History Manga / PokemonSpecial

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/PokeSpe_characters.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[-Center: [[AwesomenessByAnalysis Emerald]].\\
Clockwise from top: [[TheMedic Yellow]], [[TheHero Red]], [[IdiotHero Gold]], [[CampStraight Ruby]], [[TheRival Blue]] (Green JP), [[AntiHero Silver]], [[WildChild Sapphire]], [[LoveableRogue Green]] (Blue JP), and [[TeamMom Crystal]].\\
Not included: [[BigEater Diamond]], [[{{Determinator}} Pearl]], [[{{Ojou}} Platinum]], [[SpiritedCompetitor Black]], [[NeutralFemale White]], [[InterpolSpecialAgent Lack-Two]], [[{{DarkAndTroubledPast}} Whi-Two]], [[{{Hikikomori}} X]], and [[{{HotBlooded}} Y]].-] ]]

''Pokémon Special'' [[MarketBasedTitle (known as ''Pokémon Adventures'' in the official English releases)]] is a {{manga}} adaptation of the Franchise/{{Pokemon}} [[VideoGame games]] series. Creator Satoshi Tajiri has stated that it is more faithful to his original idea than any other adaptation. [[note]]Note that this comment was made on volume 1.[[/note]]

The primary difference between it and [[{{Anime/Pokemon}} the anime]] is that instead of the same main character going to a new region with different companions, the protagonist changes every time the previous protagonist's story is through. It's also somewhat violent, as it is one of the few adaptations where you actually see Pokémon and people get badly wounded and even killed.

The {{manga}} series is authored by Hidenori Kusaka. It was illustrated by Mato for the first 9 volumes, and since volume 10, has been illustrated by Satoshi Yamamoto. It is published by Shōgakukan under the Ladybird Comics Special imprint. In the United States, Creator/VizMedia released only the first two chapters (corresponding to the Generation I games) originally, though they have started publishing the series again starting with reprints of Gen I and continuing from there (albeit with some quirks, such as skipping Gen III entirely for some time). While Viz is playing catch-up, the go-to official English translation for the missing chapters is the {{UsefulNotes/Singapore}}an version by Chuang Yi Comics (which can be found [[http://jb2448.info/ here]]), which translated the series up through Volume 41. After Chuang Yi went bust in early 2014, a subsidiary of Shogakukan called Shogakukan Asia has continued from where Chuang Yi left off.

While there are multiple other ''Pokémon'' manga, this is the most well known (at least in English-speaking circles). If you see a ''Pokémon'' fan talk about "the manga", this is probably what they are referring to. (Some of the other manga are listed [[Manga/{{Pokemon}} here]].)

''[-Note: In general, we're using characters' English names where they're known, even if those names come from other sources and the characters haven't appeared in the English-language manga yet. Blue and Green had their names switched in translation so the boys matched the English games VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue (in Japan, Green's the boy and Blue's the girl; outside Japan, Blue's the boy and Green's the girl.) Current TV Tropes policy states that official English names are to be used if known, though because of this being a wiki, this page may see mixing of Blue/Green for the boy and the girl due to the wide use of both names for both characters in the fandom. We are currently in the process of figuring out how to handle this situation. Please understand. -]''
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!!This manga provides examples of:

