Opal
| Opal ポプラ Poplar | |
| "The master of a fantastic theater!" | |
 Artwork from Sword and Shield | |
| Age | 88 |
|---|---|
| Gender | Female |
| Eye color | Blue |
| Hair color | White |
| Hometown | Ballonlea |
| Region | Galar |
| Relatives | Unnamed mother |
| Trainer class | Gym Leader |
| Generation | VIII |
| Games | Sword and Shield |
| Leader of | Ballonlea Stadium |
| Badge | Fairy Badge |
| Specializes in | Fairy types |
Opal (Japanese: ポプラ Poplar) is the Gym Leader of Ballonlea's Gym, known officially as Ballonlea Stadium. She specializes in Fairy-type Pokémon. She gives the Fairy Badge to Trainers who defeat her. During the events of Pokémon Sword and Shield, she chooses Bede as her successor and passes her Gym Leader title on to him.
In the games
Opal is designated the fifth Gym Leader Galarian Trainers face in their Gym Challenge. Opal became the Ballonlea Gym Leader at the age of 18, inheriting the position from her mother. As revealed in The Isle of Armor, 50 years prior to the events of Pokémon Sword and Shield, she battled against Mustard for the title of Galar League Champion, but was defeated, despite her Fairy-type Pokémon having a type advantage over Mustard's Fighting types. Opal is also known by her nickname, "wizard", due to her supposed ability to predict her opponents' moves in battle.[1] Due to her old age by the time of Sword and Shield, her Gym mission doubles as an audition to seek a successor for herself.
Opal is first seen at Motostoke Stadium for the Gym Challenge's opening ceremony. She later appears on Route 6, watching as the player and Hop battle a pair of Team Yell Grunts, and at Stow-on-Side to observe the player's battle with Hop. After being defeated in a Gym battle, she offers to escort the player to Hammerlocke so that they can get to their next Gym sooner. In Hammerlocke, she notices Bede and instantly sees him as a worthy successor, taking him with her back to Ballonlea. By the time of the Champion Cup in Wyndon, Opal has officially passed her mantle as a Fairy-type Gym Leader to Bede, although she still occasionally shows up at the Gym to give him advice. Due to her retirement, Opal does not participate in the post-game Champion tournaments.
League Cards
This is a transcript of the back of Opal's League Cards in Pokémon Sword and Shield.
- Normal League Card
- "Opal is the oldest Gym Leader in the Galar region. She took over for her mother 70 years ago and has kept the position since. However, she feels that her own values have reached their limits, and thus she is currently looking for a worthy successor. She claims that she gives deliberately tricky quizzes because people reveal their true colors when in a pinch, but many speculate that in reality, she does it out of pure spite."
- Rare League Card
- "Opal has thrust the duties of Gym Leader onto Bede, who had his Gym Challenger status revoked. That being said, she still shows up at the Gym Stadium every day, giving unsolicited advice, coming up with new quiz questions, and practicing various performances. What is this "pink" she insisted others show her? Maybe a clue lies in a comment she made during an old interview. "Keep thinking about the right answer, and eventually you'll create the right answer.""
Pokémon
Opal keeps her Pokémon in Ultra Balls.
Pokémon Sword and Shield
Opal will Gigantamax her Alcremie at the first opportunity.
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Quotes
- Route 6
- "You're one of the Gym Challengers endorsed by Leon, aren't you?"
- "My name's Opal. If you want to know more, have a look at my League Card."
- "I'll keep an eye on you, child. I want to see what you can do when you go all out."
- Stow-on-Side
- "That child... Gym Challengers should battle for the sake of their own Pokémon. Why worry about saving the Champion's name? We all know he's unbeatable."
- "Anyway, here’s something for letting me watch your battle."
- "Now, on you go, child. You're headed to the Stow-on-Side Gym next, no? The Gym Challenge is about having fun."
- Before Gym mission
- "Ah, there you are, my dear Gym Challenger. Though you are really lacking in the color pink. See, I'm looking for a successor to take on the role of Gym Leader here. So my Gym mission serves as an audition of sorts, too. Oh, don't worry. It's simple enough. All you need to do is battle my Trainers and answer the questions they ask along the way. Think carefully before answering, though, child. If you get the wrong answer, the stats of your Pokémon will get lowered. Oh, but if you answer correctly, your Pokémon will get a stat boost. Just think of it as a little Fairy-type Pokémon magic to make things interesting. Now, I want you to go all out. Show me what you can do!"
- Before battle
- "I suppose it's a bit late to introduce myself, but... I'm Opal, the Gym Leader. I've gotten a good look at how you handled those quizzes. The last part of the mission is me... Let me have a look at how you and your partner Pokémon behave!"
