Rival

For the Elite Four Champion in Pokémon Stadium, see Blue (game).

For the Japanese opening theme, see The Rivals.

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In the games

A Rival (Japanese: ライバル Rival) is a type of Pokémon Trainer that first debuted in the Generation I games. It specifically refers to Blue and Silver. However, there are Pokémon Trainers who may not be formally described as rivals, but have characteristics reminiscent of those of Blue and Silver. These Trainers are the following: Brendan or May, depending on the player's gender, as well as Wally in Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald; and Pearl in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. Lucas and Dawn (whichever the player is not) are sometimes said to be rivals, however, they never actually battle against the player.

Typically, rivals will meet the player at various points in the game with progressively stronger Pokémon. They usually must be battled and defeated in order to continue the game. More often than not, they will have the starter Pokémon that weakens the one the player chose at the beginning of the game; the exceptions are Wally, who instead uses Ralts as his starter, and either Lucas or Dawn, of whom one uses the starter Pokémon that is actually weak to the player's choice. Since they are not rivals in the traditional sense, they are referred to as pseudo-rivals.

They use a variety of Pokémon for the the remainder of their teams.

Main Rival Sprites

File:RBBlue.png Blue in Pokémon Red and Blue

File:Silver Sprite GS.gif Silver in Pokémon Gold and Silver

File:Wally game.PNG Wally in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire

File:FL Blue.png Blue in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen

File:Jun.png Pearl in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl

Pseudo-Rival Sprites

May in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire

File:Brendan.png Brendan in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire

File:Koki.png Lucas in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl

Dawn in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl

In the anime

File:PokémonContestGrandFestival.jpg

May and her rivals

Various rivals for the main characters have also appeared in the anime. Rivals in this sense refers to major recurring characters, as all of the main characters have had a "rival" who only appears in a single or few episodes that they eventually make up with. Examples include Morrison or Harrison, while the major rivals are listed below.

• Ash Ketchum has had Gary Oak while Paul and Nando are currently his rivals. Dawn's friend Leona also collects badges but Ash and Leona have yet to battle one-on-one.

• May has had both Drew and Harley. Solidad may also qualify, as the two battled and Solidad was seen with Drew and Harley watching May in the Wallace Cup on television.

• Dawn has had both Zoey, Kenny and Jessie. Nando may also qualify, though he and Dawn have yet to battle officially.

Rival and friend characters
Core series Blue • Silver • Brendan/May • Wally • Barry • Lucas/Dawn • Ethan/Lyra • Cheren • Bianca N • Hugh • Calem/Serena • Shauna • Tierno • Trevor • Lillie • Hau • Gladion • Trace Hop • Marnie • Bede • Klara • Avery • Nemona • Arven • Penny • Carmine • Kieran Spin-off games Ronald • Keith • Luca • Sharon • Paulo • Lear • Tina