Sonia
ソニア Sonia
Sword Shield Sonia.png
Art from Pokémon Sword and Shield by Yusuke Ohmura[1]
Age 18 [2]
Gender Female
Eye color Aqua
Hair color Peach
Hometown Wedgehurst (Route 2)
Region Galar
Relatives Professor Magnolia (grandmother)
Trainer class Former Trainer and Gym Challenger
Pokémon Professor (post-game)
Generation VIII, IX
Counterpart(s) Sonia (Masters)
Games Sword and Shield, Masters EX
English voice actor Morgan Lauré Garrett[3] (Masters EX)
Japanese voice actor Lynn (Masters EX)
Animated series Pokémon the Series
Pokémon: Twilight Wings
Debut Toughing It Out! (Animated series)
Early-Evening Waves (Twilight Wings)
English voice actor Brittany Cox (Animated series)
Allegra Clark (Twilight Wings)
Japanese voice actor Marina Inoue (Animated series)
Lynn (Twilight Wings)
Manga series Pokémon Adventures
Pokémon Journeys
Debut Watch Out!! Strong Rivals (Adventures)
Sword and Shield... The Legends Awaken! (Part 1) (Journeys)

Sonia (Japanese: ソニア Sonia) is a character introduced in Pokémon Sword and Shield.

In the core series games

Sonia is the granddaughter and assistant of Professor Magnolia. She is also Leon's childhood friend. Sonia and her partner Pokémon Yamper participated in the Gym Challenge with Leon, but they eventually dropped out. Sonia spends the duration of the main game discovering what she wants to do with her life, eventually choosing to pursue the truth behind the legends of the first king of Galar and the Darkest Day. Together with the player and Hop, she discovers the existence of Zacian, Zamazenta, and Eternatus; and publishes her findings in a book, a feat that helps her be recognized as a Professor just like her grandmother.

In The Crown Tundra expansion, Sonia stays at a house in Freezington and requests the player to investigate some unusual footprints of a certain trio of Legendary Pokémon. Once the player catches and shows Cobalion, Terrakion, and Virizion to Sonia, she returns to the Pokémon Research Lab.

Pokémon

Yamper
Sonia's Yamper

Yamper is Sonia's only known Pokémon. He helps Sonia in her investigations, and is known to help Leon, whose sense of direction is terrible.

None of Yamper's moves are known.

In the spin-off games

Pokémon Masters EX

Main article: Sonia (Masters)

Sonia forms a sync pair with Yamper and Shiny Tsareena in Pokémon Masters EX. Sonia became a playable sync pair on December 23, 2021.

Dex Trainer NDex Pokémon Type Weakness Role EX role Base potential Availability
#144 VSSonia Masters.png Sonia #0835 MastersIcon0835.png Yamper
Electric
ElectricIC Masters.png
Ground
GroundIC Masters.png
Masters Support.png ★★★★★☆EX Sync Pair Scout
#144 VSSonia Special Costume Masters.png Special Costume
Sonia
#0763 MastersIcon0763 s.png TsareenaShiny
Grass
GrassIC Masters.png
Bug
BugIC Masters.png
Masters Physical Strike.png ★★★★★☆EX Costume Sync Pair Scout

Gallery

Artwork

Sonia SwSh concept art.jpg Sonia TW.png
Concept art from Sword and Shield Artwork of Sonia from
Pokémon: Twilight Wings

Quotes

Main article: Sonia/Quotes

In animation

Pokémon the Series

Pokémon Journeys: The Series

Sonia and Leon in their childhood

Prior to Pokémon Journeys: The Series, Sonia was a childhood friend of Leon, and the two began traveling together when they became Trainers. At the start of their journey, they had their first battle with each other, which ended in Sonia's victory. However, a rift was formed in their friendship when Chairman Rose took an interest in Leon's potential and began mentoring him.

Sonia debuted in Toughing It Out!, where Ash and Goh met her in Wyndon, introducing herself as Professor Magnolia's assistant and telling the two boys about her research regarding the Darkest Day.

In Sword and Shield, Slumbering Weald!, Sonia followed streaks of Dynamax energy flying across the sky, running into Goh along the way. The two decided to travel together to find out what was happening in the region, without realizing that they were being followed by one of Oleana's subordinates.

