From gym leaders to everyday trainers, the Pokémon anime has shown a wide variety of trainers and battling styles. This is part of the franchise’s appeal, as the different Pokémon chosen reflect wildly differing personalities. Ultimately, determining who among the untold number of trainers is the best is difficult, but ten emerge as the best Pokémon trainers to ever grace the series.
One of the best things about the Pokémon anime is seeing so many of the games’ iconic trainers duke it out, leading many fans to wonder which of the anime’s trainers is truly the best there ever was. With over 1,200 episodes, many of which feature new trainers with unique strategies, it’s difficult to parse who breaks through the ranks as some of the best trainers the franchise has ever seen.
Highlights
- The Pokémon anime showcases a wide variety of trainers and battling styles, making it difficult to determine the best among them.
- Raihan, Clair, Alain, Iris, Lance, Diantha, Steven Stone, Cynthia, Leon, and Ash Ketchum are some of the top trainers in the series.
- These trainers exhibit strong bonds with their Pokémon and demonstrate that heart is just as important as strength and intelligence in becoming a skilled Pokémon trainer.
15 Bea Was Ash’s Strongest Rival
First Appearance: Pokémon Journeys, “Solitary and Menacing!”
Bea is a Gym Leader from the Galar Region who competed in the World Coronation Series, topping out at rank 30 in the world. Bea developed an intense rivalry with Ash, and the two battled each other three times over the course of the tournament, with one win, one loss, and a draw. Bea was initially a little disrespectful towards Ash, but came to understand him and his unorthodox battling style by the time that the Masters’ Eight tournament rolled around.
Bea is a specialist in Fighting-type Pokémon, and a user of Dynamax, as well as the owner of a Machamp capable of the even more powerful Gigantamax. She’s one of the highest-ranked Gym Leaders in the entire tournament, showing that her skill could truly take her far in the future.
14 Marnie Grew Into a Real Threat
First Appearance: Pokémon Journeys, “Battling Turned Up to Eleven!”
Marnie is a trainer from the Galar region town of Spikemuth, a run-down area in need of a hometown hero. Marnie participated in the World Coronation Series and ranked as high as 29, making her one of the best trainers in the world. She’s known for her use of Dark-type Pokémon, like Morpeko and a Grimmsnarl capable of Gigantamaxing. She was one of Ash’s last challenges before the Masters’ Eight Tournament, and she put up a good fight, but ultimately lost.
Marnie owes some of her skill in battle to her older brother, Piers, who happens to be the leader of the Spikemuth gym. Fortunately, despite her loss, she was successful in rejuvenating the public’s interest in Spikemuth, something that left Marnie feeling satisfied.
13 Volkner Strikes Like a Lightning Bolt
First Appearance: Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, “Flint Sparks the Fire!”
Volkner is the leader of the Sunyshore Gym in the Sinnoh region, and has an intense rivalry with the region’s Elite Four member, Flint. Volkner participated in the World Coronation Series and ranked as high as 27, securing him a spot as one of the strongest trainers on the planet. While Volkner did go through a period where he lost interest in battling, he was energized by seeing Ash protect Pikachu, and since then has battled with a ferocity few can match.
Volkner is a user of Electric-type Pokémon, with Pokémon like Raichu, Electivire, and Jolteon in his arsenal. Aside from battling, Volkner was also a driving force behind the revitalization of Sunyshore, a city which once had big problems with crime.
12 Drasna’s Dragons Are Fierce Competitors
First Appearance: Pokémon Journeys, “The Future is Now, Thanks to Strategy!”
Drasna is a member of the Kalos Elite Four, and a master of Dragon-type Pokémon. She participated in the World Coronation series and ranked as high as 12th, just barely missing out on the Masters’ Eight tournament. She has a kind personality outside of battle, but takes her battles seriously. As befitting a member of the Kalos Elite Four, Drasna is skilled in using Mega Evolution, particularly with her Altaria, which she used in the battle against Ash.
