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The ladies of the Pokemon universe are no exception, these battlers are notorious in the community and looked up to by many. However, the question still stands: Who’s the strongest female Pokemon trainer of all? Many are competent enough for the podium but only a select few can be powerful enough to reach the top.
Updated October 7, 2022 by Levana Jane Chester-Londt:It is not a common occurrence for Pokemon’s female trainers to steal the spotlight from Ash as they generally fall into the support role and make up only one-third of the traveling party (with Pokemon Sun and Moon as the exception).
It took several years before a female character was even added as an option in the games, but since then, the Pokemon girls have slowly made significant progress. Misty the Annoying has been replaced by Bea the Bold, Dawn the Dreamer, and the Strong Strapping Cynthia, creating more diversity for fans to enjoy in the Pokemon franchise.
18 Lorelei
About Lorelei
This cool trainer hails from the Kanto region and specializes in Ice-type Pokemon…and Slowbro. She uses bitterly cold Blizzard and Ice Beam attacks unleashed by wintery Pokemon such as majestic Lapras and the fortified Cloyster. In battle, Lorelei will attempt to freeze her opponent’s Pokemon, rendering them helpless against further icy assaults.
Where To Find Lorelei
She is the first member of the Elite Four in her homeland that the player can face in the Generation I Pokemon games. As such, she acts as the gatekeeper to the realms of the mightiest female trainers in the whole region.
Quote From Lorelei In Pokemon Red & Blue
“…No one can best me when it comes to icy Pokemon! Freezing moves are powerful! Your Pokemon will be at my mercy when they are frozen solid!”
As one would expect from such a line, players will be going up against many Ice-type Pokemon. Be sure to bring some fire and electricity to deal with her Ice-type and Water-type team.
17 Serena
About Serena
This fashionista is a creative powerhouse with enough potential to become the top Pokemon Performer (while still maintaining an excellent reputation as a Trainer, too!) Stemming from the Kalos region, Serena favors beautiful and flashy Pokemon to assist in her quest to become the most elegant entertainer around, while simultaneously flexing the dazzling diversity in her wardrobe in the process.
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Where to find Serena
Serena is a playable character in Pokemon X & Y but can also take on the role of the player’s main rival and therefore pops up throughout the game, starting her adventures from Vaniville Town.
Quote From Serena In Pokemon Pokemon X and Y
“I will master Mega Evolution and set myself apart from other Trainers. I’ll also do it for my Pokemon. We’ve come so far together, and they never stopped believing in me, their Trainer.”
Serena has managed to carve her own niche in this male-dominated franchise and has arguably become the most admired of all the female Pokemon characters. She emphasizes Pokemon’s primary theme of friendship and adds some romance into the mix while pumping up the cuteness factor to the max!
16 Agatha
About Agatha
Another from the Kanto Elite Four, Agatha is one of the most experienced female Pokemon trainers in the franchise. She has been raising and battling Pokemon since she was a child; over half a century ago. She also has known professor Oak for a very long time, and, at one point, they were quite close. She uses Poison-type Pokemon, though her more prominent team members are her Ghost-type Pokemon Haunter and Gengar.
Where To Find Agatha
Agatha is the 3rd member one will face in the Kanto region’s Elite Four. She is after the 2nd member, Bruno, and his physically powerful Pokemon team.
Quote From Agatha In Pokemon Red & Blue
“…Pokemon are for fighting! (player’s name)! I’ll show you how a real trainer fights!”
Agatha is unrelenting in battle and clearly sees pocket monsters as warriors to be pitted against one another. As such, she will use devious tactics to take down the player’s Pokemon. Her team will poison and confuse enemies until they are rendered inert.
15 Phoebe
About Phoebe
Phoebe is an Elite Four member who also specializes in Ghost-type Pokemon, though she lives in the Hoenn region. Don’t take her casual appearance and relaxed nature as a sign of weakness, however, as her Dusclops and Sableye can curse one into oblivion. Though, if that doesn’t work, she’ll use a flurry of heavy-hitting Ghost-type attacks like Shadow Punch and Shadow Ball. The only counter to her team is Dark-type pocket monsters or over-leveled ones of a type that takes neutral damage from her ethereal attacks.
