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Cheren is a childhood friend of the player who, like the player, lives in the starting town of Nuvema Town. While he holds a greater knowledge in Pokémon than his friends and tends to offer the player advice during the course of their journey, his comments are often witty and intellectual. He also misunderstands Bianca's humor often, to her dismay. Whilst Professor Juniper describes him as being very honest, she also remarks that he can be 'a little difficult'; his impatience in particular is often seen throughout the earlier stages of his journey. He is also described as being quite judgmental by Alder.
In keeping with the theme of truth and ideals often seen in Black and White, Cheren represents those who pursue ideals—more precisely, as N pointed out in Chargestone Cave, the ideal of strength. His goal is to become the Champion and always strives to become stronger, yet the first time that Alder asked him why he strives to become stronger, he was quite unsure of his reasons. He then starts to ponder to himself how to do so—something that Alder said he used to do with his partner Pokémon as well—and what exactly it means to be strong. Alder also remarked that Cheren is a lot like Marshal.
Like the player and Bianca, Cheren receives a starter Pokémon as a gift from Professor Juniper at the start of the game. He always chooses the starter with a type advantage over the player's starter. The player will encounter and battle him several times throughout the game. After the main storyline, Cheren can be found on Route 5. After talking to him there, he moves to Victory Road where he can be battled once a day.
In Black 2 and White 2, Cheren is the new Normal-typeGym Leader in Aspertia City, the player's hometown. He gives away the Basic Badge, replacing Lenora. Trainers who defeat Cheren will receive the Basic Badge, along with TM83 (Work Up). Outside of battle, Cheren works as a teacher at the Aspertia Trainer School, and according to Lass Serena in the Aspertia Gym, she was taught by him.
Cheren appears numerous times throughout the game, such as in Driftveil and Opelucid City, as well as Route 21. He gives the player and Hugh advice and guidance on the current situation, such as the freezing of Opelucid City, where Drayden learns of Cheren's ascension to the position of Aspertia Gym Leader.
This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: BW non-battle quotes, some B2W2 quotes,and probably some of the BW battle quotes, possible wellspring cave double battle quotes
"<Player>! I heard from Professor Juniper. We can have a Pokémon? … … What's keeping Bianca?"
"Bianca… I've known for ten years that you have no sense of time, but…seriously… Today's the day we can get a Pokémon from Professor Juniper!"'
"Naturally. The Pokémon are waiting for us inside that gift box. OK, <player>, you go first and take a peek at the gift box. I want to meet the Pokémon right now!"
If talked to before choosing starter
"Would you get a move on and open the gift box already? I'm sure the Pokémon are just as excited to meet us!"
After choosing the starter
"Hey, how come you get to pick out my Pokémon? Oh, never mind. I wanted this one from the start, anyway."
"Honestly, Bianca… Even though they're still weak Pokémon, you shouldn't have Pokémon battles inside a house."
After Bianca battle
"Uh… … Bianca, would you take a look around?"
"You…are completely hopeless. Here! I'll restore your Pokémon for you. <player>'s Pokémon needs to be fixed up, too."
"I believe you're right! It'll be no problem for me to keep the room from getting any messier. Besides, it's not fair if you tow are the only ones who get to have fun battling!"'
"It's decided. You'll be my opponent… in our first Pokémon battle!"'
After first move
"I've finally become a Trainer… Everything starts from here!"
Being defeated
"Ah! So that's a Pokémon battle!"
After being defeated
"I made a strange blunder in my first battle, but this feeling I have… …I'm finally a Trainer. But first, we'd better go apologize to your mother about this messed-up room."
After winning
"This feeling… Finally, I'm a Trainer. On top of that, we'd better go apologize to your mother about this room."
"I'm very sorry about all the trouble, ma'am."
"Yes, thank you! Please excuse us. Come on. Let's go thank Professor Juniper. I'll be wiating in front of the Pokémon Research Lab."
