League Competitor Rankings

[mehmeh1]

What kind of pandora's box am I about to open?
Over the course of the pokemon anime, we've seen multiple leagues with multiple competitors, and there's been quite a bit of discussion over which league has stronger trainers or at least about who would win in a battle between different competitors of different leagues. So why not rank/tier them? This is how I'd put them, though some of them I'm not too sure of, so feel free to rip this list apart (counting both pokemon strength and skill, though some of the Alola trainers would most likely lose to others below them because of having less pokemon or only focusing on one):

Champion Tier:

High E4 Tier:
Alain; XY Ash (Ash-Greninja and MCX could probably fight competitively or even with the upper hand against champion aces, and Peaka and Metagross aren't incredibly far behind either, but while the rest of their team is good, I doubt they'd be able to fight on par with champions, so that bumps them down a bit to high e4

Low E4 Tier:
Remo; Tobias; Sawyer (I'm not putting Tobias higher because I'm rating him only based off of what we know, not to meniton that he said that his non-darkrai mons would've lost to Gible's DM, and while Sawyer doesn't have a "backup" like Metagross or Peaka, and MS isn't as strong as AG or MCX, his strategy puts him at this level)

S Tier:
DP Ash; Paul

S- Tier:
Astrid

A+ Tier:
Gladion; SM Ash; Harrison (I'll admit that I'm not sure where I'd put Gladion, and SM Ash)

A Tier:
Joe Dickson; Guzma; Johto Ash; Johto Gary; Virgil

A- Tier:
Kiawe; Tierno; Barry; Hoenn Ash; Tyson (ok, not that sure with Tyson either)

B+ Tier:
Conway; Katie

B Tier:
Ilima; Trevor; Assunta?

B- Tier:
Morrison; Nando; Cameron; BW Ash; Stephan; Ritchie; Hau; Trip; Jackson

C+ Tier:
Kanto Ash; Kanto Gary; Jeanette Fisher; Lana; Macy; Faba; Bianca

C Tier:
Mandy; Peter Pebbleman; Sophocles; Acerola; Plumeria

C- Tier:
Samson Oak; SM James; Mina

D+ Tier:
Dominic

D Tier:
Lillie; Mallow; SM Jessie

D- Tier:
Hiroki; Pikarla; Bowling Pins Trainers that didn't get any offense in the 151 Battle Royal; Trainers that didn't get past the screening rounds in Johto; Trainers that didn't get past the prelims in Hoenn

BTW, did I miss anyone?

 

[Doppelgänger]

I consider every region from Kanto-Sinnoh to have roughly the same level of competition. Each region has multiple rookies competing (i.e., Kanto Ash) so Ash's placements further and further reflect his growing experience and skill.

Unova and Kalos are wildly inconsistent compared to the first 4 series or even each other, they only internally consistent.

 

[mehmeh1]

I consider every region from Kanto-Sinnoh to have roughly the same level of competition. Each region has multiple rookies competing (i.e., Kanto Ash) so Ash's placements further and further reflect his growing experience and skill.

Unova and Kalos are wildly inconsistent compared to the first 4 series or even each other, they only internally consistent.

I'd say that's more with Kanto-Hoenn (though we didn't get to see the better Kanto trainers), Sinnoh had Ash, Paul, and Tobias, and I doubt Kanto-Hoenn had any trainers of their caliber

 

[Akkipeddi]

High E4 Tier:
Alain

Low E4 Tier:
XY Ash, Tobias

S Tier:
DP Ash; Paul

S- Tier:
Sawyer

A+ Tier:
Virgil, Astrid, Harrison, Hoenn Ash, Remo, Tyson, Gladion

A Tier:
Joe Dickson; Guzma; Johto Ash; Gary, SM Ash, Cameron

A- Tier:
Barry, Tierno

B+ Tier:
Conway, Katie, Kiawe, Trip

B Tier:
Ilima

B- Tier:
Morrison, Nando, Cameron, BW Ash, Stephan, Ritchie, Jackson

C+ Tier:
Kanto Ash, Jeanette Fisher, Macy, Bianca, Hau, Trevor

C Tier:
Mandy, Peter Pebbleman, Acerola, Plumeria, Faba, Lana

C- Tier:
SM James, Sophocles, Mina

D+ Tier:
Dominic, Samson Oak

D Tier:
SM Jessie, Lillie

D- Tier:
Hiroki, Pikarla, Mallow

 

[Doppelgänger]

Ash lost in the quarterfinals of Evergrande, meaning Tyson had to beat two more opponents at least Ash's level in order to win the entire league. Even if those opponents are not explicitly league vets, it's reasonable to assume you will run into vets or trainers just as skilled once you make it into the quarterfinals.

