East 2012 Leaders

What could possibly top yesterday’s announcement about the fantastic Rival Cards?! Well, all twenty gym leaders have been revealed, and as all challengers know, that means it’s time to hold on to your Stunfisk socks… and prepare to meet the Elite Four!

These four familiar faces pack a serious punch, so click on the “Leaders” tab above to check out their bios and learn more about each of them and their emblems!

Quickly propelled through the ranks of the Unova Region’s Air Force, Captain Kairos exemplifies the newest generation of jet fighter pilots: Young, cocky and hot-headed. Despite these qualities, Kairos is still a potent threat as part of the Elite 4 as he has inherited the same battle prowess of his grandfather. It should be known that rumours have been circulating Kairos has been sent to the Pokemon League to beta test the newest method of squadron tactics against trainers. Those who manage to defeat Kairos in battle will be rewarded with The Mach 3 Emblem.

Leader of the Blackthorn Gym in Johto, Clair calls herself “the world’s best dragon master.” She may seem arrogant, but she has the skills and the strength to back up her words. While she normally only takes on challengers who have proven themselves via the Dragon User’s Challenge, with PAX being so far from Johto, she’s been forced to make an exception–wise trainers will make good on this rare opportunity! Those who defeat her are awarded the Rising Emblem as proof of their power.

After Giovanni was overthrown in his Seattle election campaign, Hephaestus returned to his solo wandering ways. Though some claim he maintains contact with the Rocket organization, the ties are more tenuous than ever. His fire Pokemon are fully charged and ready to face any challengers, and he’s likely to be found near the top of the PAX East Pokemon league. Should you manage to take him down, the Magma Emblem will be yours!

Something of a restless wanderer, Morganstern has never stayed in one place for very long. Originally from Viridian city, he spent decades traveling the long road from Mt. Silver to the Sevii islands, to Unova and beyond. He brings with him an elite team from all over the world, including his constant companion, a Zangoose he met in Sinnoh. As a gym leader, Morganstern uses only Normal types, hoping to give younger trainers new appreciation for a versatile yet often overlooked group of pokemon. Defeat him to earn the Tactician Emblem, proving you can counter every trick this wily veteran has up his sleeve! 

Spirited away and raised by Drifloon’s as an infant, the true name of Virus is only known in Floonish and kept only by his cluster of ‘floons. When Team Rocket attacked a nearby carnival one night, all but him were slaughtered or captured in the ensuing chaos. Finding comfort and survival in the shadows that hid him, he took on a new name, Virus, and vowed to infiltrate Team Rocket to find the culprits responsible and punish them for their atrocities. That is, before he found a much more devious plot in their database: a plan to corrupt the power of every original Badge, thus controlling the most powerful Gym Leaders in the world. Constructing his own Gym in a town of endless night, Virus hopes to lure the strongest trainers in the world to his side. Now, he has set his sights on a new proving ground to foster allies: PAX. If you humble yourself before the power of the night, the Moonlight Badge will be bestowed upon you.

Born into a military family located in an industrial zone, Ampere enlisted into the armed forces shortly after his 18th birthday. Having grown up in an urban and industrial area surrounded by numerous plants and factories, Ampere has a deep familiarity with electric-type pokemon. Willing to give his mind, body, and potentially life for his country and family, Ampere shows no hesitation to confront his foes in a full-forced manner. Can you shock his soldiers hard enough to receive the Regiment badge?

Hiker Bill was born in the quiet mountain retreat of Blackthorn City. At the age of six he wandered away from home to explore the world around him. When he realized he was lost, he sat down on a rock and started to cry. Unbeknownst to Bill, the rock he sat down on was a Geodude, and when Geodude heard Bill crying he started to move. When Bill’s parents realized that he was missing, they went out to find him, but it wasn’t hard at all: they could hear him laughing and playing with his new friend Geodude. That evening, Bill went home with his new Geodude and they have never been apart since. As Bill grew older he continued to explore the world and collect other Pokemon with his Geodude. After defeating all the other Hikers throughout his journeys, the Hikers choose Hiker Bill to be their gym leader. Defeat Hiker Bill in battle and you’ll be awarded the Spelunker Badge!

At the age of nine, Ciro befriended a Sneasel in the Snowpoint mountains where he lived. After his town was razed to the ground by a battle between a Salamance and a Garchomp a month before he was to earn his pokemon license, he stole a pokeball and, with the help of Sneasel, tracked down the wounded Salamance and captured it. He then followed the path of destruction wreaked by the victorious Garchomp, and, with the help Sneasel and Salamance, defeated it. Returning home to his worried parents, he was forbidden from obtaining a license and told he must free the Salamace and say goodbye to the Sneasel. He refused and fled the town, vowing to track down and capture dangerous dragon-types that could be harmful to people. Years later he has earned his license, and a position as a Gym Leader, for his services as a dragon hunter. Prove you are more ferocious than a dragon and earn the Icewyrm Badge!