[MAJOR MAJOR SM SPOILERS]Favorite villain from each team

[Ice Cream Sand Witch 1650]

Another "favorite" thread that hasn't been done afaik. From each enemy team, which member is your favorite?

Will add S/M's when they're shown.

[mde2001 236]

Rocket: Giovanni on account of him actually having character.

Aqua: Shelly because she always seemed a bit smarter than the rest of them.

Magma: Courtney's robotic thing is fun.

Galactic: Cyrus, but I like none of them.

Plasma: N is the most interesting one of them.

Flare: Xerosic as he actually showed some development in the looker missions.

[Masquerain 6]

Rocket: Char-wise - Giovanni. Design-wise- Ariana

Aqua: Shelly

Magma: Courtney

Galactic: Char-wise : Cyrus, Design-wise: Mars

Plasma: Hard choice, I like all of team plasma's chars, but design-wise, the Shadow Triad

Flehhhhhhhhhd: Mable

[Ice Cream Sand Witch 1650]

Mine are

Rocket: Giovanni

Aqua: Shelly

Magma: Courtney. I want to be her pet. Not the dominant/submissive kind or even anything official, just something like for example her asking me to get her coffee, then I give it to her and she smiles and pats me on the head.

Galactic: Mars.

Plasma: N.

Flare: Xerosic (was initially second least favorite after Lysandre, then Looker Bureau happened)

[Monochrome_Complex 116]

Rocket: Giovanni of course. The HGSS admins are forgettable and Archer is the WORST team boss in the games. Even Team Flare > Neo Rocket.

Magma: Courtney, although it's mainly due to her design. Like honestly I don't get the whole robot thing ORAS added, it felt like a forced attempt to make her more interesting.

Aqua: Shelly, she's sexy and cool.

Galactic: Mars is my favorite. I like her hair and how readily she swings from emotions, being angry one moment and then like OKAY THAT WAS FUN right after. She's also the best looking admin.

Plasma: Ghestis, N, and Colress are all excellent in their own way. But N edges them out for he's also the best rival in the series.

Flare: i don't like Flare much at all, but Xerosic felt like he had the most character. I hope SM's villains are better than these clowns.

[TimTim 0]

Rocket - Giovanni, nothing else to say about him, archetype mafia boss

Aqua - It's almost a tie among the trio, but Archie is a bro, so yeah, and he is my favourite among all villains

Magma - Courtney 'cause she is cute and interesting

Galactic - Cyrus, he is cool in an intimidating way

Plasma - Colress, he is not a black and white villain imo, coming from his perspective, i can sort of see his vision as an aspiring scientist, ethics in science is only established after scientists learnt from their grave mistakes

Flare - If i have to choose from Flare, probably Lydandre because of his fashion style?

[Ironbound 110]

See, I'd have voted, but the stupid poll forces you to pick an option. I don't want to pick any option under team magma or team flare because they are underwhelming and nobody is even likeable or at the very least admirable as a villain concept. Bunch of duds and forgettable wash-outs, in my view.

Anyways, here's my opinions:

1. Giovanni, duh. He's the only villain who's realistic among rhe lot; out for dominance and money, with which he plans to increase his standing like any real-world honcho (or is it Honchkrow?) I will also not investigate his motives and potentially justifiable conduct in this topic because that's too big to delve into, but there it is. Nothing beats the OG. Besides, how can a guy not be admired when he's actually a legally stainless gym leader in plain sight of the E4, and yet also lead a criminal syndicate?

Pokémon origins also shows Giovanni's character tubing to the better. I'd easily say he's the best villain, in terms of personality, development, intentions, plotting, and success overall. A villain who is reformed into a better human being is more admirable than one who is merely destroyed or otherwise removed.

2. Archie and Maxie aren't really villains. Just misguided idiots who genuinely think that what they're doing is best for either nature or people, depending on their version, and just were cocksure in their assessment of Kyogre/Croydon's powers. They end up more like friends to the player in the ORAS storyline, by the conclusion of the plot, and are really quite harmless themselves. So I'd argue against them even being consumed the same league as villains who would commit actual crimes even leading up to murder. Still, of the two, Archie is definitely better because water is badass because Maxie was kinda meh while Archie was much more pally and actually likeable in his reckless-but-heart-of-gold way.

3. Cyrus. Easily the most dangerous villain in this list, and definitely the most potent threat in any Pokémon games. Fanatic, supremely intelligent and analytical, confident and charismatic, yet completely apathetic about any other person at heart, and driven by a massive ego: to rule not a region or a continent, but rather the entire universe across dimensions and time? To basically recreate the world with himself as unspoken God? And he actually succeeded, too, if we go by Platinum's storyline. For one instant, he had both Dialga and Palkia under his subjugation, and had the universe at his feet, before Giratina--the one entity he had not known to take into account --kidnapped him. He was easily a huge threat in-game as well, with powerful Pokémon and a ruthless demeanor. Even when defeated, he refuses to accept it, and coldly vows to return to do as he would. That is the scariest aspect if any villain yet: Cyrus is still out there in some dimension or world, in possession of his faculties and still as potent. He is neither crushed nor reformed.

The only reason I'd put him after Giovanni is because he doesn't evolve as a person. Giovanni is reformed for the better, at least according to Pokémon Origins, but Cyrus is still Cyrus. Maybe that's for the best, as his was the last character I could conceive which would ever break from its mould.

4. Ghetsis is probably the most psycho villain yet; as scary as cyrus, but for a different reason: where Cyrus was emotionless and coldly ruthless, Ghetsis is downright berserk! It takes a special kind of cruelty to mould an innocent child into an emotional tool purely to unleash the power of innocence; it also needs a special kind of cunning to emotionally take over the spirits of people and gain dominance with N as his heroic mascot. It also takes a rare kind of determination to resurge as an organization once stopped, and ultimately , it takes a special kind of lunacy to outright threaten to murder an opponent, a child at that, with a titanic Ice demon. The fact that he goes insane at the end of BW2 and is implied to be so thoroughly incapacitated as to become a vegetable, festering in his own impotent wrath, makes one recoil all the more at a truly deranged villain. Props to Ghetsis, really, for being a very scary reality which happens to megalomaniacs the world over.

Don't speak to me about Lysandre and his rag tag associates. They are unworthy.

Also, I don't include N as a villain per se. An antagonist turned deuteragonist later, he never really was villainous. He wasn't even fully exposed to the complete spectrum of humanity or emotion, so he is to be pitied at first, as one would a child, and later respected for evolving into a good human being. Doesn't quite fit here, in my view.

[Sieg12 0]

Rocket-giovanni for being realistic and a great villain.

Magma and Aqua- Honestly I chose only because it was part of the poll. They really are the worst of the teams.

Galactic-Cyrus because less face it if giratina didn't feel like it Cyrus would have succeeded. That alone puts him above the rest.

N-he is a very interesting character and one that made the journey of Unova memorable.

Lysandre-yes flare may have been a horrendous team but lysandre alone makes me forgive flare. There is something unsettling about this guy. Someone who has no qualms about genocide and yet is so polite and sophisticated.

[SilverJakler 0]

Rocket: Giovanni... the others are insanely forgettable. Plus, Giovanni is actually a good character.

Magma: Courtney. Tabitha's annoying and Maxie is kinda meh.

Aqua: Archie, with Shelly as a close second and Matthew as a close third.

Galactic: Cyrus, because he's just a daunting individual and has a solid team.

Plasma: N with Colress as a close second. N because he's honestly the true rival of Black/White 1. Also that development tho.

Flare: Lysandre cuz design. That's it.

[iCerulean 5]

Team Rocket: Giovanni is #1 (amazing in the series and in Pokemon Adventures). There's a good reason why he's the "only" reoccurring boss out of any team in the show.

Team Aqua (fav team): Obvious Shelly vote

Team Magma: 100% Courtney

Team Galactic (2nd favorite): Cyrus, he did was others couldn't, but his success primarily revolved around the scope of the Legendaries he was involved with (Palkia,Dialga and Giratina). I will give him credit for his performance in Platinum though.

Team Plasma: N, he sold Gen V for me and many others, because of how he viewed Pokemon, which makes him one of the best NPCs in the entire franchise.

Team Flare: Lys

[Hiss13 1]

Team Rocket: Giovanni. No contest.

Team Aqua: Archie. Especially the ORAS rendition.

Team Magma: Courtney. Her ORAS rendition and her rendition in RSE Special/Adventures make her among one of my favorite characters in the franchise.

Team Galactic: Have to go with Cyrus. There's a level of enigma surrounding him that he just takes with himself to the bitter end and I loved it.

Team Plasma: N. Colress. Anthea and Concordia (What? I'm a sucker for their designs). Ghetsis. So many to choose from. Do I have to?

Team Flare: Lysandre. Honestly, Giovanni was pure evil. Cyrus was an enigma. Ghetsis was a nutcase. Then there's Lysandre who is probably the best case of "The Road to Hell is paved with good intentions" in the franchise. I honestly can't bring myself to hate him.

