Drayden

Drayden シャガ Shaga
"The Spartan Mayor"
Artwork from Black and White
Gender	Male
Eye color	Yellow
Hair color	White
Hometown	Opelucid City
Region	Unova
Trainer class	Gym Leader
Generation	V
Games	Black and White Black 2 and White 2
Leader of	Opelucid Gym
Badge	Legend Badge
Specializes in	Dragon types
Anime debut	Iris and Excadrill Against the Dragon Buster!
English voice actor	Mike Pollock
Japanese voice actor	Masaki Terasoma

Drayden (Japanese: シャガ Shaga) is the Gym Leader of Opelucid City's Gym, known officially as the Opelucid Gym. He specializes in Dragon-type Pokémon and gives the Legend Badge to Trainers who manage to defeat him. In Pokémon White, Iris held the title of Opelucid City Gym Leader instead. He is also Iris' grandfather.

In the games

Drayden appears in Pokémon Black and White where he is the mayor of Opelucid City. In Black, he is the Gym Leader of Opelucid City's Gym, the last Gym to be challenged by the player in the region.

In White, he will teach Draco Meteor to the player's Dragon-type Pokémon if they have high friendship. He can be found in his home in Opelucid City. However, in this game Iris takes his place as Gym Leader.

He also reappears at N's Castle where he and many of the other Unova Gym Leaders hold off the Seven Sages.

Drayden is said to train by wrestling with Pokémon.

Drayden returns once again as a Gym Leader in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2. The TM Drayden gives away remains the same.

Pokémon

Pokémon Black and White

Leader Drayden Opelucid Gym Black Leader and Professor Drayden Oak Opelucid Gym Black Reward: $5160

Types: Dragon Unknown Ability: Rivalry Held item: None Fraxure♂ Lv.41 Dragon Dance Dragon Status   --       Dragon Rage Dragon Special   --       Assurance Dark Physical   --       Dragon Tail Dragon Physical   --       Types: Dragon Unknown Ability: Rough Skin Held item: None Druddigon♂ Lv.41 Revenge Fighting Physical   --       Chip Away Normal Physical   --       Night Slash Dark Physical   --       Dragon Tail Dragon Physical   --       Types: Dragon Unknown Ability: Mold Breaker Held item: None Haxorus♂ Lv.43 Dragon Dance Dragon Status   --       Assurance Dark Physical   --       Slash Normal Physical   --       Dragon Tail Dragon Physical   --

Pokémon Black 2 and White 2

Initial battle (Normal Mode)

Leader Drayden Opelucid Gym Black 2 and White 2 Leader and Professor Drayden Oak Opelucid Gym Black 2 and White 2 Reward: $5760

Types: Dragon Unknown Ability: Sheer Force Held item: None Druddigon♂ Lv.46 Revenge Fighting Physical   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --       Slash Normal Physical   --       Dragon Tail Dragon Physical   --       Types: Ground Dragon Ability: Levitate Held item: None Flygon♂ Lv.46 Rock Slide Rock Physical   --       Earth Power Ground Special   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --       Dragon Tail Dragon Physical   --       Types: Dragon Unknown Ability: Mold Breaker Held item: Sitrus Berry Haxorus♂ Lv.48 Dragon Dance Dragon Status   --       Dragon Tail Dragon Physical   --       Slash Normal Physical   --       Assurance Dark Physical   --

Initial battle (Challenge Mode)

Leader Drayden Opelucid Gym Black 2 and White 2 Leader and Professor Drayden Oak Opelucid Gym Black 2 and White 2 Reward: $12480

Types: Dragon Unknown Ability: Held item: Sitrus Berry Druddigon♂ Lv.50 Revenge Fighting Physical   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --       Slash Normal Physical   --       Rock Slide Rock Physical   --       Types: Ground Dragon Ability: Levitate Held item: None Flygon♂ Lv.50 Rock Slide Rock Physical   --       Dragon Tail Dragon Physical   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --       Earth Power Ground Special   --       Types: Dragon Flying Ability: Natural Cure Held item: None Altaria♂ Lv.50 Cotton Guard Grass Status   --       Fire Blast Fire Special   --       Sing Normal Status   --       Dragon Pulse Dragon Special   --       Types: Dragon Unknown Ability: Mold Breaker Held item: Sitrus Berry Haxorus♂ Lv.52 Dragon Dance Dragon Status   --       Dragon Tail Dragon Physical   --       X-Scissor Bug Physical   --       Shadow Claw Ghost Physical   --

