- This article is about the character. For the game titled "Pokémon Silver Version", see Pokémon Gold and Silver Versions.
Silver シルバー Silver
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Art from HeartGold and SoulSilver
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Gender
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Male
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Eye color
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Black*, Gray*, Red*, Purple*
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Hair color
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Dark red
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Hometown
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Unknown
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Region
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Johto or originally Kanto, then moved to Johto
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Relatives
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Giovanni (father)
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Trainer class
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N/A*GSC Passerby, RivalHGSS
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Generation
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II, IV
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Games
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Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold, SoulSilver, Stadium 2, Masters EX
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Game animation debut
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The Legacy
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English voice actor
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Lucien Dodge (Generations) Joe Zieja[1] (Masters EX)
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Japanese voice actor
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Ryōta Ōsaka (Generations) Yūki Ono[2] (Masters EX)
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Animation cameos
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A New Oath
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Manga counterpart(s)
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Silver, Silver, Black, Tsubaki
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Silver (Japanese: シルバー Silver) is the rival character of Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal and Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, playing opposite Ethan, Kris, or Lyra. He is the son of Team Rocket Boss Giovanni.
In Generation II, he appears with no Trainer class in all battles, although the Rival (Japanese: ライバル Rival) Trainer class is associated with him in the game data. In Generation IV, he uses the same Trainer class, except this time it appears normally in-game.
Terminology
He was first named Silver (Japanese: シルバー Silver) in Bandai's Pokémon Scale World collection,[3][4][5] which was released in 2020 (21 years after his introduction in Pokémon Gold and Silver). In 2021, he became available with the same name in Pokémon Masters EX, which was the first time he was named in-game. No definitive name has been given for him in the core series games and their manuals.
In the core series games, he is temporarily known by a placeholder name in the first battle before he is named by the player:
If the player attempts to leave his name blank, his default name refers to a game other than the current one: GoldS, SilverGC, HeartSS, or SoulHG (Japanese: ゴールド Gold, シルバー Silver, ハート Heart, or ソウル Soul).
In Pokémon Stadium 2, he is simply known as Rival (Japanese: ライバル Rival). In Pokémon battles, this is displayed as Rival Rival (Japanese: ライバル ライバル Rival Rival), since the word "Rival" is repeatedly stored in the game data as both the Trainer class and the character name.
In the Pokémon Gold and Silver Spaceworld '97 demo, his name is シゲルG Shigeru or サトシS Satoshi. These are Gary's and Ash's respective Japanese names, and correspond to the second entry in the list of optional names for Blue and Red in Pokémon Red and Green.
Until the reveal of his official name, Silver (Japanese: シルバー Silver) was almost universally used in fanon as the name for this character. Some fans instead called him Kamon (Japanese: カモン Kamon) to discern him from his Pokémon Adventures counterpart and an unrelated animated series character. This name is taken from the suggested names for Ethan in both the Japanese and English versions of Pokémon Silver; this is similar to some fans calling Blue "Gary", since the name is found as one of the options for the player in international Pokémon Blue and for the rival in international Pokémon Red.
In the core series games
Silver first appears in the Generation II games, lurking outside of Professor Elm's lab, looking through the window. When talked to, he will deny everything and push the player away. During the player's journey to Mr. Pokémon's house, Silver makes his move, stealing one of Elm's two remaining first partner Pokémon (coincidentally always the one that is strong against the player's choice). He will meet with the player on the outskirts of Cherrygrove City, battling to get through. A policeman will later ask for the name of the rival, and the rival will be called the name the player gives for the rest of the game.
Silver shows a strong dislike of Team Rocket. He considers them to be weak, and vows to take them, as well as any other weak Trainer, down. He steals a Pokémon (heavily implied to be Sneasel) from a Trainer in Cianwood City and while Ethan/Kris/Lyra attempts to take down Team Rocket in Mahogany Town and Goldenrod City, he interferes to prove himself. It is in the Team Rocket HQ in Mahogany that he meets with Lance, Champion of the Elite Four at Indigo Plateau. Silver challenges Lance and is easily defeated by the dragon Trainer, who then proceeds to berate Silver for his callous ways towards training Pokémon. Though Silver is outraged for losing to someone with such an attitude, the loss and Lance's words ultimately set him on the path to becoming a better person. In HeartGold and SoulSilver, when Team Rocket takes over the Goldenrod Radio Tower, Silver first blows the player's Team Rocket disguise, unaware of the player's plan to sneak in by pretending to be a member of Team Rocket. He later follows the player to the Goldenrod underground and they battle Team Rocket, hoping that Lance will reappear and he can request a rematch.
By the time the player reaches Victory Road, Silver battles against the player not out of malice, but to prove that he is a good Trainer. He is defeated and departs to continue training. The player battles Silver on Mt. Moon, and though he loses he claims he can feel his Pokémon getting stronger, and resolves to train at Dragon's Den.
After the player has become Champion, Silver can indeed be found training in the Dragon's Den on Tuesday and Thursday, where he cannot be battled. On Monday and Wednesday, he will appear at Indigo Plateau and will challenge the player to a battle if they appear there. He does not appear at all on Friday or the weekends, indicating that he may in fact take the day off, resting his Pokémon. When battled this seventh and final time at Indigo Plateau, Silver seems to have finally learned to care for his Pokémon properly, as his Golbat has evolved to Crobat, which only occurs when Golbat is very friendly. This is further expressed in Generation IV when his first partner Pokémon starts to follow him around, much like the player's Pokémon; Professor Elm even expressly states that Silver's Pokémon have come to trust him when Silver returns to the lab, presumably to return the first partner Pokémon he stole. In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, Lance and Clair will appear in the Dragon's Den and challenge the player and Silver to a Multi Battle following the battle at Mt. Moon giving him the chance to avenge his loss from earlier.
