The Ultimate Pokemon Rival Tier List (Across All Games)
12.01.2024 - 22:27
/ gamepur.com
/ Tier List
Whether they’re antagonistic or friendly, a Pokemon rival is central to the Pokemon gaming experience. But not all Pokemon rivals are created equal, and fans have big opinions about their in-game opponents.
Pokemon fans love a healthy debate, especially when it comes to which Pokemon rival is the very best. That’s where we come in with the ultimate Pokemon rival tier list, showcasing some of the most compelling rivals over the years.
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21. Calem / Serena (Pokemon X & Y)
Primary Game Appearances: Pokemon X & Y
Calem and Serena are somewhat interchangeable characters as the main rivals in Pokemon X & Y. Which rival you get depends on which gender you select at character creation, with players choosing a male avatar pitted against Serena and those with a female avatar facing off against Calem.
These two don’t really stand out in terms of personality. This rivalry is mostly comprised of battling, with the rival not playing much of a big role in the main character’s story. They go the typical route of choosing the Pokemon starter with a type advantage over yours, but beyond that, battling these two isn’t particularly complex or challenging.
20. Brendan / May
Primary Game Appearances: Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, & Emerald; Pokemon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
In Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire, the rival you get also depends on which gender you choose for character creation, and the dialogue and story arc of either Brendan or May in these games are pretty similar. Brendan / May follows a pretty standard pattern for Pokemon rivals, though with a friendlier attitude. However, unlike some early rivals who want to become champions, their goal is to be a Pokemon Professor like their father, Professor Birch.
These two don’t have the most involved story in the games and don’t fully evolve their starter Pokemon, making them stand out less than other Pokemon rivals on the list.
19. Trace
Primary Game Appearances: Let’s Go Pikachu & Let’s Go Eevee
While Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee are remakes of Pokemon Yellow, Trace isn’t quite a copy/paste of the game’s rival, Blue. Instead, he’s an updated version of a similar character who is a bit less confrontational towards the main character. You begin your journey together, and he briefly becomes Champion before you unseat him, but Trace remains relatively friendly throughout the game.
He has some interesting character development involving Cubone and Lavender Town, but many players consider this not nearly enough to give the character real motivation or personality. Rather, Trace feels a bit like an in-game tutorial rather than a character to many, earning him a spot amongst the least favorite