Pokémon: Ash’s 10 Strongest Rivals, Ranked

Since the start of the original Pokemon anime, Ash Ketchum has traveled throughout the Pokemon universe. In every region, he has met countless other Pokemon Trainers and their Pokemon friends. In fact, many of these Trainers have traveled alongside him, sometimes even to other regions.

Ash would also meet several rival Trainers during his journeys, each with their own goals and Pokemon rosters. In some cases, Ash was friends as well as rivals with these Trainers, the two supporting the other as they grew stronger. Other Trainers were not meant to become friends, but their own accomplishments would push Ash to try and do better.

Kiawe Dreams of Becoming Kahuna

Kiawe and His Charizard Also Help With Deliveries

In the Generation VII games, Kiawe is introduced as the Fire-type captain of Akala Island. His trial is held at the Wela Volcano Park, where the trial-goer must battle against a roster of powerful Fire-type Pokemon, including Alolan Marowak and Totem Salazzle. He is also the person who registers Charizard to the player character's Ride Pager, allowing them to travel to another town via flying. Both inside and outside of battle, Kiawe is a hardworking and passionate young man who works hard to showcase the traditional dances of the Alola region with his Pokemon friends.

Kiawe's personality remains about the same in the anime, though instead of being a trial captain, he is one of Ash's classmates at the Pokemon School located on Melemele Island. Though he can be aloof and hotheaded at times, Kiawe is nevertheless a caring soul who deeply respects Pokemon and the significance of Z-Moves in Alola. He is also one of the more experienced battlers in the school, already having a Z-Ring and battling very well with it. Aside from being Ash's rival, Kiawe is also one of his former traveling companions, and the two have been known to battle one another as well as fight alongside the other when necessary.

Cameron Has an Energetic Spirit

Cameron Later Places Very Well in the Pokemon League

A friendly rival of Ash's in the Unova region, Cameron is more often than not seen alongside his partner Pokemon, Lucario, who likes to be outside its Poké Ball. The two first debuted as a newcomer to the Pokemon League and a Riolu, with the latter often copying its Trainer's mannerisms. However, even Cameron's partner Pokemon gets annoyed with the young Trainer's forgetfulness. Thankfully for Cameron, he was still able to sign up for the Vertress Conference in time, though he only had five Pokemon instead of the recommended six.

Though he can be very impulsive and often forgets type matchups, Cameron has proved to be a surprisingly powerful rival. His luck especially changed when his Riolu evolved into Lucario when up against Ash's Snivy and quickly defeated her with Aura Sphere. To make matters worse for Ash, his final Pokemon, Pikachu, was also knocked out by Cameron's partner Pokemon. Aside from his Lucario, Cameron has many other amazing Pokemon, including Samurott, Swanna, and even Hydreigon.

Harrison Is an Intelligent Trainer From Littleroot Town

Harrison Inspires Ash To Visit Hoenn

Before Ash took part in the Silver Conference, he crossed paths with Harrison, a Trainer from the Hoenn region. Like other Trainers from Littleroot Town, Harrison received his starter Pokemon, then a Torchic, from Professor Birch. By the time he arrived in the Johto region and got to know Ash, his starter was fully evolved and he had gained another main battling Pokemon, Houndoom, who was usually by its Trainer's side. Like Brock, Harrison is often a mentor figure for the other Trainers, offering them advice and encouragement.

Though he does not like to brag about his skills as a Trainer, Harrison is shown to be a very wise battler. Harrison has several powerful Pokemon in his roster, including Steelix, Hypno, and a Sneasel he caught in the Johto region. However, Blaziken and Houndoom remain his best Pokemon, thanks to their swiftness, strength, and useful Flamethrower attacks. Though he lost to Jon Dickson at the end of the Silver Conference, Harrison did win his match against Ash, and his roster inspired the other Trainer to visit Hoenn.

