…It's over. But it's an odd feeling. I'm not angry that I lost. In fact, I feel happy. Happy that I witnessed the rise of a great new Champion!
Lance in Gold, Silver and Crystal
Lance is a recurring character in Pokémon. He is a user of Dragon types, and stands as the final Elite Four member in Red, Blue and their remakes.
In Pokémon Gold, Silver, Crystal and their remakes, he stands as the Champion of the Pokémon League.
Quick Answers
What type of Pokémon does Lance specialize in?
What role does Lance play in Pokémon Gold, Silver, Crystal and their remakes?
What is the significance of Lance in the Elite Four?
How is Lance's character depicted in Pokémon?
What is the design inspiration behind Lance's costume in Pokémon?
Appearance
Lance is a tall, thin man with bright scarlet red spiked hair, pale skin, and dark eyes.
Red, Green and Blue
Yellow
Lance's appearance remains the same as it is in Red, Green and Blue.
Gold and Silver
He wears a medieval-looking navy blue tunic with red-orange trim, a brown belt around his waist, and large black boots with orange two rings around the top of each boot. The cuffs of his long sleeves are black with orange zigzagging trim separating the cuff from the navy blue part of the sleeve. He sports a long, flowing cape around his neck which is black on the outside and crimson red on the inside.
Crystal
Lance's appearance remains the same as it is in Gold and Silver.
FireRed and LeafGreen
Lance has blue eyes and wears a blue suit with orange color around his sleeves and on the chest area. He also wears a dark belt around his waist, some brown boots with orange heels, and a brown cloak, which is red on the inside.
HeartGold and SoulSilver
He wears a medieval-looking navy blue tunic with red-orange trim, a brown belt around his waist, and large black boots with orange two rings around the top of each boot. The cuffs of his long sleeves are black with orange zigzagging trim separating the cuff from the navy blue part of the sleeve. He sports a long, flowing cape around his neck which is black on the outside and crimson red on the inside.
Black 2 and White 2
Lance's appearance remains the same as it is in HeartGold and SoulSilver.
Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!
Lance's attire is noticeably more casual than his previous outfits. He now wears a black shirt with a blue logo in the shape of a dragon on the front, with an open red jacket over it, and sports dark gray colored pants and brown boots. His cape lacks a high collar, is blue with gold trim at both the top and outside and gray on the inside.
Personality
Lance is a very noble and respectful person. He is serious about his training and will not hold back his strength when it comes to battling any challengers. He is an expert at training Dragon-Pokémon, and is extremely skilled at battling. He believes that his inner-strength lies in his ability to professionally train Dragons, and he believes deeply in his Pokémon, that they are strong and superior. Despite this, he is a good sport, and will not become angry if he loses to the player character, but will instead gracefully accept defeat, and will happily congratulate them on defeating the Elite Four and becoming the new Champion.
Etymology
The name "Lance" is literally "lance", a weapon often used by knights, who are, in turn, often associated with fantasy and thus dragons.
His Japanese name, Wataru, comes from 渡る (wataru, an uncommon way of saying "to end" in Japanese, as he's the final Elite Four member in Generations I, III, and VII and the Champion in Generations II and IV). It may also come from Watatsumi, a dragon-like god in Shintoism. Following the plant-based naming of most characters, it could also come from 綿 (wata, the Japanese name for cotton).
Biography
Games
Red, Green and Blue
Lance is a member of the Elite Four in the Kanto region and is fought just before the player character fights their rival who is the new Pokemon League Champion.
Yellow
His role in Yellow is the same as it is in Red, Green and Blue.
Gold and Silver
It is revealed that Lance has a cousin named Clair, who is the Blackthorn City Gym Leader, and who also specializes in using Dragon-type Pokémon.
In the two years between Red, Green and Blue and Gold and Silver, he became the Champion of the Johto region, presumably replacing Red who had stepped down.
At the Lake of Rage in Johto, the player character meets Lance after the battle against the Red Gyarados with Lance introducing himself to them and enlisting the player character's help in investigating a strange signal coming from a shop in Mahogany Town. After the player's arrived at the shop, they will find Lance ordering one of his Dragonite to use Hyper Beam on an associate before recalling Dragonite with Lance then heading over and revealing a trap that brings the two of them down to Team Rocket's HQ.
