Archer
Archer (Japanese: アポロ Apollo) is one of the Team Rocket Executives introduced in Pokémon Gold and Silver. He was not given an official name or design to distingush him from the other male Executives until Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.
| Archer アポロ Apollo | |
 Artwork from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver | |
| Gender | Male |
|---|---|
| Eye color | Teal |
| Hair color | Black*, Teal* |
| Hometown | Unknown |
| Region | Johto, Kanto |
| Trainer class | ExecutiveGSCHGSS AdminFRLG Team Rocket AdminPE Pokémon TrainerPE |
| Generation | II, III, IV, VII |
| Games | Gold, Silver, Crystal, FireRed, LeafGreen, HeartGold, SoulSilver, Let's Go, Pikachu!, Let's Go, Eevee! Stadium 2, Masters EX |
| Member of | Team Rocket |
| Rank | Executive, Interim Boss |
| Game animation cameos | Pokémon Masters Animated Trailer |
| English voice actor | Christian La Monte[1] (Masters EX) |
| Japanese voice actor | Kōji Takahashi (Masters EX) |
In the core series games
An unnamed male Team Rocket Admin that may be Archer appeared in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen in the Rocket Warehouse on Five Island. He is the leader of the Sevii Islands branch of Team Rocket, and accuses the player of spreading rumors that Team Rocket has disbanded, something he does not believe. When the player defeats him, he recognizes the Earth Badge and accepts that Giovanni has been defeated, finally disbanding Team Rocket, but he vows to find him and resurrect Team Rocket someday. The computer he was working on mentions the effect of radio waves on Pokémon Evolution, foreshadowing Team Rocket's later actions.
Three years later, Archer is the interim head of Team Rocket during the absence of Giovanni. He leads the team in its takeover of the Goldenrod Radio Tower, aiming to locate his missing leader and bring him back to the team. After being defeated, he disbands the organization again and disappears.
Archer appears in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! as Giovanni's trusted confidant and deputy. He is first seen in the Team Rocket Hideout, meeting with Giovanni regarding his studying of the Silph Scope. Though Giovanni dismisses the Silph Scope itself as a toy, he agrees with Archer's assessment that it proves Silph Co. can provide technology useful to Team Rocket and gives Archer the assignment to plan Team Rocket's attack on the company. As he leaves Giovanni's office, he comes across the player, and battles them to keep them from reaching Giovanni. After his defeat, he allows the player to pass. He later appears during Team Rocket's invasion of Silph, where he battles the player and Trace with the assistance of a Grunt. Despite his initial failure to stop the player and Trace, he returns soon after with the intent of wasting as much of their time as he can. Trace decides to battle Archer so that the player may reach Giovanni.
Later, following the disbandment of Team Rocket, Archer can be found in Giovanni's office in the Team Rocket Hideout. He challenges the player to one last battle out of anger for their defeat of Giovanni. Following his defeat, he reveals that he expected the player to show up eventually and drafted a letter to them, in which he congratulates the player for becoming Champion and declares his intent to leave Kanto to found a stronger incarnation of Team Rocket somewhere else before announcing the organization's return. Archer questions himself regarding what he wanted the player to think of him, then tears up the letter and leaves, bidding the player farewell.
Pokémon
Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen
Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!
First battle
Second battle
Archer battles the player and Trace alongside a Team Rocket Grunt during the attack on Silph Co.
Third battle
In the side series games
Archer also appears in Pokémon Stadium 2. He is the final member of a group of Team Rocket members who bar the player's progress to the Mahogany Gym after they've defeated Jasmine. In Round 1, his team has no clear theme, but in Round 2, most of his Pokémon know Swagger. He also appears in the Challenge Cup during Round 2, taking part in the Poké Ball and Ultra Ball divisions of the tournament.
Pokémon
Pokémon Stadium 2
Gym Leader Castle
Round 1
Round 2
Challenge Cup
Poké Ball Class
| # | Pokémon | Types | BST | Rate | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | 
|
bulbaSAUR | Grass | Poison | 318 | 46% |
| 023 | 
|
ekANS | Poison | 288 | 62% | |
| 029 | 
|
nidoRAN | Poison | 275 | 70% | |
| 032 | 
|
nidoRAN | Poison | 273 | 68% | |
| 041 | 
|
zuBAT | Poison | Flying | 245 | 84% |
| 043 | 
|
oddISH | Grass | Poison | 320 | 45% |
| 048 | 
|
venoNAT | Bug | Poison | 305 | 50% |
| 069 | 
|
bellSPROUT | Grass | Poison | 300 | 51% |
| 088 | 
|
griMER | Poison | 325 | 45% | |
| 167 | 
|
spinARAK | Bug | Poison | 250 | 80% |
Ultra Ball Class
In the spin-off games
Pokémon Masters EX
- Main article: Archer (Masters)
Archer forms a sync pair with Houndoom in Pokémon Masters EX. Archer became a playable sync pair on September 6, 2023.
