History Characters / PokemonRedAndBlue

* SoreLoser: When you beat him in the [[VideoGame/PokemonRedandBlue Gen 1 games]], he says "How can I lose?" He then begrudgingly tells the player character to go to the next room, turning away once he does so. (He will turn away every time he's talked to, so [[MomentKiller you can make him spin in circles if you keep trying to speak to him from the front]]).

[[quoteright:191:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lets_go_pikachu_eevee_misty.png]]

[[quoteright:188:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lets_go_pikachu_eevee_lt_surge.png]]

* PowerEqualsRarity: Dragon-type Pokémon are known for not only being powerful, but also relatively rare compared to Pokémon of other types, especially in early generations where they were by far the rarest, and Lance has the status to accompany the power of Dragon-type Pokémon by being either a Champion or the final member of the Elite Four the player faces. In fact, in ''Red'', ''Blue'', ''Yellow'', he is the only NPC trainer in the game to use any Dragon-type Pokémon at all.

* PowerEqualsRarity: Dragon-type Pokémon are known for not only being powerful, but also relatively rare compared to Pokémon of other types, especially in early generations, and Lance has the status to accompany the power of Dragon-type Pokémon by being either a Champion or the final member of the Elite Four the player faces. In fact, in ''Red'', ''Blue'', ''Yellow'', he is the only NPC trainer in the game to use any Dragon-type Pokémon at all.

* CurbStompBattle: Delivered one to the Fighting Dojo, making her the new Gym Leader.

* CurbStompBattle: Prior to the events of ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'', the Fighting Dojo was Saffron City's official gym and Koichi its Gym Leader--then Sabrina crushed him, took the title of gym leader for herself and set up a newer, bigger gym right next door, events that her trainers still gossip about.

* CurbstompBattle: Prior to the events of ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'', the Fighting Dojo was Saffron City's official gym and Koichi its Gym Leader--then Sabrina crushed him, took the title of gym leader for herself and set up a newer, bigger gym right next door, events that her trainers still gossip about.

* SecretAIMoves: In ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'', Lance commands his Dragonite to attack villainous trainers directly, [[{{Downplayed}} a power the player character has not been given]].

A salesman found in the Poké Center near Mt. Moon, who offers to sell you a swell Magikarp for just $500! What do you say?

* BlatantLies: The Magikarp Salesman lays it on thick about what a great deal he's offering and how Magikarp is a {{Secret|Character}} pokémon.
* TheBusCameBack: He returns in ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'', still selling a Magikarp for the same price. However, his offer is much less of a scam this time, as Magikarp isn't native to Unova and $500 will be a pittance by the time you meet him.

* TheGhost: He doesn't appear in ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'', but a couple of boys in the Pewter City pokémon center will talk about how one of them was sold a Magikarp by a "weird old man" [[CallBack three years before]].

* SnakeOilSalesman: The salesman insists the deal is exclusive to the player and in {{Updated Rerelease}}s [[BlatantLies claims]] that Magikarp is a {{Secret|Character}} pokémon--as a matter of fact, for anyone with an Old Rod it's ubiquitous and free. If the player talks to him after the sale he insists that he gives no refunds.

** Janine's DivergentCharacterEvolution in the Gen IV remakes of ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver has led her to abandon her father's SignatureMove Toxic for the more aggressive Poison Jab.

* ConvenientWeaknessPlacement: Inverted in the original ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'', where a trainer in Pewter City will take a Gloom (a Grass-type that Brock's Pokémon are weak to) in exchange for a Rapidash (a Fire-type that his Pokémon will have the advantage against).

** Mr. Mime appears on many of her teams and, besides the Abra line, is one of the only members of her team to appear in merchandise.

[[center:[-[[Characters/{{Pokemon}} Main Character Index]] > '''Red and Blue''' > [[Characters/PokemonRedAndBlueProtagonistsAndRivals Protagonists and Rivals]] > [[Characters/PokemonTeamRocket Team Rocket]]-]]]

[[center:[-[[Characters/{{Pokemon}} Main Character Index]] > '''Red and Blue''' > [[Characters/PokemonRedAndBlueProtagonistsAndRivals Protagonists and Rivals]]-]]]

For information on Giovanni, check his folder below.

[[folder:General]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1000002044.png]]
->''"Steal Pokémon for profit. Exploit Pokémon for profit. All Pokémon exist for the glory of Team Rocket."''
-->-- '''Team Rocket motto'''

The first villainous team in the series, and the villainous team of ''[[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Red and Blue]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Gold and Silver]]'', and their respective remakes. A cruel team of criminals that capture and steal rare or strong Pokémon to sell them, but also perform experiments on them, all to TakeOverTheWorld. They are led by Giovanni, who's also the Gym Leader of Viridian City, but stopped running his Gym in favor of leading Team Rocket. Their hideout is located underneath the Celadon City Game Corner.

