Favorite / Most Memorable Rival

Silver. He had the most visible and largest amount of character development. Unlike Blue, we got to see his development throughout the story, rather than just at the end when you beat him once and for all. And on the note of it being the largest, he goes from being a flat out criminal to a good person who's learning to love his Pokémon. Hell, even Professor Elm let him keep his starter when he tried to return it.

 

Hugh from Black2 and White 2. He went on his journey not only to become the best but to save his little sister's Purrlion, which was stolen by the Shadow Triad. When he finally gets it he has to connect himself to Purrlion, now a Liepard, so it can remember him and his sister and return it back home.

 

I absolutely adore everything about Barry. He's a hyperactive and clumsy best buddy! I have roleplayed Barry before-- Definitely my favorite Pokémon character to RP, apart from Volkner.

I'm not really sure what he's like in the anime/manga, but in the games I really liked that he was sort of.. his own person, if that makes sense? Like, his dad was the head honcho at the Pokémon resort, but Barry never made it a point to follow his dad's footsteps or surpass him. 'Course, he wanted to be similar like his dad because his dad was very successful, but it was more than that. He just wanted to be the best that he could be. He was not overly cocky or egotistical-- In Platinum, I remember he wanted to be a student of Crasher Wake's. He was aware things he could improve on.

And c'mon: His little "If you're late, I'm fining you for 1,000,000!!!" is utterly adorable, as is his design!

 

Barry for his personality and Silver because I really love the way he looks.

 

Barry was the only one I remember as a character besides Hau and I really liked Barry.

 

Wally, Silver and Blue will always be my favourite rivals.

Wally going from underdog to an actual challenge was such a great development. It was like "I saw you catch your first Pokémon and here we are ;w; "
Silver made the biggest first impression kicking you out the way. He really was detestable character wise and treated his Pokémon like tools but over time that changed and just yes. Character development!
Blue is the OG! I like rivals that are not necessarily your best friend.

I also love Trevor because he reminds me of a character I have? Like looks and everything? But I dunno, I classed him more as an in game friend hahah. He was not intimidating in the slightest.

 

i liked hugh, but he had a bigger role in the story, though. i actually disliked more than i liked Hau. he was annoying, and i wish he would go away half the time.

 

Nostalgic reasons, but I think Blue is the one that I will remember the most. He is always one step ahead, yet you are the one that comes out on top at the end. And then we see him in the next gen again where he has taken over the Viridian Gym FFS.

 

I always loved Wally and his story arc of sorts in the Hoenn games. To see him grow strong as a person is great.

 

Silver. (Oh dear Arceus I ship SoulSilver so hard it's embarrassing...regardless...) But Silver is an amazing rival, yeah, he's a jerk and a criminal but eventually he becomes this really good guy (on the inside). I absol-utely love his backstory, and I came up with a huge conspiracy theory about his father that I intend to work into my fanfiction. It really is amazing how he changes and evolves during the story, and the choice to give him a Crobat is awesome. Zubat is annoying, irritating, and always shows up to ruin stuff (does that sound like anyone?) but Golbat is an okay Pokémon, and Crobat evolving through friendship really highlights the drastic change from the boy who shoves you down to the boy who trains in the Dragon's Den to help his Pokémon. I'm sorry, I'm rambling, but Silver really is one of the best, if not the best, characters in all of Pokémon (In my opinion), and there better be a HG/SS remake for the 3DS or I'll code it myself. Also the fact that he'll open up to a select few people, like Kotone, makes him adorable. Aww Silver!
#MissingNo
#SoulSilverShipping
#SilverBestRival
#Silver

 

MAN WHY DO I HAVE TO CHOOSE ONE MAN, LIke really i have never loved two rivals so much so closely But i think i am sticking to my Edgeion here. Silver takes my Second slot and this is why i ship them even though it will like never seemingly happen or seem like a viable thing to ship. Then again i Ship Vantiasxsora from KH so i think my statements are kinda invalid.​

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I Support Silveredge ​

Love Gladion with more of a burning passion then silver though. With his clothing his characteristics from his depression to actually being a big brother to his sister and yeah good character development that i wish i could have see more of.​

 

Although Gladion is an amazing character too...Moon x Gladion anyone? And yes...edgelord...
I really like the overall impression you get from his character, it really shows the way he changes throughout the story.
#MissingNo
#EdgeLord
#MoonxGladion

 

List of all rivals:

Blue, Silver, Wally(?), May/Brendan, Dawn/Lucas, Barry, Cheren, Bianca, Hugh, Serena/Calem, Trevor(?), Tierno(?), Shauna(?), Hau(?), and Gladion.

Excluding the ones that you can't tell whether they are a rival or not, this is my order:

10. Bianca - reason: annoying as heck
9. May/Brendan - reason: pathetic
8. Cheren - reason: just... there. Never did anything important except battle you.
7. Dawn/Lucas - reason: cooler version of Cheren
6. Hugh - reason: the Purrloin thing never really made me feel bad for him as much as his sister.
5. Serena/Calem - reason: copy/paste rival who was only good because the other "rivals" of the region were trash
4. Barry - reason: funny, but got annoying after a while. still pretty good, but not fantastic.
3. Blue - reason: arrogant, to the point where half of the fun of playing was making his name something insulting and watching him brag about how awesome he is
2. Silver - reason: awesome guy who everyone loves to hate early on, but can sympathize with later after his change of heart
1. Gladion - reason: cool, edgy, analytical beast who always has a sharp remark, loves his family, and maintains a sense of honor and responsibility. Reminds me a bit of myself in 8th grade... except I wasn't nearly as cool.

 

Hau is my favorite rival.

He's more like a friend, but still.

 

All the options here were good rivals. They just had strengths in certain things. I did find Hugh had good strength as a trainer, but he lacked development. I mean the purpose for his journey really is a heart touching story. It's for his little sister. But you have to add onto the fact that he doesn't have his little sister really talking at all. She doesn't even have a unique Sprite to show that she's got a story to tell. Basically, Hugh was great but could have been very well improved with some development. The others all had strengths too but I found Generations 6 and 7 were becoming real repetitive. Hau and Shauna can't be considered rivals, due to their starter and how they act. Shauna and all the others in XY are lagging behind the player 24/7. Same for Hau. He's always lagging behind you and he isn't the rival. You are. Kukui is your true opponent in Sun and Moon. Anyways, onto Gladion. He's the only rival. He truly is the only one you need to find weak spots for otherwise there's no challenge other than trials if you're lacking a super effective Pokémon.