AZ

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

AZ AZ AZ
Artwork from Legends: Z-A
Age	3,000+
Gender	Male
Height	9+ ft. (3+ m.)[1][2]
Eye color	Black
Hair color	White (in his old age) Black (originally)
Hometown	Lumiose City (original hometown unknown)
Region	Kalos
Relatives	Unnamed mother Younger brother Lysandre (younger brother's descendant)
Trainer class	Pokémon Trainer
Generation	VI, IX
Games	X, Y, Legends: Z-A
Animated series	Pokémon Generations
Debut	The Redemption
English voice actor	Keith Silverstein
Japanese voice actor	Takaya Hashi
Manga series	Pokémon Adventures
Debut	Gyarados Changes

AZ (Japanese: AZ) is a mysterious man who appears in Pokémon X and Y and Pokémon Legends: Z-A. He is the former king of the Kalos region, the creator of the ultimate weapon, and the current owner of Hotel Z. In X and Y, he has the appearance of a disheveled homeless man, while in Legends: Z-A, he sports more formal wear.

His name is pronounced as the two letters separately ("A Z").

In the core series games

History

Background

3,000 years prior to the events of Pokémon X and Y, a war broke out between two regions. This long conflict was drawn out and many lives were lost. People treated Pokémon with special powers as mere tools in their conflict, so they gathered lots of Pokémon, including Pokémon with unique powers. In order to emerge victorious, the soldiers believed that they needed even more powerful Pokémon. AZ loved his Floette, which he had received from his late mother, but it was forcefully taken from him by the soldiers and became just another sacrifice in the war.^[3]

AZ received the body of his beloved Pokémon several years later, and out of unspeakable grief, he built a machine to restore it to life. He succeeded, but unable to overcome his despair, he turned the machine into the ultimate weapon, with which he destroyed both sides of the conflict, ending the war. His Floette, disgusted with the fact that the machine was powered by the life energy of other Pokémon, left him. Due to his exposure to the ultimate weapon, he had his lifespan extended and gained an incredible height.^[3]

As revealed by documents kept in Lysandre Labs, AZ's younger brother had wished to claim Kalos out of his own greed. After AZ ended the war with the ultimate weapon, his brother realized the error of his ways and sought to make amends for his actions by burying the weapon, in an attempt to prevent it from ever being used again.

1,000 years prior to the events of Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, AZ travelled to Hoenn, planted a flower in front of the Cave of Origin and later witnessed the battle of Mega Rayquaza with Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre.

Pokémon X and Y

AZ is first seen on Route 13. When the player encounters him, he mutters about "the flower Pokémon," then leaves.

Lysandre captures AZ and takes the ultimate weapon's key from around his neck, so that he can use it to destroy all life except Team Flare. The player encounters him in a cell in the lowest levels of Lysandre Labs, where he tells the player the story of the history of Kalos.

After the player defeats Lysandre once and for all in the Team Flare Secret HQ beneath Geosenge Town, AZ—now freed from his prison—approaches and thanks them for stopping the weapon from being used again.

After the player defeats Diantha for the first time to become Champion, during the parade in Lumiose City to celebrate the player's success, AZ approaches the stage and challenges the player to a battle, wishing to learn about what a Trainer truly is. After the battle, AZ smiles, thanking the player for freeing him from his long torment. Then, he sees a sparkle in the sky. Having sensed the liberation of AZ's heart, his beloved Floette—who was granted eternal life alongside AZ 3,000 years earlier—finally returns to him. AZ collapses to his knees, overjoyed that his Pokémon has finally returned. He is not seen again after this.

Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire

Although not by name, AZ is mentioned several times during the Delta Episode of Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.

Mr. Stone mentions that his grandfather used Infinity Energy, the same energy used by the ultimate weapon, to improve the lives of people and Pokémon alike, which the Devon Corporation used to grow into one of the top industries in Hoenn.

When the player overhears Wallace's conversation with his master, they discuss that the tree planted in front of the entrance to the Cave of Origin was given to the people of Sootopolis by a "huge man who visited from the Kalos region". Underneath the tree there is a flower of the same kind as the one carried by AZ's Floette.

At the Sky Pillar, Zinnia tells the player that 1,000 years ago, "a tall visitor from a distant land" witnessed how Mega Rayquaza stopped a fight between Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre. He is quoted to have said, "It is the Δ (Delta), born of the great disturbances in this world. By the bonds born of mankind's wish and the power of the stones, it will calm the troubles that plague the world."