Archer first appeared as an NPC during the Johto chapter of the villain arc. He also made notable appearances later in the villain arc.
| Dex | Trainer | NDex | Pokémon | Type | Weakness | Role | EX role | Base potential | Availability | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #177 | 
|
Archer | #0229 | 
|
Houndoom♂ |
Dark
|
Fighting
|
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|
★★★★★☆EX | Variety Sync Pair Scout |
Gallery
Sprites and models
In the core series
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| Sprite from Generation II |
Sprite from FireRed and LeafGreen |
Sprite from HeartGold and SoulSilver |
VS sprite from HeartGold and SoulSilver |
VS model from Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! |
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| Overworld sprite from Generation II |
Overworld sprite from FireRed and LeafGreen |
Overworld sprite from HeartGold and SoulSilver | ||
In other games
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| Portrait from Stadium 2 |
Quotes
- Main article: Archer/Quotes
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
- Main article: Carl
Archer's first counterpart was based on his Generation II design and named Carl. Although Proton and Petrel use the same design in Generation II, Carl owns three Houndoom which is the signature Pokémon of Archer. He appeared in the Gold, Silver & Crystal arc.
After the creation of Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, a second counterpart with Archer's new official name and design appears alongside the other three Executives as their leader. He, along with his teammates, take control of Team Rocket from Carr, saying that they will stay true to Giovanni's intentions.
While the other three have their tasks related to the Mythical Pokémon Arceus, Archer's task is the capture of the Pokémon itself. Archer, Petrel, and Proton arrive to see Ariana having defeated Crystal on Route 38. Suddenly, Arceus appears in front of them, and Crystal attempts to capture it, shocking the Executives in the process. Despite her tenacity, Crystal ultimately fails in capturing the Pokémon and is sent flying into a tree.
The Executives chase Arceus down and find it battling Gold at the Ruins of Alph. Once Arceus uses its powers and transports them all to the Sinjoh Ruins, the four Executives restrain Arceus and force it onto the Mystri Stage. Archer takes control of Arceus, and uses the Plates to demonstrate its great and varied abilities to Gold, Silver, and Crystal. Archer forces Arceus to use its great powers to create the Legendary Pokémon Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina.
Believing he has pleased his boss, Giovanni, Archer starts breaking down into tears. However, his joy is quickly destroyed when Silver flies off to distract the Executives while Gold and Crystal finish off the three Pokémon Arceus created. Having done so, Arceus, now freed from its restraints, uses its powers to send Archer and the other Executives flying and completes itself by absorbing the Plates. Much to the shock of Gold, Silver, and Crystal, the clones begin reforming, to which Archer reveals that because the creation process started, it cannot be stopped. Archer snaps, and begins claiming that everything is destined; the creation of Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina, Arceus completing itself, the world becoming Team Rocket's, all destined. His insanity begins to scare his teammates.
When Giovanni returns, Archer is delighted to see that his plans worked and the person he considers the true boss of Team Rocket has returned. However, Archer becomes shocked when Giovanni starts to attack the Pokémon that he worked so hard to create. Archer begs for Giovanni to stop, but Giovanni brushes him off. Outraged, Archer declares that Giovanni is not the man who he thought he was, and decides to capture Arceus and rule Team Rocket himself. Having lost his mind, Archer runs towards the stage to capture Arceus, only to be easily kicked away. He lands on Petrel and is knocked unconscious. After the battle had ended, Giovanni has Archer carried away and states that he will be given punishment later on.
Pokémon
On hand
| Debut | All About Arceus III |
|---|
Crobat is Archer's main mode of transportation. It was seen carrying Archer towards the light being emitted by Arceus along with the other Executives. Later, it helped drag Arceus to the Mystri Stage.
None of Crobat's moves are known.
| Debut | All About Arceus III |
|---|
Houndoom was first seen being used to drag Arceus to the Mystri Stage. Later, it was seen nearly choking Petrel to death with its powerful tail when Petrel revealed what happened to him after his loss to Silver.
None of Houndoom's moves are known.
Controlled
| Debut | Out-Odding Oddish |
|---|
- Main article: Arceus (Adventures)
Archer used Arceus's powers to change its type with the Plates and had it create the Legendary Pokémon Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina. Although he believed that he was the one who caused the events to happen, Arceus did it all on its own as a test to see if humanity was worth saving, if they could come together to stop the three Pokémon it created. While Giovanni, Pryce, Lance, Silver, and Crystal faced the others, Gold stayed behind to calm Arceus's rage. After connecting with his Togebo, he managed to reach Arceus, proving to it that humanity was worth saving. Afterward, Arceus left to parts unknown.