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* AerithAndBob: In a world full of Japanese/Anglo names, nobody seems to comment that the Dex Holders' names are colors, jewels, metals and ''single letters.''
* ActionGirl: All the main female 'Dex Holders are quite capable of battling and defending themselves. In fact, after Red, the next Dex holders that actually battled and won gym badges were Sapphire and Platinum.
** The exception is [[NeutralFemale White]], who doesn't regard herself as trainer (as she doesn't train Pokémon that way and doesn't even possess any Pokémon to fight with; her Pokémon actors and actresses aren't hers, either). [[spoiler:But she's decided to change that, embarking on a personal journey to ''become'' a trainer.]]
* AdaptationalHeroism: Silver's a JerkAss with no heroic actions in the games who only learns to trust and care for his Pokémon after you beat him at Victory Road, whereas here he's driven for vengeance for Green and himself but [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold will help people in trouble from time to time]].
* AdaptationalVillainy: Lt. Surge, Koga, Sabrina, [[spoiler: Bruno, Agatha, Lorelei, Lance, and Pryce]], although some of these characters are more sympathetic than others and [[spoiler: most of the named Gym Leaders reform, as do all of the Elite Four members sans Agatha.]]
** N also has fewer sympathetic qualities and more KickTheDog moments than he does in the games.
* AdaptationExpansion
* AllThereInTheManual: There is a surprisingly large amount of information on the background of the Pokémon world in the back section of the books. Information includes the main characters' teams' levels, amount of Pokémon seen and caught, Pokédex functions, maps detailing where everything took place, etc. There was even one detailing the exact duties of the Kanto/Johto Gym Leaders.
** The Pokedex pages on the netkun site provide details of various Pokémon that had been shown in the series, such as the Gym Leaders' Pokémon's genders.
* AndNowForSomeoneCompletelyDifferent: Gold and Silver, after their fight with the Mask of Ice at the Lake of Rage, are promptly dropped for awhile to focus on Crystal.
* AnimalWrongsGroup: [[spoiler:The Kanto Elite Four]] want to [[KillAllHumans exterminate all humanity]] so that the Pokémon can live in harmony.
** Team Plasma, of course, also counts as this. (Of course, unlike the above and below, they were like that in the games, too.)
** Team Magma and Aqua start of like this but Archie and Maxie quickly slide into just outright maniacal genocide
* AnimeHair: Red and Blue, to name some.
** Gold [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] this at one point when he complains about his hair being all wild and messy, then realizes that it's always like that.
** All hail Emerald, one of few guys in anime/manga-dom who ''actually uses gel'' to keep his ridiculous 'do. It's not even waterproof, folks.
** The Sinnoh chairman has his hair shaped like a humongous serving of soft-serve ice cream.
** Really, who DOESN'T have ridiculous hair in this series?
* AntiClimax: Near the end of the Ruby and Sapphire arc, [[spoiler: Wallace finally accepts his role as Hoenn's champion and prepares to battle Archie and Maxie for the fate of the region. He gets to kick ass for all of two pages before they reveal [[AlwaysSaveTheGirl they have Winona as a hostage, forcing Wallace to stand down and allow himself to get beaten to a pulp.]]]]
* ArbitraryHeadcountLimit: Justified and explained in the GSC chapter, when the storage system goes down and Crystal can't drop off her captures. The Professors discuss that there's nothing stopping Crystal from carrying seven or eight or more Pokémon, but it's harder to devote enough care and attention to that many; the League recommends stopping at six for this reason and most trainers don't think highly of those who carry more.
** Averted with the conclusion of the Gold/Silver/Crystal chapters when [[spoiler: every caught pokemon helps calm Lugia and Ho-oh down]] and in the Emerald chapter when Guile Hideout sets the rental pokemon on Emerald and the Frontier Brains.
** Enforced on the number of Dex holders who act as the protagonists: Professor Oak only makes 3 dexes per generation (he later makes a brand new one for Red who gives his old one to Yellow).
* ArcWelding: This series does an impressive job of welding all the arcs together. Volumes 29 and 38 have broken people's brains with all the different plots and characters that have come together.
** Volume 40 has pretty much taken this trope and dragged it all the way to the next level, what with [[spoiler:the Sinnoh trio receiving the Phione Egg from the ''VideoGame/PokemonRanger'' manga, and Looker jetting off to Unova to investigate the Seven Sages]].
** If you think you managed to handle the above, you'd better be prepared to have an ambulance on call by the time you reach the HGSS saga. [[spoiler: The HGSS saga takes place '''''before''''' [=DPPt=]. Meaning that everything that happened in the HGSS saga acted as a prequel to the latter saga]]
* ArtEvolution: Quite noticeable. Compare the Kanto group to the Hoenn or Sinnoh at the same age, the Kanto trio to them in the Sevii arc, or even Gold at the beginning to himself by the end of the [=GSC=] arc.
** Both examples are justified by the fact that they are different artists. The first one's art deteriorated with time alongside her health, as you can see between the RGB and Yellow arcs and the beginning of GSC. Mid-GSC, the artist was changed by someone who imitated her style for the rest of the arc, before he was allowed to use his style in RS and onwards.
** Satoshi Yamamoto seems to be recently experimenting with new types of bodies and faces to diversify the cast. He is also getting better at drawing more detailed clothing.
** Diamond got chubbier throughout the DP arc, while his Lax got smaller.
* TheArtifact: Averted a lot with the reasons the character have for their journeys and is twice lampshaded out by the characters themselves when they avert it: Ruby and Sapphire (after they've saved Hoenn) panic and ask what day it is so they can finish their competition, while Diamond remarks to Platinum that their original reason for being on Spear Pillar was so she could make her family crest and [[TheCall not to stop the end of the world]]
** Diamond and Pearl, though they sideline their dream of becoming a great comedy act after Veilstone City, don't let it die and Diamond keeps working on his timing for his one liner.
* AscendedExtra: Many one-off characters from the games get their roles greatly expanded here.
* AuthorAppeal: Apparently the creators have a soft spot for human Latias, as she's seen in every author note since her debut until volume 37. Here she is as a [[http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d94/ybur_angel/301.jpg cheerleader]] and here she is as an [[http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d94/ybur_angel/311.jpg idol]].
** More like Creator of the Franchise Appeal and Paying Him Your Respects, Poliwhirl is apparently Satoshi Tajiri's favorite Pokémon, which is probably why Red's first Pokémon is Poli.
*** Gold also has a Poliwhirl for a time, which evolves from the Poliwag he mistakenly thought Silver had stolen. Ultimately, it evolves into Politoed, and it teams up with Red's Poliwrath in the Emerald arc, proving integral to destroying Guile Hideout's armor.
* AuthorAvatar: In the author notes, Kusaka is represented by an Electrode, Mato a glasses-wearing Oddish holding a pencil, and Yamamoto a Swalot. There was a reference to this in the beginning of the Emerald arc in that an Electrode and a Swalot are the Pokémon Spenser and Lucy have a double battle against for the Battle Frontier's opening ceremony.
** Before volume 15, Satoshi Yamamoto's avatar was a Slowpoke. Also in the RGB Chapter, Hidenori Kusaka's avatar is what one would assume is a manga version of himself. In volume 4, it's the same guy with an Electrode for a head.
** The Unova film director bears an uncanny resemblance to Kusaka himself.
* AwesomeMcCoolname: Seriously, who ''wouldn't'' love to be named Gold, Silver or Platinum? Black and Diamond are also pretty cool names.
* BackFromTheDead: [[spoiler: Steven, Courtney and Norman from the climax of the RS arc.]]
** [[spoiler:As well as Guile Hideout/Archie, though he was just missing and presumed dead.]]
** [[spoiler: Diamond, Cyrus, Fuji and Paka in the Platinum part of the Sinnoh arc.]]
* BareYourMidriff: When White is hit by Razor Leaf, her clothes tear up and [[http://pokemon.wikia.com/wiki/File:Pokemon_Adventures_White_Midriff.jpg expose her midriff up past her belly button. ]]Her clothes remain in this state for the rest of the chapter.
* BackToBackBadasses: Played straight in this [[http://jb2448.info/Pokemon_Adventures_32/Pokemon-Adventures-v32-c358---034 page in volume 32.]]
* {{Badass}}:
** Norman. Son runs away from home? Have a gorilla swing A STAIRCASE at him.
** Mewtwo would probably also count.
** Giovanni.
** If any of the main characters isn't this by the end of their respective game's story arc - there is definitely something wrong with them.
** For the most part, the dominant race in the Pokémon Special world is not humans or Pokémon. [[WorldOfBadass It's badasses]].
* BadassAdorable: Most notably [[http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i9/Senefen/surskitmontage.jpg Guile's Surskit]] from the Emerald arc.
** [[BewareTheNiceOnes Yellow]] [[SuperweaponSurprise has a few tricks up her sleeve]].
** No, Gold's Togepi takes the cake. It took down Silver's Tyranitar (which knocked Togepi out too) and Lance's (admittedly wounded) Dragonite before launching itself right through its Hyper Beam!
** Most of the protagonists when they're younger at least. And as per the course in the series, a majority of their unevolved Pokémon.
* BadassNormal: Pretty much everybody; while trainers still generally just hang back and give orders like in the games and anime, here, some actually provide physical support. A common variation is riding your Pokémon while it's fighting. Giovanni actually says a truly 'great' trainer has to hone his own body instead of just relying on your Pokémon. This is the same advice Chuck goes by and passed down to Blue.
** When Team Rocket attacks Indigo Plateau and the Gym Leaders retaliate, some of the Gym Leaders fight with their ''own fists'' alongside of their Pokémon. Among the confusion, you can see that Falkner slams one grunt to the ground, Janine performs a flying kick in a grunt's face, Clair is whipping them, and Chuck is throwing six of them at a time. Pity there was only one shot of Blue apparently kicking someone off panel.
** Red is revealed to have been a HandicappedBadass for most of the Yellow and G/S/C arcs after being encased in ice. He gets better in time for his BigDamnHeroes moment at the end of the arc.
** In a later panel (volume 14, page 32 to be exact) Blue is explicitly shown punching someone to the ground.
** Sapphire is a pretty badass normal too, having been training in the jungle with her Pokemon since childhood, giving her CharlesAtlasSuperpower. So far, she has carried several people while running on foot, torn apart a steel pole, and a lot more..
** Crystal is the same, having broken her arms as a kid and learned to do things with only her legs. The result: near superhuman strength in her legs, which is why she uses them so often.
** Gold is able to shoot poke-balls with unerring accuracy because of his skills with a pool cue.
** Red has survived things considered near impossible to bounce back from, even by Dex Holder standards. Plus, he tanks Pokemon moves like a boss on a regular basis, and has thrown down with Pokemon one-on-one when needed. The most recent example is ''Deoxys itself''.
* BagOfHolding: Props and accessories appear to be kept in tiny capsules, which are then kept inside a prop case.
* BerserkButton: Gold goes absolutely ballistic when the Masked Man tells him that Pokémon are just weapons to him. [[spoiler:It was a lie.]]
** Lay a hand on Green and Silver will ''snap you in half''.
---> '''Silver''': Don't touch her with your dirty hands!!
*** The feeling may be mutual. After [[spoiler:Will and Karen are shown to have fought Silver and knocked him out, Green is so enraged she overcomes her ornithophobia, stands up to the bird that kidnapped her and fights back using the legendary bird trio]].
** Speaking of Green, ruin her reunion with her parents? Watch out, Red ''and'' Blue will go after you. [[spoiler: The "berserk" part was mostly Red, Blue being more concerned about his grandpa, but still]].
** Most Dex Holders have their own personal Berserk Buttons, but ''all'' of them will kick your ass if you harm or upset their friend or mistreat Pokemon.
** As Black demonstrates in Nimbasa City. He ''flips'' when he thinks White is in danger and doesn't hesitate to bring out his ''whole team'' for an ass-kicking.
*** Pearl also does the same in the Platinum arc when [[spoiler: he believes Charon has killed Dia.]]
** Woe betide anyone who even smacks Bianca's [[BoisterousBruiser Oshawott]] in the face.
* {{BFS}}: Mewtwo's [[ImprobableWeaponUser Big Friggin']] '''[[ImprobableWeaponUser Spoon]]'''.
* BigBad: Giovanni will pretty much throw you into a bottomless cavern and experiment with your blood if given the chance. [[spoiler: Unless you're his son, Silver. But he will probably do the above to you if you touch the kid.]]
** Other Big Bads include Lance, Masked Man aka [[spoiler:Pryce]], Archie & Maxie, Guile Hideout aka [[spoiler:Archie ''again'']], Cyrus, and Charon.
** In the HGSS arc, the Rocket Executives, Archer, Ariana, Petrel and Proton, are fulfilling this role as a BigBadDuumvirate.
** And in the BW arc, there's N and Ghetsis.
* BigDamnHeroes: [[spoiler:Gold emerging from his Guile Hideout disguise in Emerald Chapter certainly counts.]]
** [[spoiler: Regigigas, see Chekhov's Gunman]]
** Black has to fight N, but the Seven Sages block him. Unlike the games, however, none of the Gym Leaders can do this. [[spoiler: Cue every named minor character Black met during his journey]].
** Norman riding [[spoiler: Rayquaza in to stop Kyogre and Groudon]]
** [[spoiler: Red shows up just in time to help defeat the Elite Four]] at the end of Yellow's chapter
*** It becomes the modus operandi for the previous dex holders to show up in time to save the day.
* BigEater: Diamond. He's seen eating in almost every round. This trait is also shared with practically every single one of his Pokémon; his initial Pokémon, Munchlax, is one of the franchise's poster kids for big eaters and is only really outdone by Diamond himself.
** Black's Musha ''loves'' to eat. Good thing it has a free and endless supply of its favorite food courtesy of its trainer's head (ie, Black's dreams).
* BillyElliotPlot: Ruby running away from his battle master dad so he can win contests.
* BigFancyHouse: Misty and Platinum have mansions for homes.
* BokeAndTsukkomiRoutine: Once a round in the DP arc [[spoiler:until the trio decided to split up.]]
* BodyguardCrush: Dia to Platinum during their first meeting (although he and Pearl only became her bodyguards due to a misunderstanding).
* BookDumb: Sapphire's an interesting case. She only has basic literacy and had trouble understanding the questions in Roxanne's written gym exam[[note]]In Japanese, she knew hiragana "spellings" but couldn't read kanji of the same; in English she didn't know definitions of bigger words.[[/note]] but she was able to ace the exam anyway by asking an assistant to tell her what the words were.
** Explained as she is Professor Birch's daughter and spends almost all of her time doing field research for him in the wild. As a result she is highly knowledgeable about Pokémon but has poor social grace and literacy.
* BookEnds: The DPP arc, which begins and ends with Diamond and Pearl performing their BokeAndTsukkomiRoutine on the same stage in Jubilife City.
* {{Bowdlerize}}: At the end of Viz's original release of the RGB Mt. Moon arc, Red carries an unconscious Misty out of the caves. She comes to, finds herself covered in dirt, and punches Red because she thinks he's groping her. The reprint instead has her complain more about being dirty instead of accuse Red of something inappropriate.
** They also cleaned up the Green vs Sabrina fight; the re-release has Green insult Sabrina's fashion sense instead of her "[[ACupAngst health]]", and with the ClothingDamage edited out it looked like she pulled Jigglypuff and Clefairy [[AssPull out of her rear, so to speak,]] instead of from her VictoriasSecretCompartment.
** Crystal's mom no longer gives her a DopeSlap hard enough to knock her to the ground, but instead a DeathGlare that makes her physically recoil.
** Much like the anime, Lenora's apron was edited out. A bit pointless as she only wore it in a few shots, having taken it off right before battling Black.
** Rather than having Norman punch Ruby and send the kid flying, lightning strikes Norman's hand instead. Apparently Norman is completely immune to electricity. Not only that, In a later page, Norman's dialogue has been softened to make him more understanding of Ruby's goal.
* BreakTheCutie: Green was kidnapped at age five by a giant bird [[spoiler:Ho-Oh]], [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes giving her a crippling fear of birds]], so that she could be forced to become the underling of a BigBad. After eleven long years of fighting for her freedom, overcoming her phobias, and generally breaking free of her past, she [[spoiler:locates her parents and goes off for a joyous and tearful reunion, only to have them disappear in front of her eyes.]] Is it any wonder she went into a near coma afterward?
** White gets hit ''hard''. Right after the highest moment of her life (working on the Pokémon Musical to the point of exhaustion to make sure it would be a hit), [[spoiler:N reveals to her that her star actress has always wanted to battle. Then her star actress abandons her, allowing White to fall off the Ferris Wheel. White is then left barely conscious on the ground below, her eyes full of tears.]]
** Black, to an extent, gets this when [[spoiler:Musha pulls a ScrewThisImOuttaHere]].
** White, once again, after Black [[spoiler: gets sucked into the White stone after beating N at the Pokemon league]]
* BrickJoke:
** In the beginning of the RS arc, Ruby makes an offhand remark how Mudkip is better than Treecko (appearance-wise, anyways). In the middle of the Emerald arc, which is two arcs later (which in-story is about a year), Ruby discovers that Emerald's Sceptile is in fact the same Treecko, which had since gone missing. He cheerfully asks the Sceptile if it remembers him, and sure enough, it turns out that it had been carrying a grudge for that remark. Ruby promptly gets punched in the face.
** The Fire Red and Leaf Green saga has Old Master Kimberly looking for the Old Sea Map, the item needed to find Faraway Island which is home to the "ancestor" of all Pokémon, Mew; she passes this information on to Captain Briney, only for her to learn that he's already found the island, making all her efforts moot. Seems like a one-note joke, but... Later in the Emerald saga, soil from Faraway Island, being connected to Mew's DNA, was what helped calm down all the berserk Pokémon in the Battle Frontier.
** During the GSC Arc, while the President of the Pokémon Fan Club is communicating with all his members, we catch a glimpse of a girl in a bathtub with her Tentacool, a reference to the case of GettingCrapPastTheRadar below.
* ButtMonkey:
** Bill and Eusine.
** The director's aide, who constantly gets smacked by his boss (and once got kicked in the face).
** The majority of the protagonists in their introduction arcs. Red for example becomes a butt monkey to his own Pikachu.
* {{Canon Foreigner}}s: Yellow and Emerald do not have game counterparts.
** Green was based [[http://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/f/f3/Kensugiart4.png on]] [[http://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/6/6f/Sugimori_Starter_artwork.png artwork]] from when the First Gen was to have a gender option. When FR/LG were released, her artwork was retooled to make her the equivalent of the female character there.
* TheCall: Most Dex holders but Yellow and Crystal stand out as being chosen by Pokemon (Pika and Suicune) and tasked with a mission (find Red, stop the Mask of Ice)
** JumpedAtTheCall: Gold wouldn't have gotten involved in the whole mess with the Mask of Ice if he hadn't been hell bent on tracking down Silver
* CallBack[=/=]ContinuityNod: Quite frequently are past events brought up in the present, even if said events were hundreds of chapters ago.
