Brendan

Brendan as seen in Pokémon: Ruby and Sapphire Versions
Brendan
Species	Human
Hair color	Black or Brown
Eye color	Brown or Grey
Age	12 (as rival)
Relatives	Player Character Norman (father) Mother Rival Character Professor Birch (father) Mother, Brother
Voiced by	Aleks Le (2019)
Debut	Pokémon: Ruby/Sapphire Versions

Brendan is the potential playable male protagonist of Pokémon: Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald Versions, as well as the remakes Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. Depending on the gender chosen by the player at the beginning of the game, he is one of two characters: the player character (and the son of Norman) or the rival character (and the son of Professor Birch). May is the alternate female lead.

Background

Playable Character

Brendan was the son of the gym leader Norman. He was born in Johto, but his family moved to Littleroot Town in Hoenn after Norman became a gym leader there. He soon met the neighbors, including his future rival May and her father Professor Birch, whom he saved from a wild Pokémon using one of three Pokémon (Treecko, Torchic or Mudkip) from Birch's bag. Afterwards, Birch thanked him and let him keep the Pokémon. He sent him to Oldale Town, where May would teach him about being a Pokémon trainer, and after the two battled and returned to Littleroot, Professor Birch gave Brendan a Pokédex for use in recording data on Hoenn's Pokémon, while his mother gave him a pair of Running Shoes as a parting gift.

Soon he started to explore Hoenn, challenging and conquering its eight gyms as he traveled. Early in his journey, he taught a sickly boy named Wally how to catch Pokémon at his father's request, which helped Wally to recover and improve as a Pokémon trainer. Brendan also battled May several times throughout his journeys, and he learned to use Mega Evolution in Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire after receiving a Key Stone from Steven Stone. He eventually defeated even his own father. At the same time, Brendan had a series of confrontations with members of the criminal organization Team Magma (in Ruby and Omega Ruby), Team Aqua (in Sapphire and Alpha Sapphire) or both organizations (in Emerald). This culiminated in a battle with Archie and/or Maxie followed by a crisis involving Groudon and Kyogre. The problem was resolved when Brendan defeated the raging Pokémon (in Ruby/Sapphire and Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire) or when Brendan summoned Rayquaza to break up the two warring Pokémon (in Emerald).

Brendan became the Pokémon League champion after defeating Hoenn's Elite Four and their champion Steven Stone (or Wallace in Emerald). Afterwards, his Pokédex was upgraded to National Mode by Professor Birch, and Norman gave him tickets to the S.S. Tidal. In Emerald Version, Scott then invited him to come to the Battle Frontier and test out his skills there.

Delta Episode

In the Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire, the events known as the Delta Episode occurred right after Brendan became champion. Steven Stone enlisted Brendan's help with an effort to stop a meteoroid that was bound to crash into Hoenn and cause mass devastation. Their plan was to use a controversial technology called Infinity Energy (which drained the life force of Pokémon) to power a dimensional shifter that would send the meteoroid somewhere else. Along the way, Brendan looked into the thefts of Mega Stones around Hoenn and had encounters with a mysterious girl named Zinnia, who was descended from the ancient Draconid tribe. Zinnia opposed their plan, because of the use of Infinity Energy and the possibility that the meteoroid could be sent to a different version of Hoenn.

Zinnia ultimately destroyed the shifter, and their only hope left was Zinnia's plan to summon Rayquaza. Brendan followed Zinnia to the Sky Pillar, and he learned about the past of the Draconid people and Rayquaza from her along the way. When Rayquaza was summoned, it did not have enough power to Mega Evolve. It turned out that a meteorite within Brendan's backpack had the power it needed, and Brendan then had to battle and capture Rayquaza in order to prove himself. Once he had Rayquaza, it Mega Evolved, and the two of them managed to destroy the meteoroid together. Afterwards, he and May were able to watch a star show at the Mossdeep Space Center together.

Rival Character

Brendan's Emerald costume.

