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Roughneck (Trainer class)

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Roughneck
スキンヘッズ Skinheads
VSRoughneck BDSP.png
VS model from Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
Other names Cue Ball (Generations I and III)
Cueball (Stadium)
Introduced in Generation I
Appears in Red, Blue, and Yellow
FireRed and LeafGreen
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold, and SoulSilver
Black, White, Black 2, and White 2
Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!
Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
Stadium
Gender Male
Counterpart {{{counterpart}}}
Notable members Nicky
Anime debut Rocking the Virbank Gym! Part 1 (Series)
TCG debut [[(TCG)|]]
TCG card {{{card}}}
Manga debut Bombastic Bibarel & Heroic Hippopotas (Adventures)

A Roughneck (Japanese: スキンヘッズ Skinheads), known as a Cue Ball until Generation IV, is a type of Pokémon Trainer introduced in Generation I. They appear as bald men wearing leather jackets. Roughnecks can be commonly found in the vicinity of Bikers and, in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, Punk Guys. In Sinnoh, they have a Gyarados on the back of their vest; in Unova, they have a Krookodile. Cue Ball may be referring to their bald heads, which can resemble white billiards balls.

They are sometimes depicted as being affiliated with Team Rocket.

When paired with Bikers in Double Battles, they are called Hooligans.

They specialize in Fighting-type Pokémon in Generations I and III, and in Dark-type in Generation V. In the Battle Subway, they specialize in Pokémon with one-hit knockout moves and, in the early stages, Dark- and Fighting-type Pokémon.

In Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, Roughnecks award three Poké Balls along with prize money upon being defeated.

Gallery

Sprites and models

In the core series

050Diglett.png This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Missing overworld models from LGPE; need higher quality images from LGPE
Spr RG Cue Ball.png Spr Y Cue Ball.png Spr FRLG Cue Ball.png Spr DP Roughneck.png Spr BW Roughneck.png Spr B2W2 Roughneck.png VSRoughneck PE.png VSRoughneck BDSP.png
Cue Ball sprite from
Red and Blue 		Cue Ball sprite from
Yellow 		Cue Ball sprite from
FireRed and LeafGreen 		Sprite from
Generation IV 		Sprite from
Black and White 		Sprite from
Black 2 and
White 2 		VS model from
Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! 		VS model from
Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
Biker I OD.pngSwimmer I OD.png Biker III OD.png Roughneck IV OD.png Roughneck OD.png Roughneck V OD Drums.png Roughneck BDSP OD.png
Cue Ball overworld sprites from
Generation I 		Cue Ball overworld sprite from
Generation III 		Overworld sprite from
Generation IV 		Overworld sprite from
Generation V 		Overworld sprite playing the drums from
Black 2 and
White 2 		Overworld model from
Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

In other games

SJP Cueball.png
Cueball portrait from
Stadium

Trainer list

Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow


Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen


Pokémon Diamond and Pearl


See more: List of Battle Tower Trainers in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl/Roughneck

Pokémon Platinum


See more: List of Battle Frontier Trainers in Generation IV/Roughneck

Pokémon Black and White


See more: List of Battle Subway Trainers/Roughneck

Pokémon Black 2 and White 2


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


Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl


Pokémon Stadium


In the anime

Roughneck Nicky in the anime

A Roughneck by the name of Nicky appeared in Rocking the Virbank Gym! Part 1 and Part 2. He is the drummer in Roxie's rock band "Koffing and the Toxics".

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Two Roughnecks in Pokémon Adventures
Roughneck Nicky in Unova

History

HeartGold & SoulSilver arc

A Roughneck appears seen amongst the people at the Johto Safari Zone in Weavile Wobbles But It Won't Fall Down.

Diamond & Pearl arc

In Bombastic Bibarel & Heroic Hippopotas, a Roughneck appeared at the Seven Stars Restaurant.

In Vexing Vespiquen & Unmanageable Mothim I, Diamond and Riley encountered two Roughnecks hired by Team Galactic to disrupt their progressing. The Roughnecks took Riolu's Egg as a hostage but were eventually outsmarted by Diamond.

Platinum arc

A Roughneck was seen in Deprogramming Porygon-Z, entering the Battle Frontier after Palmer had his assistants open the gates.

Another Roughneck appeared in Clobbering Claydol, wandering around the Battle Frontier.

