Trial Captain

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A Trial Captain (Japanese: キャプテン Captain) is a person who designs and presides over a certain island challenge trial and gives guidance to participating Trainers and trial-goers. Trial Captains have previously completed their own island's challenge before becoming a Captain [1]. They retire from their position when they turn 20.[2] Mechanically, they can be seen as the Alolan equivalent to Gym Leaders, and like them, they specialize in certain types of Pokémon. Trial Captains can be identified by the flower-shaped adornment they wear someplace on their bodies, each with a different colored jewel to represent their specialized type. Unlike Gym Leaders, Trial Captains are not often the ones fought, but rather, the Totem Pokémon found at the end of a trial. Trial Captains are known to be the ones to care for and train their respective Totem Pokémon, as is the case with Lana, training the Wishiwashi that reside in Brooklet Hill. There are 6SM or 7USUM Trial Captains who each preside over a trial site in the island challenge, although as shown by the Vast Poni Canyon trial in Sun and Moon, that a trial can exist in a functional form without a Captain to preside over it.

Going clockwise starting on the left: Captains Lana, Acerola, and Mina alongside Hau in the Villain Arc of Pokémon Masters EX

Normally, Captains are chosen by the island's kahuna. However, in special circumstances, they may be chosen by the previous Captain, as was the case when Molayne chose Sophocles to succeed him after retiring. Like some Gym Leaders, many Trial Captains are seen to have secondary professions or hobbies seen outside their usual job. Examples include Mallow, who works at her family's restaurant and Mina, who is a painter.

All Trial Captains keep their Pokémon in Ultra Balls, with the exception of Lana, who uses Net Balls instead.

Terminology

In English promotional materials such as trailers for Pokémon Sun and Moon and the Sun and Moon website, Captains are referred to as "Trial Captains." All other times, both individually and as a group, they are referred to simply as "Captain." In Pokémon Masters EX, Mallow refers to herself, Lana, and Kiawe all as "Trial Captains" in multiple languages.

In Japanese, the title has always been referred to as キャプテン (Captain), with no descriptor or usage of the word "trial."

Ilima's mother, notes that he gained the title of "captainship" through his skill.[3] This is the only time "captainship" has been used in English in any title.

Pokémon and type usage

Like their Gym Leader and island kahuna counterparts, their Pokémon and type usage can rely on numerous factors. Like them, Captains also specialize in a singular Pokémon type. This type can be seen in the trial and Totem Pokémon that they care for, and not just used in battle when they're off duty.

The types they specialize in is often attributed to them based on their trial's geography or the hobby or job the Captain may have. For example, Sophocles, who works in the Hokulani Observatory, enjoys studying electronics and inventions, so his trial tests the player in Electric-type Pokémon. The Totem Pokémon that he cares for VikavoltSM or TogedemaruUSUM is of that type. Captain Lana of Brooklet Hill, who is an avid fisher, had raised the Totem WishiwashiSM all on her own.

In the core series games

 
Elio starting Lana's trial

Captain (Japanese: キャプテン Captain) is the Trainer class given for when they are battled. Unlike Gym Leaders and island kahuna, battling Captains in Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon is not always mandatory to complete the story, and are often done as side tasks and missions when the player comes back to them at a later point. During the story, the player will have to carry out the trial that the captain had set up for them to finish. The captain themselves are intended to help guide trial goers through the trial. Some Captains may actively be a part of the trial themselves or a part of another's trial, such as Mallow, Kiawe and Lana all took part of the Lush Jungle trial, helping Mallow create the "Mallow Special."

Captains do however participate in battle, for example, Ilima will ask the player for a battle before taking their trial in Verdant Cavern, while Mina will ask for a battle in the Looker Episode of Sun and Moon, neither of which are a part of any trial. In Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Mina's trial consists of meeting and battling several of the captains who's trials the player has previous completed. All trial captains are able to be battled against in the Generation VII titles at least once either as part of the story, or as side quest. All Captains will use a Z-Crystal of their respective type at least once.

In Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Captains will use Battle! (Trainer) from Pokémon Sun and Moon, instead of the Trainer battle theme used in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.

Mina appears in Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! at Vermilion City after her ship, the S.S. Anne, has taken off. It is unknown whether or not she is a Captain during this time, and never mentions trials or the island challenge. Mina can be battled once a day after her initial fight with the player, and will offer a Bottle Cap after every defeat.

In the spin-off games

Pokémon Masters EX

All Captains, aside from Ilima, have appeared in Pokémon Masters EX. Some of them appear within the PML Arc as part of the game's Main Story. Lana, Acerola, and Mina all play a significant role in the Alola chapter of the Villain Arc.

In the anime

Main series

In the anime, trial-goers can freely challenge a Totem Pokémon without having someone to supervise them. As a result, trials are not presided by Trial Captains. However, Lana, Kiawe, Sophocles, and Mallow have appeared as students of the Pokémon School and classmates of Ash. They all debuted in Alola to New Adventure!.

