Pokémon games have always been enthralling and sucked players into their fantastical, beautiful worlds. One of the most important elements of their stories is the rival, the character who pushes the player on, challenges them, and forces the player to become the absolute best trainer they can.
Through the course of the many Pokémon games, players have seen many different types of rivals. Everything from friends, to villains, to criminals have faced off against the incipient Pokémon masters. But what makes a good rival? The best rivals reflect not just what fans are looking for but their determination and character help define their games.
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Calem And Serena Were Fun But Flat
Calem and Serena were interchangeable rivals in Pokémon X & Pokémon Y. Depending on the gender of the player character, Calem or Serena entered their story. They were friendly rivals with the protagonist and helped teach them to catch Pokémon and battle.
However, Calem and Serena didn't play a large role in the story. They weren't bad rivals, but they weren't anything special either. They were just kind of there, with nothing that really made them stand out. At this point, it felt like rivals were more of a contractual obligation for Pokémon games than an important part of the story.
9 Brendan And May Could've Done More For The Pokémon Gem Stories
Brendan and May, similar to Calem and Serena, were interchangeable rivals from the Hoenn region in Pokémon Ruby, Saphire, and Emerald. They were another pair of friendly rivals and were excellent trainers, reaping the benefits of being Professor Birch's children, one of the most knowledgeable professors in all of Pokémon.
However, just like Calem and Serena, Brendan and May didn't have much of a character arc. They were with the player throughout the journey, but they didn't help to shape it much. They felt less like real characters and more like a habit the game was satisfying.
8 Hugh Grew As A Trainer And A Person
Hugh's entire arc in Pokémon Black 2 & White 2 revolved around his attempts to bring down Team Plasma as revenge for their theft of his sister's Pokémon. His desire to grow stronger in order to help his sister and protect Pokémon is equaled by his hate for Team Plasma. In attempting to grow stronger, he also pushes the player to be stronger as well.
Best of all, Hugh eventually grew out of his anger and forgave the members of Old Team Plasma. In the end, he devotes himself not to revenge but rather to reuniting Pokémon with their trainers. His intense desire to get stronger and help the player through this, as well as his love for Pokémon and his family, make him an engaging rival.
7 Gladion Had A Great Arc
The flip side to Hau in the Pokémon Sun & Moon games, Gladion sort of has the same sort of appeal as Shadow the Hedgehog. He's dark, edgy, and driven by a desire for both justice and revenge. Initially appearing to be a villain working for Team Skull, Gladion was eventually revealed to only be working with Team Skull in order to stop his mother from working on dangerous research that could destroy the entire region.
This twist adds to the appeal of Gladion's revenge arc, and his growth from an antagonist into someone willing to work with the player for the good of all people and Pokémon in the Alolan islands is inspiring. He's a great trainer, a great rival, and a determined friend of Pokémon.
6 Hop Is Burning With Personality
One of the main rivals of the Britain-inspired Galar region, Pokémon Sword & Shield's Hop has since become a fan-favorite. He started out working under quite a bit of pressure, eager to live up to his brother's example, the champion of the Galar League. What makes him so inspiring, however, is how he faces defeat. When losing to both the player and other rivals, Hop initially feels that he is not only losing his own dream but letting his brother down.
However, Hop eventually comes to realize that someone's goals and destiny are often not the same things. Realizing that his desire to help others is stronger than his desire to be a Pokémon master, he resolves to become a Pokémon professor. Hop might not be the best trainer among the rivals but he is definitely the most inspiring and likely left the greatest impact on the people he met.
5 Hau Grew Passionate And Serious But Never Lost His Love For Pokémon
The rival for the Pokémon Sun & Moon franchise, Hau really provides players the best of both worlds. He has a great character arc where he grows as both a person and a trainer, but at the same time, he retains the core personality that makes him so likable.
While Hau grew more mature over the course of the games, he never lost his burning enthusiasm and love of Pokémon that made him endearing in the early game. On top of that, Hau achieved what no other rival since the original has, and served as the game's final battle for the title of Pokémon Champion. To accomplish so much while still retaining his enthusiasm and his passion for Pokémon is what makes Hau so loveable.
4 Silver Is A Great Villain As Well As A Ruthless Rival
The Johto region is a fan-favorite not only for its Pokémon and its story but also for its rival. Taking the rival concept from a simple antagonist to an ideological opponent. The rival for five different games, Silver is the exact opposite of the player character, a criminal who views Pokémon as a means to an end and doesn't care for them the same way other rivals do.
In spite of all that, Silver is still an exceptional trainer. The battles against him are hard-fought and add to the tension in the rivalry. His skills as a trainer combined with his amoral attitude are a huge part of what makes him such a great rival.
3 Barry Is Brimming With Energy And Joy
It's really hard not to love Pokémon Diamond's Barry. While his bombastic, hyperactive personality annoyed some players, it's actually a pretty accurate rendition of an adventurous ten-year-old. I mean, who wouldn't be bouncing off the walls if they were able to drop school and spend their life catching Pokémon at age ten?
However, far from just being a fun, bubbly friend, Barry was also a great trainer. Battling him was fun, and so was the fact he played a positive role in the story. He wasn't an obstacle, and he wasn't demeaning, but his bottomless optimism always encouraged the player to keep moving forward.
2 The Original Rival, Gary Oak Has Stood The Test Of Time
The original rival is still one of Pokémon's best, and it's not hard to see why. Gary was the perfect antagonist for Pokémon: I Choose You! Simply put, Gary is a bit of a bully, but in a weird way, it's relatable almost endearing. He's rude and mean-spirited, yes, but he clearly cares for his Pokémon and doesn't want to hurt them or the player. Like the hero, he wants to prove he's the best.
Gary was a great trainer, and one of the best parts of the rivalry was that he was always one step ahead. Even after players beat the Elite Four, it turned out Garu had already unseated the Pokémon champion. The fact that the final battle the game had been leading up to was with your main rival, the one who fought in your very first Pokémon battle, makes for a great story and character arc.
1 N Is A Shockingly Complex And Well-Written Rival
Similar to Silver, Pokémon Black's N is not just an antagonist but is ideologically opposed to the player character. Raised around abused Pokémon, N was lied to by Team Plasma and manipulated into helping them "free" all Pokémon from their "evil" trainers.
Everyone loves a good anti-hero, and N is one of the best in Pokémon history. He's smart, he's a good trainer, he cares deeply for Pokémon, and his fantastic character arc plays a huge role in the story. Simply put, N is the best rival in all of Pokémon.