Sophocles

Sophocles マーマネ Mamane
Artwork from Sun and Moon
Age	11-19SM
Gender	Male
Eye color	Brown
Hair color	Orange
Hometown	Unknown
Region	Alola
Relatives	Molayne (cousin)
Trainer class	Trial CaptainSMUSUM Pokémon TrainerUSUM
Generation	VII
Games	Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon, Masters EX
Specializes in	Electric types
Game animation debut	GOTCHA!
English voice actor	Jeannie Tirado (Masters EX)
Japanese voice actor	Michiyo Murase (Masters EX)
Anime counterpart	Sophocles
Counterpart debut	Alola to New Adventure!

Sophocles (Japanese: マーマネ Mamane) is the Trial Captain of Ula'ula Island's Hokulani Observatory. He specializes in Electric-type Pokémon. Molayne affectionately refers to him as Soffy (Japanese: マーくん Mā-kun).

In the core series

Sophocles is good with mechanics, having invented various machines, and shares a close bond with his cousin, Molayne. However, he is also quite shy. While Captains are typically picked by their respective Island Kahuna, Sophocles was picked by his cousin to succeed him.

Pokémon Sun and Moon

In the Pokémon Sun and Moon storyline, the player first meets Sophocles at the Hokulani Observatory on Ula'ula Island, where the Captain reveals he built a machine he calls the "Ping Totem Pokémon 2.0" (Japanese: ぬしポケモンこいこいマーク2 Come Here Leader Pokémon Mark 2). The invention broadcasts sounds audible only to Pokémon to lure the Totem Pokémon to him. He then tells the player that their trial will serve as a test run of his invention. Sophocles activates the Ping Totem Pokémon 2.0, only to cause a fuse to blow, and the trial proper to begin. After completing a series of audio tests and wild Pokémon battles, the player battles and defeats the Totem Vikavolt, and power is restored to the observatory. Sophocles awards the player with an Electrium Z.

During the post-game, Sophocles is one of the possible challengers the player may face at the Pokémon League while defending their Champion title.

The player can also meet Sophocles in Festival Plaza, which he owns. There, Sophocles will introduce the player to the basic mechanics of the facility, reward them when they level up the plaza, and help them install new shops.

Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon

In Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Sophocles's trial involves using a machine known as the Roller (Japanese: くるくるくん Spin Around-kun) to line up a group of nine Charjabug in order to provide electricity to a Vikavolt-shaped device that will power another machine known as the Pinger (Japanese: こいこいちゃん Come Here-chan) capable of luring out the Totem Pokémon. Though the player succeeds in lining all nine Charjabug, the device malfunctions and instead attacks the Charjabug, forcing Togemaru to step in and absorb the electricity with Lightning Rod. When the electricity is too much for Togemaru to handle, it is saved by Totem Togedemaru, who then challenges the player to a battle. After Totem Togedemaru is defeated, Sophocles awards the player with an Electrium Z.

When the player participates in Mina's trial, the player must challenge each of the Trial Captains to receive a flower petal from them. When the player meets with Sophocles, they find him expressing disappointment because Molayane is temporarily leaving. In Ultra Sun only, Sophocles will then challenge the player to a battle. Afterwards, the player will receive a Yellow Petal from him and be offered to be escorted to their next destination at the Aether House on Route 15.

In the prologue to Episode RR, he comes to the player's house to warn the player that Team Rainbow Rocket has taken over Festival Plaza and has redesigned the main plaza. Due to the Grunts messing with Festival Plaza's systems, the player is unable to use their on-hand Pokémon and must instead borrow three rental Pokémon from the Battle Agency to battle a Team Rainbow Rocket Grunt. Once the Grunt is defeated, Sophocles hacks Festival Plaza's systems and uses it to remove the Grunts. Once everything has returned to normal, Sophocles allows the player to use Team Rainbow Rocket's design of the main plaza if the player wishes to, as well as giving them an Eject Button.

