Iris
アイリス Iris
"The Girl Who Knows the Hearts of Dragons"
Black 2 White 2 Iris.png
Artwork from Black 2 and White 2 by Yusuke Ohmura[1]
Age Unknown
Gender Female
Eye color Maroon
Hair color Violet
Hometown Village of Dragons (Blackthorn City in Pokémon Adventures)
Region Unova (originally Johto in Pokémon Adventures)
Trainer class Gym LeaderW
ChampionB2W2
Generation V, VII, VIII, IX
Counterpart(s) Iris (Masters)
Games Black and White, Black 2 and White 2
Masters EX
English voice actor Unknown (Masters EX)
Japanese voice actor Ayana Taketatsu[2] (Masters EX)
Member of Unova League
Rank Gym LeaderW
ChampionB2W2
Leader of Opelucid Gym
Badge Legend Badge
Specializes in Dragon types
Anime series Pokémon the Series
Pokémon Generations
Debut In the Shadow of Zekrom! (Pokémon the Series)
The Uprising (Pokémon Generations)
Counterpart(s) Iris (anime)
English voice actor Eileen Stevens (BW001-JN065), Anairis Quiñones (JN115-present) (Pokémon the Series)
Cherami Leigh (Pokémon Generations)
Japanese voice actor Aoi Yūki (Pokémon the Series)
Rina Hidaka (Pokémon Generations)

Iris (Japanese: アイリス Iris) is a Dragon-type Trainer. She was one of the Gym Leaders of Opelucid City's Gym, known officially as the Opelucid Gym, giving out the Legend Badge, in Pokémon White. Two years later, in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, she is the Champion of the Unova region's Pokémon League.

In the core series games

Iris appears in Pokémon Black and White. In both versions, she shows up in Castelia City to aid the player, Burgh, and Bianca when Bianca's Munna is stolen. During this time, she acts as Bianca's bodyguard.

In White, she is also revealed to be the Gym Leader of Opelucid City's Gym, which is the eighth to be challenged by the player. Trainers who defeat Iris will receive the Legend Badge, along with TM82 (Dragon Tail). She reappears at N's Castle where she and the other Unova Gym Leaders hold off the Seven Sages. During summer, she also visits Cynthia at Caitlin's villa in Undella Town, as do the other female Gym Leaders.

In Black, after defeating the Pokémon League, she will teach Draco Meteor to the player's Dragon-type Pokémon if they have full friendship. She can be found on the first floor of Drayden's home in Opelucid City.

In Black 2 and White 2, Iris first appears in Castelia City, helping the player look for Team Plasma. She later reappears in Opelucid City but leaves shortly after meeting the player. Iris's primary role in these games is finally revealed to be that of the new Champion, replacing Alder. After training extensively under Drayden, she battled and defeated Alder after he retired as Champion, gaining the title for herself. As a gift for her victory, Drayden gave her new clothes to replace the ones he had given her after bringing her to Unova.

Pokémon

Pokémon White



Pokémon Black 2 and White 2

Initial battle (Easy Mode/Normal Mode)



Initial battle (Challenge Mode)



Rematch (Easy Mode/Normal Mode)



Rematch (Challenge Mode)



National Gymquirer

Jingle: "Woo hoo! All right! It's 'The National Gymquirer'!"
Page: "That's right! We collect the hottest gossip about Gym Leaders seen around town! Here is today's letter. From someone going by the name Madame Scale. Thank yooou! 'I'm from Opelucid City, and I just went home for the first time in a long time. I saw Drayden and Iris counting up a big handful of coins! Isn't that setting a bad example for kids, flaunting your wealth like that?' Hmmm... That's living the high life! But you know, the Opelucid Gym Badge is shiny like a coin... Maybe you saw wrong? 'The National Gymquirer'! We eagerly await your letters!"

In the spin-off games

Pokémon Masters EX

Main article: Iris (Masters)

Iris, as the Unova Champion, forms a sync pair with Haxorus, Hydreigon, and Naganadel in Pokémon Masters EX. Iris became a playable sync pair since the game's release, with her joining the player after completing the ninth chapter of the PML Arc.

Iris has also made notable appearances in one of the game's Main Stories, the PML Arc.