Trip Is a New Yet Talented Pokemon Trainer

Trip Was Able To Defeat Ash Just After Starting His Journey

Just as Ash was arriving in the Unova region, Trip was setting out from his hometown alongside his first Pokemon, Snivy. Trip was inspired by the battling skills of the previous Unova Champion, Alder, and decided to become a Trainer in his own right. Upon meeting Ash, Trip instantly disliked Ash due to the fact that he was from the Kanto region. His dislike for Ash only grew after his Snivy, who had never battled before, easily defeated Ash's Pikachu in a shocking battle.

Trip would become one of Ash's main rivals in Unova, and though Ash would later be able to defeat his opponent's Pokemon, Trip still carried an arrogant atmosphere. The Unovan Trainer would not gain any respect for his rival until the Vertress Conference rolled around, where the two would face each other in an important match. By this time, Trip had crafted a great team, and his Snivy had since evolved into a very strong Serperior. However, Pikachu would later defeat his ace Pokemon, surprising Trip and helping him gain a new sense of respect for his rival.

Gladion Loves Intense Pokemon Battles

Gladion and Ash Do Not Always Get Along

Gladion is one of the most well-known Trainers from the Alola region, as his legacy in the Generation VII games is famous. The oldest child of Lusamine, Gladion became horrified after learning that his mother had created and later tortured an artificial Pokemon called Type: Null, who was seemingly modeled after Arceus. In order to save Type: Null and escape from his mother's unkindness, Gladion stole the Normal-type Pokemon and ran away from home, becoming a member of Team Skull. Later on, after Lusamine's downfall, it is revealed that Type: Null's bond with Gladion was so strong that it evolved into Silvally, gaining the Arceus-like powers of changing type.

In the original animated series, Lusamine is instead showcased as a caring parent while Faba, who was a secondary villain in the games, is now the main antagonist of Alola. Gladion is shown to have a dislike and fear of Ultra Beasts, and vows to defeat them all in order to protect Lillie. He also becomes one of Ash's main rivals, with the two often bickering; as Gladion is more serious, he often finds fault with Ash's more reckless personality. Despite this, the two grew to respect the other, and both raised powerful Lycanroc of their own by the time they fought the other in the Manalo Conference.

Sawyer Always Takes Notes on Battling

Sawyer Later Gains a Key Stone for Mega Evolution

Coming from the Hoenn region, Sawyer is very interested in learning about the Kalos region and beyond alongside his Pokemon. At the start of his journey in Kalos, Sawyer's Pokemon were unevolved, including Honedge, Bagon and Treecko. Sawyer was shown to be a good sport, always willing to learn from his mistakes after losing a battle. Any time he fought in a match or watched one of Ash's, Sawyer was seen writing down notes in his notebook.

Sawyer's intelligence proved to be his key to becoming a great Trainer in such a short period of time. By the time he faced Ash in the Lumiose Conference, his initial team members had fully evolved, while Sawyer had added new members as well. Aside from being able to utilize the power of Pokemon such as Salamence, Aegislash, and Clawitzer, Sawyer's partner Pokemon was now a Sceptile, complete with its own Mega Stone. Mega Sceptile would prove to be an immensely tough foe for Ash-Greninja to face at the end, and though it had the power of Mega Evolution and a type advantage, the Forest Pokemon would sadly be defeated in the end after a fierce battle.

Paul and Ash Have Very Different Training Methods

Their Rivalry Reaches Its Climax in the Pokemon League

Ash is a friendly and outgoing Trainer, but he does not always get along with those he meets on his journey. One such example is Paul, a Trainer from the Sinnoh region who possesses a calculating and often cold nature. Paul's ambition to always succeed and rise to the top has led him to view the Pokemon in his roster as tools; any Pokemon that he sees as "weak" is to be released immediately. Such is the case for many Pokemon, including his Chimchar, who failed to meet his expectations.

