Every Pokémon Rival Ranked From Lamest To Coolest

Every Pokémon Rival, Ranked From Lamest To Coolest

Contents

1 Every Pokémon Rival, Ranked From Lamest To Coolest

Every Pokémon game has at least one rival to make things difficult for the player, and while some are complete pushovers, others are real challenges.

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Every main series Pokémon game has at least one rival. Starting with the now infamous Blue in Pokémon Red & Blue, the rival has been a mainstay in every subsequent entry to the venerable franchise, following the player’s every move and challenging them along the way.

Although rivals started as antagonistic figures, they eventually evolved into friendlier characters and even guides throughout the game. However, they can still give players some trouble, especially if underestimated. Every rival in the franchise is memorable in some way, but only a few are genuinely challenging, earning their reputation as some of the best opponents in Nintendo history.

16 Tierno, Shauna, & Trevor – Pokémon X & Y

Pokémon X & Y introduced a whopping four rivals, all equally awful. However, Tierno, Shauna, and Trevor get extra points for being so forgettable.

They hardly appear throughout the game, and the player seldomly gets to battle them. None are particularly challenging, and while Shauna is occasionally helpful, Tierno and Trevor are unnecessary.

15 Trace – Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu & Let’s Go Eevee

Trace is the sole rival in Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu & Let’s Go Eevee. He is the equivalent of Blue but has none of his panache or talent as a Trainer.

The game doesn’t reveal much about him and there are several things that fans don’t know about Trace. He’s harmless and poses no challenge as a rival. In fact, he doesn’t even offer help or encouragement, making him mostly a nuisance.

14 Bianca & Cheren – Pokémon Black & White

The Generation V games are two of the most daring entries in the franchise. However, they dropped the ball in the rival department by giving fans the duo of Bianca and Cheren.

These two are the very definition of vanilla. They are more enthusiastic than talented and lack any actual skills as Trainers. Besides, there’s another rival in the games that overshadows them in every way.

13 Serena/Calem – Pokémon X & Y

Unlike the other three rivals in X & Y, Serena and Calem take Pokémon battling seriously. They also actively try to defeat the player and give it their all during battle.

However, the games’ insistence on making things easier for the player basically nerfs them. Still, Serena and Calem get some redemption by trying to be worthy rivals, even if they can’t take it all the way.

12 Marnie – Pokémon Sword & Shield

Marnie is the first rival to be an actual superstar in the region. She even has her own fan club, Team Yell. She’s a Dark-type specialist and has some of the most unique Pokémon in Sword & Shield.

However, the absurd amount of powerful Fairy-types in Galar puts Marnie’s team at a severe disadvantage. Indeed, a player with a well-trained Galarian Rapidash can pretty much decimate her entire team with little to no effort.

11 Bede – Pokémon Sword & Shield

Unlike other rivals from recent generations, Bede is openly antagonistic towards the player, acting more like the rivals of yore. He is a Psychic turned Fairy-type specialist who adores pink and always has some snotty comment ready.

Bede’s strongest team member is his mighty Hatterene, which can also Gigantamax. However, he’s far from a challenging opponent, even if he is a pleasant surprise in Sword & Shield.

10 Hugh – Pokémon Black 2 & White 2

Out of all the rivals, Hugh is perhaps the rudest. However, that’s what made him memorable, especially after the vanilla duo of Bianca and Cheren. Because he only appeared in a pair of games, some fans might not immediately think of him when thinking of Pokémon rivals.

Still, Hugh was a worthy opponent throughout Black 2 & White 2, but his lack of a full team of six until after the Pokémon League is a huge detriment.

9 Gladion – Pokémon Sun & Moon/Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon

Pokémon Sun & Moon had plenty of great characters, but Gladion has a special place. He not only has an entertaining personality but an aura of mystery that keeps the player invested in him throughout the game.

Gladion also has the fantastic Type: Null in his team, along with other heavy-hitters like Zoroark, Crobat, and Lucario. Had he been the sole rival in the games, Gladion’s reputation would be much better.

