introduces himself. Falkner reveals that he plans on taking the Gym Leader qualifying exam so that he can take over the Violet Gym that his father used to lead before being run into hiding. They are attacked by a wild Skarmory that Falkner had faced before, but failed to defeat. With Gold's help, Falkner manages to defeat and capture Skarmory. In Smeargle Smudge, it is revealed Falkner passed the Gym Leader exam.

In Delibird Delivery - 1, Falkner appeared in Professor Elm's fantasy when he informed Gold that the Masked Man may be a Gym Leader.

Falkner as a Police Officer

In Really Raikou & Entirely Entei (Part 1) and Really Raikou & Entirely Entei (Part 2), Falkner trains his Pokémon on the outskirts of Violet City, where he encounters a poacher. They are attacked by Raikou and Entei, who Falkner assumes are challenging Gym Leaders like Suicune had been doing. Falkner initially struggles to keep up with Entei and Raikou's speed, but he manages to divert their attacks, leaving an opening for him to catch them. The thrown Poké Balls are stopped by Suicune, who had arrived to assist its comrades. The poacher suggests that Falkner give up and live to fight another day, but Falkner refuses the challenge to succeed where the other Gym Leaders failed. In a last-ditch effort, Falkner throws a multitude of Poké Balls into the air, which surround Suicune due to them being outfitted with Skarmory's shed clear feathers, turning them into boomerangs. Falkner almost hits Suicune, but Entei and Raikou return the favor by destroying the Poké Balls. Skarmory begins crashing to the ground due to its now-missing wing, but Suicune saves Falkner with a bubble and then leaves with Entei and Raikou. Falkner admits defeat and claims that he would have lost even if Suicune did not come to help Raikou and Entei. He reveals to the poacher his job as a police officer and proceeds to arrest him for capturing Pokémon in a protected environment.

Falkner in the ninth chapter

At the Indigo Plateau, Falkner arrives with his fellow Johto Gym Leaders to participate in an exhibition tournament for the Pokémon League against the Kanto Gym Leaders. In the third round, he faces off against Janine of Fuchsia City. The Poison-type Gym Leader proves too powerful for Falkner and he is nearly defeated by her Ariados. When Janine sees what appears to be her missing father, Koga, in the audience, she forfeits the battle to search for him. When the Masked Man attacks the Pokémon League, Falkner and the other Gym Leaders combat his army of mind-controlled Team Rocket Grunts. The fight takes them to the Magnet Train, which is used as a diversion to get the Gym Leaders away from the stadium. After the Masked Man is defeated, Falkner returned to his usual duties of being a Gym Leader.

HeartGold & SoulSilver arc

Falkner, along with Chuck and Bugsy, is asked by Morty to guard the Ecruteak Gym from suspicious people asking to use Morty's clairvoyance. When Silver arrives to see Morty under Eusine's recommendation, the Gym Leaders mistake him for another suspicious person and stop his attempts to advance. Having no time to talk, Silver opts to battle the Gym Leaders and force his way inside. Silver's clash ends when he is revealed to be a friend of Chuck's former student, Blue. They decide to trust Silver and let him inside to meet with Morty, who had been helping Gold due to mistaking him for Silver. The meeting is cut short by the sudden appearance of Arceus, who lands in front of the Ecruteak Gym and destroys it with a single blast. Falkner, Bugsy, and Chuck are caught in the blast and knocked unconscious.

Falkner's father is Walker, who also uses boomerang Poké Balls made from Skarmory's shed feathers.

Pokémon

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

Pidgeotto ♂

Debut	Sunkern Treasure

Pidgeotto is Falkner's first known Pokémon. He was first seen training with Noctowl in a field with Falkner. When a wild Skarmory kept terrorizing a group of Sunkern, Pidgeotto was used to battle against it. He was unable to beat Skarmory, as its metal body prevented Pidgeotto from finishing it off.

None of Pidgeotto's moves are known.