- Main article: Pokémon of myth (Adventures)
Archer created this Dialga after dragging Arceus to the Mystri Stage. Although it was seemingly destroyed by a combination of Frenzy Plant, Blast Burn, and Hydro Cannon, it quickly reformed itself. After arriving to help, Pryce fought Dialga and demonstrated an immunity to its ability to manipulate the flow of time. After the battle had ended, Dialga flew off, where it would eventually serve its role in the Diamond & Pearl and Platinum arcs.
- Main article: Pokémon of myth (Adventures)
Archer created this Palkia after dragging Arceus to the Mystri Stage. Although it was seemingly destroyed by a combination of Frenzy Plant, Blast Burn, and Hydro Cannon, it quickly reformed itself. After arriving to help, Lance fought Palkia and exploited his Dragonite's ability to change the direction of its Hyper Beam to hit Palkia even after it sent the move to another area. After the battle had ended, Palkia flew off, where it would eventually serve its role in the Diamond & Pearl and Platinum arcs.
- Main article: Pokémon of myth (Adventures)
Archer created this Giratina after dragging Arceus to the Mystri Stage. Although it was seemingly destroyed by a combination of Frenzy Plant, Blast Burn, and Hydro Cannon, it quickly reformed itself. After arriving to help, Giovanni fought Giratina, much to Archer's horror. When Giovanni's disease prevented him from continuing the battle, Silver stepped in to defend his father from the attacking Renegade Pokémon. After the battle had ended, Giratina was forced back into the Distortion World by Dialga and Palkia, where it would eventually serve its role in the Diamond & Pearl and Platinum arcs.
Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure
When Jō and Tsubaki were battling Team Rocket, Archer was spying on them via camera. After noticing that the grunts lost to the two Trainers, he takes action in his own hands by sending out Houndoom. However, Houndoom was not able to defeat them, which made Archer upset.
Pokémon
In the TCG
This listing is of cards mentioning or featuring Archer in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
Trivia
- Archer's design in Generation IV is based upon the original sprite of all male Rocket Executives from Generation II. The other male Executives (now known as Proton and Petrel) were given entirely new designs. Similarly, Ariana's design is based on the original female Executive sprite, being the only female Executive in Johto.
- Before Archer's name and identity were revealed in Generation IV, Pokémon Adventures and Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys had adapted the original male Executive as Carl and Grey, respectively. Having similar roles to Archer and owning a Houndour, they should be considered as his cross-canon counterpart.
- Considering Saturn is left with the assets of Team Galactic in Cyrus's absence, Archer could be seen as his parallel, as he controls Team Rocket in Giovanni's absence.
- In Pokémon Stadium 2, despite not being a Gym Leader, Archer uses the Johto Gym Leader theme when he's battled.
Names
| Language | Name | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | アポロ Apollo | From the Apollo program, the US spaceflight program named after the Greek sun god Apollo |
| English, Italian, Indonesian | Archer | Possibly from AA-11 Archer (NATO reporting name for the Soviet air-to-air missile R-73) or an allusion to Apollo being the Greek god of archery |
| German, European Spanish, Latin American Spanish |
Atlas | From Atlas, a family of US missiles and space launch vehicles |
| French | Amos | From AMOS, a series of Israeli communications satellites |
| Korean | 아폴로 Apollo | From his Japanese name |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 阿波羅 Ābōluó / Abōlòh | From 阿波羅 / 阿波罗 Ābōluó / Abōlòh (Apollo) |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 阿波罗 Ābōluó | |
| Brazilian Portuguese, Vietnamese | Apollo | From his Japanese name |
| Thai | อพอลโล Apollo | Transcription of his Japanese name |
References
Related articles
 Team Rocket
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| Rocket Game Corner • Team Rocket Hideout • Viridian Gym • Team Rocket HQ • Rocket Warehouse | |||||
| Boss | Admins | ||||
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| Giovanni (Masters • Pocket Monsters) |
Archer (Masters) |
Ariana (Masters) |
Petrel (Masters) |
Proton (Masters) | |
| Other members | |||||
| Jessie (Masters) • James (Masters) • Meowth • Team Rocket Grunts (Rocket Siblings) • Scientists (Gideon) Grey (Golden Boys) • Kaede (How I Became a Pokémon Card) | |||||
See also: Pokémon the Series • Adventures • Team GO Rocket • Team Rainbow Rocket
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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. |