All 9 Pokémon Champions, Ranked

During its more than two decades of history, Pokemon the anime series has introduced some of the most impressive and talented trainers the world has ever seen. From each region's most powerful Gym Leaders, who represent the first test for budding fighters, to the formidable and dangerous criminal teams that roam the planet, there is no shortage of incredibly skilled fighters looking to become the best of the best.

Even among the many amazing trainers that have been featured in the anime, there are a select few that have proven time and time again why they are considered the best of the best: the Champions. While it's undeniable that each of the active champions in the Pokemon anime mainline has more than earned their title, their performances across the franchise are a clear indicator of the level of power they possess, making it easy for fans to discern who is the strongest among them.

9

Geeta

Champion of Paldea

Following Ash's journey as the protagonist Pokemon anime ended 3 years ago, a new and exciting world needed to be explored to keep the franchise alive. The anime has been transferred to the Paldea Region, which operates quite differently from the ones fans are used to. The champion of this country, a talented woman named Geeta, is not only among the strongest trainers, but also fulfills an administrative role and ensures that everything runs smoothly.

This heavy workload, combined with the fact that those who manage to overcome the powerful members of the Elite Four and oppose her are rarely enough of a threat for her to use her actual team, leaves her with much less time to train. This results in Geeta feeling more like a powerful mentor to the heroes, but not an ultimate goal to defeat, reflecting the lesser impact the members of her Elite Four have had on the series.

8

Iris

Unova champion

Better known for being one of Ash's strongest companions throughout the anime, Iris didn't start out as Unova's champion as a trainer. When she first joined Ash, she was an aspiring fighter who dreamed of having a strong team of Dragon-type Pokémon. Through extraordinary effort and the will to keep going even when things got tough, Iris was able to quickly rise to the top and take the champion spot from Alder.

Iris may be younger and less experienced than most of the other v champions Pokemon franchise, but it is by no means weak. Her Pokemon are truly terrifying in battle, especially her formidable Haxorus. She is one of the few trainers who has been able to push Ash beyond his limits and has proven to be an opponent that should never be underestimated. Unfortunately, despite being one of, if not the strongest trainer in Unova, her lack of experience works against her during important battles.

7

Steven Stone

Hoenn champion

While champions are more often than not involved in important matters affecting their regions, no one is as active and willing to help Hoenna as Steven Stone. While his background as the son of one of the most powerful men in the world would make it easy for him to be arrogant and cruel, that couldn't be further from the truth.

Steven is a caring and adventurous man who has made a name for himself as a trainer and archaeologist. Steven specializes in studying evolution stones, especially those used by the most powerful Mega Pokémon. His friendly personality doesn't stop him from being a calculating and demanding opponent, working hand in hand with his trusty Metagross and other Steel-type monsters to crush his opponents.

6

Diantha

Champion of Kalos

Being a champion often means being the defender of the region, but some of the holders of this prestigious title develop their careers in other ways. Not only is Diantha the strongest trainer in the Kalos region, she's also a beloved movie star whose elegance and poise have made her a huge success around the world. Many fans over the years have made her see her as a weak trainer who chose fame over power.

In fact, Diantha is by far one of the most skilled and underrated fighters in the series. Unlike most other champions who tend to rely on raw power to win fights, her style is controlled and deliberate. Like her signature Pokémon, Gardevoir prefers a more strategic approach, often exploiting an opponent's weaknesses against them before delivering the final blow.

5

Lance

Kanto & Johto Champion

The first ever champion and perhaps the most iconic, Lance is a proud warrior whose fierce spirit burns as brightly as the flames of his Dragon-type Pokémon. Unlike his peers who tend to take time to rest, the last and most difficult challenge for trainers in the Kanto region is always finding ways to improve.

While still kind in his ways, Lance is direct, never holding back whether in combat or teaching a novice trainer about their weaknesses. When he's not trying to solve a crime or fight for the fate of the world, Pokemon's original dragon tamer is often seen training with his Dragonite, one of the most powerful pseudo-legendaries in the series.

4

Cynthia

Champion of Sinnoh

While Pokemon The anime series has no shortage of amazing and iconic girls that make the story that much more interesting, none of the strongest trainers in the series come close to the fearsome Cynthia. Behind her charming and friendly demeanor, with some people even looking to her as a mentor or inspiration, is one of the series' fiercest fighters.

In battle, Cynthia allows herself to break away from her sleek and elegant persona and unleash her rawest side. The champion of the Sinnoh region, alongside her Garchomp, features an aggressive and overwhelming fighting style that relies on tiring out her opponents in order to defeat them as quickly as possible. There's a reason most fans consider the champion they fear the most, and she's worked hard to earn that title.

3

Red

Kanto Champion

There are only a few characters that are iconic Pokemon franchises like the legendary Red, the protagonist of the original Red and Green games and also one of the strongest coaches in the franchise. His story is similar to that of most young coaches who embark on a journey to become the best. In a matter of weeks, Red went from a rookie to one of the most powerful fighters in the Kanto region, defeating the Gym Leaders one by one.

His most impressive feats come from the fact that, albeit with the help of several other trainers, he dismantled Team Rocket's operations and defeated their previously undefeated leader. Shortly after, Red was able to defeat and capture Mewtwo, widely considered to be one of the strongest Legendary Pokémon of all time.

2

Leon

Galar Champion

Throughout the Galar region, all young and aspiring trainers dream of being as strong as their champion, the unbeatable Leon. A kind, proud and powerful man, this charming warrior won the hearts of his entire region with his epic battles and fierce determination to never lose. He was considered the strongest trainer in the world for many years and with good reason as he was Ash's strongest opponent ever.

His fighting style was elegant yet powerful, with every move carefully calculated to deal as much damage as possible without compromising his defenses. Additionally, Leon was known for being the best Charizard trainer in history, with his formidable Fire-Type lizard reaching a level of power that could only be compared to those legendary Pokémon.

1

Ash Ketchum

World champion

By far the most famous and popular coach in Pokemon anime, Ash Ketchum is someone who needs no introduction. Once an arrogant but kind newcomer to Pallet Town, this brave boy traveled the world with the sole goal of becoming the best of the best. Ash fought against a long list of powerful rivals who pushed him to do better after each fight. Although his journey has not been easy, as evidenced by the various League challenges he has underachieved in, he has never given up.

Ash's efforts were rewarded by the time he arrived in the Kalos region, during which he was the favorite to become the champion, though this dream would only come true in Aola. Later, during the World Coronation Series, Ash and his loyal Pikachu, arguably one of the most popular characters in the series, proved their superiority in battle by defeating the world's best trainers. It took more than two decades, but the hero who inspired millions of kids proved himself to be the best there ever was.

Release date

1997–2023

Network

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

directors

Shigeru Omachi, Koji Ogawa, Fumihiro Ueno, Hideki Hiroshima, Maki Kodaira, Makoto Ooga, Ayumi Moriyama, Keitaro Motonaga, Shigeru Ueda, Fumihiro Yoshimura, Minoru Ohara, Yoshitaka Makino, Kiyoshi Na Egami, Makoto Keni, Heoki Ken Nishida, Tomoe Makino, Masahiko Watanabe, Hiroaki Takagi, Tazumi Mukaiyama, Ryohei Horiuchi, Yoshihiro Oda, Hiromichi Matano

Writers

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

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  Rica Matsumoto

  satoshi (voice)

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  Ikue Otani

  Pikachu (voice)