Falkner

Eye color
 Anime debut

**Falkner** (Japanese: **ハヤト** *Hayato*) is the Gym Leader of Violet City's Gym, known officially as the Violet Gym. He hands out the Template:Badge to Trainers who defeat him. He specializes in Flying Pokémon.

## In the games

Falkner appears in Template:Game5, where he is the first Gym Leader players will encounter. A master of Flying Pokémon, Falkner runs the Violet Gym, which he inherited from his father; the Pokémon he uses in battle also formerly belonged to him. Falkner's father is reported to be traveling, but is never seen in the game.

Known as "The Elegant Master of Flying Pokémon", Falkner is adored as a cool and handsome Trainer. Falkner reveres his father, and aspires to follow in his footsteps to become the greatest bird Pokémon master. Falkner uses, notably, the lowest leveled Pokémon found in any Gym in any region. In fact, his Pidgeotto is at an illegitimately low level. Once defeated in battle, he awards winners with the Template:Badge and a Technical Machine: TM31 (Mud-Slap) in Generation II; TM51 (Roost) in Generation IV. In each generation, his Pokémon know the respective TM; Falkner uses this move as part of his battle strategy.

Like all Gym Leaders in HeartGold and SoulSilver, Falkner ventures out of his Gym occasionally. Once the player has obtained the Template:Badge, Falkner will journey every Monday to Celadon City so he can visit the Department Store. He can be found talking with fellow Gym Leader Janine, of Fuchsia City, on the fourth floor, and will exchange Pokégear phone numbers with the player. Once this task has been completed, Falkner will travel to the Fighting Dojo in Saffron City every Saturday morning to accept a rematch with a stronger team of Pokémon. He may also participate in the Pokéathlon's Supreme Cup in the Jump Course with his Pidgeot, Swellow, and Staraptor.

Falkner is also in Pokémon Stadium 2's Johto Gym Leader Castle. Unlike other Gym Leaders in this game, all of his Pokémon are of his specialist type. Notably, he even uses a Legendary Pokémon; Zapdos.

### Pokémon

#### Pokémon Black 2 and White 2

##### Pokémon World Tournament

Falkner uses three of these Pokémon in Single Battles, four in Double and Rotation Battles, and all six in Triple Battles. Falkner will always lead with his signature Pokémon, Pidgeot.

### Quotes

#### Template:Game2

* Before battle

*"I'm <sc>Falkner</sc>, the <sc>Violet Pokémon Gym</sc> leader! People say you can clip flying-type <sc>Pokémon</sc>'s wings with a jolt of electricity... I won't allow such insults to bird <sc>Pokémon</sc>! I'll show you the real power of the magnificent bird <sc>Pokémon</sc>!"*
* Being defeated

*"...Darn! My Dad's cherished bird <sc>Pokémon</sc>... All right. Take this. It's the official <sc>Pokémon League Template:Badge</sc>."*
* After being defeated

*"<sc>ZephyrBadge</sc> raises the attack power of <sc>Pokémon</sc>. It also enables <sc>Pokémon</sc> to use <sc>Flash</sc>, if they have it, anytime. Here--take this too."*
*"By using a TM, Pokémon will instantly learn a new move. Think before you act--a TM can be used only once. TM31 contains <sc>Mud-Slap</sc>. It reduces the enemy's accuracy while it causes damage. In other words, it is both defensive and offensive."*
*"There are other <sc>Pokémon Gyms</sc> in cities and towns ahead. You should test your skills at these <sc>Gyms</sc>. I'm going to train hard to become the greatest bird master!"*
#### Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

**Violet Gym**

* Before battle

*"I'm Falkner, the Violet City Pokémon Gym Leader! People say you can clip Flying-type Pokémon's wings with a jolt of electricity... I won't allow such insults to bird Pokémon! I'll show you the real power of the magnificent bird Pokémon!"*
* After sending out last Pokémon