** The first chapter begins with a bunch of kids in Pallet Town trying to catch a Nidorino but falling. Red shows up and shows them how it's done with his Poliwhirl and the kids realising it's Red, the best Pokémon trainer in Pallet Town. Skip ahead to the start of Fire Red/Leaf Green and almost the exact scene plays out with Venusaur instead of Poliwhirl and the kids recognizing Red as the best trainer in Kanto.
** Way, way back in the RBG arc, Red was led around the Safari Zone by a mechanical Pidgey. Hundreds of chapters later, there are mechanical Starly guides in the Sinnoh Battle Frontier. It also turns out that there are mechanical Hoothoot in the Johto Safari Zone.
** In the HGSS arc, Gold's Togepi waves at Lance's Tyrannitar, showing that the baby Pokemon still remembers taking on the much larger Pokemon back in the GSC one.
** The three vacationing video game developers who were nearly killed during the Groudon/Kyogre clash turn out to be from Unova.
* CastOfSnowflakes: It was always there, but Yamamoto is really improving with this. More characters are coming out with a variety of faces and body types (with the occasional {{Gonk}} thrown in). What's especially noteworthy are the Plasma grunts; each of them look distinctly unique despite them all having the same uniform.
** The Flare grunts are looking distinct despite that they all have the same hairstyle ''and'' eye-concealing shades.
* CatchPhrase: Ruby's "Beautiful!" complete with BishieSparkle.
** Diamond, following an injury, cries out "I'm Pokéaayy" while covering his eyes with Pokéballs.
* CharacterizationMarchesOn: Given the limited amount of personality present in the game characters, the mangaka really went out of their way to create unique and often radically different characterizations for the trainers.
* ChekhovsArmoury:
** ChekhovsGun: Way too many to count. Just about every minor object introduced early in the story becomes significant later on. A noteworthy one is the book Green reads in the GSC arc...which is revealed in the FRLG arc to have been [[spoiler: written by ''Giovanni.'']]
*** This book is mentioned to tell how to evolve Rhydon in the HGSS arc, something that wasn't revealed in the games until ''two generations'' after GSC.
** ChekhovsGunman: Almost every minor character introduced in the series becomes important later on. Some of them even become main characters.
*** The girl Red saved from a rampaging wild Dratini in the RGB arc was actually Yellow. Would have been more obvious if not for [[SamusIsAGirl the hat]]...though we're not told whether Red knows Yellow's that same girl or not.
*** Another major one is the female scientist who was working on constructing the Green Orb, who was only shown in flashbacks. It turns out she's [[spoiler:Platinum's mother]].
*** [[spoiler: Regigigas, savior of Platinum, Candice and Maylene, and also savior of the space-time continuum.]]
** ChekhovsBoomerang: And chances are, some major or minor characters may return unexpectedly. [[spoiler:Giovanni's statue in the Viridian Gym, Celebi in the RS saga, and Guile Hideout's true identity is Archie]], for example.
** ChekhovsGag: At the beginning of the GSC arc, Gold intentionally invokes {{Facial Composite Failure}} on Silver's wanted poster so that [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou he would be the only one to go after him.]] At the end of the arc, this intentional mismatch would be [[LoopholeAbuse what prevents Blue from apprehending Silver for his crime.]]
** ChekhovsSkill:
*** Before a Gym battle Platinum will typically learn a new skill, which she will then have to use in said Gym Battle to beat the Leader.
*** Also, Blue's Porygon. When he and Yellow were fighting off wild Mankey it was shown to be able to travel through electrical systems. Later on in the FRLG arc it did it again to destroy the supercomputer that was holding Prof. Oak captive.
*** Gold's prowess with a pool cue in his introductory scene is used a handful of times throughout the series and allows him to get the drop on the masked man in their show down
* TheChosenMany: And people are [[GenreSavvy aware of it]]:
** A Galactic grunt lampshades the tendency for them to get involved in large-scale battles.
** Professor Oak even wonders whether Pokédex holders are destined to live their lives, surrounded by battles.
* TheChosenOne: Suicune choosing its partner is a major storyline in the G/S/C arc. Raikou and Entei as well but this has less focus.
* CharacterDevelopment: The heroes pretty much mature as they go through their main arc.
** Or, villain-wise, they get crazier.
** Though some just lose interest in their original motives for villainy - [[spoiler:Lance, Sabrina, Lt. Surge, Koga, Lorelei, Bruno, Will and Karen]] for example - and [[HeelFaceTurn decide to become good]], while others end up getting redeemed through the situation at hand ([[spoiler: Giovanni and Pryce.]])
* ClothingDamage: Both played for drama and comedy. One notable moment had [[{{Fanservice}} Green's top ripped during a battle...to reveal]] [[VictoriasSecretCompartment an interesting new place for girls to conceal their PokéBalls]].
** Played for fanservice at the end of [=FireRed/LeafGreen=] when Red's clothing is so damaged he decides to just go shirtless.
** Black and White are on the receiving end of this courtesy of [[spoiler:Virizion]]. Whites's lower half of her shirt rips, offering some fanservice and bare midriff at her expense (though you barely get a good look for the rest of the chapter).
* CombinedEnergyAttack: In most arc finales, Dex Holders [[CombinationAttack combine their attacks]] to take down the BigBad. What's interesting is that whenever older Dex Holders show up to support the newer generation, it's always an [[ShockAndAwe electric attack]] that is the finishing blow. (Megavolt, Super Rising Thunder, Volt Tackle.)
* ComedicSociopathy: Part of Diamond and Pearl's act:
-->'''Pearl:''' Act stupid so I can hit you!
* ContractualPurity: [[invoked]]White freaks at the idea of Tep evolving and having Gigi pair up with a different, presumably larger, not-as-adorable Pokémon. She gets over it quickly and figures out a new way to market them.
* ContrivedCoincidence: The entire premise of the Emerald chapter: [[spoiler: Jirachi only awakens from its slumber for one week every thousand years. That week ''just so happens'' to overlap perfectly with the Battle Frontier's opening week.]]
* ConvectionSchmonvection: The final battle of the Yellow Chapter briefly moves to the crater of a volcano.
* [[ConvenientlyEmptyBuilding Conveniently Empty City]]: Vermillion City was conveniently empty when Lance decimates it with a Hyper Beam due to a major event at the docks. However, Lance does acknowledge that there were probably a few people still inside.
* CovertPervert: Believe it or not, it's Ruby; as he takes Sapphire's measurements while she's unconscious (in order to alter a set of clothes for her).
-->'''Ruby:''' "Ahhh...it always feels good after a kind deed!!"
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Notable example are Platinum's real bodyguards: who's going to think much of two guys whose names are based on the word 'idiot' (Yuji and Paka)? Hell, you might think her dad was one for hiring them in the first place. After a few comical mishaps, the two get into a battle with Team Galactic, and you can see that they really are skilled battlers, displaying clever strategies and outwitting Saturn himself.
** Ruby, who normally avoids battles in public, is a scarily competent battler.
** Diamond never tries to appear dumb, he just prefers to let Pearl do all the talking because it means he can [[BigEater keep eating his food]] and messes up his show with Pearl in his introduction cause he'd rather be eating with his Munchlax. [[spoiler: He works out from the word go that he and Pearl weren't supposed to be Platinum's bodyguards and is usually the one to come up with a crazy but practical sollution to the issue at hand]]
* CrazyPrepared:
** Green seems to be able to deal with many problems, including a few she doesn't anticipate.
** Giovanni in the FLRG arc.
* CryCute: Most of the main characters.
* CurbStompBattle:
** Thinking that Byron was responsible for [[spoiler:her father's kidnapping, Platinum quickly knocks out both his Bronzongs with one Flamethrower from Ponyta.]]
** Also Red's first few battles up until he battles Misty. This is made a plot point, as Misty points out that his victories have made him cocky and he can't afford to take winning for granted.
* CuteLittleFangs: Sapphire.
* CuteBruiser: Sapphire again. Several character's Pokémon too.
* CuteAndPsycho: [[spoiler: Caitlin]] gets this way [[http://i.imgur.com/1sBhY.png when wanting to have a Pokémon battle.]]
* CuteKitten: Ruby has a Skitty which later evolves to a Delcatty.
* CrucifiedHeroShot: [[spoiler: Six of the Unova Gym Leaders end up being tied up to crosses. Considering that Team Plasma is made up of pretentious knight wannabes, this may be intentional on their part.]]
* DangerouslyGenreSavvy: In the games and anime, the first thing the characters attack with their Pokémon is their opponent's Pokémon. Here, if you're an evil character, it's usually the trainer you're getting your Pokémon to sic.
** Unlike the anime, rather than shooting a laser at it, returning your Pokemon into its ball involves throwing the ball at it before the ball, now the Pokemon inside, automatically flies back to the trainer's hand. [[spoiler: A Plasma grunt steals Hugh's sister's Purrloin by stepping in front of her and catching it before she did.]]
** Another example: [[spoiler: At one point, Emerald gets so close to capturing Jiraichi that he has it inside the ball, but Guile uses a psychic pokemon to prevent the pokeball from closing so that Jiraichi escapes.]]
* DarkerAndEdgier: The tone overall remains similarly lighthearted, but it is a good deal grittier than the anime and most of the original games.
** The really defining moments for this were the Pokemon zombies, and not much later when an Arbok gets cut in two.
** Special mention goes to the Kalos arc for already being this just ''one chapter in''. As of now, we have [[{{Hikkikomori}} protagonists]] [[LimitedSocialCircle with trust issues with anyone apart from their social circle]], their hometown [[DoomedHometown destroyed by two legendary Pokemon]], an evil team [[SternChase constantly trying to kill the protagonists]] for their {{Magnetic Plot Device}}, a friend that underwent {{Demonic Possession}} due to the previously stated event, and an {{Obviously Evil}} antagonist. Keep in mind that the arc isn't even halfway done yet.
* DarkestHour: [[spoiler:The final battle/climax of the RS arc. Norman, Courtney, Steven are all dead. Wallace gets the crap beaten out of him by Maxie and Archie who's both gone insane for destruction at this point. Winona is held hostage.]]
* DarkAndTroubledPast:
** Green and Silver's childhood.
** Ruby and Sapphire count too.
** This is part of what motivates a few of the villains.
** Emerald also counts.
* DeclarationOfProtection: Dia and Pearl officially feel this way for Platinum after the mishaps in Veilstone City.
* DeconstructedTrope: Like the games, in the BW chapter, Bianca is actively on the run from her father who wants to drag her back home. Unfortunately, this results in her being unable to spend any time training her Pokemon or actually get anything in general done, further feeding into her self-esteem issues.
* DefrostingIceQueen: Platinum starts out to be quite bossy and snobbish to Diamond and Pearl.
* DemotedToExtra: To an extent, Cheren and Bianca in the ''Black and White'' arc. In a way, the two titular main characters even take on ''their'' CharacterDevelopment arcs from the games.
* {{Determinator}}
-->'''Masked Man''': Hmm...You're a tough one...Ilex Forest, Lake of Rage and Indigo Plateau. Three times we've fought and three times you've lost...Despite all that, you're still coming at me. I have to give you some credit for that and remember your name.
-->'''Gold''': (Panting) Open your ears and listen well then!!! Remember this, I am...(Gives Focus Bands to his Pokémon) '''GOLD'''! From New Bark Town!!
* DeusExMachina: [[spoiler:Celebi]] in ''Ruby/Sapphire''.
* DiabolusExMachina:
** [[spoiler: The end of the Fire Red and Leaf Green arc: Team Rocket has been stopped, Deoxys has been calmed, Mewtwo has found peace, Silver has accepted his father, and no one other than Orm has died despite the intense battles and the falling airship rigged with explosives. All seems well until Sird [[MadeOfIron somehow]] shows up and makes a last-ditch attempt to recapture Deoxys, which fails but causes the five dex holders present to be [[TakenForGranite turned to stone]].]]
** Also happens earlier at the end of [[spoiler: the Ruby and Sapphire arc. After weeks of wanton destruction and many a HeroicSacrifice, the main cast has finally succeeded in quelling Kyogre and Groudon. So now everything's fine, right? Cue the return of Archie and Maxie, who not only don't undergo a HeelRealization like their game counterparts, but proceed to join forces, batter the weary heroes, and attempt to start the whole crisis over again.]]
* DiagonalCut
* DisappearedDad: Koga for Janine, and (presumably) Hayate for Falkner.
* DisproportionateRetribution: The Sinnoh Trio make a lot of noise in Mt. Coronet's caves. Cyrus's response is to bury them alive in a rock slide.
* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: Ruby running away from home because his dad won't accept he wants to be a Pokémon coordinator. Ruby is very, very camp. It honestly gets a bit awkward when [[spoiler:Norman eventually tracks him down and beats him senseless.]]
* DoingItForTheArt: In-Universe. White, the president of a Pokémon talent agency, always makes sure that her Pokémon actors get the best possible treatment and that her clients are satisfied even if it means she fails to make a profit and has to camp outside in a tent. However, she is shown to be worried about her finances.
* [[spoiler: DoomedHometown: Vaniville Town gets destroyed in the second round of the XY chapter.]]
* DoubleTake: When Yellow's "Uncle" sees the Mask's Rocket grunts.
* DownerEnding: The conclusion of the FRLG arc. [[spoiler: The next arc rectifies it, though.]]
** [[spoiler:The BW arc ends with Ghetsis still on the loose, the remaining Team Plasma members fleeing, and [[SealedGoodInACan Black trapped inside the Light Stone with Reshiram]].]]
* DragonRider:
** Green and Wally both have dragon-like Pokémon.
** Dragon-type trainers Lance, Clair and Drake too.
* DubNameChange: The rival is Green. The girl is Blue. But in the published English version, this is reversed because of the way the Blue and Green version were released as one, making the default name for the first gen's rival Blue.
** DubInducedPlotHole if you notice it makes that scene in FRLG arc when Red and Green traded their starters with one another a bit strange. After Red traded his Venusaur for Green's Charizard, Mewtwo commented, [[TitleDrop "FireRed and LeafGreen, eh?"]]...Yet Green was called Blue.
** There's some trouble with the manga-exclusive characters who of course have no English name. Some go with Coronis' translations while others go with Chuang Yi's. Though Chuang Yi is technically the official version, they have given new names to characters that ''did'' actually have official English names. Many stick to Coronis's as his translations are much more faithful. (Viz has so far has used Chuang Yi's names in their version.)
* DubInducedPlothole:
** The Viz versions rarely used nicknames in the RGB arc, so when the Yellow arc rolled around, Red's Pikachu seemingly got one out of nowhere and everyone acted like it always had one. To make things worse, they kept switching back and forth between nicknames and actual names. Even in the same chapter. Thankfully, as of the GS arc, the translators have become more consistent with nicknames.
** The Sinnoh Trio started their journey on September 28th, the day the ''Diamond and Pearl'' games were released in Japan. The Viz translators caught on to the reference and changed it to April 22nd, the day the games were released in America. However, this shows that Viz doesn't read ahead, as of this point of the story winter is rapidly approaching Sinnoh, necessitating the change into the ''Platinum'' outfits. Apparently in Sinnoh, it starts snowing in May.
*** Granted Hokkaido, which is what Sinnoh is based off of, ''does'' have winters lasting up to half a year, but May is still pushing it.
* EarlyBirdCameo: ''Tons.''
** In her battle against Green, Sabrina hypnotizes her to see her greatest fear: a pagoda surrounded by birds. ''i.e.'' [[spoiler:Johto's Bell Tower.]]
** In the RGB arc, right before the start of the Pokemon League, a few GS trainer classes are seen in the crowd.
** Riley during the Jirachi arc. He can be seen on one panel after Scott makes his wish.
** [[spoiler:As well as Archie's last sentence being "Galac-."]]
** The Masked Man's plan is to [[spoiler:capture time itself in a Pokéball.]] Now with Gen IV out, who does that sound like?
** Manaphy is mentioned and seen in silhouette in the Emerald arc. Azelf from the Diamond/Pearl series is believed to be the Pokémon used to turn the gang to stone at the end of the FRLG arc.
*** As it turns out, it wasn't Azelf. It was [[spoiler:Darkrai]].
** Or how about the line said by Sird to [[spoiler:Archie after she gives him the sword and armor? "If you bear your sword to bring harm upon us, with claws and fangs, we will exact a toll," a quote from a Sinnoh myth.]] (Well, the ''Diamond'' and ''Pearl'' games were already out at that point, so it's less meta of an example than the others.)
** There was also that point where Giovanni had discovered [[spoiler:Rhydon's evolution, Rhyperior.]]
** [[spoiler:Near the end of FRLG,]] Deoxys mentions going to a faraway land that has a meteor that can help Deoxys change forms at will. [[spoiler:In Sinnoh's Veilstone City, perhaps?]]
* EasilyForgiven: [[spoiler: Team Galactic. Easy to understand with Saturn, Mars, and Jupiter because they were misled all along (by both Cyrus ''and'' Charon), but Dia pretty easily forgives Cyrus for trying to kill them once he finds out he's made a HeelFaceTurn. Subverted with Charon, though; all his cowardly attempts to weasel forgiveness out of anyone ends with his comeuppance.]]
* ElephantInTheLivingRoom: Notable for actually making use of the main "implied but never stated" facet of the franchise ("Pokémon are Pocket ''Monsters'', and pose a threat to humans who can't defend against them because they lack (conscious) Pokémon") instead of putting it in the background.
* EnemyMine: Red, Green, and Blue team up with the three admins of Team Rocket against three of the Elite Four.
** And later they team up with one of the Elite Four against three new Team Rocket admins...
* EverythingsBetterWithPenguins: Platinum's Piplup which later evolves to Prinplup and Empoleon.
* EvilLaugh: Lance does this ''a lot'' in the Yellow arc.
* EvilRedhead:
** Subverted. Silver isn't evil, just a jerk ([[CharacterDevelopment at first]]) due to [[FreudianExcuse a bad childhood]].
** Lance was evil but reformed during the GSC chapter.
** Maxie fits this to a tee, though.
** Also, Mars from Team Galactic, and Ariana of Team Rocket.
* EvilVersusEvil: Aqua vs. Magma, just like in [[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire the games]], but moreso here.
* EvilerThanThou: Team Aqua was generally portrayed as crueler than Team Magma, trying to kill four people simply for seeing them in action, trapping two girls in a DrowningPit, trying to kill the three Gym Leaders obstructing Kyogre (whereas Magma was satisfied simply incapacitating them), and before suffering SanitySlippage from the Blue Orb, Archie leaves one of his admins to die because he can't be bothered with saving him. [[spoiler:Archie also wins the battle to the death with Maxie for armor required to save their lives because Maxie is visibly hesitant to fight with him by that point.]]
* ExposedToTheElements: Lampshaded and discussed during the Diamond/Pearl/Platinum chapter around Snowpoint, as the three major characters there are all underdressed for snow: Platinum simply hasn't received the warmer clothes she ordered and nearly freezes to death before they come in, Candice puts fashion over practicality and credits her ability to deal with it to being able to focus, and Maylene can't afford extra clothes and stays active to keep warm.
* ExtremityExtremist: Crys mainly using her legs to throw [=PokéBalls=].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:F-M]]
* FallenAngel: [[spoiler:Cyrus; there's even a shot of him with his Honchkrow behind him with its wings outstretched at the end of the arc.]]
