Explorers

This article is about the group from Pokémon Horizons. For the games, see Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky.

Explorers エクスプローラーズ Explorers

The Explorers logo

Leader Gibeon Region Worldwide Admins Hamber, Amethio, Spinel, Onyx, Agate, Sango Major targets Liko, Terapagos, Roy, Friede, Rising Volt Tacklers, Diana Base locations Unknown Anime debut HZ001

The Explorers (Japanese: エクスプローラーズ Explorers) are a mysterious organization that is after Liko's pendant, the Rising Volt Tacklers' sworn enemy, and the main antagonistic organization in Pokémon Horizons: The Series. Its real goals and motivations are currently unknown.

History

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

Pre-series

At some point in the past, Hamber joined the Explorers and approached Diana, an old friend of his, with an offer to join the organization under the pretext of introducing her to someone who could aid her adventures. However, this was actually an attempt to obtain her pendant, which she refused to hand over. After that, the Explorers decided to pursue the pendant until they found out that it was in the possession of Diana's granddaughter Liko, at which point they decided to find her in order to take it. Eventually, they were able to find Liko attending the Indigo Academy in the Kanto region.

Pokémon Horizons: The Series

Amethio battling Friede for the first time

The Explorers were introduced in HZ001. With the goal of obtaining Liko's pendant, Amethio introduced himself as a supposedly representative of Liko's grandmother, requesting her to return the pendant. When Liko attempted to escape she was chased after, and eventually cornered by, Amethio, Zirc, and Onia. Upon the arrival of Friede, the leader of the Rising Volt Tacklers, Amethio engaged in a battle with him. Their battle was cut short after Liko's pendant displayed an unknown power that shielded her from an incoming attack, which Friede used as an opportunity to escape with her. Having witnessed the pendant's mysterious power, the Explorers shifted their objective to acquiring both Liko's pendant and Liko herself, believing her to play a key role in the pendant's secrets.

Following an aerial chase of the Rising Volt Tacklers airship in the following episode, they managed to invade their enemy's ship, the Brave Asagi, where another battle between Amethio and Friede ensued. Due to a powerful Leafage from Liko's Sprigatito, the barrier around the battlefield broke, exposing everyone to the ongoing thunderstorm. This forced the Explorers to retreat, but not without taking Sprigatito as a hostage.

In HZ003, Zirc managed to plant a tracker on the Brave Asagi while the ship was docked at the town where the Explorers were hiding out with Sprigatito. In the next episode, Amethio conferenced with Hamber, his superior, from his team's submarine. When asked if he had informed Gibeon, the Explorers' leader, about Liko's pendant, Amethio replied that he had not yet done so. The trio then set off to follow the Brave Asagi using the tracker's signal.

Amethio, Zirc and Onia attacked the Rising Volt Tacklers in HZ005 and HZ006, in another major operation meant to steal Liko's pendant. They were forced to retreat when a Shiny Rayquaza appeared from Roy's ancient Poké Ball after the ball and pendant synced with each other. Later, Amethio was summoned to a meeting of the Explorers' leadership to give a report to Gibeon, where fellow Admin Spinel mocks him for his failure. Because of Amethio's acting on his own, Gibeon removed him from the mission and instead assigned Spinel to obtain the pendant. After the meeting, Amethio calmly decided to continue pursuing the Rayquaza, which had disappeared after his team's retreat.

Spinel was later seen spying on the Rising Volt Tacklers in HZ012, and in HZ013, he commenced his attack by using his fleet of Magneton to disable the Brave Asagi near Levincia , as well as using his other Pokémon to battle Friede and his Charizard to try and distract him, and briefly successfully obtains Liko's pendant thanks to his Beheeyem. In the subsequent episodes Spinel attempts to plan his escape with the pendant but the Rising Volt Tacklers comprising of Liko, Roy and Dot track him down and thwart his plans, managing to steal Liko's pendant back from him with the help of Lucius's Arboliva. After this setback, Spinel reports his failure to the rest of the Explorers, causing him to be mocked by some of the Admins such as Sango, after the meeting Spinel plans to continue with his mission.

In HZ021, Amethio, Zirc, and Onia arrived in Galar after tracking the black Rayquaza to the Galar Mine. Amethio informed the others that he would now be acting against Gibeon's orders by continuing to pursue Rayquaza, but they still insisted upon following him, which he accepted. In the following episode, Amethio, Zirc and Onia arrived at the Galar Mine as where they came across Liko, Roy, and Friede as they battled them. However, when a Galarian Moltres that had an Ancient Poké Ball arrive and attack them, Onia and Zirc retreated from their battle against Liko and Roy, as Moltres was too powerful for them to battle, while Amethio continued his Pokémon battle against Friede, with Charizard and Ceruledge fighting each other again. When Galarian Moltres showed up after chasing off Liko and Roy it immediately confronted Friede and Amethio, interrupting their battle. However, Amethio eventually retreated from Moltres in the next episode, and changed up his plans as he decided to also steal the mysterious Pokémon that formed from Liko's pendant.

