Pokémon has had tons of unique classes that use a wide variety of Pokémon. Diamond and Pearl add in even more unique trainer classes than the games before it. Some trainer classes are pretty talented, while others would never make it in the competitive world. Some trainers are a true threat when you run into them, while others can’t really do that much damage.

While some classes from previous games are left out, there is plenty of new content to fill the void, and Platnium added in even more. To celebrate Diamond and Pearl, the five best and the five worst trainers classes are ranked below.

10 Best: Artist

The Artist, for the most part, starts out by using Smeargles, which are a pretty decent normal type Pokémon. While this isn’t a set-up that trainers should immediately be wary of, Artist evolved through the next few games to fight in the battle tower with fairy-type Pokémon.

If you want a class with a ton of potential to grow, then you should go with the Artist. Even if you aren’t powerful at first, you know that you will eventually be able to take down dragon types with ease.

9 Worst: Poke Kid

Poke Kids put on costumes of Pikachus and tries to catch trainers off-guard. This was an annoying gimmick, especially during first-time playthroughs of the gen. Poke Kids never really use anything other than Pikachu, which they rarely seem to evolve other than in Platinum, where they used the full evolutionary line of Pikachu.

Poke Kid as an ok team, but their gimmick makes them pretty boring to play as.

8 Best: Rancher

Ranchers in this game have one of the best line-ups of Pokémon in their team. Instead of sticking just to one typing or Pokémon in general, Ranchers have a robust line-up. At the lowest level, Ranchers use Psyducks, Aipoms, and Girafaraig. In Platinum, this changes to Ponyta, Milktank, and Tauros.

As the players encounter Ranchers’ father on in the game, they will evolve their team.

7 Worst: Idol

Idol is another class that should be avoided at all costs. Idol’s are incredibly weak and pose almost no threat to the trainers they force to battle with them. Idol’s use teams of normal- type Pokémon mostly Pikachus and Clefairys, they never evolve these partners either.

Some Idols will even use teams completely comprised of Clefairys, which just isn’t that good.

6 Best: Commander

While joining an evil organization isn’t recommended, being the Commander trainer class isn’t a bad pick. Unlike most disappointed team line-ups, Galatics Commanders has a pretty solid team. A Commanders team can include Kadabra, Bronzor, Toxicroak, Purugly, Skuntank, and Golbat.

This is another trainer type with a solid line-up that would be rewarding to play as.

5 Worst: Grunt

If you do happen to join Team Platinum, then, by all means, avoid being a grunt. Grunts have some of the weakest teams in the game and never really seem to train harder. Some of the Pokémon a Grunt can use is a Wurmple, Zubat, or a Glammeow. All of these are equally pretty weak.

Grunts are a class that can be taken out incredibly fast, and they also will probably end up in jail.

4 Best: Double Team

Double Team is a class that has you playing as two trainers at once. You are given an arsenal of powerful Pokémon to take into a double battle, the first combination if using a Raichu and a Gyrados, both powerful creatures that can be used in competition.

Double Teams also use Staraptor, Whishcash, Medicham, Ambipom, Rapidash, and Lumineon.

3 Worst: Reporter

Reporters are another class that would be annoying to play. Not only is your job to stop and harass young trainers, but your team is bad. Most reporters use Chatots and Murkrow. While Murkrow isn’t a bad Pokémon in general, especially if it is evolved, the reporter class doesn’t know how to use them.

Unless you always want to interview young trainers, then this is a class you should avoid.

2 Best: Veteran

If you want the widest range of options available to you, then go with the Veteran class. This class has the most Pokémon to choose from, including heavy-hitters like Machamp and Gengar. Veterans are seasoned trainers who aren’t afraid to use smart strategies and powerful partners in battle.

Veteran’s could most likely even beat the Elite Four, which is something most trainers classes wouldn’t be able to accomplish.

1 Worst: Socialite

Socialites are another non-threatening trainer class that was renamed to Madame in future games. Socialites have a pool of three different Pokémon to choose from, all of which are pretty weak. They have Glameow, Roselia, and Lopunny.

Each of these Pokémon are decent when evolved right, but since the Socialite refuses to evolve or upgrade her team.

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