[Motomiya 28]

i liked archer from team rocket tbh,,, he seemed like he had it all together and if not for gold uh, he might have won

magma/aqua was both leaders for me, the scene at the end where they were both like "oh my god i have fucked up boy am i a failure" and then apologizing got me so hard when i was like 11

galactic was cyrus, i dont really like anyone else but cyrus is my favorite villain in pokemon bc oml

Plasma i didnt really like but N was my fave. Ghetsis was fuckin psycho tho and probably was going really big places but then black/white showed up and that was that

flare uh, xerosic only because he gave u the option of the red or blue button and it turns out he was a dickhead and it didnt matter. ngl i laughed during that scene

[Fumble 52]

1. Giovanni - most memorable

2. Matt - wao nobody else voted for him, tbh i kinda liked his character

3. Courtney - ORAS portrayal of her was best <333

4. Cyrus - he was crazy so wynaut

5. Colress - BEST THEME

6. Lysandre - he was crazy so wynaut

[TRHStatement 1]

Rocket: Giovanni. I think he set the standard for what a typical villain should be. And Orgins makes his story that much better.

Magma: Courtney

Aqua:Shelly

Galactic: Cyrus, because I believe was the start of radical villains introduced in pokemon games.

Plasma: Ghetsis, because out of everyone, he actually had a back-up plan.

Flare: Lysandre

[doombotmecha 174]

Rocket: Giovanni aka the only one I remember

Aqua: Honestly I can't pick, I don't like them as much but in ORAS they all have lines that are funny as hell out of context (aka shelly starting off an encounter by talking about how cute you are)

Magma: gotta be Courtney. as a homestuck, typing quirks get me every time.

Galactic: Cyrus is a great villain, but Mars and Jupiter were the first villains I ever fought so here's one for nostalgia.

Plasma: So many gen V villains are great, but Ghetsis takes the cake for a being a real bastard, for reasons people have stated above.

Flare: Lysandre is a Rich Bastard (to caught up in his own vision of how the world is to actually see the good in it), but Xerosic was the first time I got to pick the team mad scientist so I picked him.

[Narckarth 0]

Giovanni- The original villain. The Don of the pokemon universe. Desperate children who start a tantrum the minute their boss walks out can't compare.

Matt- I don't know, I like the pirate motif from Alpha Sapphire but Archie's spandex kills it so Matt I guess?

Courtney- I'm guilty of thinking to the Pokemon Adventures' portrayal of her character but I love it so much more than any of the games so bite me. She is just along for the ride she has a passion for fire types so she ended up working with Maxi but she isn't hardcore into expanding the land like the other. the first person of the villains to pull her head in an realise that either team winning is a bad idea. she has to be my favourite.

Mars- Okay so I'm referencing to the manga again but again the manga does such a better job with these characters. Mars' just trying to have fun her version of fun might be a bit sadistic but she's loyal to her friends and cunning in a fight and I love that.

N- Acting as an opposite to the ideology we have followed since we were children. N fits perfectly into Gen 5 and its story.

Xerosic- The Looker Arc makes Xerosic go from an evil scientist to a passionate inventor who become so desperate in pursuit of his dreams he was left with little choice but to work for Team Flare. An awesome character who makes you think twice about how you label people as good or evil.

[Alex 185]

BarArchie best

[FairFamily 197]

How do you all remember all these people? I can't even recall some main villains quickly let alone the admins.

[Ice Cream Sand Witch 1650]

How do you all remember all these people? I can't even recall some main villains quickly let alone the admins.

I can name ~95% of Pokemon characters (from the games; I don't do the anime or manga) off the top of my head.

[Froiky 3]

I almost picked the Shadow Triad over N. What is actually interesting about my answers is that I chose Archer over Giovanni. I'm all for Gio any day of the week but something about Archer as this mastermind of a new generation of Team Rocket who tries and fails just makes for a great story.

[4w5 0]

tbh archie is probably the only one i care about (except maybe maxie on a good day). archie would not hesitate to just suplex a whale. i understand him.

[Jiggle 0]

tbh archie is probably the only one i care about (except maybe maxie on a good day). archie would not hesitate to just suplex a whale. i understand him.

Over Courtney?!

[Ice Cream Sand Witch 1650]

Added Team Skull.

[Jmanultrax1 38]

lets go guzma

[Ice Cream Sand Witch 1650]

Added Gladion to Team Skull.