In Sword and Shield: The Darkest Day!, Sonia and Goh visited Turffield to see the town's famous geoglyph and make theories regarding its connection to Dynamax. While traveling to Wedgehurst next, Sonia revealed that she was not only Professor Magnolia assistant, but also her granddaughter. In Wedgehurst, they witnessed a Wishing Star near them. While Goh talked with Professor Magnolia, Sonia fashioned the Wishing Star into a Dynamax Band, which she gave to Goh. The next day, they traveled to Stow-on-Side to see its famous mural. Soon after arriving, however, Oleana's subordinate attacked them using a Gigantamax Garbodor, which Goh responded to by Dynamaxing his Raboot. During the ensuing battle, Raboot accidentally destroyed the mural, revealing statues of Zacian and Zamazenta behind it.

Sonia as a Professor

In Sword and Shield: "From Here to Eternatus!", after Goh had driven the subordinate away, he and Sonia examined the statues and learned the names of the Pokémon they depicted. On Goh's suggestion, they then headed to the Slumbering Weald to find them and get their assistance in stopping the Dynamax outbreaks around Galar. While in the forest, they learned of the start of the Darkest Day. They encountered illusions of Zacian and Zamazenta, who led them to the Rusted Sword and the Rusted Shield. After Goh had collected the artifacts, he and Sonia headed to the Darkest Day's epicenter in Hammerlocke. Sonia managed disperse the Macro Cosmos employees blocking the entrance to the Hammerlocke Stadium and staying behind to hold them off. Before the employees could attack her, however, she received unexpected help from Raihan.

In Sword and Shield... The Legends Awaken!, after Raihan had saved Sonia from the Macro Cosmos employees, she hurried to the tower summit, where she found Leon being hurt after his failed attempt to catch Eternatus. While taking care of Leon, she witnessed Ash and Goh summoning Zacian and Zamazenta to their aid, defeating Eternatus, and catching it, ending the Darkest Day. Later, Sonia was seen discussing the aftermaths of the Darkest Day with her grandmother and accepting the title of Pokémon Professor from her.

In Meeting Up with the Monarch!, Sonia met Goh again during her research on the Wild Area's Power Spots and took him along for the ride. Along the way, she told Goh various things regarding Leon and his childhood. Later, she and Goh reunited with Ash and Leon at Wyndon.

She reappeared in Just a Scone's Throw From Here!, where she met Ash and Goh at Wyndon Stadium. In A Flood of Torrential Gains!, she joined Hop in the stands to watch Leon's battle against Ash. When Eternatus appeared above Wyndon Stadium, Sonia contacted her grandmother regarding the situation in Partners in Time!, noting the high number of Galar particles in the area. Once Eternatus had neutralized the Galar particles, both Sonia and Magnolia realized that Eternatus had come to the stadium to protect Galar. Following the conclusion of the battle, Sonia joined everyone else in clapping for Ash during the award ceremony.

Character

Like her game counterpart, Sonia is quite intelligent, though a little distracted. During her trip with Goh, she proved to be a wild driver, although she doesn't admit it. In the past, she was Leon's childhood friend and traveling companion, much like the games, but their relationship changed as Leon became closer to Chairman Rose. This made Sonia decide to pursue her own course, far from what Leon was looking for.

During the time she was traveling with Goh, Sonia developed a good relationship with the young Trainer, even encouraging him to continue his research and suggesting that he could be a Professor in the future.

Pokémon

This listing is of Sonia's known Pokémon in Pokémon the Series:

Status unknown
Rookidee
Leon's Rookidee

During a flashback in Partners in Time!, Sonia was seen battling alongside a Rookidee against Leon's Charmander. The battle ultimately ended in Sonia's victory.

None of Rookidee's moves are known.

Formerly trained
Eternatus
Leon's Eternatus
Main article: Leon's Eternatus

Eternatus was originally caught by Goh in Sword and Shield... The Legends Awaken! after Leon's failed attempt to do the same, and was subsequently sealed away by Professor Magnolia. In Just a Scone's Throw From Here!, Leon was revealed to have worked with Sonia on getting Eternatus used to human contact, which he had achieved to the point of it being comfortable with him. As such, Goh decided to entrust it with Leon, which he accepted.

