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Each of the professors brings something slightly different to the table, either through their knowledge of a particular area of study or their larger than life personalities. Not all professors were created equal, however, with some offering a lot more to the series than others. As a result, certain professors have had a far greater impact than their peers.
16 Professor Grand Oak
First Appearance: Pokemon HOME
Pokemon Region: N/A
Though Professor Grand Oak’s design is certainly interesting, there’s very little substance to the character when compared to some of the other researchers in the Pokemon world. It doesn’t help that Pokemon HOME is effectively just a Pokemon storage facility rather than a game, but it would still be nice to get a bit more face time with the professor when transferring creatures in and out of HOME.
15 Professor Mirror
First Appearance: New Pokemon Snap
Pokemon Region: Lental
New Pokemon Snap’s Professor Mirror is an expert on Illumina energy and has been investigating the phenomenon in the Lental region for quite some time. Together with Rita, he helps the player to learn about Pokemon photography, but the pair offer up very little in the way of personality while they do so. As such, they can sometimes feel more like AI assistants rather than fully-fledged characters.
14 Professor Samson Oak
First Appearance: Pokemon Sun & Moon
Pokemon Region: Alola
Professor Samson Oak first shows up in the seventh generation of Pokemon games and shares a lot of visual similarities with his cousin Samuel. The two look almost identical, with the only real differences being their outfits, hairstyles and Samson’s impressive tan. He’s almost like an Alolan Oak, in that respect. Where the two really differ, however, is in the personality department, with Samson nowhere near as endearing as his cousin.
13 Professor Bellis
First Appearance: Pokemon Masters EX
Pokemon Region: Pasio Island
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Those who still haven’t gotten around to playing Pokemon Masters EX will likely have not yet had the pleasure of meeting Professor Bellis. Bellis resides on the game’s Pasio Island and is an expert on Pokemon syncing. She also helps out with egg incubating from time to time. The professor has a pretty cool design and definitely plays a significant enough role in the game to warrant the creation of yet another Pokemon Professor.
12 Professor Krane
First Appearance: Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness
Pokemon Region: Orre
Found only in the Orre region that’s explored in Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness, Professor Krane is an expert on Shadow Pokemon and the creator of the world’s only known Purify Chamber. He’s one of the younger professors that players have encountered thus far, but he’s every bit as knowledgeable as some of his older and more esteemed colleagues. He also gives players a Master Ball, which comes in handy later in the game.
11 Professor Magnolia
First Appearance: Pokemon Sword & Shield
Pokemon Region: Galar
Professor Magnolia is one of the most learned people in the Galar region and is an expert on the Dynamax phenomenon. Unlike most of the other main professors in the series, however, Magnolia doesn’t provide players with their starter Pokemon, nor does she offer all that much in the way of helpful information. She does hook players up with a Dynamax Band, but is largely overshadowed by her Granddaughter and research assistant, Sonia.
10 Professor Elm
First Appearance: Pokemon Gold & Silver
Pokemon Region: Johto
Hailing from the Johto region, Professor Elm fails to live up to the high standards set by Professor Oak in the first generation of Pokemon games. He comes across as far less knowledgeable than his peer, despite Gold & Silver attempting to paint him as an expert on Pokemon eggs and evolution. His appearances throughout the games are sporadic and when he does show up, he typically comes across as being incredibly disorganized.
9 Professor Burnet
First Appearance: Pokemon Dream Radar
Pokemon Region: Alola
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Professor Burnet is a professor in much the same way that Dr. Pepper is a doctor. She’s actually the wife of another professor and, as such, serves more as a secondary character than one of Sun & Moon’s primary protagonists. That said, she did play a starring role a few years before Sun & Moon in Pokemon Dream Radar. Her vast knowledge regarding other dimensions is impressive and she’s also one of the kindest characters that players can encounter in the Alola region.
8 Professor Birch
First Appearance: Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire
Pokemon Region: Hoenn
Though Professor Birch is arguably just as goofy as Elm, he’s infinitely more likable on account of his outgoing and jolly personality. His cowardice and helplessness provide some genuinely funny moments, but he can also be incredibly insightful when required. He also gives players both Gen 2 and Gen 3 starter Pokemon in the remakes of Ruby & Sapphire, making him one of the more generous professors that players have encountered thus far.
7 Professor Juniper
First Appearance: Pokemon Black & White
Pokemon Region: Unova
Professor Juniper holds the distinction of having been the very first female professor that players encounter in the series. She resides in the Unova region, where she studies the origins of Pokemon. Her encyclopedic knowledge makes her an excellent professor and was likely acquired through her father Cedric, who was also a Pokemon Professor in his younger days.
6 Professor Sycamore
First Appearance: Pokemon X & Y
Pokemon Region: Kalos
Few professors are as charming as Professor Sycamore, either in terms of appearance or personality. He’s an incredibly hands-on professor too, showing up frequently throughout the player’s adventures through the Kalos region. His knowledge regarding Mega Evolution is second to none and, like Birch before him, he even hooks players up with a second starter Pokemon once they’ve bested the Elite Four.
5 Professor Willow
First Appearance: Pokemon GO
Pokemon Region: N/A
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When Pokemon GO first went live back in 2016, Professor Willow didn’t really play an important role in proceedings. As the game has grown and evolved, however, so too has his significance. He’s always on hand to explain changes to the game and provides players with a ridiculous amount of candy too. He also has one of the series’ best designs, which manages to capture both his serious and outgoing sides.
4 Professor Rowan
First Appearance: Pokemon Diamond & Pearl
Pokemon Region: Sinnoh
With the exception of perhaps Professor Grand Oak, Professor Rowan is one of the oldest professors that players have encountered thus far. If age really does bring wisdom, then it stands to reason that he’s probably one of the smartest professors too. He’s shown to hold seniority over both Oak and Sycamore and serves as an excellent guide for players as they travel through the Sinnoh region.
3 Professor Sonia Magnolia
First Appearance: Pokemon Sword & Shield
Pokemon Region: Galar
Though Professor Magnolia serves as the main Professor in Sword & Shield, Sonia is the real star of the show. She starts out as her grandmother’s research assistant, but by the end of the games has learned enough about Pokemon to succeed her. Her journey of personal growth perfectly mirrors that of the player, which in turn makes her transition from researcher to professor incredibly compelling.
2 Professor Kukui
First Appearance: Pokemon Sun & Moon
Pokemon Region: Alola
Professor Kukui doesn’t really look like a professor at first glance and were it not for the lab coat one would likely never guess. Few in the Pokemon world know more about Z-Moves than him, though. That players are given the opportunity to see his skills as a trainer as well as as a professor is incredibly cool, which is a word that perfectly sums up just about everything about the Alola region’s professor.
1 Professor Samuel Oak
First Appearance: Pokemon Red & Blue
Pokemon Region: Kanto
Professor Oak was the first professor that players ever encountered and is undoubtedly the most knowledgeable. Despite residing in the Kanto region, he shows up all over the Pokemon world and always seems to have an answer when a mystery reveals itself. He’s now appeared in more than 20 games as well as countless episodes of the anime and will no doubt continue to do so for quite some time
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