The Complete List of Pokemon Characters From Generation 4

The fourth generation of Pokemon is my favorite generation. This era of Pokemon titles is incredibly nostalgic since I played it during my formative years. Pokemon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum were all well-received on release and the games currently sit in the mid-80s on Metacritic. The generation is known for introducing fan-favorite Pokemon and some of the best narratives in Pokemon. However, a game’s narrative is only as good as its characters, and Generation 4 is full of memorable characters. Here is an exhaustive list of Pokemon characters from the fourth generation of games.

Lucas

Lucas is the male protagonist of the fourth-generation games as well as their eighth-generation remakes. He is the male counterpart to Dawn, the female protagonist, and his storyline changes depending on who the player picks as their avatar. If Dawn is chosen by the player, he takes her role as Professor Rowan’s assistant.

Dawn

Similar to Lucas, Dawn is one of the protagonist options for the Generation 4 games. She is the female counterpart to Lucas and like Lucas, her story changes depending on the player character. If Dawn is chosen by the player, Lucas becomes Professor Rowan’s assistant in her stead.

Barry

Barry is the de facto rival in Pokemon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. Similar to Lucas (or Dawn depending on the player) Barry is also from Twinleaf Town. He grew up alongside the player and they’re obviously close due to how Barry and his mom interact with the player throughout the game. Barry is an impatient boy. He crashes into people all throughout the game and even sometimes misses important details when being instructed. His character arc takes him from laid-back and impatient to a more serious, realistic character.

Cheryl

In Eterna Forest, the player runs into Cheryl. She is one of five Pokemon Trainers who can join you in combat in the fourth-generation games. She’s a timid woman who specializes in tanky high HP Pokemon. She asks to join you when you first enter Eterna Forest because she’s scared of the lurking Team Galactic.

Mira

Just like Cheryl, Mira is also one of the five Pokemon Trainers who can join the player in the fourth Generation games. She is found lost in Wayward Cave and asks for you to escort her out. She grows fond of the player during her section of the game and claims to want to be like them when she grows up. She’s very childish and even refers to herself in the third person.

Riley

Riley is another of the five potential Pokemon Trainers that can join you. He is found on Iron Island and helps the player get through the mines present on the island. After escaping and clearing out some Team Galactic Grunts along the way, he gives the player an egg that hatches into Riolu. Riley is a bit more important for the story when compared to characters like Mira and Cheryl.

Marley

Marley joins the player in a certain part of Victory Road. Marley can be entirely skipped because she can only be found after the player has obtained the National Pokedex. Marley is quiet and methodical. She says that she prefers to choose her words carefully since she is prone to hurting people’s feelings unintentionally.

Buck

Buck can be found in the Fight Area in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl. He’s a strong trainer from the Survival Area close to Stark Mountain. Players stumble across him during the process of catching Heatran. He can tag team with the player like the others directly above him and he’s known for his affinity for defensive Pokemon.

Professor Rowan

Professor Rowan works in Sandgem Town making him the first Professor from the handheld titles that doesn’t live in the player’s hometown. He’s a stern man who comes off sometimes as intimidating or mean. However, he’s actually a very kind man.

Roark

Roark is not only the gym leader of Oreburgh City but he’s also the Oreburg Mine’s safety supervisor. Funnily enough, he wasn’t even the first choice to be the Gym Leader. Riley was originally considered for the position but declined and suggested Roark.

Gardenia

Gardenia is the Gym Leader in Eterna City. She’s unique as a Leader because all challengers are required to beat all of her students to challenge her. She doesn’t like ghost-type Pokemon which hints at the fact that she is scared of ghosts.

Maylene

Maylene is a fighting-type Pokemon Trainer and the gym leader of Veilstone City. She has quite the appetite as you can find her in Celadon City’s local restaurant in HeartGold and SoulSilver.

Crasher Wake

Crasher Wake is a jovial and enthusiastic personality. He prioritizes fun over power in his Pokemon battles and encourages the same in other trainers. He is the Gym Leader of Pastoria City and fights with water-type Pokemon.

Fantina

Fantina speaks a mix of French and broken English in the NA release of the Generation 4 games. In the other versions, her native tongue is swapped around. In the Japanese version, she speaks broken Japanese and in the French version, she speaks broken French. She’s the Gym Leader of Hearthome City and specializes in ghost-type Pokemon.

Byron

Byron is the Gym Leader of Canalave City and Roark’s father. He realizes he’s part of an aging generation and trains harder at Iron Island to keep up.

Candice

Candice is the Gym Leader of Snowpoint. She loves fashion and takes pride in her warm and friendly personality. She thinks it’s funny she acts the opposite of the way people would expect an ice-type Gym Leader to behave.

Volkner

Volkner is the Gym Leader of Sunyshore City. He uses electric-type Pokemon. When the player finds him he is dejected and depressed because he hasn’t had a good Pokemon match in a while.

Aaron

Aaron is the first of the Elite Four. He loves nature and bug-type Pokemon.

Bertha

Bertha is the second member of the Elite Four. She’s very observant and advocates for other trainers to work on their observation skills. She also prefers to keep her identity as one of Sinnoh’s Elite Four a secret because she doesn’t like the expectations attached to the title.

Flint

Flint is the third member of the Elite Four. He’s a supportive friend and is very fond of Volkner. He’s passionate about battling and believes in a strong defense making a better offense.

Lucian

Lucian is super polite and likes to help out other trainers. Lucian is the fourth Elite Four member. His strategy in battle is tiring out his opponents before striking back.

Cynthia

The Champion of the Generation 4 games, Cynthia made her first appearance in Diamond and Pearl. She’s an archeologist who investigates myths surrounding Pokemon and is also the first female, non-playable Champion. Cynthia is well spoken, calm woman, who likes to relax and travel.

Cyrus

Cyrus is the boss of Team Galactic and is the main antagonist of the Generation 4 games. His ultimate goal is to summon Dialga and/or Palkia to destroy the universe so he can shape it in his image. People who knew Cyrus before Team Galactic knew him to be a good, although awkward person.

Mars

Mars is one of Team Galactic’s four Commanders. Mars lacks the vindictive nature seen in her fellow Commanders. She was extremely loyal to Team Galactic’s cause and only acted under Cyrus’s direct orders.

Jupiter

Jupiter is one of Team Galactic’s four Commanders. Jupiter has an egotistical, vindictive personality.

Saturn

Saturn is one of Team Galactic’s four Commanders. Saturn is determined to successfully complete all his missions and would order a tactical retreat to avoid further complications.

Palmer

Palmer is Barry’s father and is very similar to his son since he too is always in a rush. Palmer is a confident showman who enjoys the crowd’s attention and inspiring new generations of Pokemon Trainers. He raises his Pokemon with respect, which has made them virtually unbeatable in battle.

Pokemon Available In Generation 4 Games