Though his training regimens are often harsh and unforgiving, many Pokemon, such as Electivire and Metagross, appear to have met their Trainer's expectations and grown into powerful battlers. However, Paul later must face the consequences of his actions when he meets Ash during their match in the Lily of the Valley Conference, and finds that his former Chimchar has grown into a powerful Infernape under his rival's care. The fight between Electivire and Infernape proves to be one of the most explosive fights in the anime, and certainly the best battle of Ash's Sinnoh career. At the very end, though it was a difficult fight, Infernape emerges victorious and causes Paul to rethink his methods.

Alain Is a Mega Evolution Researcher

Alain Was Once a Pawn of Team Flare

Lysandre was once the most powerful figure in Kalos, famous for creating Lysandre Labs and the useful communication device known as the Holo Caster. However, Lysandre's desire to create a better world drove him to hate the majority of humanity, later turning from a philanthropist to a man bent on reducing the world's population. As he crafted his grand scheme, Lysandre crossed paths with Alain, Professor Sycamore's assistant, and convinced him that if the professor brought to light the research on Mega Evolution that he found out, the world would use it for selfish purposes. As he hoped to save Professor Sycamore, Alain began to work with Lysandre instead, soon becoming a powerful Trainer famous for battling alongside Mega Charizard X.

Alain's desire to save those he cared about and to research every known Mega Evolution sadly caused him to distance himself from others. However, when Lysandre and the rest of Team Flare attempt to destroy Lumiose City, Alain realizes that he has been a pawn in his schemes and vows to do better. Alongside Ash and a plethora of heroes from around the world, Alain and his Pokemon fight against Team Flare until the arrival of peace. Alain, who had acted as a key rival for Ash before then, later met his friend at the Lumiose Conference, where he rose up as the champion. He and his amazing Pokemon would later be part of the Masters Eight Tournament, where he would sadly be defeated by Leon and his own Charizard.

Gary Was Ash’s First Rival

Gary Has Since Become a Pokemon Researcher

Before he became a Trainer, Ash grew up alongside his neighbor and childhood friend, Gary Oak. The grandson of the famous Professor Oak, Gary proved to be a talented Pokemon Trainer in his own right, excelling in raising all sorts of Pokemon. By the time the two were able to become Trainers, Gary became especially quick to poke fun at his childhood friend, starting their rivalry. Even as Ash grew stronger, Gary remained arrogant, though a series of tough battles finally gave the Pokemon Trainer a new sense of humility.

Gary and Ash's rivalry as Trainers came to a close at the Silver Conference, where, despite the type disadvantage, Ash's Charizard defeated Gary's ace Blastoise. Gary then decided he wished to become a Pokemon Researcher instead of a normal Trainer, carrying out his studies in regions beyond Kanto and Johto. However, as seen in Pokemon Journeys: The Series, Gary is still a phenomenal Trainer and more than capable of battling formidable foes. He even assists Ash's friend Goh during Raid Battles, where they go up against powered-up Legendary Pokemon.

Ash Wished To Battle Leon in the Masters Eight Tournament

Their Fated Battle Proved To Be a Legendary One

Leon is the Champion of the Galar region, and famous for his passionate battling style (as well as his terrible sense of direction). Loyal to his loved ones, Leon's only friend for a long time was Sonia, as he often had to help look after his family, especially his younger brother Hop. However, with encouragement from Sonia and a chance encounter with a Charmander, Leon gained the courage to become a Trainer. Their paths would soon diverge, especially as Leon became a celebrity Trainer thanks to his natural talent and the support of Chairman Rose. Upon meeting the legendary Trainer, Ash wished to defeat him, with Leon promising to once his roster was stronger.

The rivalry between the two Trainers reached its finale during the Masters Eight Tournament, where Leon and Ash were the only Trainers left in the competition. Like always, Leon uses his starter Pokemon Charizard as his ace and final member, complete with its Gigantamax form. Meanwhile, Ash battles with Pikachu, his best friend, Ace, and the final Pokemon left on his roster. The match between the two is long and explosive, but despite the odds, Ash emerges victorious.