Like in the original Sun and Moon games, Sophocles is also one of the possible opponents for the Title Defense battle in the Champion's room at the Pokémon League.

Pokémon

Sophocles's Pokémon are kept in Ultra Balls.

Pokémon Sun and Moon

Captain Sophocles Pokémon League Sun and Moon Reward: $7,320

Types: Electric Steel Ability: Iron Barbs Held item: None Togedemaru♀ Lv.61 Electric Terrain Electric Status   --       Zing Zap Electric Physical   --       Spiky Shield Grass Status   --       Fell Stinger Bug Physical   --       Types: Electric Steel Ability: Sturdy Held item: None Magnezone Lv.61 Flash Cannon Steel Special   --       Discharge Electric Special   --       Tri Attack Normal Special   --       Reflect Psychic Status   --       Type: Electric Unknown Ability: Motor Drive Held item: None Electivire♂ Lv.61 Thunder Punch Electric Physical   --       Giga Impact Normal Physical   --       Fire Punch Fire Physical   --       Quick Attack Normal Physical   --       Types: Bug Electric Ability: Levitate Held item: None Vikavolt♂ Lv.61 Bug Buzz Bug Special   --       Thunderbolt Electric Special   --       Air Slash Flying Special   --       Guillotine Normal Physical   --       Types: Rock Electric Ability: Sturdy Held item: None Golem♂ Lv.61 Stone Edge Rock Physical   --       Steamroller Bug Physical   --       Thunder Punch Electric Physical   --       Heavy Slam Steel Physical   --

Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon

Mina's trial^US

Captain Sophocles Hokulani Observatory Ultra Sun Reward: $6,120

Types: Electric Steel Ability: Iron Barbs Held item: None Togedemaru♀ Lv.51 Spiky Shield Grass Status   --       Zing Zap Electric Physical   --       Fell Stinger Bug Physical   --       Curse Unknown Status   --       Types: Electric Steel Ability: Sturdy Held item: None Magnezone Lv.51 Flash Cannon Steel Special   --       Discharge Electric Special   --       Tri Attack Normal Special   --       Curse Unknown Status   --       Types: Rock Electric Ability: Sturdy Held item: Electrium Z Golem♂ Lv.51 Stone Edge Rock Physical   --       Thunder Punch Electric Physical   --       Steamroller Bug Physical   --       Curse Unknown Status   --

Title Defense battle

Captain Sophocles Pokémon League Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon Reward: $8,040

Types: Electric Steel Ability: Iron Barbs Held item: None Togedemaru♀ Lv.67 Electric Terrain Electric Status   --       Zing Zap Electric Physical   --       Spiky Shield Grass Status   --       Fell Stinger Bug Physical   --       Types: Electric Steel Ability: Analytic Held item: None Magnezone Lv.67 Flash Cannon Steel Special   --       Discharge Electric Special   --       Tri Attack Normal Special   --       Reflect Psychic Status   --       Type: Electric Unknown Ability: Motor Drive Held item: None Electivire♂ Lv.67 Thunder Punch Electric Physical   --       Giga Impact Normal Physical   --       Fire Punch Fire Physical   --       Quick Attack Normal Physical   --       Types: Bug Electric Ability: Levitate Held item: None Vikavolt♂ Lv.67 Bug Buzz Bug Special   --       Thunderbolt Electric Special   --       Air Slash Flying Special   --       Guillotine Normal Physical   --       Types: Rock Electric Ability: Sturdy Held item: None Golem♂ Lv.67 Stone Edge Rock Physical   --       Steamroller Bug Physical   --       Thunder Punch Electric Physical   --       Heavy Slam Steel Physical   --

Battle Agency

Pokémon Trainer Sophocles Battle Agency Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon Reward: 180-380 FC

