The Pokémon series has a number of iconic rival characters. Throughout the adventure, rivals serve as roadblocks for the player. They have a varied team of Pokémon, often switching their party up throughout the course of the game to keep the player on their toes. The rival is usually the last person between the player and their end goal.
However, all rivals are unique. They have a variety of personality types and traits to keep things fresh. To help determine which rivals are similar and which ones stand out, this list will give them a Dungeons and Dragons alignment. Note that this only includes rivals that directly compete with the player for the championship, so some will be left out.
15 Blue: Neutral Evil
Over the course of the series, Blue has certainly mellowed out to be a more reasonable person. However, as a kid, Blue was absolutely out for himself. He constantly would ambush the player, sometimes after a series of tough battles or a long training session. If he’s following the rules, it’s just because they’re what will get him the furthest. He even ends up in Team Rocket’s Headquarters, but not to stop them. He’s out to further his own strength and nothing else.
14 Trace: True Neutral
Remember Trace, the rival from Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee? It’s okay for those who don’t; there wasn’t much to miss. He was the “friend-rival” boiled down to its dullest essence, and he never served to be a reasonable challenge. He doesn’t really operate towards a strong moral or lawful code, he just exists. It’s entirely possible he does have a character, but that character is not very impactful. For such a middle-of-the-road character, neutrality is the only way.
13 Silver: Chaotic Neutral
Silver is similar to Blue in his attitude but has reasons for his actions. He operates against a lawful code, but still recognizes a difference between good and evil. His actions are consistent and predictable for his character. When he eventually turns a new leaf and embraces the act of loving his Pokémon, he mostly just becomes a better person. He’s still a rebel force against the player and their goals, but still hates the weakness of the villains.
12 Brendan/May: Lawful Good
The original friend-rival, Brendan and May both share identical personalities. The only difference is Brendan is a little bit ruder to the female protagonist. They operate towards the interests of the scientific community and will always be willing to help the player when they need it. While there’s isn’t a definitive law in the Pokémon world, they definitely follow whatever is there. Brendan and May are absolutely beacons of goodness.
11 Wally: Neutral Good
Wally is the secondary rival in Ruby and Sapphire. He loses a battle early on, then goes into training to be the best, challenging the player as they reach the end of Victory Road. He doesn’t necessarily follow a code, especially since he follows his heart in becoming a trainer.
However, he’s still a force of good, being kind to the player and working with them early on. He’s the kind of person one can trust with their lives, and that makes him neutrally good.
10 Barry: Chaotic Good
Where Wally is a good force not beholden to his own rules or the rules of the world, Barry is an agent of chaos. He’s a kind agent of chaos, but he’s still chaotic nonetheless. He moves at his own, quick, pace and doesn’t slow down for anyone, even the player. Still, he recognizes evil when he sees it, battling against Team Galactic because that’s what the right thing to do is. He’s definitely off-beat from other NPC’s, but that’s what makes him memorable.
9 Cheren: Lawful Neutral
Cheren takes the primary rival role after Bianca leaves the narrative to think about her life. N isn’t included because he’s technically a villain, even though he’s also a rival-esque character. That leaves Cheren for Black and White, and his personality is pretty grey. He absolutely believes in a code of law, although he’s not a good person about it. He’s honorable and reliable, but will call someone out for improper conduct. That’s what makes Cheren the rival he is.
8 Hugh: Chaotic Good
Hugh is a definitive rebel of a character. He’s dramatic and operates by his own whims, but is fighting for good. He’s devoted purely to finding a Pokémon that was stolen from his sister and becoming strong enough to do that. He mostly uses the player as a test for himself, rather than stopping them from their goals. He doesn’t even care much about filling in the Pokédex despite being asked to. He has one goal, and he’ll see it through no matter what.
7 Calem/Serena: Lawful Good
The entirety of Pokemon X & Y’s rival cast were all terrible rivals. They weren’t very challenging and mostly were just annoying to deal with. The most “rival”-esque of them would be Calem and Serena, who both spend their time being instructors in the world. They’re interested in completing the Pokédex, making friends, and stopping Team Flare when the moment arises. They’re very similar to May and Brendan in terms of personality, and their alignments line up with that.
6 Hau: Neutral Good
Hau isn’t the strongest of rivals. If anything, he’s just along for the ride through Alola and to have fun. Even when the Ultra Beasts start to appear, he mostly takes a backseat to let the player and stronger trainers deal with it.
At the end of Ultra Sun and Moon, he appears as the final challenge for the player, the last roadblock before becoming a champion. He’s a good person, but he’s not exactly driven by anything. He simply goes where the waves carry him, and that’s admirable.
5 Gladion: Chaotic Good
The other major rival, Gladion, works for Team Skull but doesn’t follow their code. He’s also trying to help out where he can, but in his own way. It’s clear from later interactions and his worries about Cosmog and his sister, Lillie, that he has a good heart. Gladion does care enough his rivals and others to defend them when the time comes. He eventually goes through the island challenge himself and appears as a challenger for the championship. Gladion isn’t a rebel on the side of good, but he’s still fighting for it.
4 Hop: Neutral Good
Hop and Hau are very similar characters. However, where Hau has a laidback attitude about losing all the time, Hop takes it all personally. Hop isn’t a very good loser, especially as he continues to be just a step behind his rival the whole game. He’s not devoted to any person or strategy, willing to change things up depending on what he needs. In the end, he helps the player take down Eternatus and overcomes his own insecurity. He’s emotional, but he’s still a good person.
3 Bede: Lawful Evil
Bede has a personality that shifts over the course of the game. This entry is based upon his initial character and actions. While lawful evil indicates something truly dangerous, he’s lawful evil in a restrained manner. He respects the authority of his sponsor, Chairman Rose, and will succeed in his mission to matter what the cost. Rose’s mission is his mission. He’s a character that follows evil orders, but he still has good within him.
2 Marnie: True Neutral
Marnie has a crowd of adoring fans and a legacy to live up to. Still, she’s always her own person against all of life’s pressures. Both she and her brother, Piers, are relatively disconnected from the world around them. She’s only concerned about helping her brother and her city out. However, she’s not committed to general goodness in the world. At the end of the day, none of that matters to Marnie. What matters is personal growth.
1 Klara/Avery: Neutral Evil
Finally, the newest rivals of Klara and Avery. Both are distinct characters but fulfill the same rival archetype. As the player progresses through the Isle of Armor, it’s clear the two are out for themselves first and foremost. They’re willing to cheat their way to victory if that’s what is required. It’s admirable how face-up they are about it, in a way. However, they’re still evil in the same way a character like Blue is evil, and mellow out in the same way.
NEXT: Pokémon: Every Rival, Ranked
