Explorers

This article is about the group from Pokémon Horizons. For the games, see Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky.
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Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
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Explorers
エクスプローラーズ Explorers

The admins of the Explorers prior
to the Mega Voltage arc
Leader Spinel (currently)
Gibeon (deceased)
Region Worldwide
Admins Hamber, Coral, Sidian, Chalce
Amethio (formerly)
Major targets Laquium, Laqua, the Six Heroes, Terapagos, Liko, Roy, Friede, Rising Volt Tacklers, Diana, ancient castle, Dot, Naranja Academy, Area Zero, Karna's Poké Ball factory
Base locations Mount Pericarp, Manpūku Town
Animated debut The Pendant That Starts It All (Part One)

The Explorers (Japanese: エクスプローラーズ Explorers) is a villainous organization led by Gibeon, and the main antagonists of Pokémon Horizons: The Series. Initially, the Explorers were just a small group of adventurers formed only by Lucius, Gibeon, and Rystal, but were later reformed into a global organization operating through the powerful corporation Exceed. Their goal is to reach Laqua and obtain the Laquium found there for the benefit of people and Pokémon. To this end, they pursued Rystal's Terapagos and Lucius's Six Heroes, leading them to become the archenemies of the Rising Volt Tacklers.

After Gibeon passed away in Where the Adventure Leads, Spinel took his place as the leader of the Explorers by force, using the positive reputation of Exceed in order to blame the Rising Volt Tacklers for his crimes instead while propping up the Explorers as a heroic organization. Under the new leadership, the organization's goal changed, now aiming to secretly control the world.

History

Pre-series

The original Explorers: Rystal, Lucius, and Gibeon

100 years prior to the events of the series, the Explorers team was founded by the three adventurers Lucius, Gibeon, and Rystal during their journey to reach the Pokémon paradise Laqua. After a long trip, the trio reached the paradise, a beautiful place where Legendary Pokémon lived peacefully. Wondering how such a prosperous environment was created, they explored further in and discovered some pink crystals known as Laquium, which stimulated the growth of the plants around it, so much actually that it started devastating the land. Lucius and Rystal decided to leave Laqua, worried that the crystal could influence them. However, Gibeon disagreed and started using his White Zygarde to dig the crystals out, fascinated by their powers, but the crystals started to expand and spread its mist around, causing many wild Pokémon to go feral. Fearing they might bring the destruction of the world, Lucius sent his Six Heroes out, led by his Black Rayquaza to try and stop it. Even Zygarde attempted to help, betraying its trainer as a result, but their efforts only caused even more destruction and most of Zygarde's Cells being blown away. The crystals' expansion suddenly created a fissure on the ground into which Gibeon fell in, presumed to be dead, but Lucius and Rystal still refused to give up. In response to their determination, Rystal's Terapagos, Pagogo, absorbed the mist and transformed into its Stellar Form, passed some of its power to the Six Heroes, and, alongside them, stopped the Laquium's expansion by sealing it within a giant energy barrier. Lucius remained trapped inside it, while the devastated Rystal was able to escape and raised her and Lucius's daughter, Layla, on her own.

After the Explorers separated, the organization was reformed by Gibeon, who survived his fall thanks to the power of a Laquium shard he had with him. He now sought to return to Laqua and reclaim Laquium and use its powers to better the lives of people and Pokémon. To do so, he started seeking Pagogo and the Six Heroes so they'd undo the barrier the Laquium was sealed in. He used the little Laquium he had to expand his lifespan so he had more time to reach his goal. He later enlisted his son-in-law, Cervantis, to help him fulfill his wishes; however his son-in-law failed him and "strayed" from the path, leaving the Explorers and becoming the president of a company that Gibeon had founded to aid the Explorers's research, Exceed. After Cervantis left the Explorers, his son, Amethio, joined in to make up for his father's failings.

