Gotta recruit ’em all. The army community and those within it have often been compared to characters or groups from other media. Pokémon, being one of the most popular video game franchises worldwide, is no exception.

Designed by Wynn

Pokémon is a multimedia universe which has had a major impact on popular culture over the past two and a half decades. The first Pokémon games were released by GameFreak on the Gameboy console in Japan in 1996, which has since led to nine generations of games and a plethora of television entertainment. Even if you aren’t a fan, it’d be difficult to find someone who isn’t aware of the iconic Pikachu, or other classic Pokémon such as Magikarp or Squirtle.

If you aren’t already aware, the main focus of the Pokémon games are to catch and train Pokémon for battle. The games traditionally follow a linear story in which you face up to eight “Gym Leaders.” The narrative culminates in the Pokémon League, with the player being tasked to defeat the league’s Champion. The Champions in each game vary in personality, playstyle and difficulty, though they all serve as the final challenge for the player within the game’s story. Being such iconic parts of each Pokémon experience, it is only natural that we compare armies within our community to Champions!

Army of Club Penguin – Red

No discussion about armies would be complete without a mention of the Army of Club Penguin. Likewise, a conversation regarding the most difficult Pokémon battles in the franchise would be faulty in the absence of Red. Red is a representation of the player character in the original Pokémon Red, Blue and Green games. Returning in Pokémon Gold and Silver as well as their subsequent remakes, Red acts as the penultimate challenge for the player after completing the rest of the game. Though Red is not officially the Champion of the game, he shares numerous parallels with the Army of Club Penguin. They are both the original players of their respective games, with the Clovers being viewed as the “final boss” of the community for a significant period. The Clovers and Red, despite their age, are still forces to be respected. Battling either of them is not an easy feat.

Rebel Penguin Federation – Cynthia

Cynthia is often regarded by fans of the games as one of the most difficult battles the Pokémon series has to offer. Featuring a calm and collected demeanor and a monstrously strong team of Pokémon, it can be hard to know whether you’re ever in control when battling her. The Rebel Penguin Federation and Cynthia share much in common in this regard. The Rebels are known for being a longstanding titan of the community since its creation in 2007, gaining a reputation over recent years for scarcely picking fights unless they absolutely need to. When they do, however, the Rebels remind the community why so few armies tend to declare war on them. Though not without heart, Cynthia and the rebels share reservedness while demonstrating the sheer strength they are capable of. Be wary when facing either of them, as their Garchomp is just around the corner.

Help Force – Geeta

Geeta is the newest addition to the list of Champions. Geeta is known for her strong but calm demeanor, and actively participates in the Academy Ace Tournament. Sporting a variety of Pokémon, she is regarded as one of the toughest opponents in Paldea and has been nicknamed La Primera. Even though she’s hard on the other Gym Leaders in her region, and potentially even micromanages them, she stays being in their good graces and has become well respected. Much like the Help Force, as well. Despite being an army of the new generation, the Helpers have gained a reputation of doing very well in tournaments. The army excels in every time zone, and an opponent army will need to be quick on their feet if they plan to defeat an army as well versed as the Helpers. Prepare to have some type advantages- just like you’d need against Geeta.

Water Vikings – Steven

Steven reigns from the Hoenn region, a region that is criticized for having “too much water.” It was a no brainer to give the Water Vikings the Champion known as Steven. However, Steven, unlike the region he comes from, does not use a single water-type Pokémon. Steven’s cool and confident demeanor gives him the edge over his battle opponents. And, just when you think you’ve had enough, he throws out his Metagross onto the battlefield. Much like Steven, the Vikings immediately go on the attack. They are known for putting on impressive performances and defending their land ferociously. Don’t take their offensive nature as a weakness though. Much like Steven’s trump card, Metagross, the Vikings are able to adapt and gain the upper hand in a battle the moment you take too long to make a decide. Watch out for that Meteor Shower.

People’s Imperial Confederation – Diantha

Finally, we have come to Diantha representing the People’s Imperial Confederation. Hailing from the Kalos region, Diantha is quite the underrated Champion. She is referred to as the Grand Duchess. When she’s not battling other trainers, you can find her on the big screen in films. Having such a regal nature, Diantha sports a team that can only match her sort of grace. Don’t be fooled though, as her graceful Pokémon are able to pack a powerful punch. The Confederation are one of the older small-medium armies. Thus, they have an amount of respect only parallel to a Grand Duchess. Both the Confederation and Diantha share a thing in common: power pastel girlfriends.

If you ever consider going up against any of these five, I’d definitely recommend doing some hyper-training beforehand. Do you think our pairs match well together?

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