Near lab
"I'm sorry, but could you go to Bianca's house? I'll bet she's spacing out like she usually does. She's totally flighty."*
"OK! Let's go meet the professor."*
Juniper Pokémon Lab
"Professor Juniper? We know your name."
"It's for the Pokédex, right?"
"Thank you very much. Because of you, I can become a Pokémon Trainer, exactly as I always wished."
"Of course. Wecan travel however we want while we complete the Pokédex."
"Finally, I can become a Pokémon Trainer. I'll have real battles with other Trainers and get stronger. Wait and see!"*
Outside Lab
“I’ll take good care of it”
“If I use this Town Map, I’ll always know where I am… That’s certainly helpful. Shall we head to Route 1? The Professor’s waiting.”
Near Route 1
“Bianca says if we’re starting a journey, she wants us all to take out first step at the same time.”
“Professor Juniper, I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.”
After Juniper Demonstration
“She forgot to say Pokémon jump out at you in the tall grass. I’m heading to Accumula Town, too.”
“But we need to get going! I’d imagine the Professor’s waiting too.”
“Huh. Actually, that sounds interesting. It will fill up Pokedex pages, so I’m sure it will please the Professor to. OK, then. Until we reach Accumula Town, take care of healing your Pokémon at your house.”
Outside Accumula Town
“<player>, are you going to compare yourself with Bianca? Both Bianca and I have two Pokémon with us.”*
“Incidentally, if you check your pokedex, you’ll see how many Pokémon you’ve found and how many you’ve caught. I’m off to Accumula Town! The professor is waiting.”
“Slow down. You talk too fast. And what’s this about Pokémon… talking? That’s an odd thing to say.”
“My name is Cheren, and this is <player>. We were asked to complete the Pokedex, and we just left on our journey. My main goal is to become the champion, though.”
“Huh… Strange guy. But I’m not going to worry about it. Trainers and Pokemon help each other out! Listen, I’m going on ahead. I want to battle the Gym leader in the next town—Striaton city. Aim to battle gym leader after gym leader. The best way for a trainer to become stronger is to challenge the gym leaders in each area.”
“When a Pokemon is poisoned, its HP decreases while it is battling. Hey, <player>. Have you come liking for the gym leader?”
No:“Nothing improves your skill as a trainer like battles. That’s why challenging the Gym Leaders is great practice.”
Yes:“He was here talking about Pokémon types until just a few minutes ago… Maybe you walked right past him?”
“By the way, <player> will you have a battle with me? I want to test how important items are in battles."
No:“Really? I really want to they out my items, so I’ll just wait here until you decide you’re ready.”
Yes:“well, let’s see how effective my items are… Or maybe I should test how well I can battle without items…? Anyway, this is an indoor match, so lets battle without getting too rough!”
After first move
"Moves that never miss and moves that can attack first… There sure are a lot of different moves."
Sending out last Pokémon
"It's important to choose which item your Pokémon holds…"
Being defeated
"I see! Losing to you means that I still have a lot to learn."
After Battle
“So learning to use items well is definitely important, then. Oh, here. <player> I’ll give you these berries.”
“If you give a pokemon this kind of Berry to hold, it will eat it to heal up when its HP goes down in battle. But if you give it man-made items like potions to hold, they can’t use them. Well, good luck then.”
“<player>, stop! We both have a Trio badge, so let’s see which of us is stronger!”
After first move
"Ugh! You choose a good move, as usual."'
Last Pokémon with low health:
"With my knowledge, I can bring out the strength of my Pokémon!"
After defeat:
"Why do you keep beating me? We have the same number of Gym Badges. We should be equals in strength…"
After Battle
“I see. So that’s how you battle.”
“What was that about? Bianca? Why are you running?”
“That way, but… Why are you running now?”
“Bianca, really, why were you running?”
“You should have spoken up sooner! <player>, we’re going to get that Pokemon back. Bianca! Please stay by the girls side.”