Quotes

Pokémon Black and White

Opelucid City

• After Ghetsis's speech

"The cooperation of people and Pokémon is how Unova came to exist to begin with. If a Pokémon really didn't want anything to do with humans, it would simply leave... Capturing a Pokémon in a Poké Ball doesn't mean you've captured its heart."

"What's wrong? What does the wandering Champion who left the Pokémon League need from us?"

"Moments ago, a troublemaker known as Ghetsis was here. He said a Trainer named N has reawakened Zekrom^{Wrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.}/Reshiram^{Wrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.}..."

"Let me check that I have this straight. This N, or what have you, presumes to set the two Dragon-type Pokémon against each other in battle to test his convictions?"

"Don't worry, Iris. He is the strongest Trainer in all of Unova."

"Well, <player>, is it? Come to my home. As Alder asked, I'll tell you everything I can about the legendary Dragon-type Pokémon. Iris, child, please show the way."

• In his house

"I'll explain. What you are holding is the Light Stone^{Wrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.}/Dark Stone^{Wrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.}. Reshiram^{Wrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.}/Zekrom^{Wrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.}, who will likely awaken from the Light Stone^{Wrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.}/Dark Stone^{Wrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.}, and Zekrom^{Wrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.}/Reshiram^{Wrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.}, who is already awake, were once the same Pokémon."

"One day, however... The twin heroes, the older brother who sought the truth, and the younger brother who sought ideals, began to argue about how to decide which one of them was right... The single Dragon-type Pokémon that had been with them all that time split its body into two. One sided with the older brother, and the other with the younger brother."

"Because the two of them were once the same entity, their battle raged endlessly and neither one could be declared the winner. They simply exhausted themselves. The twin heroes proclaimed that there was no one side that was right and ceased the conflict."

"True. Pokémon cannot speak. People may hurt Pokémon even more by imposing their selfish thoughts on them. But, no matter what, Pokémon and people believe in each other, need each other, and will continue to live together..."

"Sorry. We got a little off topic at the end. That is everything we know. Unfortunately, we don't know how to wake up the legendary Pokémon..."

"I made a promise to Alder. You must win the Gym Badge from the Opelucid Pokémon Gym."

• In Black

"<player>, I'll be waiting for your challenge at the Pokémon Gym!"

• In White

"Iris, you go and be <player>'s opponent at the Pokémon Gym."

"What will it accomplish to separate the worlds of people and Pokémon? The way we live now, with different beings understanding and forgiving each other, is much richer. That's my belief."

• In his house after player receives the Legend Badge (White only)

"If you wish, I can teach your Pokémon the strongest Dragon-type move. Would you like your Pokémon to learn that move?"

• Yes; if player has Pokémon in the party that can learn the move

"Which Pokémon should learn this move?"

• If a Pokémon that can't learn Draco Meteor is selected

"I'm very sorry, but... This Pokémon cannot learn this move."

• If a Pokémon that knows Draco Meteor is selected

"Hmm... It looks like this Pokémon already knows Draco Meteor."

• After one of the player's Pokémon learns Draco Meteor

"Draco Meteor's power is exceptional, but using it lowers the user's Sp. Atk stat."

• Yes; if no Dragon-type Pokémon in the player's party can learn the move

"Hmm... This Pokémon can learn this move, but your bond of friendship is not yet strong enough. That means I cannot teach it this move."

• Yes; if player has no Dragon-type Pokémon in the party

"I see... But there are no Pokémon with you right now that can learn this move."

• No

"Understood. Come again if you change your mind."

Opelucid Gym (Black only)

• Before battle

"Welcome. Thank you for coming. I am Opelucid Pokémon Gym's Leader, Drayden. As the mayor, I've given everything to developing the city. As a Trainer, I've simply been pursuing greater strength. But what I'm searching for now is a young Trainer who can show me a bright future. Perhaps you can show me that future, the way Iris has?"