Drasna took her loss to Ash surprisingly well, and seemed to be genuinely impressed by his efforts in battle. While Drasna’s appearance in the anime was relatively brief, she certainly left her mark on the series.
11 Flint’s Bold Battling Style Stands Out
First Appearance: Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, “Flint Sparks the Fire!”
Flint is a member of the Sinnoh Elite Four, and was formerly in the top 8 of the World Coronation series before being knocked out of the top rankings by Leon. Flint is a user of Fire-type Pokémon, and has challenged Sinnoh’s Champion, Cynthia, for her title a number of times, although he has yet to defeat her. Flint battles with a fiery passion that makes him a rather intimidating opponent, and when he battled Ash, he easily swept all of Ash’s Pokémon with just one of his, Infernape.
Flint has a rivalry with Volkner, a Gym Leader in the Sinnoh region, and the two often drive each other to greater heights, as any good rival should. Flint’s battle strategies often rely on an effective defense, giving him an edge against inexperienced opponents who can’t quite conquer his flames.
10 Raihan’s Strategies Make Him A Top-Tier Trainer
First Appearance: Pokémon Journeys, “Toughing It Out!”
Every trainer in the series seems to have a rival, and Leon has plenty of them. However, the one that most people know of is his self-proclaimed rival, Raihan. Raihan is the Hammerlocke Gym Leader in the Galar region. Raihan is known for specializing in Dragon-type Pokémon that utilize weather tactics during battles, which can throw trainers off their game due to the damage it can inflict on rival Pokémon. Three of his top Pokémon in his team are Duraludon, Flygon, and Goodra, and in the past, Raihan faced Leon in the World Coronation Series Master Class battle. While he did very well and was a tough opponent, he lost to Leon when Leon’s Charizard took out Raihan’s Duraludon.
9 Clair’s Dragon-Types Are A Final Challenge
First Appearance: Pokémon Master Quest, “Beauty is Skin Deep”
Many trainers tend to specialize in certain Pokémon types, though some others prefer to have a mixed bag. Clair follows in her cousin Lance’s footsteps and specialize in Dragon-types. Clair is the gym leader of Blackthorn Gym and is the last of the many leaders that trainers must pass to go on to the Johto Pokémon League. As such, Ash and Iris would encounter Clair, and before parting ways, Clair would push Iris toward working with Dragon-type Pokémon. Clair has a great team that includes some of the best Dragon-type Pokémon, such as her shiny Druddigon, Dragonite, Kingdra, Gyarados, and Dragonair.
8 Alain’s Mega Charizard Makes Him a Mega Threat
First Appearance: Pokémon Mega Evolution Special I
Like Ash, many trainers have made goals for themselves on what they wish to achieve and become. For Alain, that is to defeat every Mega Evolution. Alain was originally Professor Sycamore’s assistant, and reappeared as one of the best eight trainers in the World Coronation Series. He is one of Ash’s rivals, and Alain defeated Ash in the past with the help of his Mega Charizard X, who has been proven to be a formidable opponent. Alain has a solid team of Pokémon that have assisted him throughout his time as a trainer. His Pokémon aside from his Charizard are Metagross, Tyranitar, Weavile, Bisharp, Unfezant, Chesnaught, and Malamar.
7 Iris Grew Alongside Ash Into A Champion
First Appearance: Pokémon Black & White, “In The Shadow of Zekrom!”
There have been a lot of great nostalgic episodes in the Pokémon anime series that many fans continue to love and rewatch. One of the many nostalgic episodes is where viewers are introduced to Iris. Iris is a Dragon-type trainer who became the champion of the Unova region’s Pokémon League. She also holds a spot as one of the eight best trainers in the World Coronation Series. At one point, she was a traveling companion to Ash, and the two battled in the past and worked alongside each other to get stronger. With Ash’s help and her ace Pokémon Haxorus, she has made a name for herself and proven to be a worthy opponent.