Black 2 & White 2 arc

Roughneck Nicky appeared briefly at the Virbank Gym in New Sword Player.

Pokémon

Vespiquen ♀
Roughneck's Vespiquen

One of the Roughnecks sent out Vespiquen to blind Riley and his Lucario. She was a formidable foe as she used her grubs as her weapons to attack and defend. Vespiquen was taken out by a single leaf coming from Tru's Razor Leaf.

Vespiquen's known moves are Attack Order, Power Gem, Defend Order, and Heal Order* and her Ability is Pressure.

Mothim ♂
Roughneck's Mothim

The other Roughneck sent out Mothim to block off the aura coming from Riley's Lucario. The out-of-control grubs managed to defeat Mothim.

Mothim's only known move is Air Slash and his Ability is Swarm.

Koffing
Roughneck's Koffing

Koffing was briefly seen with its Trainer at the Battle Frontier.

None of Koffing's moves are known.

Ursaring
Roughneck's Ursaring

Ursaring briefly appeared with its Trainer during the time Looker flew on his jetpack to search for Platinum.

None of Ursaring's moves are known.

Porygon2
Roughneck's Porygon2

Porygon2 was seen entering the Safari Zone with its Trainer.

None of Porygon2's moves are known.

Trivia

  • In Generation I, a Cue Ball can be found swimming in Route 21. He does not appear in future generations other than Generation VII, in which he does not swim.
  • In Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum and Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, Roughneck Kirby in the Lost Tower uses only one Pokémon; a Cleffa. This is highly contradictory to the established archetype for this Trainer class, as well as his name that fans consider to go along with his Pokémon.
    • However, he does mention that he is in the Lost Tower because his Pokémon died at the hands of Team Galactic, and Cleffa is the only one he has left.
    • Also, in Pokémon Platinum, one of the Roughnecks that can be fought in the Battle Frontier expresses a dislike towards having Pokémon fight each other.
  • The Japanese name of this Trainer class refers to the Skinhead subculture, which is now often associated with racist and Neo-Nazi beliefs. This is likely why the name was changed for international releases.
  • The Cue Balls in Generation I and III use the Bikers' overworld sprite, which, contrarily to the name of the trainer class, depicts them with hair.

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 光頭男 Gwōngtàuh Nàahm
Mandarin 光頭男 / 光头男 Guāngtóu Nán
France Flag.png French Loubard
Germany Flag.png German Raufbold (IV+)
Glatzkopf (I, III)
Italy Flag.png Italian Zuccapelata
South Korea Flag.png Korean 빡빡이 Ppakppak-i
Spain Flag.png Spanish Calvo
Trainer classes in the Pokémon core series
Kanto Ace Trainer* • Beauty • Biker • Bird Keeper • Black Belt* • Bug Catcher • Burglar • Camper* • ChampionGSCFRLGHGSSPE
Channeler • Elite FourGSCFRLGHGSSPE • Engineer • Fisherman • Gamer* • Gentleman • Gym Leader*GSCFRLGHGSSPE
Hiker • Juggler • Lass • Picnicker* • Poké Maniac* • Pokémon Trainer*GSCPE • Psychic • RivalFRLG • Rocker • Roughneck*
Sailor • Scientist • Super Nerd • Swimmer • Tamer • Team Rocket Boss*FRLGHGSSPE • Team Rocket Grunt* • Youngster
BoarderHGSS • Double TeamHGSS • FirebreatherGSCHGSS • GuitaristGSCHGSS • MediumGSCHGSS
PokéfanGSCHGSS • School Kid*GSCHGSS • SkierHGSS • TeacherGSCHGSS • TwinsGSCFRLGHGSS
Cool CoupleFRLG • Crush KinFRLG • Sis and BroFRLG • Young CoupleFRLGHGSS
Coach TrainerPE • Karate MasterPE • Punk GuyPE • Team RocketPE • Team Rocket AdminPE
Master TrainersPE
Unused Trainer class:
ChiefRGBY
Sevii Islands Aroma Lady • Biker • Bird Keeper • Black Belt • Bug Catcher • Camper • Cool Couple • Cooltrainer • Crush Girl
Crush Kin • Cue Ball • Fisherman • Gentleman • Hiker • Juggler • Lady • Lass • Painter • Picnicker • PokéManiac
PKMN Breeder • PKMN Ranger • Psychic • Ruin Maniac • Scientist • Sis and Bro • Swimmer • Tamer
Team Rocket Admin • Team Rocket Grunt • Twins • Tuber • Young Couple • Youngster
Trainer Tower only:
Beauty • Burglar • Engineer • Rocker • Sailor • Super Nerd
Johto Ace Trainer* • Beauty • Biker • Bird Keeper • Black Belt* • Boarder • Bug Catcher • Burglar • Camper
Champion • Executive* • Firebreather • Fisherman* • Gentleman • Guitarist • Hiker • Juggler • Kimono Girl • Lass
Leader • Medium • Picnicker • Pokéfan • Poké Maniac* • PKMN Trainer • Policeman* • Psychic • RivalHGSS • Sage
Sailor • School Kid* • Scientist • Skier • Super Nerd • Swimmer • Teacher • Team Rocket Grunt* • Twins • Youngster
Mystery Man*CHGSS • Double TeamHGSS • ElderHGSS • PasserbyHGSS • Young CoupleHGSS
Battle Frontier only:HGSS

