Pokémon Trainer's Choice

Pokémon Trainer's Choice is a feature from the English dub of the Pokémon anime. Starting from What You Seed is What You Get, Trainer's Choice was the lead-in to the mid-show advertisement break. It replaced the original series' "Who's That Pokémon?" segment. It was not used in the original Japanese version of the anime; instead, a simple eyecatch was shown. The final Trainer's Choice aired with Pasta La Vista!. It was not replaced with a similar feature, nor has it ever been reintroduced.

The feature's logo

Trainer's Choice follows a simple concept. Rather than recognizing the silhouette of a Pokémon, viewers are asked a question about a Pokémon and instructed to choose the best of three possible answers, usually over a commercial break when watched on TV. Generally, the viewer is asked to determine which Pokémon has a type advantage over another; though other kinds of questions have been asked. The feature is narrated by Ash Ketchum.

When Pokémon USA and TAJ Productions began dubbing the series, Trainer's Choice production ceased.

Criticisms

Seviper evolves from Arbok?

As the successor to the long-running "Who's That Pokémon?" segment, Trainer's Choice was initially met with criticism from some of the fandom, especially considering the change was in the middle of a newly-started saga. 4Kids Entertainment very frequently made Pokémon type match-up errors, resulting in incorrect answers given to at least nine questions, questions with multiple correct answers, questions with no possible correct answer, and questions with no right or wrong answer at all. The company also occasionally misspelled the names of Pokémon or gave them the wrong name altogether. These constant mistakes were seen by many as an indication that 4Kids actually knew very little about the franchise. The most infamous example is their erroneous claim that Seviper evolves from Arbok, featured in the Trainer's Choice of A Fan with a Plan; this Trainer's Choice in particular is a source of ridicule by many fans.

In Pokémon: Advanced Battle, the creation of questions for Trainer's Choice was credited to Lawrence Neves and the accuracy rate greatly improved. During this season, the variety in the types of questions being asked expanded beyond simply type match-ups and evolutionary lines, as well as featuring more difficult questions.

List of questions

Answers deemed correct are in bold, while misnomers and misspelled names have sic to the right of them.

Advanced Challenge

Episode Question Choices Image Notes
AG041 Trainers, which Pokémon is the best choice to battle Poliwrath?
Combusken

Mudkip

Taillow
AG042 Trainers, which Pokémon would be most effective against Mudkip?
Roselia

Plusle

Torchic
Roselia would be also be effective since it has an advantage over Water and resists it.
AG043 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon evolves into Grovyle?
Nincada

Lotad

Treecko
AG044 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle Carvanha?
Diglett

Slugma

Minun
AG045 Trainers, which Pokémon evolves into Marshtomp?
Mudkip

Surskit

Marill
AG046 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle Camerupt?
Beedrill

Nuzleaf

Magcargo
None of the choices would be effective against Camerupt, as they all have a weakness to it.
AG047 Trainers, which Pokémon would be the best choice to battle against Silcoon?
Sableye

Marill

Weezing
At the time, this was correct. However, starting in Generation VI, Marill and Weezing are equally good choices, due to Marill also resisting Bug.
AG048 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle against Ninjask?
Torkoal

Dewgong

Nosepass
While Dewgong does have an advantage against the Bug/Flying Ninjask, Torkoal and Nosepass would also be good choices. Though Nosepass is the best choice since it resists Flying and is effective against both Bug and Flying.
AG049 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon evolves into Lombre?
Lotad

Electrike

Oddish
AG050 Trainers, which of these is the best to battle Magneton?
Crobat

Lanturn

Geodude
AG051 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon evolves into Shelgon?
Bagon

Aron

Zangoose
AG052 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle Shiftry?
Swampert

Taillow

Torkoal
Taillow would also have an advantage over Grass.
AG053 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle Kirlia?
Togetic

Combusken

Graveler
This is incorrect because Combusken is weak to Psychic. Both Togetic and Graveler would be equal type match-ups against Kirlia.
AG054 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon evolves into Medicham?
Magnemite

Machop

Meditite
AG055 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle Tyrogue?
Dustox

Togetic

Suicune
AG056 Trainers, which Pokémon is the best choice to battle Foretresssic?
Minun