Pokémon Legends: Z-A

In Pokémon Legends: Z-A, he is the owner of Hotel Z, where the player character stays. He is accompanied by Eternal Flower Floette.

Pokémon

Pokémon X and Y

Winning this battle is not mandatory. The player will not black out and the story will progress either way.

Pokémon Trainer AZ Lumiose City X and Y

Type: Fire Unknown Ability: White Smoke Held item: None Torkoal♂ Lv.60 Lava Plume Fire Special   --       Stone Edge Rock Physical   --       Body Slam Normal Physical   --       Return Normal Physical   --       Types: Ground Ghost Ability: No Guard Held item: None Golurk Lv.60 Phantom Force Ghost Physical   --       Heavy Slam Steel Physical   --       Mega Punch Normal Physical   --       Return Normal Physical   --       Types: Psychic Flying Ability: Magic Guard Held item: None Sigilyph♂ Lv.60 Psychic Psychic Special   --       Air Slash Flying Special   --       Cosmic Power Psychic Status   --       Return Normal Physical   --

Befriended

Floette ♀

Debut	Pokémon X and Y

AZ received this Floette from his late mother. During the Kalos war, she was forcefully taken from AZ and sent to fight in it, in which she subsequently died. Out of grief, AZ built a machine to ressurect her, which granted her eternal life as a result. She left him after realizing that the life force of other Pokémon was used to bring her back to life.

In Pokémon X and Y, Floette is first mentioned by AZ when the player initially encounters him on Route 13, where he mutters to himself about "the flower Pokémon". Floette's last appearance is during the parade arranged by Professor Sycamore in Lumiose City. After AZ battles the player and is liberated from his torment, she floats down from the sky and finally returns to him. Neither Floette nor AZ are seen after this.

In Pokémon Legends: Z-A, it can be assumed that the two remained reunited after the previous game as she's seen with AZ while he runs Hotel Z.

Unlike other Floette, she has a unique color scheme and holds a different flower known as the Eternal Flower.

None of Floette's moves are known.

Quotes

Main article: AZ/Quotes

Gallery

Artwork

Art from X and Y by Ken Sugimori[4]

Game assets

VS model from X and Y

Overworld model from X and Y

In animation

Pokémon Generations

AZ appeared in The Redemption. His backstory from the games was shown, describing how he built a machine to revive his Floette and later turned it into the ultimate weapon to end the Kalos war. Seeing how AZ had taken the lives of many Pokémon for her sake, Floette left him. Afterwards, AZ continued to wander eternally, searching for Floette.

During the parade held to celebrate the new Kalos League Champion, he approached Calem and challenged him to a battle. He eventually lost, but thanked Calem for freeing him from his sorrow. Afterwards, he was finally reunited with his Floette.

Pokémon

This listing is of AZ's known Pokémon in Pokémon Generations:

Golurk

Debut	The Redemption

Golurk is AZ's second known Pokémon. It was used to battle Calem, but lost to his Chesnaught.

None of Golurk's moves are known.

Befriended

Floette ♀

Debut	The Redemption

Floette was a Pokémon he befriended 3,000 years ago. One day, Floette perished after being forced to participate in a war. Out of grief, AZ built a machine to revive his fallen friend, but Floette left him after learning that he sacrificed the lives of many Pokémon to power the machine. In The Redemption, she returned to AZ.

None of Floette's moves are known.

Voice actors

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

X & Y arc

AZ debuted in Gyarados Changes. While traveling through the Team Flare Secret HQ's underground section, Emma found AZ locked in a jail cell. Once introductions were made, AZ realized the key around his neck went missing and began panicking to find it.

In Flabébé Blooms, Trevor, Tierno, and Shauna managed to sneak inside the Secret HQ. They found AZ's cell, where he informed them of Lysandre's plans to use the ultimate weapon to wipe out everyone but Team Flare and create a beautiful world. After freeing AZ from his cell, the group headed towards the ultimate weapon's control room, where they found that X failed to defeat Lysandre, but was able to free the Xerneas being used to fuel it. Trevor, Tierno, and Shauna tried removing the ultimate weapon's key, but couldn't pull it out in time before it fired. To Lysandre's frustration, the combined efforts of X, his friends, and the Kalos Gym Leaders successfully weakened the ultimate weapon and prevented it from taking any innocent lives.

