Archer

Archer アポロ Apollo
Art from HeartGold and SoulSilver
Gender	Male
Eye color	Teal
Hair color	Black*, Teal*
Hometown	Unknown
Region	Johto, Kanto
Trainer class	ExecutiveGSCHGSS AdminFRLG Team Rocket AdminPE Pokémon TrainerPE
Generation	II, III, IV, VII
Games	Gold, Silver, Crystal, FireRed, LeafGreen, HeartGold, SoulSilver, Let's Go, Pikachu!, Let's Go, Eevee!, Stadium 2, Masters EX
Member of	Team Rocket
Rank	Executive, Interim Boss
Game animation cameos	Pokémon Masters Animated Trailer
English voice actor	Christian La Monte (Masters EX)
Japanese voice actor	Kōji Takahashi (Masters EX)

Archer (Japanese: アポロ Apollo) is one of the Team Rocket Executives introduced in Pokémon Gold and Silver. He was not given an official name or design to distingush him from the other male Executives until Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.

In the core series games

An unnamed male Team Rocket Admin that may be Archer appeared in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen in the Rocket Warehouse on Five Island. He is the leader of the Sevii Islands branch of Team Rocket, and accuses the player of spreading rumors that Team Rocket has disbanded, something he does not believe. When the player defeats him, he recognizes the Earth Badge and accepts that Giovanni has been defeated, finally disbanding Team Rocket, but he vows to find him and resurrect Team Rocket someday. The computer he was working on mentions the effect of radio waves on Pokémon evolution, foreshadowing Team Rocket's later actions.

Three years later, Archer is the interim head of Team Rocket during the absence of Giovanni. He leads the team in its takeover of the Goldenrod Radio Tower, aiming to locate his missing leader and bring him back to the team. After being defeated, he disbands the organization again and disappears.

Archer appears in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! as Giovanni's trusted confidant and deputy. He is first seen in the Team Rocket Hideout, meeting with Giovanni regarding his studying of the Silph Scope. Though Giovanni dismisses the Silph Scope itself as a toy, he agrees with Archer's assessment that it proves Silph Co. can provide technology useful to Team Rocket and gives Archer the assignment to plan Team Rocket's attack on the company. As he leaves Giovanni's office, he comes across the player, and battles them to keep them from reaching Giovanni. After his defeat, he allows the player to pass. He later appears during Team Rocket's invasion of Silph, where he battles the player and Trace with the assistance of a Grunt. Despite his initial failure to stop the player and Trace, he returns soon after with the intent of wasting as much of their time as he can. Trace decides to battle Archer so that the player may reach Giovanni.

Later, following the disbandment of Team Rocket, Archer can be found in Giovanni's office in the Team Rocket Hideout. He challenges the player to one last battle out of anger for their defeat of Giovanni. Following his defeat, he reveals that he expected the player to show up eventually and drafted a letter to them, in which he congratulates the player for becoming Champion and declares his intent to leave Kanto to found a stronger incarnation of Team Rocket somewhere else before announcing the organization's return. Archer questions himself regarding what he wanted the player to think of him, then tears up the letter and leaves, bidding the player farewell.

Pokémon

Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal

Rocket Executive Goldenrod Radio Tower Gold, Silver, and Crystal Reward: $2520

Types: Dark Fire Held item: None Houndour♂ Lv.33 Faint Attack Dark   --       Ember Fire   --       Bite Dark   --       Roar Normal   --       Type: Poison Unknown Held item: None Koffing♂ Lv.33 Sludge Poison   --       SmokeScreen Normal   --       Tackle Normal   --       Haze Ice   --       Types: Dark Fire Held item: None Houndoom♂ Lv.35 Faint Attack Dark   --       Ember Fire   --       Bite Dark   --       Smog Poison   --

Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen

Team Rocket Admin Rocket Warehouse FireRed and LeafGreen Reward: $1760

Types: Poison Flying Ability: Inner Focus Held item: None Golbat♂ Lv.53 Shadow Ball Ghost   --       Sludge Bomb Poison   --       Confuse Ray Ghost   --       Air Cutter Flying   --       Type: Poison Unknown Ability: Levitate Held item: None Weezing♂ Lv.54 Thunderbolt Electric   --       Shadow Ball Ghost   --       Explosion Normal   --       Sludge Bomb Poison   --       Types: Dark Fire Ability: Early Bird Held item: None Houndoom♂ Lv.55 Flamethrower Fire   --       Crunch Dark   --       Shadow Ball Ghost   --       Iron Tail Steel   --

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

Executive Archer Goldenrod Radio Tower HeartGold and SoulSilver Reward: $3040

Types: Dark Fire Ability: Early Bird Held item: None Houndour♂ Lv.35 Faint Attack Dark Physical   --       Fire Fang Fire Physical   --       Bite Dark Physical   --       Roar Normal Status   --       Type: Poison Unknown Ability: Levitate Held item: None Koffing♂ Lv.35 Sludge Poison Special   --       SmokeScreen Normal Status   --       Tackle Normal Physical   --       Haze Ice Status   --       Types: Dark Fire Ability: Early Bird Held item: None Houndoom♂ Lv.38 Faint Attack Dark Physical   --       Fire Fang Fire Physical   --       Bite Dark Physical   --       Smog Poison Special   --

Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!

First battle

Team Rocket Admin Archer Team Rocket Hideout Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! Reward: $3,300
Type: Poison Unknown Mega Stone: None Weezing♂ Lv.33 Sludge Bomb Poison Special   --       Flamethrower Fire Special   --       Dark Pulse Dark Special   --       Curse Unknown Status   --       Types: Poison Flying Mega Stone: None Golbat♂ Lv.33 Air Slash Flying Special   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --       Curse Unknown Status   --       Curse Unknown Status   --

Second battle

Archer battles the player and Trace alongside a Team Rocket Grunt during the attack on Silph Co.

Team Rocket Admin and Team Rocket Archer Grunt Silph Co. Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! Reward: $4,652

Type: Electric Unknown Mega Stone: None Electrode Lv.37 Self-Destruct Normal Physical   --       Thunderbolt Electric Special   --       Swift Normal Special   --       Curse Unknown Status   --       Types: Poison Flying Mega Stone: None Golbat♂ Lv.37 Air Slash Flying Special   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --       Curse Unknown Status   --       Curse Unknown Status   --       Type: Poison Unknown Mega Stone: None Weezing♂ Lv.37 Sludge Bomb Poison Special   --       Flamethrower Fire Special   --       Dark Pulse Dark Special   --       Protect Normal Status   --       Type: Poison Unknown Mega Stone: None Muk♀ Lv.34 Toxic Poison Status   --       Screech Normal Status   --       Minimize Normal Status   --       Protect Normal Status   --       Type: Normal Unknown Mega Stone: None Raticate♀ Lv.34 Sucker Punch Dark Physical   --       Quick Attack Normal Physical   --       Curse Unknown Status   --       Curse Unknown Status   --

Third battle

Pokémon Trainer Archer Team Rocket Hideout Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! Reward: $5,400

Type: Electric Unknown Mega Stone: None Electrode Lv.54 Thunder Electric Special   --       Foul Play Dark Physical   --       Explosion Normal Physical   --       Reflect Psychic Status   --       Types: Poison Flying Mega Stone: None Golbat♂ Lv.54 Air Slash Flying Special   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --       Sludge Bomb Poison Special   --       U-turn Bug Physical   --       Type: Fire Unknown Mega Stone: None Magmar♂ Lv.54 Fire Punch Fire Physical   --       Thunder Punch Electric Physical   --       Clear Smog Poison Special   --       Brick Break Fighting Physical   --       Type: Poison Unknown Mega Stone: None Weezing♂ Lv.54 Dark Pulse Dark Special   --       Flamethrower Fire Special   --       Sludge Bomb Poison Special   --       Shadow Ball Ghost Special   --

In the side series games

Archer also appears in Pokémon Stadium 2. He is the final member of a group of Team Rocket members who bar the player's progress to the Mahogany Gym after they've defeated Jasmine. In Round 1, his team has no clear theme, but in Round 2, most of his Pokémon know Swagger. He also appears in the Challenge Cup during Round 2, taking part in the Poké Ball and Ultra Ball divisions of the tournament.

