Villainous team: Difference between revisions

Villainous teams in the [[core series]] have many aspects in common. Their structure generally includes, in order of rank, a leader, one or more admins, and a number of anonymous grunts. Some teams have additional levels of authority within them, such as [[Team Flare]]'s scientists, as well as additional members and associated individuals who do not fit into the ladder of authority at all, such as [[Gladion]], who works with [[Team Skull]].

Aside from {{game|Emerald}}, each core series game has only one team acting in villainous capacity. Typically, the player character encounters the villainous team many times over the course of their adventure. Typically, they first encounter grunts early in the game, often involved in a small act of villainy unrelated to the team's broader goals. As the player's adventure continues, they meet more of the team's members and uncover more of its secrets and aims, culminating in one or more encounters with the team's boss. Finally, toward the end of the game, the player foils the team's scheme. In most games — with the exception of {{game|Black and White|s}} — this happens before the end of the player's journey to the [[Pokémon League]].

The above refers to the core series games; however, other canons, such as the [[Pokémon Adventures]] manga, have created very different interpretations of villainous teams.

Team Rocket has appeared in almost every episode since [[EP002|the second]], usually as the bumbling trio [[Jessie]], [[James]], and {{MTR}}, though at times {{an|Giovanni}} as well as other members, such as [[Butch]] and [[Cassidy]], will appear.

In [[Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Versions|Pokémon Sapphire]] (and its remake, [[Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire|Alpha Sapphire]]), their main goal is to reduce the landmass of the [[Hoenn]] region. They are first encountered in [[Petalburg Woods]] and a grunt is fought. After earning the {{Badge|Stone}}, the same grunt is seen fleeing to the [[Rusturf Tunnel]], and had kidnapped Peeko. Later, they are seen [[Slateport City]]'s [[Oceanic Museum]], attempting to steal the {{key|III|Devon Goods}} from [[Captain Stern]]. Later, they steal a {{key|III|Meteorite}} from [[Professor Cozmo]] in [[Meteor Falls]], and use it to try to cause [[Mt. Chimney]] to become dormant. After being defeated, they aren't seen again until the player reaches the [[Weather Institute]], where a group of grunts led by [[Shelly]] are looking for information about the [[Legendary Pokémon]] {{p|Kyogre}} and the weather Pokémon {{p|Castform}}. Soon after, they are seen at [[Mt. Pyre]], and succeed in stealing the [[Colored orbs|Red Orb]] (Blue Orb in Alpha Sapphire). They then steal the [[Submarine Explorer 1]] that Captain Stern built. They are seen and fought at their [[Team Aqua Hideout|hideout]] near [[Lilycove City]], which can not be accessed after earning the [[Badge|Mind Badge]] in Sapphire, and they then travel to the [[Seafloor Cavern]] with the orb to awaken Kyogre.

 

In [[Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Versions|Pokémon Ruby]] (and its remake, [[Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire|Omega Ruby]]), they help the player defeat Team Magma.

In [[Pokémon Emerald]], they are first seen in [[Slateport City|Slateport City's]] [[Oceanic Museum]], attempting to steal the {{key|III|Devon Goods}} from [[Captain Stern]]. They are seen at [[Meteor Falls]] and cause [[Team Magma]] to flee. They are seen fighting Team Magma at Mt. Chimney. Later, they are seen again when the player reaches the [[Weather Institute]], where a group of grunts led by [[Shelly]] are looking for information about the [[Legendary Pokémon]] {{p|Kyogre}} and the weather Pokémon {{p|Castform}}. Soon after, they are seen at [[Mt. Pyre]], and succeed in stealing the Red Orb. They then steal the [[Submarine Explorer 1]] that Captain Stern built. They are seen and fought at their [[Team Aqua Hideout|hideout]] near [[Lilycove City]]. After many grunts and [[Aqua Admin Matt|Matt]] are defeated, they are seen traveling to the [[Seafloor Cavern]] with the Red Orb to awaken Kyogre. After defeating many grunts and [[Shelly]], Archie is seen awakening Kyogre, but it flees, and is fought and defeated by the player. Archie and [[Maxie]] are seen in [[Sootopolis City]] until {{p|Rayquaza}} stops the fight between Kyogre and {{p|Groudon}}. After this, the two leaders are seen returning the respective orbs to Mt. Pyre.

In [[Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Versions|Pokémon Ruby]] (and its remake, [[Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire|Omega Ruby]]), their main goal is to increase the landmass of the [[Hoenn]] region. They are first encountered in [[Petalburg Woods]], and a grunt is fought. After earning the {{Badge|Stone}}, the same grunt is seen fleeing to the [[Rusturf Tunnel]] and had kidnapped Peeko. Later, they are encountered at [[Slateport City]]'s [[Oceanic Museum]], attempting to steal the {{key|III|Devon Goods}} from [[Captain Stern]]. Later, they steal a {{key|III|Meteorite}} from [[Professor Cozmo]] in [[Meteor Falls]], and use it to try to cause Mt. Chimney to erupt. After being defeated, they aren't seen again until the player reaches the [[Weather Institute]], where a group of grunts led by [[Magma Admin Courtney|Courtney]] in Ruby or [[Tabitha]] in Omega Ruby are looking for information about the [[Legendary Pokémon]] {{p|Groudon}} and the weather Pokémon {{p|Castform}}. Soon after, they are seen at [[Mt. Pyre]], and succeed in stealing the [[Colored orbs|Blue Orb]] (Red Orb in Omega Ruby). They then steal the [[Submarine Explorer 1]] that Captain Stern built. They are seen and fought at their [[Team Magma Hideout|hideout]] in [[Lilycove City]], which can not be accessed after earning the [[Badge|Mind Badge]] in Ruby, and they then travel to the [[Seafloor Cavern]] with the orb to awaken Groudon.