During the incident to stop Team Rocket in Mahogany Town, Lance meets Silver who challenges him to a battle but Lance proceeds to easily defeat Silver before berating him for his way of treating Pokemon, Lance even voicing his belief that Silver doesn't believe or trust in his Pokemon, something that has Silver outraged and coming to regard Lance as "a bleeding heart".
Once the Team Rocket Grunts and Admins have all been beaten and ultimately fled their HQ with the Electrode who were powering the machine being used to sent the signal all being knocked out in the process, Lance congratulates the player character and gives them HM06 which contains the Water-type attack, Whirlpool and reveals it can't be used without the badge from the Mahogany Town Pokemon Gym.
Crystal
His role in Crystal is the same as it is in Gold and Silver.
FireRed and LeafGreen
Lance is the 4th member of the Indigo Pokémon League, and can perform attacks with his Dragon type Pokémon.
HeartGold and SoulSilver
In HeartGold and SoulSilver, he and Clair will fight a double battle against the player character and their rival which takes place at the Dragon's Den in Blackthorn City.
Black 2 and White 2
In Black 2 and White 2, Lance makes an appearance in the Champion Tournament in the Pokémon World Tournament, having a full team of his signature type, Dragon.
Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!
Lance is still the fourth member of the Elite Four of Kanto.
Other appearances
Sprites
Pokémon
Red, Blue and Green
Yellow
Gold, Silver and Crystal
 Gyarados  
|
 Dragonite 
|
 Aerodactyl 
|
 Charizard 
|
Dragonite
|
Dragonite
| ||||||
| Lv. 44 | ♂ | Lv. 47 | ♂ | Lv. 46 | ♂ | Lv. 46 | ♂ | Lv. 47 | ♂ | Lv. 50 | ♂ |
| Ability: None | Ability: None | Ability: None | Ability: None | Ability: None | Ability: None | ||||||
| Item: None | Item: None | Item: None | Item: None | Item: None | Item: None | ||||||
| Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | ||||||
| Rain Dance | Thunder Wave | Rock Slide | Flamethrower | Twister | Safeguard | ||||||
| Surf | Twister | Wing Attack | Slash | Thunder | Fire Blast | ||||||
| Flail | Blizzard | Ancient Power | Wing Attack | Thunder Wave | Outrage | ||||||
FireRed and LeafGreen
 Gyarados
|
 Dragonair
|
Dragonair
|
 Aerodactyl
|
 Dragonite
| |||||
| Lv. 56 | ♂ | Lv. 54 | ♂ | Lv. 54 | ♂ | Lv. 58 | ♂ | Lv. 60 | ♂ |
| Ability: Intimidate | Ability: Shed Skin | Ability: Shed Skin | Ability: Pressure | Ability: Inner Focus | |||||
| Item: None | Item: None | Item: None | Item: None | Item: Sitrus Berry | |||||
| Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | |||||
| Dragon Rage | Outrage | Safeguard | Wing Attack | Safeguard | |||||
| Bite | Dragon Rage | Thunder Wave | Ancient Power | Outrage | |||||
| Twister | Safeguard | Outrage | Scary Face | Wing Attack | |||||
Gyarados
|
Dragonite
|
 Kingdra
|
Aerodactyl
|
Dragonite
| |||||
| Lv. 68 | ♂ | Lv. 66 | ♂ | Lv. 66 | ♂ | Lv. 70 | ♂ | Lv. 72 | ♂ |
| Ability: Intimidate | Ability: Inner Focus | Ability: Swift Swim | Ability: Pressure | Ability: Inner Focus | |||||