Traveling with
Sonia Rotom Phone.png
Rotom Phone

Artwork

JN129 AS.png
Artwork from "After the story" [4]

Voice actors

Language Voice actor
Japanese 井上麻里奈 Marina Inoue
English Brittany Cox
Arabic ندى نصر Nada Nasr
Danish Silan Budak Rasch
Finnish Emma Louhivuori
European French Marielle Ostrowski (Season 23)
Micheline Tziamalis (JN100)
Marie Braam (JN127-JN132)
German Zina Laus
Italian Ludovica De Caro
Polish Katarzyna Grabowska
Brazilian Portuguese Flávia Fontenelle
Spanish Latin America Jessica Ángeles
Spain Silvia Sarmentera


Pokémon: Twilight Wings

Sonia in Pokémon: Twilight Wings

In Early-Evening Waves, Sonia comforted Nessa after the latter's defeat in the Champion Cup. She later talked to Nessa on the phone and learned about her future plans as a Gym Leader.

In Moonlight, she talked with Leon over the phone.

In Sky, she watched the battle between Leon and Raihan with her Yamper.

In The Gathering of Stars, she set off for the Crown Tundra. Before leaving, she handed Hop an invitation letter for the Galarian Star Tournament.

Pokémon

Yamper
Sonia's Yamper
Debut Sky

Yamper is Sonia's only known Pokémon. Yamper was with Sonia as she watched the battle between Leon and Raihan.

None of Yamper's moves are known.

Voice actors

Language Voice actor
Japanese Lynn
English Allegra Clark


GOTCHA!

Sonia briefly appeared in GOTCHA!.

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Sonia debuted in Watch Out!! Strong Rivals. She encountered her grandmother Professor Magnolia and her assistants Henry, Casey, and Marvin at the Budew Drop Inn. Sonia explained the inn's statue and its connection to the Darkest Day. When Magnolia's trailer broke down, she asked Sonia to go investigate the geoglyph at Turffield in her place. She later concluded the geoglyph was a drawing of the Darkest Day.

In Splish Splash!! Gigantamax Battle, Sonia and Henry had dinner with Rose at the Captain's Table restaurant. Noting that Sonia was investigating the Dynamax phenomenon, Rose invited her to investigate the vault in Hammerlocke. Afterward, Sonia received a call from Nessa, who vented about her losses against Henry and Casey.

In Glittering!! The Tapestry in the Vault, while in Hammerlocke, Sonia angered a wild Oranguru when she accidentally stepped on its fan. After being saved by Henry and Raihan, Sonia and Henry entered the Hammerlocke vault. Inside were four tapestries, each depicting events from the Darkest Day. Sonia and Henry noticed the tapestries portrayed two heroes instead of the singular hero like on the statue in the Budew Drop Inn. Sonia chose to stay and do more investigating while Henry went ahead with the others.

In Stealth!! Infiltrate the Energy Plant, when an earthquake struck Hammerlocke, Sonia went to see if the Energy Plant was unharmed. She found Leon attempting to enter the building and check on Rose's safety, only to be blocked by a pair of Macro Cosmos employees. When Leon spotted her, Sonia attempted to flee, but was stopped when Raihan arrived. Raihan told Sonia and Leon to move the citizens to a safer location while he went inside to see if Rose was unharmed.

In Crunch!! Snowy Battle, Sonia arrived in Circhester, where a fifth tapestry was said to be held at the Bob's Your Uncle restaurant. She later took Henry's group to the restaurant and told them what she had found out. She speculated the tapestry was thrown away on purpose to keep a piece of Galar's history out of public knowledge.

In Grrr!! Noble Kidnappers, Sonia planned to meet up with Henry's group and give them information she uncovered on Sordward and Shielbert, the thieves that stole Casey's Pokémon. Just as her Flying Taxi approached the meet-up spot, it was shot out of the sky by a Klinklang. After Leon rescued Sonia, he and Raihan took her and the Cabbie to a hospital in Hammerlocke. The camera containing the information meant for Casey was given to Piers for safekeeping until it reached its destination. Sonia later awakened at the hospital, where she revealed to Leon that Sordward and Shielbert were working together with Rose.