* {{Fanime}}: There's a group of fans making a serious attempt at animating the series '''[[http://pokespeanime.forumotion.com/forum.htm here]]'''. They apparently need more animators and illustrators so support them if you can.
* FanService: Red's shirtlessness at the latter part of FRLG.
** Green's fight against Sabrina, too.
** Then there's the hot springs gym battle.
** White's shirt rip and large midriff exposure after getting hit by razor leaf.
* FastballSpecial
* FingerlessGloves: Red and Ruby's gloves.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Red saves Yellow from a Dratini. Later in the next arc, Yellow not only faces their evolved forms, but defeats them.
* [[FourIsDeath Four]] [[FiveBadBand Bad Band]]: In the first series, the Kanto Elite Four are basically [=PETA=] on steroids (i.e. their goal is to kill every human but themselves, since they see people as being cruel to Pokémon).
* FreakyFridayFlip: Bill and a Rattata early in the RGB saga. Cue speeding Fearow hunting for food.
* {{Freudian Trio}}: The first four generations form this.
** Kanto Group ([[MyFriendsAndZoidberg excluding Yellow]])
*** Red: Hotblooded {{Idiot Hero}}, later mellows out (Id)
*** Blue: Stoic, coolheaded (Superego)
*** Green: Sneaky, conniving trickster (Ego)
** Johto Group
*** Gold: Exactly like Red, except he never really grew out of it (Id)
*** Silver: Cold, aloof (Superego)
*** Crystal: Serious and hardworking, but gets ruffled by Gold (Ego, sometimes Superego)
** Hoenn Group
*** Ruby: Calm and rational (Superego)
*** Sapphire: Hotblooded, but mellows out in the Emerald arc (Id <-> Ego)
*** Emerald: As the latecomer to the trio, he's technically the most immature out of them, but not so much (Id <-> Ego)
** Sinnoh Group (Hard to say, since the Sinnoh trio seems to have played each of the three roles at least once in their arc, but the following stand out.)
*** Diamond: Slow, dopey, and a glutton, but has moments of self-awareness (Ego)
*** Pearl: Rash, likes to shout, but is the de-facto leader of the trio (Id)
*** Platinum: Stoic at first, but likes to experience new things and is the one who holds the trio together (Superego)
* FunWithAcronyms: The word "Rocket" in Team Rocket stands for '''R'''aid '''O'''n the '''C'''ity, '''K'''nock out '''E'''vil '''T'''usks. Seen [[http://jb2448.info/Pokemon_Adventures_14/14-016 here.]]
* FunnyAfro: The Hoenn director.
* GambitPileup: The end of the Yellow Chapter started with EvilPlan, continued into some ''heroic'' {{Gambit Roulette}}s, and in the end [[spoiler:Giovanni's apparent BigDamnHeroes moment]] actually turned out to be part of Lance's plan and Yellow somehow managing to outwit him. It gets crazier later on. Suffice it to say ''everyone'' gets to play XanatosSpeedChess at some point - even [[strike:Guile Hideout]] ''[[spoiler:[[IdiotHero GOLD]] disguised as Guile Hideout''!]]
* GambitRoulette which Green uses one Lorelei.
** Also [[spoiler:we're all pretty sure Sird has one. She's just so good that we ''still'' don't have much of a clue what it is.]]
** And, another heroic one for [[spoiler:Gold in the Emerald Chapter. Sure, he probably [[IndyPloy made some of it up as he went along]], but he got a fake arm from Emerald before he even needed it and somehow had a perfectly good ''fake'' copy of Guile's armor despite their being only really obscure legends about it. And, although it was coincidence, the fact that Guile landed RIGHT nearby the fake copy only makes it more shocking.]]
* GangOfHats: Aside from the gym leaders, teams Aqua and Magma, and various Elite Four groups who all use one (or occasionally two) types of pokemon, the Sinnoh trio's mons all have a unifying trait, Diamond's are [[MightyGlacier slow powerhouses]] with [[BigEater his appetite]], Pearl's are all fast, loud and energetic while Platinum's tend to be aloof or proud and always well groomed.
** The trainer's nature and characteristics tend to rub off on their pokemon, as seen when Red and Blue end up with each other's team: while Blue's are at first serious and hard working after their time with Red they are all a lot more mellow and visa versa.
* GenderBlenderName: Ruby and Pearl. Diamond's nickname Dia could count too.
* GentleGiant: Red's Gyarados.
* GetAHoldOfYourselfMan: Crystal's mother to Crystal [[spoiler:after she loses the will to continue on her mission after failing to catch Suicune.]]
** Blue tries this on Red during the FRLG chapter [[spoiler:after he loses to Deoxys the first time.]]
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Red sees the Pokémon Fan Club newsletter with the headline "''Shocking Case Of Poké-Love'': 'That's the last bath I'll take with my Tentacool.'" This even stayed in Viz's rerelease when other stuff was edited out.
** The implied [[SymbolSwearing cursing]] from everyone, including the young protagonists. There's also Green technically flashing Sabrina.
** Crystal's introduction sees her [[ActionDressRip dropping her skirt]] in order to take on some Slugma, with Professor Oak getting flustered. We don't see until the next page that she's got bike shorts on underneath.
** The GSC arc shows Sabrina get out of the water at some hot springs with only some CensorSteam covering her rear. Then at the end of the arc Gold accidentally gropes Green's butt. Again, Viz didn't do any sort of cleaning up to either incident.
*** Speaking of hot springs, Sapphire and Flannery sharing one during their gym battle also didn't get any noticable changes.
** Dahlia's introduction at the Battle Arcade starts with her [[MaleGaze dancing behind.]] The next page, it's pretty obvious what Looker is staring at.
** This exchange:
-->'''Blue:''' You're... not with my sister today?
-->'''Bill:''' ''(nervously, [[FunnyBackgroundEvent while Pika smirks at him]])'' Oh, uh... [[ShipTease Daisy's at home]].
** In chapter 355, it is implied that Dia [[ThanksForTheMammary copped a feel]] of Platinum while saving her from a fall.
* GondorCallsForAid: GSC finale. [[spoiler:Trainers from all over Kanto and Johto send all of their Pokémon to Ilex Forest through Bill's transporter system, to assist in calming down Ho-oh and Lugia.]]
* GratuitousEnglish: In the original Japanese volumes, Lt. Surge, Gold, Ruby, Jupiter and Saturn are just a few examples of characters who inexplicably use words such as [[BigOMG "OH MY GOD!!!"]] and "BOSS!" in plain English when the rest of the text is in Japanese.
** Steven, Platinum, [[spoiler:and her mother]] all even sign their names in English.
** Quite a bit of English is randomly splattered around. Whether or not it is grammatically accurate/correctly spelled is another matter entirely.
* GratuitousSpanish: In the English translation of the Yellow chapter (aka "Yellow Caballero"). Early on, Yellow uses a fake name of "Amarillo del Bosque Verde". Unfortunately, the PaperThinDisguise didn't work, as everyone hearing it knew it meant "Yellow of the Viridian Forest". (In the original Japanese, she just gives her real name from the start.)
** Dahlia's catchphrase is, "Que sera sera."
* GreenLanternRing: Green's Ditto, Agatha's Arbok and its ability to change patterns.
* GogglesDoNothing: Gold's goggles.
** Subverted, he wears them when he's flying and underwater. Goggles do nothing most of the time.
* GottaCatchThemAll: Crystal's job. She actually succeeds in doing so for the Johto Dex and later the Hoenn Dex.
* HandsomeLech: Gold.
* HarmfulToMinors: The flashback in the RS arc pretty much confirms everyone's fears that the world of Pokémon would be an incredibly dangerous place to live for little kids...[[spoiler:Little Ruby gets his head ''slashed open'' by a Salamance!]]
* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler: The Team Rocket executive trio (Sabrina, Koga, Lt. Surge), Blaine and Mewtwo, the Kanto Elite Four (save for [[KarmaHoudini Agatha]]), Will and Karen, Pryce, Courtney, Tabitha, Amber, Deoxys, Cyrus and all the Team Galactic commanders (except for Charon.)]]
* HelpingWouldBeKillStealing: Averted, as all (good) Gym Leaders and Elite Four members actively take part in the battle against whatever evil is plaguing their region, though the Dex Holders will still eventually be the ones who will have to take down the current BigBad.
* HeroicBSOD: Hoo boy, quite a lot of these get handed out.
** Gold gets one when he thought [[spoiler:Professor Oak was telling him to stop pursuing the Masked Man despite everything that he has done.]]
** Crys in the GSC saga goes through a particularly rough one as well, after [[spoiler:she fails at catching Suicune AND failing to understand it]]. It's so bad that she loses her ability to catch even the weakest of Pokémon; it takes [[GetAHoldOfYourselfMan a slap from her mom]] and training from scratch to snap out of it.
** Red has two of them - one in the very first chapter of the RGB arc where he was defeated by Mew and much later in FRLG when he was [[spoiler:defeated by Deoxys.]]
** Ruby had one after what had happened to his Feebas in the RS saga.
** Silver goes through a pretty bad one in the FRLG saga, after finding out [[spoiler: that Giovanni is his father]].
** Emerald breaks down when he Ruby and Sapphire are trying to learn "the ultimate attacks" for their starters, and reveals his childhood experiences.
** Diamond and Pearl are pretty badly shaken up after meeting Platinum's real bodyguards in Veilstone [[spoiler: and being unable to save them]] but desperately try to hide it from Platinum. This is also just before they [[ShooOutTheClowns stop with their comedic duo act]].
** And it looks like White gets a ''major'' one when [[spoiler:Gigi willingly decides to go with N for recognizing her battling potential. White falls out of the Ferris Wheel, and lies on the ground with her eyes blank and full of tears]].
** Bill gets a short one in GSC when he starts feeling useless due to his inability to get the transfer system to work again, meaning that he can do nothing to help the Dex Holders in their fight. As Daisy tries to calm him down (as he had been injured earlier while protecting her), he ignores her and his injuries in order to angrily try to get the system up, before just breaking down, crying, and yelling in frustration.
* HeroicRROD: Mewtwo is the strongest pokémon the heroes have to fight the elite 4. The problem is that by using him Blane risks dying because of the way he made Mewtwo and no one else is able to use him [[spoiler: Entei later fixes this by breaking the bond they share and healing Blane]]
** To a lesser extent Yellow's healing and empathic powers drain her strength really quickly (to say nothing of her syncing with her pokémon) which might be why she almost always sleeps straight after a fight.
* HeroicSacrifice: In GSC [[spoiler:Gold gives the Rainbow and Silver wings to Crystal and Silver to ensure their safety in the voids of time as he goes of alone without protection to go after Pryce.]] But [[spoiler:he manages to get back out fine.]]
** Two in the RS saga. To stop the rampaging Groudon and Kyogre, [[spoiler:Norman and Steven awakens Rayquaza and the Regis respectively at the cost of their lives.]] But in the end [[spoiler:they were revived due to [[DeusExMachina Celebi]].]]
** Is no one going to mention Red in FRLG? [[spoiler:He stayed behind the airship in order to safely land it. Although he got out alright.]]
** [[spoiler:Even though he's not a hero, Giovanni gains one for shielding his son from a raging inferno which Deoxys dumped them into.]]
** [[spoiler:Dia nearly has one in the finale of the DP arc, jumping in the black hole Dialga and Palkia made with his Mamoswine to try and seal it before Regigigas stopped him.]]
** [[spoiler: Dia does it yet ''again'' in the Platinum arc, pushing Pearl out of harm's way as Giratina's Shadow Force hits him. Yes, he really was ''that'' close to dying.]]
* HeroicSecondWind: Don't expect any protagonist, or anyone fighting for good, for that matter, to win the match without taking a bad beating first.
** Villainous example: Archie and Maxie after Groudon and Kyogre have been beaten and later Guile Hideout [[spoiler: desperately trying to put his armour back on]] after being beaten.
* HeroWithBadPublicity: The Kanto trio in the FRLG saga.
* HeWhoFightsMonsters: The Kanto Elite Four turned up to be no different from the Team Rocket they detest.
* HeyThatsMyLine: Red brags to Green about his two badges. She steals them, and when Team Rocket catches up to her she brags about "her" two badges. Red's not happy to see she's stealing his possessions ''and'' his lines.
* HostageForMcGuffin: Noland surrenders the Jirachi report for Anabel's safety.
* HotBlooded: Gold. Professor Oak even tells Crys to watch over him since almost no one can really stop him when he gets agitated. Except her. She doesn't take that as a compliment.
** Sapphire once had flames bursting out of the background [[MundaneMadeAwesome when she was about to take Roxanne's test.]] She has since then mellowed out, however.
** Pearl also counts as he has tons of willpower and shouts more than needed.
** ''Black''.
* HotSpringsEpisode: Somewhat. In the GSC arc, Both Red and Sabrina bathe in Mt. Silver's therapeutic hot springs to aid the healing of their injuries.
** Sapphire and Flannery ''fought their official gym battle'' while bathing in the Lavaridge hot springs.
* HourOfPower: Mewtwo can fight for only three minutes, due to some AppliedPhlebotinum issues that went with his cloning.
** Entei eventually fixes this. And in any case, it was always more of a problem for his trainer than for him.
** Yellow's Pokémon can count too. She can make their levels rise when she "synchronizes her spirit with them". Given how fast this drains her stamina, this isn't something she can do often. The rise in strength it provides though is enough to make a pair of Rocket admins retreat (one of whom was enough to deal with Lorelei single handedly).
** [[spoiler: Steven using the Regis and Norman using Rayquaza: the Regis contain the destruction that Kyogre and Groudon cause in their fight while Rayquaza ends the battle just by showing up but this leads to [[HeroicSacrifice Steven and Norman's]] [[BackFromTheDead (temporary)]] [[HeroicSacrifice death]] ]]
* AHouseDivided: Both Team Magma and Team Aqua manage to convince several Hoenn Gym Leaders of their righteousness. Since both teams are well known enemies, the gym leaders nearly turn on each other before realizing both teams are evil.
* HumanFocusedAdaptation: In a sense. Most of the Pokemon are just part of the characters' teams and we rarely see events from their point of view (with a few exceptions, such as Mewtwo). Much focus has been placed instead on the {{Character Development}} that the protagonists get each arc.
* {{Hypocrite}}: The Kanto Elite Four are extremists who wanted to purge the planet from evil and pollution, but doesn't seem to care about Team Rocket who are against their goals. They would rather gang-up against the protagonists (who wanted to stop Team Rocket) instead.
* HypocriticalHumor: In the Ruby & Sapphire chapter, the Pokemon Fan Club President asks Ruby to use his battle prowess as a trainer to escape from being kidnapped by Team Magma. Not wanting to battle as usual, he asks the President why he doesn't battle them himself. When the he claims that he's scared of battles, Ruby accuses him of getting others to do the things he doesn't like.
* IconicItem: Some of the Dex Holders have at least one. Examples are Green and Silver's gloves, Yellow's hat, Gold's goggles and Crystal's earrings.
* IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming: chapters are called "rounds", and "arcs" are called "chapters". The [[strike:chapters]] rounds themselves are called "Vs. MonsterOfTheWeek" when translated directly (except rounds in the fifth chapter), while the official translation always had new titles which incorporated the 'mon's name for the first three chapter (though they usually weren't some sort of reference like they are in the anime's dub) after which they just started making up entirely new titles.
* IdiotHair: Ruby's mom.
** [[spoiler:Ruby himself.]]
* IdiotHero: Gold.
** Red in the beginning, but he grew out of it by the end of the first arc.
** Diamond too, [[spoiler:until we find out he was ObfuscatingStupidity.]]
* IHaveManyNames: Platinum, thanks to her not divulging her name for a while and translations not agreeing on an InSeriesNickname. She's known as [[TheOjou "Ojou-sama"]] in Japan, "Missy" in Singapore, and "Lady" in America; plus "Platina" as a FanNickname. The Team Rocket admins from FRLG have the same problem; being "Saque, Chakra, and Ouka" (in the original Japanese); "Sird, Carr, and Orm" (Chuang Yi and Viz versions); or "Storc, Jaguara, and Orca" (Coronis' translation).
* IKnowMaddenKombat: Quite frequently are Pokeballs modified or launched in an unusual manner for various effects in battle.
* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: Lt. Surge, officially an AntiHero after a gradual HeelFaceTurn, pulls this with some of his previous henchmen that were being controlled by the Masked Man during the penultimate battle of the second arc.
* InexplicablyIdenticalIndividuals: Some of the supporting cast like the Pokémon Fanclub President and the Swimmers.
** The Galactic grunts. Dia notes that they have a HiveMind and cannot think on their own.
* ImprobableHairstyle: Emerald has his hair shaped like a croissant, apparently to make himself look taller. Doesn't really help.
** The Sinnoh chairman has his in a large swirl.
* ImprobableWeaponUser: Mewtwo's giant psychic spoon of awesomeness.
* ImprovisedZipLine: Ruby uses his Pokeblock case to slide down a line that has one end tied to his Marshtomp's arm and the other to ''Courtney's''.
** Janine uses her Ariados to go across buildings.
* InconsistentDub
** The original Viz printing of Chapter 12 literally translates Razor Leaf as "Leaf Cutter".
** Chapter 26 translates it as "Pokémon House", not Pokémon Mansion.
** Viz couldn't make up their minds with the Pokémon's nicknames until they finally got consistent in the GS arc.
** In volume 6, Blue's sister was referred to as May. In volume 14, she was correctly identified as Daisy.
** Viz isn't sure whether or not one member of the Team Rocket Elite Trio is named Ryo or Al.
* InconvenientlyPlacedConveyorBelt[=/=]ConveyorBeltODoom: The first one is justified as part of Fuego Ironwork's defense system, which is primarily supposed to just be the transport system, although it quickly seems like the second one ''and'' overkill when Pearl accidentally steps on the one that goes straight into the ''furnace''.
* IndyPloy: How some of the protagonists foil the villain's plans. Especially Gold.
** After doing said IndyPloy Gold will claim that it was all part of the plan, despite that it obviously wasn't.
--> Gold: I knew that having [[spoiler: a fake suit of armour]] would come in handy!
--> Ruby/Sapphire/Crystal: [[RunningGag Liar.]]
* InSeriesNickname: Platinum gets different ones depending on the translation: "[[TheOjou Ojou-sama]]" in Japanese, "Missy" in Chuang Yi's English version, and "Lady" in Viz's English Version.
** Diamond is called "Dia" as well. Crystal's name is usually shortened to just "Crys" and Latios and Latias call Emerald "Rald".
* InterfaceSpoiler averted: The start of each chapter in the R/S arc shows the pokemon that Ruby and Sapphire have with them and their levels (Sapphire) or condition (Ruby) [[spoiler: except that Ruby reveals he's had Celebi the whole time]]
* {{Irony}}: Bianca's Oshawott gets beat up by a rather vicious-looking, wild Audino. Audino mainly exist in the games to be [[PinataEnemy beaten up for experience points]].
** Meta shipping example. The [[FerrisWheelDateMoment Ferris Wheel scene]]. Dear ''lord'' the [[ShipSinking Ferris]] [[TraumaCongaLine Wheel]] [[BreakTheCutie scene]].
* ItsAllMyFault: How Hugh feels about Team Plasma stealing his little sister's Purrloin. She just wanted to be with it, but he made her battle. He blames it on his own weakness--after all, if he was strong, he wouldn't have lost to the Plasma grunts and Purrloin wouldn't have been taken away.
* ItsUpToYou: [[spoiler:Gold says this to the RSE gang after he and Crys get pummeled by the Jirachi wished Kyogre.]]
* {{Jerkass}}: Quite possibly Volkner, who uses up so much electricity running his gym just because he's bored...resulting the rest of Sunyshore to go into a total blackout.
