Koga

The Poisonous Ninja Master.
Koga
Species	Human
Hair color	Black
Eye color	Black
Base	Fuschia City Gym
Relatives	Charine (daughter)
Debut	Pokémon: Red Version/Pokemon: Green Version

Koga is a ninja master who doubled as a trainer of Poison-type Pokémon. Originally he was the gym leader of the Fuschia City gym, but he later became a member of the Elite Four. He is descended from a long line of ninjas and has trained his daughter to follow in his stead.

Background

Koga originally worked in the Fuschia City gym, where challengers had to navigate a maze of invisible walls in order to reach him. Red challenged him in Pokémon Red, Green, Blue and Yellow (as well as Pokémon:FireRed and LeafGreen Versions). After Koga was defeated, he gave Red the Soulbadge along with TM 06: Toxic.

Koga later dedicated his time to training his daughter Charine. Koga received a promotion and became a member of the Elite Four based in Indigo Plateau, leaving Charine to watch over the Fuschia City gym as the new gym leader. Koga was the second member of the Elite Four to be challenged by Gold in Pokémon: Gold, Silver and Crystal Versions.

Pokémon Roster

In Red, Blue and Green he has two Koffing, a Muk and a Weezing. Koga instead uses three Venonat and a Venomoth in the Yellow Version.

Koga's Pokémon roster in the Gold/Silver/Crystal versions is:

• Ariados
• Forretress
• Muk
• Venomoth
• Crobat

Other Games

Koga is the fifth enemy of the Gym Leader Castle in Pokémon Stadium. In this game he uses a Venomoth, Muk, Weezing, Venonat, Nidorina and Nidorino. Koga, identical to his appearance in the anime, appears as the sixth opponant in Pokémon Puzzle League, after Erika and before Sabrina. In this game he uses Venomoth, Voltorb and Golbat.

In Pokémon Stadium 2 he is battled with the other Elite Four members in that game's Gym Leader Castle. His roster in the first round is identical to his roster in Gold, Silver and Crystal except that his Crobat and Forretress were replaced with Golbat, Electrode and Gligar. In the second round, Koga uses Venomoth, Magmar, Lapras, Ariados, Lanturn and Stantler.

Trivia

• Koga is referenced in Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl Versions, when a ninja Pokémon trainer mentions rumors he heard of a legendary ninja gym leader living in a faraway land.
• Koga appeared in an episode of the Pokémon anime, were his gym was located in a mansion similar to a classic Japanese home. He was shown to be training his sister, who may have inspired the character of Charine.