Swellow

Seviper
This is incorrect because Forretress is immune to Poison. Both Minun and Swellow would be equal type match-ups against Forretress.
Also, Forretress was misspelled as Foretress.
AG057 Trainers, which Pokémon is the best choice to battle Seedot?
Surskit

Delibird

Seel
Delibird is the best choice since it has two advantages and a resistance to Grass.
AG058 Trainers, which Pokémon evolves into Camerupt?
Torkoal

Slugma

Numel
AG059 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle Manectric?
Swampert

Larvitar

Torkoal
Swampert is also immune to Electric.
AG060 Trainers, which of these evolves into Wobbuffet?
Wynaut

Horsea

Wailmer
AG061 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle Crawdaunt?
Volbeat

Chinchou

Houndour
Volbeat also has an advantage over Crawdaunt.
AG062 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle Wooper?
Spheal

Delcatty

Zubat
Spheal does resist Wooper's Water attacks, but Zubat is immune to its Ground ones.
AG063 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle Roselia?
Electabuzz

Grovyle

Camerupt
AG064 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon evolves into Delcatty?
Spinda

Poochyena

Skitty
AG065 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle Larvitar?
Treecko

Shedinja

Carvanha
Treecko is the best choice because it has a resistance and double effectiveness against Larvitar, although Carvanha has a double effectiveness as well.
AG066 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle Numel?
Heracross

Pichu

Medicham
AG067 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon evolves into Altaria?
Roselia

Swablu

Surskit
AG068 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle Corphish?
Minun

Marowak

Nincada
AG069 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle Combusken?
Nuzleaf

Togetic

Flareon
AG070 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon evolves into Magcargo?
Torkoal

Corphish

Slugma
AG071 Trainers, which of one these Pokémon is the best choice to battle Slowking?
Nidoqueen

Jolteon

Makuhita
AG072 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle Ariados?
Raichu

Onyx
sic

Blaziken
Onix was misspelled Onyx. Blaziken also has an advantage over Ariados.
AG073 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon evolves into Manectric?
Electrike

Mantine

Electrode
AG074 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle Meditite?
Nuzleafsic

Combusken

Heracross
This is incorrect because Combusken is weak to Psychic. Beautifly would be the best choice since it has an advantage and a double resistance to Fighting.
Also, Nuzleaf's name appears under Beautifly's image. If Nuzleaf was meant to be one of the choices, it would be the best, since all choices would then be weak to one of Meditite's types, but Nuzleaf would be immune to the other.
AG075 Trainers, which of these Pokémon evolve into Vigoroth?
Machop

Slakoth

Zangoose
AG076 Trainers, which of these is the best to beat Illumise?
Crobat

Lotad

Togetic
While Crobat would be the best choice, Togetic would also be a good choice due to it being part Flying.
AG077 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon evolves into Seviper?
Sableye

Arbok

Suicune
This is incorrect. Seviper is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon.
AG078 Trainers, which of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle Ludicolo?
Mightyena

Camerupt

Duskull
This is incorrect due to Camerupt's double weakness to Water. Both Mightyena and Duskull would be equal type match-ups against Ludicolo.
AG079 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle Electabuzz?
Steelix

Cacnea

Shiftry
AG080 Trainers, which of these Pokémon evolves into Swampert?
Spheal

Marshtomp

Golduck
AG081 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle Tyrogue?
Nuzleafsic

Exploud

Dustox
This is incorrect because Exploud is weak to Fighting. Dustox would be the best choice for its double resistance to Fighting.
Also, Nuzleaf's name appears under Sealeo's image.
AG082 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle Sunflora?
Venomoth

Wailmer

Gastly
While Venomoth is the better choice because it has two advantages and a double resistance to Sunflora, Gastly also has an advantage and a resistance over Sunflora.
AG083 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon evolves into Weezing?
Cascoon

Koffing

Muk
AG084 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle Magby?
Solrock

Lombre

Ponyta
Solrock is a better choice since it has an advantage over Fire and resists it.
AG085 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle Baltoy?
Lapras

Meganium

Ledian
Although each choice has an advantage over the Ground/Psychic-type Baltoy, this is incorrect because Ledian is immune to Ground, whereas Meganium only resists it and Lapras takes neutral damage.
AG086 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon evolves into Sandslash?
Kadabra

Sandshrew

Kecleon
AG087 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle Illumise?
Parasect