** Oh, Blue and Green, so much in the first arc. With Blue, he spends alot of his time acting smug and superior to Red, and constantly [[IgnoredEpiphany refuses to change]] even after working with him several times. And as for Green, it gets pretty far out when, a lot of chapters after [[spoiler:she returns the badges she had stolen from Red, reedeming her a little, it turns out those were ''fake''.]] The both of them finally change their behavior at the Pokémon League tournament though. CharacterDevelopment at it's most noticable, as they go on to become Red's best friends.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: In keeping with their RedOniBlueOni relationship Gold and Silver both show different sides of this: Gold is loud mouthed, rash and rude while Silver is cold and cynical but both genuinely care about all pokemon and try to help those in need.
* KarmaHoudini: Karen and Will. They tried to MindRape Green, beat Silver senseless, mocked Green for caring about him, made it very clear that they're working for the BigBad ForTheEvulz, and the only reason why they stopped working for him was not because they saw the light...it was because they got scared shitless. And though it may match up with the games, are these the kind of people you want in your [[spoiler: league-recognized Elite Four]]? Geez, at least Koga helped out the good guys a few times and had enough moments where he redeemed himself. And Bruno's more sinister involvment in the Kanto Elite Four was due to mind control. Will and Karen have no such excuse.
** Agatha is an even worse example. She masterminds the plan to commit mass genocide on all humanity, escapes without punishment, and is never seen again.
* KidHero: All the dex holders start out their adventures when they are 10-11. However, due to the lack of ComicBookTimeline, the eldest of the protagonists (Red, Green and Blue) are now in their twenties.
* KickTheDog: The criminal organizations are all generally guilty of this in some form, but Team Rocket's especially bad with this due to their experiments during the original R/G/B arc, most notably Eevee.
** Erika seems to do that too, [[spoiler:until Red learns that it was a test; a rare subversion.]]
** What N's Zorua does to Alder's Accelgor is just plain ''messed up''.
* KillAllHumans: Part of the Elite Four's goal in the Yellow arc.
* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler:Archie/Guile Hideout, Maxie and Orm.]]
* LamarckWasRight: Gold's Pichu. Justified in the context of the games, where learned moves can be inherited from the father.
* LargeHam: Black. '''"I'M GONNA BE CHAMPION OF THE POKÉMON LEAGUE!!!"''' indeed.
* LavaIsBoilingKoolAid: Yellow surfs on lava. Potentially [[JustifiedTrope justified]] in that the surfboard was made from [[Comicbook/GreenLantern hard light]], but they stay in the lava a smidgen too long to have realistically handled the heat.
* TheLeader: Considering its {{Geodesic Cast}}, there are several. Notably Trainers Red, Gold, and Platinum of their respective branches of the Dex holders. Also Erika is the leader of the Kanto Gym Leaders (though she admits she'd rather defer to Blane).
** Winona is the leader of the Hoenn Gym Leaders, and Pryce the Johto leaders.
* LetsGetDangerous: Ruby, whenever he stops being CampStraight. A big part of why he hates battling is because he scared Sapphire as a child when he fought a Salamence because of how terrifyingly cold he can be when he fights.
** Norman's fight with Ruby at the Weather institute is a serial escalation of this trope with both of them getting more dangerous and emotionless as the fight goes on.
* LevelGrinding: Directly referenced by Byron [[http://www.otakuworks.com/view/75801/Pokémon-adventures/vol-34-chp-377/read/15 here.]]
* LightIsNotGood: Dragonite in all of its appearances. A cute, gentle-looking, cream-colored dragon who always poses a threat to the protagonists.
* LimitedWardrobe: Most of the characters pretty much stay in the same outfits all the time with minor allterations between arcs until future games give them new threads.
** Justified in that they usually spend their time roaming around.
** Taken to extremes when in the RS arc we're given a peek inside in Ruby's closet...and all his spare clothing is ''completely identical'' to his normal outfit - so much so that he didn't really miss out on anything when he made a more civil outfit for Sapphire!
*** On that note Sapphire's clothes are pretty much: "outfit made for her by ruby" and [[WildChild plants fashioned into a simple tribal outfit]]
** Diamond and Platinum both change outfits to deal with the cold now that winter is setting in (and that Platinum is in a mountain range). Pearl simply rolls his sleeves down.
** Crys changes outfits at the start of HG/SS to teach a group of school kids only to get caught up in trying to stop team rocket. When Gold comments on her new threads she gets very defensive
* LoadBearingHero: the GSC heroes' starters vs. Lugia in the Whirl Islands. [[spoiler:The effort allowed the starters to evolve to their final forms.]]
** This seems to be Silver's preferred method of evolving his pokemon...
* LonelyRichKid: Platinum would probably count.
* LongHairIsFeminine: Most females in the series.
** TomboyishPonytail turned CompressedHair for Yellow. [[spoiler: Nearly no one can tell that Yellow is a girl unless she isn't wearing her hat. Red, Gold, Crystal, and Blaine were all shocked when Yellow's hat is removed, suddenly realizing she was a girl the whole time.]]
* LongRunner: Despite the many different Pokémon manga made over the years (and many are still being made), only Pokémon Special (and a gag manga that never reached American shores) started when the franchise did and will likely continue for as long as it has to.
* LoveTriangle: [[TriangRelations Type 3]]- A notable one involves Red with either Green and Misty, Yellow and Green, or Yellow and Misty. However, Misty has rarely appeared lately, thus the most notable ones are Red with Green and Yellow since Red might like Blue as seen in the RGB saga and vice versa. He might even like Yellow and vice versa.
** Then Gold (amusingly) complicates matters by announcing that Red will train him (and denying Red any say in the matter)
** Ruby is in one with Saphire and Courtney
* LukeIAmYourFather: [[spoiler:Silver is Giovanni's long-lost son.]]
* MagicSkirt: Pretty much every character who has a skirt.
* MagikarpPower: The contest driven Ruby is distraught over how ugly his Feebas Mimi looks and wishes it was as beautiful as a Milotic so it could excel in the beauty contests. Guess what Feebas evolves into once its beauty stat is maxed out...
* MaleGaze: Elesa is first formally introduced with her on her knees and her rear facing the audience.
** With White's daisy dukes, it's hard not to pay attention to her butt from any angle.
** Bianca appears to be incapable of standing up straight as her rear is almost always thrust out. It's all the more pronounced whenever she falls down [[{{Dojikko}} (which is often)]].
** Skyla's hot pants are indeed short enough that part of her rear is visible.
* ManChild: Crystal's hyper mother, who jumps around, has GirlishPigtails, wears clothing someone her age normally wouldn't wear, and has a VerbalTic, though she can be serious when the time comes for it. She is also the one who forced Crys into her HGSS outfit.
** In a sense, the mangaka. Reading the author notes in the volumes will tell you what an {{Adorkable}} fanboy of the games he is.
* MarketBasedTitle: Besides renaming the series from "Special" to "Adventures" in Singapore and the US, Viz also gave the Generation IV and V chapters "Diamond and Pearl/Platinum" and "Black and White" subtitles and renumbered them from the beginning in order to set them apart from each other and the Generation II/III chapters, as multiple arcs are being published at once (up to three at the same time). Generations II and III themselves have their own labels ("Gold & Silver", "Ruby & Sapphire", "[=FireRed & LeafGreen=]") on the covers, but continue their numbering from the previous chapters.
** Viz also publishes two versions of the ''Black and White'' chapter; the first with half the rounds per book and dropping "Adventures" from the title, and the second as normal.
** Additionally, the addition of the "/Platinum" to the Gen IV arc was done to differentiate from the ''PokemonDiamondAndPearlAdventure'' manga series that Viz had just finished up localizing.
* MarriedAtSea: Wally's cousin and her [[{{Gonk}} fiance]] during the ''Emerald'' Saga.
* MarshmallowHell: When Y's Froakie gets back her clothes after they were stolen, Y hugs the frog to her chest...while the only thing she's wearing topside is a makeshift frubble bra.
* MasqueradingAsTheUnseen: Gold does this when he wears a replica of [[BigBad Guile Hideout]]'s armor in an attempt to trick Guile's Pokémon into listening to him instead of the real Guile.
* MasterApprenticeChain: Averted. Crasher Wake was the one who trained Palmer, Pearl's father. Then after that, Palmer was the one who taught Pearl the basics of Pokemon battling and the one who taught him "Move Prediction". Years after that, Wake takes on Pearl as his new apprentice to polish his skills even further.
* {{Meido}}: Latias's initial human disguise. Later on she's a journalist, then a nurse. All of them are rather modest, but really cute.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Ruby [[spoiler:when he realized that he had been mistreating Mimi and caused her to run away.]] and also when Sapphire chews him out for not carring about what happens to Hoenn.
* MythologyGag: The ''FR/LG'' arc opens on [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfai1op9xS8 a fight between a Gengar and a Nidorino]].
** Green is also a MythologyGag to a then unreleased female protagonist. Considering the timing of the manga, she was put into it way after she was canceled.
** Green's bubble microphone and Pika's babysitting of Yellow's Caterpie are homages to the ''VideoGame/HeyYouPikachu'' game.
*** Cerise Island was called Suo Island in the original Japanese. Suo Coast, renamed Cobalt Coast in the American release, was one of the areas you could go to.
** The feature added to the pokedex midway through the ''Yellow'' arc, which allowed the adventurers to vaguely read Pikachu's thoughts and emotions, is a homage to the ''Pokemon Yellow'' game, in which a similar feature is present.
** The changing patterns on Agatha's Arbok is based on concept art.
** At the Goldenrod Game Corner, someone is playing ''VideoGame/PokemonPinball''.
** Todd is given a job to take pictures at ''VideoGame/PokemonSnap'''s Pokémon Island.
** Guile's plans in the ''Emerald'' chapter are pretty much identical to [[Anime/PokemonJirachiWishmaker Butler's]], but with Kyogre instead of Groudon.
** Heck, there are a few shout outs to the Anime such as Mewtwo's limiting armor from the ''Fire Red'' Chapter, hell Mewtwo himself has a personality similar to the Mewtwo from ''Anime/PokemonMewtwoReturns''.
*** The "eyelash of Mew" fossil from the first movie was retconned into Mewtwo's backstory in Special, as well.
** Sird is based on a design from the Pokémon trading card game.
** It turns out that, much like in the anime's first movie, [[spoiler:several characters were turned to stone due to Mewtwo using a blast to cancel out another Pokémon's attack.]]
** Diamond's mother, Johanna, has a Glameow, just like her anime counterpart.
** Hayley, from ''VideoGame/MyPokemonRanch'', makes a cameo appearance during the battle at Sky Pillar. Likewise, earlier during the ''FRLG'' arc, Bridgette from ''Pokemon Box Ruby & Sapphire'' is an important supporting character.
** When the Shadow Triad are discussing about the Dark Stone and Zekrom, said Pokemon is depicted in a pose reminiscent of Ryouga's first transformation from ''PokemonReburst''.
** Grimsley plays Card Flip, a minigame that hasn't appeared since Gen II.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:N-S]]
* NaughtyIsGood: Gold and Green.
** Gold's Togepi, thanks to its role model. It even has a Naughty nature.
* NeverMessWithGranny:
** Agatha, or she'll suck out your soul!
** The Sevii Islands' Move Tutor (Kiwame in Japan, Kimberly in Singapore, Ultima in the US) too or she'll hit you hard with her staff.
* NiceHat: Except for the 'Rival' Dex Holders (except Bianca), Emerald, and Green (in the first 3 arcs), all of the main characters have a hat. Yellow's is the most ornate, though. [[spoiler:It also has the most plot significance, as, during her arc, it hides her real gender and also contains a microphone for Green to listen in on her journey. Later, during the GSC arc, it's revealed that the two feathers adorning it are really the Rainbow Wing and Silver Wing.]]
** [[spoiler:Ruby's hat also covers a scar that he got from rescuing Sapphire from a Salamence when they were younger.]]
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Buck tries to protect the Magma Stone from Team Galactic. By doing so, he awakens their true target, Heatran, and leads them right to it.
** Everything that the Johto trio did to get Arceus away from Team Rocket in fact allowed the bad guys to capture and control it.
** The Dark Stone is protected in Lenora's impenetrable underground office/gym and the only key is destroyed. [[spoiler: Black, however, remembers how to get in from his Gym challenge and a Plasma grunt disguised as Brycen tricks him into opening it.]]
** Ruby stopped Sapphire from getting mauled by a Salamence when they were children. [[spoiler: he didn't finish the job though and it went on a rampage freeing Rayquaza and breaking the Green orb which lead to Norman's hunt to recapture it, his 5 year ban from trying to be a Gym leader and eventually his (temporary) death]]
* TheNicknamer: Gold aside, most of the Dex Holders (and a couple other characters) nickname their Pokémon.
** Averted with Blue, Silver, Platinum and Emerald (though in Emerald's case it's somewhat justified since he wasn't expecting to keep the Pokémon that eventually became his main team.)
*** Silver outright states that some Pokémon prefer not to be nicknamed, which is probably why some trainers don't do it.
* NoInfantileAmnesia: Subverted, Blue remember being abducted at age of 5 by the legendary birds, which later causes her ornitophobia. Silver, however, doesn't, because he was just 2 years old when that happened.
* NoOntologicalInertia: Averted in the first gen chapters. Team Rocket introduced a mass amount of non-native and over-leveled Pokemon into the Viridian Forest as to breed the ultimate army. Even after Team Rocket is defeated the first time and all their schemes no longer active, the Pokemon are still in the Forest, occasionally rampaging and attacking people.
* NoNameGiven: Lady Platinum Berlitz's first name was unknown for the first part of the ''D/P'' section of the series, likely because Kusaka was waiting for confirmation on the third game's title before naming her.
** A few reoccurring characters don't get formally named, such as Crystal's mother.
* NonHumanSideKick: There's the heroes' Pokémon team, but this most possibly applies to their first ones (Ex. Gold's Aipom and Silver's Sneasel).
** Red's Pika to Red and Yellow, later Chuchu to Yellow (and to a lesser extent Ratty/Ratchan), being the series mascot probably helps.
* NotTheFallThatKillsYou: As if she wasn't a screamin' BadassNormal ''already'', Sapphire caught a tree limb - a full-sized ''tree limb'' - ''with a human and a Zigzagoon on it - '''after dropping FROM HIGHER UP'''!'' [[NoOneShouldSurviveThat And she's perfectly fine afterwards]].
** [[spoiler: After Gigi betrays her, White falls off the ''Nimbasa Ferris Wheel'']] and her body is perfectly fine; except for [[spoiler: some mental trauma]] afterwards.
*** [[spoiler: She didn't fall off at the wheel's highest point; she was getting ready to jump off from a safe distance but fell off when she wasn't ready]].
* ObfuscatingStupidity: [[spoiler:Ruby. Though it's more like Obfuscating Incompetence.]]
** Diamond [[spoiler:apparently knew that he and Pearl weren't supposed to be following Platinum around the whole time.]]
* TheOjou: ''Lady'' Platinum Berlitz, Misty, and Erika.
* OffModel: During Ruby's [[spoiler:KamehameHadoken style releasing of Celebi]], they keep drawing his left thumb on the wrong side of his hand.
** In Jupiter's debut...well...erm...''legs do not connect to the body that way.''
** Quite a few instances depict Platinum with her diamond ring on her right hand and her pearl ring on her left (when it should have been vice versa).
** There actually have been a couple instances where it looks like the artist has a hard time with females' hips and legs.
* OhCrap: That Aqua EliteMook had a nice one when Sapphire ''totally owned'' him in a situation, where all things considered, he really should've won had he not inadverdantly given her time with his EvilGloating ''and'' the means to escape.
** Ruby when Norman shows up at the weather institute.
** And there's Yellow's Omanyte, who had a rather cute, comical one when a Tentacruel shows up. Complete with censored speech bubble.
** Darach absolutely ''freaks'' when [[spoiler:Caitlin momentarily loses control over her psychic powers.]]
* OldMaster: Professor Oak certainly counts. Juan and E4 Drake too.
* OnceASeason: More like once a generation finishes, so far. Someone (usually Red) will suggest doing something together and the rest of the cast will suddenly turn all chibi and surprised.
** Also Blue's 'obnoxious girl' comment on Green.
*** Which is followed by a glare from Silver.
** Played straight with Dia and Pearls' Manzai routines.
* OneSteveLimit: Averted in the Viz version as it followed game accuracy; a construction worker has a Psyduck named Yellow.
** Averted with a few of the chapter names. Both chapters 13 and 367 are named "Vs. Psyduck".
** Both chapter 27 and chapter 32 are "Vs. Kadabra" and chapters 25 and 31 are are both "Vs. Articuno."
* TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou: Gold goes so far as to deliberately give the police an incorrect description of Silver in order to be this.
* OpenMindedParent: Gold's mother.
* OrwellianRetcon: Sometimes minor to major details (art and dialogue) from the magazines get changed around in the official volumes. For example, Platinum's scarf, Pokédex, Pokétch, and bike were originally pink, but they were changed to red later.
* OutOfFocus: [[JustifiedTrope Red in the Yellow Chapter]], and Gold and Silver during a good deal of the ''GSC'' arc, which switches to Crystal unexpectedly after a cliffhanger.
* OutOfOrder: It's pretty hard to piece together a timeline from the magazine releases alone due to the confusing way they're released. Fans have to wait until the volumes come out to figure out when what happens.
** Viz didn't start releasing the Gen III chapters until Gens IV and V had already started. There's also the fact that for a few years now they've been publishing multiple arcs concurrently in order to catch up to the Japanese releases, so following that release schedule means you're skipping around quite a bit. This eventually had a MarthDebutedInSmashBros effect, as the big shocking reveal of [[spoiler:Sird]] in ''Diamond/Pearl/Platinum'' fell flat since Viz hasn't yet released the ''[=FireRed/LeafGreen=]'' chapter, so English readers had never seen her before. Carr also showed up in a ''[=HeartGold/SoulSilver=]'' scene before his original appearance in ''FRLG''.
* PacingProblems: Both the Platinum and HGSS chapters ran into this, even with being serialized in multiple magazines.
* ParentalAbandonment: For some reason all the 'Dex Holders, except for Ruby and Green, either has only one parent or none at all (and the latter two don't exactly have perfect family histories).
** Platinum also turns out to have both a mother and father.
** Strangely enough, Red is the most well-adjusted Dex Holder despite the fact that [[ConvenientlyAnOrphan he has absolutely no relatives]]; none have ever been mentioned or hinted at. It's interesting in the ''FLRG'' arc when he muses that he probably isn't fighting as hard as Blue and Green because he doesn't have any family to protect/rescue.
* PersonalitySwap: One story had Red and Blue's Pokémon swapped. By the end, even their attitudes were switched around.
* PetTheDog: Giovanni is pretty much EVIL, but he [[spoiler:actually really likes his son]], and will even rescue his mortal enemies if he is in a good mood. (One wonders what sort of odd honor system the guy has...)
** The formerly evil gym leaders get some in the ''GSC'' arc. Koga shows up with Bruno to save Red and Blue, Lt. Surge helps free the brainwashed Team Rocket soldiers from the Masked Man's control, and Sabrina helps out Red, at the same time asking if Eevee is well, showing regret on how helping to torture it years ago.
* PintsizedPowerhouse: Several of the smaller and supposedly weaker Pokémon owned by the various Dex Holders are able to kick all kinds of ass, the original being Red's Pika, but also including Gold's Aibo, Silver's Sneasel, and Yellow's entire team (initially), just to name a few. [[spoiler: For the freaking awesomest example of this trope in the whole series, Pryce in the ''HGSS'' chapter takes on Dialga. With a ''Swinub''.]]