Pokémon

Yamper → Boltund
Sonia's Yamper
Sonia's Boltund

Boltund is Sonia's only known Pokémon. It was first seen with its Trainer as a Yamper at the Budew Drop Inn. In PASS43, it was revealed to have evolved.

None of Boltund's moves are known.

Sonia has at least two other Pokémon, as she mentioned rotating her team to prepare for her gym battle against Milo.

Achievements

Badges obtained

Pokémon Journeys

Sonia appeared in Sword and Shield... The Legends Awaken! (Part 1) and Sword and Shield... The Legends Awaken! (Part 2).

In the TCG

Full Art print of Sonia

This listing is of cards mentioning or featuring Sonia in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Sonia's Pokémon
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 #
BoltundV Lightning Brilliant Stars TGV TG13/TG30 VMAX Climax CSR 225/184
Other related cards
Card Type English
Expansion
Rarity # Japanese
Expansion
Rarity #
Sonia Su Rebel Clash Uncommon 167/192 VMAX Rising U 065/070
Rebel Clash Rare Ultra 192/192 VMAX Rising SR 077/070
Rebel Clash Rare Secret 203/192 VMAX Rising HR 082/070
      S-P Promotional cards   046/S-P
Champion's Path Uncommon 065/073      
 


Additionally, the printing of Galarian ZapdosVin Astral Radiance has Sonia chasing down the Pokémon.[5]

Music

Games Location Song name (Japanese) Song name (English Translation) Composition Arrangement
 Sw  Sh  Her theme. Used in various cutscenes
that involve Sonia
ソニアのテーマ Sonia's Theme Minako Adachi Minako Adachi
When she's talking about Galar's history 歴史の伝説 Legends of History Gō Ichinose Gō Ichinose
When the truth about the
Stow-on-Side mural is uncovered
崩れる遺跡 Crumbling Ruins Gō Ichinose Gō Ichinose
When talking to the player
after the truth about the Stow-on-Side mural
is uncovered
遺跡の真実 Truth of the Ruins Gō Ichinose Gō Ichinose
During the cutscene with Professor Magnolia in Hammerlocke ポケモン研究所 Pokémon Laboratory Minako Adachi Minako Adachi

Trivia

  • Sonia failed Opal's audition despite getting all three of her answers correct. Opal's notes on Sonia are: "You have talent, that's for sure, but you give up a little bit too quickly. Then again, I imagine it's not easy being the granddaughter of Magnolia."
  • Sonia is the first character to gain the position of Pokémon Professor over the course of the games or Pokémon the Series.

Names

Language Name Origin
Japanese ソニア Sonia From Sandersonia or possibly Parkinsonia
English, Spanish, Italian Sonia Same as her Japanese name
German Sania Similar to her Japanese name
French Sonya Similar to her Japanese name
Korean 소니아 Sonia Transcription of her Japanese name
Chinese (Mandarin) 索妮亞 / 索妮亚 Suǒníyǎ / Suǒnīyà Transcription of her Japanese name
Chinese (Cantonese) 索妮亞 Soknèih'a Mandarin-based transcription of her Japanese name
Russian Соня Sonya Transcription of her Japanese name
Brazilian Portuguese Sônia Similar to her Japanese name
Thai โชเนีย Sonia Transcription of her Japanese name

