Villainous team: Difference between revisions

{{incomplete|section|other manga}}

=====Pokémon Adventures=====

Team Rocket first appears in Pokémon Adventures, when {{adv|Red}} and {{adv|Blue}} are pursuing {{p|Mew}} in [[Viridian Forest]]. They are led by {{adv|Giovanni}}, who is portrayed in a much more sinister light than in the anime or games, as with Team Rocket as a whole.

====In the anime====

====In the manga====

=====Pokémon Adventures=====

In the {{MangaArc|Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire}} arc, Team Magma along with Team Aqua was reformed as the now '''Neo Team Magma'''.

====In the anime====

====In the manga====

=====Pokémon Adventures=====

In the {{MangaArc|Emerald}}, [[Archie]] disbanded Team Aqua as he assumed his [[Guile Hideout|new identity]].

====In the manga====

=====Pokémon Adventures=====

=====Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!=====

Like in the games, the team is led by [[Cyrus]]. The team essentially has the same goal as in the games, but it was possible that the {{tc|Commander}}s did not know about the absolute plan of their leader since Mars was shocked when Cyrus revealed that his ultimate goal was to create the universe and all of its life fully anew. [[Hareta]], with the help of [[Mitsumi]], a former member, and the Gym Leaders, managed to stop him. Later, [[Charon]] became the new leader and tried to capture {{p|Heatran}}. [[Mars]] and [[Jupiter]] left on a search to find Cyrus and were treated as deserters.

Team Plasma appears in various locations. In {{game|Black and White|s}}, their leader, N, is encountered very early in the game and is battled in many of Team Plasma's appearances. Eventually, N is able to gain control of {{p|Zekrom}}{{sup/5|Bl}}/{{p|Reshiram}}{{sup/5|W}}, and defeats the champion [[Alder]]. After the player captures the other [[Legendary Pokémon]] and defeats N, Ghetsis reveals his true plans, battling the hero himself. After his defeat and arrest, [[Looker]] will ask the player to help him round up the remaining [[Seven Sages|Sages]].

The reformed members and N help the player against the new Team Plasma, culminating in the defeat of Colress and Ghetsis — the latter controlling {{p|Kyurem}}. Following this, Colress officially disbands Team Plasma, retiring to [[P2 Laboratory]]. Ghetsis, having snapped and lost heart upon seeing his plans foiled, is taken away by the [[Shadow Triad]], never to be seen again.

Team Plasma's [[BW023 (unaired)|debut]] [[BW024 (unaired)|episodes]] were postponed due to the {{wp|Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami}} in Japan and were later retconned out of continuity. Their proper debut was in the ''[[Pokémon the Series: Black & White|Best Wishes Season 2: Episode N]]'' arc, but in their new outfits.

N debuted at the end of ''[[BW109|New Places... Familiar Faces!]]'' and was properly introduced in the [[BW110|next episode]]. Colress, with some other [[Team Plasma Grunt (Trainer class)|grunts]], first appeared in ''[[BW112|Team Plasma's Pokémon Power Plot!]]'' experimenting with wild Pokémon. Ghetsis made his proper appearance <!--(in person)--> in ''[[BW117|Team Plasma's Pokémon Manipulation!]]''. [[Anthea and Concordia]] made their debut at the end of the episode, where they rescued N from Team Plasma. The Seven Sages appeared in a flashback in ''[[BW118|Secrets From Out of the Fog!]]''. Like in the [[Pokémon Black and White Versions 2|games]], Team Plasma's plan is to use the strength of Pokémon and use it to take over the [[Unova]] region.

=====Pokémon Adventures=====

===[[Team Flare]]===

[[File:XY Team Flare Grunts.png|thumb|250px|Team Flare Grunts]]

Team Flare is the villainous team of the Kalos region. The grunts' uniform is a mafia-styled red suit, while Admins wear more stylized white suits and Scientists wear red suits of varying designs. Their leader is [[Lysandre]]. Their symbol is a flaming letter F.

At first, Team Flare's goal is claimed to be making the world "beautiful" with style and lots of money. Despite their claims, several grunts and even their leader [[Lysandre]] confirm that they seek a world benefiting only those within Team Flare, disregarding anybody else. Team Flare attempted to make money by stealing and selling [[Fossil]]s. They also siphoned energy from the [[Kalos Power Plant]], and later on stole [[Poké Ball]]s from the [[Poké Ball Factory]].

