History AwesomeBosses / Pokemon

** Speaking of Challenge Mode, there it's even more intense, because her entire team gets redesigned and are given much more powerful attacks (i.e. Aggron gets Head Smash, Haxorus and Druddigon have Outrage, and Lapras has 120 power special attacks).

** The final round in Pokémon World Tournament Matches, where the battlefield becomes more [[AmazingTechnicolorBattlefield flashy and colorful as you progress]], accompanied by a triumphant music track evocative of ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros''. Especially if you're up against your favorite character.

*** In ''Black and White 2'', Ghetsis is back. His Hydreigon was dumbed down quite a bit[[note]]its moveset is purely physical and has no moves not resisted by Steel-types, not to mention you have plenty of other options to combat it with thanks to the New Unova Dex[[/note]], and two of his former Pokemon (Bouffalant and Bisharp) were replaced with Poison-types from Sinnoh, and the rest of his team is basically the same, but it still makes for a cool fight. His theme was also revamped pretty hardcore, too.

** The final round in Pokémon World Tournament Matches, where the battlefield becomes more [[AmazingTechnicolorBattlefield flashy and colorful as you progress]], accompanied by a triumphant music track evocative of ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''. Especially if you're up against your favorite character.

* Benga, Alder's grandson also from ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2'' is a pretty awesome fight as well. You battle him at the top of the [[BonusDungeon Black Tower/White Treehollow]] which gives the battle with him a unique background. Getting to him is a long and arduous trek through extremely high leveled trainers with very limited chances to heal. When you finally do reach him, he comes flying at you with three extremely powerful Pokemon with good hold items that are even higher leveled than Iris'. One of them (depending on the version) is even a [[OlympusMons Latios or Latias]]! Finally, during the battle, him and his grandpa's [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic heroic and triumphant theme]] is blasting in the background, giving the fight an incredible feeling of grandeur.

* Benga, Alder's grandson also from ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2'' is a pretty awesome fight as well. You battle him at the top of the [[BonusDungeon Black Tower/White Treehollow]] which gives the battle with him a unique background. Getting to him is a long and arduous trek through extremely high leveled trainers with very limited chances to heal. When you finally do reach him, he comes flying at you with three extremely powerful Pokemon with good hold items that are even higher leveled than Iris'. One of them (depending on the version) is even a [[OlympusMons Latios or Latias]]! Finally, all of this happens with him and his grandpa's [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic heroic and triumphant theme]] blasting in the background.

* Benga, Alder's grandson also from ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2'' is a pretty awesome fight as well. You battle him at the top of the [[BonusDungeon Black Tower/White Treehollow]] which gives the battle with him a unique background. Getting to him is a long and arduous trek through extremely high leveled trainers with very limited chances to heal. When you finally do reach him, he comes flying at you with three extremely powerful Pokemon with good hold items that are even higher leveled than Iris'. One of them (depending on the version) is even a [[OlympusMons Latios or Latias]]! Finally, all of this happens with his grandpa's [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic heroic and triumphant theme]] blasting in the background.

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* [[spoiler: Mewtwo]] as the final boss of ''VideoGame/PokemonRumble''. [[spoiler: Every time you clear a rank, you can see his silhouette in the background, and you finally find out why in the Rank S Battle Royale... [[GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere When he comes out of absolutely nowhere]] in the middle of your battle with the Legendary Bird Trio, accompanied by [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome an awesome remix of the original wild Pokemon battle theme]] from [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Pokemon Red and Blue]], [[ThatOneBoss as he focuses all of his most powerful attacks on you, while swarms of enemy Pokemon try to destroy you themselves]]. This is made even more awesome in Advanced Mode, where his silhouette is replaced by those of Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina... And he's still the final boss.]]

* Some of the later battles against Norman in ''Emerald'' can feel like this. It's not just the thrill you get after taking out his skill-swapping Slaking, which received a negative ability just to keep them balanced. It's what he says after you beat him: ''"<Your Name Here>... What is your dream? My dream... Hahaha...[[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming It has already come true, actually]]."'' To summarize: it's not just beating him, it's that instead of resenting that his child has defeated him multiple times, he's genuinely happy for you.