References

Related articles

Pokémon Professors
Core series OakElmBirchCozmoRowanAurea JuniperCedric JuniperSycamoreKukuiBurnetSamsonMohnMagnoliaSoniaLaventonSadaTuro
Masters EX OakSycamoreKukuiSonia
Other
spin-offs
KranePHastingsHollyBurnetTetraWillowMirrorPhorusFirNeroli
Animated series OakIvyElmBirchCozmoRowanCarolinaHastingsAurea JuniperCedric JuniperSycamoreKukuiBurnetSamsonMohnCeriseMagnoliaSoniaAmaranthFriedeWillow
Adventures OakElmBirchCozmoRowanBerlitzAurea JuniperCedric JuniperSycamoreKukuiBurnetSamsonMohnMagnoliaSoniaTuro
Other manga Oak (Pocket Monsters)
For more, see the Professors category
Non-player characters in the core series games
Galar Professor MagnoliaMumHopBedeMarnieSoniaLeon
SordwardShielbertMustardKlaraAveryHoneyHydePeonyPeoniaCalyrexBall Guy
Watt TradersIngredients SellersDigging DuoCamping King
Team YellMacro CosmosDanGym LeadersMorimotoCara LissJack
Pokémon the Series characters
Protagonists Ash Ketchum (Pikachu) • Misty (Togetic) • BrockTracey SketchitMayMaxDawn (Piplup) • Iris (Haxorus) • CilanSerenaClemontBonnie (Dedenne) • LanaKiaweLillieSophoclesMallowRotom PokédexGoh (Grookey)
Rivals GaryRitchieHarrisonDrewHarleyMorrisonTysonSolidadPaulNandoZoeyKennyConwayBarryUrsulaTripBiancaBurgundyStephanGeorgiaCameronAriaAlainMietteTiernoShaunaTrevorNiniSawyerGladionHoracioHauLeonRaihanHoraceBeaLeague Conference participantsCoordinatorsPerformersWorld Coronation Series participants
Antagonists Jessie (Wobbuffet) • JamesMeowthGiovanniButchCassidyDr. NambaMatoriPierceDr. ZagerGozuTabithaMaxieShellyArchieHunter JSaturnCyrusMarsJupiterCharonColressAldithGhetsisBarretMalamarLysandreMableCelosiaAlianaXerosicBryonyTuppZippRappPlumeriaGuzmaVirenRoseOleana
Professors Professor OakProfessor IvyProfessor ElmProfessor BirchProfessor RowanProfessor CarolinaProfessor JuniperDr. FennelCedric JuniperProfessor SycamoreProfessor KukuiProfessor BurnetProfessor CeriseProfessor MagnoliaSoniaProfessor Amaranth
Relatives Delia KetchumDaisyVioletLilyJames's parentsFlintLolaForrestBrock's siblingsNormanCarolineJohannaChiliCressGraceMeyerLana's fatherLana's motherHarper and SarahRangoSimaMimoKiawe's grandfatherMohnLusamineGladionSophocles's parentsMolayneAbeMallow's motherUluWalkerCamilleHalta
Supporting Officer JennyNurse JoyMagikarp salesmanTodd SnapCharles GoodshowCaseyLizaSakuraLanceClairRaoul ContestaMr. SukizoSteven StoneVivian MeridianRobertScottLilian MeridianSolanaBrandonMarianYuzoRhondaCynthiaReggieAngieLookerIzzy and CaraLyraKhouryTobiasDon GeorgeElderAlderLukeFreddy O'MartianIngoEmmetJervisVirgilNAnthea and ConcordiaPorterAlexaSophieCosetteClembotSanpeiMairinAstridDianthaKorrinaGurkinnMonsieur PierrePalermoKeananMalvaSamson OakAnelaHobbesNinaAnnaLakiDanaYansuWickeFabaIlimaAcerolaDiaChloeChrysaRenParkerTaliaLeiDanikaQuillonHopGym LeadersElite FourFrontier BrainsIsland kahunasMany temporary characters
Supporting Pokémon FearowHo-OhSquirtle SquadPink ButterfreeHaunterJigglypuffMewtwoMimeyLapras herdGranbullPichu BrothersLugiaSilverDelibirdWynautLarvitarKyogre and GroudonArticunoDeoxysLake guardiansForces of natureMeloettaReshiramSuper-ancient PokémonWooperFlorgesSquishyZ2Guardian deitiesBewearToucannon's flockStoutlandOranguruNebbyStuffulUltra BeastsGrandpa ForestNecrozmaLunalaShayminMewRotom PhonesPelipperThievul trioEternatusDrone RotomLegendary heroesLatiasRecurring wild Pokémon
See also: Pokémon Horizons characters
Project CharacterDex logo.png This game character article is part of Project CharacterDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each character found in the Pokémon games.