* PlayingPossum: At one point Koga captures Blue and has a Grimer restraining him; when Blue tries to fight back Koga has his Golbat use Razor Wind on him. Blue is seemingly knocked out from this, but it later turns out that the pendant he was wearing at the time protected him, and he was just lying still because he knew if he pretended he was passed out Koga would eventually call off the Grimer. It worked.
* PlayingTennisWithTheBoss: Guile can reflect Pokémon attacks back with his sword.
* PleaseWakeUp: Pearl [[spoiler: after Diamond saves him from Gratina's Shadow Force]]
--> '''Pearl''': You just fainted right? Th-this isn't funny [[spoiler: Dia]]... It's one of those one off's right? You're going to get up now and say [[spoiler: I'm Poke-aayy]] right?
* PokemonSpeak: Mostly averted, with the exception of Red's Pikachu that does this rarely. Viz added SFX that follows this trope in a few spots, but not as a common occurrence. Makes sense that Pokémon in this world don't say their names seeing how other countries have their own languages and their own names for all the different species of Pokémon.
* PoliceAreUseless: As per with the rest of the franchise. Except for Falkner, but that's only because he's a Gym Leader as well. On the plus side, it's actually expected of the Gym Leaders to handle criminal organizations.
* PrecisionFStrike: Varies with the translator, but Captain [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything Eldritch]] has one when he forgets to steer the ship and it heads towards the rock.
* {{Prequel}}: [[spoiler: Despite being written afterwards, the ''HGSS'' chapter in fact happened before the ''DPP'' ones, setting up many events for the Sinnoh saga.]]
* PronounTrouble: In the Chuang Yi version, Yellow is referred to as "he" by her uncle and Professor Oak when they speak to Crystal. In the Japanese a genderless pronoun was used. It's much harder to hide her gender when talking about her in English.
** Somewhat averted in the Viz version, as Oak and Wilton avoid using pronouns when they talk to Crystal about Yellow. Surprisingly, they do it in a way that doesn't sound too awkward.
* ProperlyParanoid: As the Kalos kids accidentally gave their names to a Team Flare member, they have taken several steps to ensure that they will not be located so easily, all of which basically boils down to staying away from strangers while sticking together no matter what. [[spoiler: When Shauna runs off on her own, she easily gets lured by what she believes is someone who shares her interests and ends up BrainwashedAndCrazy.]]
* PunctuatedForEmphasis: "I shall guard the exit...'''With! My! Life!'''" [[spoiler: Didn't work as he got swatted off pretty quickly.]]
** Also in the RS arc...
--> [[spoiler:'''Archie''']]: All who stand in our way shall die...and die...and die! '''GO! TO! HELL!'''
* PutDownYourGunAndStepAway: [[spoiler:Wallace and Gold]] gets thrown one of these in the ''R/S'' and ''GSC'' arcs respectively.
** Dia also got thrown with one of these in the ''DP'' arc, but he manages to retaliate quickly.
* PutOnABus: at the end of every arc the previous generations heroes step out of the spolight...
** TheBusCameBack: only to show up again down the line helping out the new generation or getting their help with a problem they're having.
* RedStringOfFate: Between [[spoiler:Red and Yellow at the end of the Yellow arc. Also somewhat in ''FRLG'' with Yellow's fishing line.]] Of course, said strings probably weren't red, but the symbolism is still clear with their pinky fingers being connected.
* RedOniBlueOni: Besides Red and Blue, Archie and Maxie.
** Sapphire and Ruby too. Or Ruby and Norman. Take your pick.
** Gold and Silver (much to Silver's annoyance)
** Diamond and Pearl. They even use it in their double act.
* TheRival: Red and Blue (Green in the original Japanese version), Gold and Silver, Crystal and Eusine, Ruby and Sapphire.
* ScissorsCutsRock: Red's Pikachu is able to take out Brock's Onix with a well-placed Thundershock.
* RuleOfCool: "Team Rocket's Battleship has transformed into a mid-air battle stadium!"
* RummageFail: Neatly averted as the top half of the Pokéballs are transluscent so you can see the Pokémon inside. Handy!
* RunningGag: In the early parts of the ''DP'' arc, Platinum would try to imitate some actions that seem new and interesting to her. But quickly stops when Pearl notices. And when confronted by Pearl about said action:
-->'''Pearl''': (Sweatdrops) You did a (Action she was doing a while ago) just now, didn't you?
-->'''Platinum''': (Nonchalant) I did not.
-->'''Pearl''': You definitely did!
-->'''Platinum''': I definitely did not. Stop being a pest.
** There's also:
-->'''Pearl''': I'm the funny man and you're the stooge!
-->'''Dia''': EEHH?!
-->'''Pearl''': Put the food down already!
-->'''Dia''': EEHH?!!
*** (Viz's English version changes the wording but otherwise keeps both gags intact.)
** Dia's AmusingInjuries gets bonus points because Pearl flat out tells him to come up with a one line gag that can be used repeatedly
-->'''Dia''': I'm Pokeaay!
** Also, Yellow's height. In the ''GSC'' arc there are several recurring scenes where a 'Dex Holder is surprised by Yellow's shortness, normally realizing that Yellow is actually older than they are and yet she's somehow shorter than them. It also happens once in the ''FRLG'' arc.
** Gold making some claim only for people behind him to all think he's a liar.
* SamusIsAGirl: Yellow
** Also, this was attempted with Crys, when "he" accepted Oak's request to complete the Pokédex. However, the effect was ruined by the fact that Crys had not only been shown on the cover, but also on several pages leading up to the actual occurrence.
*** Happens InUniverse, at least. Oak and Bill didn't know that Crys/"Chris" was a girl, since she sent the notice by letter.
* SayMyName: "RUBY!!" "SAPPHIRE!!"
** Also at the ''GSC'' Finale: "GOLD!!" and "Argh, RED!!"
** And now at the ''BW'' Finale: "BLAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!"
* SempaiKohai: Gold considers the ''RGB'' gang, most notably Red as his seniors and the ''RSE'' gang as his juniors.
** By the end of the ''FRLG'' arc, Silver refers to Blue as sempai as well.
* SeriesContinuityError: At one point early on in the series, Blue asks Red how many Pokémon he thinks there are. He responds that it's common knowledge that there are 150, but she informs him that there's actually a 151st Pokémon--Mew. However, the 150th Pokémon is Mewtwo, and at this point in the story he's still being created. Of course, casual fans probably would've been confused if they switched the two's numbers, so it's forgiveable.
* SharedUniverse: The regions from the ''VideoGame/PokemonRanger'' series also exist in the [=PokéSpe=]-verse, although the manga for it only exists online.
** ''VideoGame/PokemonSnap'' also exists in this canon.
* SheIsNotMyGirlfriend: Maybe not in that degree at that point of the story.
-->'''Brawly''': That guy (Ruby)?! Your friend's inside the cave?!
-->'''Sapphire''': F-Friend?! (Blushes and waves arms frantically) I don't have such a strange friend!
** Also, Black and White. (Not that they actually are, as of yet)
-->'''Random woman''': You should go there with your boyfirend!
-->'''White''': He's not my boyfriend, he's my employee!
* ShesAManInJapan: Tate is mistakenly referred to as a girl in the Chuang Yi version.
* ShirtlessScene: the end of the ''Fire Red/Leaf Green'' arc sees Red going shirtless because of all the ClothingDamage from his fights with Deoxys. This continues into the ''Emerald'' arc as well because he was shirtless when he was [[TakenForGranite turned to stone]]
* ShooOutTheClowns: After clearing up their misunderstanding with Platinum's bodyguards, Dia and Pearl set aside their dream to become comedians in order to protect Platinum. After their own misunderstanding with Platinum was cleared up, they then set out on their own to stop Team Galactic. This was the point in the story when the [[OnceAnEpisode once-per-chapter jokes]] stopped.
* ShootTheMedicFirst: Sird gets Yellow to use her powers in vain to tire her out, knowing that she'd have no chance if Yellow was conscious. This is mostly due to what happens when Yellow [[SuperweaponSurprise synchronizes her spirits with her Pokémon's]], but Yellow being The Healer wouldn't be helpful to Sird, either.
* ShoutOut:
** The Safari Zone logo looks like the Film/JurassicPark logo.
** Dia has a Wii and all its different controllers in his room. Similar to the games where the player character always has the current Nintendo console in their room.
** In the [=HeartGold=] and [=SoulSilver=] chapter, a character named Jet resembles Jet Link from ''Cyborg009''. He even has the same name!
** Platinum's family name comes from the [[http://www.berlitz.com/ Berlitz Corporation]], a worldwide company meant to train people in language and global leadership skills.
** In the BW chapter, a Biker wears a jacket that says GOD SPEED YOU, referring to a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Speed_You!_Black_Emperor 1976 Japanese documentary]].
* ShowWithinAShow: ''Proteam Omega'', a mecha anime that Diamond is a massive fan of. [[spoiler: The Goldenrod Radio director created the show by basing it off of Red's team. Turns out Silver is a massive fan as well.]]
* ShownTheirWork: Everything that Pokémon do is based on some bit of flavor text from the games (generally accompanied by Pokédex citation), and any inconsistency with the game mechanics is explicitly HandWaved as a special case.
** Some rather noticeable inconsistencies aren't HandWaved though.
** The rental Pokémon Emerald uses at the Battle Factory? Yes, those are actual rental Pokémon straight out of the games. Also, Emerald himself is quite the meta-gamer, using and acknowledging many game mechanics and strategies used in competitive battling.
* SoapOperaDisease: [[spoiler:Giovanni; the only reason we know he has anything is a comment of his that "this body is wasting away". Celebi treats him in the ''HGSS'' chapter.]]
* StockholmSyndrome: [[spoiler:N has Gigi abducted along with her handler, then has her dropped into a Servine's waiting coils to be strangled. This makes Gigi realize her battling potential, so she willingly decides to side with him.]]
** Silver is initially unwilling to battle Will because he fears this might be why Will works for the Mask of Ice. When Will reveals that [[spoiler: only Green and Silver were kidnapped and the others were there of their own free will]] Silver fights him seriously.
* StoryArc: Several, each based on a game in the main series.
* StealthPun: In the ''BW'' chapter, White gets a Sandile to cry at any scene in a movie. Crocodile Tears!
* SuicidalGotcha: In the ''[=HeartGold & SoulSilver=]'' chapter, Silver lets go of a bridge he was dangling over in his battle against Petrel only to rise back up on his Gyarados.
* {{Superdickery}}: On the netkun site's previews, it looked like Skyla just killed Black by shoving him off the Celestial Tower. Reading the actual chapter shows that her Swanna was there to catch him.
* SurpriseCreepy: The artwork, especially Mato's, is rather cutesy, the plot usually starts out lighthearted, it's ''Pokémon'' for god's sake, so it's a bit of an eye-popper when some of the more violent actions come up.
** [[{{NightmareFuel/Pokemon}} Pokémon indeed...]]
* SupremeChef: Diamond is a skilled cook and Poffin maker.
** Also, Emerald's Sceptile and Sudowoodo show remarkable skill in cooking and once faced off against each other in a cook-off for [[BrattyHalfPint Emerald's]] attention.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:T-Y]]
* TakeAThirdOption: Koga gives Blue the choice to be used as a hostage to persuade Professor Oak to work for Team Rocket, or die painfully. Blue decides to go down fighting and sics his Scyther on Koga.
* TakenForGranite
* [[TakeUpMySword Take Up My Pokémon]]: After Red disappeared, Yellow took up his Pikachu and Pokedex
** Another example happens in FR/LG. [[spoiler: Inside the tower, when Mewtwo's power was being suppressed by the suit, Blue convinces Red to trade their Charizard and Venusaur under the guise that Blue, being the better tactician, would be better off controlling the most wounded Pokemon (Venusaur) when they attempt to triple-attack the suit to free Mewtwo. After the attack, the building collapses, and Mewtwo reveals that the real reason for the trade was that so Red could have a flying Pokemon (Charizard) to go ahead and escape with.]]
* TaughtByTelevision: Crystal uses Mr. Mime's barrier strategy in the Emerald chapter. She learned it from watching Sabrina's match with Bugsy in the GSC chapter.
* ThreeAmigos: Each set of regional Dex Holders, except for Kanto with the eventual inclusion of Yellow.
* "TheReasonYouSuck"Speech: A few. Most notably, Sapphire, Wallace and Norman all blast Ruby with one each in his arc.
* TitleDrop: in the FRLG saga, Mewtwo when he saw Red and Blue trade their starter Pokémon.
-->''[=FireRed=] and [=LeafGreen=]''.
* TooDumbToLive: Green's parents. Maybe. [[spoiler:We don't know how visible Deoxys's black holes are. Green saw one of them clearly even without her Silph Scope, though...why didn't they see ''that?'' Or their daughter in a weird and unnatural pose? ''What were they thinking?!'']]
** Potentially justified, [[spoiler: their daughter was missing for 11 years, maybe presumed dead, to find out that she's ''right there'', the entire world may've just disappeared to them]].
* TooLongDidntDub: For some reason, Viz chose ''not'' to alter Unown's messages in the Ruins of Alph. Instead they just added notes of what it translates to ("''Ananuke'' = Escape", for instance). It's not clear why they didn't bother, considering how they occasionally alter art for {{Bowdlerization}} purposes.
* TookALevelInBadass: Needless to say, what with the Special universe being a {{World Of Badass}} and all, everyone receives this treatment at some point or another in the course of the story.
* TrainStationGoodbye: How [[spoiler:Black and White part ways at Nimbasa]].
* TraumaInducedAmnesia: Red's Pikachu during the Yellow arc.
** Also Emerald's Sceptile and (possibly) Silver's Sneasel.
* TwoLinesNoWaiting: Enough screentime is usually given to the protagonists of each arc who embark on their journeys separately by utilizing this, as was the case in RS and the latter parts of DP and BW.
* UglyGuyHotWife: Wanda, who is conventionally pretty, has a {{Gonk}} husband.
* UnexplainedRecovery: Happens many times with varying [[JustifiedTrope justifications]]. Exceptions include...
** [[spoiler:Maxie, who died in a no-holds-barred battle for a cursed suit of armor against...]]
** [[spoiler:Archie, who was erased after being isolated from the armor for too long.]]
** [[spoiler:Orm/Oca, who fell to his death from the Team Rocket Air Ship.]]
* UnresolvedSexualTension: Winona and Wallace had a falling out before the story started, though Wallace is obviously still interested in continuing their relationship. Unfortunately for him, Winona is ''not'' a BestHerToBedHer type of girl and feels insecure about having a Champion for a boyfriend. Numerous hints are given about their past relationship and possibilities of a new one, but their last appearance in the Emerald arc has Winona simply musing about just that. We'll never know if they actually try again.
** As if their proteges, Ruby and Sapphire, aren't any better. Sapphire ''very'' much wants to bring up their feelings again, but Ruby's supposed amnesia of their confessions prevents the relationship from advancing.
* UnsettlingGenderReveal[=/=]DudeLooksLikeALady: Gold mistakes Bugsy for a girl in the beginning of the G/S/C arc and actually asks "her" out.
** ''[[MemeticMutation He wears]]'' '''''[[MemeticMutation SHORT SHORTS]]!!!'''''
** In HGSS, Bugsy looks even ''more'' feminine.
* UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans
* VerbalTic: Pearl tends to say "Dia- I mean Diamond..." whenever he's trying to tell Diamond something important
** [[ManChild Crystals mom]] as well
* VillainousRescue: [[spoiler:For a BigBad, Giovanni certainly saves the heroes a lot, particularly during the Yellow Arc, freeing Red from his frozen prison and saving Yellow when she was battling Lance.]]
* WaxOnWaxOff: It helped Gold's Cyndaquil evolve into Quilava, but the Day Care Granny really just wanted some stuff lying around the house to be done.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: Lance and Lorelei during the Yellow arc.
** And, of course, Maxie and Archie, but this is a bit questionable, since they're batshit insane.
* WhamEpisode: Where there were certainly hints towards this, [[spoiler:seeing Sird in a Team Galactic uniform certainly counts, as well as the revelations that she was [[TheMole a mole]] sent to investigate Team Rocket]].
** [[spoiler:Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, and Silver getting turned to stone at the end of the FRLG Arc.]]
** [[spoiler:Gigi leaves White for N.]]
** [[spoiler:Black is sealed with Reshiram in the lightstone at the end of the BW Arc.]]
* WhatTheHellHero: Ruby took two separate tongue-lashings from Sapphire and Wallace, in that order, and while not back-to-back, both in the space of a day. Read the entry for more details.
** Cheren calls Black out for selfishly going off on his own when they had already promised each other (with Bianca) that they'd start off together.
* WhoWouldWantToWatchUs / LeaningOnTheFourthWall: In Round 28 of the R/B/Y arc, [[AntiHero Green]] reminds [[TheHero Red]] and [[TheRival Blue]], "This isn't a GameBoy, you know!"
* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: Birds for Green, until the GSC finale.
** Sapphire easily loses to Tucker, implying that she's still terrified of Salamance.
** Lance is terrified of [[spoiler: Yellow]]
* WiseBeyondTheirYears: ''Every single one'' of the Pokedex Holders.
* WithOurSwordsScene: After the Sinnoh Gym Leaders get thrashed at Spear Pillar, three of them pass on one of their Pokémon to Platinum so that she can fight in their stead. [[spoiler: Subverted in that the Pokeballs immediately get busted so that she can't call them out. Double-subverted in that she's allowed to keep them anyways for another mission.]]
* TheWorfEffect: Whenever Platinum brings out Ponyta to a gym challenge, expect the poor horse to be quickly beaten to the ground.
** Poliwhirl/Poliwrath tends to suffer from this in Red's battles.
* WorfHadTheFlu: The reason Petrel managed to beat Lance? [[spoiler: Petrel disguised himself as the person Lance is afraid of the most: Yellow.]]
* ThoseTwoGuys: Diamond and Pearl's goal is to become a great comedy act and spend most of the early part of the D/P/P arc practising and end up getting this reputation with some of their allies.
* WorkOffTheDebt: Why Black is stuck with White for the time-being.
* WorldOfBadass: Oh yeah. Even [[ButtMonkey Bill]] gets a moment or two, like shielding [[ShipTease Daisy]] from debris and then ignoring the fact that he was hurt so that he could help the Dex Holders.
* WorldOfCardboardSpeech: Gold at the climax of GSC.
-->'''Silver''': ''Why have you come this far...? Do you even have a reason to battle at all? Is it for...me...?''
-->'''Gold''': ''Don't be stupid! Who's fighting for you? ...I've been thinking...the reason why I chose to battle... I can't say whom I'm fighting for...it's too mushy for me! But in my battles, I fight for myself! And I don't care if by fighting my own battles, I end up helping people. If you've benefited from my selfish acts, then so be it. Silver, Crys, after meeting you guys...I've been able to travel to different places, meet different people. We've had our share of battles, and it's been really fun...I've enjoyed myself!''
* WorthyOpponent: Bruno
** Red as well as Giovanni.
* WouldHurtAChild / WouldHitAGirl: Generally, nobody has problem smacking anyone else down, regardless of who that person is if s/he is in the way of saving/destroying the world.
* YearOutsideHourInside: According to Juan, [[ZigZaggingTrope zigzagged]] with Mirage Island, but played straight while Ruby and Sapphire are unconscious on it. Three days pass by on the island and three weeks in the real world.
* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: Out of all the 'Dex Holders, only Crystal and Platinum have unnaturally dark blue hair. Aside from the rest of the cast, there's Wallace, Claire, Brawly, Riley and other characters that also have unnaturally colored hair.
* YoureInsane: Yellow [[strike:says]] screams this to Lance at the end of her saga.
-->'''Lance:''' [[spoiler:This was my object from the beginning--to take control of this Pokémon! To ride the one that no one has ever been able to tame!]]
--> '''Yellow:''' [[spoiler:Turn that Pokémon against the world...?! No! You can't! '''''LANCE, IT'S INSANE!!''''']]
[[/folder]]
----