Types: Rock Electric Ability: Magnet Pull or Sturdy Held item: Air Balloon Golem♂/♀ Lv.59-100 Wild Charge Electric Physical   --       Double-Edge Normal Physical   --       Rock Blast Rock Physical   --       Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Types: Rock Electric Ability: Magnet Pull or Sturdy Held item: Weakness Policy Golem♂/♀ Lv.59-100 Rock Slide Rock Physical   --       Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Explosion Normal Physical   --       Rock Polish Rock Status   --       Types: Electric Steel Ability: Magnet Pull or Sturdy Held item: Bright Powder Magnezone Lv.59-100 Thunder Electric Special   --       Flash Cannon Steel Special   --       Magnet Rise Electric Status   --       Thunder Wave Electric Status   --       Types: Electric Steel Ability: Magnet Pull or Sturdy Held item: Assault Vest Magnezone Lv.59-100 Thunderbolt Electric Special   --       Flash Cannon Steel Special   --       Tri Attack Normal Special   --       Volt Switch Electric Special   --       Type: Electric Unknown Ability: Motor Drive or Vital Spirit Held item: Expert Belt Electivire♂/♀ Lv.59-100 Wild Charge Electric Physical   --       Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Fire Punch Fire Physical   --       Ice Punch Ice Physical   --       Type: Electric Unknown Ability: Motor Drive or Vital Spirit Held item: Life Orb Electivire♂/♀ Lv.59-100 Wild Charge Electric Physical   --       Feint Normal Physical   --       Ice Punch Ice Physical   --       Cross Chop Fighting Physical   --       Types: Bug Electric Ability: Levitate Held item: Electrium Z Vikavolt♂/♀ Lv.59-100 Thunderbolt Electric Special   --       Mud Shot Ground Special   --       Flash Cannon Steel Special   --       Volt Switch Electric Special   --       Types: Bug Electric Ability: Levitate Held item: Groundium Z Vikavolt♂/♀ Lv.59-100 Mud Shot Ground Special   --       Thunder Electric Special   --       Bug Buzz Bug Special   --       Guillotine Normal Physical   --       Types: Electric Steel Ability: Iron Barbs or Lightning Rod Held item: Red Card Togedemaru♂/♀ Lv.59-100 Zing Zap Electric Physical   --       Nuzzle Electric Physical   --       Fell Stinger Bug Physical   --       Poison Jab Poison Physical   --       Types: Electric Steel Ability: Iron Barbs or Lightning Rod Held item: Electrium Z Togedemaru♂/♀ Lv.59-100 Endeavor Normal Physical   --       Zing Zap Electric Physical   --       U-turn Bug Physical   --       Spiky Shield Grass Status   --

At Hokulani Observatory

		Togemaru ♀
		Main article: Sophocles's Togedemaru Togemaru is a Pokémon that helps around Hokulani Observatory. During Sophocles's trial, the device used to power the Pinger malfunctions and begins attacking the Charjabug. Although Togemaru uses her Lightning Rod to absorb the electricity fired by the device, she isn't able to fully absorb the attack, forcing Totem Togedemaru to appear and rescue her as well. None of Togemaru's moves are known, and her Ability is Lightning Rod.
Debut	Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon

		Charjabug (×9)
		Main article: Sophocles's Charjabug These nine Charjabug are Pokémon that help around Hokulani Observatory. Though each has its own nickname, only Onejabug, Twojabug, Threejabug, Sevenjabug, and Ninejabug are named out loud. During Sophocles's trial, the device used to power the Pinger malfunctions and begins attacking the Charjabug. Although Togemaru uses its Lightning Rod to absorb the electricity fired by the device, it isn't able to fully absorb the attack, forcing Totem Togedemaru to appear and rescue it as well. None of the Charjabug's moves are known.
Debut	Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon

In spin-off games

Pokémon Masters EX

Main article: Sophocles (Masters)

Artwork

Concept art

Sprites

In-battle model from Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon	VS model from Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon
Overworld model from Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon

Quotes

Main article: Sophocles/Quotes

In the anime

Main series

Sophocles in the anime

Main article: Sophocles (anime)

Sophocles debuted in Alola to New Adventure!. He is a student at the Pokémon School of Melemele Island and one of Ash's classmates.