*"The wind is finally with us!"*
* When last Pokémon is at critical health

*"We can still fly!"*
* Being defeated

*"I understand... I'll bow out gracefully."*
* After being defeated

*"...For pity's sake! My dad's cherished bird Pokémon... But a defeat is a defeat. All right. Take this official Pokémon League Badge. This one is the Zephyr Badge. With that Badge, Pokémon, including traded Pokémon up to Lv. 20, will obey you without question. It also enables you to use the hidden move Rock Smash anytime outside of battle."*
*"By using a TM, a Pokémon will instantly learn a new move. Think before you act - a TM can be used only once. TM51 contains Roost. It restores half the max HP."*
*"There are Pokémon Gyms in cities and towns ahead. Make good use of them! As for your next move... I would suggest Azalea Town."*
*"There are Pokémon Gyms in cities and towns ahead. You should test your skills at these Gyms. As for your next move... I would suggest Azalea Town. I'm going to train harder to become the greatest Bird Keeper of all!"*
**Fighting Dojo**

* Before battle

*"Hi! I've been waiting for you! It's a pleasure to be able to battle you again!"*
* After being defeated

*"Mmm... It's still a long way to become the best Trainer..."*
**Celadon Department Store**

*"Hey, why don’t we take a picture together?"*
**Yes**: *"All right! Are you ready?"*
**No**: *"That’s all right. I’ll just take one with my dad..."*
*"Yes! We look good."*
**Pokégear Registering (Celadon Department Store)**

"*Out of all the Trainers out there, the best Trainer would have to be my dad.*"

*"You are mistaken. My dad treats Poké..."*
*"You were listening, right? You agree my dad is greater, right?"*
**Yes**: *"You do? Just as I thought! You know something? I'm sure we'll enjoy talking about my dad! Here is my number! Give me a call Saturday morning if you want to hear about my dad!"*
**No**: *"You don't? I thought you were smarter than that. Oh, well. You'll change your mind eventually."*
*"So, you did change your mind. You now think my dad is greater?"*
**Pokégear Phone**

* Calling him:

*"Hello... OK, now I can hear you. Yeah, I'm in top form. Are there Gym Leaders you haven't battled yet? Step up! Get on it!"*
*"Hello... OK, now I can hear you. Yeah, I'm in top form. Let's see... I'm free Saturday morning usually. Please, give me a call then."*
* Him calling the player:

*"Hey, this is Falkner. How are you doing? The scaffolding in my Gym was in bad shape when you came to battle, eh? Every year, we give the place a thorough scrubbing. It's a challenge. But the bird Pokémon help us out, so we're able to manage."*
*"Hey, this is Falkner. How are you doing? My dad told me something when I was a kid. He said 'Falkner, bird Pokémon don't just fly with their wings, they soar through the sky because that's what they want to do with all their heart.' That's just like my dad."*
*"Hey, this is Falkner. How are you doing? You've chatted with Janine in Fuchsia City, haven't you? All she ever talks about is her dad, you know? Endlessly. I mean, it's good to have a healthy respect for your dad, but it's better to have some self-confidence! Don't you have faith in your own abilities?"*
#### Pokémon Black 2 and White 2

**Pokémon World Tournament**

* Before battle (first round)

*"I'll show you the real power of the magnificent bird Pokémon!"*
* Before battle (second round)

*"I'll show you the real power of the magnificent bird Pokémon! Winds, stay with me!"*
* Before battle (final round)

*"I'll show you the real power of the magnificent bird Pokémon! Dad! I hope you're watching me battle from above!"*
* Being defeated

*"I understand... I'll bow out gracefully."*
* If the player is defeated

*"Now you know the real power of bird Pokémon!"*
* After being defeated

*"A defeat is a defeat. You are strong indeed. I'm going to train harder with my Pokémon to become the greatest Bird Keeper of all!"*
* After winning

*"Dad! I won with your cherished bird Pokémon..."*
* In the lobby, after the tournament