Sync Dex Trainer NDex Pokémon Type Weakness Role Base Potential Availability
#043   Iris #0612   Haxorus
Dragon
 
Ice
 
  ★★★☆☆☆EX Story
Chapter 09
#043   Alt.
Iris
#0635   Hydreigon
Dragon
 
Fairy
 
  ★★★★★☆EX Poké Fair Sync Pair Scout
#043   Fall 2022
Iris
#0804   Naganadel
Poison
 
Psychic
 
  ★★★★★☆EX Seasonal Sync Pair Scout

Gallery

Artwork

   
Official artwork from Black and White Concept art for Black 2 and White 2

Sprites

       
Sprite from
White
Sprite from
Black 2 and
White 2
VS sprite from
White
     
Overworld sprite from
Black and White
Civilian overworld sprite from
Black 2 and
White 2
Champion overworld
sprite from
Black 2 and
White 2
VS sprite from
Black 2 and White 2

Quotes

Main article: Iris/Quotes

In the anime

 
Iris in the anime

Main series

Main article: Iris (anime)

Iris was a traveling partner of Ash Ketchum for the duration of Pokémon the Series: Black & White. She was assigned to go on a journey of growth and maturity, and she subsequently left her home in the Village of Dragons to raise an Axew as well as achieve emotional growth herself. When she met Ash near Nuvema Town, she allegedly decided to travel with him as a sort of guide since he was considered new to the Unova region. Eventually, she officially decided to accompany him after Cilan suggested the three of them should stick together. Her ultimate goal is to become a Dragon Master.

In Pokémon Journeys: The Series, it was revealed that she had become the Champion of the Unova League, and took part in the Masters Eight Tournament.

Pokémon Generations

Iris appeared in The Uprising, where she was seen outside N's Castle trying to stop the Seven Sages. Together with several other Unova Gym Leaders, she battled the many Team Plasma Grunts to prevent them from achieving Team Plasma's goals.

Pokémon

This listing is of Iris's known Pokémon in Pokémon Generations:

 
Druddigon
Iris's Druddigon helped fight off the Team Plasma Grunts.

Druddigon's only known move is Flamethrower.

Debut The Uprising

Voice actors

Language Voice actor
Japanese 日高里菜 Rina Hidaka
English Cherami Leigh
European Spanish Nuria Trifol


GOTCHA!

Iris briefly appeared in GOTCHA!.

In the manga

 
Young Iris meeting Drayden

Pokémon Adventures

In this series, Iris is not the Gym Leader of the Opelucid Gym, but is simply the apprentice of Drayden. She originally lived in Blackthorn City, also known as the Village of Dragons, where she trained to become a master of Dragon-types. Much to Iris's chagrin, the Master of the Dragon Tamer clan had Drayden come to take her to Unova so that he could tutor her. After arriving in Unova, Drayden introduced Iris to Alder, who would also become her teacher and taught her about spirituality.

History

Black & White arc
 
Iris in Pokémon Adventures

Iris debuted in Big City Battles. She first informed Burgh that Black arrived to challenge his Gym. After accidentally insulting his newest art piece, Iris cheered Burgh up by complimenting the smell of honey on his body. Later, Iris took an unconscious Bianca to the Castelia Gym, where she revealed the girl was attacked and had her Pokémon stolen. With Black's detective abilities, the group found the thieves were Team Plasma and managed to retrieve all of the Pokémon they had stolen.

In Decisions, Decisions, Iris reunited with Black during his training with Brycen. There, she revealed that she was training with Drayden to become a Dragon-type expert. Black found it hard to believe her claims, annoying Iris into requesting a battle with Drayden, only to be easily swatted away and defeated. Later, Drayden left to do his own business and told Iris to stay with Black for the duration of his training in hopes that she would learn from it as well. After Black finished his training and Gym battle with Brycen, Iris reluctantly informed him that the Pokémon League's opening date had been pushed up from three months to a week.

The stress of potentially failing to enter in the League caused Black to panic and run away with Iris following after him. In The Lesson Ends Here, Iris and Black found Alder battling N on Route 6. Despite Alder's strength, he was eventually defeated.

In Hallway Hijinks, Iris competed in the Unova Pokémon League, eventually making it to the Top 8. To Black's surprise, Iris had already obtained all eight Gym Badges before their encounter during Black's training with Brycen. In The Tournament Continues, Iris faced Gray in the quarterfinals. Despite the type advantage his Cryogonal had, Iris's Fraxure managed to defeat it with a powerful Rock Smash, allowing Iris to advance to the next round. In One Way or Another, Iris faced Black in the semifinals. Though she was determined to defeat N and avenge Alder, Iris's newly-evolved Haxorus was defeated by Black's Costa, eliminating her from the tournament. Black assured Iris that he shared her goal and promised to take down N and Team Plasma.