Where To Find Phoebe
Phoebe is the 2nd member of the Hoenn Elite Four, after Sidney, the Dark-type Pokemon trainer.
Quote From Phoebe In Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire
“I did my training on Mt. Pyre. While I trained, I gained the ability to commune with Ghost-type Pokemon.”
Without a doubt, Phoebe is the region’s foremost expert on Ghost-type Pokemon, as there are few others who have spent as much time honing their senses enough to communicate with cross-dimensional entities.
14 Flannery
About Flannery
A fiery femme fatale from the Hoenn region is one of the fiercest trainers in the Generation 3 games.Flannery scorches foes to ashes with her burning passion for battle as well as for her Fire-type Pokemon. Her Torkoal is a resilient opponent who can unleash a devastating Overheat attack if left unchecked. Even Water-type Pokemon may not quench her flames, as her Torkoal’s Drought renders aquatic attacks half as effective as they normally would be while boosting Fire-type attacks by a similar amount. Her Slugma and Magcargo are also tough adversaries who have great defensive bulk and powerful plumes of fire.
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Where To Find Flannery
Flannery can be battled in Lavaridge Town’s gym, though, players will have to go through some strange trials before being able to face this fiery gym leader.
Quote From Flannery In Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire
“Dare not underestimate me, though I have been Leader only a short time! With skills inherited from my grandfather, I shall, uh…demonstrate the hot moves we have honed on this land!”
Clearly passionate, yet inexperienced, Flannery simply can’t seem to contain herself when speaking of battle. Her uncertainty when speaking makes it clear she’s not yet used to accepting challenges from trainers, however, her skills in battle more than make up for it.
13 Karen
About Karen
Famous for her line claiming that the truly strong trainers of the world only battle using their favorite Pokemon, Karen has become known as one of the mightiest Dark-type trainers in the series since her appearance in the Generation 2 games. She has a surprisingly well-rounded lineup for a team that consists mostly of one type. Her Umbreon is a stalwart wall that can take, as well as dish out, many blows, and her Houndoom is a brutal foe with great damage output. She also has a Murkrow known to easily confound any enemy Pokemon with Confuse Ray before setting forth with a barrage of shadowy strikes.
Where To Find Karen
Karen can be battled as the 4th member of the Kanto region’s Elite Four, after Bruno, the 3rd member, though only in the Generation 2 and 4 games where she appears.
Quote From Karen In Pokemon Gold & Silver
“Strong Pokemon. Weak Pokemon. That is only the selfish perception of people. Truly skilled trainers should try to win with their favorites. I like your style. You understand what’s important. Go on — — the Champion is waiting.”
Wise words and very appropriate ones to say to a trainer who has likely had to hone and balance their team countless times to reach this point. Karen speaks these words after being defeated by the player, acknowledging their strength and worthiness to battle the Champion.
12 Jessie
About Jessie
This Team Rocket member is one of the most recognizable characters in the franchise. She and her partner-in-crime James have been trying to steal Pikachu away from our protagonist Ash for the past 23 seasons of the anime, but this isn’t about them. In your average episode, she may seem like a pushover, but in reality, she’s quite the formidable foe. Jessie has trained many powerful ‘mons, including her recognizable Wobbuffet and her Mimikyu, a recent but important ally. Additionally, she’s to be commended for her resilience, considering she has not given up her goal of snatching that electric creature for over twenty years!
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Where To Find Jessie
While often only mentioned for her appearance in the anime, Jessie does appear as a named character in some of the franchise’s games. She, James, and Meowth appear in Pokemon: Let’s Go Pikachu/Eevee multiple times with quite a few lines of dialogue.
Quote From Jessie In Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! & Pokemon: Let’s Go, Eevee!
“You’re just a twerp. Why are you so strong? …Is it because of that Pikachu (or Eevee)? You can probably go all out because you’re with that Pokemon.”