'''Tropes that apply to the organization as a whole:'''
* AscendedExtra: In ''Gold'' and ''Silver'', the Rocket Executives looked alike and weren't even named, not unlike the Grunts. It wasn't uncommon to believe that there were only two of them, one male and one female (there was one female, but in fact several males; you fight more than one male Executive during the Goldenrod Radio Tower takeover). The remakes made them into their own characters with individual looks and personalities.
* AlphabeticalThemeNaming: The lower-ranked execs (dressed in the grunts' black uniform) begin with a P, while the higher-ranked execs (in customized white attire) have their initial be an A. Even with their Japanese names, the higher-ranked ones still start with A, while the lower-ranked ones start with a later letter (L).
* BossInMookClothing: Most Rocket Grunts are not particularly difficult, but in the original RBY, there's one huge exception: in Mt. Moon, you'll find a Grunt with a Level 16 Raticate. Not only is Raticate likely to be faster than anything on your team, it knows Hyper Fang, which hits extremely hard at this point in the game, especially coming from a Normal-type. This Grunt is easily one of the toughest battles in the game relative to when he appears and to make things worse, this battle is unavoidable.
* TheBusCameBack: They return in ''VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon'' under the name "Team Rainbow Rocket" after being inactive for around a decade, both in-universe and out (the last game to feature them was ''[[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver HeartGold/SoulSilver]]'').
* CardCarryingVillain: Out of all the villainous teams, they are by far the most ObviouslyEvil. They don't even try to hide their actions behind [[WellIntentionedExtremist good intentions]]; instead they proudly state to potential newcomers and foes alike that their only goal is to use and exploit Pokémon to gain wealth and power, including when the Grunt at Nugget Bridge tries to recruit the protagonist, with his lines getting referenced by Veteran Don in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon Sun, Moon]]'', ''[[VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon]]'' during a reenactment of Nugget Bridge in Malie Garden.
* DarkIsEvil: Dress in black uniforms in the games, which are featured in the anime for the nameless Rocket grunts (the main Team Rocket trio dresses in white). In the Unova saga, when the trio were turned into more serious villains, they were given black uniforms as well.
* DubNameChange: All executives were given a new name in the English localization, even though Proton's Japanese name was the only one with an obvious reason as to why it was changed (that being that there was [[OneSteveLimit already a character named Lance]] in the English versions).
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Compared to later antagonists, Team Rocket are the only ones who are [[CardCarryingVillain openly, unabashedly evil]], with later teams [[KnightTemplar believing they were doing the right thing]], or at least [[BitchInSheepsClothing putting up a similar facade]]. On the other side of the coin, their motives are far more mundane compared to later teams until Team Skull -- they're a fantasy {{Yakuza}} in their operations. At no point in the original game canon is controlling an {{Olympus Mon|s}} their goal, however in many anime and manga they are involved in either creating or trying to tame Mewtwo. This finally [[CanonImmigrant makes its way back into the games]] in Gen VII when Giovanni has Mewtwo as his SignatureMon.
* TheGuardsMustBeCrazy: They are notoriously bad at guarding places or items. In the Rocket HQ under the Rocket Corner, a notable Rocket Grunt loudly exclaims that he dropped the Lift Key after he gets defeated, and doesn't bother to pick it up. In Saffron City, the Grunt guarding the Silph Co. entrance is found to be asleep on duty, allowing the player to sneak past him and liberate the company from Giovanni.
* TheHedonist: "We're not always evil. We just do whatever we want!"
* KickTheDog: They explicitly ''killed'' a Pokémon in the original games, with the Pokémon Tower portion of those games' plot having the player calm its restless spirit.
* LegionOfDoom: After being reinstated as Team Rainbow Rocket, Giovanni recruits alternate universe versions of other evil team heads into his new organization.
* TheMafia: They are made to invoke this as a CulturalTranslation in the localized dubs.
* {{Mundanger}}: Compared to later villainous teams, which often sought to catch and harness the power of Legendary Pokémon, Team Rocket is relatively down-to-earth as a fantasy yakuza/mafia-type group (though adaptations tend to give them a connection to Mewtwo). This is subverted in ''Ultra Sun'' and ''Ultra Moon'' where they become a [[MultiversalConqueror multiverse]]-hopping LegionOfDoom as Team Rainbow Rocket.
* PoisonIsEvil: They have several Poison-type Pokémon in their groups, including Ekans and Koffing.
* PoisonousPerson: A vast majority of the Pokémon they use are Poison-type with the most notable examples being the Zubat, Koffing, and Grimer lines. The female grunts occasionally add the Ekans and Oddish lines in their ranks as well.
* PoorPredictableRock: An overwhelming majority of Rocket's staff uses Poison-type Pokémon, with a few different types thrown in occasionally.
* RainbowMotif: Their appearance as Team Rainbow Rocket in ''VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon'' gives them a rainbow-colored background when they challenge the player, and a logo adorning their headquarters is colored likewise. Coincidence or not, it matches the Rainbow Badge from their old base of operations, Celadon City.
* RecurringBoss: Three of the [[EliteMook Rocket Executives]] in the remakes of ''Gold'' and ''Silver'' are encountered at various spots, but all three are found and battled for a second time when Team Rocket takes over Goldenrod Radio Tower.
* SlasherSmile: The male Rainbow Rocket Grunts in ''Ultra Sun'' and ''Ultra Moon'' bare their teeth in their pre-battle shots.
* TakeOverTheWorld: A Silph employee says that Team Rocket's ultimate end goal is to rule the world by using Pokémon.
* ThemeNaming: All four Executives are named after real-life launch vehicles or missiles, both in the Japanese and North American versions.
* UniqueEnemy: A ''Juggler'' helps them take over Silph Co. Presumably intended to catch the player off guard, he has a Kadabra and Mr. Mime.
* {{Yakuza}}: In the original Japanese. They seem to operate openly in Celadon City (so openly a child can walk into the office where they organize their shipments for the casino's Pokémon prizes), while they are clearly invading the neighboring Saffron.

[[folder:Giovanni ''[-(Sakaki)-]'']]
!!Giovanni / Sakaki (サカキ ''sakaki'')
->Voiced by: Creator/AkioOtsuka (''WebAnimation/PokemonGenerations'', Japanese), Creator/RichardEpcar (''WebAnimation/PokemonGenerations'', English), Creator/KoujiIshii (''VideoGame/PokemonMasters'', Japanese), Andrew Russell (''VideoGame/PokemonMasters'', English)

Viridian City Gym Leader -- ''The Self-Proclaimed Strongest Trainer!''[[note]]He has no official Gym Leader title but is called this by the Pokémon World Tournament announcer.[[/note]]
[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lgpe_giovanni.png]]

The enigmatic boss of Team Rocket. He also pulls double duty as the Leader of the Viridian Gym, who specializes in [[DishingOutDirt Ground-type Pokémon]]. He is in hiding by the time of the Johto games, but he plays a role in ''[=HeartGold=]'' and ''[=SoulSilver=]'', which also reveal that he is the father of Silver.

