Raihan
キバナ Kibana
"The tamer of dragons!"
Sword Shield Raihan.png
Artwork from Sword and Shield
Gender Male
Eye color Teal
Hair color Black
Hometown Hammerlocke
Region Galar
Trainer class Gym Leader
Generation VIII
Games Sword and Shield
Leader of Hammerlocke Stadium
Badge Dragon Badge
Specializes in Dragon types

Raihan (Japanese: キバナ Kibana) is the Gym Leader of Hammerlocke's Gym, known officially as Hammerlocke Stadium. He specializes in Dragon-type Pokémon. He gives the Dragon Badge to Trainers who defeat him. He's also well-known for utilizing weather tactics in his battles.

In the games

Raihan is recognized as the strongest Gym Leader in Galar. He is the self-proclaimed rival of Champion Leon, and despite a losing streak of 0 to 10 against him, is the only person who has come close to beating him. While he specializes in the Dragon type, he will often use Pokémon of other types to set up weather conditions such as sandstorm and harsh sunlight. Raihan is often seen taking selfies on his Rotom Phone, a habit he initially picked up to remind him of the pain of defeat, but eventually this habit spread to other parts of his lifestyle.

League Cards

This is a transcript of the back of Raihan's League Cards in Pokémon Sword and Shield.

Normal League Card
"Raihan is commonly regarded as the most skilled Gym Leader in the Galar region. He has striven for victory in every environment, and as a result, he has adopted a battle style where he utilizes weather effects to their fullest. It is rumored that he could easily become another region's Champion should he choose to move, but it seems that to Raihan, defeating Leon is much more important. His uploaded selfies are quite popular. Occasionally he'll post a photo that only shows a sandstorm."
Rare League Card
"Raihan started taking selfies so as to never forget the pain of his defeats, but more recently he has been taking photos showing off his training routine, his fashion choices, and the like, causing some fans to leave harsh comments whenever he loses to Leon. It's true that Raihan is on a ten-nil losing streak against Leon, but no other Pokémon Trainer has managed to KO as many of Leon's Pokémon as Raihan has. Raihan no doubt looks forward to taking a selfie after finally defeating Leon."

Pokémon

Raihan keeps his Pokémon in Ultra Balls. In all battles, he will Gigantamax his Duraludon at the first opportunity.