* Battling the Champion, [[spoiler: Iris]], in ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2''. After an outstanding battle intro scene, the battlefield looks like a bunch of multicolored beams flying through space. And her first Pokemon? [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard An underleveled Hydreigon]], which, in fact, if you're playing on Challenge Mode or a rematch, has the same moveset that Ghetsis' had in the originals [[note]]In a regular initial battle, it has Flamethrower and Charge Beam instead of Focus Blast and Fire Blast[[/note]]. And that's just the beginning. She also has a Haxorus with Dragon Dance and a Focus Sash, along with lots of other brutal hitters.
** Not to mention the pure undiluted [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome awesome]] that is her [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xb9ee9lWSbg battle theme]].
** The final round in Pokemon World Tournament Matches, where the battlefield becomes more [[AmazingTechnicolorBattlefield flashy and colorful as you progress]], accompanied by a triumphant music track evocative of SuperSmashBrosMelee. Especially if you're up against your favorite character.
* Elesa's revamped gym in Black/White 2. It consists of a gaudy catwalk where you fight supermodels, who add to the funky-fresh mix of the normal gym music when you defeat them (complete with GratuitousEnglish!). It's more of a crowning boss of [[CrowningMomentOfFunny funny]] than awesome, but it's still plenty great.

** Black and White brought it up a little when the music shifts to an upbeat remix of the classic Pokémon theme when the leader is on his/her last mon.
* [[spoiler:N and Ghetsis]] from Black and White play things a lot more differently than the villains in the other main Pokémon games. They are fought [[spoiler:RIGHT after defeating the Elite Four]]. You first fight [[spoiler:the mascot legendary - which respawns if it faints, forcing you to catch it]], then you fight [[spoiler:N, who has the other version's mascot legendary as part of his team,]] then you fight six more Pokémon from [[spoiler:Ghetsis]].

** [[spoiler: Ghetsis]] and more specifically, his HYDREIGON. That meta-gaming jerk has a mid-50s Hydreigon [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard (the game mechanics have it evolving at 64)]], plus it's loaded down with SURF, FIRE BLAST, FOCUS BLAST, and... Dragon Pulse?... Anyway, so yeah. It'll just about oneshot ANYTHING it can line up a type weakness against. So your list of types to fight it with are slim. Best option is a PURE Fighting-type, as it is a Dark / Dragon. Barring that, a Water-type with Ice moves (Samurott and/or Jellicent) works, too.

* Tate and Liza in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald]]''. They're the only double-battle Gym Leaders in the main games (rematches in ''Emerald'' notwithstanding) and require the player to push their double-battle strategies to their limits - or to come with one on the spot - if they haven't been LevelGrinding. The battle may take longer than most battles up to that point (even though there are only two Pokémon (four in Emerald), but that's part of the charm of [=RPG=]s bosses for some players.

* Steven in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Ruby/Sapphire]]'' (he apparently abdicated his Champion position to Wallace in ''Emerald'', but he remained in the game as an even stronger BonusBoss). Although he was the first FinalBoss in the series to not have a direct connection to the player (as opposed to your rival in the first generation and the below-mentioned Red in generations two and four), he overcame that disappointment with an ''incredibly'' difficult-to-defeat team and [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlgoc8PcDEg a kickass battle theme]]. He also had a pretty cool, easygoing personality...and an interior as hard as the Steel-types he uses. Pretty badass.

** Not to mention the pure undiluted [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome awesome]] that is her battle theme.

*** In Black and White 2, Ghetsis is back. His Hydreigon was dumbed down quite a bit[[hottip:*:its moveset is purely physical and has no moves not resisted by Steel-types, not to mention you have plenty of other options to combat it with thanks to the New Unova Dex]], and two of his former Pokemon (Bouffalant and Bisharp) were replaced with Poison-types from Sinnoh, and the rest of his team is basically the same, but it still makes for a cool fight. His theme was also revamped pretty hardcore, too.

* Battling the Champion, [[spoiler: Iris]], in ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2''. After an outstanding battle intro scene, the battlefield looks like a bunch of multicolored beams flying through space. And her first Pokemon? [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard An underleveled Hydreigon]], which, in fact, if you're playing on Challenge Mode or a rematch, has the same moveset that Ghetsis' had in the originals [[hottip:*: In a regular initial battle, it has Flamethrower and Charge Beam instead of Focus Blast and Fire Blast]]. And that's just the beginning. She also has a Haxorus with Dragon Dance and a Focus Sash, along with lots of other brutal hitters.

** [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue the ghostly mother Marowak]] and [[VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2 White/Black Kyurem]] [[ButThouMust being the only exceptions.]]

* To some, ''[[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver HeartGold]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver SoulSilver]]'' have some of the best battles in the series. [[PreviousPlayerCharacterCameo Red?]] Check. [[TheRival Blue?]] Check. [[{{Jerkass}} Clair]] [[DualBoss and Lance]] while teamed up with [[TheRival Silver]] Check. [[BigBad Giovanni?]] Check. [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters Too many legendaries to count?]] Check. [[BigLippedAlligatorMoment Eusine?]] Sure.

** [[PokemonRedAndBlue the ghostly mother Marowak]] and [[Videogame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2 White/Black Kyurem]] [[ButThouMust being the only exceptions.]]