Outside Wellspring Cave
“They ran inside here! <player>, your Pokémon’s HP is fine and you’re ready to go, right?”
No:“I could never forgive myself if we were to lose to the kinds of thugs who would take peoples Pokémon! I’ll wait here. Hurry and get ready!”
Yes:“Then let’s go.”
Wellspring Cave
“<player>! This bothersome bunch doesn’t really listen to reason.”
“Not bad, <player>. OK, go return the Pokémon to that girl.”
“So, there were more of them… Still, why are Pokémon robbers acting so self-righteous? <player>! We’ve been friends our whole lives. We’ve got each other.so back when it counts. Let’s show then how it’s done!”
After Double Battle
“Whatever… What a waste of time. Come on, what reason could possibly justify stealing Pokemon from people?”
“what do you mean, Trainers are making Pokemon suffer? I don’t get that at all!”
“Trainer’s bring out their Pokémon’s strength. Pokémon believe in their Trainer’s and respond to that. I don’t understand what about that makes Pokemon suffer! OK, <player>. I’ll return the Pokémon.”
lower Route 3
“<player> Stop! The dark tall grass over there… Every now and again, two pokemon will pop out at the same time. In other words, you have to be careful in the darker grass. I’m heading to Nacrene City.”
“If you go straight from here, there’s a Pokémon center. And… take these if you want.”
“Give your Pokémon a Chesto Berry to hold. Then, of it ever falls asleep, it will wake up immediately. Oh and another piece of advice—Nacrene City’s Gym Leader uses Normal types. It you have a Fighting-type Pokémon, it might give you a big advantage.”
Outside Nacrene Gym
“<player>, is there some kind or problem?”
“For now, all we need to do is protect the museum, right?”
“hey, <player>. I just challenged the Gym Leader Burgh. He’s a seasoned Gym Leader. He made me work for that badge! But for me, Bug-type Pokémon aren’t much of a challenge. I’m going to keep winning like this against all of the Unova region’s gym leaders! Then, I’ll head for the Pokemon League and outperform the champion! If I do that, everyone will admit what a strong trainer I am… that will make me feel truly alive…”
“Hey, <player>. I’ve been waiting for you to get the Insect Badge. And now it’s time to see which one of us is the stronger Trainer!”
After first move
"You seem to understand the importance of the first attack very well."
Last Pokémon low on health
"If I can bring out the power of my Pokémon, I can still pull this off and win."
Being defeated
"Impressive. But why can't I win?!"
After Battle
“It’s now clear to me. The reason you are so tough is the trust between you and your Pokémon. But… that shouldn’t be a problem. I can get more out of <Cheren’s starter> and my other Pokémon, too."
On Xtransceiver
“Professor Juniper, do you need something?”
“…um, hello?!”
After Call
“Nimbasa City’s gate is straight down Route 4.”
Nimbasa City Gate
“Come here.”
“It seems the Professor gave us the Pokedex as a reason to send us on a journey. At least, that’s what my mom told me. They wanted us to go out and see the world, so my mom, Bianca’s mom, and your mom made a request to Professor Juniper. <player>, what should we do now? I think I’d like to show the professor my thanks by going to Route 4 and catching some Pokémon I haven’t caught.”
"You must be a challenger! Welcome to Aspertia City's Pokémon Gym. I'm Cheren, the Gym Leader! Hm? Well, maybe I'd better say that I just became the Gym Leader! More importantly, we need to prepare before welcoming you to the Gym."
"We have a challenger You two, take your places!"
"If you can defeat these two, then I'll be your opponent!"
Before battle:
"Just as this is your first Gym challenge, this is my first Pokémon battle as a Gym Leader! Let's both do our best and have a battle we can be proud of!"
During battle (the first non-KO HP loss):
"To have chosen that move... I see! You'll be a powerful opponent!"
Sending out last Pokémon:
"As a Gym Leader, I aim to be a wall for you to overcome!"
