Frontier Brain

A Frontier Brain (Japanese: フロンティアブレーン Frontier Brain) is a Pokémon Trainer who presides over a certain Battle Frontier facility. Frontier Brains appear in Emerald, Platinum, HeartGold, and SoulSilver. Those from Hoenn hand out Symbols to Trainers who rise through the ranks and show true skill in each of the facilities, while those from Sinnoh and Johto hand out commemorative prints for the same reason.

In games where the expansive Battle Frontier doesn't exist, there is usually a lone Battle Tower or an equivalent to it. In these facilities, some Trainers hold titles equivalent to Frontier Brains, such as Subway Boss, Battle Chatelaine, and Battle Legend.

Hoenn Frontier Brains

Hoenn Battle Frontier
Generation III Region: Hoenn
Frontier Brain
Japanese
Facility
Japanese
Symbols
 
Factory Head Noland
ファクトリーヘッド ダツラ
Factory Head Datsura
Battle Factory
バトルファクトリー
Battle Factory
 
Silver Knowledge Symbol
 
Gold Knowledge Symbol
 
Arena Tycoon Greta
アリーナキャプテン コゴミ
Arena Captain Kogomi
Battle Arena
バトルアリーナ
Battle Arena
 
Silver Guts Symbol
 
Gold Guts Symbol
 
Dome Ace Tucker
ドームスーパースター ヒース
Dome Superstar Heath
Battle Dome
バトルドーム
Battle Dome
 
Silver Tactics Symbol
 
Gold Tactics Symbol
 
Pike Queen Lucy
チューブクイーン アザミ
Tube Queen Azami
Battle Pike
バトルチューブ
Battle Tube
 
Silver Luck Symbol
 
Gold Luck Symbol
 
Palace Maven Spenser
パレスガーディアン ウコン
Palace Guardian Ukon
Battle Palace
バトルパレス
Battle Palace
 
Silver Spirits Symbol
 
Gold Spirits Symbol
 
Pyramid King Brandon
ピラミッドキング ジンダイ
Pyramid King Jindai
Battle Pyramid
バトルピラミッド
Battle Pyramid
 
Silver Brave Symbol
 
Gold Brave Symbol
 
Salon Maiden Anabel
タワータイクーン リラ
Tower Tycoon Lila
Battle Tower
バトルタワー
Battle Tower
 
Silver Ability Symbol
 
Gold Ability Symbol


Sinnoh/Johto Frontier Brains

Sinnoh and Johto Battle Frontier
Generation IV Regions: Sinnoh and Johto
Frontier Brain
Japanese
Facility
Japanese
Prints
 
Tower Tycoon Palmer
タワータイクーン クロツグ
Tower Tycoon Kurotsugu
Battle Tower
バトルタワー
Battle Tower
 
 
 
 
Silver Tower Prints
 
 
 
 
Gold Tower Prints
 
Factory Head Thorton
ファクトリーヘッド ネジキ
Factory Head Neziki
Battle Factory
バトルファクトリー
Battle Factory
 
 
 
 
Silver Factory Prints
 
 
 
 
Gold Factory Prints
 
Arcade Star Dahlia
ルーレットゴーデス ダリア
Roulette Goddess Dahlia
Battle Arcade
バトルルーレット
Battle Roulette
 
 
 
 
Silver Arcade Prints
 
 
 
 
Gold Arcade Prints
 
Castle Valet Darach
キャッスルバトラー コクラン
Castle Butler Kokuran
Battle Castle
バトルキャッスル
Battle Castle
 
 
 
 
Silver Castle Prints
 
 
 
 
Gold Castle Prints
 
Hall Matron Argenta
ステージマドンナ ケイト
Stage Madonna Kate
Battle Hall
バトルステージ
Battle Stage
 
 
 
 
Silver Hall Prints
 
 
 
 
Gold Hall Prints


In the anime

 
The Generation III Frontier Brains in the anime

The Frontier Brains were first mentioned by Scott in The Scheme Team when he told Ash about the Battle Frontier. The first Frontier Brain, Noland, debuted in Numero Uno Articuno. Over the course of the ninth season, the other six Generation III Frontier Brains also made their appearances at their respective facilities, which are located in Kanto in this canon. Brandon reappeared in Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl episodes A Pyramiding Rage! and Pillars of Friendship!. Scott also inferred that they were at least at the level of the Elite Four member Agatha, as both he and Agatha recommended that Ash challenge them shortly after his fight with her. Those who successfully defeat the Battle Frontier become Frontier Brain candidates.

Palmer is the only Generation IV Frontier Brain to have appeared in the anime, debuting in Historical Mystery Tour!. In the next episode, Ash battled Palmer at the Twinleaf Festival, but was defeated. Palmer also made cameo appearances in Arceus and the Jewel of Life and Zoroark: Master of Illusions. Caitlin, the employer of Darach who oversees all of the battles conducted at the Battle Castle in the Generation IV games, appeared in Jostling for the Junior Cup! as a member of the Unova Elite Four, facing off against Cynthia in an exhibition match at the start of the Pokémon World Tournament Junior Cup.

In the manga

 
The Hoenn Frontier Brains in Pokémon Adventures

Pokémon Adventures

Emerald arc

The Hoenn Frontier Brains were were challenged by Emerald in a seven-day challenge to defeat each of them at their own facilities during the Battle Frontier's week-long opening ceremony. They also helped to fight against the armored villain named Guile Hideout, who was after the Mythical Wish Pokémon, Jirachi.

Platinum arc

The Sinnoh Frontier Brains, except for Palmer, were challenged and defeated by Platinum at their respective facilities. Palmer, in turn, assisted the Sinnoh Pokédex holders and the Stat Trainers in the final battle against Team Galactic in the Distortion World.

At the end of the arc, Palmer reminded Platinum that his facility would be the last one to be challenged, and welcomed her upcoming challenge.

Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire arc

The Hoenn Frontier Brains reappeared in this arc, helping to stop the Admins of Neo Team Aqua and Neo Team Magma. They also later assisted in destroying Grand Meteor Delta.

Pokémon Battle Frontier

Enta battled each of the seven Frontier Brains in the Pokémon Battle Frontier manga, although his battles with Noland, Greta, and Brandon occurred off-panel. He managed to defeat six of them, but eventually tied with Anabel.

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!

Palmer is the only Frontier Brain to appear in the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure! manga, debuting in Look for Giratina!, where he was encountered by Hareta, Mitsumi, and Jun at the Fight Area. Hareta also had a brief battle with him when he assumed he was allied with Team Galactic, which ended in a draw.

Trivia

In other languages

Language Title
Mandarin Chinese 開拓之腦 / 开拓之脑 Kāituò-zhī Nǎo
  Finnish Rintamapäällikkö*
  French Meneur de Zone
  German Kampfkoryphäen
  Italian Asso Lotta
  Korean 프런티어 브레인 Frontier Brain
  Polish Mistrz Walk
  Brazilian Portuguese Cérebro da Fronteira
Spanish   Latin America Cerebro de la Frontera
  Spain As del Frente
  Vietnamese Đầu não Biên giới

See also