8 Brendan/May – Pokémon Ruby,Sapphire, & Emerald/ORAS

Brendan and May are the perfect mix of friend and rival. They pose a genuine challenge during the game while still offering encouragement and friendship towards the player.

Their teams are also varied, having Pokémon of different types and coming up with some intriguing strategies. Players don’t battle Brendan and May as often as other rivals in the series, but these two still are highly regarded in the community.

7 Hau – Pokémon Sun & Moon/Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon

Like Brendan and May, Hau is both a friend and a foe. He is overly enthusiastic, to the point of annoyance, but he means well. However, he also proves to be a worthy opponent, and some of his battles can be pretty challenging.

Indeed, Hau’s team includes some of the strongest Pokémon in Sun & Moon, and his championship battle in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon ranks as one of the toughest in the main series games.

6 Silver – Pokémon Gold & Silver/HeartGold & SoulSilver

Silver is arguably the evilest rival. He is pretty vile towards his Pokémon, treating them as tools instead of living beings. He is also a bit of a criminal, committing several petty crimes during the game. He lives up to the “villain” role to the tee, becoming an actual antagonistic figure.

During his final battle in Mt. Moon, he has a particularly troublesome Sneasel and the ever-challenging Gengar and Alakazam, cementing him as one of the best rivals.

5 Wally – Pokémon ORAS

At first sight, Wally might not seem like the most intimidating of rivals. He is shy, sickly, and lacks any experience with Pokémon. However, by the end of the game, he’s almost a different person, gaining strength and confidence because of his bond with his Pokémon.

Wally has something few other rivals have: a proper character arc, and that’s enough to make him one of the best. He also has a Mega Gallade during his battle, which is very impressive in and of itself.

4 Barry – Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, & Platinum/Pokémon BDSP

Perpetually in a hurry and desperate to be the best, Barry is memorable on personality alone. He’s the sole rival in the Generation IV games and fills the role with ease.

His team is a who’s who of Sinnoh superstars, including Staraptor, Floatzel, and Roserade, plus a Snorlax, Rapidash, or Heracross, and his final battle in front of the League is one of the most difficult rival battles in Pokémon. Fans will get to see him again when Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl finally hits the stores in November 2021.

3 N – Pokémon Black & White

Few characters in the franchise are as iconic as N. He is the King of Team Plasma, an intriguing young man with the ability to communicate with Pokémon. He is one of the main reasons why Black & White remains the most daring entries in the franchise. N keeps the mystery alive, leading the player to understand and empathize with him by the end.

He’s also no pushover in the battle department, and his final battle team includes the ever-impressive Archeops and Zoroark, plus a freakin’ Legendary. What more can someone ask from a rival?

2 Blue – Pokémon Red & Green/FireRed & LeafGreen

The one and only Blue is an icon in Pokémon. He is the first rival and the prototype for all the ones that would come later. He made things hard for the player by always being one step ahead of them.

Blue got to every Gym first and won the badges before the player. He even becomes one of the absolute best Pokémon Champions, even if he holds the title for only a few minutes. His team is la creme de la creme when speaking of Kantonian Pokémon, cementing his place as a legend in the franchise.

1 Hop – Pokémon Sword & Shield

For all their strengths, rivals are often one-dimensional characters. The ones that get some development: Wally, Barry, N, and Blue, remain somewhat limited by the nature of their role in the story. However, against all odds, Hop becomes a singularity in the franchise, a fully-fledged character with his own story arc separate from the player’s.

Unlike other rivals, Hop is dynamic in his strategy, unafraid to switch Pokémon and try new approaches in battle. He never wins, and his heartbreak only inspires him to try harder. By the end, he understands he must forge a path of his own instead of trying to follow Leon’s. Hop is the only rival with a detailed character arc — Wally’s happens off-screen, for example — and that’s enough to make him the absolute best rival in the franchise.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/best-pokemon-rivals-ranked-from-lamest-coolest/

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