* AdaptationalVillainy: In the original games, he declares that he'll dedicate his life to studying Pokémon in peace after disbanding Team Rocket, which implies he'll reform. In the remakes, however, it's very clear that he'll never abandon his goal of world domination, and in the continuation in the Mega Evolution timeline, as of Generation VII, he finally returns to the top of the criminal underworld as head of Team Rainbow Rocket.
* AdaptationalWimp: In ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'', his gym battle finisher is a full-grown Rhydon, but in ''VideoGame/PokemonFireRedAndLeafGreen'', it's an unevolved Rhyhorn.
* AffablyEvil: Sure enough, he's a ruthless, selfish and power-hungry crime lord but it doesn't prevent him from being a benevolent boss to his grunts, having loved ones such as his son, being graceful upon defeat, respecting his opponents if they prove their strength (to the point of apologizing for condescending them), being an insightful and open-minded person and so on.
* ArrogantKungFuGuy: In Generation V. Ironically, he's actually ''softened'' compared to previous generations, as he's already given up trying to resurrect Team Rocket after either Ethan or Lyra kicked his butt in the generation before.
* BadassFingersnap: In ''Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon'', he snaps his fingers as he orders his Pokémon to attack.
* BadassInANiceSuit: He's always sharply dressed and is the most powerful trainer in Team Rocket.
* BadassLongcoat: In ''[=HeartGold=]'' and ''[=SoulSilver=]'', doubles as a BlackCloak.
* TheBadGuyWins: In ''Masters'', [[spoiler:after letting Mewtwo go wild with the accumulated Sync Stone energy, Giovanni manages to make it obey his commands by reaching a mutual agreement and Mega Evolves it into Mega Mewtwo Y. He then proceeds to defeat the player and a cavalry of Kanto Sync Pairs (including ''Red'') before escaping to continue his plans on Pasio.]]
* BigBad: He's the one behind all of Team Rocket's shenanigans in the first generation, and the one who gathers together every other BigBad in the series to form Team Rainbow Rocket in the seventh.
* {{Bookends}}: In ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'', Giovanni's Gym is the first gym the player encounters and the last they complete.
* BreakoutVillain: Despite only appearing in the first game three times for brief boss encounters, his role as the original BigBad of the series has led to Giovanni becoming one of the most prominent human characters in the franchise, even serving as the TrueFinalBoss in ''Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon''.
* CatsAreMean: Frequently associated with the mean and aggressive Kantonian Persian and Mewtwo, while being a ruthless crime boss with goals of world domination.
* CardCarryingVillain: Doesn't even bother to try and hide the fact that he's ObviouslyEvil and wants to take over the world. Especially in the Rainbow Rocket episode.
* CerebusRetcon: The original ''Red'' and ''Blue'' games have Giovanni declare that once he disbands Team Rocket, he will dedicate his life to studying Pokémon in peace, implying he will reform (something his ''Anime/PokemonOrigins'' interpretation actually did). The remakes instead have him declare that he will go to train in solitude since he is unworthy to lead Team Rocket, and in ''[=HeartGold=]'' and ''[=SoulSilver=]'' he's preparing to take control of them again and go back to his old ways. His appearance in the World Tournament in Generation V makes it clear that while Giovanni may retreat, he will never fully abandon his dream of world domination. And as ''VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon'' shows, he's not all talk.
* CharacterCatchphrase: He likes to threaten his enemies by telling them they will face "a world of pain". He does this in his second battle in ''Red and Blue'', his first two battles in their remakes, his battle in the World Tournament in ''Black 2 and White 2'', and the battle with him in ''Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon''.
* ClimaxBoss:
** The ''second'' battle, in Silph Co., counts as much as his Gym battle. It is the last mandatory thing the player does before the PlotTunnel closes,[[note]]Seafoam Islands and the Power Plant are optional[[/note]] and all that is left in order to reach the Pokémon League is 1) beat Sabrina, 2) reach Cinnabar Island (accessible by one of the simplest routes in the game), 3) retrieve the Secret Key from the (short) Pokémon Mansion and fight Blaine, and then 4) just Fly to Viridian City and take on Giovanni immediately. Compared to how much time is spent between each of the first six Gyms, the last two can be beaten in very quick succession. More importantly, after liberating Silph, Giovanni is the only Rocket left (until [[TheRemnant the sequels and remake]]).
** There is also, of course, his Gym battle, in the player takes on Giovanni both as TheRemnant of Team Rocket ''and'' as the strongest Gym Leader in the region. Defeating him here is the last box to check before the player gains the full right to challenge the Pokémon League.
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Giovanni sometimes refers to his criminal activities or Pokémon training in general as "business"; whether he uses the term [[BlatantLies as a pretense]] of dignity or really does see his criminal operations primarily for economic profit can [[DependingOnTheWriter depend on the scene or adaptation]]. His animated adaptations in ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'' and ''Anime/PokemonOrigins'' are criminal businessmen motivated by {{Greed}}.
* DependingOnTheArtist: The aesthetic and demeanor in Giovanni's game sprites and character art floats between intimidating, mysterious, and classy, with different pieces of art leaning to a greater or lesser extent depending on the exact depiction. When [[EvilIsNotWellLit depicted in shadow]], he leans toward mysterious and intimidating, but when brightly lit he leans more toward classy.
* DiabolicalMastermind: Pretty much his sole defining feature, until you battle him at the Viridian Gym.
* DimensionalTraveler: In ''Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon'', he gains the ability to travel across dimensions and brings along various team leaders from alternate dimensions. Giovanni ''himself'' is still suggested to hail from the game's native universe, but leaves it after his defeat. ''Pokémon Masters'' shows what happened afterwards.
* DisappearedDad: To Silver.
* TheDon: Later games give him a fedora and corsage (and matching Honchkrow) to complete the imagery, [[StealthPun which makes him]] "[[Music/WolfgangAmadeusMozart Don Giovanni]]."
* DragonTamer: At the Pokémon World Tournament in ''Black and White 2'', he can use the Dragon/Ground Garchomp in Type Expert and World Leaders.
* EvilCannotComprehendGood: [[spoiler:''Masters'' has him subvert this in a lobby conversation, [[ThePowerOfFriendship stating he can understand where the protagonist is coming from.]] In fact, [[PragmaticVillainy he states he's actually fine with them having different views, since 'that's how things get done in a business'.]] It's not surprising, however, given that [[AFatherToHisMen he has]] his [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes good aspects]]]].
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes:
** While [[spoiler:he's not the best father by a long shot, outright abandoning his son to go become stronger, he still does seem to care about his son, even trying to explain himself to him before leaving and hopefully saying "One day, you'll understand" at the end of the conversation.]] This eventually puts him in contrast with [[spoiler:Ghetsis in the latter's Pokémon Masters event. When Giovanni sees Silver bring out [[OnlythePureOfHeart Ho]]-[[OlympusMons Oh]], he immediately backs down, both because [[KnowWhenToFoldEm he knows it's a sunk cost at this point since Kyurem and Zekrom have escaped]] but also because [[SoProudOfYou he's found something to be proud of that day.]] In contrast, [[RedemptionRejection Ghetsis refuses to even consider the idea of reconnecting with his son]], continuing to heartlessly belittle him before escaping with Kyurem, [[AlwaysSaveTheVillain despite N and Nate going back to protect him and Kyurem from Giovanni.]]]]
** In terms of his Pokémon, he is indicated to be particularly close to his Persian and Nidoking. The ''Let's Go'' games see him keep a portrait of Persian in his office and official art from the trading card game features him being [[https://m.bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Giovanni%27s_Scheme_(BREAKthrough_138)#/media/File%3AGiovanniSchemeXYPromo277.jpg physically]] [[https://m.bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Giovanni%27s_Charisma_(151_161)#/media/File%3AGiovanniCharisma207PokémonCard151.jpg affectionate]] with it. In ''Masters'', Giovanni suggests he has a personal attachment to his Nidoking, given that he has been taking care of him since his days in Kanto, and cannot provide a direct answer when asked if he would give Nidoking up for the sake of a scheme.
* FallenHero: Implied to be this. He was a Gym Leader before forming Team Rocket, seems to have genuinely enjoyed being one as he appears to feel nostalgic for his past when he gives his TM and claims it to be a gift for any trainer who wishes to take on the challenge of the Pokémon League that he made when he was a Gym Leader, implying that he wasn't evil back then. So, one can wonder what made him give up his respectable job to run a criminal organization that actively abuses and steals Pokémon around the world.