* Tate and Liza in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald]]''. They're the only double-battle Gym Leaders in the main games (rematches in ''Emerald'' notwithstanding) and require the player to push their double-battle strategies to their limits - or to come with one on the spot - if they haven't been LevelGrinding. The battle may take longer than most battles up to that point (even though there are only two Pokémon (Ruby and Sapphire only, there are four in Emerald), but that's part of the charm of [=RPG=]s bosses for some players.

** Another way to make it an anticlimax boss is to fight him with a Dark-type in FRLG/HGSS, allowing you to catch him with baseline Poké Balls with total ease, if a bit of a time investment. As Dark-types are unaffected by Mewtwo's Psychic-type offensive moves, the only thing you have to worry about is Mewtwo running out of PP, or making sure your dark type doesn't have the wrong ability (Larvitar with Sand Stream, which will chip away HP for example)or a secondary typing that could cause trouble.
*** Then there's the solo battle in ''Pokémon Stadium''. That he challenges you is his way of saying, "Hey. I can beat you and your whole team by myself. Bring it on!" The arena is made of a bunch of transparent crystalline material, and he has music befitting a final boss. And because the balancing issues hadn't been sorted out yet, he stood a pretty good chance of actually wrecking your team all by himself.

* Yes, we all know that beating a Gym Leader is awesome, but to get real satisfaction out of the ordeal, try beating them with underleveled Pokémon.

** Another way to make it an anticlimax boss is to fight him with a Dark-type in FRLG/HGSS, allowing you to catch him with baseline Poké Balls with total ease, if a bit of a time investment. As Dark-types are unaffected by Mewtwo's Psychic-type offensive moves, the only thing you have to worry about is Mewtwo running out of PP.

* Tate and Liza in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald]]''. They're the only double-battle Gym Leaders in the main games (rematches in ''Emerald'' notwithstanding) and require the player to push their double-battle strategies to their limits - or to come with one on the spot - if they haven't been LevelGrinding. The battle may take longer than most battles up to that point (even though there are only two Pokémon), but that's part of the charm of [=RPG=]s bosses for some players.

** [[PokemonRedAndBlue the ghostly mother Marowak]]and[[Videogame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2 White/Black Kyurem]][[ButThouMust being the only exceptions.]]

** [[Videogame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2 White/Black Kyurem]] [[ButThouMust being the sole exception.]]

* Arguably, Tate and Liza in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald]]''. They're the only double-battle Gym Leaders in the main games (rematches in ''Emerald'' notwithstanding) and require the player to push their double-battle strategies to their limits - or to come with one on the spot - if they haven't been LevelGrinding. The battle may take longer than most battles up to that point (even though there are only two Pokémon), but that's part of the charm of [=RPG=]s bosses for some players.

* The Elite Four. Hell, the battle with Cynthia alone. (By the way, the propaganda about Spiritomb having no weaknesses? Not true. If you use Foresight to remove the Ghost-type immunity to Fighting-type moves, it's just as weak against them as any other Dark-type would be.)
** The "propaganda" is referring to the fact that Spiritomb has no ''permanent'' weaknesses, not weaknesses in general. Without using Foresight (which a lot of people run into, as most Pokémon they're using by this point have at least one move that is more deserving of the space), Spiritomb has no weakness.
** In the competitive environment of Pokémon, gimmick moves like Foresight or Psywave are generally tossed aside for type coverage and setup type moves. Pokemon like Noctowl or Hitmonlee are generally lower tier because they are unable to break out of their niche. To note, while Spiritomb CAN be exposed to a weakness, there is no way any viable Pokémon would use those moves when there are moves for something better. But in that case, it is not to be said that Spiritomb has no weaknesses at all. Two Pokémon are capable of getting super effective damage on a Spititomb: Miltank and Kangaskhan. They come pre-equipped with the Scrappy ability, which means that they can hit Ghost Pokémon regardless of type. That Fighting weakness that Dark Pokemon carry? Free hits. And the beautiful part? Spiritomb has no weaknesses that it can exploit on them.
** If you do decide to use a Fighting-type with Foresight... have fun with Spiritomb's Psychic attack. But then again, half the fun with the whole Elite Four was seeing what kinds of crazy moves their Pokemon would try to throw at you to compensate for their weaknesses, and adjusting your battle strategy accordingly.

