Philippe
Philippe (Japanese: ジプソ Gypso) is a character from Pokémon Legends: Z-A. He is Corbeau's second-in-command at the Rust Syndicate, as well as the organization's former leader. He specializes in Steel-type Pokémon.
| Philippe ジプソ Gypso | |
 Art from Legends: Z-A | |
| Age | Unknown |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Eye color | Silver |
| Hair color | Black with gray accents |
| Hometown | Lumiose City |
| Region | Kalos |
| Trainer class | Rust Syndicate |
| Generation | IX |
| Games | Legends: Z-A |
| Member of | Rust Syndicate |
| Rank | Assistant Boss (formerly) |
| Specializes in | Steel types |
His partner Pokémon is Skarmory.
In the core series games
Appearance
An imposing man, Philippe is distinguished by his straight posture and wide, rotund body. He has a light complexion, a squarish face, thick eyebrows, and round eyes with large, silver pupils. He styles his black hair in a short mohawk, with gray stripes running across it. He also has mutton chops on the sides of his face, with two tufts of gray hair resembling spikes on each side.
Philippe wears a custom black three-piece suit over a dark gray dress shirt with a light gray circular pattern that resembles chainmail, as well as black shoes. There are metal strips resembling staples sewn onto various parts of his suit jacket, including the lapels, sleeves, quarters, and on the back. These metal strips are also present on his waistcoat and the buckles of his shoes. Philippe's golden necktie appears to be several blocks of metal stringed together instead of a singular piece of cloth. He keeps a golden pocket square inside his suit's breast pocket, and wears a pin of the Rust Syndicate logo on the left lapel, where he keeps his Key Stone.
Personality
Philippe is a soft-spoken and polite, yet stern man. Through various conversations with him, it is evident that Philippe puts great emphasis on politeness, upholding one's promises, repaying one's deeds, and following the rules. This demeanor seems to allow Philippe to be more effective in coercing others into doing the Rust Syndicate's bidding, such as when he offered Urbain/Taunie a loan to shoot promotional videos for Hotel Z.
Despite being older than his boss, Philippe is loyal to Corbeau and greatly admires him, formally referring to him as "Mr. Corbeau" (Japanese: カラスバさま Karasuba-sama). Philippe gave away his position as the head of the Rust Syndicate to Corbeau and generally follows his orders to the letter. However, according to one of the Rust Syndicate grunts, Philippe also tries to maintain a boundary with his boss and not blindly do as he says; Philippe looks to his partner Skarmory as a reminder of this.
History
Pokémon Legends: Z-A
Prior to the events of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, in his early years, Philippe's physical strength and knack for Pokémon battles made him a force to be reckoned, and allowed him to put the other city ruffians under his command. However, being strong alone wasn't enough to make a living, and Philippe had to rely on Lysandre for financial support. Philippe later caught wind of Corbeau and how he negotiated with Lysandre to invest in various businesses he set up. Philippe and his gang tried to end Corbeau and his ventures, but he and his Venipede were able to outsmart and beat them every time, eventually forcing them to admit defeat, with Philippe relinquishing his position as the Rust Syndicate's boss to him.
The player is contacted by Philippe after reaching Rank D in the Z-A Royale, who confirms that their friend Urbain/Taunie has unpaid loans to the Rust Syndicate, and invites them and Team MZ to the Rust Syndicate Office to discuss the matter. Philippe reveals that he was the one who offered a $100,000 loan to Urbain/Taunie after they helped another Rust Syndicate member, and insists that the loan's terms are written in full despite Lida protesting about the tenfold interest rate.
Philippe later appears in Hotel Richissime as one of the guests invited to Jacinthe's "Le Super-Tournoi de Jacinthe" tournament, and is defeated by Ivor in the first round. He also reveals that Corbeau had asked him for training before the tournament, much to Corbeau's embarrassment.
