A Pokémon Trainer is a person who catches, trains, cares for, or battles with Pokémon. Starting from the age of ten (10), anyone can register as a Pokémon trainer. Once registered, the individual receives a trainer card, which is an identification issued by a given pokémon league.
Despite their name, trainer cards come in many forms, the most popular are
the:
Trainer Card
Trainer Passport
Trainer App
Trainer Cards are required to obtain full access to various League-related services: the Pokémart, Pokémon Storage, Daycare, etc.
Trainers found to be in violation of the law or who have been caught
abusing their pokémon may have their trainer cards REVOKED!
There are many types of trainers in the world. The most popular variant of trainers partner with their Pokémon in Battles, challenging institutions such as the Battle Frontier, Gyms, or World Coronation Series. However, while Pokémon Battles may dominate the trainer landscape, there's more to trainers than battle!
Other popular occupations among trainers include Coordinators, PokéAthletes, Rangers, Researchers, Ruin Maniacs, Shiny Hunters, and many more! The number of trainer occupations is only limited by your imagination!
Regardless of their field of preference, popular and up-and-coming trainers are known to have public profiles on TrainerDex, a community-run forum dedicated to all things trainers!
It is traditionally expected that trainers carry no more than six (6) pokémon on them at max. While this may be an unspoken rule, it is not strictly enforced. Trainers may choose to carry any number of pokémon with them, however, most tournaments and trainer accommodations will permit the traditional six (6).
Any Trainer looking to carry more than six pokémon with them may want to look into getting special permission or the purchase of a mobile PC unit.
A Gym (short for Pokémon Gym) is a place where Pokémon Trainers go to train their Pokémon. Just like real-life gymnasiums, where one can go to work out and build physical strength, Pokémon Gyms are places where Trainers can go to sharpen their battling skills and where their Pokémon can go to gain experience.
Gyms almost always specialize in a specific pokémon type and are headed by a Gym Leader.
Gym Leaders are revered as the strongest trainers within their Gym and are, more often than not, among the strongest trainers in a given region.
Official Pokémon Gyms are those recognized by their region's Pokémon League and their Gym Badges are required to participate in the Regional League Conference. A Gym's Badge can be obtained via Challenging the Gym Leader or substitute Gym Leader to a battle.
Trainers who challenge a region's Gym with the intent of joining the Regional Conferernce are referrerd to as League Challengers and the process of tackle a region's Gyms is referred to as the Gym Challenge.
League Challengers are traditionally tasked with collecting a specified number of a region's Gym Badges; the number of badges and their method of obtainment may vary between regions.
With the advancement and growth of the competitive battling scene, the Gym Challenge has evolved into a well-developed and robust institution!
Modern Gyms have Pokémon Breeders & Sommeliers/Connoisseurs on-hand to assess the strength of any prospective challenger. Regardless of the Challenger's strength, the Gym will field a pokémon relative strength.
This allows trainers at any age or experience level to start and engage with the Gym challenge.
The STANDARD Gym Challenge tests a trainer's grasp the essentials of pokémon battles. These ARE NOT designed to be extremely challenging and it is even possible to obtain the Gym Badge after a loss, so long as the trainer displays sufficient mastery of the skills being tested.
The benchmark skills for Standard Gym Badges are as follows:
1st & 2nd Badge — Knowledge of the Type Advantage Chart.
3rd & 4th Badge — Knowledge of Set-Up Moves, Status Conditions, and Field Hazards. Assesses a trainer's ability to employ and combat the most common strategies used in Pokémon Battles.
5th & 6th Badge — Stall, Weather, Set-Up Sweepers, Terrain Sweepers/Abusers, Trick Room, etc. Further assesses trainer's strategic capabilities and abilities to counter a wider range of tactics.
7th & 8th Badge — Unfavorable Environments—i.e. different types of battlefield: Underwater, Rocky, Forest, etc.—that favors the Gym Leader and their pokémon. Assesses trainers ability to adapt to and handle disadvantageous environs.