[[caption-width-right:350:[-Center: [[AwesomenessByAnalysis Emerald]]. Clockwise from top: [[TheMedic Yellow]], [[TheHero Red]], [[IdiotHero Gold]], [[CampStraight Ruby]], [[TheRival Green]] (Blue US), [[AntiHero Silver]], [[WildChild Sapphire]], [[LoveableRogue Blue]] (Green US) and [[TeamMom Crystal]]. Not included: [[BigEater Diamond]], [[{{Determinator}} Pearl]], [[{{Ojou}} Platinum]], [[SpiritedCompetitor Black]], [[NeutralFemale White]], [[InterpolSpecialAgent Lack-Two]], [[{{DarkAndTroubledPast}} Whi-Two]], [[{{Hikikomori}} X]], and [[{{HotBlooded}} Y]] from the fourth, fifth, and sixth generation chapters.-] ]]

''[-Note: In general, we're using characters' English names where they're known, even if those names come from other sources and the characters haven't appeared in the English-version manga yet. Blue and Green, however, had their names switched in translation so the boys matched the English games VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue (so Blue's the boy and Green's the girl).-]''

''[-Note: In general, we're using characters' English names where they're known, even if those names come from other sources and the characters haven't appeared in the English-version manga yet. Blue and Green, however, had their names switched in translation so the boys matched the English games VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue; we're using the original Japanese designations (so Green's the boy and Blue's the girl).-]''