After the tournament, Philippe appears to block the player and Lida from battling a Rogue Mega Starmie, as Corbeau has sent him to take out the Starmie himself. He challenges the player to another battle, reasoning that he won't be able to do anything to placate the Mega Starmie if his Pokémon happen to be knocked out. Afterward, Philippe relays his and Corbeau's backstory to the player and Lida, before stopping himself and giving Lida a Water Stone to evolve her Staryu as hush money.
During the game's final act, Philippe, Corbeau, and the rest of the Rust Syndicate help the player climb a building to reach Zygarde by forming a human ladder. In the credits, Philippe and the other major characters are seen helping clear the rubble after the incident with Prism Tower.
Pokémon
Philippe keeps his Pokémon in Heavy Balls and will Mega Evolve his Skarmory at the first opportunity.
First battle
Second battle
Third battle
Rematch
Rematch (after Mega Dimension)
Gallery
Game assets
Sprites and models
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| Profile picture in the Infinite Z-A Royale app from Legends: Z-A |
Overworld talk sprite from Legends: Z-A |
Philippe in Corbeau's profile picture in the Z-A Royale app from Legends: Z-A |
Quotes
Pokémon Legends: Z-A
- Hotel Z, Vert Sector 8, Vert District
-
- After completing Mission 19, as ???
- “Hello. This is <player>, right? The kid who lives and helps out at Hotel Z?”
- That’s me!: “Well, aren’t you an honest one. Or maybe just naive? You should be more careful about answering questions from unfamiliar callers.”
- That’s not me: “Please, no need to play dumb. Let’s not waste each other’s time.”
- “Now, I’m calling as a representative of the Rust Syndicate. And I wanted to discuss a bit of money your friend Taunie/Urbain borrowed from us. I could have just dropped in at that fine hotel you work at… But I figured you want to avoid a scene. Especially since Taunie/Urbain has been working so hard to bring in new customers. So I ask that you kindly stop by our office. You’ll find it in the Bleu District. We’ll be waiting for you.”
- Mission 20 - “A Request from the Rust Syndicate”
- Rust Syndicate Office, Bleu Sector 4, Bleu District
- “You’re standing out in front of our organization. A place where we need to maintain appearances. I fail to see how you two causing a scene is aiding us in this effort. Now, who are our guests?”
- “Standing guard isn’t just busywork—it’s a vital role in our organization. Please do it properly. Now then—my name is Philippe. What brings you to our humble office today?”
- Regardless of choice: “Oh, then you must be <player>!”
- “Thank you for coming by so soon after my call. I can see you’re taking matters very seriously. But what a shame to find out that this is the kind of people you are… Was there truly a need to humiliate our guards so thoroughly and heartlessly?”
- “I don’t know if I can discuss business with people as rude as yourselves. But it would also be rude of me to send you away when you came all the way here… So how about this: I give you a thrashing in battle, and we call it even? If you don’t mind an embarrassing defeat, speak to me when you’re ready.”
- Before battle
- “So, how about you show me what you can do in a Pokémon battle, hmm?
- You’re on!: “I do like that enthusiasm. But I’m part of the Rust Syndicate’s top brass—my approval is hard to win.”
- No thanks...: “In that case, I’ll ask you to leave. But then who will help your poor friend, I wonder?”
- In battle
- Upon Mega Evolving Skarmory: “Our two stones connect us! Our bond manifests in Mega Evolution!”
- Upon being defeated
- “I see! Your Pokémon are a little stronger than I expected.”
- After battle
- “... ... ...”
- “Very impressive. Very impressive indeed, for someone so young. I’ve taken the liberty of healing your Pokémon as a sign of my goodwill. And as a man of my word, I think it’s time for us to talk business. Please follow me.”
- Rust Syndicate Office (Entrance), Bleu Sector 4, Bleu District
- “Into the elevator, please.”
- Rust Syndicate Office (Office), Bleu Sector 4, Bleu District
- “Wait here, please.”
- “These two are here to speak with you, boss.”
- “They’re the kids here to discuss our business involving Hotel Z.”
- “Sorry, boss… They’re stronger than they look.”