Brendan was the son of Professor Birch living in Littleroot Town, and often set out to help him with his research. He met May when she visited his house at Littleroot Town in the beginning of the game, and Professor Birch later sent her to meet him when he was collecting data at Route 103. There Brendan would challenge May to a battle in order to teach her about Pokémon training. He then sent her back to Littleroot to receive her Pokédex and gave her several Pokéballs to begin her journey with. In Emerald, he met May again in Rustboro City and after registering each other in Match Call, Brendan would propose another battle, but this one was optional. Brendan would then meet May along Route 110. Challenging her yet again, this time after being defeated he gave her the Itemfinder. He then met her outside Lavaridge Town and gave her the Go-Goggles.

He appeared to May again and battled her outside Fortree City, this time rewarding her with HM 02: Fly upon being defeated. Brendan could then be found outside Lilycove City's department store on an errand for the professor, where he would challenge May once more. After losing, he decided to return to Littleroot and help Professor Birch with the Pokédex using the information he had gathered. Hearing about May's ambitions to challenge the Pokémon League, he considered doing the same one day before returning to Littleroot using Fly.

Brendan made one last appearance at the game's end, with he and Birch showing up after May had become the Pokémon League champion by defeating Steven Stone. Brendan apparently did not notice that May had already defeated Steven, as he attempted to reveal Steven's weakness to her.

In Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire, Brendan made additional appearances throughout the game, including teaching May about the DexNav and giving her HM 04: Strength. He also went to see Professor Cozmo and ended up teaming up with May in a battle against members of Team Aqua or Team Magma to save him. Brendan also appeared at Sootopolis Town to support May during the Groudon/Kyogre crisis. He also once again appeared at the Pokémon League at the game's end, but this time he then accompanied May for the trip home and challenged her to one more battle afterwards (which was the only battle without any experience points).

At the beginning of the Delta Episode, Zinnia broke into Brendan's house and stole his Mega Stone. May's quest started as trying to receive that Mega Stone, which was successful in the end. Afterwards, May and Brendan went to see the star show for the Litlenoid meteor shower at the Mossdeep Space Center, using a pair of tickets provided by May's parents. Brendan could also appear as a a battle partner for May at the Battle Maison.

Pokémon Roster

• Treecko/Grovyle/Sceptile, Torchic/Combusken/Blaziken or Mudkip/Marshtomp/Swampert - Brendan's starter Pokémon, he uses it in every battle. It will always be a Pokémon with a type advantage to that chosen by the player character. This Pokémon evolves into its second form before the Route 110 battle. It does not reach a third form in the original games, but in Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire, it evolves to that form prior to the Lilycove City battle. This Pokémon will also be Mega Evolved during the post-credits battle.
• Shroomish/Breloom - Used in all battles starting with the Route 110 battle in all games except for Emerald. Brendan uses this Pokémon only if he has a Combusken or Marshtromp. In Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire, it evolves into Breloom by the Lilycove City battle.
• Numel - Used in all battles starting with the Route 110 battle in Ruby/Sapphire only. Brendan uses this Pokémon only if he has a Grovyle or Marshtromp.
• Wailmer/Wailord - Used in all battles starting with the Route 110 battle in all games except for Emerald. Brendan uses this Pokémon only if he has a Grovyle or Combusken. In Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire, it evolves prior to the Lilycove City battle.
• Swellow - This Pokémon is used starting in the Lilycove City in all versions except for Emerald.
• Lotad/Lombre/Ludicolo - Used in all battles starting with the optional Rustoro City battle in Emerald only, and it is only used if Brendan has a Torchic/Combusken or Mudkip/Swampert. It evolves into Lombre by the Rustboro City battle and Ludicolo by the Route 119 battle.
• Slugma/Magcargo - Used in all battles starting with the optional Rustboro City battle in Emerald or the Roue 110 battle in Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire. Replacing Numel from the original versions, Brendan only uses this Pokémon if he has a Treecko/Grovyle or Mudkip/Swampert. In Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire, it evolves into Magcargo for the Lilycove City battle.
• Wingull/Pelipper - Used in all battles starting with the optional Rustobro City battle in Emerald only, and it is only used if Brendan has a Treecko/Grovyle or Torchic/Combusken. It evolves into Pelipper by the Route 119 battle.
• Tropius - Used in the final battle at Lilycove City in Emerald only.
• Raichu - Used for the post-credits battle in Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire only.