- First question
- "Question! You... Do you know my nickname?"
- The magic-user: "Bzzzt! Too bad."
- The wizard: "Ding ding ding! Congratulations, you're correct."
- Second question
- "Question! What is my favorite color?"
- Pink: "That's what I like to see in other people, but it's not what I like for myself."
- Purple: "Yes, a nice, deep purple... Truly grand, don't you think?"
- Third question
- "Question! All righty then... How old am I?"
- 16 years old: "Hah! I like your answer!"
- 88 years old: "Well, you're not wrong. But you could've been a little more sensitive."
- Upon having one Pokémon left
- "My morning tea is finally kicking in, and not a moment too soon!"
- Upon activating Gigantamax
- "Are you prepared? I'm going to have some fun with this."
- Upon using G-Max Finale
- "You lack pink! Here, let us give you some."
- Upon being defeated
- "Your pink is still lacking, but you're an excellent Trainer with an/some excellent Pokémon."
- After being defeated
- "Well, good try. Not bad, not bad at all. Still, not what I'm looking for... Oh, don’t worry yourself about it, child. It's just a matter of my preference. I'll find the next Gym Leader elsewhere. In fact, I've already got an idea about where to look. Too bad about the audition, but here's a Fairy Badge for your efforts."
- "Take this TM with you, too. A little bonus from this old lady."
- "Lastly, here's a little something for humoring me. This might help add a little more pink to you!"
- "Of course it's not good to neglect your elders, but old folk like me should also know when it's time to step out of the spotlight."
- Ballonlea
- "Hold on now."
- "I’ve got a few errands to run in Hammerlocke. Care to join me for the journey? If you're headed for the next Gym Stadium, you'll need to get to Hammerlocke, too, after all."
- With pleasure!: "They say two's company, after all."
- I'll find my own way: "I like that attitude, child. Still, you're in the middle of the Gym Challenge, are you not? You'll need to head back to Hammerlocke either way if you want to get to Circhester."
- Upon arriving, if traveled with Opal
- "Hammerlocke—always such a dusty town. Though I suppose some Pokémon prefer it that way."
- Upon encountering Bede
- "Hm? That boy..."
- "Now that's what I would call pink! So sincere and straightforward and yet so twisted and misguided... I like it! That's the kind of thing that gives people some depth!"
- "Time for my Gym mission, child!"
- "Pink!"
- "Pink!"
- "And pink!"
- "Congratulations, child!"
- "You were used by Oleana—am I right? You worked hard to gather Wishing Stars for her, only to have her throw you away like rubbish once she was done with you..."
- "Come with me, child. I might be able to help you out. Of course, it all depends on how much hard work you're willing to put in, too."
- "Farewell for now, child. You should head to Circhester. I take it you know how to get to Route 7."
- Upon arriving
- "Don't always be in such a hurry, boy. You aced my quiz, so show a little composure."
- "Bede has already quieted three Dynamax Pokémon. He's given you the luxury of some extra time."
- "Bede's life won't be bound by what other people say any longer. Although I certainly influenced a few of his decisions not too long ago."
- After defeating Bede
- "Now, that's what I would call a perfectly pink Pokémon battle!"
Artwork
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| Opal's League Card in Sword and Shield |
Opal's rare League Card in Sword and Shield |
Concept art of a young Opal |
In the manga
In the Pokémon Adventures manga
Opal debuted in PASS03. She, along with various other Gym Leaders, was first seen reacting to the news that Leon had endorsed two Trainers for the Gym Challenge.
Trivia
- Opal's uniform number is "910", which can be read in Japanese as goroawase for キュート kyūto, meaning "cute".
- Due to her retirement, Opal is the only Gym Leader in Pokémon Sword and Shield who cannot be rematched.
- The in-game model of Opal has the logo of HIJIKI OKA printed on its uniform, similar to those of Ballonlea Stadium Gym Trainers and Gym Leader Bede. However, it is almost never visible during actual gameplay.
- Opal has failed both Leon and Sonia for the audition of Gym Leader. Leon only got one answer correct, while Sonia answered all three questions correctly. Opal noted that while both were talented Trainers, Leon was hard to read and Sonia gave up a little too quickly.
Names
| Language | Name | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ポプラ Poplar | From poplar |
| English | Opal | From poplar and opal (a gemstone associated with various superstitions) |
| German | Papella | From Pappel (poplar) |
| Spanish, French | Sally | From Salicaceae (family that contains the poplar genus) |
| Italian | Poppy | From pioppo (poplar) |
| Korean | 포플러 Poplar | From her Japanese name |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 波普菈 Bōpǔlā | Transcription of her Japanese name |
| Chinese (Cantonese) | 波普菈 Bōpóulaahp |
References
Related articles
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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. |