PPL 2017

With PAXAUS starting tomorrow, there’s only one secret left to unveil, and that’s your new Champion for 2017! And one final reminder to stop by the HandHeld Lounge where the PPL is most plentiful, especially during Leader Swarms, occurring 2pm daily!

Rai, the Rain Guy

After his defeat to Champion Hugh last year, Rai was looking forward to a revenge match with the title of Champion once again at stake. However, Hugh mysteriously disappeared from the country after the conclusion of PAX last year. Rai sailed the seven seas in search of him, but to no avail. With a stormy cloud in his heart, he dons the Champion title this year and awaits the day he can meet Hugh again in battle.

Until then, it’d be up to you guys to distract Rai from his troubles with an exciting Double Battle! Defeat his newly acquired Water Pokémon, and the Rain Badge will slip out of his hands into yours… as well as the opportunity to obtain the Secret Rain Badge!?

Secret Rain Badge

Darth Nihilus, Lord of Hunger

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away Darth Nihilus was a Sith Lord, the Dark Lord of Hunger. He fed on the Force, draining the life from entire planets, such was his power. But even the greatest of Sith fall. Consumed by his hunger, Darth Nihilus was defeated. But he did not die. The wound in the Force was so great, that Darth Nihilus fell through it, to a new universe. One filled with strange creatures called Pokemon. Now he has a team of new apprentices. Apprentices he has taught his Hunger. Taught them to feed. Taught them to drain the life of those they face in combat. How can you win, when your opponent takes your life to replenish their own?

The Hunger Badge is the Badge you are looking for.

Hunger Badge

PPLAUS is a scant few days away! Want another peek at what we have in store for you this year? Look no further

Kirky, the Quirky Archaeologist

Kirky’s origin is mostly unknown, seemingly even to himself as he will regularly change his backstory when asked. He is currently based in Australia attempting to prove his wild conspiracy theories through his background in archeology and for this reason has structured his team both for fierce combat and assisting him in surviving harsh wasteland environments. While he isn’t much of a people person due to his isolated nature, he will never turn down a Pokemon battle. Approach with caution and be prepared.

Battle in the harsh conditions that seem to follow him to earn the Fissure Badge!

Fissure Badge

Green, the Obvious Fake

Green was raised among a family of performing mimic trainers but left in shame as he wasn’t so good at the mimicry always get the details wrong. So he started his Pokémon journey to perfect his team and his mimicry skills. Despite everyone seeing through his disguises Green became a great trainer and then Gym Leader. Now Green has come to PAX Australia to see if he can fool unsuspecting trainers.

If you can spot and defeat the fake you’ll receive the Counterfeit Badge!

Counterfeit Badge

Why we’ve got so many Leaders you’ll be wondering when the Victory Road will finish being built in Victoria. Time to fully introduce two young and coming Gym Leaders, Charlie and Wyvern!

Charlie, The Cheerful Chu Companion

When the sky is bleak and grey and you can smell rain in the air, that’s when you’ll find Charlie and his team training hard on the nearest beach. He loves to watch the storms roll in, unafraid in the slightest of the thunder and lightning. He’ll dance in the rain with his beloved pokemon, all of them relishing in weather that would send most running for cover.

Never seen without at least one Pikachu (or Pikachu lookalike) by his side, Charlie has travelled the world to hone his mastery of electric-type pokemon, determined to be the greatest trainer he can, with the ultimate goal of becoming a gym leader some day. When he heard about the formation of the PAX Pokemon League, he leapt at the chance to live his dreams, keen to prove himself just as competent an electric-type leader as legends such as Lt. Surge and Wattson, his childhood heros.

If you’re not spooked by a little thunder and lightning, come try your hand at winning the Stormchaser Badge!

Stormchaser Badge

Wyvern, the Confused Dragon Tamer

Wyvern has always loved dragons and pokemon, because of that he always idolised the dragon trainers, Lance, Drake, Cynthia, Iris and Alder and he dreamed to become the greatest dragon pokemon tamer ever. The only problem is he doesn’t know his types.

Show you know your Pokemon by challenging Damon and taking home the Wyvern Badge!

Wyvern Badge

Switch, the Dance Dance Revolutionary

After spending the past year, “stranded” in the tropical paradise of Alola, with no recourse but to hang out with the local pokemon professors (drinking Mai Tais and Long Island Alola Iced Teas) all whilst hanging 10 off the back of a Mantine. Switch has repaired his ship for the long voyage back to Kanto, pirate flag raised, garish labcoat fluttering in the wind switch shimmies and shakes his booty as he hops port to port, stopping in Melbourne to see his friends and battle excited challengers.

Do you care to tango with this chilled out cat? Or will you mambo away from a chance to cha-cha-challenge Switch for your own Moonwalker Badge?

Moonwalker Badge

Flax, the Bumbling Bug-Keeper

Sometimes you might come across a stroke of bad luck. Maybe you even consider yourself unlucky, or clumsy, or just not very good at life. Flax envies such people. If you follow Flax for a day it’s said you might be privy to anywhere between 10 and 72 unfortunate mishaps. Some are his own doing, some are just being in the wrong place at the wrong time, most are a flailing, zany dance between the two. Lady Luck was just never particularly fond of poor Flax. Despite this, Flax runs and maintains his own gym to this day with a smile on his face. As long as Flax has his Bug Pokemon nursery to take his mind off of life, nothing can keep the cheery lad down. You might rightly ask yourself why such a person would purposefully put themselves close to so many stingers, claws and fangs? Seeing as he’s still alive, come and ask him yourself, he’s managed to rope himself into this years PPLAus!

Take on Flax, the Bumbling Bug Keeper and his beloved hive – keep a safe distance while you earn yourself a Bumbling Badge!

“So I’m not very lucky…or coordinated, or good at battling, so? There’s more to Pokemon than being the best, same goes for the rest of life. Sure there are a few bumps, bruises and potentially fatal accidents along the way, but I’m stronger than that, you’ll see!”

Bumbling Badge