After being defeated on Route 17, Jessie will speak the above line of dialogue, signifying that she can tell that the player has great potential and strength; it takes another trainer of power to notice such traits in others.
11 Acerola
About Acerola
This little child may not look like a big deal, but she’s one of the strongest female trainers in the Alolan region! One of the Elite Four for Generation VII and also a Trial Captain, Acerola poses a big threat to those who come unprepared. If you’re gonna fight her, be sure to bring some Full Restores! Considered by some to be the most dangerous trainer of Alola, she commands Powerful Ghost-type Pokemon. Some examples are Palossand, Froslass, and Dhelmise, all of which will cause trouble to beginners and pros alike if they don’t take enough precautions. Be wary of this little ghostly child!
Where To Find Acerola
In Pokemon Sun & Moon, as well as Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, Acerola is the 3rd member of the Elite Four that can be fought in the Alolan region.
Quote From Acerola In Pokemon Ultra Sun & Moon
“No matter how strong I am, I know that there are things I can’t do… Places I can’t reach and people I can’t protect.”
Showing a great deal more maturity than usual when spoken to in the Aether House after the player becomes Champion, Acerola acknowledges that not even Pokemon battling power can solve all problems, a rare indication of this fact in the main series games. Furthermore, such dialogue shows an inner strength that compliments Acerola’s battle prowess.
10 Pokemon Trainer (Smash Ultimate)
About Pokemon Trainer
While this may come as a surprise, this female trainer very much deserves her spot near the top. This character is very popular within the Smash Bros community and is considered to be one of the strongest in Super Smash Brothers Ultimate. Some players shun the character for its complexity since she has 3 Pokemon to choose from and can swap between them in real-time. Her Squirtle is amazing at combos, Ivysaur has some of the best game-ending moves, and Charizard is a heavy (but still considerably fast) fighter with a very versatile set. Dedicated players won’t be disappointed to find that she’s very rewarding to play once you learn.
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Where To Find Pokemon Trainer
Players can’t really find this trainer, as they play as her instead! This is the player’s form as they play certain games as a female character, such as in Pokemon FireRed & LeafGreen.
Quote From Pokemon Trainer In Pokemon FireRed & LeafGreen
“…”
As with most protagonists in this franchise, the Pokemon Trainer as the player is the strong, silent type. There is sometimes no need for words when actions speak loudly enough.
9 May
About May
As much as May from the Anime is a strong contender, this is about her appearance in the games Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, & Emerald. She fills the role of the rival for the main character and, no matter what starter you choose, she has a counter for each one. If she catches you off-guard, you’re going to have it tough!
Where To Find May
Despite being encountered many times in the games mentioned above, she’s very much feared because of her encounter on Route 110. This battle, the second one against her, can be a challenge if the RNG isn’t on your side. This is an infamous battle that you can even see many speedrunners ragequit to because of how unfair it is.
Quote From May In Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire
“While I was searching for other Pokemon, my Pokemon grew stronger. So… How about a little battle?”
This line, spoken right before the battle on Route 110, indicates that May has not been slacking off and will begin battle with well-leveled pokemon that can cause many players issues if they accidentally bump into her before doing some Exp farming.
8 Dawn
About Dawn
This Sinnoh Region dreamer has grand aspirations with the hopes of becoming the best Pokemon Coordinator with the bonus wish of adding a Legendary Pokemon to her team. Dawn receives a significant amount of screen time in comparison to other Pokemon female characters and has the honor of stealing the spotlight (again) in the latest installment of The Arceus Chronicles (anime and game.)
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Where to find Dawn
This particular female Pokemon trainer features in several games, including Pokemon: Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, Masters EX, Battle Revolution, Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl, and Legends: Arceus.
Quote From Dawn In Pokemon Masters EX
“I think it’s great that we can tell each other what we want to do, even if it’s a little selfish or it leads to an argument. If you can’t do that, you can’t let your friends know when they’re doing something wrong.”