In Other Pokémon Games

In Pokémon Masters EX, Brendan appeared with Treeko as a playable sync pair that could be unlocked at random through the game's Sync Pair Scout. His Treecko could evolve into its later forms through one-on-one battles in Sync Pair Stories in which he respectively battled Noland and Norman. A Sygna Suit variant of Brendan that was paired with Latios was made available through the Sync Pair Scout during limited time periods starting in August 2022. He also has been shown using Mightyena in battle during some events.

Within the Main Story, Brendan made appearances in several early chapters of the PML Arc, in which he joined in on Korrina's training, and he led the protagonist and their team to meet Norman, who was one of the Pokémon Masters League Leaders. He later made an appearance in Chapter 24, where he was among the cavalry who helped to fend off Team Break's attack on the tournament. Brendan additionally made appearances in several of the game's events, some of which showcased his bond with his father. There was also the "Pasio Eggsplorers" Story Event, in which Brendan worried that May would give up training Pokémon in favor of becoming a Pokémon Professor, but May ultimately assured him that she would not make a decision like that until further in the future and that she would battle Brendan before deciding. Brendan and May were also featured in the "Masters of Land and Sea" Story Event, where they tried to keep tabs on Archie and Maxie in Pasio, and they also helped to contain a crisis involving Groudon and Kyogre in the Villain Arc chapter "Hoenn: Delta of Land, Sea and Sky". In the "Tower Tycoon and Hall Matron" Story Event, Brendan and Norman tried to help Barry confront his insecurities involving his father, and ultimately Argenta was able to help them accomplish this. Afterwards, Brendan and Scottie/Bettie teamed up with Barry in a battle against Palmer, Norman and Argenta. Brendan also appeared as an opponent in a Sync Pair Story in which Hilbert had to defeat him (with Grovyle) for his Oshawott to evolve and in one of May's (with Treecko) for her Mudkip's evolution.

In Pokémon Go, the parts of Brendan's Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire outfit were made available as free Style options for Pokémon GO Tour: Hoenn in February 2023, and a Pikachu wearing Brendan's hat also appeared.

Other Appearances

Other Media

• In the Pokémon anime, Brendan only made cameo appearances in the openings of several Pokémon movies in which he was seen in battle. In one appearance. he was shown to be battling Lucas, the male playable character from Diamond and Pearl.
• He appeared in the Pokémon Adventures manga as Ruby, being featured in the story arcs based on the third generation games. Ruby was obsessed with beauty and Pokémon Contests, and he ran away from home after arriving in Hoenn, because Norman did not approve of his son participating in contests. After meeting Sapphire and being initially repulsed by her wild nature, they agreed to compete to see if, within 80 days, Ruby could win all of Hoenn's Pokémon Contests, and Sapphire could beat all the gym leaders. He eventually became a pupil of Wallace and, throughout the arc, he came to repent his selfish ways and saw Pokémon's inner beauty as well as embracing his battling talents, which he repressed after a traumatic event in his youth, in order to take on Team Aqua and Magma. He and Sapphire developed and admitted feelings for each other, eventually recognizing each other from their repressed childhood memory. During the arc's climax, Ruby was shown to have captured Celebi already, and after he unleashed it, Celebi created a time slip which saved the lives of those who died during Groudon and Kyogre's battle. In the Emerald arc, he and Sapphire arrived at the Battle Frontier to help Emerald capture Jirachi, and Ruby seemed to show no recollection of he and Sapphire's confessions of their feelings to each other, much to her chagrin. By the end of the arc, all of the Pokédex trainers teamed up to defeat Archie and the artificial Kyogre. Ruby was later featured as a protagonist again during the Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire arc.
• He was featured in one episode of the Pokémon Generations anime, in which he was depicted as the protagonist character and fought members of Team Magma at the Magma Hideout.

Trivia

• Like all protagonists in the main Pokémon games, his name is chosen by the player. Brendan has been assumed as his official name, because it is the name automatically given him when he is a non-playable character.
• The headband of Brendan's hat from Emerald also appears in the Super Smash Bros. games (starting in Super Smash Bros. Brawl) as part of one of Pikachu's alternate costumes. One of the Pokémon Trainer's alternate costumes in Brawl also seemed to be based on the color scheme of Brendan's outfit from Emerald.