Executive (Trainer class)

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Executive
ロケットだんかんぶ Team Rocket Executive
RocketExecs.png
Art from HeartGold and SoulSilver
Other names Rocket Executive
ロケットだんいんの かんぶ
Team Rocket Executive Member
(Generation II)
Team Rocket Admin
ロケットだんの かんぶFRLG
ロケットだんかんぶPE
Team Rocket Executive
(Generation III/VII)
Introduced in Generation II
Appears in Gold, Silver, and Crystal
FireRed and LeafGreen
HeartGold and SoulSilver
Let's Go, Pikachu!, Let's Go, Eevee!
Stadium 2
Gender Both
Counterpart {{{counterpart}}}
Notable members Proton, Petrel, Ariana, and Archer
Iron-Masked Marauder (animated series)
Lt. Surge, Koga, Sabrina, Carl, and Sham (Adventures)
Grey (The Golden Boys)
Animated debut Celebi: The Voice of the Forest
TCG debut [[(TCG)|]]
TCG card {{{card}}}
Manga debut JBA4 (Jō's Big Adventure)
Piloswine Whine (Adventures)
Gold and Black vs. Team Rocket (The Golden Boys)

An Executive or Team Rocket Admin (Japanese: ロケットだんかんぶ Team Rocket Executive) is a type of Pokémon Trainer that first debuted in the Generation II games.

They are the highest-ranked members of Team Rocket after Giovanni, and are the heads of Team Rocket after he abandons the organization. They tend to use a combination of Poison- and Dark-type Pokémon.

In the core series games

Executive members of Team Rocket have appeared in every game featuring the villainous team since Generation II.

A Team Rocket member at this rank is referred to as either an Executive or Admin depending on the generation.

Gen Games English Japanese
II GSC
Stad
Rocket Executive ロケットだんいんの かんぶ

Team Rocket Executive Member

III FRLG Team Rocket Admin ロケットだんの かんぶ

Team Rocket Executive

IV HGSS Executive ロケットだんかんぶ

Team Rocket Executive

VII PE Team Rocket Admin

Similar to Team Rocket Grunts, these Trainers were initially not given unique names. Internally, their Trainer class is Rocket in Generation II, their name being simply Executive, and Team Rocket in Generation III, with their name being Admin. In HeartGold and SoulSilver, they are given proper names, with Executive serving as their Trainer class instead. In Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, Archer appears with the Trainer class Team Rocket Admin. In all generations, the Trainer class does not include a gender symbol (♂/♀).

Generation II

Generation II art by Ken Sugimori for the TCG

In Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, there are four male executives and one female executive (who is battled twice).[1] They battle the player at Team Rocket HQ and Goldenrod Radio Tower.

Generation III

In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, two unnamed Team Rocket Admins appear in command of the Rocket Warehouse. They seem to be two of the same members who would head Team Rocket in Johto three years later (Ariana and Archer, although they did not have names or distinct identities until Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver).

Petrel, Archer, Ariana, and Proton in the game intro of HeartGold and SoulSilver

In the Rocket Warehouse, the female Team Rocket Admin is battled before going into the male administrator's room. She objects that Team Rocket is disbanded, but after a battle, admits that it probably is and as a final act, turns off the floor so that the player can go back and heal. After defeating the male Team Rocket Admin, he sees the player's Earth Badge and realizes that the Viridian City-based Team Rocket has disbanded; he then tells the player that he will find Giovanni and revive Team Rocket.

The Team Rocket Admins are the same people as the Rocket executives in Generations II and IV, as hinted by the similarity in their teams and the male administrator's determination to revive Team Rocket after he is defeated, as well as the information given on the computer screen which the Rocket administrator was working on ("The influence of magnetic waves on Pokémon evolution"). This is linked to what happened in Generations II and IV, when Team Rocket used radio waves to evolve the Magikarp at Lake of Rage.

Generation IV

In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, there are four Executives each with distinct names and identities. Their names (Proton, Petrel, Ariana, and Archer) refer to real-life rockets or missiles in all languages—much like Team Galactic's Commanders, who were named after celestial bodies.

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver adjusted the number of distinct Executives relative to Generation II: Proton takes the place of both a Grunt in Slowpoke Well and an Executive in the Radio Tower; and Petrel takes the place of both the Executive in Giovanni's office in the Team Rocket HQ and the Executive disguised as the Radio Director. In both cases, their parties in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver are a combination of the parties of the characters they replaced from Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal.

Generation VII

In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, Archer is the sole Admin of Team Rocket, being first encountered at the Team Rocket Hideout in Celadon City. He later leads the organization's takeover of the Silph Co. in Saffron City and fights the player and Trace in an attempt to keep them from interfering. During the post-game, he meets the player at the hideout again, informing them of his plans to leave Kanto and someday restore Team Rocket, before leaving to do just that.

