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Clair

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If you were looking for the character of the day from Going for a Spinda, see Claire.
Clair
イブキ Ibuki
"The Blessed User of Dragon Pokémon"
HeartGold SoulSilver Clair.png
Art from HeartGold and SoulSilver
Gender Female
Eye color Blue
Hair color Light blue
Hometown Blackthorn City
Region Johto
Relatives Lance, Dragon Clan Elder
Trainer class Gym Leader
Generation II, IV
Games Gold, Silver, Crystal, Pokémon Stadium 2, HeartGold, SoulSilver
Leader of Blackthorn Gym
Badge Rising Badge
Specializes in Template:Type2s
Anime debut Beauty is Skin Deep
English voice actor Megan Hollingshead
Japanese voice actor Yūko Mita

Clair (Japanese: イブキ Ibuki) is the Gym Leader of Blackthorn City's Gym, known officially as the Blackthorn Gym. Her specialty is Template:Type2 Pokémon, and she gives the Rising Badge to Trainers who defeat her. Her cousin is Lance.

In the games

Headshot of Clair from Pokémon Gold and Silver

Clair appears in Pokémon Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold, and SoulSilver as the Leader of the Blackthorn Gym. She is the eighth and final Gym Leader to be met in the Johto region, and defeating her will allow Trainers to advance to the Indigo Plateau. Known as "The Blessed User of Dragon Pokémon", Clair is descended from a long line of Dragon-type Trainers including her cousin, Elite Four member Lance, and the elder of Blackthorn's Dragon Clan.

Clair is confident of her abilities as a Trainer, and speaks of herself as "the world's best dragon master". She can hold her own against the Elite Four: her only known loss is against Lance, now the Champion. Even if the player defeats her in battle, she refuses to accept his or her talents unless they pass the "Dragon User's Challenge". The Rising Badge that victors of the Blackthorn Gym are entitled to remains in Clair's possession until Trainers have navigated the Dragon's Den and located a shrine at its center. Only then will Clair acknowledge her loss. She will also encourage the player to excel at the Pokémon League; this is mainly personal, so she will feel less upset about her defeat at the hands of a child. As well as the Rising Badge, she will also issue a Dragon Technical Machine: TM24 (DragonBreath) in Generation II; TM59 (Dragon Pulse) in Generation IV. Many of her own Pokémon know these moves in the respective generations.

The player's rival, Silver, takes to training in the Dragon's Den once the Elite Four have been defeated by the player. In this way, he is said to act as Clair did when she was young herself. She returns here from time to time, and will battle alongside her cousin against Silver and the player. She comes here every morning between 6:00 AM and 10:00 AM after the player and rival defeat her and Lance, and will give her Pokégear phone number to the player. If called on Friday evening, she will journey to the Fighting Dojo and have a rematch with the player.

Clair makes an additional appearance in Pokémon Stadium 2's Johto Gym Leader Castle. This is the only appearance she makes where she uses Pokémon that are not draconian in origin.

Pokémon

This listing is of Clair's Pokémon in the video games she has appeared in.

Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal



Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

Gym match



Second battle (rematch)



Tag battle with Lance
Clair and Lance approaching for battle



Pokémon Stadium 2

Round 1



Round 2



Quotes

File:SpriteClair.png File:ClairHGSS.gif VSClair.png
Clair's sprite from
Generation II 		Clair's sprite from
Generation IV 		Clair's VS sprite from
Generation IV

Pokémon Gold and Silver

"I am Clair. The world's best dragon master. I can hold my own against even the Pokémon League's Elite Four. Do you still want to take me on? ...Fine. Let's do it! As a Gym Leader, I will use my full power against any opponent!"

"I lost? I don't believe it. There must be some mistake... I won't admit this. I may have lost, but you're still not ready for the Pokémon League. I know. You should take the dragon user challenge. Behind this Gym is a place called Dragon's Den. There is a small shrine at its center. Go there. If you can prove that you've lost your lazy ideals, I will recognize you as a trainer worthy of a Gym Badge!"

"All right. I recognize your true power. This Badge is yours."

Pokémon Crystal

"So how did it go? I guess there's no point in asking. You did fail? ......... ...What? You passed? That can't be! You're lying! Even I haven't been approved!"

"I-I understand... Here, this is the Rising Badge... Hurry up! Take it!"

"Wait! I'm sorry about this. Here, take this as my apology."