• After the first move

"I didn't see that coming. You are a very difficult opponent."

• After sending out last Pokémon

"Now is the moment of truth! This really gets my blood pumping!"

• When defeated

"This intense feeling that floods me after a defeat... I don't know how to describe it."

• After being defeated

"Wonderful. I'm grateful we had a chance to meet and battle."

"Well, now, You've obtained all of the Gym Badges in Unova. Now, all Pokémon will obediently follow your commands. I also want you to have this. It's a TM I'm particularly fond of. It's called Dragon Tail."

"Dragon Tail is a move that returns the damaged Pokémon to its Poké Ball. In other words, it switches your opponent's Pokémon. Now, I have something to ask of you. Head for the Pokémon League and go after Alder. The Pokémon League is past Route 10, which runs from Opelucid City to Victory Road. I know Alder's strength, but I don't know the depths of N's power..."

• Post game:

"Pokémon and people do not age because of the passage of time. They get old when the energy flowing in their hearts dries up. This energy in our hearts is powered by truth, ideals, or maybe dreams... That probably changes with what you most hope for in your life."

N's Castle

"Holder of the Light Stone^{Wrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.}/Dark Stone^{Wrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.}, please proceed!"

"I can empathize with some of what you say, but I can't forgive the way you reject everything else!"

Badge Case (Black only)

Sincere Trainer, keep growing stronger!

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 Madame Scale. Thank yooou! 'I'm from Opelucid City, and I just went home for the first time in a long time. I saw Drayden and Iris counting up a big handful of coins! Isn't that setting a bad example for kids, flaunting your wealth like that?' Hmmm... That's living the high life! But you know, the Opelucid Gym Badge is shiny like a coin... Maybe you saw wrong? 'The National Gymquirer'! We eagerly await your letters!"

Sprites

Drayden's sprite from Black and White	Drayden's VS sprite from Generation V	Drayden's overworld sprite from Generation V

In the anime

Drayden in the anime.

Drayden first appeared in Iris and Excadrill Against the Dragon Buster! in Iris's flashback where he was introduced as a Dragon master. He witnessed Iris and Excadrill in battle while visiting the Village of Dragons and congratulated her on her victory. Iris then quickly challenged Drayden to a battle which he graciously accepted. However, the Dragon master proved to be too powerful for the young Trainer and Iris and Excadrill lost. He appears to be acquainted with the village elder.

Pokémon

Haxorus

Debut	Iris and Excadrill Against the Dragon Buster!
Voice actors
Japanese	Kenta Miyake

Drayden's Haxorus appeared in Iris's flashback where it battled against her Excadrill and won. Excadrill's loss to Haxorus is what caused him to disobey Iris for many years.

Haxorus's only known move is Rock Smash.

Voice actors

Language Voice actor Japanese 寺杣昌紀 Masaki Terasoma English Mike Pollock Danish Jan Tellefsen German Christoph Jablonka European Spanish Luis Mas

In the manga

File:Drayden Adventures.png

Drayden in the manga.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Drayden is first seen in person along with his fellow Gym Leaders and Black.

Trivia

• His Japanese Leader title is スパルタン　メイヤー.
• In Black and White, the only differences between Drayden and Iris's teams are the genders of their Pokémon and their Druddigon's Ability: Drayden has an all-male team and his Druddigon has Rough Skin, while Iris has an all-female team and her Druddigon has Sheer Force.

Names

Language	Name	Origin
Japanese	シャガ Shaga	From 射干 or 著莪 (シャガ) shaga, Iris japonica or from Fringed iris.
English	Drayden	From "dragon" and "den" (as in dragon's den).
French	Watson	From the flower genus Watsonia.
German	Lysander	From the Spartan general Lysander and fleur-de-lys.
Italian	Aristide	From the genus Aristea. May also be named after Aristides.
Spanish	Lirio	From lirio (lily).
Korean	사간 Sagan	From 사간 (射干) sagan, blackberry lily.
Chinese (Mandarin)	夏卡 Xiàkǎ	Transliteration of his Japanese name.

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

Non-player characters in the core series games

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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.