At some point following Gibeon's refoundation of the organization, Hamber joined the Explorers in gratefulness for Gibeon's guidance in his aimless time as an adventurer. He became Gibeon's second-in-command and family butler, and was assigned with recruiting and training new talent for the organization. He recruited and trained Amethio, Coral, Sidian, and Chalce in that order to serve as admins. At some point along the way, Spinel, a researcher at Exceed with a brilliant profile, caught the eye of Gibeon for his talent, and Gibeon personally recruited him as an admin. Eventually, Hamber approached Diana, an old friend of his and unknowingly Lucius and Rystal's granddaughter, with an offer to join the organization under the pretext of introducing her to someone who could aid her adventures. However, this was actually an attempt to obtain her pendant, which was Pagogo's dormant form, but she refused to hand it over and escaped. After that, the Explorers decided to pursue the pendant until they found out that it was in the possession of Diana's granddaughter Liko, at which point they decided to find her in order to take it. Eventually, they were able to find Liko attending Indigo Academy in the Kanto region. Upon discovering this, Hamber forged a letter under the guise of being written by Diana and ordered Amethio, alongside his two subordinates Zirc and Onia, to visit Liko personally with the intention of having her hand over the pendant.

Pokémon Horizons: The Series

Amethio battling Friede for the first time

The Explorers debuted in The Pendant That Starts It All (Part One). One day, Amethio approached Liko at Indigo Academy's dormitories and, while under the guise of a representative of Diana, lied about being entasked to pick up the pendant in order to return it to her grandmother. Feeling something was amiss, Liko attempted to escape from him and his cohorts, Zirc and Onia, but ended up cornered on a rooftop until Friede swooped in at the right time and engaged Amethio in a battle. Upon witnessing the collateral damage the battle was causing, Liko tried to run away and almost got hit by a stray Psycho Cut if not by her pendant suddenly generating an energy field in order to shield her, which Friede used as an opening to escape with her to the Brave Olivine. The Explorers, however, did not give up and followed them to the airship, even amidst a vicious thunderstorm. There, Friede and Amethio clashed again, albeit briefly, as this time, Liko stepped in, having her Sprigatito unleash a Leafage powerful enough to break the barrier around the battlefield and expose everyone to the unrelenting weather. This forced the Explorers to retreat, but not without taking the Grass Cat Pokémon as a hostage.

Gibeon communicating with the Explorers Admins after Amethio's mission in Kanto

In For Sure! 'Cause Sprigatito's with Me!, Amethio battled against Friede once again; this time, however, the Professor was just distracting him to allow Liko to find Sprigatito in the warehouse where they were hiding. While this was happening, Zirc managed to plant a tracker on Brave Olivine's hull. This allowed for the Explorers to follow the ship all the way to Roy's island via submarine, where both parties clashed once more in Found You, Fuecoco! and The Ancient Poké Ball. As Liko's Sprigatito and Roy's soon-to-be Fuecoco were being overwhelmed by Amethio's Ceruledge, the girl's pendant synced with the boy's Ancient Poké Ball, which finally opened up. From the artifact, emerged a mighty Black Rayquaza, who indiscriminately rained devastation all over the beach with a singular Draco Meteor, forcing the Explorers to retreat. Later, during a meeting with the other Explorers' higher-ups, Gibeon, the organization's leader, removed Amethio from the mission of collecting the pendant and assigned it to Spinel. Afterwards, Amethio communicated to Zirc and Onia that he was going to pursue the Black Rayquaza from now on, believing its connection with the pendant to hold the key to the mystery behind it.

Spinel confronting Friede in Paldea

In The Future I Choose, it was revealed that Spinel was spying on the Rising Volt Tacklers during their time in Paldea in order to learn more about them. The knowledge he acquired was put to use over the following episodes, as he commenced his attack on them. First, in An Unexpected Picnic!, he positioned his fleet of Magneton around the Brave Olivine to create an electromagnetic interference to mess with the data array of the ship, rendering it powerless during a system reboot. After successfully scaring them away at the beginning of the following episode, Friede followed one of the Magneton all the way to Levincia, where he was ambushed by it and Spinel's Beheeyem, which were being commanded from a distance by their Trainer, seemingly in order to have his strength tested. The next day, Spinel created a false advertisement for some Spicy Herba Mystica to lure Liko into a back alley in Levincia. There, he had his Beheeyem put her on a trance with its psychic powers, allowing him to collect her pendant without any mishaps. Over the next episode, a dazed Liko was left wandering around the city while the Rising Volt Tacklers were caught in a web of misinformation laid out by Spinel, which pointed her whereabouts to Artazon instead. At the end of the day, with the collective efforts of Roy and Dot, she was able to fully regain her memory.