Gulpin

Lanturn
Both Gulpin and Lanturn would receive moderate damage from Illumise.
AG088 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle Whiscash?
Cacnea

Charizard

Delibird
AG089 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon evolves into Raichu?
Pichu

Pikachu

Torchic
AG090 Trainers, which of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle Spoink?
Makuhita

Swampert

Qwilfish
This is incorrect because Makuhita is weak to Psychic, as is Qwilfish. Therefore, Swampert is the best choice.
AG091 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is the best choice to battle Flaafysic?
Swinub

Shroomish

Misdreavus
Flaaffy was misspelled as Flaafy.
AG092 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon evolves into Nuzleaf?
Surskit

Seedot

Doduo

Advanced Battle

Episode Question Choices Image Notes
AG093 Trainers, which Pokémon would be most affected by Ember?
Seedot

Lapras

Ludicolo
AG094 Trainers, which Pokémon does Remoraid evolve into?
Octillery

Carvanha

Mantine
AG095 Trainers, which Pokémon would be most effective against Mudkip?
Treecko

Torchic

Mudkip
AG096 Trainers, which Pokémon comes first?
Poliwhirl

Poliwag

Poliwrath
AG097 Trainers, which Pokémon would be most effective against Plusle and Minun?
Mudkip

Torchic

Treecko
Mudkip is actually the only choice that is weak to Electric, though it does evolve into Marshtomp, which is immune to Electric. Treecko is the best choice because it resists Electric.
AG098 Trainers, which is the final evolution of Totodile?
Scyther

Feraligatr

Gyarados
AG099 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon does not evolve?
Lileep

Tangela

Houndour
This was correct at the time, for Tangrowth was not introduced until Generation IV.
AG100 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon isn't a pure Fighting type?
Makuhita

Blaziken

Machamp
AG101 Trainers, which Pokémon is Pikachu most effective against?
Wingull

Magcargo

Manectric
AG102 Trainers, which Pokémon was my original choice as a starter?
Squirtle

Bulbasaur

Charmander
AG103 Trainers, which Pokémon is Larvitar's final evolution?
Armaldo

Tyranitar

Dragonite
AG104 Trainers, which one of these Pokémon is not a Normal type?
Flaafy
sic

Togepi

Cleffa
Flaaffy was the only correct choice at the time, as Cleffa and Togepi were Normal types until Generation VI.
Flaaffy was misspelled as Flaafy again.
AG105 Trainers, what humble Pokémon is the first evolution of Flygon?
Altaria

Trapinch

Cacnea
AG106 Trainers, which Pokémon would last the longest against a Psychic attack?
Misdreavus

Teddiursa

Poochyena
This is incorrect because Poochyena is immune to Psychic.
AG107 Trainers, which of these Pokémon does not evolve?
Remoraid

Relicanth

Goldeen
AG108 Trainers, which Pokémon is the pre-evolved form of Pikachu?
Plusle

Pichu

Raichu
AG109 Trainers, which Pokémon is not a dual-type Pokémon?
Medicham

Linoone

Lunatone
AG110 Trainers, which Pokémon is the final evolution of Caterpie?
Venomoth

Butterfree

Beautifly
AG111 Trainers, which of these is not a Water-type Pokémon?
Golduck

Castform

Milotic
While this is correct, Castform can turn into a Water type under rainy conditions.
AG112 Trainers, which of these Pokémon comes first?
Flaafysic

Mareep

Ampharos
Flaaffy was misspelled as Flaafy for the third time.
AG113 Trainers, which Pokémon is the final evolution of Bellsprout?
Gardevoir

Victreebel

Sunflora
AG114 Trainers, which Pokémon would not be affected by Earthquake?
Sandshrew

Lunatone

Whiscash
AG115 Trainers, which Pokémon comes first?
Jumpluff

Skiploom

Hoppip
AG116 Trainers, which Pokémon is super effective against its own type?
Salamence

Mudkip

Graveler
While this is correct, Graveler is weak to Ground attacks.
AG117 Trainers, which of these Pokémon is not an evolution of Eevee?
Bagon

Vaporeon

Espeon
AG118 Trainers, which Pokémon goes from land to sky in one evolution?
Noctowl

Trapinch

Loudred
AG119 Trainers, which Pokémon is your best choice to battle Flygon?
Walrein