In HZ024, Amethio, Zirc, and Onia reported their findings to Hamber. As Spinel and Agate were busy in the Explorers' laboratory, Hamber recruited Onyx and Sango to go to Galar with him, as he wanted to see the Pokémon for himself. After giving their report, Amethio, Zirc, and Onia followed Liko, Roy, and Friede to Diana's castle near Hammerlocke. Once they reached the old castle, the three Explorers surrounded their targets in order to take the Pokémon away.

Notable Members

Main members

This is the list of Explorers members up to the most recent Japanese episode:

Member	Rank	Description	Debut
Gibeon	Boss	The boss of the Explorers who is mentioned for the first time in HZ004 and his voice is first heard in HZ006. He has yet to make a physical appearance in the series, and speaks with his followers only via a holographic monolith that conceals his identity. His subordinates hold him in high, almost reverential regard, typically referring to him as "Master Gibeon," behaving in a highly deferential way when in his presence, and identifying the Explorers as "only existing to fulfill" his wishes.	HZ006*
Hamber	Second-in-command	The second-in-command of the Explorers. He debuted in HZ004, receiving progress reports from Amethio and his subordinates. In addition to his position as a commander in the organization, he acts as Gibeon's butler.	HZ004
Amethio	Admin	The very first admin in the Explorers to be introduced in the series, appearing in HZ001.	HZ001
Spinel	Admin	Spinel first appeared in HZ006 in a meeting with the other Explorers Admins. Upon seeing Amethio's flaws, Spinel started mocking him, doubting whether or not he actually saw the black Rayquaza. Amethio and Spinel's squabbles were interrupted by Hamber before Gibeon decided to give Spinel the mission to investigate the Rising Volt Tacklers.	HZ006
Onyx Onyx	Admin	Onyx first silhouetted in HZ006 in a meeting with the other Explorers Admins. He first appeared properly in HZ016.	HZ006
Agate Agate	Admin	Agate first silhouetted in HZ006 in a meeting with the other Explorers Admins. She first appeared properly in HZ016.	HZ006
Sango Sango	Admin	Sango first silhouetted in HZ006 in a meeting with the other Explorers Admins. She first appeared properly in HZ016.	HZ006
Onia	Grunt	A grunt that works as a trio along with her partner Zirc and their superior, Amethio.	HZ001
Zirc	Grunt	A grunt that works as a trio along with his partner Onia and their superior, Amethio.	HZ001

Associates

This is listing of characters who aided the Explorers in their goals at some point during the events of Pokémon Horizons: The Series:

Bisharp's Trainer	Explorers' subordinates

Technology

Gadgets

• In HZ002, the trio used their watches to change into the organization's standard uniform.
• In HZ003, Zirc planted a tracker in the husk of the Rising Volt Tacklers' airship. It was later found and destroyed by Quaxly in HZ006.
• In HZ014, Spinel communicated with his Pokémon using a small transceiver attached to them. He also used the transceivers in HZ016 to communicate with Liko, Roy, and Dot.

Watches	Tracker	Transceiver

Vehicles

• In HZ004, Amethio contacted Hamber from a submarine. This submarine later made further appearances as Amethio, Zirc and Onia's method of transportation around the world.
• Spinel was seen using a van outfitted with high-tech surveillance equipment as a base of operations in multiple episodes.
• In HZ016, Spinel used a cargo ship docked in Levincia to transport his van from the city.

Submarine

Other

• In HZ006 and several subsequent episodes, the Explorers leadership are shown using a virtual reality space to meet with each other and give reports to Hamber and Gibeon. The individual members use hologram technology to project themselves into this space, which appears and disappears upon their entering and leaving it. While Hamber and the five Explorers admins move around and interact with each other in this space as if it is real, Gibeon speaks through a holographic monolith that stands at the center of the space.

Artwork

File:Amethyo Pokemon 2023 Expression Sheet.jpg
Official artwork of Amethio from Pokémon Horizons: The Series	Official artwork of Zirc and Onia from Pokémon Horizons: The Series
	File:Explorers trio Pucchigumi SP.png
Official artwork of Onyx, Agate, Sango, and Spinel	Zirc, Onia and Amethio in the Pocket Monsters ~Pucchigumi SP~ manga

Trivia

• The Explorers is the first villainous organization created specifically for the anime.
• The names of the members of the organization presented in the anime refer to gemstones and rocks used in the creation of jewelry.

Names

Language Title French Explorateurs German Entdecker Italian Esploratori Korean 익스플로러즈 Explorers Polish Pionierzy Portuguese Brazil Desbravadores Portugal Exploradores Spanish Exploradores

References

Explorers Boss: Gibeon Administrators: Hamber • Spinel Coral • Sidian • Chalce Agents: Onia • Zirc Former members: Amethio Related: Exceed • Laqua • Laquium

Villainous teams Core series: Team Rocket • Team Magma • Team Aqua • Team Galactic • Team Plasma Team Flare • Team Skull • Team Rainbow Rocket • Team Yell • Team Star Side series: Team Snagem • Cipher Spin-off games: Team Great Rocket • Phobos Battalion • Go-Rock Squad • Team Dim Sun • Team Debonairs Pokémon Pinchers • Dark Legion • The Rogers • Team GO Rocket • Team Break • Unitas Animation only: Explorers Manga only: Neo Team Rocket (Adventures) • Team Kings (Horizon)

This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation.