Editing Koga

{{Character
| name=Koga
| image=[[image:Koga.png|150px]]
| caption=''"The Poisonous Ninja Master"''
| bgcolor=#660000
| fgcolor=#FFFFFF
| real name=
| species=Human
| hair=Blue
| eyes=Black
| relatives=[[Janine]] (daughter)
| base=[[Fuchsia City]] Gym
| affiliation=
| voiced by=Stan Hart (2000)<br />Christopher Bevins (2019)
| debut=''[[Pokémon: Red, Green and Blue Versions|Pokémon: Red/Green Versions]]''
|}}

'''Koga''' is a Pokémon trainer who has appeared as an opponent in the first two generations of games in the ''[[Portal: Pokémon|Pokémon series]]''. He originally appeared in the first generation as Fuchsia City's gym leader, but he went on to become a member of the [[Elite Four]] in the second generation games. He is known for being a ninja master who specializes in poison-type Pokémon. Koga is descended from a long line of ninjas and has trained [[Janine|his daughter]] to follow in his stead.

=Background=

Koga originally acted as the leader of the Fuchsia City gym, where challengers had to navigate a maze of invisible walls in order to reach him. He often taunted his opponents and started many of his statements with aggressive laughter. He was also known to patrol the [[Safari Zone]] in order to keep the area safe. [[Red]] challenged him at his gym in ''[[Pokémon: Red, Green and Blue Versions|Pokémon Red, Green, Blue]]'' and ''[[Pokémon: Yellow Version|Yellow]]'' (as well as ''[[Pokémon: FireRed and LeafGreen Versions]]''). After Koga was defeated, he gave Red the Soulbadge along with TM 06: Toxic. In a Fame Checker message, he mentioned that both he and Red must set their sights higher. In the ''[[Pokémon: Let's Go!|Let's Go!]]'' remakes, Koga was instead challenged by [[Chase/Elaine]] and initially used his ninja skills to disguise himself as the gym guide. He gave TM 27: Toxic and could later be challenged to rematches in these versions. He also expressed his interest in joining the Elite Four.

He later dedicated his time to training his daughter [[Janine]] as a ninja and Pokémon trainer. At some point over the following few years, Koga became a member of the Elite Four based in Indigo Plateau, while leaving Janine to watch over the Fuchsia City gym as its new gym leader. Koga was the second member of the Elite Four to be challenged by [[Ethan]]/[[Lyra]] in  ''[[Pokémon: Gold and Silver Versions|Pokémon: Gold, Silver]]'', ''[[Pokémon: Crystal Version|Crystal]]'', ''[[Pokémon: HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions|HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions]]''. He attempted to intimidate the trainer by talking about the threat he posed as a ninja as well as the different status effects that his Pokémon could cause. He was still defeated and decided that he must hone his skills, while telling Ethan/Lyra to move on to the next room.

==Pokémon Roster==

===Generation I===

In ''Red'', ''Blue'' and ''Green'', he has two [[Koffing]], a [[Muk]] and a [[Weezing]]. Koga instead uses three [[Venonat]] and a [[Venomoth]] in the ''Yellow Version''.  In ''Let's Go!'', his roster instead consists of Weezing, Muk, [[Golbat]] and Venomoth, with a [[Tentacruel]] being added for rematches.

===Generation II===

[[image:Koga2.png|200px|right|thumb|Koga in ''HeartGold'' and ''SoulSilver'']]
Koga's Pokémon roster in the ''Gold''/''Silver''/''Crystal'' (as well as the first battle in ''HeartGold''/''SoulSilver'') versions is:

*[[Ariados]]
*[[Forretress]]
*Muk
*Venomoth
*[[Crobat]]

In ''HeartGold''/''SoulSilver'', uses the following roster for rematches:

*[[Skuntank]]
*Venomoth
*[[Toxicroak]]
*Muk
*Crobat
*[[Swalot]]

=In Other Pokémon Games=

Koga appeared as the fifth opponent faced within the Gym Leader Castle in ''[[Pokémon Stadium]]''. In the first round he uses a Venomoth, Muk, Weezing, Venonat, [[Nidorina]] and [[Nidorino]]. In Round 2, Koga uses Venomoth, Muk, Weezing, [[Hypno]], [[Tangela]] and [[Parasect]].  In ''[[Pokémon Stadium 2]]'', he was battled with the other Elite Four members in that game's Gym Leader Castle. His roster in the first round was identical to his roster in ''Gold'', ''Silver'' and ''Crystal'', except that his Crobat and Forretress were replaced with [[Golbat]], [[Electrode]] and [[Gligar]]. In the second round, Koga used Venomoth, [[Magmar]], [[Lapras]], [[Ariados]], [[Lanturn]] and [[Stantler]]. Koga, as depicted in the anime, appeared as the sixth opponent in ''[[Pokémon Puzzle League]]'', after [[Erika]] and before [[Sabrina]]. In this game, he used Venomoth, [[Voltorb]] and Golbat. In ''[[Pokémon Puzzle Challenge]]'', Koga was the tenth opponent, battled with the other second generation Elite Four members. He fought using a Crobat.