In Quaxly, We Can Do It, Friede and the young Rising Volt Tacklers begun their counterattack to find the culprit and get the pendant back. The Professor went after a leaving cruise, where he was greeted and challenged by a mysterious man—this, however, was one more red herring from Spinel. While this was happening, Dot and her Quaxly managed to pinpoint the pendant's location to a docked cargo ship and alerted her friends. The three of them battled against Spinel's Magneton and Beheeyem and won, but were no match for his Umbreon. At that moment, backed up against a wall, Liko's feelings begun resonating with the pendant, which shone brightly and gave Spinel's hiding location away. After Sprigatito returned the item to her Trainer, the pendant activated again and released Arboliva of the Six Heroes from its Ancient Poké Ball. Then, the group grabbed hold of the Olive Pokémon's arms before it jumped overboard, leaving Spinel at the ship with the understanding that Liko herself is the key to the pendant's secrets.

In The Lonely Hatenna, Amethio, Zirc, and Onia arrived in Galar after tracking the Black Rayquaza to Galar Mine. In the following episode, their path once again crossed with the Rising Volt Tacklers': Amethio immediately engaged Friede in battle, while Zirc and Onia faced off against Roy, Liko, and Captain Pikachu. However, the battles came to a rather abrupt end when a Galarian Moltres with an Ancient Poké Ball appeared and started attacking them. At the end of the next episode, it was revealed that the Explorers had witnessed the recapture of Moltres and Liko's pendant turning into a mysterious Pokémon, with Amethio deciding to go after the Rising Volt Tacklers in order to steal it.

The Explorers using a machine to lure in the Black Rayquaza

In Reunion at the Ancient Castle!, Amethio, Zirc, and Onia reported their findings to Hamber, who quickly contacted other Admins to head with him to the Galar region: he recruited Coral and Sidian, as Spinel and Chalce were occupied in the Explorers' laboratory. Amethio's team followed Liko, Roy, and Friede to an ancient castle near Hammerlocke, where they surrounded them in order to take the mysterious Pokémon away. The confrontation extended into the following episode and ended up with Amethio's first official loss to Friede. Meanwhile, Hamber and his Dusknoir arrived at the place and confronted Diana, who questioned him about the Explorers' motives to target them. Then, a commotion provided by the arrival of Coral and Sidian allowed for her to escape the scene, as well as for Amethio's team to leave before being caught in the crossfire. The two Admins cornered Liko and Roy, only for Captain Pikachu to arrive and rescue them, fending off her Glalie and his Garganacl at once. This, however, made Coral snap and recklessly order her Glalie to use Self-Destruct, allowing the Rising Volt Tacklers to escape and leaving the ancient castle in ruins.

In As Long as I'm with My Friends, while the Rising Volt Tacklers had been once again caught in false information spread by Spinel, the Explorers Admins had a meeting to discuss their next move. They eventually concluded that the best course of action would be pursuing the Black Rayquaza itself instead of Terapagos in order to stay ahead. In Roar of the Black Rayquaza, Amethio's team detected the Black Rayquaza in the Lapras Sea, and as such they immediately went after it. However, despite his best efforts, he lost very easily when trying to battle it. Amethio also witnessed Terapagos transforming into its Terastal Form as it conjured up its strength in order to protect Liko. In the following episode, after asking Hamber to train him in order to become stronger, they held a training match between their Ghost-type Pokémon, which ended up with a victory to Hamber after he Terastallized his Dusknoir. Afterwards, he gave a Tera Orb to Amethio and set him in the direction of mastering the Terastal phenomenon in order to draw out its full power.