After the player has entered the [[Hall of Fame]], the player is tasked by [[Looker]] to help him solve a series of crimes related to a person known as [[Emma|Essentia]], which would be revealed to be the result of experiments by [[Xerosic]], one of Team Flare's scientists.

The first appearance of a Team Flare member was in ''[[XYS01|Mega Evolution Special I]]'', where Lysandre made an appearance at Lysandre Labs, monitoring the Mega Evolution energy [[Alain]] had accumulated. He appears again in ''[[XYS02|Mega Evolution Special II]]'', where he interrupted Alain and {{Steven}}'s battle.

In ''[[XY129|Kalos League Passion with a Certain Flare!]]'', on the night before the [[Lumiose Conference]]'s final round, Team Flare, reaching the final stages of their plan, made their way to the [[Lumiose Gym]] to begin setting up their equipment. At the end of ''[[XY131|Down to the Fiery Finish!]]'', Lysandre arrived at the Lumiose Gym and ordered Z2 to show him its power as he put his plan into motion. In ''[[XY132|A Towering Takeover!]]'', Lysandre televised a message to the citizens of Kalos, describing his plan to create a new, beautiful world by destroying the one they currently live in. Team Flare's plot was ultimately foiled in ''[[XY136|Forming a More Perfect Union!]]'', after Z2 was freed from its control and Team Flare's [[Giant Rock]] destroyed. Lysandre's fate was unclear after he was engulfed in the same explosion that destroyed the Giant Rock, while the other members were eventually arrested.

=====Pokémon Adventures=====

===[[Team Skull]]===

[[File:Sun Moon Team Skull Grunt.png|thumb|250px|Team Skull Grunts]]

Team Skull is the primary villainous team of the [[Alola]] region. The grunts' black-and-white uniforms are inspired by street gangs and consist of sneakers, shorts, wrist bands, tank tops, bandannas used to cover the lower face, and berets that resemble the tops of skulls. Their symbol is a stylized letter S in the shape of a skull, which is worn as a medallion. Their leader is [[Guzma]].

Team Skull's intentions are to simply make enough money to survive. They can be seen around the Alola region, stealing Pokémon and disrupting island life and [[island challenge]] events. The team's leader, [[Guzma]], had once attempted the island challenge, aiming to become a [[Trial Captain]], but failed. He is acquainted with [[Professor Kukui]]. [[Plumeria]], Team Skull's Admin, is considered the "big sister" of the team and cares for the grunts, calling them her "cute, dumb brothers and sisters". It is eventually revealed by some of their members that the organization is composed of other people who also failed their island challenge. Their enforcer, [[Gladion]], the son of Aether President [[Lusamine]], joined their team to become stronger, though the grunts do not consider him a real member of their team. Their base is located in [[Po Town]].

In {{g|Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon}}'s [[Episode RR]] post game story, Team Skull, most notably Guzma, ally and assist with the player in taking down [[Team Rainbow Rocket]], who had taken over [[Aether Paradise]].

Team Skull debuted in ''[[SM001|Alola to New Adventure!]]'', where three of their grunts, [[Tupp]], [[Zipp]], and [[Rapp]], challenged [[Kiawe]] to a Pokémon battle, threatening to steal his {{p|Charizard}}. {{Ash}} and {{an|Kiawe}} teamed up to defeat the grunts, with Kiawe defeating all of the grunts' Pokémon with his {{TP|Kiawe|Turtonator}}'s Z-Move. Since then, they have made semi-regular appearances in ''[[Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon]]'', especially Tupp, Zipp, and Rapp. Their leader, Guzma also participated in Alola's very first Pokémon League.

=====Pokémon Adventures=====

===[[Team Rainbow Rocket]]===

[[File:Rainbow Rocket Grunts Concept.png|thumb|250px|Team Rainbow Rocket Grunts]]

Team Rainbow Rocket is a villainous team that appears in the [[Alola]] region. Members wear black uniforms that are similar to those worn by the original [[Team Rocket]], but the red "R" logo on the uniform's front has been replaced by a rainbow "R" logo. Their leader is Giovanni.