Being defeated:
"This! This is what a real Pokémon battle is!"
After being defeated:
"That battle has made me feel really glad you were my first challenger as a Gym Leader… I give you this in honor of the strength you and your Pokémon showed!"
"Here is your first Gym Badge, the Basic Badge! This is an important milestone! With this Badge, Pokémon up to Lv. 20 will obey you, including traded Pokémon."
"And I want you to take this! TM83 can teach your Pokémon the move Work Up! When you use Work Up while battling, it raises the user's Attack and Sp. Atk. By the way, TMs can be used as many times as you want!"
"In the Unova region, there are eight Pokémon Gyms and eight Gym Badges! If you're a Trainer, you could collect all of them! That will make it easier to fill the pages of the Pokédex as well! Yes, two years ago, Pokédex in hand, I left on a journey with my friends."
"See the dark tall grass here? It's rare, but sometimes two Pokémon pop out at the same time. Also, the Pokémon that hide in dark grass are slightly stronger. So be careful if you walk through."
"If you're going to challenge the next Gym, it's the Virbank Gym. These might help!"
"Here are some for you, Hugh! Both of you, do your best! If you need anything, call me on the Xtransceiver."
"Why did you call me here, too? I'm busy looking into something!"
"Man oh man... You never change, Clay. But the tournament itself does look pretty fun! OK! I'll go register!"
After the Driftveil Tournament
"The Unova Gym Leaders will probably participate in order to improve their skills."
"I barely recognized you and <player>. You two are way different when we battled in Aspertia City! Traveling with Pokémon makes everyone grow so much..."
"I'm as thrilled as I can be to battle here against you, the first challenger I battled as a Gym Leader. I'm sure you've learned something about Pokémon during your journey. Now, I'm going to see if your bond with your Pokémon has grown stronger!"
Being defeated
"Fantastic! You and your Pokémon have grown much stronger!"
If the player is defeated
"Even when you lose, your Pokémon are still brimming with fighting spirit."
After winning/being defeated
"I made it where I am because Pokémon were by my side. Perhaps we need to think about why Pokémon help us not in terms of Pokémon and Trainers but as a relationship between living beings."
Other Tournaments
Before battle (first round)
"I feel that if it's with you, this battle won't be a simple competition but a battle where I can ponder the relationship between Pokémon and their Trainers."
Before battle (second round)
"Do you want to show how strong you are by winning, or do you want to learn what battling really means? Pokémon battles have no meaning if you don't think why you battle. Or better said, it makes battling together with Pokémon meaningless."
Before battle (final round)
"Even if hurt, my Pokémon will fight for me with just one command. I think I'll value and trust your Pokémon more if you keep that fact close to your heart. What can I do for these Pokémon? What should I do? That's right! I battle with everything to find the ideal relationship between Pokémon and people!"
When defeated
"Thank you! I feel like I saw a little of the way toward my ideals."
If the player is defeated
"Even when you lose, your Pokémon are still brimming with fighting spirit."
After being defeated
"I'll keep battling many Trainers and Pokémon like this, and if I can learn what kind of person I am, it will open up my path. I'm sure this path will lead me to become the person I'm meant to be. Pokémon will always be with you and me as we go down our own paths. Our important friends, Pokémon..."
After winning
"Pokémon are by all of our sides--mine, yours, and each and every Trainer's! That's why we move forward! The Pokémon walking alongside us give us the strength to do so!"
In the lobby, after the tournament
"I learned something from this battle... But only a little. What does it mean to be strong...? What are Pokémon...? There are so many things I don't know!"
Everyone has a different dream. Search for your life's purpose.
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 3rdGradeGoodyGoody! Thank yooou! 'Recently, I saw Cheren making his thumb and middle finger into a circle like glasses. He said he gave up his glasses so he can focus on Pokemon battles, but maybe Cheren actually misses them' Hm... Maybe a circle is just a circle! 'The National Gymquirer'! We eagerly await your letters!"