In Cold Hard Truth, Team Plasma launched their attack on the Pokémon League by summoning N's Castle from the depths of the earth. The castle surrounded the League building while several Team Plasma Grunts emerged and cornered everyone. Iris and Drayden worked together to protect innocent bystanders from the Grunts. After Team Plasma was defeated, Iris and the others watched as N and Zekrom flew off to parts unknown.

 
Iris in the eleventh chapter
Black 2 & White 2 arc

In Mr. Perfect, Drayden revealed that he made Iris Leader of the Opelucid Gym so he could focus on dealing with Team Plasma's resurgence.

In Deduction Time, Iris, Alder, and Gorm worked together to break out of the White Treehollow, which had been frozen solid by the Plasma Frigate, in the process revealing that Iris had succeeded Alder as the Champion of Unova. In Giant Chasm, Iris and Gorm met Black, White, Blake, and Whitley at the Giant Chasm. She revealed that during the past two years, she had regathered the eight Badges, challenged the Elite Four, and trained with Alder, N, Gorm, and Benga at the White Treehollow. She had managed to defeat both Alder and N, proving herself worthy of becoming the new Champion. Hearing this, Black swore to defeat Iris one day. The group was then attacked by Colress, who told Kyurem to freeze the surrounding area. When Kyurem stopped listening to Colress, Rood appeared, revealing his allies used a machine to disrupt the Colress Machine's effect. With Team Plasma's influence on it severed, Kyurem began rampaging, first releasing the Dark Stone before absorbing Reshiram to become White Kyurem. While Iris, Black, and White fought Kyurem, Blake chased after Colress while Whitley went to the Plasma Frigate to rescue N, who was held captive aboard the vessel.

In The Final Battle: Crushed Ambition, an explosion tore the Plasma Frigate apart, causing it to fall. After preventing a large amount of liberated Pokémon from plummeting towards the ground, Kyurem separated itself from Reshiram before leaving. Iris, Black, and White rode on Reshiram's back to chase after the ship, which eventually crashed into the abandoned N's Castle, setting the building on fire and putting the Pokémon Team Plasma left behind at risk. Black and the others combined the might of Fire, Water, and Grass Pledge, successfully dousing the flames.

In Epilogue: Graduation Ceremony, Iris attended the Aspertia City Trainers' School graduation ceremony, where she watched the students graduate.

Pokémon

 
Fraxure → Haxorus
Main article: Iris's Haxorus

Haxorus is Iris's first known Pokémon, which she owned since it was a Fraxure. Iris uses it as transportation by riding on its back. At the Tubeline Bridge, it faced Drayden's Druddigon in battle, but was easily defeated. In the Pokémon League, it fought against Gray's Cryogonal and won. In the next round, Fraxure was used against Black's Braviary, Brav, where it evolved into a Haxorus. Eventually, it was defeated by a super-effective Ice Beam from Black's Carracosta, Costa.

Debut Big City Battles
 
Druddigon
Druddigon is Iris's second known Pokémon. Iris used it to battle against Black's Galvantula, Tula, in the Pokémon League but later switched it out with her Haxorus. Later, it was used to battle Team Plasma as they attacked the League.

Druddigon's only known move is Bulldoze.

Debut One Way or Another
 
Lapras
Lapras is Iris's third known Pokémon. Iris used it to battle Drayden when she was younger at Blackthorn City. It faced Drayden's Druddigon in battle and was defeated by it.

None of Lapras's moves are known.

Debut One Way or Another

Badges obtained

Unova League

Achievements

Pokémon League

Iris has competed in the following Pokémon League Conferences:

In the TCG

 
Full Art print of Iris
Main article: Iris (Plasma Blast 81)

Iris was introduced as a Supporter card in the Pokémon Trading Card Game during the English Black & White Series (the Japanese BW Era). First released in the Japanese Megalo Cannon expansion, it later debuted in English in the Plasma Blast expansion, with both prints featuring an illustration based on the Yusuke Ohmura artwork of the character. It was also released as a Full Art card, with an illustration by Kagemaru Himeno. Iris causes all attacks by the player's Pokémon to deal 10 more damage against the opponent's Active Pokémon for each Prize Card the opponent has taken.