Espeon

Blaziken
AG120 This episode was not dubbed, so there is no Trainer's Choice for it.
AG121 Trainers, which of these Pokémon comes first?
Slakoth

Slaking

Vigoroth
AG122 Trainers, which of these Pokémon is a Flying type?
Combusken

Flygon

Tropius
AG123 Trainers, what is the final evolution of Geodude?
Dugtrio

Regirock

Golem
AG124 Trainers, which Pokémon remains the same type throughout its evolutions?
Torchic

Ralts

Horsea
This was correct at the time, for Gallade was not introduced until Generation IV.
AG125 Trainers, what humble Pokémon does Kingdra begin as?
Misdreavus

Marill

Horsea
AG126 Trainers, which Pokémon does Tentacool evolve into?
Tentacruel

Octillery

Remoraid
AG127 Trainers, which of these Pokémon would be considered legendary?
Salamence

Entei

Milotic
AG128 Trainers, which of these Pokémon has at least two evolutions?
Gulpin

Spheal

Wailmer
AG129 Trainers, which of these Pokémon is not a Ground type?
Nosepass

Phanpy

Groudon
AG130 Trainers, which of these Pokémon would you catch by fishing?
Lickitung

Feebas

Wobbuffet
AG131 Trainers, which of these Pokémon does not evolve?
Baltoy

Aron

Mawile
AG132 Trainers, if Arcanine fought Kirlia, who would have the advantage?
Arcanine

Kirlia
At the time, neither choice was correct based on type match-ups because neither Fire nor Psychic has an advantage over the other. Starting in Generation VI, however, this is correct because Arcanine resists Kirlia's Fairy typing.
Also, this is the only Trainer's Choice with two choices instead of three.
AG133 Trainers, which of these Pokémon does not change during battle?
Kecleon

Castform

Swalot
AG134 Trainers, which of these Pokémon does not evolve?
Feebas

Luvdisc

Barboach
AG135 Trainers, which Pokémon is most effective against Machoke?
Sudowoodo

Gardevoir

Poochyena
AG136 Trainers, which of these Pokémon has only one evolution?
Spoink

Whismur

Beldum
AG137 Trainers, which Pokémon would be most affected by Earthquake?
Whiscash

Altaria

Flygon
AG138 Trainers, which of these Pokémon does not evolve?
Ralts

Machop

Ursaring
AG139 Trainers, which Pokémon would not be affected by Psychic?
Shuppet

Mightyena

Dusclops
AG140 Trainers, which species is the "Time Travel Pokémon"?
Mewtwo

Celebi

Deoxys
AG141 Trainers, which Pokémon is not a Flying type?
Dustox

Swellow

Masquerain
AG142 Trainers, which of these Pokémon does not evolve?
Skitty

Sableye

Nincada
AG143 Trainers, which of these Pokémon is the tallest?
Registeel

Regice

Regirock
AG144 Trainers, which of these Pokémon is the heaviest?
Snorlax

Wailord

Groudon
AG145 Trainers, which of these Pokémon does not evolve?
Wynaut

Absol

Snorunt


Bonus segments of the Pokémon anime
Original series Japanese version: Professor Oak's Pokémon LecturePokémon de English
English dub: Kanto PokérapPikachu's JukeboxPokémon Karaokémon
Both: Who's That Pokémon?
Ruby and Sapphire Japanese version: Professor Oak's Pokémon LecturePokémon Trivia Quiz
English dub: Who's That Pokémon?Pokémon Trainer's Choice
Diamond and Pearl Japanese version: Professor Oak's Big Pokémon EncyclopediaPikachu the Movie Memorial
Professor Oak's Big Pokémon Examination
Black & White Japanese version: Professor Oak's Pokémon Live CasterTeam Rocket Live Caster
Both: Who's That Pokémon?
XY Japanese version: Professor Oak's Pokémon Holo CasterPoké TVPokémon Quiz
English dub: Who's That Pokémon?
Both: Mega Evolution Pokédex
Sun & Moon Japanese version: Poké Problem
Both: Who's That Pokémon?Where Are You Going, Eevee?
Journeys Japanese version: Get Inspired! Let's Solve a Poké Riddle!!
Both: Who's That Pokémon?


This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of the Pokémon anime.
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