Hello there! Welcome to the world of Pokemon! This world is inhabited by creatures called Pokemon Professors! For some people, Professors are mentors, or favorite characters. Others, people straight up forget. Myself, I study Pokemon Professors as a profession.
Our very own Pokemon Professor adventure is about to unfold! A world of rankings and opinions about Pokemon Professors await! Let’s go!
9. Magnolia
Professor Magnolia, the sweet, elderly professor of the Galar region, simply doesn’t have a lot going for her. The professor studies the Dynamax phenomena, is Sonia’s grandmother, and gives you the Dynamax band, but I challenge you to name one other thing about her.
It’s hard to do! The fan site says she likes tea and a good book, which is nice, and she has a pretty cool house by a lake, but Magnolia’s function in Sword and Shield is really just a placeholder professor for another professor higher up on this list. Sorry, Magnolia!
8. Elm
Elm isn’t much better than Magnolia, but at least Elm gives you your starters. Oh, and Togepi, which is pretty awesome. The professor of the Johto region studies abilities, breeding, and evolution, has a family, is lovably scatterbrained, but he’s just… boring.
Compared to the other professors on this list, Elm is just so milquetoast. He disappears as soon as he appears, and that’s just it. He’s gone. He doesn’t even welcome you to the world of Pokemon, Oak does! The game even seems to prefer Oak over Elm, and thus, here is, closer to the bottom of the list.
7. Birch
The lovable dolt Professor Birch watches over the Hoenn region with a fairly inept eye. Sure, he gives you the Pokedex and the starters, and sure, he actually welcomes you to the world of Pokemon, but he can’t even handle a level 2 Poochyena by himself.
He studies Pokemon habitats, which simply isn’t as interesting as the rest of the fields of study, and the only reason he made it this far is that he has a clear, identifiable character. He is outgoing, friendly, and goofy, and really wants to help you on your journey. He’s a good guy and ineffectual, and that’s what lands him the number 7 spot on the list.
6. Sycamore
There are lots of reasons to love Sycamore. First of all, he’s undeniably hot. The hair, the clothes, the guy has style. He also uses the Gen 1 starters in battle, which is pretty cool. He’s cordial, writing a letter to your mother to ask permission for you to assist him in his research. Finally, he studies Mega Evolution, which seems like an important area of study.
However, he seems a bit more incompetent then he initially lets on. He dumps most of his work on a bunch of kids, first and foremost. Sure, most professors do this, but Sycamore goes above and beyond. He acknowledges that he could have stopped Lysandre before the situation got out of hand, and then after acknowledging that, still makes five kids do all the thwarting instead.
5. Juniper
Unova’s professor, Juniper, is incredibly helpful. She welcomes you, gives you the starter (as a present, which is a nice touch) and studies the origin of Pokemon, which is fascinating. She’s a delight, sees the best in people, and seems pretty damn good at her job.
Most importantly, in Black 2 and White 2, you can call her up and ask her how to evolve your Pokemon, and that is incredibly helpful. However, that’s kinda the extent of her participation. She’s too busy doing her actual job to be a main character in the game, which is both a pro and a con. This successfully lands Juniper the number 5 slot.
4. Sonia
Sure, Sonia doesn’t do much as a Professor per se, but it’s awesome that you get to know a professor as a friend before they even become a professor. Before the promotion, Sonia travels the Galar region studying its history as well as assisting her grandmother in studying the dynamax phenomenon.
The big plus here is that Sonia is a capable trainer in her own right, willing to help save the region from destruction, is passionate about her work, and is really supportive of your journey. Sonia is a great professor before she even becomes a professor, and her potential for growth is a great selling point for the Sword and Shield DLC.
3. Rowan
Speaking of capable professors, Rowan is one of the only professors on this list who feels like they are actually a professor. The old man with an awesome mustache is a senior even to Oak, and he takes his study and the Sinnoh region very seriously. He cares deeply about Pokemon and Rage Candy Bars, and is one of the first to figure out Team Galactic’s true plan.
He is capable in battle himself, and is responsible for helping Cynthia become the champion that she did. Rowan is exactly what a professor should be: a kind person who helps people and Pokemon out of curiosity and passion. It’s hard not to like the old guy. I bet he left those Pokemon behind for you on purpose!
2. Kukui
Speaking of champions, look at this guy. He and his washboard abs hardly even have time to be a professor who studies Pokemon attacks; he’s probably too busy being a pro wrestler, building the Alola region Pokemon league, and being the final challenge of that league, among other things.
He’s like the cool uncle, always off on another adventure. He loves Pokemon, studying and battling them, and he’s an all-around good guy. He’s just out to have fun with his Pokemon, because to him, that’s what Pokemon are all about. There may even be a chance that he was, at one point, the champion of the Kanto region. What a guy.
1. Oak
You knew it would be Oak! How could it not? This old man used to be one of the greatest trainers the world had ever seen, and is idolized and respected by basically everyone… ever. The original professor started many, many trainers on their first Pokemon journey, and because of such, has definitely earned that respect.
When he isn’t traveling across the globe, being a radio host, or hanging out with his Nidorino, he is one of the most helpful and supportive Professors in any game, especially since he helps you even outside of his home region of Kanto. He is a major staple of the franchise, and a mentor to players and trainers alike.
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