Rival Brendan & May Battles

Your Rival, Brendan or May, is your neighbor and Professor Birch’s child. You first meet them in Littleroot Town.

As your primary rival (alongside Wally), you’ll have to battle them five times during the main story:

1. Route 103 (after receiving your Pokédex)
2. Route 110 (after visiting Slateport City)
3. Route 119 (after visiting the Weather Institute)
4. Lilycove City (after visiting Mt. Pyre)
5. After defeating the Pokémon League for the first time

Their team grows stronger each time, culminating in a final battle with their Mega-Evolved starter Pokémon.

May and Brendan both have the same teams, but their teams will vary depending on which starter you chose at the beginning of the game.

Battle #1: Route 103

Your first rival battle with Brendan or May happens shortly after selecting your starter. You’ll encounter your rival on the north side of Route 103, where they’ll challenge you to your first Trainer battle.

If you picked Treecko

Your Rival
Pokémon	Torchic Lv.5
Type	Fire
Ability	Blaze
Held Item	None
Moves	Scratch

If you picked Torchic

Your Rival
Pokémon	Mudkip Lv.5
Type	Water
Ability	Torrent
Held Item	None
Moves	Tackle

If you picked Mudkip

Your Rival
Pokémon	Treecko Lv.5
Type	Grass
Ability	Overgrow
Held Item	None
Moves	Pound

Battle #2: Route 110

Your 2nd rival battle with Brendan/May occurs when you first explore Route 110. As you head north you’ll run into your rival, who will challenge you to a battle where they’ll give you the Dowsing Machine upon defeat.

If you picked Treecko

Your Rival
Pokémon	Wailmer Lv.18	Shroomish Lv.18	Combusken Lv.20
Type	Water	Grass	Fire / Fighting
Ability	Water Veil	Effect Spore	Blaze
Held Item	None	None	None
Moves	Water Gun Rollout Whirlpool Astonish	Stun Spore Leech Seed Mega Drain Headbutt	Sand Attack Peck Double Kick Flame Charge

If you picked Torchic

Your Rival
Pokémon	Shroomish Lv.18	Slugma Lv.18	Marshtomp Lv.20
Type	Grass	Fire	Water / Ground
Ability	Effect Spore	Magma Armor	Torrent
Held Item	None	None	None
Moves	Stun Spore Leech Seed Mega Drain Headbutt	Ember Rock Throw Harden Incinerate	Mud-Slap Foresight Mud Bomb Bide

If you picked Mudkip

Your Rival
Pokémon	Slugma Lv.18	Wailmer Lv.18	Grovyle Lv.20
Type	Fire	Water	Grass
Ability	Magma Armor	Water Veil	Overgrow
Held Item	None	None	None
Moves	Ember Rock Throw Harden Incinerate	Water Gun Rollout Whirlpool Astonish	Quick Attack Mega Drain Fury Cutter Pursuit

Battle #3: Route 119

Your third battle with Brendan or May occurs after dealing with Team Magma/Aqua at the Weather Institute.

After crossing the bridge on Route 119 you’ll find a staircase, and when you climb up your rival will stop you for a battle. After you win you’ll get HM02 Fly as a reward.

If you picked Treecko

Your Rival
Pokémon	Wailmer Lv.31	Shroomish Lv.31	Combusken Lv.33
Type	Water	Grass	Fire / Fighting
Ability	Water Veil	Effect Spore	Blaze
Held Item	None	None	None
Moves	Water Pulse Mist Brine Rest	Poison Powder Worry Seed Giga Drain Growth	Double Kick Flame Charge Quick Attack Bulk Up

If you picked Torchic

Your Rival
Pokémon	Shroomish Lv.31	Slugma Lv.31	Marshtomp Lv.33
Type	Grass	Fire	Water / Ground
Ability	Effect Spore	Magma Armor	Torrent
Held Item	None	None	None
Moves	Poison Powder Worry Seed Giga Drain Growth	Clear Smog Ancient Power Flame Burst Rock Slide	Bide Mud Bomb Rock Slide Protect

If you picked Mudkip

Your Rival
Pokémon	Slugma Lv.31	Wailmer Lv.31	Grovyle Lv.33
Type	Fire	Water	Grass
Ability	Magma Armor	Water Veil	Overgrow
Held Item	None	None	None
Moves	Clear Smog Ancient Power Flame Burst Rock Slide	Water Pulse Mist Brine Rest	Pursuit Leaf Blade Agility Slam

Battle #4: Lilycove City

Your fourth rival battle with Brendan or May occurs when you visit Lilycove City.