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

Pokégear Registering
"It's still early, and you've got nothing to do already? I may have time to listen to you. If you insist, I can exchange numbers, too!"
"I can battle you on Friday nights if you insist!"
Pokégear Phone
  • Calling you:
"Yes, it’s Clair here... Oh, hi. How are you doing? Lately there seems to be some gossip running through town that I am the latest name in fashion. Well, if I’m that cool that people can’t stop talking about me, I can totally understand that sentiment."
  • Calling her:
"Nice to hear from you. How is everything with you? I'm good. What's your point? If you want to battle me again, fine. Friday nights, take it or leave it. Call me then... Maybe I'll answer..."
  • On Friday nights:
"Nice to hear from you. How is everything with you? I'm good. Well, well, you called at the right time! You want to battle again? I'm up for it."
No: "What in the world? Are you trying to make fun of me?!"
Yes: "Ha ha ha. It's great that you're stepping up. I'll be waiting for you at the Fighting Dojo in Saffron City!"
"Yes, it’s Clair here... Oh, hi. How are you doing? Keep in mind we’re meeting at the Fighting Dojo in Saffron City. It’s a promise I’m waiting to keep..."
"Nice to hear from you. How is everything with you? I'm good. I’m waiting for you at the Fighting Dojo in Saffron City... Don’t wuss out."

In the anime

File:ClairDragonairHGSS.png
Clair in Lyra's presentation in An Egg Scramble!

Clair appears in five episodes of the Pokémon anime, toward the end of the Master Quest saga: Beauty is Skin Deep, Fangs for Nothin', Great Bowls of Fire, Better Eight Than Never and Why? Wynaut!.

As Ash and company near Blackthorn City, they discover a Dratini and a Gyarados in a river. They discover that both Pokémon belong to Clair, who is following the Dratini down the river as it prepares to shed its skin. Team Rocket snatches the Dratini, however, and Clair gives chase, demonstrating her highly acrobatic abilities. Dratini escapes, and Ash fights to protect it. During the ensuing battle, however, an electric shock is headed straight for Dratini, but Clair jumps in front of it to absorb the shock. Dratini witnesses its trainer's devotion, and evolves into a Dragonair in order to put a stop to Team Rocket. Later, Clair is finally able to perform an important ritual to purify the legendary Dragon Fang. Clair then goes on to accept Ash's challenge for a Rising Badge.

File:Clair Anime.png
Clair in the anime

Ash has the first strike, but the battle is cut short when Team Rocket steals the Dragon Fang. Ash, Clair and Team Rocket all end up in the Dragon Holy Land, where Team Rocket trick a Dragonite into helping them. Luckily, Liza and Ash's Charizard arrive to help save the day. Ash's Charizard then helps him earn him his final Johto League badge.

Although Clair does mention Lance in the anime, he is not her cousin like in the games; instead, she recalls that he trained under her at the Blackthorn Gym before he joined the Elite Four.

Pokémon

This listing is of Clair's Pokémon in the anime:

Dragonair
Debut Beauty is Skin Deep
Voice actors
Japanese Megumi Hayashibara
English Megumi Hayashibara
Main article: Clair's Dragonair

Dragonair is Clair's main Pokémon. It first appeared as a Dratini, when it was shedding its skin and Clair was protecting it at that time. When Team Rocket tried to steal Dratini, Clair protected it which led it to evolve into a Dragonair. With its new powers, Dragonair easily defeated Team Rocket.

Clair also used her Dragonair in the rematch against Ash in Better Eight Than Never. With its speed and power, it defeated Pikachu easily. With a wide range of moves such as Dragon Rage, it proved to be a tough challenge for Charizard as well. Eventually it was however defeated by Charizard's Seismic Toss, earning Ash the Rising Badge.

Gyarados
Clair's Gyarados
Debut Beauty is Skin Deep
Voice actors
Japanese Unshō Ishizuka
English Unshō Ishizuka

Gyarados is Clair's hidden powerhouse. It is seen guarding her Dratini. Later, during Ash's rematch with Clair, it managed to defeat Ash's Snorlax and put up a good fight against his Pikachu, but eventually lost to Pikachu's Thunderbolt.

Gyarados's known moves are Hydro Pump, Hyper Beam, DragonBreath and Bite.

Kingdra
Clair's Kingdra

Kingdra is one of Clair's strongest Pokémon. Clair uses it in both battles with Ash. In the first battle, Ash first decided to use Pikachu, but as Pikachu's attacks didn't have that much effect on Kingdra, Ash switched to Noctowl, which was easily defeated. Right after this the match interrupted as Team Rocket was trying to steal the Dragon Fang.

During the rematch, Kingdra put up a good fight against Ash's Snorlax, but was finally defeated by Snorlax's Ice Punch.

Kingdra's known moves are Twister, Hydro Pump, Agility, Hyper Beam and Swift.

Voice actors

Language Voice actor
Japanese 三田ゆう子 Yūko Mita
English Megan Hollingshead
Polish Joanna Domańska
Spanish Latin America Liliana Barba
Spain María Antonia Rodríguez


In the Pokémon Adventures manga

File:Clair and Morty.png
Clair and her Kingdra (left) with Morty and his Misdreavus (right)

Clair was initially unhappy with the lack of capable trainers wishing to battle her. Clair then traveled to the Dragon's Den where she met Suicune and battled it. Despite her efforts, she was outclassed by its tactics, and lost rather quickly, due to Suicune's use of Mist to create a reflection or illusion of itself. She then learned from the Dragon Clan Elder that the legendary beasts appear to trainers they deem worthy which is why Suicune came to Clair. She then deduced that Suicune was looking for a worthy enough trainer to be its master.

