Clair
- If you were looking for the character of the day from Going for a Spinda, see Claire.
Clair イブキ Ibuki | |
"The Blessed User of Dragon Pokémon" | |
Art from HeartGold and SoulSilver | |
Gender | Female |
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Eye color | Blue |
Hair color | Light blue |
Hometown | Blackthorn City |
Region | Johto |
Relatives | Lance, Dragon Clan Elder |
Trainer class | Gym Leader |
Generation | II, IV |
Games | Gold, Silver, Crystal, Pokémon Stadium 2, HeartGold, SoulSilver |
Leader of | Blackthorn Gym |
Badge | Rising Badge |
Specializes in | Template:Type2s |
Animated debut | Beauty is Skin Deep |
English voice actor | Megan Hollingshead |
Japanese voice actor | Yūko Mita |
Clair (Japanese: イブキ Ibuki) is the Gym Leader of Blackthorn City's Gym, known officially as the Blackthorn Gym. Her specialty is Template:Type2 Pokémon, and she gives the Rising Badge to Trainers who defeat her. Her cousin is Lance.
In the games
Clair appears in Pokémon Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold, and SoulSilver as the Leader of the Blackthorn Gym. She is the eighth and final Gym Leader to be met in the Johto region, and defeating her will allow Trainers to advance to the Indigo Plateau. Known as "The Blessed User of Dragon Pokémon", Clair is descended from a long line of Dragon-type Trainers including her cousin, Elite Four member Lance, and the elder of Blackthorn's Dragon Clan.
Clair is confident of her abilities as a Trainer, and speaks of herself as "the world's best dragon master". She can hold her own against the Elite Four: her only known loss is against Lance, now the Champion. Even if the player defeats her in battle, she refuses to accept his or her talents unless they pass the "Dragon User's Challenge". The Rising Badge that victors of the Blackthorn Gym are entitled to remains in Clair's possession until Trainers have navigated the Dragon's Den and located a shrine at its center. Only then will Clair acknowledge her loss. She will also encourage the player to excel at the Pokémon League; this is mainly personal, so she will feel less upset about her defeat at the hands of a child. As well as the Rising Badge, she will also issue a Dragon Technical Machine: TM24 (DragonBreath) in Generation II; TM59 (Dragon Pulse) in Generation IV. Many of her own Pokémon know these moves in the respective generations.
The player's rival, Silver, takes to training in the Dragon's Den once the Elite Four have been defeated by the player. In this way, he is said to act as Clair did when she was young herself. She returns here from time to time, and will battle alongside her cousin against Silver and the player. She tries to partner up with Silver after he challenges Lance (who asks the player to be his partner), but Silver insults her outfit and asks the player to partner with him instead. She comes to the Dragon's Den every morning between 6:00 AM and 10:00 AM after the player and rival defeat her and Lance, and will give her Pokégear phone number to the player. If called on Friday evening, she will journey to the Fighting Dojo and have a rematch with the player.
Clair makes an additional appearance in Pokémon Stadium 2's Johto Gym Leader Castle. This is the only appearance she makes where she uses Pokémon that are not draconian in origin.
Pokémon
This listing is of Clair's Pokémon in the video games she has appeared in.
Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal
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Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
Gym match
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Second battle (rematch)
Tag battle with Lance
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Pokémon Stadium 2
Round 1
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Round 2
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Quotes
Pokémon Gold and Silver
"I am Clair. The world's best dragon master. I can hold my own against even the Pokémon League's Elite Four. Do you still want to take me on? ...Fine. Let's do it! As a Gym Leader, I will use my full power against any opponent!"
"I lost? I don't believe it. There must be some mistake... I won't admit this. I may have lost, but you're still not ready for the Pokémon League. I know. You should take the dragon user challenge. Behind this Gym is a place called Dragon's Den. There is a small shrine at its center. Go there. If you can prove that you've lost your lazy ideals, I will recognize you as a trainer worthy of a Gym Badge!"
"All right. I recognize your true power. This Badge is yours."
Pokémon Crystal
"So how did it go? I guess there's no point in asking. You did fail? ......... ...What? You passed? That can't be! You're lying! Even I haven't been approved!"
"I-I understand... Here, this is the Rising Badge... Hurry up! Take it!"
"Wait! I'm sorry about this. Here, take this as my apology."
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
Fighting Dojo
- Before battle
- "...You are here. Now let's battle!"
- After being defeated
- "Way to go. ... Now give it your all!"
Pokégear Registering (Dragon's Den)
- "It's still early, and you've got nothing to do already? I may have time to listen to you. If you insist, I can exchange numbers, too!"