* AdaptationalHeroism: Silver's a JerkAss with no heroic actions in the games who only learns to trust and care for his Pokémon after you beat him at Victory Road, whereas here he's driven for vengeance for Blue and himself but [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold will help people in trouble from time to time]].

* AnimeHair: Red and Green, to name some.

* BadassNormal: Pretty much everybody; while trainers still generally just hang back and give orders like in the games and anime, here, some actually provide physical support. A common variation is riding your Pokémon while it's fighting. Giovanni actually says a truly 'great' trainer has to hone his own body instead of just relying on your Pokémon. This is the same advice Chuck goes by and passed down to Green.
** When Team Rocket attacks Indigo Plateau and the Gym Leaders retaliate, some of the Gym Leaders fight with their ''own fists'' alongside of their Pokémon. Among the confusion, you can see that Falkner slams one grunt to the ground, Janine performs a flying kick in a grunt's face, Clair is whipping them, and Chuck is throwing six of them at a time. Pity there was only one shot of Green apparently kicking someone off panel.

** In a later panel (volume 14, page 32 to be exact) Green is explicitly shown punching someone to the ground.

** Lay a hand on Blue and Silver will ''snap you in half''.

*** The feeling may be mutual. After [[spoiler:Will and Karen are shown to have fought Silver and knocked him out, Blue is so enraged she overcomes her ornithophobia, stands up to the bird that kidnapped her and fights back using the legendary bird trio]].
** Speaking of Blue, ruin her reunion with her parents? Watch out, Red ''and'' Green will go after you. [[spoiler: The "berserk" part was mostly Red, Green being more concerned about his grandpa, but still]].

** They also cleaned up the Blue vs Sabrina fight; the re-release has Blue insult Sabrina's fashion sense instead of her "[[ACupAngst health]]", and with the ClothingDamage edited out it looked like she pulled Jigglypuff and Clefairy [[AssPull out of her rear, so to speak,]] instead of from her VictoriasSecretCompartment.

* BreakTheCutie: Blue was kidnapped at age five by a giant bird [[spoiler:Ho-Oh]], [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes giving her a crippling fear of birds]], so that she could be forced to become the underling of a BigBad. After eleven long years of fighting for her freedom, overcoming her phobias, and generally breaking free of her past, she [[spoiler:locates her parents and goes off for a joyous and tearful reunion, only to have them disappear in front of her eyes.]] Is it any wonder she went into a near coma afterward?

** Blue was based [[http://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/f/f3/Kensugiart4.png on]] [[http://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/6/6f/Sugimori_Starter_artwork.png artwork]] from when the First Gen was to have a gender option. When FR/LG were released, her artwork was retooled to make her the equivalent of the female character there.

** ChekhovsGag: At the beginning of the GSC arc, Gold intentionally invokes {{Facial Composite Failure}} on Silver's wanted poster so that [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou he would be the only one to go after him.]] At the end of the arc, this intentional mismatch would be [[LoopholeAbuse what prevents Green from apprehending Silver for his crime.]]

*** Also, Green's Porygon. When he and Yellow were fighting off wild Mankey it was shown to be able to travel through electrical systems. Later on in the FRLG arc it did it again to destroy the supercomputer that was holding Prof. Oak captive.

* ClothingDamage: Both played for drama and comedy. One notable moment had [[{{Fanservice}} Blue's top ripped during a battle...to reveal]] [[VictoriasSecretCompartment an interesting new place for girls to conceal their PokéBalls]].

** Blue seems to be able to deal with many problems, including a few she doesn't anticipate.

** Blue and Silver's childhood.

** In her battle against Blue, Sabrina hypnotizes her to see her greatest fear: a pagoda surrounded by birds. ''i.e.'' [[spoiler:Johto's Bell Tower.]]

** Blue's fight against Sabrina, too.

*** Green: Stoic, coolheaded (Superego)
*** Blue: Sneaky, conniving trickster (Ego)

* GambitRoulette which Blue uses one Lorelei.

** The trainer's nature and characteristics tend to rub off on their pokemon, as seen when Red and Green end up with each other's team: while Green's are at first serious and hard working after their time with Red they are all a lot more mellow and visa versa.

** Green tries this on Red during the FRLG chapter [[spoiler:after he loses to Deoxys the first time.]]

** The implied [[SymbolSwearing cursing]] from everyone, including the young protagonists. There's also Blue technically flashing Sabrina.

** The GSC arc shows Sabrina get out of the water at some hot springs with only some CensorSteam covering her rear. Then at the end of the arc Gold accidentally gropes Blue's butt. Again, Viz didn't do any sort of cleaning up to either incident.

-->'''Green:''' You're... not with my sister today?

* GreenLanternRing: Blue's Ditto, Agatha's Arbok and its ability to change patterns.

* HeyThatsMyLine: Red brags to Blue about his two badges. She steals them, and when Team Rocket catches up to her she brags about "her" two badges. Red's not happy to see she's stealing his possessions ''and'' his lines.

* IconicItem: Some of the Dex Holders have at least one. Examples are Blue and Silver's gloves, Yellow's hat, Gold's goggles and Crystal's earrings.

** In volume 6, Green's sister was referred to as May. In volume 14, she was correctly identified as Daisy.

** Oh, Blue and Green, so much in the first arc. With Green, he spends alot of his time acting smug and superior to Red, and constantly [[IgnoredEpiphany refuses to change]] even after working with him several times. And as for Blue, it gets pretty far out when, a lot of chapters after [[spoiler:she returns the badges she had stolen from Red, reedeming her a little, it turns out those were ''fake''.]] The both of them finally change their behavior at the Pokémon League tournament though. CharacterDevelopment at it's most noticable, as they go on to become Red's best friends.

* KarmaHoudini: Karen and Will. They tried to MindRape Blue, beat Silver senseless, mocked Blue for caring about him, made it very clear that they're working for the BigBad ForTheEvulz, and the only reason why they stopped working for him was not because they saw the light...it was because they got scared shitless. And though it may match up with the games, are these the kind of people you want in your [[spoiler: league-recognized Elite Four]]? Geez, at least Koga helped out the good guys a few times and had enough moments where he redeemed himself. And Bruno's more sinister involvment in the Kanto Elite Four was due to mind control. Will and Karen have no such excuse.

* KidHero: However, the eldest of the protagonists (Red, Green and Blue) are now in their twenties.

* LoveTriangle: [[TriangRelations Type 3]]- A notable one involves Red with either Blue and Misty, Yellow and Blue, or Yellow and Misty. However, Misty has rarely appeared lately, thus the most notable ones are Red with Blue and Yellow since Red might like Blue as seen in the RGB saga and vice versa. He might even like Yellow and vice versa.

** Blue is also a MythologyGag to a then unreleased female protagonist. Considering the timing of the manga, she was put into it way after she was canceled.
** Blue's bubble microphone and Pika's babysitting of Yellow's Caterpie are homages to the ''VideoGame/HeyYouPikachu'' game.

[[folder:N-S]]
* NaughtyIsGood: Gold and Blue.

* NiceHat: Except for the 'Rival' Dex Holders (except Bianca), Emerald, and Blue (in the first 3 arcs), all of the main characters have a hat. Yellow's is the most ornate, though. [[spoiler:It also has the most plot significance, as, during her arc, it hides her real gender and also contains a microphone for Blue to listen in on her journey. Later, during the GSC arc, it's revealed that the two feathers adorning it are really the Rainbow Wing and Silver Wing.]]

** Averted with Green, Silver, Platinum and Emerald (though in Emerald's case it's somewhat justified since he wasn't expecting to keep the Pokémon that eventually became his main team.)

** Also Green's 'obnoxious girl' comment on Blue.

* ParentalAbandonment: For some reason all the 'Dex Holders, except for Ruby and Blue, either has only one parent or none at all (and the latter two don't exactly have perfect family histories).

* PersonalitySwap: One story had Red and Green's Pokémon swapped. By the end, even their attitudes were switched around.

** The formerly evil gym leaders get some in the ''GSC'' arc. Koga shows up with Bruno to save Red and Green, Lt. Surge helps free the brainwashed Team Rocket soldiers from the Masked Man's control, and Sabrina helps out Red, at the same time asking if Eevee is well, showing regret on how helping to torture it years ago.

* PlayingPossum: At one point Koga captures Green and has a Grimer restraining him; when Green tries to fight back Koga has his Golbat use Razor Wind on Green. Green is seemingly knocked out from this, but it later turns out that the pendant he was wearing at the time protected him, and he was just lying still because he knew if he pretended he was passed out Koga would eventually call off the Grimer. It worked.

* RedOniBlueOni: Besides Red and Green, Archie and Maxie.

* TheRival: Red and Green (Blue in the US version), Gold and Silver, Crystal and Eusine, Ruby and Sapphire.

** By the end of the ''FRLG'' arc, Silver refers to Green as sempai as well.

** Silver is initially unwilling to battle Will because he fears this might be why Will works for the Mask of Ice. When Will reveals that [[spoiler: only Blue and Silver were kidnapped and the others were there of their own free will]] Silver fights him seriously.

* TakeAThirdOption: Koga gives Green the choice to be used as a hostage to persuade Professor Oak to work for Team Rocket, or die painfully. Green decides to go down fighting and sics his Scyther on Koga.

** Another example happens in FR/LG. [[spoiler: Inside the tower, when Mewtwo's power was being suppressed by the suit, Green convinces Red to trade their Charizard and Venusaur under the guise that Green, being the better tactician, would be better off controlling the most wounded Pokemon (Venusaur) when they attempt to triple-attack the suit to free Mewtwo. After the attack, the building collapses, and Mewtwo reveals that the real reason for the trade was that so Red could have a flying Pokemon (Charizard) to go ahead and escape with.]]

* TitleDrop: in the FRLG saga, Mewtwo when he saw Red and Green trade their starter Pokémon.

* TooDumbToLive: Blue's parents. Maybe. [[spoiler:We don't know how visible Deoxys's black holes are. Blue saw one of them clearly even without her Silph Scope, though...why didn't they see ''that?'' Or their daughter in a weird and unnatural pose? ''What were they thinking?!'']]

* WhoWouldWantToWatchUs / LeaningOnTheFourthWall: In Round 28 of the R/B/Y arc, [[AntiHero Blue]] reminds [[TheHero Red]] and [[TheRival Green]], "This isn't a GameBoy, you know!"
* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: Birds for Blue, until the GSC finale.

* AuthorAppeal: Apparently the creators have a soft spot for human!Latias, as she's seen in every author note since her debut until volume 37. Here she is as a [[http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d94/ybur_angel/301.jpg cheerleader]] and here she is as an [[http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d94/ybur_angel/311.jpg idol]].

* AdaptationalHeroism: Silver's a JerkAss with no heroic actions in the games who only learns to trust and care for his Pokémon after you beat him at Victory Road, whereas here he's driven for vengeance for Green and himself but [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold will help people in trouble from time to time]].