| Item: None | Item: None | Item: None | Item: None | Item: Persim Berry | |||||
| Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | |||||
| Earthquake | Flamethrower | Dragon Dance | Ancient Power | Thunderbolt | |||||
| Dragon Dance | Dragon Claw | Ice Beam | Earthquake | Outrage | |||||
| Thunder Wave | Earthquake | Surf | Aerial Ace | Ice Beam | |||||
HeartGold and SoulSilver
 Gyarados
|
 Dragonite
|
 Aerodactyl
|
 Charizard
|
Dragonite
|
Dragonite
| ||||||
| Lv. 46 | ♂ | Lv. 49 | ♂ | Lv. 48 | ♂ | Lv. 48 | ♂ | Lv. 49 | ♂ | Lv. 50 | ♂ |
| Ability: Intimidate | Ability: Inner Focus | Ability: Pressure | Ability: Blaze | Ability: Inner Focus | Ability: Inner Focus | ||||||
| Item: None | Item: None | Item: None | Item: None | Item: None | Item: Sitrus Berry | ||||||
| Ice Fang | Hyper Beam | Thunder Fang | Fire Fang | Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | ||||||
| Dragon Pulse | Thunder Wave | Rock Slide | Air Slash | Dragon Rush | Safeguard | ||||||
| Waterfall | Dragon Rush | Crunch | Shadow Claw | Blizzard | Fire Blast | ||||||
| Flail | Thunder | Aerial Ace | Dragon Claw | Thunder Wave | Outrage | ||||||
Dragonite
| |||||||
| Lv. 40 | ♂
| ||||||
| Ability: Inner Focus
| |||||||
| Item: None
| |||||||
| Fly | |||||||
| Twister | |||||||
| Thunder | |||||||
| Hyper Beam | |||||||
 Dragonair
|
 Kingdra
|
Dragonite
|
Gyarados
|
Charizard
|
Dragonite
| ||||||
| Lv. 52 | ♀ | Lv. 56 | ♀ | Lv. 60 | ♀ | Lv. 68 | ♂ | Lv. 68 | ♂ | Lv. 75 | ♂ |
| Ability: Shed Skin | Ability: Sniper | Ability: Inner Focus | Ability: Intimidate | Ability: Blaze | Ability: Inner Focus | ||||||
| Item: None | Item: None | Item: None | Item: None | Item: None | Item: Sitrus Berry | ||||||
| Thunder Wave | Yawn | Hyper Beam | Thunder Wave | Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | ||||||
| Flamethrower | Hydro Pump | DragonBreath | Ice Fang | Air Slash | Safeguard | ||||||
| Dragon Rush | Dragon Breath | Thunder | Waterfall | Flamethrower | Fire Punch | ||||||
| Thunderbolt | Ice Beam | Protect | Dragon Dance | Dragon Claw | Draco Meteor | ||||||
Black 2 and White 2
 Dragonite
|
 Salamence
|
 Kingdra
|
 Hydreigon 
|
 Haxorus
|
 Flygon 
| ||||||
| Lv. 50 | [[Gender|]] | Lv. 50 | [[Gender|]] | Lv. 50 | [[Gender|]] | Lv. 50 | [[Gender|]] | Lv. 50 | [[Gender|]] | Lv. 50 | [[Gender|]] |
| Ability: Inner Focus | Ability: Intimidate | Ability: Swift Swim or Sniper | Ability: Levitate | Ability: Rivalry or Mold Breaker | Ability: Levitate | ||||||
| Item: Focus Sash | Item: Expert Belt | Item: Scope Lens | Item: White Herb | Item: Choice Scarf | Item: Power Herb | ||||||
| Extreme Speed | Dragon Claw | Surf | Draco Meteor | Outrage | Solar Beam | ||||||
| Ice Punch | Crunch | Ice Beam | Fire Blast | Superpower | Draco Meteor | ||||||
| Fire Punch | Earthquake | Dragon Pulse | Earth Power | Earthquake | Earthquake | ||||||
| Draco Meteor | Stone Edge | Flash Cannon | Dark Pulse | Rock Slide | U-turn | ||||||
Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!