- "I can battle you on Friday nights if you insist!"
Pokégear Phone
- Clair calling the player:
- "Yes, it's Clair here... Oh, hi. How are you doing? Lately there seems to be some gossip running through town that I am the latest name in fashion. Well, if I'm that cool that people can't stop talking about me, I can totally understand that sentiment."
- Calling her:
- "Nice to hear from you. How is everything with you? I'm good. What's your point? If you want to battle me again, fine. Friday nights, take it or leave it. Call me then... Maybe I'll answer..."
- On Friday nights:
- "Nice to hear from you. How is everything with you? I'm good. Well, well, you called at the right time! You want to battle again? I'm up for it."
- No: "What in the world? Are you trying to make fun of me?!"
- Yes: "Ha ha ha. It's great that you're stepping up. I'll be waiting for you at the Fighting Dojo in Saffron City!"
- "Yes, it’s Clair here... Oh, hi. How are you doing? Keep in mind we’re meeting at the Fighting Dojo in Saffron City. It’s a promise I’m waiting to keep..."
- "Nice to hear from you. How is everything with you? I'm good. I’m waiting for you at the Fighting Dojo in Saffron City... Don’t wuss out."
Sprites
File:LeaderClair GSC.png | File:ClairHGSS.gif | File:S2 Leader Clair.png | |
Clair's sprite from Generation II |
Clair's sprite from Generation IV |
Clair's VS sprite from Generation IV |
Clair's artwork from Pokémon Stadium 2 |
In the anime
Clair appears in five episodes of the Pokémon anime, toward the end of the Master Quest saga: Beauty is Skin Deep, Fangs for Nothin', Great Bowls of Fire, Better Eight Than Never and Why? Wynaut!.
As Ash and company near Blackthorn City, they discover a Dratini and a Gyarados in a river. They discover that both Pokémon belong to Clair, who is following the Dratini down the river as it prepares to shed its skin. Team Rocket snatches the Dratini, however, and Clair gives chase, demonstrating her highly acrobatic abilities. Dratini escapes, and Ash fights to protect it. During the ensuing battle, however, an electric shock is headed straight for Dratini, but Clair jumps in front of it to absorb the shock. Dratini witnesses its trainer's devotion, and evolves into a Dragonair in order to put a stop to Team Rocket. Later, Clair is finally able to perform an important ritual to purify the legendary Dragon Fang. Clair then goes on to accept Ash's challenge for a Rising Badge.
Ash has the first strike, but the battle is cut short when Team Rocket steals the Dragon Fang. Ash, Clair and Team Rocket all end up in the Dragon Holy Land, where Team Rocket trick a Dragonite into helping them. Luckily, Liza and Ash's Charizard arrive to help save the day. Ash's Charizard then helps him earn him his final Johto League badge.
Although Clair does mention Lance in the anime, he is not her cousin like in the games; instead, she recalls that he trained under her at the Blackthorn Gym before he joined the Elite Four.
Pokémon
This listing is of Clair's Pokémon in the anime:
Debut | Beauty is Skin Deep |
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Voice actors | |
Japanese | Megumi Hayashibara |
English | Megumi Hayashibara |
- Main article: Clair's Dragonair
Dragonair is Clair's main Pokémon. It first appeared as a Dratini, when it was shedding its skin and Clair was protecting it at that time. When Team Rocket tried to steal Dratini, Clair protected it which led it to evolve into a Dragonair. With its new powers, Dragonair easily defeated Team Rocket.
Clair also used her Dragonair in the rematch against Ash in Better Eight Than Never. With its speed and power, it defeated Pikachu easily. With a wide range of moves such as Dragon Rage, it proved to be a tough challenge for Charizard as well. Eventually it was however defeated by Charizard's Seismic Toss, earning Ash the Rising Badge.
Debut | Beauty is Skin Deep |
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Voice actors | |
Japanese | Unshō Ishizuka |
English | Unshō Ishizuka |
Gyarados is Clair's hidden powerhouse. It is seen guarding her Dratini. Later, during Ash's rematch with Clair, it managed to defeat Ash's Snorlax and put up a good fight against his Pikachu, but eventually lost to Pikachu's Thunderbolt.
Gyarados's known moves are Hydro Pump, Hyper Beam, DragonBreath, and Bite.
Debut | Fangs for Nothin' |
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Kingdra is one of Clair's strongest Pokémon. Clair uses it in both battles with Ash. In the first battle, Ash first decided to use Pikachu, but as Pikachu's attacks didn't have that much effect on Kingdra, Ash switched to Noctowl, which was easily defeated. Right after this the match interrupted as Team Rocket was trying to steal the Dragon Fang.