6 Lance’s Shining Legacy Inspires Trainers
First Appearance: Pokémon Master Quest, “Talkin’ ‘Bout An Evolution”
Pokémon is one of the highest-grossing anime franchises, and there are plenty of reasons for that. Aside from the great designs of the Pokémon, the colorful characters add another level of charm to the series. One such character is Lance. Lance is the champion of the Johto League and a member of the Indigo Elite Four, and like Alain, he is also one of the top eight trainers in the World Coronation Series. Lance has faced off against plenty of tough trainers, such as Leon and Diantha, holding his own against both. While he doesn’t always win, his reputation speaks for itself, and he wouldn’t be where his today without the many Pokémon he has, predominantly his faithful and powerful Shiny Gyarados.
5 Diantha’s Talent Goes Beyond Just Pokémon Training
First Appearance: Pokémon XY, “The Bonds of Evolution!”
Not every trainer is strictly just a trainer; many of them have careers outside of being a trainer. Diantha, for instance, is a well-known actress. Alongside being an actress, Diantha is a Pokémon Champion of the Kalos region and among one of the top eight trainers in the World Coronation Series, ranking 5th. She is known for her talent and strength as a trainer, assisting others and watching trainers grow. She has a great team, including Gardevoir, Gourgeist, Aurorus, Goodra, Hawlucha, and Tyrantrum, which she ultimately was able to defeat Lance with.
4 Steven Stone’s Pokémon Battling is Harder Than Steel
First Appearance: Pokémon Advanced Generation, “A Hole Lotta Trouble”
There are a lot of characters in the Pokémon series that will show up more than once or frequently throughout the anime. One character that was introduced to viewers and became a recurring character in the series is Steven Stone. Steven Stone is the champion of the Hoenn Region’s Pokémon League and is among the eight Pokémon trainers in the World Coronation Series. It is later revealed that he also holds one of the higher ranks in the Coronation series. Steven is a tough opponent with strong Pokémon on his team, such as Aggron, Metagross, and Cradily. However, he would ultimately lose to Ash in the tournament.
3 Cynthia’s Skills Gave Ash a Fantastic Challenge
First Appearance: Pokémon Diamond & Pearl, “Top-Down Training!”
There have been many trainers Ash and his friends have seen televised, and most, if not all, they have been able to meet in person. One of these trainers is Cynthia. Cynthia is the current champion of the Sinnoh region and is part of the top eight in the World Coronation Series. She is known for helping with crises involving Team Galactic and Team Rocket and has helped Ash and his friends grow as trainers. She would become an opponent of Ash’s during the tournament. Due to Ash’s training, Ash beat Cynthia and her team of Pokémon, specifically her powerful Garchomp, who has defeated countless trainers in the past.
2 Leon is Galar’s “Undefeated” Hero
First Appearance: Pokémon Journeys, “Flash of the Titans!”
Ash has made some terrible decisions in the series, but if there is one thing he got right, it was training as much as he did. If he hadn’t trained so hard, he would never have made it to the big leagues and encountered former champion Leon. Leon is the Galar Region‘s Pokémon League Champion and formerly known as the strongest Pokémon trainer after earning the title Monarch in the World Coronation Series. Leon has won several battles throughout his career as a Pokémon trainer alongside his ace Pokémon, Charizard. However, recently he ended up being defeated by Ash Ketchum and presented the new champion with his trophy.
1 Ash Ketchum Is The World Champion
First Appearance: Pokémon, “Pokémon – I Choose You!”
Trainers have to work hard to get Pokémon badges and to make it to the top, and not all of them make it. But hard work and dedication always pay off in the end, and if anyone is a prime example, it’s Ash Ketchum. For years, viewers have watched Ash grow as a character and a trainer, and it seemed like he still had a long way to go until it was made apparent to fans that the trainer was closing in on finally achieving his dreams. With endless hours of practice, traveling, obtaining badges and friends, and developing close bonds with his Pokémon, especially his beloved Pikachu, who has stuck by him through thick and thin, Ash has finally become the Pokémon Champion, making Ash Pokémon’s strongest trainer ever.