Team Rainbow Rocket's intention is to create an army of [[Ultra Beast]]s in order to conquer all the worlds. The group is led by [[Giovanni]], who has recruited the leaders of other villainous teams from alternate universes where they were successful in their plans, including [[Archie]] of [[Team Aqua]], [[Maxie]] of [[Team Magma]], [[Cyrus]] of [[Team Galactic]], [[Ghetsis]] of [[Team Plasma]], and [[Lysandre]] of [[Team Flare]]. [[Faba]] of the [[Aether Foundation]] also assists in Team Rainbow Rocket's goals.{{-}}

Team Yell is the villainous team of the [[Galar]] region. The grunts' black-and-pink uniforms are inspired by {{wp|Football hooliganism|football hooligans}} and punks; and consist of sneakers, pranks, tank tops, vests, and gloves. Many of their clothing articles are ripped/torn or embellished with spikes and studs. The grunts also wear face paint and dyed or painted hair. Their symbol is a stylized, upside-down Y, forming an eye tattoo or a claw, though it also closely resembles their signature Y-shaped {{wp|vuvuzela}}. In reality, Team Yell grunts are [[Spikemuth]] [[Gym Trainer (Trainer class)|Gym Trainer]]s in disguise, under their captain and Gym Leader [[Piers]].

Unlike most evil teams, Team Yell's intentions, while similar to those of Team Skull (who also have a history of disrupting events), are not entirely evil; they are simply devoted fans of Piers' younger sister [[Marnie]]. Team Yell was formed when Marnie entered the [[Galar League|Gym Challenge]], several Gym Trainers from the Spikemuth Gym came together to form Team Yell and act as a fan club for her, but also began vandalizing and obstructing her competitors to help her win the Gym Challenge and get publicity for their dilapidating hometown.

=====Pokémon Adventures=====

===[[Team Star]]===

[[File:Scarlet Violet Team Star Grunt.png|thumb|250px|Team Star Grunts]]

Team Star is the villainous team of the [[Paldea]] region. They are delinquent students of [[Naranja Academy]]{{sup/9|S}}/[[Uva Academy]]{{sup/9|V}}, and their uniforms are modified uniforms of the Academy, with the colors varying by game. Their symbol is a cut-out star shape, with the negative space shaped like both a lightning bolt and the letter S. Their leader is [[Cassiopeia]].

==Side series==

===[[Cipher]]===

[[File:Cipher Peon.png|thumb|220px|A Cipher Peon]]

In {{g|Colosseum}} and {{g|XD: Gale of Darkness}}, this group aimed to turn every Pokémon in the world into [[Shadow Pokémon]]. Their leader in Colosseum was [[Mayor Es Cade|Evice]], and their leader in XD: Gale of Darkness was [[Greevil]].

Cipher has appeared in two manga adaptations: [[Pokémon Colosseum Snatcher Leo]] and [[Pokémon Colosseum Snatchers]].

In Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD, this team tries to steal every Pokémon in the world using their special device, the [[Snag Machine]]. In both games, their leader was [[Gonzap]].

{{-}}

==Spin-off games==

In [[Pokémon Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR!]], this team is located in the [[Trading Card Game Islands]]. They attempt to steal the [[Legendary Cards]] of the [[Grand Master]]s. Led by {{TCG GB|Biruritchi}}, they take over [[TCG Island]] and kidnap several of the [[Club Master]]s.

===[[Go-Rock Squad]]===

[[File:Go Rock Squad grunts.png|thumb|220px|Go-Rock Grunts]]

In {{OBP|Pokémon Ranger|video game}}, this team attempts to capture the [[Legendary beasts]] with their own version of the [[Capture Styler]].

In [[Pokémon Ranger the Comic: Double Mission]], the [[Go-Rock Quads]] captured {{p|Deoxys}} and used it against the Rangers [[Lunick]] and [[Solana]]. They controlled Deoxys and changed its formes by the use of their instruments.

{{-}}

[[File:Team Meanies anime.png|thumb|220px|Team Meanies in the anime]]

In [[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team]] along with its [[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX|remake]], Team Meanies is the enemy team. They harass the player and their partner many times, including stealing their personal rescue missions and attacking them. Eventually, the player has to rescue one of the members, and the leader of the team asks for help.