Gallery

Spr GS Rocket Grunt M.png Spr GS Rocket Executive M.png Spr GS Rocket Executive F.png Spr FRLG Team Rocket Grunt M.png Spr FRLG Team Rocket Grunt F.png
Proton's Grunt sprite from
Generation II
Proton, Petrel, and
Archer's sprite from
Generation II
Ariana's sprite from
Generation II
Archer's sprite from
FireRed and LeafGreen
Ariana's sprite from
FireRed and LeafGreen
Rocket Grunt M II OD.png Rocket Grunt F II OD.png Team Rocket Grunt M III OD.png Team Rocket Grunt F III OD.png
Proton, Petrel, and
Archer's overworld sprite from
Generation II
Ariana's overworld sprite from
Generation II
Archer's overworld sprite from
FireRed and LeafGreen
Ariana's overworld sprite from
FireRed and LeafGreen
Spr HGSS Proton.png Spr HGSS Petrel.png Spr HGSS Ariana.png Spr HGSS Archer.png VSArcher PE.png
Proton's sprite from
HeartGold and SoulSilver
Petrel's sprite from
HeartGold and SoulSilver
Ariana's sprite from
HeartGold and SoulSilver
Archer's sprite from
HeartGold and SoulSilver
Archer's VS model from
Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!
Proton OD.png Petrel OD.png Ariana OD.png Archer OD.png
Proton's overworld sprite from
HeartGold and SoulSilver
Petrel's overworld sprite from
HeartGold and SoulSilver
Ariana's overworld sprite from
HeartGold and SoulSilver
Archer's overworld sprite from
HeartGold and SoulSilver

In the side series games

Pokémon Stadium 2

In Pokémon Stadium 2, two Executives, one male and one female, appear along with a pair of Rocket Grunts, interrupting the player's progress through the Johto Gym Leader Castle after the player has defeated Jasmine. Because their teams contain the distinctive Pokémon Vileplume and Houndoom, they appear to be inspired by two of the admins from Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal.

S2 Rocket Executive M.png S2 Rocket Executive F.pngS2 Rocket Executive F alt.png
Rocket Executive♂ portrait from
Stadium 2
Rocket Executive♀ portraits from
Stadium 2

Trainer list

Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal


Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen


Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver


Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!


Pokémon Stadium 2


In animation

The Iron-Masked Marauder, a Team Rocket Executive in Celebi: The Voice of the Forest

Pokémon the Series

The Iron-Masked Marauder, the main antagonist of Celebi: The Voice of the Forest, is a Team Rocket Executive, known as the master of Dark Pokémon due to his signature Dark Balls, which corrupt any Pokémon caught with them into mindless fighting machines. However, his Executive rank is only mentioned in the original Japanese version.

Pokémon Generations

Petrel was featured in The Lake of Rage, where he confronted and was defeated by Lance during the latter's raid of the Team Rocket HQ.

In the manga

Team Rocket Executives in Pokémon Adventures

Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure

The four Generation IV Executives appear in the Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure manga, fulfilling similar roles as in the games.

Pokémon Adventures

Red, Green & Blue arc

Initially, Lt. Surge, Koga, and Sabrina were Team Rocket's commanders, having abandoned their respective Gyms to work for the evil organization instead.

Yellow arc

After witnessing a battle between Yellow and Lance on Cerise Island, Giovanni realized that he still had a lot to learn and told his three commanders to return to their Gyms.

Gold, Silver & Crystal arc

Under the Masked Man's leadership, Neo Team Rocket's executives were Sham and Carl, who were based on the Generation II Executive designs.

HeartGold & SoulSilver arc

In this arc, Archer, Ariana, Petrel, and Proton took over the organization from Carr and searched for Arceus and its Plates to accomplish their plan of making Giovanni return to Team Rocket's leadership.

Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys

Grey from the Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys manga is based on the male Executive design. His role within the team is based on Archer's.

In the TCG

This listing is of cards mentioning or featuring Team Rocket Executives in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Related cards
Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format.
Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.
Card Type English
Expansion
Rarity # Japanese
Expansion
Rarity #
Team Rocket's Evil Deeds T Neo Destiny Uncommon 103/105 Darkness, and to Light... Uncommon  
Team Rocket's Trickery Su Undaunted Uncommon 78/90 Reviving Legends Uncommon 076/080
      Tyranitar Constructed Standard Deck   018/019
 


Trivia

"Sorry. Authorized personnel only beyond this point. It wasn’t that way before. There’s something wrong with the Director…"

