The Elite Four

[Barb]

I'm currently beta-reading a fic about Lorelei (Prima), a member of the Elite Four in Kanto. I'm curious as to what everyone else thinks about this group. How does one become a member of the E4? Can we presume that he/she has defeated all Gym leaders in whatever region that he/she lives in, and then perhaps won the regional championship of that region? Does the fact that he/she trains Pokémon of a certain type matter at all? Once a person becomes a member of the E4, is he/she always a member, even if defeated in battle?

 

[Murgatroyd]

I've always seen the Elite Four as a self-selected group. It was founded long, long ago, and whenever one member leaves (by death, retirement, or whatever), the remaining members of the group invite someone they feel is worthy to fill the opening. Specialization in a single type is not a definite requirement, but there is a long tradition in its favor.

 

[Barb]

I like the notion of the E4 being self-selected. They seem to work in conjunction with the Pokémon League, but I'm not sure about them actually being members of the League. Although there's also the idea that the League began first and out of the League came the regulation of Gyms, Gym leaders, and high-level trainers eventually assigned the designation of 'elite trainer'.

 

[Roses Ablaze]

I think it's different with every canon. In the games, they definately work for the Pokemon League (in fact, I seem to recall that they *are* the Pokemon League). In Special, on the other hand, they definately do not. My personal theory is that the Elite Four are simply who are considered the four best examples of pokemon masters in the world (or perhaps region) in terms of both power and honor. Either a respected journal or the Pokemon League decides who deserves that title every year or so and one loses that title by simply not being voted in one year. I also like toying with the theory that one must be selected/ invited to go through a series of trials or something before s/he becomes an Elite.

I also think that being a member of the Elite Four isn't a job, like many believe, in the anime. I think it's more of a title, although one would be expected to set an example for younger trainers. If one does something that really goes against the image of what a pokemon master is (ie it is discovered that s/he treats his pokemon horribly, plays nasty tricks outside of battle in order to lower the opponent's chance of winning, etc.), then s/he can be stripped of his/ her title right then and someone else will be selected.

 

[Luna Tiger]

I like to believe that Gyms pick their new leaders on the traditions the Gym follow. It could be family-run, corporate-run, teacher-run, or city-run. Or anything you think fits the environment.

I also agree with Murgatroyd's view on self-selection within the E4. Though I prefer the idea that when one leaves and another is selected to join, that new member ends up in the first slot, and the remaining three battle for the remainer slots, so the strongest is always the final of the four (and then there are various ways to determine when multiple members leave, but many ever leave more than one at a time). And a Champion is made by two things: defeating the E4 and reigning Champion, and then accepting or turning down the offer to replace the current one.

 

[Barb]

I also like toying with the theory that one must be selected/ invited to go through a series of trials or something before s/he becomes an Elite.

I like this theory as well. There seems to be a distinction in the Pokémon anime about 'book' knowledge (the kind Joe and Giselle at Pokémon Tech have) and 'street' knowledge (the kind Ash has, which he's gotten from numerous battles and practical experience). I think that an E4 member would have to be very intelligent in both respects. The tests and trials would probably be a combination of the two, maybe with more emphasis on battling and training.

 

[BenRG]

E4 Qualification

As far as I know, the term 'Elite Four' has never been used in the animé and the members that have been seen (Bruno, Agatha, Prima and Lance) have been referred to simply as 'master trainers'.

My own theory requires a very large and well-organised league. In this scheme, anyone who wins a league can claim a Mastery. However, firstly you must satisfy the League criteria - simply put you must demonstrate mastery with all the Pokémon skill types (mostly by battling) as well as showing that you can used the non-combat field skills (by spelunking along a monitored cave system, flying through an obstacle course, recovering items from the bottom of the sea, etc.). Finally, you must beat the Elite Four in battle, as the League holds to the ancient assumption that Battling is the ultimate test of a Trainer's skill and his bond with his Pokémon.

Once a Master Trainer, you are automatically considered for any open League Gym Leaderships that match your identified type and skill specialities (note, for example, that the Orange League does not define leaderships in type specialities but skill specialities such as Surf or Double Battling). A Master Trainer also has the right, just once, to challenge The Pokémon Master himself for his title. The PM is the fifth member of the E4 and, theoretically, the leader of all Pokémon Trainers who act within the law and the League's regulations.

In this highly structured version of the universe, the E4 are just Master Trainers, selected by the League's bureaucracy for their skill and good conduct to represent the League both as troubleshooters and the ultimate challenge for aspiring Trainers. The position is held for life or until the trainer chooses to either retire or resign for personal reasons (or if they are removed for disciplinary reasons by the League Commission).

Both the E4 and The Pokémon Master can only hold the position once. Once defeated or if they voluntarily leave their position, they are forbidden from ever holding the position again.

 

[Roses Ablaze]

As far as I know, the term 'Elite Four' has never been used in the animé and the members that have been seen (Bruno, Agatha, Prima and Lance) have been referred to simply as 'master trainers'.

Incorrect. Bruno, Prima, and Lance have all been refered to as members of the Elite Four in the dubbed versions at least, Agatha has been refered to as a member of the Elite Four in the Japanese version (I think), and the Japanese titles to the episodes featuring Bruno and Prima even stated that they were members of the Elite Four.

 

[Cybersai]

I think (in the anime at least) there is an Elite 4 for each region.

Kanto, Johto, and Hoenn have their own Elite 4's. We've seen more than 4 Elite members in the anime, so it doesn't make sense if there's only one group.

I think each region has their own "Elite".

 

[Mario The World Champion]

I've always liked the Elite Four. And I do like Murgatroyd's view on how the group selects its members.

This would make one heck of a fanfic if anybody dared tell the story of how the Elite Four were first formed.

 

[Murgatroyd]

This would make one heck of a fanfic if anybody dared tell the story of how the Elite Four were first formed.

This sounds like my cue to post Indigo's League again, as it doesn't seem to currently exist on these forums.

 

[Barb]

This sounds like my cue to post Indigo's League again, as it doesn't seem to currently exist on these forums.

I think I suggested that you do this a while back. And I agree with Scott85's theory about each region having its own E4 group.