In ''[[Pokémon Masters EX]]'', Koga and his Crobat appeared as a playable sync pair that could be recruited by [[Scottie/Bettie|the player]]. He was featured and recruited in Chapter 16 of the Main Story. In that chapter, he and Janine had formed a team for the [[Pokémon Masters League]] tournament, and they were the latest opponents that the player's team had to face. After Koga and Janine were defeated, Koga attempted to assure his daughter that he saw her as an equal on the battlefield and not a hindrance, but Janine decided to depart on her own personal journey to become stronger. Koga then volunteered to join the player's team. In Chapter 23, he and [[Clair]] commiserated over dealing with others questioning their respective fashion choices, and he considered buying one of [[Valerie]]'s outfits for his daughter until he saw how expensive they were. During the Villain Arc, Koga and Janine showed up during the Johto chapter to hold off [[Petrel]] and his forces for [[Silver]]. Koga also appeared as an opponent in the Johto Challenge of the Champion Stadium mode, which replicated the Elite Four line-up from the second generation games.

=Other Appearances=

==Other Media==

*Koga appeared in an episode of the ''Pokémon'' anime, were his gym was located in a mansion similar to a classic Japanese one, but filed with secrets and traps. Ash challenged him and won his badge. Koga was also shown to be training his sister, Aya, who may have inspired the character of Janine. While Koga did not reappear outside of that episode, Aya made another appearance during the Johto series.
*In the manga ''The Electric Tale of Pikachu'', Koga makes a small appearance in one chapter in which Team Rocket and several Pokémon end up trapped in his gym.
*Koga also appeared in the ''Pokémon Adventures'' manga as an antagonist and one of the gym leaders working under [[Giovanni]] as part of [[Team Rocket]] in the ''Red''/''Green''/''Blue'' arc. He first battles [[Red]] with [[Misty]] at [[Mt. Moon]], where he uses an injection to evolve a [[Rhyhorn]] into [[Rhydon]]. He is also involved in reanimating the dead Pokémon at [[Lavender Town]]'s Pokémon Tower with [[Gastly]] until defeated by [[Blue]]. He battled Blue again in the final Team Rocket battles at Saffron City and was defeated again. At the end of the ''Yellow'' arc the Team Rocket members return to help the trainers fight the Elite Four on Cerise Island. Koga is paired with Blue against [[Agatha]] and escapes after she is defeated. He goes missing over the next few years, leading Janine to replace him as Fuschia Gym Leader. He resurfaces near the end of the ''Gold''/''Silver''/''Crystal'' arc where he is shown to have partnered with [[Bruno]] due to both being remnants of evil organizations seeking new purpose. They help Red and Blue to travel to Johto and later on recruit [[Will (Pokemon)|Will]] and [[Karen]] into their ground, mimicking the second generation Elite Four line-up. The ''HeartGold''/''SoulSilver'' arc later shows that this Elite Four was successful in receiving official recognition from the Pokémon Association, and they later compete with Gold at the Pokéthlon.
*In an episode of the ''Pokémon Origins'' anime, Koga makes a brief appearance in an episode depicting Red beating him at a gym battle.

=Trivia=

*His English name is derived from Kouga-ryu, which is a style of ninjutsu; in ''Diamond'' and ''Pearl'', a trainer asks if the player is a "Kouga" or Iga ninja in reference to the two schools of ninjutsu. Koga's Japanese name is actually Kyou, named after a type of apricot.
*Koga is more directly referenced in ''[[Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl Versions|Diamond and Pearl]]'', when a ninja Pokémon trainer mentions rumors he heard of a legendary ninja gym leader living in a faraway land.
*In ''HeartGold''/''SoulSilver'', it is shown that Janine brings lunch to Koga every day in the late afternoon, due to how busy he is as a member of the Elite Four.
*In ''Gold''/''Silver''/''Crystal'', his room at the Pokémon League contains a grassy area sporting several trees. In ''HeartGold''/''SoulSilver'', it contains a stony floor with patches of moss and is surrounded by large trees.
*He is the only gym leader from the first five generations not to make an appearance in ''[[Pokémon: Black and White Versions 2|Black and White 2]]'', due to his promotion to the Elite Four. Instead, it is Janine who competes in the Pokémon World Tournament. He is still mentioned by her, as she talks about wanting to become stronger than him and also needing to train more with him.
*In each game based on the first generation, Koga describes Toxic as a secret technique from four hundred years ago. In ''Let's Go!'', he specifies that it was passed down his family line.

{{Gym Leaders}}{{Elite Four}}

[[Category: Characters]] [[Category: Pokémon Characters]]