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A '''rival''' is one of the main characters in the Pokémon games that is well known to the protagonist and has similar skills, goals, and achievements. Rival characters appear frequently during the hero's quest, having a role in several of the games' events and often challenges him or her in {{pkmn|battle}}s. Defeating a rival may be a primary or necessary goal of said character.

==In the game==
Rivals will be met by the player early in the game, around the time the player receives their [[starter Pokémon]]. The rival will also obtain a starter Pokémon and will participate in the player's first {{BLink|Pokémon battle}} against a Trainer. From then on, rivals will appear frequently throughout the player's journey, often being one step ahead of the player as the player moves through the region, meeting and battling the player at various points in the game with a progressively stronger and diversified {{BLink|party}}. Usually they must be defeated in order to continue the game; the most important of these battles happening either right before or during the player's challenge to the [[Elite Four]].

{| class="roundy" style="margin:auto; text-align:center; background: #88a; border: 5px solid #88a"
|-
! colspan="2" style="background:#{{Torren color light}}; {{roundy|5px}}" | {{color2|{{Torren color dark}}|Torren}}
|- style="background:#fff"
| {{color2|000|Damian}}
| {{color2|000|Nora}}
|- 
| style="background:#fff; {{roundybl|5px}}"| [[File:Damian_1.png|100x100px]]
| style="background:#fff; {{roundybr|5px}}" | [[File:Nora.png|100x100px]]
|}

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{{Rival characters}}<br>