Cheren was mentioned in New Places... Familiar Faces! by Professor Juniper where she explained that he was a new Gym Leader located at Aspertia City. Cheren first appeared in There's a New Gym Leader in Town!. Ash and his friends met him at the Aspertia Gym, where they learned that he was also a teacher at the Trainers' School, which was located at the Gym. When Pikachu and Axew accidentally caused loud noises on the School's PA, making all the School's Pokémon run wildly around, Ash, Iris, and Cilan helped Cheren to gather them. Finally only a Shinx was left. When it was too scared to come closer, Cheren went to it, and, ignoring its Electric shocks, managed to calm it down. Afterwards, Cheren agreed to have an unofficial battle with Ash. Ash used his Oshawott, while Cheren used his Herdier. Cheren eventually won the battle, with Herdier taking Oshawott out with a super effectiveThunder Fang.
Cheren takes care of many Sunflora that live in the Aspertia Gym. When Pikachu and Axew accidentally caused loud noises on the school's PA, all the school's Pokémon ran wildly around, including the Sunflora. Ash helped Cheren gather them.
Cheren takes care of many Ducklett that live in the Aspertia Gym. When Pikachu and Axew accidentally caused loud noises on the school's PA, all the school's Pokémon ran wildly around, including the Ducklett. Cilan helped Cheren gather them.
Cheren takes care of many Minccino that live in the Aspertia Gym. When Pikachu and Axew accidentally caused loud noises on the school's PA, all the school's Pokémon ran wildly around, including the Minccino. Iris helped Cheren gather them.
Cheren takes care of two Shinx that live in the Aspertia Gym. When Pikachu and Axew accidentally caused loud noises on the school's PA, all the school's Pokémon ran wildly around, including the Shinx. Ash, Iris, and Cilan helped Cheren to gather them.
Cheren appears as a supporting character in Pokémon Adventures.
In the Be the Best! Pokémon B+W manga
Cheren in Be the Best! Pokémon B+W
Cheren is friends with both Monta and Bianca, he is very knowledgeable about Pokémon, which Monta dislikes. Anywhere Monta slips up he won't hesitate to tell him the right way.
He first appears with Bianca when Monta is attempting to capture a wildPatrat and Watchog. Monta is just about to capture the Watchog which Cheren tells him that it is not the right way. He explains to Monta to remember that when two Pokémon come out at the same time, one should knock out the one they don't want before they can get the one that they do want. Cheren suddenly decides for all of them to take their Pokémon journey together, which a man on his bike overhears. He starts insulting them making him and Monta angry.
He uses Tepig in a Double Battle with Monta's Snivy against a Biker King's Braviary, it looks like they were about to lose, but they uses a combination attack which Cheren thinks of, fainting Braviary. Cheren battles Monta in The Key to Triple Battles using his Tepig, Pansage and Basculin against Monta's Snivy, Panpour and Roggenrola. He starts off with a lecture about triple battles. With his great knowledge of triple battles he gives Monta a hard time, but is eventually defeated. He has traveled with Monta and Bianca from time to time.
Cheren battles Monta in The Birth of the Best Pokémon Trainer! in a Single and Triple Battle. Even though the Single Battle was easier for Monta, Cheren gave him a hard time in the Triple Battle.
Cheren's Tepig is well trained and has a type advantage over Monta's Snivy. It was first used in a Double Battle with Snivy against the Biker King's Braviary. After Snivy tries a Vine Whip which hardly does any damage, he goes in for a fire attack which hardly does any damage too. Tepig is then sent flying with Peck. It goes in with a Fire Pledge with Grass Pledge creating the combination needed to defeat Braviary.
It battles Monta in The Key to Triple Battles with Pansage and Basculin against Monta's Snivy, Panpour and Roggenrola. It starts off with an Ember on Snivy, before taking a hit for Basculin by switching places with it, not hurting it much. But seconds later, Panpour uses Surf fainting it.