* AFatherToHisMen:
** In the Celebi event, Giovanni stresses the importance of being able to lead and handle the power of a bundled group of people, blaming himself for not making the best use of his grunts' potential and causing Team Rocket's downfall.
** He also values teamwork and steps down from his position when he feels he failed his subordinates.
** When the Nugget Bridge challenge is recreated in Malie Garden in Gen VII, Veteran Don (who is implied to have been the same Grunt at the original bridge) wonders how ''Mr.'' Giovanni is doing, implying a strong sense of respect towards him.
** Further, a number of the Rainbow Rocket grunts sing his praises, and express a desire to support him and not let him down.
* FedoraOfAsskicking: He wears a fedora in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver]]'' and ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2'', fitting the leader of a mafia-esque villainous team. In ''Masters'', he dons a purple fedora for his Sygna Suit version.
* FiveSecondForeshadowing: In ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'', Viridian Gym uses the same spiraling teleport tiles as the Team Rocket Hideout. Guess who the Gym Leader is.
* {{Foreshadowing}}:
** In ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'', the Rocket Boss uses Rhyhorn and members of both Nidoran lines in battle, all three of which are Ground-types when fully evolved and are also seen on the Viridian Gym Leader's team.
** The Team Rocket Hideout BGM features a DarkReprise of one of the movements from the BGM for Viridian Forest. Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket, is also the Viridian Gym Leader.
* FragileSpeedster: His Dugtrio is far less tanky than his other Mons, but has the highest speed of anyone on his team.
* GoKartingWithBowser: He is an opponent in the Pokémon World Tournament in ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2'' despite his criminal past. As of the October 2023 update of ''Videogame/PokemonMasters'', he is able to be invited to the Trainer Lodge.
* GracefulLoser: Giovanni tends to take even costly defeats fairly well:
** In the Kanto games, he accepts his first and last defeats gracefully and abandons his ambitions for the time being to improve himself as a trainer after his final defeat. During the Celebi event, he even tells his son that one must accept defeat before they can move on.
** When he makes his grand reappearance in [[VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon Ultra Sun/Moon]], he bows out gracefully on defeat, but still begins plotting for future conquests [[SequelHook before he disappears into an Ultra Wormhole.]]
** [[spoiler:In the final chapter of the Villain Arc of ''Pokémon Masters'', once Hoopa Unbound is BroughtDownToNormal again, he doesn't waste any time simply giving up, since his whole plan failed the moment Hoopa lost its Unbound form and returned all the Legendary Pokémon from Team Rocket to their dimensions. However, it also turns out that Giovanni has another unrevealed scheme in hand and takes his leave through Mewtwo warping him away.]]
* GreaterScopeVillain:
** In the Johto games, every crime that Archer, Ariana, and the rest of Team Rocket commit is done in his name and to facilitate his return--but he remains unseen in the main story, and in the remakes, he is only available to battle long after the main conflict has ended (as an optional event battle, at that). Also, [[spoiler:your rival in those games is his son, and his nasty personality is a direct result of the poor way Giovanni brought him up.]]
** ''Masters'' sets him up as the overarching villain of the Villain Arcs, either playing a behind-the-scenes role or taking an active role.
* IControlMyMinionsThrough: Loyalty. Team Rocket is so loyal to Giovanni that in ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'' TheRemnant all but conquers a city to seize its radio tower and use it to beg his return.
* KarmaHoudini: In ''VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon'', he's forced to pull back from his attempt to invade the player's world, but is ultimately not stopped and merely leaves to pick another world to invade.
* KnowWhenToFoldEm: [[spoiler:After losing control of Hoopa-Unbound during the final chapter of the Villain Arc of ''Pokémon Masters'', he concedes defeat to the player, Paulo, and Tina. While he states that he ''might'' be able to defeat them if they were to continue battling, there wouldn't be any point since he would still have to contend with the other organizations and their allies on Pasio.]]
* LateArrivalSpoiler: His identity as the Viridian City Gym Leader. It was originally a twist as nobody in-game actually knew who the final Gym Leader was and the Gym trainers use various types. Even the official strategy guide kept his identity hidden. Nowadays, it's basically public knowledge.
* MamaBear: Somewhat counter to what might be expected for a scary man like him, when the player confronts Giovanni in the role of Rocket Boss, he favors tough ''maternal'' monsters like Kangaskhan and Nidoqueen.
* ManipulativeBastard: His method of work that he exploits in ''Pokémon Masters'' in its Villain Arc, manipulating every other organization and their leaders to further his own schemes. [[spoiler:The same goes to manipulating even trainers like Paulo.]]
* ManOfWealthAndTaste: The most well-dressed gym leader (and evil organization head) in the series, quite cultured, and nothing short of polite-yet-threatening to anyone who stands in his way. But still a diabolical mastermind with dreams of world domination.
* MeaningfulName: His name is pronounced GEO-vanni. The name indicates both his occupations: a Mafia Boss and a Gym Leader of Ground-type Pokémon. His stance as TheDon also ties in -- ''don'' means "tooth" in ancient Greek and is used in the names for a lot of dinosaurs. Giovanni happens to own several dinosaur-like Pokémon, such as Rhy'''don''' and Nido'''king'''[[note]]''don'' means "lord" in Spanish and is a respectful male honorific in Italian that can mean "Father"[[/note]]. The term ''don'' also manages to incorporate the Japanese character 土 ''do'' (meaning "ground"), tying in yet again with Giovanni's type specialty, and many Ground-type Pokémon have ''don'' somewhere in their names.
* MightyGlacier: His Rhyhorn and Rhydon. [[TookALevelInBadass And Rhyperior]].
* MonsAsCharacterization: He often asserts that he is the world's greatest trainer and one of his signature Pokémon is Nidoking, who also takes pride in its own strength.
* MultiversalConqueror: As of ''Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon'' he has evidently escalated from attempting world conquest to multiverse conquest thanks to his ability to travel dimensions.
* MyGreatestFailure: To the point that he abandoned his own son to train in order to beat Red. Losing to Ethan/Lyra pushes him over the DespairEventHorizon, and he leaves in a stuttering wreck, abandoning his attempted revival as the boss of Team Rocket.
* MythologyGag: In ''VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon'', he has Mewtwo at his beck and call. Of course, his [[Anime/PokemonTheSeries anime]] counterpart [[Anime/PokemonTheFirstMovie also controlled Mewtwo for a small while]], being responsible for its creation (as was his ''Manga/PokemonAdventures'' counterpart).
* NobleDemon: He treats opponents as [[WorthyOpponent worthy opponents]] and appears to care for his underlings, retreating at the end of ''[=FireRed=]/[=LeafGreen=]'' because he feels he has "betrayed their trust". This extends to his ''Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon'' version, where instead of raging at being defeated he compliments the protagonist on their skill, says he enjoyed the battle and leaves without a fuss or even a further threat. Despite being described as "pure evil" by Ghetsis, Giovanni clearly has a code of behavior he adheres to.