As you climb the stairs up to the Lilycove Department Center, your rival will appear and challenge you to a battle.

If you picked Treecko

Your Rival
Pokémon	Swellow Lv.37	Wailord Lv.37	Breloom Lv.37	Blaziken Lv.39
Type	Normal / Flying	Water	Grass / Fighting	Fire / Fighting
Ability	Guts	Water Veil	Effect Spore	Blaze
Held Item	None	None	None	None
Moves	Double Team Aerial Ace Quick Guard Agility	Rest Brine Water Spout Amnesia	Counter Mach Punch Force Palm Mind Reader	Quick Attack Bulk Up Blaze Kick Focus Energy

If you picked Torchic

Your Rival
Pokémon	Swellow Lv.37	Breloom Lv.37	Magcargo Lv.37	Swampert Lv.39
Type	Normal / Flying	Grass / Fighting	Fire / Rock	Water / Ground
Ability	Guts	Effect Spore	Magma Armor	Torrent
Held Item	None	None	None	None
Moves	Double Team Aerial Ace Quick Guard Agility	Counter Mach Punch Force Palm Mind Reader	Flame Burst Rock Slide Lava Plume Amnesia	Mud Bomb Rock Slide Protect Muddy Water

If you picked Mudkip

Your Rival
Pokémon	Swellow Lv.37	Magcargo Lv.37	Wailord Lv.37	Sceptile Lv.39
Type	Normal / Flying	Fire / Rock	Water	Grass
Ability	Guts	Magma Armor	Water Veil	Overgrow
Held Item	None	None	None	None
Moves	Double Team Aerial Ace Quick Guard Agility	Flame Burst Rock Slide Lava Plume Amnesia	Rest Brine Water Spout Amnesia	Agility Slam Dual Chop Detect

Battle #5: Post-Credits Rival Battle

Your final rival battle with Brendan or May occurs after becoming Pokemon League Champion.

In a cutscene after the credits roll, your rival challenges you to one last battle on Route 103, the location where your first rival battle took place at the start of the game.

If you picked Treecko

Your Rival
Pokémon	Swellow Lv.48	Raichu Lv.48	Wailord Lv.48	Breloom Lv.48	Mega Blaziken Lv.50
Type	Normal / Flying	Electric	Water	Grass / Fighting	Fire / Fighting
Ability	Guts	Static	Water Veil	Effect Spore	Speed Boost
Held Item	None	None	None	None	Blazikenite
Moves	Aerial Ace Quick Attack U-Turn Steel Wing	Thunder Wave Thunderbolt Quick Attack Light Screen	Surf Heavy Slam Bulldoze Ice Beam	Seed Bomb Force Palm Venoshock Rock Tomb	Blaze Kick Brick Break Quick Attack Shadow Claw

If you picked Torchic

Your Rival
Pokémon	Swellow Lv.48	Raichu Lv.48	Breloom Lv.48	Magcargo Lv.48	Mega Swampert Lv.50
Type	Normal / Flying	Electric	Grass / Fighting	Fire / Rock	Water / Ground
Ability	Guts	Static	Effect Spore	Magma Armor	Damp
Held Item	None	None	None	None	Swampertite
Moves	Aerial Ace Quick Attack U-Turn Steel Wing	Thunder Wave Thunderbolt Quick Attack Light Screen	Seed Bomb Force Palm Venoshock Rock Tomb	Earth Power Lava Plume Body Slam Rock Slide	Earthquake Muddy Water Rock Slide Brick Break

If you picked Mudkip

Your Rival
Pokémon	Swellow Lv.48	Raichu Lv.48	Magcargo Lv.48	Wailord Lv.48	Mega Sceptile Lv.50
Type	Normal / Flying	Electric	Fire / Rock	Water	Grass / Dragon
Ability	Guts	Static	Magma Armor	Water Veil	Lightning Rod
Held Item	None	None	None	None	Sceptilite
Moves	Aerial Ace Quick Attack U-Turn Steel Wing	Thunder Wave Thunderbolt Quick Attack Light Screen	Earth Power Lava Plume Body Slam Rock Slide	Surf Heavy Slam Bulldoze Ice Beam	Leaf Blade X-Scissor Dual Chop Night Slash