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 火箭隊幹部 Fójin Déui Gonbouh
Mandarin 火箭隊幹部 / 火箭队干部 Huǒjiàn Duì Gànbù
France Flag.png French Admin Team RocketFRLGPE
CommandantHGSS
Caïd RocketGSC
Germany Flag.png German Rocket-VorstandPE
VorstandFRLGHGSS
Rocket VorstandGSC
Italy Flag.png Italian Generale Team RocketPE
Generale RocketHGSS
Tenente, Team RocketFRLG
Generale,RocketGSC
South Korea Flag.png Korean 로켓단간부 Rocket Dan Ganbu
Portugal Flag.png Portuguese Executivo da Equipe Rocket
Spain Flag.png Spanish Comandante RocketPE
EjecutivoHGSS
Admin Team RocketFRLG
Ejecutivo RocketGSC
Vietnam Flag.png Vietnamese Chỉ huy của nhóm Rocket

References

  1. The Executives are all unnamed, but the number of distinct Executives can be extrapolated from their parties and where they appear.
Core series: Executives (ArcherArianaPetrelProton) • Magma Admins (CourtneyTabitha) • Aqua Admins (MattShelly)
Commanders (MarsJupiterSaturnCharon) • Team Flare Admins (Chalmers) • Team Skull Admin (Plumeria)
Side series: Cipher Admins (Miror B.DakimVenusEinLovrinaSnattleGoriganArdosEldes)
Ranger series: Go-Rock QuadsSinis Trio (IceLavanaHeath) • Blue EyesPurple EyesRed Eyes
Animation: Pokémon the Series: Iron-Masked Marauder (Rocket Executive)
Manga: Adventures: Carl and Sham (Rocket Executives)Blaise (Magma Admin)Amber (Aqua Admin)Sird (Commander)
Golden Boys: Grey (Rocket Executive)Pokémon 7: Io (Commander)
Trainer classes in the Pokémon core series
Kanto Ace Trainer*BeautyBikerBird KeeperBlack Belt*Bug CatcherBurglarCamper*ChampionGSCFRLGHGSSPE
ChannelerElite FourGSCFRLGHGSSPEEngineerFishermanGamer*GentlemanGym Leader*GSCFRLGHGSSPE
HikerJugglerLassPicnicker*Poké Maniac*Pokémon Trainer*GSCPEPsychicRivalFRLGRockerRoughneck*
SailorScientistSuper NerdSwimmerTamerTeam Rocket Boss*FRLGHGSSPETeam Rocket Grunt*Youngster
BoarderHGSSDouble TeamHGSSFirebreatherGSCHGSSGuitaristGSCHGSSMediumGSCHGSS
PokéfanGSCHGSSSchool Kid*GSCHGSSSkierHGSSTeacherGSCHGSSTwinsGSCFRLGHGSS
Cool CoupleFRLGCrush KinFRLGSis and BroFRLGYoung CoupleFRLGHGSS
Coach TrainerPEKarate MasterPEPunk GuyPETeam RocketPETeam Rocket AdminPE
Master TrainersPE
Unused Trainer class:
ChiefRGBY
Sevii Islands Aroma LadyBikerBird KeeperBlack BeltBug CatcherCamperCool CoupleCooltrainerCrush Girl
Crush KinCue BallFishermanGentlemanHikerJugglerLadyLassPainterPicnickerPokéManiac
PKMN BreederPKMN RangerPsychicRuin ManiacScientistSis and BroSwimmerTamer
Team Rocket AdminTeam Rocket GruntTwinsTuberYoung CoupleYoungster
Trainer Tower only:
BeautyBurglarEngineerRockerSailorSuper Nerd
Johto Ace Trainer*BeautyBikerBird KeeperBlack Belt*BoarderBug CatcherBurglarCamper
ChampionExecutive*FirebreatherFisherman*GentlemanGuitaristHikerJugglerKimono GirlLass
LeaderMediumPicnickerPokéfanPoké Maniac*PKMN TrainerPoliceman*PsychicRivalHGSSSage
SailorSchool Kid*ScientistSkierSuper NerdSwimmerTeacherTeam Rocket Grunt*TwinsYoungster
Mystery Man*CHGSSDouble TeamHGSSElderHGSSPasserbyHGSSYoung CoupleHGSS
Battle Frontier only:HGSS

Aroma LadyArtistBattle GirlCameramanClownCollectorCowgirlCyclistDragon TamerIdol
JoggerLadyNinja BoyParasol LadyPIPoké KidPKMN BreederPKMN RangerRancherReporter
Rich BoyRoughneckRuin ManiacSocialiteTuberVeteranWaiterWaitressWorker
Arcade StarCastle ValetFactory HeadHall MatronTower Tycoon

Project CharacterDex logo.png This Trainer Class article is part of Project CharacterDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each character found in the Pokémon games.