** In ''Pokémon Masters'', he claims to not take any pleasure in hurting people for no reason, especially trainers who show so much promise, such as the PlayerCharacter and is waiting for them to grow strong enough to face him before enacting any evil scheme. [[spoiler:This may have been the reason he wasn't as harsh on Paulo when Giovanni first beat him, because he saw some potential in him to further Giovanni's own schemes. This is later proven right when Paulo falls straight into Giovanni's scheme to take Hoopa Unbound away from him.]]
* OlympusMons: In ''Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon'', he owns a Mewtwo that can Mega Evolve.
* OneHitKill: His Rhydon in the original ''Red and Blue'' knows both Horn Drill and Fissure. Also, his Rhyhorn in those games knows Horn Drill, while his Dugtrio in ''Yellow'' knows Fissure. When he is defeated, he also gives out [=TM27=], which contains Fissure.
* OptionalBoss: Became the first event Trainer when the remakes added an optional battle in ''[=HG/SS=]'' with him with an event Celebi to access him.
* ParentalNeglect: Implied to be a practitioner of this. He never acknowledges his son's existence in the original games or the remakes, abandoned the kid after being defeated by Red and prioritized his pride over raising him. His son is rightfully ticked off at him about it.
* PetTheDog:
** Although he didn't do the kid any favors abandoning him, it's clear that he does care about Silver and wasn't happy about it, attempting to explain his actions before leaving. Also, after seeing [[spoiler:Silver bring out Ho-Oh during Ghetsis' event in Pokémon Masters, he immediately retreats, for [[PragmaticVillainy pragmatic reasons]] as well as implying [[SoProudOfYou he's proud of his son for winning over Ho-Oh]].]]
** He is apparently not a BadBoss, and in fact steps down from active leadership because he feels he has betrayed his followers' trust having lost to an eleven-year-old.
** His Mewtwo can Mega Evolve, which at bare minimum would imply ''some'' form of bond between the two to exist.
** He made a TM containing a very powerful Ground-type move just to give it as a gift to young trainers for their Pokémon League challenge when he ran his Gym.
* PragmaticVillainy: He wants to take N's Zekrom and Ghetsis' Kyurem for himself in ''Masters'' before Ghetsis gets his hands on Zekrom, which would technically stop Ghetsis from becoming a threat. However, Giovanni states he is only doing this because he knows that Ghetsis would come after him once he has both Legendary Pokémon in hand to enroll his minions.
* RankScalesWithAsskicking: He's the head of a criminal group and the final Gym leader. Of course, this trope is in effect. Played with in the event battle with him in ''[=HG/SS=]''. His team is on-par with the Elite Four in level, but weaker than the Kanto leaders and the Elite Four in their rematches. So, having gone down in rank, he is no longer as proficient an asskicker.
* RecurringBoss: Fought three times in the original games, as well as the remakes. The third time, he's a ClimaxBoss, as he's the eight Gym Leader of Kanto and thus the last major story opposition before the Elite Four.
* RightHandCat: Downplayed in comparison to his anime counterpart, but Persian has still become one of his signature Pokémon and is even depicted alongside him in his ''Let's Go'' artwork, giving this impression. For what it's worth, there is also the fact Mewtwo is on his team in a couple of appearances, though the right-hand implied there would be [[TheDragon in a rather different sense]].
* RuleOfThree: In ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'', Giovanni is battled three times.
* SignatureMon: Constantly played with.
** The Rhyhorn line appears on almost all of his teams in the main series, as well as in merchandise and ''Masters''.
** He often uses at least one member of the Nidoran line. Nidoqueen is his final Pokémon in all his Silph Co. battles and his strongest in his battle at Tohjo Falls. Nidoking, meanwhile, once tied as his strongest team member during his gym battle in ''Yellow'', was his strongest fully-evolved Pokémon in his gym battle in ''Fire Red'' and ''Leaf Green'', and is the subject of Giovanni's Sygna Suit in ''Masters'', where he admits that [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes he may have an attachment to him]].
** In homage to Giovanni's anime counterpart, both ''Yellow'' and ''Let's Go'' saw Persian replace Kangaskhan as the sole Pokémon to deviate from his type specialty. It even appears with him during the gym encounters of both games, though it is only an opponent in one of them, ''and'' is the only fixed member of his team in ''Pokémon GO''. Persian returns in ''Masters'' as well as part of Giovanni's Classic variant.
** Mewtwo supplants all of his previous partners as the final Pokémon of his alternate universe counterpart, even appearing as part of his default Sync Pair in ''Masters'', [[spoiler:and that's before Giovanni is able to form his own twisted version of a bond with it.]]
* SignatureMove: His TM move as a Gym Leader is [[OneHitKill Fissure]], which his Rhydon knew in ''Red'' and ''Blue'', and which his Dugtrio featured in ''Yellow''. The remakes replaced Fissure with Earthquake.
* SuperMobBoss: By the later games, he's gone from being crime lord to multiversal threat capable of commanding other series villains and possessing Mewtwo as his SignatureMon.
* SuperMode: In ''Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon'', he can Mega Evolve his Mewtwo into Mega Mewtwo; the form he uses depends on the version (X in ''Ultra Sun'' and Y in ''Ultra Moon'').
* TokenEvilTeammate:
** While Koga may have a slightly sadistic streak, no other Gym Leaders are involved in a [[TheMafia Mafia]]-style group that tries to seize fossils, lay siege to Silph Co., or run an illegal smuggling operation. Or, for that matter, ''kill Pokémon''.
** Even when recruited in ''VideoGame/PokemonMasters'', he plainly admits that he's still scheming evil plans while your role is to keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn't do anything shady under your watch.
* TrueFinalBoss: Being the BigBad and final opponent of ''Episode RR'' in ''Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon'', he serves as this for the game as a whole.
* UnnamedParent: Inverted -- Giovanni has a name, but his son doesn't unless you give him one ("Silver" is just a placeholder).
* VillainousFriendship: Is implied to have one with Mewtwo. He can mega evolve his Mewtwo in ''Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon'', which would be possible only if there was a strong bond between the two. And during the Team Rocket's villain arc in ''Pokémon Masters'', he claims that that they have formed a strong bond because of their mutual goals and that both of them share a "proclivity for malice" and manages to bring Mewtwo back to its senses when it loses its mind (because of all the power he drew out of it) just by talking to it. [[{{Hypocrite}} And so despite his overall view and attitude towards Pokémon]].
* VillainWithGoodPublicity: Inverted -- People know he's the leader of Team Rocket but don't seem to know that he's also a Gym leader, presumably because he's been absent from his Gym for a very long time.
* WeCanRuleTogether: [[spoiler:In ''Pokémon Masters'', he proposes that Paulo join forces with Team Rocket now that he has proved himself strong enough to command Hoopa Unbound to wreck havoc on Pasio. Paulo turns down the offer, because his aim was to take down all evil (and former evil) organizations and decides to bring him down. However, Giovanni uses the power of his own sync stone to easily bring Hoopa Unbound to his side and disarms Paulo completely, mocking him that he could've at least pretended to work with Team Rocket for a better chance at striking Giovanni when he'd least expect it.]]
* WeaksauceWeakness: As a Gym Leader specializing in the Ground-type, many of his Gym Pokémon suffer a [[AchillesHeel devastating weaknesses]] to the same Grass and Water-types that vex Brock's team near the start of the game. He doesn't suffer it quite as badly though, since he has Poison/Ground-types in Nidoking and Nidoqueen that take neutral damage from Grass-type attacks.
* WorthyOpponent: Generally treats the PlayerCharacter this way:
** In the Generation I games, after you defeat him for the third time, he seems satisfied with the battle, promises to better himself so he can meet you again, gives the eighth badge to let you challenge the Pokémon League and a TM. The ''Let's Go'' games have him outright apologize to you for condescending to you as a child when you beat him the first time, and unlike other games where he drops the Silph Scope on retreating, he gives it to you as a gift.
** In ''Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon'' he seems outright pleased at having lost to such a powerful trainer.