In {{game|Diamond and Pearl|s}}, Cyrus wishes to recreate the {{pkmn|universe}} in his image with the powers of {{p|Dialga}} or {{p|Palkia}}. In {{game|Platinum}}, the leader is still Cyrus, but this time, he tries to summon both Dialga and Palkia to create a world without spirit. In Platinum, [[Charon]] is also present.

 

In Platinum, once the player has access to [[Stark Mountain]], [[Mars]] and [[Jupiter]] are seen at Stark Mountain with Charon attempting to use the power of {{p|Heatran}}, but after being defeated, they leave the team, and Charon is arrested, leaving [[Saturn]] as the only Team Galactic Commander still part of the team.

[[Saturn]], along with two grunts, appeared in ''[[DP036|A Secret Sphere of Influence!]]'', though it was just a brief cameo at the end of the episode. Here, they commissioned Team Rocket to steal the [[Timespace orbs|Adamant Orb]] and frame [[Nando]] for the crime. At the end, Team Galactic commented that Team Rocket did a lousy job at it. This was not revealed until their next appearance, ''[[DP060|Journey to the Unown!]]''. Saturn tried to locate the {{p|Unown}} and control them using a cube with an {{p|Arceus}} pattern. [[Cyrus]], [[Mars]], and [[Jupiter]] later appeared in ''[[DP096|Losing Its Lustrous]]'' and ''[[DP097|Double Team Turnover!]]'' with Saturn.

At first, Team Flare's goal is claimed to be making the world "beautiful" with style and lots of money. Despite their claims, several grunts and even their leader [[Lysandre]] confirm that they seek a world benefiting only those within Team Flare, disregarding anybody else. Team Flare attempted to make money by stealing and selling [[Fossils]]. They also siphoned energy from the [[Kalos Power Plant]], and later on stole [[Poké Balls]] from the [[Poké Ball Factory]].

The first appearance of a Team Flare member was in ''[[SS029|Mega Evolution Special I]]'', where Lysandre made an appearance at Lysandre Labs, monitoring the Mega Evolution energy [[Alain]] had accumulated. He appears again in ''[[SS031|Mega Evolution Special II]]'', where he interrupted Alain and [[Steven]]'s battle.

 

In the anime, Team Flare hatches a plan to capture the [[Legendary Pokémon]], {{p|Zygarde}}, which is first revealed in ''[[XY094|From A to Z!]]''. However, they fail in doing so as it escapes. The team are after two of the Zygarde Cores, code-named [[Squishy|Z1]] and [[Z2]]. In ''[[XY102|Meeting at Terminus Cave!]]'', Team Flare were able to locate Z2 while it and Z1 were communicating, and Mable and Aliana proceeded to go after Z2. After discovering that Z1 had joined {{Ash}} and {{ashfr}}, they began following the group to capture it, and were seen on numerous occasions. Team Flare Admins, along with [[Xerosic]], began their experiments on an island using the power of Zygarde Cells to mutate trees, which Xerosic declared was a success. Locating Z2, Aliana and Mable, along with Team Flare Grunts, were able to capture Z2 with the help of [[Alain]] and his {{TP|Alain|Charizard}}, allowing Xerosic to later experiment on it.

In ''[[XY129|Kalos League Passion with a Certain Flare!]]'', on the night before the [[Lumiose Conference]]'s final round, Team Flare, reaching the final stages of their plan, made their way to the [[Prism Tower]] to begin setting up their equipment. At the end of ''[[XY131|Down to the Fiery Finish!]]'', Lysandre arrived at Prism Tower and ordered Z2 to show him its power as he put his plan into motion. In ''[[XY132|A Towering Takeover!]]'', Lysandre televised a message to the citizens of Kalos, describing his plan to create a new, beautiful world by destroying the one they currently live in. Team Flare's plot was ultimately foiled in ''[[XY136|Forming a More Perfect Union!]]'', after Z2 was freed from its control and Team Flare's [[Giant Rock]] destroyed. Lysandre's fate was unclear after he was engulfed in the same explosion that destroyed the Giant Rock, while the other members were eventually arrested.

Team's Skull's intentions are to simply make enough money to survive. They have a history of disrupting [[island challenge]] events. The team's leader, [[Guzma]], once attempted the island challenge and failed. He is acquainted with [[Professor Kukui]]. [[Plumeria]], an Admin, is considered the "big sister" of the team and cares for the grunts, calling them her "cute, dumb brothers and sisters". It is eventually revealed by some of their members that the organization is composed of other people who also failed their island challenge. Their enforcer, [[Gladion]], is the son of Aether President [[Lusamine]] and joined their team to become stronger, though the grunts do not consider him a real member of their team. Their base is located in [[Po Town]].

Team Skull makes their first appearance in ''[[SM001|Alola to New Adventure!]]'', where three grunts challenge [[Kiawe]] to a Pokémon battle, threatening to steal his {{p|Charizard}}. {{Ash}} and {{an|Kiawe}} team up to defeat the grunts, with Kiawe defeating all of the grunts' Pokémon with his {{TP|Kiawe|Turtonator}}'s Z-Move. Five Team Grunts appeared in ''[[SM005|Yo, Ho, Ho! Go Popplio!]]'' where they were bullying a {{TP|Lana|Popplio}} before being seen off by {{an|Lana}} using her {{DL|Lana (anime)|Lapras}}'s {{m|Ice Beam}}. Three Team Skull grunts reappeared in ''[[SM011|Young Kiawe Had a Farm!]]'' where they sought revenge on Ash and Kiawe but were seen off with {{AP|Pikachu}}'s {{m|Gigavolt Havoc}}.