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Non-player character

Revision as of 07:08, 19 September 2020 by Daniel Carrero (talk | contribs) (→‎Galar: Editing links to Rose, replaced: {{FB|Chairman|Rose}} → Rose)

A non-player character (commonly abbreviated as NPC) is a character in a Pokémon game whose actions cannot be controlled by the person operating the handheld or console. The direct opposite of an NPC is the player character.

The first NPC introduced in the Pokémon series, Pallet Town's Professor Oak

Functions of non-player characters

Non-player characters are typically present in core series games to further the progress of the player. Their duties vary. Early in the games they tend to offer advice for new players, similar to the Trainer Tips signage. Later in the game, as the player is more experienced, this function is less prominent, however at this point there still remain characters who encourage or hint at a visit to a certain area to fulfill a given task.

NPCs also supply the player with free items once, or with Pokémon in an in-game trade or as gifts. Sometimes, these cannot be received in another manner without trading. Several NPCs hand out items on a daily basis, such as the Berry Masters of Hoenn and Sinnoh.

The final typical variety of non-player characters is of those who compete or battle with the player, including villainous teams, the player's rival(s), Gym Leaders, and the Elite Four. This interaction may occur in Contests or Musicals; or battles in routes between cities, Gyms, the Pokémon League, or Battle Towers, for example.

In the core series games, many non-battling NPCs are typically characterized by their tendency to move one step in a random direction every few moments.

Important non-player characters

Kanto

Johto

  • Silver - Silver's first appearance was when he was seen lurking near a window to the Elm Pokémon Laboratory; he later broke in, stealing a Pokémon. He later used this Pokémon to battle Ethan/Kris/Lyra, doing this many times as they journeyed through Johto. This is not the only Pokémon he has stolen, as he also stole a Sneasel from a man in Cianwood City, and uses it in battle for the rest of the game.
  • Ethan/Lyra - Ethan/Lyra appears as the player's neighbor and teach the player how to catch Pokémon.

Hoenn

  • Brendan/May - Brendan/May is the original rival in the Hoenn games. They are the son or daughter of Professor Birch, and primarily assist in his research.

Sinnoh

  • Professor Rowan - Professor Rowan works in Sandgem Town with Dawn/Lucas and their family. This makes him the only Professor from the handheld games who does not live in the player's hometown. He left to go to Kanto to study Pokémon with Professor Oak for four years, until coming back reaching a conclusion: that Sinnoh holds greater secrets. He has a stern personality that makes him seem intimidating and mean, but he is actually very kind and patient. He also has lots of energy as shown when he was attacked by Team Galactic; he tried to fight back and was hard to handle.
  • Barry - Barry is always in a hurry and extremely impatient, and because of this, often crashes into other people or misses important details. He is incredibly determined and it is very difficult to discourage him; the only thing that has done this so far was his crushing loss to the Team Galactic Commander, Jupiter at Lake Acuity. Barry is also one to take risks and quickly jump into action; it was this behavior that caused the player and himself to be attacked by wild Starly, setting off the chain reaction that would result in the player receiving their first Pokémon.
  • Looker - Looker is the codename for a character introduced in Pokémon Platinum. In Pokémon Platinum, Looker is an important character, encountering the player multiple times over their journey across Sinnoh. He speaks with odd grammatical constructs, implying that he is not entirely fluent with the national language. He first meets the player in Jubilife City, giving them the Vs. Recorder, and appears often when Team Galactic is near. His motives are clear: his mission is to stop Team Galactic from causing havoc in the Sinnoh region.
  • Lucas/Dawn - Lucas/Dawn serves as Professor Rowan's assistant. They will teach the player how to catch Pokémon and help in some parts of the game, such as teaming up with the player against Team Galactic for Double Battles.

