Favorite Rival(s)?

[BurbleBurble]

Through out the years we as Pokemon players have had someone we consitantly had to battle, whether it was childhood friends, enemies, or just some jerk who pops out of nowhere to prove he's better than you. The rival.

So recently I've considered "who is the best rival?" Well, in my opinion, it's Silver, but I'll touch on that in a moment.

Now I'm curious what you all think.

If you'd rather just say your favorite than putting your reason why, just pop your answer on the poll. Now, back to my favorite...

Silver is my favorite thanks to his characterization, along with his backstory. First of all, he starts out pretty unlikable. He pushes you away if you attempt to talk to him, then steals a Pokemon from Elm, and appears at terrible times. (Looking at you, Azalea town.) Plus he treats Pokemon like tools. Add that to the list of unlikable character traits...

Anyways, as Lance keeps showing up and telling him off, and the main character keep beating him, he starts to realize perhaps Pokemon aren't the tools he thought they were. This is cemented by him later owning a Crobat, a Pokemon that only evolves via friendship.

Also he's Giovanni's son, which is pretty cool.

 

[alolatrainer]

I perfer more of the friendly rivals...so i think im really gonna like Hau...is design i already love

 

[bubblyberet]

I have such a gen 5 bias... oops...

anyway, I love Bianca as a character in herself, and that she gave a much more friendly vibe as a rival. If anything, she was more interested in going on a journey with her friends and watching her friends grow. I liked that about her a lot! and she ended up finding something she really loved, which was researching pokemon!! I loved seeing her grow too.

 

[Al the Bard]

I liked the Gen 6 rivals. I know some people complained about the number of rivals in XY but I liked how Serena/Calem and Shauna were with you during different parts of the game, especially when you took on Team Flare.

 

[PokeScallop]

Hop, I like him as a friend, not as a rival, he does everything to let us win, when we are choosing a starter, he is always going to choose the type that the one you choose its super efective

 

[Pokewolfgirl18]

Voted "other" for N! I also have Gen 5 bias... and N is probably to blame for it! He's been my favorite character in the franchise since he debuted. His heart was always in the right place, and his character development is important to me. The difference between his BW battle sprite and BW2 battle sprite makes me feel warm- He looks so much happier after expanding his horizons!!! He was forced to confront his entire life being a lie, and himself being seen as a puppet by Ghetsis, and he came out of it stronger. N you will always be famous.

 

[Grand Master Koop]

He isn't on the list but Paul from the anime is thematically one of the best rivals pokemon had made, he is pretty much the antithesis of everything Ash believes in and their clash of ideals was some great writing.