 Seadra
|
 Aerodactyl
|
 Gyarados
|
 Charizard
|
 Dragonite
| |||||
| Lv. 54 | ♀ | Lv. 54 | ♂ | Lv. 54 | ♀ | Lv. 54 | ♂ | Lv. 55 | ♂ |
| Ability: None | Ability: None | Ability: None | Ability: None | Ability: None | |||||
| Item: None | Item: None | Item: None | Item: None | Item: None | |||||
| Hydro Pump | Rock Slide | Waterfall | Air Slash | Outrage | |||||
| Dragon Pulse | Earthquake | Iron Tail | Dragon Pulse | Fire Punch | |||||
| Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | |||||
Seadra
|
Aerodactyl
|
Gyarados
|
 Charizard
|
 Exeggutor 
| |||||
| Lv. 64 | ♀ | Lv. 64 | ♂ | Lv. 64 | ♀ | Lv. 64 | ♂ | Lv. 64 | ♂ |
| Ability: None | Ability: None | Ability: None | Ability: None | Ability: None | |||||
| Item: None | Item: None | Item: None | Item: None | Item: None | |||||
| Hydro Pump | Rock Slide | Waterfall | Air Slash | Mega Drain | |||||
| Dragon Pulse | Earthquake | Iron Tail | Dragon Pulse | Dragon Pulse | |||||
| Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | |||||
| Blizzard | Crunch | Crunch | Thunder Punch | Psychic | |||||
Stadium
Gym Leader Castle
Stadium 2
Gym Leader Castle
Gyarados
|
 Steelix 
|
Aerodactyl
|
Charizard
|
 Tyranitar
|
Dragonite
| ||||||
| Lv. 50 | - | Lv. 50 | - | Lv. 50 | - | Lv. 50 | - | Lv. 50 | - | Lv. 50 | - |
| Ability: None | Ability: None | Ability: None | Ability: None | Ability: None | Ability: None | ||||||
| Item: PRZCureBerry | Item: Ice Berry | Item: PSNCureBerry | Item: Mint Berry | Item: Bitter Berry | Item: Focus Band | ||||||
| Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | ||||||
| Dragon Rage | Iron Tail | AncientPower | Flamethrower | DragonBreath | Steel Wing | ||||||
| Surf | DragonBreath | Earthquake | Dig | Crunch | Thunder | ||||||
| Sleep Talk | Earthquake | Wing Attack | Fly | Rock Slide | DragonBreath | ||||||
 Feraligatr
|
 Kangaskhan 
|
Aerodactyl
|
 Arcanine
|
Tyranitar
|
Dragonite
| ||||||
| Lv. 50 | - | Lv. 50 | - | Lv. 50 | - | Lv. 50 | - | Lv. 50 | - | Lv. 50 | - |
| Ability: None | Ability: None | Ability: None | Ability: None | Ability: None | Ability: None | ||||||
| Item: Mystic Water | Item: BrightPowder | Item: King's Rock | Item: MiracleBerry | Item: Quick Claw | Item: Scope Lens | ||||||
| Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | Hyper Beam | ||||||
| Earthquake | Submission | AncientPower | Flamethrower | Crunch | Thunderbolt | ||||||
| Surf | Earthquake | Wing Attack | Extreme Speed | Rock Slide | Ice Beam | ||||||
| Blizzard | Rock Slide | Earthquake | Crunch | Earthquake | DragonBreath | ||||||
Trivia
- In every main series Pokémon game except Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver and Black 2 and White 2, all of Lance's Pokémon know the move Hyper Beam.
- Despite being called a Dragon-type Trainer, Lance actually has more Flying-type Pokémon than Dragon.
- In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee!, he only uses one Pokémon of his specialty type in his initial battle.
- Lance shares the same battle theme as Red.
- He's the only Champion that uses more than one pseudo-legendary Pokémon, using three of the Pseudo-Legendary Dragon types (Hydreigon did not exist when Heart Gold and Soul Silver were released).
- In Red and Blue, Lance's Dragonite could learn Barrier, a move it couldn't learn until Generation VI.
- In Pokémon: Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee, Lance is the only Elite Four member whose Pokémon Mega Evolves.
- He is quite fond of capes. In fact, some people had witnessed him buying capes that were the same style as the one he wears in Celadon Department Store before.
- In the Generation II games, Lance's Aerodactyl uses the move Rock Slide, a move Aerodactyl doesn't have access to until Generation III.
- Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 are the only games in which all of Lance's team consists of Dragon-type Pokémon.
Gallery
| Locations · Pokédex | |
| Gym Leaders | |
| Others | |
| See also | |
| Characters | |
| Locations · Pokédex | |
| Gym Leaders | |
| Frontier BrainsHGSS | |
| Others | |
| See also | |
| Characters | |
| Kanto | |
|---|---|
| Johto | |
| Hoenn | |
| Sinnoh | |
| Unova | |
| Kalos | |
| Alola | |
| Paldea | |
| Blueberry Academy | |
| See also | |
| Games |
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