Pokémon Sword and Shield

Gym battle



Champion Cup Finals



Championship tournaments



Quotes

Wyndon Stadium (Intro)
"Exhibition or not, Leon, your pristine record is about to end—when I beat you here today!"
Hammerlocke Stadium
"Let’s see, how many Gym Challengers are left? Huh... Not even ten, eh?"
"All right then. <player>! Time to explain the great Raihan’s Gym mission!"
"The rules are simple! All you’ve got to do is defeat three Gym Trainers that I personally trained—in Double Battles!"
"The Gym Challenge is meant to be, well... challenging, wouldn’t you say? Naturally there aren’t too many Gym Challengers who can make it this far."
"And that’s why I provide a format where you can really show off the brilliant combinations you and your Pokémon should be capable of!"
"That’s probably more than enough out of me. Time for someone else to take the spotlight! Come on, Sebastian! You’ll be first!"
"Time to face the second Trainer! Come on, Camilla!"
"You’ve made it to the third and last Trainer! Your moment to shine, Aria!"
  • If the player tries to exit mid-challenge
"Something the matter, <player>? You’re not done with my Gym mission yet."
Never mind: "Hah! Then hurry up and get it over with! I want to battle you already!"
I want to withdraw: "Are you sure you want to withdraw?"
Yes: "Fair enough. But you’re not the type to simply give up, right? I’ll be waiting for you to come back soon."
"Nice one, <player>! You’ve completed my Gym mission! Come on. Time to head to the Gym Stadium. You’ve earned the right to face me yourself!"
"Finally, a challenger made it! I’ve been waiting for someone to battle... Though I’ve got to admit I didn’t think it’d be you!"
"But I guess I should’ve expected no less from a Pokémon Trainer that Leon saw promise in."
"And you aim to defeat Leon... Do you have any idea just how high a hurdle that is? As his greatest rival, I guess that I—Raihan—will have to show you!"
"Gym Leader Raihan doesn’t simply control the weather. He also seeks two-on-two battles! You must be prepared for any situation against a foe like him!"
  • Upon having one Pokémon left
"It might be impossible to pull off a combo going solo, but it’s not impossible for me to still win!"
"Bring the storm! My partner will send everyone in the stadium flying!"
"Let’s do it... Time for our G-Max Depletion! The dragon’s roar will cut right through you!"
"Let the winds blow! Stream forward, Sandstorm!"
  • Upon reactivating Sandstorm
"The winds rise again! Stream forward, Sandstorm!"
  • If the player uses Hail
"Ho? Not bad—changing the weather to Hail like that!"
"Pulling out a Sunny Day! Hah! That’s not a bad countermeasure!"
  • After being defeated
"In the aftermath of the furious battle... I feel as pure and refreshed as when the sky clears after a storm."
"What can I possibly say? Calling myself Leon’s rival? Seems I’d grown quite conceited for someone who can’t even claim the title of Champion! Overconfident in both myself and my team!"
"I’ll give you what you want, then. The proof of your victory—the Dragon Badge!"
"You’ve collected all of the Gym Badges from the Galar region!"
"Now, win your way through the Semifinals and Finals for your chance to challenge Leon! You must! You owe us that much at least, for beating us in battle here today!"
"Hey! <player>!"
"Sorry to hold you up, but there was something I forgot."
"First off, as a sign of my respect... Here. TM99. It contains the move Breaking Swipe."
"And secondly...here’s the Dragon-type Gym uniform, the mark of true strength!"
"Number <player's number>, Challenger <player>! You’ve completed the Gym Challenge! Good on you, kid. Now, prove your strength to the whole region at the Champion Cup!"
"There you are, Leon’s little brother! Don’t worry—I’ll give you a battle that’ll make you want to quit the Gym Challenge altogether!"
"I’ll be seeing you, <player>! Let’s have another epic battle someday! If you’re feeling up to it, you might want to go train hard in the Wild Area!"
Wyndon Stadium
"You’re really something else, kid. You’ve made it all the way here! I guess that’s why the Champion himself endorsed you, yeah?"
"Leon’s my rival—and he chose you. So I’ve got to first prove I’m better than you if I’m to beat him! I’ve reworked my whole team, and now we’re all geared up for one-on-one battles!"
"You might be thinking that you beat me once already... But if you think I’m the same Raihan you faced during the Gym Challenge, you’ll soon regret it!"
"My lovely Pokémon and I have become much stronger than we were before... But you just blew right past us! Beyond anything I’d imagined!"
"I’m still pretty young myself, but it just goes to show that there’s always someone younger coming up, reaching further than you ever dreamed... And you’ve got your whole future ahead of you!"
"Keep up the momentum! Prove that Leon’s not unbeatable!"
Hammerlocke Stadium
"Well, if it isn’t <player> and Hop! It’s a real shame, the way things have turned out. You make it all the way to the Championship Match, then something like this has to happen!"
"And Chairman Rose thinking that the energy pouring from the Darkest Day would somehow be the key to saving Galar’s future? It all seems a bit mad, if you ask me... I can’t follow at all how that’s supposed to work."
"And he’s gone... That Hop never changes. Always in a rush about something, isn’t he?"
"The key thing is that no one’s been harmed. We Gym Leaders worked together with the city’s Pokémon, and we’ve got everyone evacuated."
"And you, you’re fixing to help our Champion? To save everyone in the Galar region?"
Of course I am: "Our greatest-ever Champion and the greatest- ever challenger, along with his/her fiercest rival... all teaming up against the Darkest Day... I almost feel sorry for it!"
That’s where I’m going now!: "Go on then, our great challenger! Into Hammerlocke Stadium with you!"
Hammerlocke Stadium (Sordward and Shielbert)
"Nice timing, you lot!"
"The stadium’s just about reached its limit! There’re simply too many Dynamax Pokémon running wild in there!"
"So that’s what’s caused all this? That’s a problem, all right... But before we get that sorted, we’ve got to do something about these Dynamax Pokémon!"
"Glad we’ve got you all here now. Though we’ve already done the bulk of the work!"
"Especially you, Piers! The way you battled me in the Champion Cup... You really had my Dynamax Pokémon up against the wall!"
"Fantastic! Looks like we’ve got ourselves together an unbeatable team!"
"Right! Everyone, split up so we can each take down one of the Dynamax Pokémon! Let’s do it!"
  • After defeating the Dynamax Pokémon
"You guys are the greatest! You really got me out of a tough spot here! I think I’d better snap a quick one to remember this victory by."
"I’ll take care of the Pokémon that went wild. No need for you all to worry about that."
"<player>! Give me a ring if things should go to pot again."
"I’m always happy to lend a hand if I can. The great Raihan is here for you anytime!"
"And Piers! You and I have got to battle again. This time, no Dynamaxing for either of us!"
"Wishing Stars being used for evil... I assume you all are already looking into who’s behind it, right? Carry on, then. I’ll take care of things here at Hammerlocke Stadium!"
Wyndon Stadium (Rematch)
  • Before battle
"I’m going to defeat the Champion, win the whole tournament, and prove to the world just how strong the great Raihan really is!"
  • Upon being defeated
"I look this good even when I lose. It’s a real curse. Guess it’s time for another selfie!"
  • After being defeated
"Considering how many likes the photos of my defeats to you get, I bet a victory photo would just explode! Wait... Have I got my priorities mixed up?"

Artwork

   
Raihan's League Card in
Sword and Shield
Raihan's rare League Card in
Sword and Shield

Trivia

  • Raihan's uniform number is "241", which can be read in Japanese as goroawase for 強い tsuyoi, meaning "powerful".
  • Raihan's name is a popular Arabic/Urdu name from Persia and Lebanon; written as ریحان it means "fragrant flower" or "aromatic herb".

Names

Language Name Origin
Japanese キバナ Kibana From 黄花藤 kibanafuji (common laburnum), may also incorporate 牙 kiba (tusk, fang)
English Raihan From golden rain and golden chain (names for the common laburnum)
German, Spanish, French Roy From Laburnum anagyroides (scientific name of the common laburnum)
Italian Laburno From laburno (laburnum)
Korean 금랑 Geumrang From 금사슬나무 geumsaseunnamu and 노랑꽃등 norangkkotdeung (names for the common laburnum)
Chinese (Mandarin) 奇巴納 / 奇巴纳 Qíbānà Transcription of his Japanese name
Chinese (Cantonese) 奇巴納 Kèihbānaahp


Gym Leaders of the Galar region
Turffield Stadium  
 
Milo
Hulbury Stadium  
 
Nessa
Motostoke Stadium  
 
Kabu
Stow-on-Side Stadium  
   
 
Bea Allister
Ballonlea Stadium  
   
Opal Bede
Circhester Stadium  
   
 
Gordie Melony
Spikemuth Gym  
   
Piers Marnie
Hammerlocke Stadium  
 
Raihan


  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.