*"As long as I have lofty ambitions, I can fly as far as I want. I'll keep flying and aiming high! Just like you!"*
#### Pokémon Puzzle Challenge

Template:Incomplete

* Easy

*"I've been waiting for you... Well... Let's get going."*
*"You're good for a beginner. Keep up the good work."*
* Normal

*"I've been waiting... Well... Let's begin."*
*"Dang! I lost. I must train harder."*
* Hard

*"I've been waiting for you. I'll show you my might."*
*"...Dang. I lost. If I don't train more..."*
* Super Hard

*"I've been waiting for you... I'll show you my might."*
*"...Dang! I lost. I mustn't give in to my faults."*
* Intense

*"I've been waiting for you! I'll show you my might."*
*"...Dang! I lost. I mustn't give in to my faults."*
#### Pokémon Stadium 2

* Before battle

*"I'm <sc>Falkner</sc>! I'm going to be toughest bird master ever!"*
*"I can't let you get past me. The honor of bird trainers everywhere is at stake!"*
*"Sorry, but there's no way I'll lose to your <sc>Pokémon</sc>!"*
* Sending out first Pokémon

*"All right! Get going, <Pokémon>!"*
* Sending out a new Pokémon

*"This time, it's <Pokémon>."*
*"Shall we toy with them, <Pokémon>?"*
*"Playtime is over, <Pokémon>!"*
*"<Pokémon>! It's your show!"*
* Recalling a Pokémon

*"Tch! Come back, <Pokémon>!"*
*"Okay, switch out, <Pokémon>!"*
*"That's enough, <Pokémon>! Come back!"*
*"Good job! Come back!"*
* Own Pokémon faints

*"Aack! <Pokémon>!"*
*"What!? Shoot!"*
* Player's Pokémon faints

*"Outstanding!"*
* Own Pokémon lands a critical hit

*"Hit the weak spot! That's right!"*
* Player's Pokémon lands a critical hit

*"Ooh, critical hit! Not bad!"*
* Successfully inflicting a status condition on the player's Pokémon

*"Gotcha!"*
* Own Pokémon being hurt by a binding move

*"Argh!"*
* Commanding a Pokémon to use Mud-Slap

*"<Pokémon>! <sc>Mud-Slap</sc>!"*
* Commanding a Pokémon to use Sky Attack

*"<Pokémon>! <sc>Sky Attack</sc>!"*
* If the player is defeated

*"How's that?!"*
* After being defeated

*"...Shoot! Yeah, I lost."*
*"Can't I win using only <sc>Flying</sc>-type <sc>Pokémon</sc>?"*
*"What'll you do if my <sc>Pokémon</sc>'s wings get damaged?!?"*
* After winning

*"Whew! That was a good battle."*
*"You did pretty well, too."*
*"Bird <sc>Pokémon</sc> are the best after all!"*
* If the battle ended in a draw

*"I guess these things happen."*
* If the player runs from the battle

*"Ha, ha, ha! So, you're just going to turn tail and run?"*

## In the anime

 File:Falkner anime.png
Falkner's only anime appearance was in *Fighting Flyer with Fire*.

When Ash's Pikachu was stolen by Template:TRT, Falkner arrived and rescued it with the help of his Pidgeot. He flew around on a glider, yearning to be as close to Flying Pokémon as he possibly could be. He is usually seen with his Hoothoot on his shoulder.

Falkner has a self-righteous attitude when it comes to Pokémon training, which angered Template:Ash. Falkner also expressed an intense dislike for the assumption many Trainers make that Flying-type Pokémon will always lose to Electrics, but proved to be slightly hypocritical as he criticized Ash's poor choice of using Chikorita (a {{Grass}} type that is weak to Flying types) in their match.

The Violet Gym itself is a very tall, spiral-shaped building. Falkner conducts his matches on the roof of the Gym, accompanied by many students who chant in unison during his battles.

Ash was able to win the Template:Badge, despite his Charizard's wing being severely injured during the match.