Unova makes no sense because Cameron is too stupid to have believably raised a Hydreigon, Ferrothorn and Samurott before his 8th Badge; he beats Ash with five (basically three) Pokemon but then loses to Virgil in an honest 6-5. Yet, Virgil's final opponent is the guy Ash beat in the very first Don George tournament...what?

In Kalos, Alain's Metagross takes out most of Remo's team in the semifinals. Metagross was still young since it evolved from Metang before the league. That kind of strength doesn't make sense and delegitimizes Pikachu beating Metagross later.

When Pokemon cared about continuity, it had to be careful about being consistent with trainer strength. Abandoning that allowed them to have interesting battles with more iconic Pokemon, but it also made those series too dissonant to compare to anything but themselves.

 

[PokemonBattleFanatic-]

SKILL

S Tier - (Paul)

A Tier - (Conway) (Katie) (DP Ash)

B Tier - (XY Ash) (Sawyer)

C Tier - (Tyson) (Alain) (Harrison) (Barry) (Trip) (OS Gary) (AG Ash)

D Tier - (Cameron) (Bianca)

 

[AznKei]

SKILL

S Tier - (Paul)

A Tier - (Conway) (Katie) (DP Ash)

B Tier - (XY Ash) (Sawyer)

C Tier - (Tyson) (Alain) (Harrison) (Barry) (Trip) (OS Gary) (AG Ash)

D Tier - (Cameron) (Bianca)

So I would assume that Cynthia would be SSS Tier since that she's absolutely perfect. And no, SSS isn't made up since I played the Pump It Up arcade dance game and this is the highest rank.

 

[PokemonBattleFanatic-]

So I would assume that Cynthia would be SSS Tier since that she's absolutely perfect. And no, SSS isn't made up since I played the Pump It Up arcade dance game and this is the highest rank.

I was only ranking the regular level trainers from the leagues not the champions,frontier brains or elite four.On paper she should be more skilled than everyone I listed but from just eyetest Paul is #1.

 

[AznKei]

I was only ranking the regular level trainers from the leagues not the champions,frontier brains or elite four.On paper she should be more skilled than everyone I listed but from just eyetest Paul is #1.

Yeah, I know. I just made a pun about Cynthia, because in anime terms she's pretty much invincible regardless of her status. Not to discredit the regular level trainers.

 

[ash&charizardfan]

Yeah, I know. I just made a pun about Cynthia, because in anime terms she's pretty much invincible regardless of her status. Not to discredit the regular level trainers.

I doubt that she will be invincible especially against other champions, after seeing how they made both steven and diantha equal even cynthia would be on there level.

 

[MockingJ]

SKILL

S Tier - (Paul)

A Tier - (Conway) (Katie) (DP Ash)

B Tier - (XY Ash) (Sawyer)

C Tier - (Tyson) (Alain) (Harrison) (Barry) (Trip) (OS Gary) (AG Ash)

D Tier - (Cameron) (Bianca)

How the hell is Alain so low? He had more skill than most if not all of those competitors given how quickly he collected badges and how many times he trounced Ash. Not to mention his team and his mastery of Mega Evolution. The Paul wanking you do is ridiculous.

 

[PokemonBattleFanatic-]

How the hell is Alain so low? He had more skill than most if not all of those competitors given how quickly he collected badges and how many times he trounced Ash. Not to mention his team and his mastery of Mega Evolution. The Paul wanking you do is ridiculous.

In all the battles I've seen Alain in he has not shown anything more impressive than what Tyson or Harrison did.A guy a while back said the exact same thing but never showed me evidence but there isn't because I watched all his battles,he's average at best compared to guys like Conway,DP Ash and Paul.