Tepig reappeared as an Emboar where it fought with Monta's Reshiram, Victini and Zekrom in the Single and Triple Battle.
Cheren's Red-Striped Basculin was first seen in a battle against Monta's Snivy, Panpour and Roggenrola with Tepig and Pansage. It is about to get hit by Snivy's Vine Whip but switches places with Tepig. It then gets hit by Panpour's Surf which does not do much damage. But along with Pansage is defeated by a powerful Rock Slide from Roggenrola, fainting it.
Cheren borrowed Samurott during his Triple Battle against Monta.
In the Pocket Monsters B2 W2 ~ A New Legend ~ manga
Cheren was going after Arata when he was trying to protect a Keldeo in a forest located in Aspertia City. Due to Arata's cowardly personality, he sent out his Samurott to reveal where he was hiding. After Arata explained what he was doing with Keldeo, two Team Plasma Grunts arrived with their ambition on catching Keldeo. When Cheren got knocked out from the grunts's Eelektross, he was saved by his friend, Hiro, who disbanded the team not too long ago. As Hiro arrived, Cheren wondered why he didn't keep in touch.
Cheren sent out Samurott to cut down a tree that Arata was hiding in. Later, when two Team Plasma grunts arrived with their ambition to catch Keldeo, Cheren had Samurott battle their Eelektross. Despite being quicker than its foe, Samurott was rendered useless when it jumped in the way of Eelektross from harming Arata and Keldeo.
None of Samurott's moves are known.
In the Pocket Monsters BW: Meetings with the Legends manga
Cheren appeared as a supporting character and a friend of Touya in Pocket Monsters BW: Meetings with the Legends. He was first seen going up to Touya after Touya had a discussion with N about their dreams. Cheren, Touya, and Bianca discussed about the speech Team Plasma delivered. When two Team Plasma grunts took a little girl's Minccino, Cheren decided to go after Ghetsis and the rest of Team Plasma to see what they're going to do next.
He headed to Icirrus City where he gave Touya and Bianca a call on the Xtransceiver to come over to the Gym. He explained to the two that Team Plasma were about to make Brycen release his Pokémon. While Team Plasma began their assault in Dragonspiral Tower, Cheren, Bianca, and Brycen stayed behind to take the grunts on.
Cheren obtained Snivy as his starter Pokémon. It was revealed to have evolved into Servine when Cheren sent it out to battle Team Plasma.
In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga
Cheren makes a brief appearance in the very first chapter of Pocket Monsters BW where he along with Black and Bianca go to Professor Juniper's lab to get their first Pokémon.
In the TCG
This listing is of cards mentioning or featuring Cheren or his Pokémon in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
Related cards Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format. Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.
Cheren is the first rival to become a Gym Leader within a generation. Blue was the player's rival in Generations I and III and was a Gym Leader in Generations II and IV.
Cheren is the only Gym Leader who gives out a Badge previously given out by another Gym Leader in a different Gym.
Cheren is the only Normal-type Gym Leader in the anime that Ash did not have a rematch with after losing a Gym battle with, due to Ash already having the Basic Badge.
Cheren is the only Gym Leader to have an official battle with Ash after he had already participated in the region's Pokémon League.
Names
Language
Name
Origin
Japanese
チェレン Cheren
From черен čéren, Bulgarian for black.
English, German, Spanish
Cheren
Same as Japanese name.
French
Tcheren
Same as Japanese name.
Italian
Komor
Possibly komor, Hungarian for gloomy.
Korean
체렌 Cheren
Same as Japanese name.
Chinese (Mandarin)
黑連 Hēilián*
Rough transliteration of his Japanese name. Contains 黑 hēi (black).
謙煉 Qiānliàn*
Rough transliteration of his Japanese name. Possibly from 試煉 shìliàn (trial) or 鍛煉 duànliàn (to toughen).