Each attempt to challenge a gym will cost the trainer $1,000; however, after a successful gym challenge the trainer will receive a fixed $3,000 in prize money. The money is used to cover Gym repairs and medical fees.
Gyms have expanded to allow their challengers to test their skills in a variety of ways. To this ends, the Gym allows challengers to pick the Battle Format by which they challenge the Gym.
The Vanilla Gym Challenge; the Challenger faces the Gym Leader or a designated substitute in Single Battle Format.
The Battle will be 3v3. Challengers are therefore advised to have three (3) Pokémon before challenging a Gym.
The Vanilla Gym Challenge with a small twist. The Challenger will face the Gym Leader or designated substitute in Double battle format.
The Battle will be a 4v4.
A successful Double Challenge applies as x1.25 (25%) increase to the cash prize earned by a Challenger.
A Marathon in battle format!
The Singles Gauntlet is an Endurance-Styled series of battles in Single Battle Format.
The Challenger faces off against two (2) Gym trainers and then the Gym leader or designated substitute in succession. Gym Trainers and Gym Leaders will use two (2) Pokémon each, and the challenger is allowed to use their entire team.
The Gauntlet is intended to push the trainer's Long-Term battle and planning skills. It also requires more strategic depth from a trainer, as the successive battles may prove a bit much for the classic 'bring one pokémon with a type advantage.'
Trainers will be allowed one (1) minute of rest between battles, during which they are allowed to apply healing items to their pokémon; however, the Challenger will only be allowed three (3) healing items across ALL their battles.
A successful Singles Gauntlet applies as x1.5 (50%) increase to the cash prize earned by a Challenger.
The Doubles Gauntlet, much like the Singles, is an endurace-styled serious of battles in Double Battle Format. The Challenger will face off against two (2) Gym Trainers and then the Gym Leader or designated substitute in succession.
Trainers will be allowed one (1) minute of rest between battles, during which they are allowed to apply healing items to their pokémon; however, the Challenger will only be allowed four (4) healing items across ALL their battles.
A successful Double Gauntlet applies a 75% increase to the cash prize earned by a Challenger.
Think the Standard Gym Challenge is to easy? Want to challenge yourself to tougher battles? Then Chalenge Mode is for you.
Designed for trainers who want to test their skills vigorously. The Gym Pokémon will still be at the same level; however, the Gym Trainers won't restrict themselves to only testing the benchmark of skill required. They will employ more complex strategies and be more unforgiving in their battles.
In Challenge Mode, Trainers should also expect Gym Pokémon to have access to their best moves: TRs, Tutors, or even Egg Moves.
At higher badges, Trainers may even encounter Battle Items.
In Challenge Mode, the trainer MUST win the battle to earn their badge, and in-turn they will obtain a badged gilded with gold. Proof of their excellence.
A successful Challenge Mode doubles the cash prize earned by a Challenger.
Challenge Mode can be appended onto any of the previous formats and the rewards are multiplicative. So a trainer can challenge a Doubles Gauntlet in Challenge Mode for
The Mark of Mastery is an advanced challenge format and thus, is not available to beginner trainers. The Mark of Mastery is only accessible to trainers who have managed to enter the top 32 of a regional conference. However, lacking a conference finish, trainers can also choose to undergo an assessment to determine their eligibility.
A Mark of Mastery is among the most prestigious achievements a trainer can earn and should only be challenged by trainers who want to test themselves against the BEST.
In this format the Trainer has a full 6v6 battle against the Gym Leader in the Gym Leader's preferred format. Trainers should come prepared to face the Gym Leader's Personal Team, fully equipped to pull out all the stops: Mega Evolution, Z-Moves, Dynamax, or Otherwise. Nothing will be held back.
Challengers beware, Gym Leaders are oft regarded as amongst the strongest within their regions. This reputation is not unearned.
The Mark of Mastery is a Gym Badge encrusted with gemstones, oft also called an Encrusted Badge.