Pokémon

Pokémon Stadium 2

Round 1

Rocket Executive Johto Gym Leader Castle Stadium 2

Types: Dark Fire Held item: Scope Lens DOOMAP♂ Lv.50-100 Sunny Day Fire   --       SolarBeam Grass   --       Crunch Dark   --       Flamethrower Fire   --       Types: Poison Flying Held item: Burnt Berry GOLBAP♂ Lv.50-100 Giga Drain Grass   --       Confuse Ray Ghost   --       Wing Attack Flying   --       Bite Dark   --       Type: Normal Unknown Held item: PSNCureBerry PERSIAP♂ Lv.50-100 Slash Normal   --       Thunder Electric   --       Faint Attack Dark   --       Iron Tail Steel   --       Type: Ghost Unknown Held item: Mint Berry MISDREAVAP♀ Lv.50-100 Curse ???   --       Shadow Ball Ghost   --       Psychic Psychic   --       Pain Split Normal   --       Types: Grass Poison Held item: PRZCureBerry VICTREAP♂ Lv.50-100 Sunny Day Fire   --       SolarBeam Grass   --       Razor Leaf Grass   --       Sludge Bomb Poison   --       Type: Psychic Unknown Held item: Bitter Berry WOBBUFFAP♀ Lv.50-100 Counter Fighting   --       Mirror Coat Psychic   --       Safeguard Normal   --       Destiny Bond Ghost   --

Round 2

Rocket Executive Johto Gym Leader Castle Stadium 2

Types: Dark Fire Held item: MiracleBerry DOOAP♀ Lv.50-100 Fire Blast Fire   --       Sunny Day Fire   --       Crunch Dark   --       SolarBeam Grass   --       Type: Water Unknown Held item: Scope Lens TILLERAP♀ Lv.50-100 Surf Water   --       Swagger Normal   --       Psybeam Psychic   --       Screech Normal   --       Type: Psychic Unknown Held item: Focus Band BUFFAP♀ Lv.50-100 Counter Fighting   --       Safeguard Normal   --       Mirror Coat Psychic   --       Destiny Bond Ghost   --       Type: Psychic Unknown Held item: PRZCureBerry HYPNAP♂ Lv.50-100 Psychic Psychic   --       Shadow Ball Ghost   --       ThunderPunch Electric   --       Swagger Normal   --       Types: Bug Grass Held item: BrightPowder SECTAP♂ Lv.50-100 Sludge Bomb Poison   --       Swagger Normal   --       Giga Drain Grass   --       Stun Spore Grass   --       Types: Rock Dark Held item: Quick Claw TYRANAP♂ Lv.50-100 Rock Slide Rock   --       Swagger Normal   --       Earthquake Ground   --       Screech Normal   --

In the spin-off games

Pokémon Masters EX

Main article: Archer (Masters)

Archer forms a sync pair with Houndoom in Pokémon Masters EX. Archer became a playable sync pair on September 6, 2023.

Archer first appeared as an NPC during the Johto chapter of the Villain Arc. He also made notable appearances later in the Villain Arc.

Dex	Trainer		NDex	Pokémon		Type	Weakness	Role	EX role	Base potential	Availability
#177		Archer	#0229		Houndoom♂	Dark	Fighting			★★★★★☆EX	Variety Sync Pair Scout

Gallery

Sprites and models

In the core series

This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Missing overworld model from LGPE; need higher quality image from LGPE

Sprite from Generation II	Sprite from FireRed and LeafGreen	Sprite from HeartGold and SoulSilver	VS sprite from HeartGold and SoulSilver	VS model from Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!
Overworld sprite from Generation II	Overworld sprite from FireRed and LeafGreen	Overworld sprite from HeartGold and SoulSilver

In other games

Portrait from Stadium 2

Quotes

Main article: Archer/Quotes

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Carl in Pokémon Adventures

Archer in Pokémon Adventures

Main article: Carl

Archer's first counterpart was based on his Generation II design and named Carl. Although Proton and Petrel use the same design in Generation II, Carl owns three Houndoom which is the signature Pokémon of Archer. He appeared in the Gold, Silver & Crystal arc.