He reappeared in a flashback in *Why? Wynaut!*.

### Pokémon

It reappeared in a flashback in *Why? Wynaut!*.
 Debut
 Japanese

 Debut

It was then put up against Ash's Charizard in the final round of the battle. With its impressive speed and power, Pidgeot was able to gain the upper hand and injure Charizard making it unable to fly. But with Ash's support and inspiration, Charizard was able to fly again.
Unfortunately, things still looked bad as Pidgeot used Agility to keep dodging Charizard's attacks and attack from behind. Ash luckily had Charizard turn back and use Fire Spin trapping Pidgeot. It then finished it off with Seismic Toss making Ash the victor.
It reappeared in a flashback in *All That Glitters!*.
 Debut
 Japanese

## In the manga

### In the Pokémon Adventures manga

 File:Falkner GSC Adventures.png
Falkner is first seen in the Template:Chap. He debuts in *Elekid Incorporated* working as a part-time police officer. He finds Gold unconscious at Professor Elm's laboratory and blames him for the fire started on the lawn. Under the threat of arrest, Gold comes with Falkner and explains to him that the true thief was named Silver. When asked to provide a picture of Silver, Gold deliberately gives wrong information so that he can find Silver himself. Falkner offers Gold and Joey a place to stay for the night at the police station in Cherrygrove City, but Gold turns it down and runs off with Joey in tow.

Falkner reappears in *Sunkern Treasure* training while off-duty. He runs into Gold and properly introduces himself. Falkner reveals that he plans on taking the Gym Leader qualifying exam so that he can take over the Violet Gym that his father used to lead before being run into hiding. They are attacked by a wild Skarmory that Falkner had faced before, but failed to defeat. With Gold's help, Falkner manages to defeat and capture Skarmory. In *Smeargle Smudge*, it is revealed Falkner passed the Gym Leader exam.

 File:Falkner Policeman.png
In *Really Raikou & Entirely Entei (Part 1)* and  *Really Raikou & Entirely Entei (Part 2)*, Falkner trains his Pokémon on the outskirts of Violet City, where he encounters a poacher. They are attacked by Raikou and Entei, who Falkner assumes are challenging Gym Leaders like Suicune had been doing. Falkner initially struggles to keep up with Entei and Raikou's speed, but he manages to divert their attacks, leaving an opening for him to catch them. The thrown Poké Balls are stopped by Suicune, who had arrived to assist its comrades. The poacher suggests that Falkner give up and live to fight another day, but Falkner refuses the challenge to succeed where the other Gym Leaders failed. In a last-ditch effort, Falkner throws a multitude of Poké Balls into the air, which surround Suicune due to them being outfitted with Skarmory's shed clear feathers, turning them into boomerangs. Falkner almost hits Suicune, but Entei and Raikou return the favor by destroying the Poké Balls. Skarmory begins crashing to the ground due to its now-missing wing, but Suicune saves Falkner with a bubble and then leaves with Entei and Raikou. Falkner admits defeat and claims that he would have lost even if Suicune did not come to help Raikou and Entei. He then reveals to the poacher his job as a police officer and proceeds to arrest him for capturing Pokémon in a protected environment.

 File:Falkner HGSS Adventures.png
At the Indigo Plateau, Falkner arrives with his fellow Johto Gym Leaders to take place exhibition tournament for the Pokémon League against the Kanto Gym Leaders. In the third round, he faces off against Janine of Fuchsia City. The Poison Gym Leader proves too powerful for Falkner and he is nearly defeated by her Ariados. When Janine sees what appears to be her missing father, Koga, in the audience, she forfeits the battle to search for him. When the Masked Man attacks the Pokémon League, Falkner and the other Gym Leaders combat his army of mind-controlled Team Rocket Grunts. The fight takes them to the Magnet Train, which is used as a diversion to get the Gym Leaders away from the stadium. After the Masked Man is defeated, Falkner returned to his usual duties of being a Gym Leader.