- “This is the boss of the Rust Syndicate. Mr. Corbeau.”
- “Your talents far exceed my own, sir. It’s only natural I would surrender the boss’s seat to you.”
- “This whole deal began when I encountered Taunie/Urbain out helping people in the city. She/he was lending a hand to a member of our organization, so I asked her/him if there was any way we could help in return—as thanks, of course. She/he mentioned that the hotel she/he was helping out at was struggling to get customers... And I thought it was the perfect opportunity to offer our assistance. One of our services is providing loans to those in need, you see. Taunie/Urbain was rather enthusiastic about the idea. She/he mentioned needing funds to create some promotional videos for the hotel. It was my pleasure to loan her/him $100,000 for this purpose.”
- "Naturally I made sure to indicate the terms and conditions when finalizing the loan. Your friend claimed that if she/he made a video and posted it ASAP, guests would flock to your hotel, so she/he could pay us back in full the very next day."
- “To be clear, this deal is between you two and the Rust Syndicate. Urbain/Taunie has no part.”
- “The exit is over there. Kindly see yourselves out.”
- Rust Syndicate Office (Entrance), Bleu Sector 4, Bleu District
- If talked to again after initial meeting with Corbeau
- “Money is a very important matter. It has the power to destroy friendships.”
- After Corbeau calls the player in Hotel Z a second time
- “We’ve been waiting for you. Now, then, into the elevator, please…”
- Rust Syndicate Office (Office), Bleu Sector 4, Bleu District
- “He's/she's here, boss.”
- Rust Syndicate Office (Office), Bleu Sector 4, Bleu District
-
- After completing Mission 20
- “Right you are, boss.”
- Mission 24 - "Reaching Rank C"
- Rust Syndicate Office (Office), Bleu Sector 4, Bleu District
- “You have that Challenger’s Ticket ready?”
- Hotel Z, Vert Sector 8, Vert District
-
- After completing mission 24
- "Boss! I’m here to escort you back to the office, sir.”
- "Ah, if it isn’t Taunie/Urbain. About that loan... We would really appreciate it if you could repay it soon. Now, if possible.”
- “Very good. You must always return what you borrow. It’s important to follow rules like this in life.”
- Mission 30 - "Reaching Rank B"
- Hotel Richissime, North Boulevard, Rouge District
- If talked to before battling Canari
- “As you may expect, the Rust Syndicate usually prefers to avoid the SBC.”
- If talked to before battling Ivor
- “I would enjoy a nice, long chat with that man… With our fists doing the talking, of course.”
- If talked to before battling Corbeau
- “The boss is going to win! There’s no way he can lose!”
- Before battle against Corbeau
- “Boss! Just remember your training with me! You’ll be fine!”
- If talked to before attempting to battle Jacinthe
- “At last, this long tournament will soon be over.”
- When L shows up
- “Huh? What?! No way! That’s Lysandre! That’s Lysandre over there, isn’t it?!”
- If talked to before battling Zygarde
- “Lysandre! It’s him!!!”
- If talked to before battling Jacinthe
- “The boss seems to expect great things from you. Please do your best to not disappoint him.”
- Rust Syndicate Office (Office), Bleu Sector 4, Bleu District
-
- If talked to after completing Mission 30
- “Odd rules and practices in organizations exist because someone benefits from them. Take our interest rates, for example.”
- Mission 34 - "A Rogue Mega Starmie"
- Bleu Sector 9, Bleu District
- “For goodness’ sake… Which imbecile let two civilians waltz in here when I specifically said to block off the area?”
- “We received word of a Pokémon behaving erratically. We cannot allow any Lumiose resident to be harmed, so we came to evaluate the situation. I thought that if need be, I could...take care of the situation personally.”
- “I see. So you’re trying to keep Lumiose safe, just like us... Problem is, I’m here on direct orders from the boss. He would hardly be pleased if I simply stepped aside for you. I’m sure you understand.”
- “It’s simple. If <player> defeats my team, then I will be unable to take on other opponents!”