The Explorers Admins gathered to discuss their next steps

After Amethio's failure, Spinel came up with a new plan to catch the Black Rayquaza, aided by Coral, Sidian, and Chalce. Prior to Transform! Hero of the Seas, Palafin, the Explorers led the construction of a tower on an island near Levincia as part of the plan, which the Rising Volt Tacklers were made aware of in A Challenge from the Explorers and started being enacted in The Plan to Capture Rayquaza. The tower itself was a red herring; its true purpose was to separate Friede from the rest of the group. The real plan involved attracting Rayquaza by simulating Terapagos's energy signature through a resonance generator, wearing it down by attacking it with powerful, super effective moves, and finally catching it in an Ultra Ball. The Rising Volt Tacklers managed to stall the Explorers for time enough to allow Dot to create a shutdown program and disable the resonance generator, allowing Rayquaza to free itself from the onslaught of attacks, Rayquaza then unleashed another Draco Meteor attack which ruined the Explorers' efforts. Once again, Coral let her temper overcome her better judgment and commanded Glalie to use Self-Destruct, which collided with Rayquaza's Dragon Pulse. The resulting explosion was powerful enough to blast the Legendary Pokémon directly into the hull of the Brave Olivine. In the following episode, the four Admins retreated. As Liko, Roy, and Friede were battling against the Black Rayquaza, Amethio arrived at the scene and worked in conjunction with them. Despite his Ceruledge and Friede's Charizard having Terastallized, they ended up defeated by a single Dragon Ascent. At the end of the episode, the admins had another meeting and were instructed by Gibeon to stay low and wait for the Rising Volt Tacklers to gather the Six Heroes for them, but to still keep their eyes on them for the time being. Gibeon then claimed that his and Lucius's adventure was not over yet as his Zygarde watched.

Spinel as an Exceed scientist after stealing Exceed's Treasure of Eternity

In Welcome to Naranja Academy!, Chalce is shown to be undercover at Naranja Academy as a teacher named "Chive" and forged enrollment papers for Coral and Sidian as students under the fake names of "Cornbread" and "Seasoning", so they can also help her with their unknown, undercover mission at the school. In the following episode, Cornbread attempted to challenge Katy for her Tera Training, but she lost to Liko in a cake-baking contest and was disqualified. At some point, Cornbread and Seasoning were approved in the Tera Training after battling Kofu and Tulip, respectively. In Trending Terastallization! Dance, Dance, Quaxly!, Cornbread and Seasoning were briefly noticed by director Clavell while they were watching Liko, Roy, and Dot making their way to Dot's battle against Iono.

In The Treasure of Eternity, while Friede was investigating about the Treasure of Eternity in the Exceed company that he once worked in, Spinel made his efforts useless and stole the piece of Treasure of Eternity, which in reality was a piece of Laquium. In the same episode, Hamber and Amethio had a face to face meeting with Gibeon, revealing he's Amethio's grandfather. Gibeon explained that they needed more Laquium and that Terapagos's "awakening" was the key to Laqua. Amethio also claimed he's nothing like his father, who failed the organization in the past. Amethio then got a report from Zirc and Onia who were spying on Spinel, resulting in Amethio intending on finding out what Spinel was up to.

Coral and Sidian in their "Cornbread" and "Seasoning" disguises

In Showdown! The Paldea Elite Four, Cornbread battled Larry alongside Kofu while Seasoning battled Rika alongside Tulip, but they were both defeated.

In The Approaching Shadow!, Amethio tracked Spinel down to Glaseado Mountain. Aware he was being followed, Spinel lured Amethio away into an encounter with Liko, which led to a battle between the two. Just as it seemed that Amethio would win, Spinel interrupted the battle to test the Laquium on his Umbreon, turning it feral and much stronger. This angered Terapagos, who used its Terastal Form to destroy the Laquium shard and purify Umbreon of its effects. Noting he had acquired the results he was looking for, Spinel fled while Liko and Amethio chased after him. Unbeknownst to Liko and Amethio, Spinel was luring them into a trap and left them stranded inside a nearby cave. Elsewhere on the mountain, Coral and Sidian shedded their school disguises in order to stall Roy and Dot and prevent them from helping Liko. Aftewards, he told Chalce of Amethio's relationship with Gibeon, and that if they were to have a future, they would need to get him out of the way. Chalce agreed with his reasoning and began to collude with him, beginning the start of a schism in the organization.

In Liko and Amethio, when Grusha came to assist Roy and Dot, Coral and Sidian were ordered by Chalce to retreat. Later, at the Explorers headquarters, Spinel showed his allies footage of Amethio and Liko working together to escape the cave he trapped them in, framing it as an act of betrayal. Despite attempting to explain himself, Gibeon coldly refused to listen to Amethio and relieved him of all duties.

