All 9 Champions of Pokemon, Ranked

Over a history of over 20 years, pokemon The animated series has introduced some of the most impressive and talented trainers in the world. From the most powerful Gym Leaders in each region who represent a novice fighter's first test to the imposing and dangerous criminal teams that roam the Earth, there is no shortage of incredibly skilled combatants aspiring to become the best of the best.

Among the many amazing trainers featured in anime, one of the few that has proven time and time again why they are considered the best of the best is Champion. It's undeniable that every active champion in the main Pokemon anime has more than earned the title, but their achievements throughout the franchise clearly indicate the level of power they possess, making it easy for fans to identify who is the strongest.

9

geta

Faldea Champion

After Ash goes on a journey as the protagonist pokemon The anime ended three years ago, and new and exciting worlds needed to be explored to keep the franchise going. The animation moves to the Paldea region, which operates in a significantly different way than fans have become accustomed to. A talented woman named Geeta, the champion of the land, is not only a powerhouse trainer but also plays an administrative role, making sure everything runs smoothly.

This heavy workload, combined with the fact that those who challenge her and outsmart powerful members of the Elite Four are rarely a threat to her use of an actual team, gives her much less time to train. This makes Geeta feel like a strong mentor to the heroes, but not their ultimate goal to defeat. This reflects the limited impact the Elite Four members had on the series.

8

Iris

Hanaba Champion

Better known as one of Ash's strongest companions throughout the anime, Iris' journey as a trainer didn't begin with her as Unova's champion. When she first joined Ash, she was an aspiring warrior who dreamed of having a team of powerful Dragon-Type Pokémon. With outstanding effort and the will to keep going even in difficult situations, Iris was able to quickly rise to the top, becoming Alder's champion.

Iris may be younger and less experienced than most other champions. pokemon Although she is a franchise, she is by no means weak. Her Pokemon are downright scary in battle. Especially her impressive Haxorus. She is one of the few trainers who can push Ash to his limits, proving herself to be an opponent who should never be underestimated. Unfortunately, despite being one of the most powerful trainers in Unova, her lack of experience counts against her in important battles.

7

stephen stone

Hoenn Champion

Although champions are often uninvolved in important matters pertaining to their region, no one is more active and willing to help Hoenn than Steven Stone. His background as the son of one of the most powerful men in the world could easily lead him to become arrogant and cruel, but this couldn't be further from the truth.

Stephen is a caring and adventurous man who has made a name for himself as a trainer and archaeologist. Steven specializes in the study of Evolution Stones, especially those used by the most powerful Mega Pokémon. His friendly nature doesn't prevent him from being a calculating and challenging opponent, teaming up with his trusty Metagross and other steel-type monsters to crush his enemies.

6

Diantha

kalos champion

Becoming a champion often involves becoming the guardian of a region, but some who hold this prestigious title advance their careers in other ways. Diantha is not only the most powerful trainer in the Kalos region, but she is also a beloved movie star who has achieved great success around the world thanks to her grace and poise. This has led many fans over the years to view her as a weak trainer who chose fame over power.

In fact, Diantha is one of the most skilled and underrated combatants in the series. Unlike most other champions, who tend to rely on pure strength to win battles, her style is controlled and deliberate. Like her signature Pokémon Gardevoir, she prefers a more strategic approach, exploiting her opponent's weaknesses before delivering the decisive blow.

5

window

Kanto & Johto Champion

The first champion and perhaps the most iconic, Lance is a proud warrior with a fierce spirit that burns as bright as the flames of a Dragon-Type Pokémon. Unlike their peers who tend to take breaks, the final and most difficult challenge for trainers in the Kanto region is to always find ways to improve themselves.

Although still friendly, Lance is direct and never backs down, whether in combat or teaching new trainers about their weaknesses. When not solving crimes or fighting for the fate of the world, Pokémon's original dragon trainer can often be seen training with Dragonite, one of the most powerful pseudo-legendaries in the franchise.

4

moon

Sinnoh Champion

during pokemon The animated series has no shortage of amazing, iconic girls that make the story that much more interesting, and none of the franchise's strongest female trainers reach the level of the fearsome Cynthia. Behind her charming and friendly demeanor lies one of the most passionate fighters in the series, with some even looking up to her as a mentor or inspiration.

In battle, Cynthia sheds her sophisticated and elegant persona and unleashes her most brutal side. With Garchomp, the champion of the Sinnoh region distinguishes himself with an aggressive and overwhelming fighting style that allows him to win as quickly as possible by tiring his opponents. There's a reason she's considered the most feared champion by most fans, and she worked hard to earn that title.

3

red

Kanto Champion

There are only a few iconic characters. pokemon The franchise's legendary Red, the original protagonist red and green He is one of the most powerful trainers in the game and franchise. His story is similar to that of most young trainers on their journey to become the best. In a matter of weeks, Red went from a beginner to one of the best fighters in the Kanto region, defeating gym leader after gym leader.

His most impressive feat comes from the fact that he dismantled Team Rocket's operation with the help of other trainers, defeating a team leader he had never defeated before. Soon after, Red was able to defeat and capture Mewtwo, widely regarded as one of the most powerful Legendary Pokémon of all time.

2

leon

Galar Champion

Every young and hopeful trainer in the Galar region dreams of becoming as strong as their champion, Leon the Invincible. A kind, proud and powerful man, this charming warrior captured the hearts of an entire region with his epic battles and fierce determination to never be defeated. For many years, he was considered the most powerful trainer in the world, and with good reason, as he was Ash's strongest opponent.

His fighting style is elegant yet powerful, each move carefully calculated to inflict as much damage as possible without compromising his defenses. Moreover, Leon is known as the best Charizard trainer in history, and his impressive Flame Lizard has reached a level comparable to that of the legendary Pokémon.

1

Ash Ketchum

world champion

He is the most famous and loved trainer to date. pokemon In the anime, Ash Ketchum is a man who needs no introduction. An arrogant but kind novice in Pallet Town, this brave boy traveled the world with one goal: to become the best of the best. Ash has fought numerous powerful rivals who force him to become a better person after every fight. His journey wasn't easy, as evidenced by various league challenges, but he never gave up.

Ash's efforts were rewarded when he arrived in the Kalos region, during which he was most likely to become a champion, but this dream would only come true in Alola. Later, in the World Coronation Series, Ash and his loyal Pikachu, one of the franchise's most beloved characters, demonstrated their superiority in battle by defeating the world's greatest trainer. It took more than 20 years, but the hero who inspired millions of children proved he was the best of all time.

release date

1997 – 2023

network

TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, TSC

move

Shigeru Omachi, Koji Ogawa, Fumihiro Ueno, Hideki Hiroshima, Maki Kodaira, Makoto Oga, Ayumi Moriyama, Keitaro Motonaga, Shigeru Ueda, Fumihiro Yoshimura, Minoru Ohara, Yoshitaka Makino, Kiyoshi Egami, Makoto Sokuza, Heuser Biyane, Naoki Murata, Kenichi Nishida, Tomoe Makino, Masahiko Watanabe, Hiroaki Takagi, Tazumi Mukaiyama, Ryohei Horiuchi, Yoshihiro Oda, Hiromichi Matano

author

Junki Takegami, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Hideki Sonoda, Yukiyoshi Ohashi, Yuka Miyata, Takeshi Shudo, Shoji Yonemura, Shinzo Fujita, Michihiro Tsuchiya, Deko Akao, Reiko Yoshida, Aya Matsui, Junichi Fujisaku

• 

  Rika Matsumoto

  Satoshi (voice)

• 

  Ikue Otani

  Pikachu (voice)