During the rematch, Kingdra put up a good fight against Ash's Snorlax, but was finally defeated by Snorlax's Ice Punch.
Kingdra's known moves are Twister, Hydro Pump, Agility, Hyper Beam, and Swift.
Voice actors
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In the Pokémon Adventures manga
Clair was initially unhappy with the lack of capable trainers wishing to battle her. Clair then traveled to the Dragon's Den where she met Suicune and battled it. Despite her efforts, she was outclassed by its tactics, and lost rather quickly, due to Suicune's use of Mist to create a reflection or illusion of itself. She then learned from the Dragon Clan Elder that the legendary beasts appear to trainers they deem worthy which is why Suicune came to Clair. She then deduced that Suicune was looking for a worthy enough trainer to be its master.
Later, at the Gym Leaders Challenge, she was to face off against Blaine. This was an important matter for her, because as Lance's sister, she thought that Blaine would know what became of Lance after Blaine and Lance's battle at Cerise Island the year before.
During the attack by Team Rocket, which ended up with all the Gym Leaders trapped on the recently completed bullet train, she forced Blaine into fighting their duel. Blaine quickly won due to Entei's powerful attacks. Thus, the Kanto Gym Leaders claimed victory, with four wins, three losses and one draw.
Pokémon
This listing is of Clair's Pokémon in the Pokémon Adventures manga.
Debut | Debonaire Dragonair |
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Nothing is known about Clair's Kingdra as it was just following her around in the Dragon's Den.
Debut | Debonaire Dragonair |
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- Main article: Clair's Dragonair
Dragonair evolved from a Dratini prior to Debonaire Dragonair. It is considered to be Clair's strongest Pokémon as it was able to take out a trainer's Seadra.
In the TCG
This listing is of cards mentioning or featuring Clair or her Pokémon in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
Name | Type | Level | Rarity | Set | Set no. |
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Clair's Blastoise | - | Pokémon VS (no English release) | 46/141 | ||
Clair's Jynx | - | Pokémon VS (no English release) | 47/141 | ||
Clair's Gyarados | - | Pokémon VS (no English release) | 48/141 | ||
Clair's Dragonite | - | Pokémon VS (no English release) | 49/141 | ||
Clair's Politoed | - | Pokémon VS (no English release) | 50/141 | ||
Clair's Mantine | - | Pokémon VS (no English release) | 51/141 | ||
Clair's Kingdra | - | Pokémon VS (no English release) | 52/141 | ||
Clair's TM 01 | - | - | Pokémon VS (no English release) | 111/141 | |
Clair's TM 02 | - | - | Pokémon VS (no English release) | 112/141 |
Trivia
- Her Japanese Leader title is 聖なるドラゴンポケモン使い!.
- When Clair gives the player TM24 (DragonBreath) in Generation II, she says "No, it has nothing to do with my breath." This was a pun lost in translation, as Clair's Japanese name, Ibuki, can be taken to mean "breath". Despite this, a joke remains, as "dragon breath" is a term sometimes used for someone who has halitosis. Because she gives out TM59 (Dragon Pulse) in Generation IV instead, this joke was removed, though Clair does start to make a reference before becoming embarrassed.
- Clair is the only Gym Leader to be seen in the anime in the U.S. before she was seen in Japan. The U.S. opening Born to Be a Winner featured exclusive clips, one of them of Clair, not shown in Japan. The opening made its debut in A Goldenrod Opportunity which aired August 18th, 2001 and Clair's Japanese debut wouldn't come until Beauty Is Skin Deep which aired on June 6th, 2002. The only other character to debut in the U.S. first was Dr. Yung.
- Clair is the only Johto Gym Leader whose team's Pokémon changed between Pokémon Gold and Silver and Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.
- Clair appears as an opponent in Pokémon Puzzle Challenge. She uses a Dragonair in battle.
- In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, many characters in-game make fun of Clair's outfit, including Erika and Silver.
Names
Language | Name | Origin |
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Japanese | イブキ Ibuki | From 伊吹 Ibuki, Juniperus chinensis, and 伊吹山 Mount Ibuki. May also be from 息吹 ibuki, breath. |
English | Clair | Rhymes with lair, as in lair of a dragon. |
French, German, Italian | Sandra | From the word dragon. |
Spanish | Débora | Possible relation to the Spanish word dragón or víbora (viper). |
Korean | 이향 Ihyang | Means strange land. |
Chinese (Mandarin) | 小樁/小桩 Xiǎo Zhuāng | 樁/桩 means stake, pile. |
External links
- Ibuki's Profile on Pokeani (Japanese)
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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. |