Everything you just said with him breezing through gyms collecting badges and stomping Ash mainly if not all had to do with his OP Charizard,so he won mostly with brute force nothing special real simple.You have a problem with me ranking Paul at #1 over your precious XY Ash,Alain,Sawyer.Go cry about it in the f*ckin corner.But I'll ask this question again.What has Alain done in XY that comes close to what Paul has done in DP in terms of battling?

-When Pokemon Worlds Collide
-Different Strokes for Different Blokes
-Shapes of Things to Come
-Top-Down Training
-Tag We're It
-Pedal to the Mettle
-Evolving Strategies
-Casting a Paul on Barry
-Familiarity Breeds Strategy
-A Real Rival Rouser
-Battling a Thaw in Relations

 

[Genaller]

@mehmeh1 since it’s league competitors, do we only factor in team combinations they used in the league?

 

[mehmeh1]

@mehmeh1 since it’s league competitors, do we only factor in team combinations they used in the league?

Yeah, why not?

 

[Lord Godwin]

In all the battles I've seen Alain in he has not shown anything more impressive than what Tyson or Harrison did.A guy a while back said the exact same thing but never showed me evidence but there isn't because I watched all his battles,he's average at best compared to guys like Conway,DP Ash and Paul.

Everything you just said with him breezing through gyms collecting badges and stomping Ash mainly if not all had to do with his OP Charizard,so he won mostly with brute force nothing special real simple.You have a problem with me ranking Paul at #1 over your precious XY Ash,Alain,Sawyer.Go cry about it in the f*ckin corner.But I'll ask this question again.What has Alain done in XY that comes close to what Paul has done in DP in terms of battling?

-When Pokemon Worlds Collide
-Different Strokes for Different Blokes
-Shapes of Things to Come
-Top-Down Training
-Tag We're It
-Pedal to the Mettle
-Evolving Strategies
-Casting a Paul on Barry
-Familiarity Breeds Strategy
-A Real Rival Rouser
-Battling a Thaw in Relations

Just out of curiosity, where would you rank Guzma against Conway,DP Ash and Paul?

 

[Genaller]

Yeah, why not?

Alright then:

Full Teams

1. Alain
2. XY Ash

3. Tobias (Darkrai and Latios)
4. DP Ash (vs Tobias Team)

5. Sawyer
6. DP Ash (vs Paul Team)
7. Paul (vs Ash Team)
8. Remo

9. Virgil
10. Tyson
11. AG Ash (Hoenn League Team)
12. Johto Ash ( vs Gary Team)
13. Gary (vs Ash Team)
14. Harrison (vs Ash Team)
15. Johto Ash (vs Harrison Team)

16. Katie
17. Morrison
18. Cameron


I’ll do 3 vs 3, 2 vs 2 (including doubles) and 1 vs 1 teams later. Also @mehmeh1 you forgot Virgil and Dino (UL finalist who gave Virgil a competitive 5-6 fight).

 

[mehmeh1]

Alright then:

Full Teams

1. Alain
2. XY Ash

3. Tobias (Darkrai and Latios)
4. DP Ash (vs Tobias Team)

5. Sawyer
6. DP Ash (vs Paul Team)
7. Paul (vs Ash Team)
8. Remo

9. Virgil
10. Tyson
11. AG Ash (Hoenn League Team)
12. Johto Ash ( vs Gary Team)
13. Gary (vs Ash Team)
14. Harrison (vs Ash Team)
15. Johto Ash (vs Harrison Team)

16. Katie
17. Morrison
18. Cameron


I’ll do 3 vs 3, 2 vs 2 (including doubles) and 1 vs 1 teams later. Also @mehmeh1 you forgot Virgil and Dino (UL finalist who gave Virgil a competitive 5-6 fight).

Pretty good list. Also, I did put virgil (he's on A, though maybe he should be on A+), though yeah, I did forget Dino

 

[345ash-greninja]

Well how should Gladion & SM Ash place after today's landmark & historical episode?

 

[mehmeh1]

Well how should Gladion & SM place after today's landmark & historical episode?

I think I should bump them both to S-, as the fight was incredibly close, though maybe I'll bump SM Ash to S depending on how the Masked Royal fight goes

 

[PokemonBattleFanatic-]

Just out of curiosity, where would you rank Guzma against Conway,DP Ash and Paul?

I don't watch sun & moon but I'd probably put him in the c tier.