A Trainer who has earned all a region's marks of mastery may perhaps truly consider themselves a Pokémon Master.
If competitive glamor is more your stride, then Poké-Performing Arts are the vocation for you!
Known for their dazzle and flair, Coordinators are the most well-known for of Pokémon Performance; battle aritstes who seek to bring out a pokémon true beauty through skillful command and application of moves! However, they are not the only Performers in the Pokémon World. Other performer's include:
Contests are perhaps the most prevelant form of performing art, and are expecially popular in Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh. Many famous Stylists, Actors/Actresses, and Performers have even found their start on the fields of Contest Coordination.
A Contest takes part in two stages:
Appeal/Performance Stage
In this stage, Coordinators & Pokémon dazzle the audience—and more importantly, a panel of judges—with displays of skill, style, power, and ingenuity.
The eight (8) most dazzling Coordinators move onto the second stage of the performance
Battle Stage
In this stage, the eight (8) remaining Coordinators compete in Pokémon battles while continuing to show off their Pokémon's style and skill. Each battle lasts five (5) minutes and the object of the battle is to decrease the opponent's points or knock them unconcious. Coordinators lose points when their Pokémon are hit by an attack, when their Pokémon's attack fails, when the opponent's Pokémon performs a particularly appealing move, or when the opponent's Pokémon uses their Pokémon's attack to its own advantage.
Two Ribbons are awarded at each contest. The overall winner of the Battle Stage can breathe a sigh of relief, because they would've earned themselves a coveted contest ribbon. However, the runner-up will have to defend their position.
The third (3rd) and fourth (4th) Coordinators will face off and the winner will be given a chance to challenge the runner-up. If successful, they assume the status of runner-up and earn themselves the second contest ribbon.
Contest Spectaculars are a form of Contest that does not feature Contest Battles. Instead, the winner is decided solely based on the Performance Stage with an audience vote and no judges. Moreover, Contest Spectaculars have Ranks (Normal, Super, Hyper, Master) and a draw for the first place is possible.
Pokémon Showcases are performance tournaments that are prominent throughout Kalos, where contestants are allowed to use up to six Pokémon. There are two classes of Pokémon Showcases, the Rookie Class and the Master Class. Every Performer may compete in the Rookie Class, but only those who have collected at least three Princess Keys can enter the Master Class.
Rookie Class tournaments are divided in two sections:
Theme Performance
The first is called the Theme Performance and can encompass different activities. The activity of the Theme Performance depends on the specific Showcase tournament. This section usually takes place in multiple rounds, with three contestants per round facing off against each other, though only the winner of each round will move on to the next section. However, as the Theme Performance varies between tournaments, the criteria for winning them also differs.
Free-Style Performance
The second section is called the Freestyle Performance, which is the same in each Pokémon Showcase. The Performer and their Pokémon perform together on stage, making full use of the Pokémon's capabilities. It is similar to the Performance Stage of a Pokémon Contest. However, unlike Coordinators, Performers must be involved in an active part of the performance, since Showcase performances also focus on the Trainers and their ability to perform alongside their Pokémon, whereas in Pokémon Contests the Pokémon are always the main attraction.
As mentioned earlier, there Theme Performance varies between tournaments, and popular formats include:
Pokémon Styling
Performers must dress up one of their Pokémon in a unique style using the materials given within the time limit and present their partner to the audience. Contestants are judged by the audience.
Poké-Puff Baking
Performers must collaborate with their Pokémon and bake Poké Puffs within the time limit. The Poké Puffs are evaluated by a panel of judges.
Pokémon Quiz
Performers must answer trivia questions. To answer a question, one of their Pokémon must complete a task. The first to answer three questions correctly advances to the second section.
Poké-Puff Performance
Performers and their Pokémon bake a Poké Puff but with a synchronized dance performance. Contestants are judged by the audience.
Rhydon Herding
Performers and their Pokémon must beckon the most Rhyhorn over to their side of the stage using any means necessary. Performers can also thieve Rhyhorn to their side from other Performers.