Ilima debuted in Turning Heads and Training Hard! as a graduate of the Pokémon School.

Acerola debuted in Why Not Give Me a Z-Ring Sometime? as a girl living in a library on Ula'ula Island. Like in the games, she has a close relationship with Nanu. She also provided support for Ash with his Ula'ula Island grand trial.

Mina debuted in The Shape of Love to Come! as a wandering artist. With the assistance of her Ribombee, Mina can detect the emotions of both humans and Pokémon.

GOTCHA!

Along with related Pokémon League type experts, all Captains appear in the GOTCHA! music video.

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Lana, Kiawe, and Mallow are the first Trial Captains to appear in Pokémon Adventures, debuting in Going Ashore and Neighboring Akala Island. The three are initially reluctant to recognize Sun as a trialgoer, but soon Sun and Kiawe bond with each other upon learning that both of them have the same goal of saving money for a certain purpose. Lana, still unconvinced, leads Sun to Brooklet Hill for her trial. Eventually Sun manages to complete Lana's trial by calming the local Totem Pokémon, earning her respect.

While Sun and Lana travel to Brooklet Hill, Moon and Mallow head to Lush Jungle to find the special Mirage Berry meant to be delivered for the guardian deities of Alola. After witnessing a Xurkitree battling Tapu Lele in the sky above the forest, the two start searching for the Mirage Berry, which they eventually find with the help of the local wild Pokémon.

Later, after Professor Kukui's boat is attacked by a wild Bruxish, Sun and Moon are saved and brought to the Aether House, where they meet Trial Captain Acerola, who tasks Sun with clearing her trial at the Thrifty Megamart. Sun eventually clears the trial by befriending the local Totem Pokémon, a Mimikyu, which he even catches and adds to his team.

Ilima, the sole Trial Captain of Melemele Island, later joins Acerola, the Trial Captains of Akala, and Hau in traveling to Po Town to talk with Team Skull. However, when they arrive at Team Skull's base, they are surrounded and attacked by a group of Ultra Beasts, which are soon revealed to have been summoned by a Cosmog in Guzma's possession. The Ultra Beasts eventually break out of Po Town and start rampaging around Ula'ula Island, forcing Molayne and Sophocles to start evacuating people to the Hokulani Observatory.

Six months after Ultra Beasts had started to appear in Alola, Mina, the sole Trial Captain of Poni Island, finally answers the call to join the other Captains and joins them on Exeggutor Island. Later, after the Trial Captains finish their training on Exeggutor Island, they move to Hokulani Observatory, from which they detect an Ultra Wormhole opening above Mount Lanakila. When they attempt to travel there to investigate, they are attacked by an army of Ultra Beasts commanded by Aether Foundation Employees. By combining their Z-Moves, the Trial Captains are able to defeat all the Ultra Beasts.

Pokémon Horizon

Lana, Mallow, and Kiawe appeared in a cameo in Attack on the Headquarters.

List of Trial Captains

Melemele Island

Melemele Island
Trial Captain
Japanese
Location
Japanese
Type Totem Pokémon Ally Pokémon
 
Ilima
イリマ Ilima
Verdant Cavern
茂みの洞窟
Verdant Cavern
 
Normal
 
GumshoosSUS
 
YungoosSUS
 
Alolan RaticateMUM
 
Alolan RattataMUM

Akala Island

Akala Island
Trial Captain
Japanese
Location
Japanese
Type Totem Pokémon Ally Pokémon
 
Lana
スイレン Suiren
Brooklet Hill
せせらぎの丘
Brooklet Hill
 
Water
 
Wishiwashi
(School Form)SM
 
WishiwashiSM
 
AlomomolaSM
 
AraquanidUSUM
 
DewpiderUSUM
 
MasquerainUSUM
 
Kiawe
カキ Kaki
Wela Volcano Park
ヴェラ火山公園
Wela Volcano Park
 
Fire
 
SalazzleSM
 
SalanditSM
 
Alolan MarowakUSUM
 
SalazzleUSUM
 
Mallow
マオ Mao
Lush Jungle
シェードジャングル
Shade Jungle
 
Grass
 
Lurantis
 
TrumbeakSM
 
CastformSM
 
ComfeyUSUM
 
KecleonUSUM

Ula'ula Island

Ula'ula Island
Trial Captain
Japanese
Location
Japanese
Type Totem Pokémon Ally Pokémon
 
Sophocles
マーマネ Mamane
Hokulani Observatory
ホクラニ天文台
Hōkūlani Observatory
 
Electric
 
VikavoltSM
 
CharjabugSM
 
CharjabugSM
 
TogedemaruUSUM
 
SkarmoryUSUM
 
DedenneUSUM
 
Acerola
アセロラ Acerola
Thrifty Megamart (Abandoned Site)
スーパー・メガやす 跡地
Supermarket Megacheap (Abandoned Site)
 