* The TrueFinalBoss of the second generation and its fourth-generation [[VideoGameRemake remakes]]. You've obtained sixteen badges, and defeated every Gym Leader within your reach. Your team of {{mons}} is fully-evolved and totally ready and pumped to kick some ass. You've literally defeated every other trainer in the two regions. Who could possibly be left to challenge you? [[ContinuityNod Who else but]] ''[[PreviousPlayerCharacterCameo Red, the protagonist of the previous game]]'', who after four generations still wields the highest-leveled Pokémon in the series (even taking his crown back from ''[[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Platinum]]'''s rival in the DS remakes, with his Pikachu getting bumped up to level 88). He's got some of the most famous and traditional Pokémon from the three evolved Kanto starters to Pikachu, Lapras (in the remakes), and Snorlax, [[ThatOneBoss the last of which is easily one of the most difficult battles in the game]]. As if all that wasn't enough, [[HeroicMime he doesn't even '' say'' anything as you fight him, speaking only in ellipses as a callout to every player character's silence.]] It was an incredible way to tie the first two generations together and bring everything full circle. It speaks volumes of how awesome this fight is when there is ''absolutely no dialogue or context involved'' and it ''still'' manages to feel epic based solely on the PreviousPlayerCharacterCameo.
* To some, ''[[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver HeartGold]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver SoulSilver]]'' have some of the best battles in the series. [[PreviousPlayerCharacterCameo Red?]] Check. [[TheRival Blue?]] Check. [[{{Jerkass}} Clair]] [[DualBoss and Lance]] while teamed up with [[TheRival Sil]][[{{Jerkass}} ver?]] Check. [[BigBad Giovanni?]] Check. [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters Too many legendaries to count?]] Check. [[BigLippedAlligatorMoment Euisine?]] Sure. [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome Red and Blue in a double battle?]] [[spoiler: [[BigNo Noooooooooooooooooooooo]]]].

* [[KnightTemplar Cy]][[BigBad rus]] in the [[EldritchLocation Distortion World]] in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Platinum]].'' You're at the end of a confusing world where the laws of physics as you knew them have no meaning, led through the puzzles by [[OlympusMons Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf]], and before you get to go capture [[EldritchAbomination Giratina]], you gotta beat a guy who, if you fail, will [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt destroy existence]] and remake it in his own image as a world [[EmptyShell without emotion, thought, or free will]]. Just that alone should point to how epic the buildup is, and the boss usually doesn't disappoint, especially not with the [[SugarWiki/CrowningMusicOfAwesome epic music]].

** Another way to make it an anticlimax boss is to fight him with a Tyranitar in FRLG, allowing you to catch him with baseline Poké Balls with total ease, if a bit of a time investment. As a Dark-type, it is unaffected by Mewtwo's Psychic-type offensive moves and its ability calls constant sandstorms to whittle down Mewtwo's health, which is healed with Recover before he can faint.

* Yes, we all know that beating a Gym Leader is a CMOA, but to get real satisfaction out of the ordeal, try beating them with underleveled Pokémon.

* [[spoiler:N]] and his [[spoiler: father, the leader of Team Plasma]] from Pokémon Black and White, [[spoiler: play things a lot more differently than the other main Pokémon games.]] They are fought [[spoiler:RIGHT after defeating the Elite Four]]. You first fight [[spoiler:or capture the version-exclusive legendary]], then you fight [[spoiler:N]] with that Pokémon as his first Pokémon, along with five more Pokémon, then you fight six more Pokémon from [[spoiler:Ghetsis]]. You fight the Champion [[spoiler:after rematching with the Elite Four]].
** Add the fact that he is in a very short list of villains who have actually obtained a Legendary Pokémon and use it against you. To date, only one other villain has done it: [[spoiler: Greevil in Pokémon XD, with Shadow Lugia]].
*** And [[spoiler: the Kanto Legendary Bird Trio]].
*** And then [[spoiler:the Legendary Beasts of Johto were divided amongst the lesser Cipher Admins in ''Colosseum''.]]
** [[spoiler: Ghetsis]] and more specifically, his HYDREIGON. That meta-gaming jerk has a mid-50s Hydreigon [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard (the game mechanics have it evolving at 64)]], plus it's loaded down with SURF, FIRE BLAST, FOCUS BLAST, and... Dragon Pulse?... Anyway, so yeah. It'll just about oneshot ANYTHING it can line up a type weakness against. So your list of types to fight it with are slim. Best option is a PURE Fighting-type, as it is a Dark / Dragon. Barring that, Water (Samurott and/or Jellicent) works, too.

** Arguably, Tate and Liza in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald]]''. They're the only double-battle Gym Leaders in the main games (rematches in ''Emerald'' notwithstanding) and require the player to push their double-battle strategies to their limits - or to come with one on the spot - if they haven't been LevelGrinding. The battle may take longer than most battles up to that point (even though there are only two Pokémon), but that's part of the charm of [=RPG=]s bosses for some players.
** The battle against [[spoiler:Primal Dialga]] and the preceding cutscenes in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeonExplorers Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness]]'' were epic win. No arguments.

** The final round in Pokemon World Tournament Matches, where the battlefield becomes more [[AmazingTechnicolorBattlefield flashy and colorful as you progress.]] Especially the first (and only required time), [[spoiler:against Colress]], with music evocative of SuperSmashBrosMelee.