APokémon Coordinator (Japanese:ポケモンコーディネーターPokémon Coordinator) is aperson who raisesPokémon to compete inPokémon Contests, byfeeding them snacks used to enhance their appearances and teaching themmoves designed for particularappeals.

Background

Originating in theHoennregion, Pokémon coordinating is based on showing off Pokémon in visually impressive ways. It also refers to the act ofraising Pokémon particularly forPokémon Contests, rather than for regularbattles. As a result, it providesTrainers with an alternative to theBadge-collecting quest, giving them a different look at the many charms of Pokémon, as well as a distinct method for interacting with them. Trainers who focus in this area are called Pokémon Coordinators.

Coordinators typically concern themselves with the outward appearances of their Pokémon. Because of this, they tend to give them special,condition-enhancing treats made out ofBerries that keep them looking good. They also concentrate on themovesets of their Pokémon, teaching themappealing, attention-grabbing attacks that can be easilycombined to grant them additional points when used in Pokémon Contests. Like Trainers, Coordinators are also responsible for their Pokémon's overall health and well-being.

In all forms of Pokémon media, a Coordinator'sPokémon journey is focused on gathering a certain number of ContestRibbons by competing in regional Pokémon Contests. In order to earn a Ribbon, they must compete against other Coordinators in different rounds of judging. AContest Pass is usually required for entering these competitions. Additionally, in theSinnoh region, Coordinators generally wear formal attire or costume to compete.

It is not uncommon for seasoned Trainers, such asWallace, to become interested in Pokémon Contests. Other Trainers, such asNando, dedicate themselves to raise ateam that can perform well in Pokémon Contests andGym battles, collecting both Ribbons and Badges.

In the games

In some of thecore seriesPokémon games,players may choose to focus on raising Pokémon for the exclusive purpose of doing well in contests, making them part-time Coordinators. In order to increase their chances of winning Ribbons, they have to maximize one particular condition of their Pokémon and prioritize the contest properties when selecting the moves they will teach them, since battle properties, such aspower andaccuracy, have no effect in contests.

They are able to enter their Pokémon in five different categories, namelyCoolness,Beauty,Cuteness,Cleverness, andToughness. Each category has fourranks, but the Normal Rank is the only one unlocked at the start. For the higher ranks, they must first win the previous rank to participate. During a contest, they compete against three other Coordinators to determine which of them has the most appealing Pokémon. At the conclusion of judging, the best-performing Pokémon is declared the winner. InGenerationsIII andIV, the Pokémon receives a Ribbon according to the category and rank they won. InGeneration VI, a Ribbon is only awarded to Pokémon who have won in the Master Rank.

InPokémon Ruby, Sapphire, andEmerald, a Pokémon Contest has two stages of judging, primary and secondary. In theprimary judging, competing Coordinators present their Pokémon before the audience. To prepare their Pokémon for this stage, they must feed themPokéblocks compatible with theirNatures, as the audience members evaluate the Pokémon's condition andsheen. In thesecondary judging, Coordinators showcase their Pokémon's moves in five rounds. They need to plan appeals carefully to earn the most attention of theJudge and excite the audience. InPokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, although some changes have been made, the basic proceedings remain largely the same.

InPokémon Diamond, Pearl, andPlatinum,Pokémon Super Contests are divided into three stages, each stage focusing on a different skill. In theVisual Competition, Coordinators have to dress up their high-condition Pokémon in theme-appropriateAccessories within the 60-second time limit. Contest preparations include raising their Pokémon's condition and sheen withPoffins. In the second stage, known as theDance Competition, Coordinators command their Pokémon to dance according to the rhythm, either as lead or back dancer. The third and final stage is theActing Competition, where Coordinators display the appeal of their Pokémon's moves for judging in four rounds.

To date, the only time the term "Coordinator" was used in the games was in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, by a girl in an apartment inHearthome City.

In animation

Pokémon the Series

InPokémon the Series, Coordinators first appeared inAll Things Bright and Beautifly!, with the introduction ofPokémon Contests inPokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire. However, before that, many Trainers were seen raising their Pokémon to execute their attacks in an appealing way as well as teaching them how to battle in a stylish manner. In thiscanon, Coordinators go on stage to present their Pokémon in two rounds, the Performance Stage and the Battle Stage. Because of this, they have totrain Pokémon for bothappeals andbattles.

They travel across one or moreregions, competing in Pokémon Contests and collectingRibbons with the goal of winning theGrand Festival to receive theRibbon Cup and the title ofTop Coordinator. In a similar way to how aPokémon Trainer needs to collect eightGymBadges to participate in thePokémon League Conference, a Pokémon Coordinator needs to garner five Contest Ribbons to compete in the Grand Festival. However, since a Pokémon Contest is an event that occurs within a given period of time, Coordinators get just one chance to earn a certain Ribbon.

During the Performance Stage, Coordinators need to showcase their Pokémon's charms in order to appeal to the judges, by displaying an array of moves that bring out the very best in their Pokémon while captivating the audience with showiness. The second round consists ofsingle-elimination Contest Battles, where Coordinators and Pokémon are judged on the style of their moves and the way they are able to dodge their opponents' attacks. In a competition featuring theDouble Performance format, Coordinators are required to show off two Pokémon at once.

When they are entering a Pokémon Contest for the first time, Coordinators are given a regionalContest Pass and a Ribbon case. These items are also provided when Coordinators move to another region, since a Contest Pass can only be used to enter competitions held in the region in which it was originally obtained. Because their Pokémon have to make a good first impression right out of thePoké Ball, Coordinators inSinnoh are also supplied upon registration with aBall Capsule and a fewSeals, which can be used to create a showy entrance.

In the manga

Since its introduction, the concept of Pokémon coordinating has appeared in multiplePokémon manga series. In addition to the characters who have been shown to raise Pokémon especially to compete in Pokémon Contests, there are those that have entered these events just for fun and excitement. The following is a list of manga featuring characters who fall into the class of Coordinators:

• Ash & Pikachu
• Pokémon Adventures
• Pokémon Chamo-Chamo ☆ Pretty ♪
• Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!
• Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire

Notable Coordinators

See also:List of Pokémon Coordinators

Trivia

• ForDifferent Strokes for Different Blokes,Professor Oak's Big Pokémon Encyclopedia is about Pokémon Coordinators. He writes thissenryū about them: 「ポケモンと　うつくしくあれ　コーディネーター」"Being beautiful with Pokémon; that is a Coordinator."

In other languages

Related articles

	Pokémon Contests
	Necessary Spoils Pokéblocks •Poffins Contest Categories Cool •Beautiful •Cute •Clever •Tough Rounds Appeal •Battle •Dance •Visual	Participation Contest •Super Contest •Contest Show Coordinator •Contest Hall •Contest Pass TheGrand Festival Kanto •Hoenn •Sinnoh Top Coordinator •Ribbon Cup
	Others Combinations • Opponents (III •IV •VI •VIII) •Double Performance •Jamming Ribbons (list) •Stickers •Ball Capsules •Ranks •Judges •Announcers •Wallace Cup

This Trainer Class article is part ofProject CharacterDex, aBulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each character found in thePokémon games.

• Pokémon Contests
• Game characters
• Pokémon world
• Terminology
• Coordinators