Blaine
Gender: | Male |
Region: | |
Position: | Gym Leader |
Generation Appearance: | Generations I, II, III, IV and VII |
Debut Game | Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green Version |
Core series appearence
Blaine is a renowned figure in the Pokémon world, known not only for his mastery of Fire-type Pokémon but also for his scientific expertise. He is the Gym Leader of Cinnabar Island’s Gym, which later relocates to the Seafoam Islands after the eruption of the Cinnabar volcano (Pokémon Gold, Silver, Crystal). Blaine is deeply interested in research and often incorporates his scientific knowledge into his battles.
In addition to his role as a Gym Leader, Blaine is also a respected scientist, particularly in the field of fire-related studies. He conducts various experiments to further understand the behavior and abilities of Fire-type Pokémon. Blaine shares a close friendship with Mr. Fuji and collaborated on Pokémon research endeavors in the past. Despite his serious demeanor, Blaine has a quirky side, often showcasing his sense of humor through his dialogue and interactions with Trainers.
Blaine, known as “The Hotheaded Quiz Master,” employs Fire-type Pokémon with a rough-and-ready strategy in battles. To face him, challengers must navigate through a series of Pokémon-related quiz questions. Blaine’s signature move includes removing his sunglasses when devising new quiz challenges.
Blaine rewards Trainers with the Volcano Badge upon their victory and gifts TM38 (Fire Blast) in Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, FireRed, and LeafGreen. In HeartGold and SoulSilver, he offers TM50 (Overheat), while in Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!, it’s TM46 (Fire Blast).
In Pokémon Gold, Silver, Crystal, and their remakes, Cinnabar Island’s volcano erupts, displacing Blaine and his Pokémon. He moves his Gym to a Seafoam Islands cave, vowing to rebuild post-eruption.
In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, Blaine joins other Kanto Gym Leaders in the Pokémon World Tournament, competing in various tournaments like Kanto Leaders and Type Expert.
Blaine also appeares in:
The side series games
- Pokémon Stadium – He is the seventh Gym Leader confronted by players in Pokémon Stadium’s Gym Leader Castle challenge.
- Pokémon Stadium 2 – Blaine makes a comeback in this game, featured in the Kanto Gym Leader Castle.
The spin-off games
Anime appearences
Blaine, the Gym Leader of Cinnabar Island, appears in the Pokémon anime. Throughout the encounter, Blaine demonstrates his deep knowledge of Fire-type moves and tactics. Despite his hot-headed demeanor, Blaine is shown to be a skilled and honorable Trainer.
Blaine’s penchant for riddles and puns extends even to serious moments, but he’s a formidable Gym Leader who takes his role seriously. He values challengers who earn their Volcano Badge, utilizing his Fire-type Pokémon and the volcanic terrain to create challenging battles. The intense heat adds to the challenge, testing trainers’ endurance.
Ash and his friends encountered Blaine in disguise while searching for the Cinnabar Gym. Blaine had closed the Gym due to the island’s touristy transformation, instead opening the Big Riddle Inn. Misty‘s solving of Blaine’s riddles led them to his secret Gym within the Cinnabar Volcano, where they stayed after thwarting Team Rocket’s attack on the Pokémon Lab.
Blaine appeares also in Pokémon Origins mini-series, in the third episode, where he was shown being challenged to a Gym battle by Red, who later defeated her off-screen, earning the young Pokémon Trainer the Volcano Badge.
Manga appearances
Blaine appears in several Pokémon manga series.
Pokémon Adventures
In addition to his role as a Gym Leader, Blaine is also known for his work as a Pokémon ecologist.
Red, Green & Blue arc – Blaine made his first appearance in “Tauros the Tyrant”, where he was engaged in a discussion about the creation of Mewtwo with Ken at the Team Rocket Hideout. Later, in “Holy Moltres”, Red encountered Blaine on Cinnabar Island, where they joined forces to fend off Team Rocket Grunts. Finally, in “And Mewtwo Too?!”, Blaine came to Red’s aid during his battle with Mewtwo near Cerulean Cave, rescuing him from peril.
Yellow arc – In “Purrrr-sian” ,Blaine got a call from Erika seeking his assistance in battling Miles, a Super Nerd impersonating Red. Together with Brock and Misty, Blaine journeyed to Celadon City to aid in the confrontation.
Gold, Silver & Crystal arc – During the Pokémon League’s opening ceremonies in “Yikes, It’s Yanma!,” Kanto and Johto Gym Leaders convened at the Indigo Plateau. Blaine was matched against Clair in the seventh round of the exhibition tournament.
FireRed & LeafGreen arc – In “Double Down Deoxys,” Evan and Miles paid a visit to Blaine.
X & Y arc – In “Pinsir Glares”, it was revealed that Blaine had traveled to the Kalos region, where he apprenticed under Gurkinn and obtained a Key Stone.
In Pokémon Adventures manga Blaine’s Pokémon team consist of Rapidash, Arcanine, Mewtwo which evolves into Mega Mewtwo X/Y, Growlithe and Entei.
Pokémon Pocket Monsters
In “Fierce Competition at the Pokémon Quiz Battle!!”, Red and Green encounter Blaine as they enter a building resembling a Chinese restaurant. Blaine challenges Red to a Pokémon Quiz, penalizing him for each incorrect answer by sending out his Pokémon. He later appears in “The Pokémon Banana League (Part 1)”, lending Red a Meowth.
In this manga Blaine’s Pokémon team consist of mutliple Voltorb, Primeape, Golem, Rapidash, Magmar, Arcanine, multiple Clefairy and Meowth.
Pokémon Zensho
In Cinnabar Island, Blaine informs Satoshi about his Gym and they engage in a battle. Blaine’s Arcanine faces Satoshi’s Charmeleon, leading to Satoshi’s victory and Charmeleon’s evolution into Charizard. Blaine recalls seeing Articuno at Seafoam Islands and uses Charizard to capture it.
In this manga Blaine’s Pokémon team consist of Rapidash, Ninetales, Magmar, Arcanine, Articuno and Charizard (borrowed).
Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō’s Big Adventure
In the fifth chapter of this manga, JBA5, Blaine was depicted as a silhouette alongside his Rapidash and the other Kanto Gym Leaders.
Summary
While Magmar is often associated with Blaine in the anime, he only has one in Generations II, IV, and VII, and it doesn’t feature in his Gym team in Pokémon Yellow. While Arcanine was once his signature Pokémon, it’s absent from his party in Generation II and its remakes. Additionally, Blaine is unique as the only Gym Leader with Gyms in two different locations.
Blaine, the fiery Gym Leader of Cinnabar Island, is renowned for his hot-headed demeanor and quiz-based battle style. Through his appearances in various media, he remains a memorable character in the Pokémon world, leaving a lasting impression on trainers and fans alike.