Ghost
 
Mimikyu
 
HaunterSM
 
GengarSM
 
BanetteUSUM
 
JellicentUSUM

Poni Island

Poni Island
Trial Captain
Japanese
Location
Japanese
Type Totem Pokémon Ally Pokémon
 
Mina
マツリカ Matsurika
NoneSM  
Fairy
NoneSM NoneSM
Seafolk Village
海の民の村
Seafolk Village
USUM
 
RibombeeUSUM
 
BlisseyUSUM
 
PelipperUSUM
  • Molayne was previously a Captain for Ula'ula, giving his role to Sophocles.
  • Hiker David is being considered as Kiawe's replacement after he leaves his position.[4]

Trivia

  • The Japanese, Korean, and Italian terms for Trial Captains are the same as their respective terms for wardens.
  • The four-sided clover origin mark used to denote Pokémon originating from Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, or Ultra Moon resembles the flower-shaped adornment that each Trial Captain uses to identify themselves.

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 隊長 Deuihjéung
Mandarin 隊長 / 队长 Duìzhǎng
  Czech Kapitán zkoušek*
Kapitán ()
Kapitánka ()
  Dutch Aanvoerder van de proef
Trialkapitein
  French Capitaine d'Épreuve
  German Captain
  Hungarian Próba Kapitány
  Italian Capitano
  Korean 캡틴 Kaeptin
  Portuguese Capitão de prova ()
Capitã de prova ()
  Russian Капитан испытания Kapitan ispytaniya
  Spanish Capitán ()
Capitana ()

See also

References

  1. Sun and Moon official website: "Each trial has a captain, whose role is to provide guidance to trial-goers. All of the captains are Trainers who undertook trials in their own island challenge a few years earlier."
  2. Mallow: "I mean, we have to move on from being captains when we turn 20 anyway." (Pokémon Moon)
  3. Ilima's mother: "Ilima gained the captainship because he exudes pure skill." (Pokémon Sun and Moon)
  4. Kiawe: "That's why I was thinking that you might be a good candidate to become the captain after me." (Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon)


Trial Captains and island kahunas of the Alola region
Verdant Cavern
 
Ilima
Brooklet Hill
 
Lana
Wela Volcano Park
 
Kiawe
Lush Jungle
 
Mallow
Hokulani Observatory
 
Sophocles
Thrifty Megamart
 
Acerola
Seafolk Village
 
Mina
Melemele Island
 
Hala
Akala Island
 
Olivia
Ula'ula Island
 
Nanu
Poni Island
 
Hapu


Trainer classes in the Pokémon core series
Alola Ace DuoAce TrainerAether Branch ChiefAether FoundationAether Foundation Employee
Aether PresidentAthletic SiblingsBackpackerBeautyBellhopBlack BeltCaptainCollectorCookDancer
Eevee UserElite FourEspeon UserFirefighterFishermanFlareon UserGAME FREAKGentlemanGlaceon User
Golf BuddiesGolferHikerHoneymoonersIsland KahunaJanitorJolteon UserKarate FamilyLassLeafeon User
MadameOffice WorkerPokémon BreederPokémon ProfessorPokémon TrainerPolice OfficerPreschooler
PrincipalPunk GirlPunk GuyPunk PairRising StarRising Star DuoScientistSightseerSwimmerSwimmers
Swimmer GirlsSylveon UserTeacherTeam SkullTeam Skull AdminTeam Skull BossTeam Skull Grunt
Trial GuideTwinsUmbreon UserVaporeon UserVeteranVeteran DuoWorkerYoungsterYouth Athlete
ActorUSUMCapoeira CoupleUSUMDancing FamilyUSUMKantonian GymUSUMMaster & ApprenticeUSUM
ReporterUSUMSparring PartnersUSUMSurferUSUMTeam AquaUSUMTeam FlareUSUMTeam GalacticUSUM
Team MagmaUSUMTeam PlasmaUSUMTeam Rainbow RocketUSUMTeam Rainbow Rocket GruntUSUM
Tourist CoupleUSUMUltra Forest KartenvoyUSUltra Recon SquadUSUM
Battle Tree, Battle Royal Dome, and Battle Agency only:
Battle LegendPokémon Center LadyPro Wrestler


Non-player characters in the core series games
Alola Professor KukuiMomLillieNebbyHauRotomProfessor BurnetMolayneSamson OakRyukiMohn
RedBlueWallyCynthiaGrimsleyColressSinaDexioLookerAnabelNecrozmaMorimotoIwao
Team SkullAether FoundationUltra Recon SquadTeam Rainbow Rocket
Trial CaptainsIsland kahunasElite FourName RaterJudgeMr. HyperGester


  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.