Aroma Lady • Artist • Battle Girl • Cameraman • Clown • Collector • Cowgirl • Cyclist • Dragon Tamer • Idol
Jogger • Lady • Ninja Boy • Parasol Lady • PI • Poké Kid • PKMN Breeder • PKMN Ranger • Rancher • Reporter
Rich Boy • Roughneck • Ruin Maniac • Socialite • Tuber • Veteran • Waiter • Waitress • Worker
Arcade Star • Castle Valet • Factory Head • Hall Matron • Tower Tycoon

Sinnoh Ace Trainer • Aroma Lady • Artist • Battle Girl • Beauty • Bird Keeper • Black Belt • Bug Catcher • Cameraman • Camper • Champion
Clown • Collector • Commander • Cowgirl • Cyclist • Double Team • Dragon Tamer • Elite Four • Fisher* • Gentleman • Guitarist
Gym Leader* • Hiker • Idol • Interviewers • Jogger • Lady • Lass • Madame* • Ninja Boy • Parasol Lady • Picnicker • PI • Poké Fan*
Poké Kid • Pokémon Breeder* • Pokémon Ranger* • Pokémon Trainer* • Police Officer* • Psychic • Rancher • Ranchers*
Reporter • Rich Boy • Roughneck • Ruin Maniac • Sailor • School Kid • Scientist • Skier • Swimmer • Team Galactic Boss*
Team Galactic Grunt* • Tower Tycoon • Tuber • Twins • Veteran • Waiter • Waitress • Worker • Young Couple • Youngster
Arcade StarPt • Castle ValetPt • Factory HeadPt • Hall MatronPt • MaidPt • GAME FREAK'sBDSP
Unova Ace Trainer • Artist • Backers • Backpacker • Baker • Battle Girl • Biker • Black Belt • Champion • Clerk
Cyclist • Dancer • Depot Agent • Doctor • Elite Four • Fisherman • GAME FREAK • Gentleman • Gym Leader*
Harlequin • Hiker • Hooligans • Hoopster • Infielder • Janitor • Lady • Lass • Linebacker • Maid • Motorcyclist • Musician
Nurse • Nursery Aide • Parasol Lady • Pilot • Pokéfan • PKMN Breeder • PKMN Ranger • Pokémon Trainer* • Policeman
Preschooler • Psychic • Rich Boy • Roughneck • School Kid • Scientist • Smasher • Socialite • Striker • Subway Boss
Swimmer • Team Plasma • Team Plasma Grunt • The RichesBW • Twins • Veteran • Waiter • Waitress • Worker • Youngster
BeautyB2W2 • Boss TrainerB2W2 • GuitaristB2W2
Pokéstar Studios only:B2W2
A-list Actor • Actor • Actress • Big Star • Celebrity • Chic Actress • Child Star • Comedian
Fine Actor • Movie Star • New Actress • Star Actor • Suit Actor • Unique Star • Veteran Star
Pokémon World Tournament only:B2W2
Junior Representative • Master Representative • Senior Representative
World Champion • World Finalist • World Runner-up
Blueberry Academy only:SV
BB League Champion • BB League Elite Four • Blueberry Academy Director
Director • Instructor • League Club • Student • Top Champion


Project CharacterDex logo.png This Trainer Class 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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