Amethio, Zirc, and Onia decide to go to Laqua on their own

In Infiltrating the System! Naranja Academy in Danger!, the Explorers infiltrated Naranja Academy to steal information regarding Terapagos. Chalce had Sidian and Coral stand guard against interference while she worked on stealing the data. Penny found out about this and informed Dot and her friends to stop them. Sidian battled against Liko but was defeated despite Terastallizing his Garganacl which caused him to retreat. Coral, meanwhile, was defeated by Roy and was forced to retreat by Sidian much to her anger. Despite interference from Dot's Pokémon and Penny counter-hacking her attempts, Chalce was still able to steal the data about Terapagos before fleeing by teleporting with her Xatu.

In Shine on, Terastallization! Liko vs. Roy!, Chalce brought the data to Spinel, who began to study it in earnest. She also informed him that Hamber had asked her about the information, but she refused to divulge anything to him, leaving Spinel pleased.

The Explorers encountering Liko, Roy, and Dot in Laqua

In Over the Top!, Hamber ordered Coral and Sidian to follow the Rising Volt Tacklers to Area Zero. In the next episode, Coral separated from Sidian as they watched the group, met, and accidentally caught a Scream Tail, which she nicknamed "Screamypuff" (オニプリン Onipurin). In the next one, they both witnessed the battle between the Rising Volt Tacklers and Lucius's Gouging Fire and then the summoning of the remaining of the Six Heroes, Rayquaza. In Beyond the Shining Rainbow, after watching the Rising Volt Tacklers gain Rayquaza, Coral and Sidian left Area Zero to report their findings. After reporting their findings, Gibeon told everyone to prepare to head for Laqua. Meanwhile, Amethio and his allies intended to find out what Spinel was up to, but got caught. Fortunately, Hamber rescued them and informed of Gibeon's past with Lucius. After hearing this information, Amethio and his allies decided to head for Laqua in order to protect his grandfather.

In Where the Land Meets the Sky, Chalce spotted Friede talking to Liko, Roy, and Dot through the phone and returned to Exceed to tell the other Explorers about the Rising Volt Tacklers' presence there. In The Pokémon Paradise of Laqua!, Spinel confronted Friede while Coral, Sidian, and Chalce confronted Liko, Roy, and Dot after Pagogo removed the barrier around the Laquium. In the next episode, the four admins battled Friede and the younger members, which led to their defeat, but they bought Gibeon enough time to reach the Laquium.

Spinel as the new leader of the Explorers

In Guided by the Black Rayquaza!, Amethio attempted to warn Gibeon about Spinel's apparent betrayal, only to have his concerns dismissed. Gibeon ordered Zygarde to mine a large cluster of Laquium, but it shattered, revealing a still-living Lucius inside. Lucius explained that Zygarde asked Rayquaza to find Trainers capable of gathering the Six Heroes and restoring Pagogo to full strength in order to destroy the Laquium. Angered, Gibeon summoned the admins, who used machines to activate the Laquium core and make it grow uncontrollably. After convincing Zygarde to fight by his side, Gibeon confronted Amethio and the younger Rising Volt Tacklers to keep them from thwarting him.

In The Earthshaking White Zygarde, Gibeon commanded Zygarde in a ferocious battle against Liko, Roy, Dot and Amethio. Zygarde's immense power eventually overwhelmed Roy and Dot, but with clever use of teamwork, Liko's newly-evolved Meowscarada was able to hit Zygarde with aid from Amethio's Ceruledge. Convinced by Liko and the others' strength, Zygarde forfeited the battle before breaking down into its component Cells and abandoning Gibeon. Devastated, Gibeon questioned how he was yet again foiled by someone of Lucius's bloodline before Lucius and Amethio explained it was the bond between Liko, her friends, and their Pokémon that led them to victory.