- In battle
- Upon Mega Evolving Skarmory: “Mega Evolution proves our bond! Let me show you the true beauty of Skarmory!”
- Upon being defeated
- “Your true strength lies in drawing out the full strength of your Pokémon, huh?”
- After battle
- “I see you’ve been honing your skills. Time for us to withdraw, you lot. We can leave things to Team MZ. I can understand why the boss holds you in such high regard. When I first met the boss, I thought nobody could possibly surpass him... Yet now I find that the world may be bigger than I ever imagined.”
- “Age matters little when it comes to greatness. In my childhood years, I was already formidable in physical strength and in my talent for battles. As such, I was able to keep the local ruffians under control...and under my command. But I was still nothing but a young fool. I was strong, yes, but that didn’t put food on the table. It was only thanks to Lysandre’s support that I managed to survive those days. That wasn’t the case for Mr. Corbeau. He negotiated with Lysandre, convincing the man to give him seed money for his ventures. Mr. Corbeau started up all sorts of businesses—security services, Pokémon couriers, even some things that perhaps weren’t entirely aboveboard. He was quite the little upstart. So me and my gang thought he needed to be taught a lesson. Yet young Mr. Corbeau and his partner Venipede gave us the slip at every turn, always one step ahead, until we were forced to admit defeat. He outdid us completely—and in an area entirely unrelated to Pokémon battles. Ever since then, he has been the only person I call my boss. Hm… Maybe I shouldn’t have told you all that. In exchange for your silence, please take this.”
- “Use it on that partner of yours. It will surely help you protect Lumiose. Now, please make sure to handle things here. If this city goes down, the Rust Syndicate will have no clients left to work with, after all.”
- Rust Syndicate Office (Office), Bleu Sector 4, Bleu District
-
- If talked to after completing Missions 32-34
- “Please let Taunie/Urbain know that we look forward to seeing her/his latest video.”
- If talked to after completing Mission 35 and before heading to Centrico Plaza at the start of Mission 36
- “Something’s wrong with the very symbol of Lumiose? That’s a bad omen if I’ve ever seen one.”
- Mission 37 - “Operation Protect Lumiose”
- Rouge Street, Rouge District
- “Sorry I’m late, boss.”
- “Once you choose your path, there’s no turning back. The only way is forward.”
- Rust Syndicate Office (Office), Bleu Sector 4, Bleu District
-
- If talked to after completing Mission 37
- “The boss’s mood seems to improve whenever you pay us a visit.”
- Mission 39 - "The Infinite Z-A Royale"
- Battle Court, Quasartico Inc., Magenta District
- Before battle the first time
- “Would defeating you please the boss...or anger him? I wonder..."
- In battle the first time
- Upon Mega Evolving Skarmory: “Let’s go Skarmory. Help me fight like a man.”
- Upon being defeated
- “Your talents are on par with Mr. Corbeau’s… It’s almost enough to sway my loyalty.”
- Before battle in subsequent Reward Matches
- “I will do anything within my power to support the boss—that is the duty of any loyal follower.”
- In battle in subsequent Reward Matches
- Upon Mega Evolving Skarmory: “Skarmory, let’s show them how we were before we met the boss—vicious and unrelenting!”
Trivia
- Klefki is the only Pokémon Philippe uses that is not capable of Mega Evolving.
Names
| Language | Name | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ジプソ Gypso | From the genus Gypsophila (baby's-breath) |
| English | Philippe | From the genus Gypsophila |
| German | Gipson | From Gipskraut (baby's-breath) |
| European Spanish | Giso | From gisófila (baby's-breath) |
| Latin American Spanish | Albado | From alborada (alpine gypsophila) |
| French, Italian | Gypso | Same as Japanese name |
| Korean | 지프 Gyp | Partial transcription of his Japanese name |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 吉普索 Jípǔsuǒ / Gātpóusok | Transcription of his Japanese name |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 吉普索 Jípǔsuǒ |
Related articles
| Trainers in the Z-A Royale | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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. |