In terms of personality, Silver is initially the darkest of the rivals in the series. While most other rivals are generally good-natured, or at least zestful enough to crack a joke at the player, Silver is (at first) cruel, hateful, power-obsessed, and even physically abusive, pushing the player character around several times. Even after he starts to become kinder, he remains a rather serious individual. He does, however, express genuine happiness when Elm allows him to keep the Pokémon he stole.
Giovanni and Silver's relationship is first alluded to in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, when Team Rocket Scientist Gideon at the Rocket Warehouse on Five Island asks Red if he is "Giovanni's kid" but concludes he is not, saying that "Giovanni's kid has red hair." More information is revealed in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver when a fateful encounter Celebi is brought to Ilex Forest shrine: Celebi takes the player back in time three years to witness Giovanni abandoning Silver to go into seclusion because of his defeat at the hands of Red. Silver's hate for Team Rocket apparently stems from the failure of his father.
Pokémon
The first partner Pokémon that Silver has will depend on which Pokémon the player chose to bring on Professor Elm's errand at the beginning of the game. As with most rivals, it will be the Pokémon whose type weakens that of the player's first partner Pokémon.
For Silver's Pokémon in Gold, Silver, and Crystal Versions, see here.
First battle
Winning this battle is not mandatory. The player will not black out and the story will progress either way.
If the player chose Chikorita:
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Reward: $500
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If the player chose Cyndaquil:
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Reward: $500
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If the player chose Totodile:
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Reward: $500
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Second battle
If the player chose Chikorita:
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Reward: $1152
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If the player chose Cyndaquil:
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Reward: $1152
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If the player chose Totodile:
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Reward: $1152
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Third battle
If the player chose Chikorita:
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Reward: $1408
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If the player chose Cyndaquil:
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Reward: $1408
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If the player chose Totodile:
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Reward: $1408
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Fourth battle
If the player chose Chikorita:
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Reward: $2176
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If the player chose Cyndaquil:
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Reward: $2048
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If the player chose Totodile:
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Reward: $2176
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Fifth battle
If the player chose Chikorita:
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Reward: $2560
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If the player chose Cyndaquil:
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Reward: $2560
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If the player chose Totodile:
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Reward: $2560
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Sixth battle
If the player chose Chikorita:
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Reward: $3200
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If the player chose Cyndaquil:
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Reward: $3200
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If the player chose Totodile:
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Reward: $3200
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Silver in the Dragon's Den
If the player chose Chikorita:
If the player chose Cyndaquil:
If the player chose Totodile:
If the player chose Chikorita:
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Reward: $3840
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If the player chose Cyndaquil:
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Reward: $3840
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If the player chose Totodile:
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Reward: $3840
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In the side series gamesIn the spin-off gamesGallery
Core series artwork
Core series game assets
Other game assets
Animation
Other artwork
QuotesCounterparts
In animation
Silver in
The Legend of Thunder!
Pokémon the Series
Silver's only appearance in Pokémon the Series was a brief cameo in the original Japanese opening of The Legend of Thunder!. In this opening, he was shown defeating Jimmy with his Nidoking, only to be defeated later on when Jimmy's Cyndaquil fully evolved into Typhlosion.
Pokémon
Pokémon Generations
Young Silver in Pokémon Generations
Silver appeared in The Legacy. He was seen meeting up with Looker outside the Indigo Plateau, discussing his relationship and last meeting with Giovanni that ultimately led to their estrangement. During the conversation, Silver asserted that he decided to stay out of his father's affairs, telling Looker that it is his job to find Giovanni, before going off to face the Elite Four.
Voice actors
GOTCHA!
Silver briefly appeared in GOTCHA!, with all three of the Johto first partner Pokémon.
In the manga
Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys
Silver in Pokémon Adventures
- Main article: Black (Golden Boys)
The character Black who appears in Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys manga is based on Silver.
Pokémon Adventures
- Main article: Silver (Adventures)
Silver's counterpart in the Pokémon Adventures manga is also named Silver. They share several similarities, such as stealing a first partner Pokémon from Professor Elm, in the manga's case, Totodile, owning a Sneasel, and being Giovanni's son. Unlike his game counterpart, however, he was initially unaware of his father's identity, due to being taken away from him at a young age.
Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure
- Main article: Tsubaki (JBA)
Tsubaki from Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure is based on Silver.
Pokémon Pocket Monsters
- Main article: Silver (Pocket Monsters)
Silver has a counterpart in the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga named Silver.
In the TCGTrivia
- In the Generation II core series games, Silver is the only Pokémon Trainer non-player character who appears to have no Trainer class. For instance, simply "<name> wants to battle!".
- However, in the game data, there are two separate Trainer classes sharing the same name: Rival (Japanese: ライバル Rival). Each of these Trainer classes corresponds to a different sprite used in-game. The Champion battle theme music plays when the player is battling the latter.
- A 1997 pamphlet describing