Rival
- For the Elite Four Champion in Pokémon Stadium, see Blue (game)
In the games
A Rival (Japanese: ライバル Rival) is a type of Pokémon trainer that first debuted in the Generation I games. It specifically refers to Blue and Silver. However, there are Pokémon trainers who may not be formally described as rivals, but have characteristics reminiscent of those of Blue and Silver. These trainers are the following: Brendan or May, depending on the player's gender, as well as Wally in Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald; Lucas or Dawn, also depending on the player's choice of gender, joined by Pearl in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.
Typically, rivals will meet the player at various points in the game with progressively stronger Pokémon. They usually must be battled and defeated in order to continue the game. More often than not, they will have the starter Pokémon that weakens the one the player chose at the beginning of the game; the exceptions are Wally, who instead uses Ralts as his starter, and either Lucas or Dawn, of whom one uses the starter Pokémon that is actually weak to the player's choice.
They use a variety of Pokémon for the the remainder of their teams.
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In the anime
Various rivals for the main characters have also appeared in the anime.
- Ash Ketchum has had both Gary Oak and Paul.