Most Pokemon trainer NPCs you face in the games are like the gym teachers of RPGs. They challenge you, push you to improve, but never ambush you with nonsense.
Their Pokemon are usually properly levelled, fair, and have move sets that seem hand-picked by the Pokemon omnibus committee. Every battle feels tailored, like a sparring match meant to teach rather than to knock out.
But not all trainers follow this player-friendly contract. No, some of them play like they're using cheat codes from a 2001 GameShark guide. These are the trainers who make you check again if your cartridge's still working properly.
What Are Trainers with Illegal Pokemon?
They're the rebels of the Pokemon world. Trainers with illegal Pokemon break the rules by using Pokemon with impossible move sets, evolutionary levels that don't make sense, or stats that make early-game battles feel like Dark Souls.
You'd think they were programmed to follow the same limits you are, but some developers just handed them partners straight out of a hacker’s wish list.
Lance and Aerodactyl
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+ 11Let’s talk about Lance. Not once, but twice, does he appear on this list. In Pokemon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, he’s already the Champion by the time you reach him at the Pokemon League.
His team is magnificent and his cape dramatic, and then his Aerodactyl uses Rock Slide. Sounds fair, right? A Rock-type Pokemon using a Rock move. The problem, though? In Generation II, Aerodactyl cannot legally learn Rock Slide. No access when levelling up, and there's no TM for it.
Lance, you had one job, and it's not to be an illegal trainer.
Corvin and Dracozolt
click to enlarge + 11Jump to industrial Galar and you’ll meet Corvin during the Champion Cup Rematch in Sword and Shield. Corvin’s team is impressive, but he drops jaws when he starts to send out his level 58 Dracozolt with Bolt Beak.
That’s Dracozolt’s signature move, and it hits twice as hard if it goes first. Given Dracozolt’s high Speed stat, that’s a terrifying pair. But here’s the kicker: Dracozolt learns Bolt Beak at level 63.
There’s no TM or Move Tutor for it, either. So what is Corvin doing with a Bolt Beak-wielding Dracozolt at level 58? Breaking Game Freak's law, probably.
Maxie and Camerupt
click to enlarge + 11Let’s rewind to Ruby and Sapphire and check in on the enigmatic Team Magma Leader Maxie. During the Mt. Chimney battle, Maxie shows up with a level 25 Camerupt. Camerupt! That’s the evolved form of Numel, which doesn’t evolve until level 33.
Maxie is either harboring a magma-powered Rare Candy machine or that Camerupt is a Numel in disguise wearing a fake hump back. Either way, it’s totally illegal. Imagine being a young trainer and seeing an evolved volcanot tank appear out of nowhere like it's no big deal. I'd feel burned and betrayed.
Master Trainer Jim and Onix
click to enlarge + 11In Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee, Master Trainers await those who seek true challenges. Each one uses a single species and specializes in an extra-strong strategy with that very Pokemon. Sounds cool until you meet Hiker Jim, the Onix Master.
His Onix knows Wrap, which is a move Onix can't learn by leveling, TM, or Move Tutor in these games. What’s the point of being a Master Trainer if you have to play illegally?
Lance (Again) and Dragonite
click to enlarge + 11Yes, we’re back to Lance because one Rock Slide wasn’t enough. During your battles with him in Generation II Pokemon League, Lance sends out not one, but two Dragonites at levels 47 and 50.
The itchy spot? Dragonair evolves into Dragonite at level 55. These aren’t just slightly underleveled, they’re evolutionary discrepancies.
How did he even get them? By buying black market evolution stones?
Rising Star Hamish and Kadabra
click to enlarge + 11In Pokemon X and Y, Rising Star Hamish lives up to his Trainer title, kind of. You find him early on Route 5, moving like a typical early-game hurdle. But then he sends out a Kadabra... at level 13.
That’s mental, because Abra doesn’t evolve until level 16. Nothing will prepare you for a level 13 Kadabra, and if you were planning to grind safely through Route 5? Too bad. Hamish will make you sweat bullets first.
Iono and Luxray
click to enlarge + 11In Scarlet and Violet’s post-game rematch, streamer slash Gym Leader Iono returns with a shocking vengeance. She now brings a level 65 Luxray using Wild Charge.
That move doesn’t come naturally to Luxray until level 80. There’s no TM to explain this one away, either. It’s not like she evolved a Shinx early or something. She just somehow knew she needed to win and broke the rules to try to get it.
All that electrifying buildup, and she still loses.
School Kid Ann and Wormadam
click to enlarge + 11Let’s talk about the innocence of youth. School Kid Ann, found on Route 12 in Black and White, seems fair at first. Until her Wormadam in Sand Cloak form busts out Leaf Storm, which would be fine if it were in Plant Cloak form.
Sand Cloak Wormadam cannot legally learn Leaf Storm. Like a science project gone wrong. It’s yet another case of “Why does this NPC have access to Poke-moves that I don’t?”
Ghetsis and Hydreigon
click to enlarge + 11When it comes to illegal-pushing villains, Ghetsis might be the final boss of bending rules. In your final battle with him in Black and White, he sends out a level 54 Hydreigon. Zweilous doesn’t evolve into Hydreigon until level 64.
So not only is Ghetsis manipulating N, he’s manipulating Pokemon evolution. Apparently, being evil comes with benefits, like a hacked hydra.
Fisher Marvin and Gyarados
click to enlarge + 11Back to the classic favorites. In Gold and Silver, Fisher Marvin appears early in the game, casually tossing out a level 10 Gyarados. Gyarados evolves from Magikarp at level 20. So how did this monstrosity end up here, so early, so strong? Is that lake filled with illegally-extracted Rare Candy serum, or did he win the lottery in fishing?
click to enlarge + 11These illegal Pokemon users are a strange blend of dev oversight, challenge design, and pure chaos. They’re not here to play by the Pokemon video game rules, and they’re here to ruin your pacing and momentum with a level 10 Gyarados and a fishy, smug look.
So the next time you’re in a tough trainer battle and something feels off, just remember, you might not be underleveled. They might just be using illegal Pokemon partners.
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