Noctowl ♂

Debut	Sunkern Treasure

Noctowl is Falkner's second known Pokémon. He was first seen training with Pidgeotto in a field with Falkner. When a wild Skarmory kept terrorizing a group of Sunkern, Noctowl was used to battle against it. He was unable to beat Skarmory, as its metal body prevented Noctowl from finishing it off. At the Pokémon League, Noctowl was used to battle against Janine. He first went up against her Grimer who attempted sneak attacks with Minimize, but Noctowl exposed it with Foresight. Next, it battled against Janine's Ariados, but was heavily injured before being switched to Skarmory.

Noctowl's only known move is Foresight.

Skarmory

Debut	Sunkern Treasure

Skarmory is Falkner's third known Pokémon. It debuted as a wild Pokémon chasing after a bunch of Sunkern. Falkner battles it and with the help of Gold's Cyndaquil, Exbo, he was able to capture it. Skarmory was used in Falkner's battle against Raikou and Entei. Together, they nearly succeeded in capturing one of the Legendary Pokémon before Suicune interrupted. Skarmory fought against Suicune, only to have one of its wings shatter, causing Skarmory to plummet to the ground before being saved by Suicune's bubbles. At the Pokémon League, Skarmory was used to battle against Janine. It was used against her Ariados, but was easily captured by its web and would have lost had Janine not forfeited. Its shed feathers are used to improve Falkner's Poké Balls by combining with them to make boomerangs.

Skarmory's known moves are Swift, Agility, and Steel Wing, and its Ability is Keen Eye.

Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys

Falkner in Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys

Falkner first appeared in Falkner The Bird Keeper's Challenge!! where Gold heard that he lived in Violet City. Gold went to Violet City to challenge Falkner. During the Gym battle, Falkner revealed that he challenged someone previously using his Pidgey and Pidgeotto. They were worn out after being defeated by his Mareep. As a result, Falkner sent out his Pidgeot to battle Gold. Gold defeated Pidgeot with Totodile's combination of Water Gun and Bite.

The Gym battle continued in The Legendary Pokémon Appears! where Gold had to deal with Falkner's Articuno who appeared once every four years. Gold had a long fight with it using Totodile, Pidgey, and Pikachu and was about to lose until Articuno flew away. Falkner stated that it fights when it wants to and leaves at will. As Articuno chose not to fight anymore, Gold was able to defeat Falkner and was rewarded the Zephyr Badge.

Pokémon

On hand

Pidgeot

Debut	Falkner The Bird Keeper's Challenge!!

Falkner sent out Pidgeot as his other Pokémon were weakened from his previous challenger. It went up against Gold's Totodile and lost.

Pidgeot's only known move is Wing Attack.

Articuno

Debut	The Legendary Pokémon Appears!

Articuno is a legendary Pokémon that appears every four years. It went up against Gold's Pikachu after it came from another time. Pikachu could not defeat Articuno alone so it got help from Totodile and Pidgey.

Articuno's known moves are Ice Beam and Blizzard.

Other

Pidgey and Pidgeotto

Debut	Falkner The Bird Keeper's Challenge!!

Prior to Gold's Gym battle challenge with Falkner, Falkner mentioned that he used a Pidgey and Pidgeotto against Black's team, with Pidgey fighting his Mareep. It officially appeared shadowed in Gold's flashback.

None of their moves are known.

Pokémon Pocket Monsters

Falkner in Pocket Monsters HGSS

Falkner in Pokémon Pocket Monsters

Falkner first appeared in The Gym Challenges Begin!! as the first Gym Leader in Johto Red encountered. Red met him in Sprout Tower while talking to one of the Elders. He reappeared in PMHGSS05, where he had a rematch with Red during the latter's return to Johto.

Pokémon

Natu

Debut	The Gym Challenges Begin!!

Natu is Falkner's first known Pokémon. It is usually seen on Falkner's shoulder when it is not battling. During his battle with Red at Sprout Tower, Falkner sends it out to have a battle with his Clefairy.

Natu's known moves are Leer, Teleport, Confuse Ray, and Peck.

Pidgeotto

Debut	PMHGSS05

Falkner's Pidgeotto appeared when Red and his Pokémon returned to Johto. It was used in Falkner's rematch against Red.

Pidgeotto's known moves are Wing Attack, Tackle, and Gust.

Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure

Falkner in Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure

Falkner appeared in JBA1, where he challenged Jō to a Gym battle in the Violet Gym. Jō managed to defeat Falkner, earning himself the Zephyr Badge. He reappeared in a flashback in JBA5.

Pokémon

Pidgey

Debut	Aim to be the Strongest! The Hot-Blooded Brotherly Combination!!

Falkner sent out Pidgey to battle Jō's Totodile. It wasn't long before Totodile managed to defeat Pidgey.

Pidgey's only known move is Sand-Attack.

In the TCG

Ultra rare Falkner

Main article: Falkner (Paldea Evolved 180)

Falkner was introduced as a Supporter card in the Pokémon Trading Card Game during the English Scarlet & Violet Series (the Japanese Scarlet & Violet Era). It was first released in the Japanese Triplet Beat subset and the English Paldea Evolved expansion, with artwork by Ryuta Fuse. An ultra rare version of the card with artwork by the same artist was released in the same sets. It lets players draw two cards. If the player has a Stadium card in play, they draw four cards instead.

Pokémon VS

The Japanese exclusive Pokémon VS expansion featured several of Falkner's Pokémon and two Technical Machine cards. Falkner's Fearow was later released in English in the Tyranitar Half Deck.

Falkner cards in Pokémon VS 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	#
Falkner's Pidgeot					Pokémon VS		001/141
Falkner's Fearow		Tyranitar Half Deck			Pokémon VS		002/141
Falkner's Farfetch'd					Pokémon VS		003/141
Falkner's Dodrio					Pokémon VS		004/141
Falkner's Togetic					Pokémon VS		005/141
Falkner's Delibird					Pokémon VS		006/141
Falkner's Skarmory					Pokémon VS		007/141
Falkner's TM 01	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		103/141
Falkner's TM 02	T [TM]				Pokémon VS		104/141

Trivia

• His Japanese Leader title is 華麗なる飛行ポケモン使い.
• In Generation II, Falkner is the only Gym Leader who cannot give out a TM that contains a move of his Gym's specialty type, because no Flying-type TM existed in Generation II.
  • In Generation I, Brock also gives out a TM containing a move (Bide) that is not of his Gym's specialty type, even though one existed: TM48 Rock Slide.
• Falkner's Pokémon are the lowest level of any Gym Leader. His level 7 and 9 (9 and 13 in Generation IV) Pokémon include an underleveled Pidgeotto.
  • Despite popular misconception, however, this is not an impossible level for a Pidgeotto to be at. Level 7 Pidgeotto can be found in Viridian Forest in all Johto games, and legitimate level 9 Pidgeotto can also be transferred in to Generation II from Pokémon Yellow.
• Falkner is the only Gym Leader from either Kanto or Johto to only use Pokémon of his Gym's specialty type in the Pokémon Stadium series.
• Falkner is the only Gym Leader whose anime Gym battle team doesn't share any Pokémon with their Gym battle teams from the games.

Names

Language	Name	Origin
Japanese	ハヤト Hayato	From 隼人瓜 Hayato-uri (chayote) and 隼 hayabusa (peregrine falcon)
English, Indonesian, Brazilian Portuguese	Falkner	From falconer, one who trains falcons to hunt
German	Falk	From Falke (falcon)
Spanish	Pegaso	From Pegaso (Pegasus)
French	Albert	From albatros (albatross)
Italian	Valerio	From volare (to fly)
Korean	비상 Bisang	From 비상 (飛上) bisang (flight)
Chinese (Mandarin)	阿速 Ā Sù*	From the Japanese name 速人 Hayato and 速 sù (quick)
	隼人 Sǔnrén*	From the Japanese name 集人 Hayato
Chinese (Cantonese)	阿速 A Chūk	From the Japanese name 速人 Hayato and 速 chūk (quick)
Thai	ฮายาโตะ Hayato	Transcription of his Japanese name
Vietnamese	Hayato	Transcription of his Japanese name

References

Gym Leaders of the Johto region
Violet Gym Falkner	Azalea Gym Bugsy	Goldenrod Gym Whitney	Ecruteak Gym Morty
Cianwood Gym Chuck	Olivine Gym Jasmine	Mahogany Gym Pryce	Blackthorn Gym Clair

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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.