Coral and Sidian using Strong Spheres as part of Exceed's demonstration

In Where the Adventure Leads, after Gibeon passed away due to the purification of the Laquium core, Spinel took over as the new leader of the organization. He also occupied Laqua for the Explorers and used his Laquium Sphere to drive the Six Heroes (except Rayquaza) berserk, causing the six of them to fight each other and inflict great destruction to the paradise. As seen in HZ091, in the aftermath of these events, the Explorers captured the rampaging heroes, holding them captive and dormant in their base. At some point, Amethio was separated from Zirc and Onia and went missing. Even though Spinel made a report claiming that he had betrayed the Explorers and perished in Laqua with Gibeon, Cervantis and Hamber did not believe it. A year after those events, Spinel reformed the Explorers, casting the group as a heroic organization to the public and putting the blame of the destruction in Laqua on the Rising Volt Tacklers instead. In HZ092, Hamber tasked Zirc and Onia to find Amethio and gather Gibeon's former Zygarde Cells without letting Spinel know of their actions, giving them one of the Cells and a Zygarde Cube to help them in their task.

In HZ095, the Explorers were revealed to be creating Strong Spheres, devices for Trainers to imbue their Pokémon with Laquium mist. Coral and Sidian were tasked with advertising the product, using it against Liko and Roy in a Double Battle. The Laquium-infused Pokémon easily defeated them without much input, causing it to be well received, as the public was unaware of the connection between the Strong Spheres and the phenomenon afflicting wild Pokémon.

In HZ099, a pair of Explorers members named Indy and Rubella debuted. They, along with two Exceed employees, were sent to pick up an order of Strong Sphere outer shells made by Karna, only to be stopped by Uruto. The employees tried to convince Karna of Exceed's good intentions, but after Liko and the others informed her of the truth, she angrily refused to work with them anymore. Indy and Rubella stepped in with the intention of taking the shells Karna made, only to realize that Liko and her friends were the Trainers who repeatedly got in the Explorers' way. They both sent out a Paldean Tauros and used them to challenge Liko's group, using the Strong Spheres to boost their Pokémon. In the next episode, despite their use of Laquium, Liko's group managed to defeat the Explorers after exploiting a weakness in Laquium, forcing them to retreat. Indy and Rubella retreated alongside Exceed, reporting their failure to Spinel, who excused them and vowed to take down the Rising Volt Tacklers again.

In HZ101, Zirc and Onia continued their task of locating Amethio, being out at sea, though they had little success in objective. In HZ103, Zirc and Onia told Liko that Amethio was missing and asked for her help personally to find him.

Indy and Rubella stopping Roy and Uruto

In HZ104, after paying a visit to Amethio's mansion, Liko, Zirc and Onia, with help from Liko's Charcadet and Cervantis, found Amethio but in hiding to avoid being captured by Spinel's agents on an island off the coast of Levincia where he first met Ceruledge as a Charcadet which was their only family vacation years ago. Zirc and Onia begged Amethio to take Exceed and the Explorers back from Spinel, but he refused, stating that with Gibeon's passing, he was powerless to do anything. With words of encouragement from Liko and a battle with her Charcadet, Amethio managed to regain the resolve to fight against Spinel's machinations. Despite this, Amethio refused to go with Zirc and Onia, stating that as members of the Explorers, there were things they could accomplish on the inside that he couldn't. Accepting this, Zirc passed on the Zygarde Cube to Amethio before leaving the island with Onia. Afterward, Zirc and Onia reported to Hamber that Amethio was safe and sound, though Hamber was unaware that Chalce was monitoring him.

In HZ106, Indy and Rubella attempted to trade with Rayu, who had stolen Uruto's Dusk Ball in order to exchange it for a Strong Sphere. Uruto interrupted the transaction and a battle quickly occurred, with the two Explorers sending out a Unovan and Galarian Darmanitan. Though they had the upper hand due to Rayu's Grafaiai being inexperienced, the tide quickly turned against them when the Dusk Ball reacted to Uruto's feelings, revealing a Dragonite that easily overwhelmed both Darmanitan, forcing them to retreat. In the following episode, they met with Spinel, who quickly discovered Uruto eavesdropping on them and had him taken into custody, though his Sableye was able to escape and discovered Roy. While observing him, Chalce expressed concern about Spinel's hastiness, but he told her that Amethio's return had complicated matters. Roy later found and freed Uruto, only for Indy and Rubella to quickly discover them and result in another battle. This time, they were assisted by four Rabsca that were emitting Gravity, getting the upper hand, even against Dragonite. Uruto's resolve to protect the ones he cared resulted in the discovery of his Dragonite being able to Mega Evolve, and Mega Dragonite easily defeated the enemies, while Roy and his Mega Lucario defeated Indy and Rubella, taking advantage of the opening to escape.