Dawn is no stranger to making mistakes but prefers to look at these as opportunities to learn, as is thankful for the advice given by her friends. She had a rough start with Pokemon training but persevered with Ash and Brock’s loyal support to spur her on.
7 Honey
About Honey
Married to Mustard, former champion of the Galar region, she’s just as powerful as he is when you battle them. No wonder they decided to open up a dojo to train new gym challengers! Honey’s team is incredibly strong and balanced, with something to counter almost every type. Additionally, her ace Pokemon can be a Gigantamax Venusaur or Blastoise, which can be a pain to take down with all your Pokemon weakened from battle. Don’t underestimate this pretty face!
Where To Find Honey
Straight from the newest DLC for Pokemon Sword & Shield, Honey is the Matron of the Isle of Armor Dojo.
Quote From Honey In Pokemon Sword & Shield
“She quickly developed a talent for battle, and the rumor among dojo students is that she may even be on par with Mustard himself. Thanks to taking care of very powerful Pokemon at the dojo, Honey has also gained a lot of physical strength of her own. Now she can handle even powerful Pokemon, like Gallade.”
While not a quote spoken by Honey, as she does not have any in-game dialogue, this is some text from her Rare League Card and explains how and why she is so strong.
6 Whitney
About Whitney
Despite only having a few Pokemon, her team is strong enough to stomp any challengers and she’s remarkably difficult to beat at this point in the Generation 2 games. Her Milktank is particularly tough, with a move that heals half its hit points and one that can deal massive damage if left unwatched. She’s ended many Pokemon journeys because of how much of a challenge this Normal-Type Gym poses, and many question why she has to be so difficult to beat. All in all, only the best end up receiving her Plain Badge!
Where To Find Whitney
This fearsome female trainer makes her debut in Pokemon Gold & Silver, as the Gym Leader of Goldenrod City.
Quote From Whitney In Pokemon Gold & Silver
“Everyone was into Pokemon, so I got into it too! Pokemon are super-cute! You want to battle? I’m warning you–I’m good!”
Despite this horribly misleading bit of dialogue that implies Whitney has no idea what she is doing, she can devastate the player’s whole team if they let her Miltank spool up their multi-turn Rollout attack. With such powerful tactics, it’s clear her naive words are simply meant to trick the player into a false sense of security.
5 Argenta
About Argenta
One of the least well-known characters here, she’s the only trainer to sport the title “Hall Matron” and she deserves it. She has an array of over 200 Pokemon to choose from, making it impossible to ever be well prepared for her battle. Argenta is one of those trainers you have to go through to actually prove your worth as a battler. Given how hard her fight is, people who’ve beaten her have all the bragging rights.
Where To Find Argenta
Argenta is the Frontier Brain in Sinnoh and Johto, however, you have to win 50 consecutive battles in the Battle Hall to even get the right to fight her, which is a considerable feat for anyone who’s played Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver.
Quote From Argenta In Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver
“I imagine there were tense moments getting here with your chosen one. But understand that one shines the brightest when a challenge is overcome. I am Argenta, and I am your final and most daunting challenge.”
As arguably some of the best ‘boss dialogue’ in a Pokemon game, these lines make it clear that Argenta is not messing around. She intends to push the player to their limits or break them in the process.
4 Bea
About Bea
Bea is also known as the “Galar Karate Prodigy” by many. In one of the shorts for the new Pokemon miniseries Twilight Wings, Bea can be seen training alongside her Machop, Machoke, and Machamp, all extremely fit Pokemon able to lift boulders and punch through mountains. Despite this, Bea can be seen outperforming them and even taking hits from Machamp like it was nothing! It truly takes extreme dedication to hone her body and mind to that extent!
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Where To Find Bea
She may not look very flamboyant, but the Leader of the Stow-on-Side Stadium is one of the most powerful in the Galarian gym challenge. Players can find her in her hometown gym for a Fighting-type fray.
Quote From Bea in Pokemon Sword (Does Not Appear In Pokemon Shield)
“Do you have an unshakable spirit that won’t be moved, no matter how you are attacked? I think I’ll just test that out, shall I?”
