Is Red considered “the strongest Champion” in “the lore”? I don’t think the games have described or treated him any differently than the other Champions. Is this just a “Pikachu is Lv88 and no other Trainer has a level that high, therefore he is the strongest” thing? Because even that isn’t true anymore as of BDSP.
-
Welcome to Smogon! Take a moment to read the Introduction to Smogon for a run-down on everything Smogon, and make sure you take some time to read the global rules.
-
Congrats to the winners of the 2023 Smog Awards!
The Best and Worst Boss Fights in Pokemon
- Thread starter Yung Dramps
- Start date
I feel like it's more of a vibe (that's mostly died out by now) rather than anything quantifiable. Red's the only Champion-esque trainer whose entire characterisation is 'battling Pokemon and being the strongest', since that's the only context you see him in and he has no dialogue, so imagining that he's canonically the strongest is almost, like, throwing him a bone. After all, it'd be kinda sad to spend such a long time training in complete solitude on a mountain too dangerous for anyone without 16 Gym Badges to approach, let alone climb, only to lose to someone who has other hobbies, responsibilities, and/or personal relationships.
Last edited:
QuentinQuonce
formerly green_typhlosion
It's also that he was the first player character to reappear, so there's a slight mystique to him that none of the others have.
He's the most recognisable due to RBY being the first games; beating him in GSC represents the player surpassing him. There's not really an equivalent to that in most other games, so the fandom tends to hold Red in this high esteem despite the fact that numerous other protagonists in the games have accomplished bigger feats than he ever did.
Pretty much. Cynthia has long dethroned him.
With that said, even by objective standards like in-game appearances, he's up there. Easily a top 5 Champion, no doubt. You could even argue top 3.
For some of the best, I think plenty of the totem pokemon fit the category. The verdant cave ones were nothing special, but most of the other ones are great, and are fairly difficult, while also teaching you how to play the game by showing you your teams weaknesses. For example, the water ones are really tanky, Marowak and Lurantis are very deadly sweepers, and Togedemaru constantly wittles you down with passive damage. This, combined with the fact that they are all different types, are able to show your teams blind spots, forcing you to make a more well rounded team. The ally pokemon also force you to figure out what pokemon to prioritise taking out, while also telling you more directly the importance of having a well balenced team that play off each others strengths and cover each others weaknesses. I think the totem pokemon are criminally overlooked when it comes to design.
For the worst:
Honerable mentions to ultra necrozma, for being a ludicrous difficulty curve, but not one thrown at you at the beginning of the game.
For the worst:
Honerable mentions to ultra necrozma, for being a ludicrous difficulty curve, but not one thrown at you at the beginning of the game.