After the creation of Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, a second counterpart with Archer's new official name and design appears alongside the other three Executives as their leader. He, along with his teammates, take control of Team Rocket from Carr, saying that they will stay true to Giovanni's intentions.

While the other three have their tasks related to the Mythical Pokémon Arceus, Archer's task is the capture of the Pokémon itself. Archer, Petrel, and Proton arrive to see Ariana having defeated Crystal on Route 38. Suddenly, Arceus appears in front of them, and Crystal attempts to capture it, shocking the Executives in the process. Despite her tenacity, Crystal ultimately fails in capturing the Pokémon and is sent flying into a tree.

The Executives chase Arceus down and find it battling Gold at the Ruins of Alph. Once Arceus uses its powers and transports them all to the Sinjoh Ruins, the four Executives restrain Arceus and force it onto the Mystri Stage. Archer takes control of Arceus, and uses the Plates to demonstrate its great and varied abilities to Gold, Silver, and Crystal. Archer forces Arceus to use its great powers to create the Legendary Pokémon Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina.

Believing he has pleased his boss, Giovanni, Archer starts breaking down into tears. However, his joy is quickly destroyed when Silver flies off to distract the Executives while Gold and Crystal finish off the three Pokémon Arceus created. Having done so, Arceus, now freed from its restraints, uses its powers to send Archer and the other Executives flying and completes itself by absorbing the Plates. Much to the shock of Gold, Silver, and Crystal, the clones begin reforming, to which Archer reveals that because the creation process started, it cannot be stopped. Archer snaps, and begins claiming that everything is destined; the creation of Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina, Arceus completing itself, the world becoming Team Rocket's, all destined. His insanity begins to scare his teammates.

When Giovanni returns, Archer is delighted to see that his plans worked and the person he considers the true boss of Team Rocket has returned. However, Archer becomes shocked when Giovanni starts to attack the Pokémon that he worked so hard to create. Archer begs for Giovanni to stop, but Giovanni brushes him off. Outraged, Archer declares that Giovanni is not the man who he thought he was, and decides to capture Arceus and rule Team Rocket himself. Having lost his mind, Archer runs towards the stage to capture Arceus, only to be easily kicked away. He lands on Petrel and is knocked unconscious. After the battle had ended, Giovanni has Archer carried away and states that he will be given punishment later on.

Pokémon

On hand

Crobat

Debut	All About Arceus III

Crobat is Archer's main mode of transportation. It was seen carrying Archer towards the light being emitted by Arceus along with the other Executives. Later, it helped drag Arceus to the Mystri Stage.

None of Crobat's moves are known.

Houndoom

Debut	All About Arceus III

Houndoom was first seen being used to drag Arceus to the Mystri Stage. Later, it was seen nearly choking Petrel to death with its powerful tail when Petrel revealed what happened to him after his loss to Silver.

None of Houndoom's moves are known.

Controlled

Arceus

Debut	Out-Odding Oddish

Main article: Arceus (Adventures)

Archer used Arceus's powers to change its type with the Plates and had it create the Legendary Pokémon Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina. Although he believed that he was the one who caused the events to happen, Arceus did it all on its own as a test to see if humanity was worth saving, if they could come together to stop the three Pokémon it created. While Giovanni, Pryce, Lance, Silver, and Crystal faced the others, Gold stayed behind to calm Arceus's rage. After connecting with his Togebo, he managed to reach Arceus, proving to it that humanity was worth saving. Afterward, Arceus left to parts unknown.

Dialga

Debut	Creeping Away from Cradily

Main article: Pokémon of Myth (Adventures)

Archer created this Dialga after dragging Arceus to the Mystri Stage. Although it was seemingly destroyed by a combination of Frenzy Plant, Blast Burn, and Hydro Cannon, it quickly reformed itself. After arriving to help, Pryce fought Dialga and demonstrated an immunity to its ability to manipulate the flow of time. After the battle had ended, Dialga flew off, where it would eventually serve its role in the Diamond & Pearl and Platinum arcs.