Bold and unflinching, Bea will come at the player without any hesitation whatsoever. She knows how powerful she is and is clearly aching to demonstrate it whenever possible.
Bea’s rivalry with Ash is revitalized inPokemon Journeys during the World Coronation Series as both trainers fight their way to the top, while Bea attempts to maintain a firm grip on her #30 position.
3 Iris
About Iris
Many citizens of Unova have heard of Iris and know her as “The Girl Who Knows The Heart Of Dragons.” A fitting epithet, considering that this female trainer has more than just an affinity for Dragon-Type Pokemon! The adventures of this wild child don’t end there! In Pokemon Black 2 & White 2, Iris is the Champion of Unova, and her fearsome Haxorus is a threat to keep in mind. In challenge mode, she’s almost impossible to beat, and even seasoned players will struggle trying to beat this draconic maiden.
Where To Find Iris
In Pokemon White (but not Pokemon Black), players will find her in the Opelucid City gym as its leader, while in Pokemon Black 2 & White 2, she can only be encountered after defeating the Elite Four of the Unova region, as she is by then the Champion.
Quote From Iris In Pokemon Black 2 & White 2
“The Trainers who make it here are Trainers who desire victory with every fiber of their being! And they are battling alongside Pokemon that have been through countless difficult battles!”
Here, the powerful Dragon-type trainer acknowledges the effort it must have taken to reach her at the end of the Elite Four, and this is a far cry from the blind overconfidence she displayed as a gym leader in Pokemon Black & White.
Iris gets another chance to shine in Pokemon Journeys as the 7th ranking member of the Master Eight and the second Dragon Master in the lineup, with Lance providing the wild princess with some healthy competition.
2 Diantha
About Diantha
The most feminine of all the girl pokemon trainers has a Hollywood-type status to maintain in the Pokemon franchise, as the iconic movie star from the Kalos Region. Diantha still makes time to train her Pokemon and is the only character fortunate enough to boast the Grand Dutchess title in Pokemon X and Y. This Elite Four Champion is also the 4th ranking member of the Masters Eight in Pokemon Journey’s World Coronation Series (as if her resume wasn’t already impressive enough!)
Where to find Diantha
Diantha seems to spend a great deal of time hanging around Café Soleil in Lumiose City seen a few more times before the infamous Battle Chateau.
Quote From Diantha In Pokémon X and Y
“Youth may be beautiful, but it’s not all there is to life. Everything changes. I want to live and change like that, too. So I look forward to playing different roles as I get older.”
First impressions may suggest that Diantha is a shallow materialistic girl, however, even with all her fame and fortunes, this Dutchess remains kindhearted and down to Earth.
1 Cynthia
About Cynthia
She and her Garchomp are images of respect and power, known all across the Pokemon world and the community as well. She doesn’t focus on a specific type, giving her a way to retaliate against any competition. Additionally, all her Pokemon have perfect stats and natures that directly help them, making the end of this journey a very painful one. All in all, Cynthia deserves the gold medal, declaring her the strongest of trainers.
Where To Find Cynthia
Cynthia is a Champion of great renown, waiting atop the Sinnoh Elite Four to test the mettle of only the crème de la crème of Pokemon trainers.
Quote From Cynthia In Pokemon Diamond & Pearl
“The power you learned… I can feel it emanating from you. That’s enough talking. Let’s get on with why you’re here. I, Cynthia, accept your challenge as the Pokemon League Champion! There won’t be any letup from me!”
As stated before, it takes a trainer of true strength to see the inner strength of others. Here, Cynthia indicates that her reign as Champion was one of many great observations, though, ones born from countless battles with trainers as powerful as the player.
To ensure that her top status is not easily forgotten, Cynthia has claimed the #2 position in the World Coronation Series and has maintained her ground so far. She intends to dominate the Masters Eight after adding Mega Evolution to her arsenal, proving once and for all that Cynthia is not just another pretty face.
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