GOTCHA!

Sophocles briefly appeared in GOTCHA!.

In the manga

Sophocles in Pokémon Adventures

Pokémon Adventures

Sophocles debuted in Truth and the Mastermind Behind Team Skull. He and Molayne were first seen helping innocent civilians escape from the Ultra Beasts that had escaped from Po Town to wreak havoc on Ula'ula Island. They managed to evacuate the people to Hokulani Observatory, but with the beasts still on the loose, they worried that it may eventually get attacked as well. To circumvent this problem, Sophocles decided to use an invention designed to call Totem Pokémon in order to guide the beasts away from the observatory, though it never worked.

In The Truth and Island Kahuna Hapu, Sophocles, Molayne, Acerola, Professor Kukui, and Gladion fought off a Celesteela and Guzzlord at Route 10 to prevent them from reaching Hokulani Observatory. Gladion easily defeated Celesteela and later defeated Guzzlord to prevent it from hurting Lillie.

In Adventure in the Dark Dimension, the Trial Captains and Island Kahunas were revealed to have spent six months on Exeggutor Island training to prepare for another clash with the Ultra Beasts. After their training was finished, Sophocles and Molayne used a Vikavolt-shaped airship to transport the others to Mount Lanakila, where a wormhole had opened up earlier. Shortly after they arrived, their ship was attacked by a group of Aether Foundation Employees and their Ultra Beasts. With the Z-Moves they had acquired, Sophocles and the others managed to defeat the Ultra Beasts.

Pokémon

		Togedemaru
		Main article: Sophocles's Togedemaru Togedemaru is Sophocles's only known Pokémon. It was first seen with its Trainer watching people be evacuated to Hokulani Observatory.
Debut	Truth and the Mastermind Behind Team Skull

In the TCG

Full Art print of Sophocles

Main article: Sophocles (Burning Shadows 123)

Sophocles was introduced as a Supporter card in the Pokémon Trading Card Game during the English Sun & Moon Series (the Japanese SM Era). It was first released in the Japanese Tapu Bulu-GX Enhanced Starter Set before debuting in English in the Burning Shadows expansion, with an illustration based on the Ken Sugimori artwork of the character. It was later released as both a regular and Full Art cards in Facing a New Trial and Burning Shadows, with an illustration by Sanosuke Sakuma. It allows the player to discard 2 cards from their hand and draw 4 cards.

Trivia

• In Pokémon Sun and Moon, Sophocles is the only Trial Captain not to give the player a set of Poké Balls after clearing their trial.
• Sophocles's shirt has a symbol very similar to the one that is seen next to a Pokémon if the Pokémon was transferred via Poké Transporter.
• Sophocles is the only notable Electric-type expert who isn't a Gym Leader.

Names

Language	Name	Origin
Japanese	マーマネ Mamane	From māmane (Hawaiian for Sophora chrysophylla))
English	Sophocles	From Sophora chrysophylla
German, French, Italian	Chrys	From Sophora chrysophylla
Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese	Chris	From Sophora chrysophylla
Korean	마마네 Mamane	Transcription of his Japanese name
Chinese (Mandarin)	馬瑪內 / 马玛内 Mǎmǎnèi	Transcription of his Japanese name
Chinese (Cantonese)	馬瑪內 Máhmáhnoih
Finnish	Sofocles	Similar to his English name
European Portuguese	Sófocles	Similar to his English name
Russian	Софоклис Sofoklis	Transcription of his English name
Thai	มามาเนะ Mamane	Transcription of his Japanese name
Vietnamese	Mamane	Transcription of his Japanese name

Soffy

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 小馬 Síu Máh Mandarin 小馬 / 小马 Xiǎo Mǎ French Chry-chry Polish Soffy Brazilian Portuguese Chrico

Related articles

• Sophocles (anime)

References

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

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.