Palkia

Debut	Creeping Away from Cradily

Main article: Pokémon of Myth (Adventures)

Archer created this Palkia after dragging Arceus to the Mystri Stage. Although it was seemingly destroyed by a combination of Frenzy Plant, Blast Burn, and Hydro Cannon, it quickly reformed itself. After arriving to help, Lance fought Palkia and exploited his Dragonite's ability to change the direction of its Hyper Beam to hit Palkia even after it sent the move to another area. After the battle had ended, Palkia flew off, where it would eventually serve its role in the Diamond & Pearl and Platinum arcs.

Giratina

Debut	Double Trouble with Dialga and Palkia VI

Main article: Pokémon of Myth (Adventures)

Archer created this Giratina after dragging Arceus to the Mystri Stage. Although it was seemingly destroyed by a combination of Frenzy Plant, Blast Burn, and Hydro Cannon, it quickly reformed itself. After arriving to help, Giovanni fought Giratina, much to Archer's horror. When Giovanni's disease prevented him from continuing the battle, Silver stepped in to defend his father from the attacking Renegade Pokémon. After the battle had ended, Giratina was forced back into the Distortion World by Dialga and Palkia, where it would eventually serve its role in the Diamond & Pearl and Platinum arcs.

Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure

Archer in Jō's Big Adventure

When Jō and Tsubaki were battling Team Rocket, Archer was spying on them via camera. After noticing that the grunts lost to the two Trainers, he takes action in his own hands by sending out Houndoom. However, Houndoom was not able to defeat them, which made Archer upset.

Pokémon

Houndoom

Debut	Jō VS Team Rocket

Houndoom was sent out by Archer after the grunts lost to Jō and Tsubaki. However, it was quickly defeated by Totodile.

None of Houndoom's moves are known.

Trivia

• Archer's design in Generation IV is based upon the original sprite of all male Rocket Executives from Generation II. The other male Executives (now known as Proton and Petrel) were given entirely new designs. Similarly, Ariana's design is based on the original female Executive sprite, being the only female Executive in Johto.
• Before Archer's name and identity were revealed in Generation IV, Pokémon Adventures and Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys had adapted the original male Executive as Carl and Grey, respectively. Having similar roles to Archer and owning a Houndour, they should be considered as his cross-canon counterpart.
• Considering Saturn is left with the assets of Team Galactic in Cyrus's absence, Archer could be seen as his parallel, as he controls Team Rocket in Giovanni's absence.
• In Pokémon Stadium 2, despite not being a Gym Leader, Archer uses the Johto Gym Leader theme when he's battled.

Names

Language	Name	Origin
Japanese	アポロ Apollo	From the Apollo program, the US spaceflight program named after the Greek sun god Apollo
English, Italian	Archer	Possibly from AA-11 Archer (NATO reporting name for the Soviet air-to-air missile R-73) or an allusion to Apollo being the Greek god of archery
German, Spanish	Atlas	From Atlas, a family of US space launch vehicles
French	Amos	From Amos, a series of Israeli communications satellites
Korean	아폴로 Apollo	From his Japanese name
Chinese (Mandarin)	阿波羅 / 阿波罗 Ābōluó	From his Japanese name
Chinese (Cantonese)	阿波羅 Abōlòh	From his Japanese name
Vietnamese	Apollo	Transcription of his Japanese name

Related articles

• Images on the Bulbagarden Archives

Team Rocket in Pokémon Adventures Boss: Giovanni • Masked Man (formerly) Executives: Carl • Sham • Archer • Ariana • Petrel • Proton Notable members: Ken, Al, and Harry • Carr • Orm Lower members: Team Rocket Grunts Former members: Koga • Sabrina • Lt. Surge • Blaine Will • Karen • Sird Locations: Rocket Game Corner • Team Rocket Hideout Silph Co. • Viridian Gym • Team Rocket HQ Rocket Warehouse • Trainer Tower • Cliff Cave Related: Neo Team Rocket • Team Rocket airship See also: Games • Pokémon the Series

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.