[[folder:Jessie and James ''[-(Musashi and Kojirō)-]'']]
!!Jessie and James / Musashi (ムサシ ''musashi'') and Kojirō (コジロウ ''kojirou'')
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jessie_and_james_lets_go.png]]
[[caption-width-right:300:Jessie and James in ''VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuAndLetsGoEevee'']]
A recurring duo of Team Rocket members made distinct by their unique designs and white uniforms, plus a Meowth to make them the iconic TerribleTrio. They appear in various locations in the Kanto region in ''Yellow'' and the ''Let's Go'' games, only to be defeated by the player.

[[CanonImmigrant Originally debuted in the anime]]. See the character page for their original incarnations [[Characters/PokemonTheSeriesTeamRocketTrio here]].

* AdaptationalBadass: In ''Pokémon Yellow'', Meowth will fight the player as a Pokémon unlike his anime counterpart who prefers to stay out of the fight due to being laughably weak. He also knows Pay Day, a move that the anime Meowth is infamous for not knowing (with an [[Recap/PokemonS2E16MeowthRules entire episode]] dedicated to that fact). Averted in the ''Let's Go'' games where Meowth is TheUnfought.
* AdaptationalNonsapience: Meowth doesn't talk like his anime counterpart and is treated more like a pet than an equal member of the TerribleTrio. What's jarring is that Pokémon in the past can form words and phrases in text boxes.
* AdaptationalWimp: Meowth goes from a fighter in ''Yellow'' to a bystander who'll flee with Jessie and James once their Pokémon are knocked out. This is however [[TruerToTheText closer to the anime Meowth]] who is not a fighter.
* BaitTheDog: Jessie uses BlatantLies to get the young Cubone to ''voluntarily'' follow the TerribleTrio to the HQ.
* BashBrothers: Their two only battle Pokémon are both male and are always sent out together and have moderately good teamwork.
* BodyguardingABadass: In some encounters with them, they are tasked with guarding the room where Giovanni is located in.
* CanonImmigrant: Were initially introduced in the anime most likely to avoid using a faceless horde of {{Mook}}s as TheHeavy, [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness as actual admins weren't a thing in Gen I]].
* DivergentCharacterEvolution: In the original ''Gold and Silver'', the top Admins seemed to be loosely based on Jessie and James, sharing a couple of their signature Pokémon, bearing a physical resemblance to them, and being depicted as the new leaders of Team Rocket after Giovanni's defeat. The remakes of ''Gold and Silver'' gave the Admins distinct names and new appearances that made it clear they certainly were not Jessie and James, and they've since appeared alongside each other in other media. James lampshades this in ''Let's Go'', when he comments on how both he and Archer use Weezing, and he's surprised that an Admin shares his Pokémon preference.
* DualBoss: Averted in ''VideoGame/PokemonYellow'' where double battles weren't established in the gameplay yet. Played straight in ''VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuAndLetsGoEevee'' where they even use moves like Acid and Poison Gas, which are capable of hitting both of your Pokémon simultaneously.
* EliteMooks: Their different outfits and implied authority over the grunts suggests them to be this, [[MookLieutenant at the very least]].
* {{Gasshole}}: The Koffing line, which specializes in gas-based poison.
* GoldfishPoopGang: Their overall threat level.
* GuysSmashGirlsShoot:
** Inverted. In battle Jessie's Arbok (who is ironically male) uses physical moves, while James' Weezing specializes in special attacks.
** PlayedStraight in the first battle where Ekans mainly uses Acid and seldom remembers to use Wrap, while Koffing spams Tackle and less often uses Poison Gas.
* {{Irony}}: Their anime incarnations, especially early on, relished in ganging up on others in Pokémon battles. In ''VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuAndLetsGoEevee'', they are some of the few opponents ''[[VideoGameCrueltyPotential the player(s)]]'' can't gang up on.
* MookLieutenant: Just about the ''most generous'' estimation of their ranking in the organization, as they simply can't be deemed as big enough threats to qualify as CoDragons. Interestingly, they ''do'' have a high enough ranking in the organization to be seemingly entrusted with overseeing the grunts during the Mt. Moon operation instead of doing the heavy lifting alongside them, and also to force Mr. Fuji to make new and stronger Pokémon for Team Rocket.
* NoNameGiven: Neither Jessie nor James are named in ''Pokémon Yellow'', being referred to only as "Rocket" in battle. Averted in ''Let's Go'', which uses their names constantly.
* NonElemental: Meowth, who is actually used as a third Pokémon in battle by them in ''Pokémon Yellow''.
* PoisonIsEvil: Both of them use Poison-type Pokémon and happen to be villainous.
* RecurringBoss: Even though this incarnation of them isn't obsessed with the player's partner Pikachu/Eevee, they are fought ''four times'' in various locations.
* ReptilesAreAbhorrent: Jessie uses the Ekans line.
* SomethingAboutARose: James still carries his trademark rose.
* TheUnfought: Meowth is this in the ''Let's Go'' games, as neither Jessie nor James field him in battle. Averted for ''Yellow'' though as he is part of their team composition.
* WarmUpBoss: Fought shortly before the first two battles against [[BigBad Giovanni]].