Team Meanies appeared in the Mystery Dungeon anime short ''[[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters Out of the Gate!]]''. Like in the games, they are the enemy team to [[Team Go-Getters]].

{{-}}

==={{mdc|Team Skull}}===

[[File:Team Skull art.png|thumb|220px|Team Skull]]

=====Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blazing Exploration Team=====

Only Koffing and Zubat have appeared in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blazing Exploration Team.

{{-}}

[[File:Dim Sun Grunts.png|thumb|right|200px|Team Dim Sun minions]]

In {{g|Ranger: Shadows of Almia}}, this team attempts to control all Pokémon in [[Almia]] Region. [[Blake Hall]], their head, intends to force all the Pokémon in [[Almia]] to produce limitless energy for his company, the Altru Inc.

This team appears after the player has beaten the game and plays the special mission "Liberate the Tower." This team consists of ex-members of Team Dim Sun with their leader being [[Kincaid]], one of Team Dim Sum's ex-admins.

Team Dim Sun appears in [[Darkrai Mission Story: Pokémon Ranger Vatonage - the Comic]]. Their ultimate goal is to take control over {{p|Darkrai}} via the {{DL|The King of Almia and the Three Princes|Shadow Crystal}}.

===[[Phobos Battalion]]===

Phobos Battalion are the enemies in {{g|Trozei!}}. Their goal is to steal Pokémon to use their energy and power up a secret weapon called the Phobosphere. Their leader is Baron Phobos.

{{-}}

===[[Pokémon Pinchers]]===

[[File:Pokémon Pinchers.png|thumb|right|200px|Male and female Pokémon pinchers]]

The Pokémon Pinchers are a villainous team based in the [[Oblivia]] region, appearing in {{g|Ranger: Guardian Signs}}. Their leaders are the [[Societea]], four people who wish to extend their lives with the Golden Armor and rule the world.

Two Pinchers and [[Red Eyes]] were seen in anime special ''{{OBP|Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs|anime special}}''.

{{-}}

[[File:Rumble_Blast_Rusty_Pokémon.png|thumb|right|200px|Rusty Pokémon]]

The Dark Legion is a group of [[Rusty Pokémon]] who have been corrupted and are being controlled by [[Dark Rust]]. They cannot speak, are always hostile, and will not drop as toys when defeated.  

====In the anime====

Team Break briefly appeared in the [[Pokémon Masters Animated Trailer]] in a montage.

{{-}}

===[[Explorers]]===

The '''Explorers''' (Japanese: '''エクスプローラーズ''' ''Explorers'') are a mysterious organization that is after [[Liko]]'s pendant, the [[Rising Volt Tacklers]]' sworn enemy, and the main antagonistic organization in ''[[Pokémon Horizons: The Series]]''.

Similar to previous anime series, ''[[Pokémon Horizons: The Series]]'' introduces a new trio of villains. Unlike [[Team Rocket Trio|other]] [[Team Skull trio|trios]], however, [[Amethio]], [[Zirc]], and [[Onia]] are more competent and serious in their actions, getting to the point of being more violent too, not caring if their actions might hurt other Pokémon or people.

{{-}}

==Trivia==

**For [[Lysandre]], the background is a fiery area resembling a {{wp|stellar corona}}, whereas the actual location is the [[Team Flare Secret HQ]].

**For [[Archie]] and [[Maxie]], the background resembles a whirlpool or a volcano, respectively, while both battles take place in the [[Seafloor Cavern]]. For the purposes of {{cat|moves that vary with environment}} and {{p|Burmy}}, it is treated as the default plain terrain.

*In the anime, [[Team Skull]] holds the distinction for debuting earlier in their respective series than any other team, appearing in the [[SM001|very first episode]] of ''[[Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon]]''. Likewise, [[Team Plasma]] holds the distinction of debuting the latest of any team, not appearing until [[BW112|the 112th episode]] of ''[[Pokémon the Series: Black and White]]''.

**However, if Team Plasma's [[BW023 (unaired)|intended debut]] had aired as planned, the latter distinction would be held by [[Team Yell]] instead, who did not appear until the [[JN099|99th episode]] of ''[[Pokémon Journeys: The Series]]''.