Pokémon Professor

Professor Sycamore (left), Professor Oak (center), and Professor Kukui (right) in the Pokémon Masters Animated Trailer

A Pokémon Professor (ポケモン博士(はかせ), Pokémon Expert?) is a type of profession introduced in Generation I.

Quick Answers

What is the role of a Pokémon Professor in the Pokémon World?

In the Pokémon World, a Pokémon Professor serves as a knowledgeable authority, providing rookie Trainers with their initial partner Pokémon and the Pokédex. These professors, named after various plants, trees, or shrubs, each have a unique research specialty, ranging from breeding patterns and habitats to evolutionary patterns and Pokémon origins.

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What is the typical attire of a Pokémon Professor?

The attire of a Pokémon Professor generally includes a white lab coat and a collared shirt. Additional elements can include trousers or shorts, shoes, and accessories like glasses or wristwatches. While the specifics can vary, the lab coat is a consistent element across all Pokémon Professors.

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What is the specialty of a Pokémon Professor?

A Pokémon Professor is a recognized authority in the Pokémon World, tasked with providing rookie Trainers their initial Pokémon and managing the distribution of the Pokédex. Each professor specializes in a unique field of study. Professor Aurea Juniper, for instance, delves into Pokémon origins and their connection to mythology, while Professor Augustine Sycamore focuses on the new type of evolution, Mega Evolution. The professors are typically named after plants, trees, or shrubs.

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How many Pokémon Professors are there usually in each region?

In the Pokémon universe, each region generally has one dedicated Pokémon Professor. These include Professors Elm, Birch, Rowan, Aurea Juniper, Sycamore, Kukui, Magnolia, and Laventon, each associated with Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos, Alola, Galar, and Hisui regions respectively. Other Professors like Krane, Hastings, Burnet, Willow, Bellis, and Grand Oak are linked to different locations.

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What does a Pokémon Professor provide to new Pokémon Trainers?

In the Pokémon World, a Pokémon Professor, recognized as a Pokémon Expert, provides rookie Trainers with their first partner Pokémon, which could be a Grass, Fire, or Water-type. They also distribute the Pokédex, a tool for storing Pokémon information. Pokémon Professors are typically named after plants, trees, or shrubs.

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Description

A Pokémon Professor is a veritable expert on the Pokémon World, in addition to having a more niche specialty with their studies. Most regions have only one Pokémon Professor, who typically gives a first partner Pokémon and a Pokédex to new Pokémon Trainers for their journey, especially the protagonists. A Pokémon Professor usually wears a white lab coat, just like Scientists. Most Pokémon Professors are elderly.

List

Core series

Artwork	Name	Region	Specialty
	Professor Samuel Oak	Kanto	The relationships between people and Pokémon
	Professor Elm	Johto	Breeding patterns and interactions between Pokémon
	Professor Birch	Hoenn	Pokémon habitats in correlation with human existence
	Professor Rowan	Sinnoh	Pokémon evolutionary patterns
	Professor Aurea Juniper	Unova	The origin of Pokémon in relation to mythology
	Professor Augustine Sycamore	Kalos XY	Mega Evolution
	Mable	Kalos LZA	The effects of the Urban Redevelopment Plan on Pokémon
	Professor Kukui	Alola	Moves used by Pokémon
	Professor Burnet	Alola	Alternate dimensions
	Samson Oak	Alola	Regional variants
	Professor Magnolia	Galar	Dynamax
	Sonia	Galar	The history of Galar and Dynamax
	Professor Sada	Paldea S	Terastal phenomenon and Paradox Pokémon
	Professor Turo	Paldea V

Former

• Cedric Juniper, the father of Professor Juniper.

Spinoffs

• Professor Willow, who rules the world of Pokémon GO.
• Professor Grand Oak, who needs the player's assistance to complete his Pokédex in Pokémon HOME.
• Professor Bellis, from the Pasio region. Her specialty is the study of the relationship between Pokémon and "Sync Stones", which are required for "Sync Moves".
• Professor Krane, who appears only in Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, set in the Orre region. Taking after his fathers' studies, Krane specializes in the purification of Shadow Pokémon.
• Professor Neroli first appears in the mobile app Pokémon Sleep, where the player records their sleep, which in turn helps Neroli study the sleep patterns of Pokémon.
• Professor Tangrowth, a Tangrowth who took on the mantle of professor after the extinction of humanity in Pokémon Pokopia.

Anime-exclusive

Several Pokémon Professors from the core series have appeared in Pokémon the Series, in addition to some who have not:

• Professor Fuji created the genetic clone of Mewtwo on New Island.
• Professor Lund, the foremost expert in terms of Deoxys.
• Professor Akihabara, credited with creating the Pokémon Transfer System and discovering the cyber-species of Porygon.
• Professor Felina Ivy is the professor in the Orange Islands. Her specialty study of the regional differences between Pokémon.
• Professor Cerise is the professor of the Cerise Laboratory in Kanto. His specialty is the study of the mysteries surrounding the world of Pokémon.
• Professor Friede, the leader of the Rising Volt Tacklers.

Manga-exclusive

There are also Pokémon Professors whose role is limited to appearances in Pokémon Adventures.

• Professor Yanase Berlitz, whose research revolved around methods to control Legendary Pokémon and the mother of Platinum, a Pokédex Holder and heir to the Berlitz Family throne.
• Mr. Berlitz, an associate and assistant to Professor Rowan.

Appearances

Core series

Throughout the core series, the Pokémon Professor of the game is seen at the start, introducing the player to the Pokémon World before proceeding to ask them a few questions. The setup is that a Pokémon Professor typically allows the first partner Pokémon for the player to choose to be either a Grass type, a Fire type, or a Water type. The player receives a Pokédex from the regional Pokémon Professor in a majority of games in the core series.

The Pokémon Professor of a game appears several times to assist the player during the plot or to give them certain key items.

Trivia

• Most Pokémon Professors are named after a plant, a tree, or a shrub, although the Pokémon Professors in games outside of the main series versions do not follow this pattern.
• Professor Kukui and Professor Burnet are the first two Pokémon Professors who are married to one another.
• Professor Sada and Professor Turo, the Pokémon Professors of Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet, respectively, as well as the first to be version-exclusive.
• Professor Augustine Sycamore and Professor Kukui are the only Professors that can be directly battled in-game.
• Professor Sycamore and Professor Birch (in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire only) are the only Pokémon Professors who give the Trainer a first partner Pokémon from a different region at one point, more specifically one of the Kanto first partner Pokémon and one of the Johto first partner Pokémon, respectively.