!Others

[[folder:Magikarp Salesman (コイキング売り; ''Koikingu uri'')]]

A salesman found in the Poké Center near Mt. Moon, who offers to sell you a swell Magikarp for just $500! What do you say?

* AscendedExtra: While he had a minute one-off appearance in the original games, his adapted self in ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'' would become a RecurringCharacter who appeared about OnceASeason, often with new scams to try.
* BlatantLies: The Magikarp Salesman lays it on thick about what a great deal he's offering and how Magikarp is a {{Secret|Character}} pokémon.
* TheBusCameBack: He returns in ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'', still selling a Magikarp for the same price. However, his offer is much less of a scam this time, as Magikarp isn't native to Unova and $500 will be a pittance by the time you meet him.
* ConMan: Already one in his initial appearance, but he's more of one in the anime, where he also sells common Pokémon disguised as rare ones at high prices.
* TheGhost: He doesn't appear in ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'', but a couple of boys in the Pewter City pokémon center will talk about how one of them was sold a Magikarp by a "weird old man" [[CallBack three years before]].
* NoNameGiven: His real name is never given.
* SnakeOilSalesman: The salesman insists the deal is exclusive to the player and in {{Updated Rerelease}}s [[BlatantLies claims]] that Magikarp is a {{Secret|Character}} pokémon--as a matter of fact, for anyone with an Old Rod it's ubiquitous and free. If the player talks to him after the sale he insists that he gives no refunds.

[[folder:Copycat/The Copycat Girl (モノマネむすめ ''monomane musume'')]]
[[quoteright:269:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/copycat_pokemon.png]]

A little girl from Saffron City who not only loves mimicking people, but is also very good at it.
----
* CostumeCopycat: She does it for fun with no bad intention.
* DivergentCharacterEvolution: Copycat only appears as a generic {{NPC}} in the games, but her character art in the TCG depicts her with green hair and pigtails that are quite similar to Duplica from ''Anime/PokemonTheOriginalSeries'', who was based on her, making this a case of [[InvertedTrope Convergent]] Character Evolution.
* GirlsLoveStuffedAnimals: She collects Pokémon Dolls. In the Generation I games and their remakes, if the player gives her a Clefairy Doll, she'll give the TM for Mimic or teach it to the player's Pokémon. In the sequels, she gives the player a Magnet Train Pass for finding and returning the lost doll.
* IconicOutfit: She loves to copy these when mimicking. In her own case, most promotional art of her (primarily from the trading card game) suggests that her favorite outfit is a copy of Ethan's which she wears most frequently.
* ItWasAGift: In ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'', her parents suggest that her most treasured possession is the doll that Red gave her in ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue''. If it's found after she loses it, she'll give the player character the Magnet Pass in gratitude.
* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: She's never referred to by anything other than "the copycat girl".
* StopCopyingMe: [[SuddenlyVoiced Red/Leaf's reaction to her]]. It unnerves quite a few of her peers too, if her parents are to be believed. Curiously, when explaining her FetchQuest in ''Gold and Silver'', she doesn't break character as "you" when explaining where her doll is, obligating her to act as though you told her that even though you couldn't have learned it yourself before talking to her. The player character calls her out for this for [[{{Railroading}} trying to tell them what to do]].
* WholesomeCrossdresser: She will imitate the male player character, including [[ChangingClothesIsAFreeAction their clothes]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Mr. Fuji (フジ老人 ''fuji roujin'')]]
[[quoteright:304:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/MrFujiTGC_1168.PNG]]

A kind old man from Lavender Town who looks after and takes care of abandoned and orphaned Pokémon.
----
* TheAtoner: It's suggested at a few points (and confirmed in ''Anime/PokemonOrigins'') that he [[spoiler:was involved in Mewtwo's creation (which Pokédex entries say involved "horrific" gene splicing experiments), and that after its escape, he returned Mew to Faraway Island]] and devoted his life to caring for Pokémon.
* CoolOldGuy: He's a very nice man, especially to Pokémon.
* DistressedDude: Shortly after he went to the Pokémon Tower to pay his respects to the spirit of the Marowak that Team Rocket had killed earlier, Team Rocket shows up again, and takes him hostage inside.
* FriendToAllLivingThings: He takes care of abandoned and orphaned Pokémon. Just look at the page image. [[spoiler:Though it is implied that [[TheAtoner he wasn't always like that...]]]]
* TheGreatestStoryNeverTold: Would you believe that this kind old man [[spoiler:is heavily implied to have not only discovered Mew, but also been Mewtwo's creator in a time where he was seemingly less moral]]? He himself never brings any of it up, almost no-one in Kanto knows of his actions, and even the games themselves don't elaborate much on it. ''Pokémon Origins'', however, [[AdaptationExpansion does]].
* HeroicBSOD: Upon [[spoiler:the creation and escape of Mewtwo; more specifically seeing its savage heart as a result of its creation]]. The games only show his atoner attitude, and ''Pokémon Origins'' shows the [=BSoD=].
* MadScientist: There's a picture of him on Cinnabar Island with the description "Dr. Fuji?!?!" He is also old friends with Blaine (who in some continuities is a scientist), and [[spoiler:is suspected to have been the scientist who created Mewtwo]].
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: It's implied that [[spoiler:he is the researcher who lived in the Pokémon Mansion[[labelnote:*]]Though the English journals use "we", as if referring to a team of researchers, the original Japanese journals are written in first-person[[/labelnote]], and following the horrific DNA experiments that led to Mewtwo's birth and its vicious nature, he moved to Lavender Town and [[TheAtoner began caring for orphaned Pokémon]]]].
* NiceGuy: How could you not respect a guy who cares for orphaned Pokémon? [[spoiler:But Cinnabar Island, especially Pokémon Mansion, heavily imply he wasn't always so nice to Pokémon...]]
* PapaWolf: To the Pokémon in his orphanage.
* RetCanon: {{Updated Rerelease}}s of ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'' expanded on Mr. Fuji's OriginStory by lifting it directly from ''Anime/PokemonTheFirstMovie''.
* WastelandElder: Lavender Town has no real authority, but Mr. Fuji is well-respected to the point that he may as well be.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Karate King / Karate Master]]