File:Clair HGSS Special.png
Clair in the HG/SS chapter

Later, at the Gym Leaders Challenge, she was to face off against Blaine. This was an important matter for her, because as Lance's cousin, she thought that Blaine would know what became of Lance after Blaine and Lance's battle at Cerise Island the year before.

During the attack by Team Rocket, which ended up with all the Gym Leaders trapped on the recently completed bullet train, she forced Blaine into fighting their duel. Blaine quickly won due to Entei's powerful attacks. Thus, the Kanto Gym Leaders claimed victory, with four wins, three losses and one draw.

Pokémon

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

230.png
Kingdra 		148.png
Dragonair

In the TCG

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

Name Type Level Rarity Set Set no.
Clair's Blastoise Water - Common Pokémon VS (no English release) 46/141
Clair's Jynx Water - Common Pokémon VS (no English release) 47/141
Clair's Gyarados Water - Common Pokémon VS (no English release) 48/141
Clair's Dragonite Colorless - Common Pokémon VS (no English release) 49/141
Clair's Politoed Water - Common Pokémon VS (no English release) 50/141
Clair's Mantine Water - Common Pokémon VS (no English release) 51/141
Clair's Kingdra Water - Common Pokémon VS (no English release) 52/141
Clair's TM 01 - - Uncommon Pokémon VS (no English release) 111/141
Clair's TM 02 - - Uncommon Pokémon VS (no English release) 112/141

Trivia

  • Her Japanese Leader title is 聖なるドラゴンポケモン使い！.
  • When Clair is beaten in the game, she is so impressed and frustrated, she refuses to give the player the Rising Badge. Instead, she sets the player on an extra task: He or she must go to Dragon's Den and retrieve the sacred Dragon Fang. When the player has done this, Clair, true to her word, arrives and hands over the badge as well as TM24 (DragonBreath). Afterwards, she says "No, it has nothing to do with my breath." The meaning of this was somewhat lost in translation, as Clair's Japanese name, Ibuki, can be taken to mean "breath". Despite this, a pun remains, as "dragon breath" is a term sometimes used for someone who has halitosis. Because she gives out TM59 (Dragon Pulse) in Generation IV instead, this joke was removed, though Clair does start to make a reference before becoming somewhat embarrassed.
  • Clair is the only Gym Leader to be seen in the anime in the U.S. before she was seen in Japan. The U.S. opening Born to Be a Winner featured exclusive clips, one of them of Clair, not shown in Japan. The opening made its debut in A Goldenrod Opportunity which aired August 18th, 2001 and Clair's Japanese debut wouldn't come until Beauty Is Skin Deep which aired on June 6th, 2002. The only other character to debut in the U.S. first was Dr. Yung.
  • Clair is the only Johto Gym Leader whose team was altered aside from level between Pokémon Gold and Silver and Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.
  • Clair is the only Gym Leader in the rematches at the Fighting Dojo in HeartGold and SoulSilver who does not have any post-Generation II Pokémon.
  • Clair is the second Gym Leader to team up with a member of the Elite Four against the player's rival. Volkner was the first.
    • Coincidentally, both Volkner and Clair are the last Gym Leaders of their respective regions, the focal regions of even-numbered generations.
  • Clair appears as an opponent in Pokémon Puzzle Challenge. She uses a Dragonair in battle.
  • Clair is the only Gym Leader to specialize in the Dragon-type.
  • Strangely, the music used in her tag battle with Lance isn't either the Champion's theme or the Gym Leaders' theme, but rather the normal battle music for a Johto trainer battle.
  • In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, many characters in-game make fun of Clair's outfit, such as Erika and Silver.

Names

Language Name Origin
Japanese イブキ (Ibuki) 伊吹 Ibuki, Juniperus chinensis. And Mount Ibuki. Or 息吹 ibuki, breath. A common Japanese surname.
English Clair Rhymes with lair, as in lair of a dragon.
French, German, Italian Sandra From the word dragon.
Spanish Débora Possible relation to the Spanish word dragón or víbora (viper).
Korean 이향 Ihyang Means strange land.
Chinese 小椿 Xiǎo Chūn 椿 may refer to the tree of heaven. 椿 can be derived from 香椿 Xiāngchūn (Chinese mahogany).

External links

Gym Leaders of the Johto region
Violet Gym Zephyr Badge
Falkner OD.png
Falkner
Azalea Gym Hive Badge
Bugsy OD.png
Bugsy
Goldenrod Gym Plain Badge
Whitney OD.png
Whitney
Ecruteak Gym Fog Badge
Morty OD.png
Morty
Cianwood Gym Storm Badge
Chuck OD.png
Chuck
Olivine Gym Mineral Badge
Jasmine OD.png
Jasmine
Mahogany Gym Glacier Badge
Pryce OD.png
Pryce
Blackthorn Gym Rising Badge
Clair OD.png
Clair


Project CharacterDex logo.png 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.
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