Unova

  • Professor Juniper - Professor Juniper debuted in Generation V, where, like the other professors, she will give the player a Pokédex in her lab; however, in Black and White she leaves a present containing the starter Pokémon at the player's house for the player, Bianca, and Cheren. She also demonstrates how to catch a Pokémon to the player. She specializes in the origins of Pokémon. She is the first core series Pokémon Professor who is female.
  • Cheren - Cheren is a childhood friend of Hilbert/Hilda who, like the player, lives in the starting town of Nuvema Town. He is an intelligent boy knowledgeable in Pokémon, and will as such offer the player advice during the course of their journey. His goal is to become the Champion. He is also a rival.
  • N - N is the leader of Team Plasma who appears in Pokémon Black and White. Throughout the game, he seems to be a strange, mysterious man who constantly battles the player, until he asks the player to ride Nimbasa City's Ferris wheel with him. At this point, he reveals he is the leader of Team Plasma. He is encountered twice more before interrupting the player's battle with Alder. He summons his castle from the earth and challenges the player to battle him. The player chases him through the castle, where the final battle occurs with N having caught either Reshiram or Zekrom. After his defeat, his guardian Ghetsis is disappointed once again and battles the player. N then disappears, not to be seen again until Black 2 and White 2.
  • Hugh - Hugh is a childhood friend and rival of the player in Black 2 and White 2. He is described as feeling passionately for Pokémon battles and Pokémon strength. He is also a doting older brother to his sister; he hates Team Plasma because it stole a Purrloin he had caught for his sister. He battles with and against the player many times throughout the game.
  • Nate/Rosa - Nate/Rosa appears in Nimbasa City. They will team up with the player to fight against the Subway Bosses Ingo and Emmet. After defeating them, Nate/Rosa will give the player a Vs. Recorder, and will reappear as the player's tag partner for the Battle Subway's Multi and Super Multi battles.

Kalos

  • Professor Sycamore - Professor Sycamore is the resident Pokémon Professor of Kalos. He does not directly give the player and his friends their Kalos region starter Pokémon, he will give the player a choice of one of the original Kanto starter Pokémon upon meeting him in person.
  • Calem/Serena - Calem/Serena is one of the player's four friends and serves as their friendly rival.
  • Shauna - Shauna is one of the player's four friends. She is very energetic and curious to see how her friends will progress on their journeys.
  • Tierno - Tierno is one of the player's four friends. He is an aspiring dancer who wants to form a Pokémon dance team.
  • Trevor - Trevor is one of the player's four friends. He is the one who brings the Kalos starter Pokémon and the Kalos Pokédex. He wants to be the first among his friends to complete his Pokédex.
  • Sina - Professor Sycamore's assistant. She tends to cut off Dexio when she's excited. Throughout the journey she and Dexio encounter the player multiple times to grant them Pokédex updates, check up on their progress, hand them items, or give friendly advice.
  • Dexio - Professor Sycamore's assistant. He always travels with Sina to take care of Professor Sycamore's tasks.
  • Emma - A girl that lived in the alleyways until she was taken in by Looker. She's a key character in the post game quest chain involving Looker.

Alola

  • Professor Kukui - Professor Kukui is a passionate man who studies Pokémon moves. He introduces the player, who has just moved, to the Alola region.
  • Lillie - A mysterious girl who loves reading, but dislikes Pokémon battles. She is working as an assistant of Professor Kukui for unknown, personal reasons, and is looking into the origins of the mysterious Cosmog, "Nebby".
  • Hau - One of the player's rivals. A friendly boy who quickly befriends the player after they move in, and the grandson of the Kahuna of Melemele Island, Hala. He starts his career as a Pokémon Trainer at the same time as the player.
  • Gladion - The player's other rival. An initally unfrienly young man that works as an unoffical memeber of Team Skull. He is tyring to become stronger to harness the hidden potential locked within his partner, Type: Null.

Galar

  • Sonia - Professor Magnolia's granddaughter and a childhood friend of Galar's Champion, Leon, and Gym Leader Nessa. She follows the player while researching the history of Galar's legends after
  • Hop - The player's primary rival. He's the younger brother of Leon, and wishes to succeed him.
  • Bede - One of the player's rivals. A haughty boy personally sponsored by his guardian and Chairman of the Galar Pokémon League, Rose. He is looking for Wishing Stars for an unknown purpose.
  • Marnie - Another one of the player's rivals. A stoic but well-mannered young girl who wants to become Champion to support her hometown of Spikemuth. She is followed everywhere by her personal fan club, Team Yell.


Project CharacterDex logo.png 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.
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