In Rhyhorn Charges, AZ let himself be captured, buying time for Xerneas and allowing it to take X and his friends back to the surface. In Zygarde Appears, AZ was revealed to have freed himself and escaped. Before he fled, AZ cryptically warned Lysandre that Team Flare's actions have put them under the surveillance of Zygarde, the Overseer of Kalos.

In Xerneas Gives, after the defeat of Team Flare, AZ approached the Vaniville children in Lumiose City. Noting how people shunned X and his friends despite their work in saving the region, AZ suggested Team Flare's ambitions weren't wrong and went to go activate the ultimate weapon again. The others tried to stop AZ, but he retaliated with his Golurk. When a stray attack nearly hit Y, AZ stepped in and took the attack, destroying the ultimate weapon's key. The battle was merely an act to prevent X and his friends from heading down the path Lysandre took. With his mind at ease, AZ thanked the Vaniville children, only to be shocked at the return of the Floette that left him 3,000 years ago.

Pokémon

Golurk

Debut	Floette Returns

Golurk is AZ's second known Pokémon. It was used to attack X and his friends in order to prevent them from stopping AZ's false attempt at reactivating the ultimate weapon. When Y attempted to reason with AZ, Golurk turned into a cannon in order to attack her. X had Marisso attack Golurk in order to defend Y, but the attack was intercepted by AZ, destroying the ultimate weapon's key in the process. Afterward, AZ recalled Golurk back into its Poké Ball.

None of Golurk's moves are known.

Befriended

Floette ♀

Debut	Gyarados Changes

Floette was a Pokémon he befriended 3,000 years ago. One day, Floette perished after being forced to participate in a war. Out of grief, AZ built the ultimate weapon to revive his fallen friend, but Floette left him after learning that he sacrificed the lives of many Pokémon to power the machine. In Floette Returns, she returned to AZ.

None of Floette's moves are known.

In the TCG

Main article: AZ (Phantom Forces 91)

AZ was introduced as a Supporter card in the Pokémon Trading Card Game during the English XY Series (the Japanese XY Era). It was first released in the Japanese Phantom Gate expansion before debuting in English in the Phantom Forces expansion, with both prints featuring an illustration based on the Ken Sugimori artwork of the character. It was also released as a Full Art card in both expansions, with an illustration by Naoki Saito. AZ allows the player to return a Pokémon to their hand, with all cards attached to it being discarded.

Trivia

• AZ is the tallest person in the core series games, being approximately 3 meters tall (over 9 feet tall).
  • According to the official Pokémon X and Y website, AZ is approximately 3 meters tall^[5] (almost 3 meters in French and Italian,^[6][7] over 3 meters in Spanish,^[8] over 2.7 meters in Portuguese,^[9] approximately 2.7 meters in German,^[10] or over 2.5 meters tall in Dutch^[11]) or over 9 feet tall.^[12]
    • The official Pokémon Legends: Z-A website is more consistent. The European language sites consistently describe AZ as 3 meters tall^{[13][14][15][16][17]} (except the US English site, which describes him as over 9 feet tall^[18]), while the Asian language sites all describe him as being approximately 3 meters tall.^{[19][20][21][22]}
  • Dexio states he would be as tall as a Seviper (8'10" or 2.7 m).^[23]
• AZ is the oldest known human in the history of Pokémon, games or otherwise.
• AZ is the only known human in the games that is immortal.
• During the battle against AZ in Pokémon X and Y, the player's Pokémon do not gain experience points.
• Despite being classified as a Pokémon Trainer, AZ is the only character in the core series who does not have an official Pokémon League title to use the Gym Leader battle theme.
• AZ may be depicted in paintings within Parfum Palace. When one of the paintings is examined after defeating AZ at the end of the story, the player notes that it reminds them of him. A younger AZ is also depicted in a mural displayed in Lumiose Museum.
• All of the Pokémon that AZ uses in battle are Pokémon associated with ancient civilization or longevity; Torkoal is based on a tortoise, which can live for multiple centuries, and both Golurk and Sigilyph are Pokémon thought to be from ancient times. Also, all know Return, indicating a high friendship level with AZ.
• Unused data for AZ's Floette as an alternate form exists in the internal data of the Generation VI and VII games.

Origin

AZ may be based on the medieval Christian legend of the Wandering Jew. AZ may also be based on the Mesopotamian king Gilgamesh; in the Epic of Gilgamesh, the titular king, described in mythology as a giant of a man more than 5 meters (16 ft 5 in) tall, traveled far and wide in his quest for immortality for himself after the death of his closest companion, Enkidu.

Names

References

Related articles

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.