Trivia

  • Iris's Japanese Leader title is 竜の心を 知る 娘.
  • In Black and White, the only differences between Iris and Drayden's teams are the genders of their Pokémon and their Druddigon's and Haxorus's Abilities: Iris has an all-female team and her Druddigon has Sheer Force and her Haxorus has Mold Breaker, while Drayden has an all-male team and his Druddigon has Rough Skin and his Haxorus has Rivalry.
    • In White, Iris's Druddigon has no moves that take advantage of Sheer Force.
  • Iris and Clair are both female Gym Leaders that train Dragon-type Pokémon. Additionally, they are both the eighth Gym Leader the player challenges in Unova and Johto, respectively.
  • Iris is the first Champion to keep her Japanese name.
  • Iris is the only Unova Gym Leader in Black and White who does not have a secondary occupation.
  • Iris considers Drayden to be her grandfather despite the two of them not being biologically related, affectionately referring to him as "Grandpa."
  • Iris is the only Champion prior to Generation VI to not participate in the Pokémon World Tournament.
  • Iris is the first character in any core series game to have a full-body challenge sprite.
  • Iris is the only Champion to not use any Pokémon that evolve from ones that take 20 egg cycles to hatch, with the lowest being 30 (for Druddigon and Archeops).
  • In her Black and White artwork, the pattern of the soles of her sneakers resembles a dragon paw.

Names

Language Name Origin
Japanese アイリス Iris From iris, matching with Shaga (Drayden) who is named after the fringed iris
English, Spanish,
French, Italian
Iris Same as Japanese name
German Lilia From Lilie (lily; fleur-de-lis) or Schwertlilie (iris), with the former matching the lys (French for lily) in Lysander (Drayden)
Korean 아이리스 Iris Same as Japanese name
Chinese (Mandarin) 艾莉絲 / 艾莉丝 Àilìsī Transcription of her Japanese name
Chinese (Cantonese) 艾莉絲 Ngaaihleihsī
Vietnamese Airisu Transcription of her Japanese name

Related articles

References


Non-player characters in the core series games
Unova Professor JuniperMom (BW)Mom (B2W2)CherenBiancaBianca's fatherHughHugh's sisterCedric JuniperFennelAmanita
CilanChiliCressLenoraHawesLoblollyCharlesIrisDraydenAlderBengaCurtisYancyBrycenSabrinaPop Roxie
HilbertHildaNateRosaIngoEmmetCynthiaLookerNColressMorimotoNishinoPokémon Fan Club Chairman
CyranoBriarCarmineKieranKoraidonMiraidonGeetaRikaClavellPerrinSnacksworthSynclaire
Team PlasmaClydeGym Leaders • Elite Four (Unova · BB) • PWT participantsName RaterDay-Care CoupleJudgeMagikarp salesmanSpecial CoachesGuidance counselors


Gym Leaders of the Unova region
Striaton Gym  
     
Cilan Chili Cress
Nacrene Gym  
 
Lenora
Castelia Gym  
 
Burgh
Nimbasa Gym  
 
Elesa
Driftveil Gym  
 
Clay
Mistralton Gym  
 
Skyla
Icirrus Gym  
 
Brycen
Opelucid Gym  
   
Drayden Iris
Aspertia Gym  
 
Cheren
Virbank Gym  
 
Roxie
Humilau Gym  
 
Marlon


Unova League
 
Elite Four
Shauntal
 
Elite Four
Marshal
 
Elite Four
Grimsley
 
Elite Four
Caitlin
   
Champion
Alder Iris


Pokémon Champions
Core series BlueLanceRedStevenWallaceCynthiaAlderIrisDianthaTraceLeonMustardPeonyNemonaGeetaKieranDraytonMost player characters
Masters EX BlueLanceRedStevenCynthiaAlderIrisDianthaLeonScottieBettieAshNemonaGeetaCalemSerenaMarnieBedeHopLeafNateRosaSilver
Other
spin-offs
Ronald (TCG GB)Mark (TCG GB)Mint (TCG GB)Glenn (Pokkén)
Anime LanceCynthiaWallaceAlderDianthaStevenAsh KetchumLeonIrisNemona
Other animation Blue (Origins)Red (Origins)Calem (Generations)Edgar Troy (PttP)Ava (PttP)
Adventures Professor OakRedSidneyPhoebeGlaciaDrakeStevenWallaceCynthiaAlderIrisDianthaLeonMustardPeonyNemona
Other manga Shigeru (Zensho)Satoshi (Zensho)Rald (Battle Frontier)


  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.