In the Template:Chap, Falkner, along with Chuck and Bugsy, is asked by Morty to guard the Ecruteak Gym from suspicious people asking to use Morty's clairvoyance. When Silver arrives to see Morty under Eusine's recommendation, the Gym Leaders mistake him for another suspicious person and stop his attempts to advance. Having no time to talk, Silver opts to battle the Gym Leaders and force his way inside. Silver's clash ends when he is revealed to be a friend of Chuck's former student, Blue. They decide to trust Silver and let him inside to meet with Morty, who had been helping Gold due to mistaking him for Silver. The meeting is cut short by the sudden appearance of Arceus, who lands in front of the Ecruteak Gym and destroys it with a single blast. Falkner, Bugsy, and Chuck are caught in the blast and knocked unconscious.

Falkner's father is Walker, who also uses boomerang Poké Balls made from Skarmory's shed feathers.

#### Pokémon

This listing is of Falkner's Pokémon in the Pokémon Adventures manga.

 Debut

 Debut

 Debut

### In the Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys manga

 File:Falkner Golden Boys.png
Falkner first appeared in *Falkner The Bird Keeper's Challenge!!* where Template:GnB heard that he lived in Violet City. Gold went to Violet City to challenge Falkner. During the Gym battle, Falkner revealed that he challenged someone previously using his Pidgey and Pidgeotto. They were worn out after being defeated by his Mareep. As a result, Falkner sent out his Pidgeot to battle Gold. Gold defeated Pidgeot with Template:TP's combination of Water Gun and Bite.

The Gym battle continued in *The Legendary Pokémon Appears!* where Gold had to deal with Falkner's Articuno who appeared once every four years. Gold had a long fight with it using Totodile, Template:TP, and Template:TP and was about to lose until Articuno flew away. Falkner stated that it fights when it wants to and leaves at will. As Articuno chose not to fight anymore, Gold was able to defeat Falkner and was rewarded the Template:Badge.

#### Pokémon

##### On hand

 Debut

 Debut

##### Other

 Debut

### In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga

 File:Falkner PMHGSS.png
 File:Falkner PM.png
Falkner is the Gym Leader of Violet City. He first appears in *The Gym Challenges Begin!!* as the first Gym Leader in Johto Red encountered. Red met him in Sprout Tower while talking to one of the Elders. He reappeared in PMHGSS05 where he had a rematch with Red during Red's return to Johto.
Template:Sectionstub

#### Pokémon

 Debut

 Debut

### In the Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure manga

 File:Falkner JBA.png
Falkner appears in the first chapter of Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure where he challenges Jō to a Gym Battle in the Violet Gym. Jō managed to defeat Falkner, earning himself the Template:Badge.

#### Pokémon

 Debut

## In the TCG

This listing is of cards mentioning or featuring Falkner or his Pokémon in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

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## Trivia

* His Japanese Leader title is 華麗なる飛行ポケモン使い.
* In Generation II, Falkner is the only Gym Leader who cannot give out a TM that contains a move of his Gym's specialty type, because no Flying-type TM existed in Generation II.
	+ In Generation I, Brock also gives out a TM containing a move (Bide) that is not of his Gym's specialty type, even though one existed: TM48 Rock Slide.
* Falkner's Pokémon are the lowest level of any Gym Leader. His level 7 and 9 (9 and 13 in Generation IV) Pokémon include an underleveled Pidgeotto.
* Falkner appears as an opponent in Pokémon Puzzle Challenge. He uses a Pidgey to battle.
* Falkner is the only Gym Leader from either Kanto or Johto to only use Pokémon of his {{Flying|*<Gym's specialty type>*}} in the Pokémon Stadium series.

## Names

Template:Gym Leaders of Johto

Template:Golden Boys characters

Template:Pocket Monsters Characters

Template:Project CharacterDex notice

de:Falk
es:Pegaso
fr:Albert (Johto)
it:Valerio
ja:ハヤト
zh:阿速