[[quoteright:347:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/karatekingorigin_7849.png]]

->Voiced by: Takeharu Onishi (JP), Dan Green (EN)

The Karate King (or [[InconsistentDub Karate]] [[VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuAndLetsGoEevee Master]]) rules the Fighting Dojo, which used to be the Saffron City Pokémon Gym until Sabrina's Psychic-types crushed his Fighting-types. Now he trains students in his converted gym.\\
\\
There are actually two Karate Kings, Koichi and Kiyo. Koichi/Takenori (タケノリ ''takenori'') is the Karate King of ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'', who will give the player their choice of MutuallyExclusivePartyMembers Hitmonlee or Hitmonchan for besting him. Kiyo[=/=]Nobuhiko (ノブヒコ ''nobuhiko'') is the Karate King of ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'', who is found training in Mt. Mortar of the Johto region and will give the player a Tyrogue, which can evolve into Hitmonchan, Hitmonlee, or Hitmontop depending on how the player raises it.

----

* BossInMooksClothing: The Karate King is completely indistinguishable from any other Blackbelt--you wouldn't even know he was special if he didn't tell you. That said, he specializes in top-flight Fighting-types Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan, which are used only by him, the player, and Elite Four member Bruno.
* TheCameo: ''A'' Karate King (Kiyo?) is trying to set up a new dojo in Lumiose City in ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'', but things aren't going well.
* CurbstompBattle: Prior to the events of ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'', the Fighting Dojo was Saffron City's official gym and Koichi its Gym Leader--then Sabrina crushed him, took the title of gym leader for herself and set up a newer, bigger gym right next door, events that her trainers still gossip about.
* DecompositeCharacter: In ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'', Kiyo gave every appearance of being the same character as the Karate King of ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue''--he was based at the Fighting Dojo in Saffron City, has the same {{Signature Mon}}s as the original, and gives one to the player after being bested. A wrench was thrown into this assumption by ''VideoGame/PokemonFireRedAndLeafGreen'', which named its Karate King Koichi--[[VideoGame/PokemonHeartGoldAndSoulSilver later]] [[VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuAndLetsGoEevee remakes]] have preserved both names, so there appear to be ''two'' Karate Kings.
* GracefulLoser: Being that he's no longer an official Gym Leader, Koichi's under no obligation to give you anything when you beat him, he chooses to reward you with a Pokémon of his own will.
* {{Kiai}}: Most of his dialogue.
* KingMook: Of the Blackbelt trainer-class. In the Japanese version, the Blackbelt-class is known as "karate king" (''karate ou''), so Koichi and Kiyo are called the "''great'' karate king" (''karate daiou'').
* NamedByTheAdaptation: The UpdatedRerelease ''VideoGame/PokemonFireRedAndLeafGreen'' names the original Karate King "Koichi".
* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: Like most of the trainers in Gen I, he didn't have a name, and was thus only known as the Karate King.
* OptionalBoss: In most of his appearances, fighting him isn't required to complete the game, though it's also the only way to get the Hitmon line outside of trading.
* RedBaron: The Karate Master, then the Karate King.
* SignatureMon: Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee.
* TrainingFromHell: In the Gen II games and their remakes, he's left the dojo to train deep within Mt. Mortar. Finding and beating him nets the player a Tyrogue, provided they have an empty slot in their party.
* UniqueEnemy: In every game he appears, he's the only way to get any of the "Hitmon"-type Pokémon. As of Gen II, you can breed other Tyrogues so you can eventually get all of them, but in Gen I the only way to get the one you didn't choose was to trade for it.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: ''VideoGame/PokemonFireRedAndLeafGreen'' establishes that the current Karate King (Koichi) is not the same as the Karate King of ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'' (Kiyo), which naturally raises the question of why Koichi is absent in the sequel games.
[[/folder]]

* MookLieutenant: Just about the ''most generous'' estimation of their ranking in the organization, as they simply can't be deemed as big enough threats to qualify as CoDragons. Interestingly, they ''do'' have a high enough ranking in the organization to be seemingly entrusted with overseeing the grunts during the Mt. Moon operation, instead of doing the heavy lifting alongside them.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/team_rocket_grunts_hgss.png]]

* HeroOfAnotherStory: Daisy is a contest champion; given Kanto hosts no contest halls, that would imply that Daisy's travels have taken her to

* CatchPhrase: In the Japanese version of ''Yellow'', Misty uses her anime self's catchphrase, "Go! My steady!"

** Yellow version took the anime version of Misty, complete with her IconicOutfit (and in the original Japanese, her CatchPhrase), and put her in the role of her original version from the games as a Gym Leader. ''Let's Go'' even replaced the Cerulean Gym's regular trainers with anime Misty's older sisters Daisy, Violet, and Lily.

* {{Catchphrase}}: He likes to threaten his enemies by telling them they will face "a world of pain". He does this in his second battle in ''Red and Blue'', his first two battles in their remakes, his battle in the World Tournament in ''Black 2 and White 2'', and the battle with him in ''Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon''.

* ConvenientWeaknessPlacement: In ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'' and its remakes, Misty cannot be challenged until the power plant crisis is resolved. In ''Crystal'' and the Gen IV remakes, a trainer at the power plant will give you a Magneton in exchange for a Dugtrio.