In HZ108, the Rising Volt Tacklers decided to contact Amethio's father, Cervantes, for information about the Six Heroes. Cervantes agreed to do so, though it was likely the message was intercepted by the Explorers.

In HZ109, Coral and Sidian were continuing to promote the Strong Spheres in Galar when they attempted to get some leisure time after one such event. However, they were swarmed by their fans, though a manager arrived and took them away. The manager revealed to the two that they were told to head to an unknown location in Paldea, hiring a Galarian Cabbie to do so. The cabbie initially refused until seeing Coral, and when Coral refused to go, the manager forced her inside. On the way, they were knocked down by a Tinkatuff, which was shortly followed up by Dot and her Pokémon. Although Sidian wished to head to their destination, Coral refused and battled Dot. Tinkatuff was able to forge a new hammer from Corviknight's feathers, evolving into Tinkaton and sending Glalie flying away with a Brutal Swing, prompting the two admins to chase after it. Meanwhile, Indy and Rubella confronted Liko, Roy and Uruto at the warehouse instead of Cervantes.

Notable members

Main members

This is the list of the main Explorers members up to the most recent Japanese episode:

Modern Explorers

This is the list of the Explorers members after the organization was reformed by Gibeon in the modern era. As of Where the Adventure Leads, with Spinel's rise to leadership of the Explorers, some new members of the organization were introduced in the animated series.

In HZ104, two unnamed members of the organization were shown hunting Amethio during the year-long period that passed during Where the Adventure Leads, which indicates that there are more members of the Explorers than those shown in the series.

Current members
Member Rank Debut
Spinel
Spinel
Boss (currently)
Admin (formerly)
The Ancient Poké Ball
Coral
Coral
Admin The Ancient Poké Ball
Sidian
Sidian
Admin The Ancient Poké Ball
Chalce
Chalce
Admin The Ancient Poké Ball
Hamber
Hamber
(Double agent)
Unknown (currently)
Second-in-command (formerly)
The Treasure After the Storm!
Onia
Onia
(Double agent)
Agent The Pendant That Starts It All (Part One)
Zirc
Zirc
(Double agent)
Agent The Pendant That Starts It All (Part One)
Indy
Indy
Agent HZ099
Rubella
Rubella
Agent HZ099
Grunt
Unnamed (x2)
Agent HZ104
Former members
Member Rank Debut
Gibeon
Gibeon
(deceased)
Boss The Ancient Poké Ball (voice only)
From So Far Away (physical debut)
Cervantis
Cervantis
Unknown The Treasure of Eternity
Amethio
Amethio
Admin The Pendant That Starts It All (Part One)

Original Explorers

This is the list of the original Explorers members from 100 years prior to the events of series.

Member Debut
Gibeon
Gibeon
The Ancient Poké Ball (voice only)
From So Far Away (physical debut)
Lucius
Lucius
The Future I Choose (flashback)
Guided by the Black Rayquaza! (physical debut)
Rystal
Rystal
The Three Explorers

Bases

This is listing the HQs of the Explorers during the events of Pokémon Horizons: The Series:

Image Location Description Region
Mount Pericarp The first of the Explorers base which was spotted by Liko in Where the Land Meets the Sky. Unknown
Manpūku Town An Explorers base which was invaded by Uruto and later Roy in HZ107. It is where five of the Six Heroes prisoners are kept in. Paldea

Associates

This is listing characters who are related to the Explorers during the events of Pokémon Horizons: The Series:

Member Description Debut

Bisharp's Trainer
This Trainer was a mercenary paid by Spinel to delay Friede while the latter looked for Liko's pendant. Quaxly, We Can Do It

Explorers' subordinates
This is a group of subordinates who accompanied Hamber during his meeting with Diana. Terapagos's Adventure

Exceed
Exceed is a company that was founded by Gibeon to improve the lives of humans and Pokémon through the research of Laquium, which is known by the employees as the "Treasure of Eternity". After Spinel became the leader of the Explorers, he also became the company's director in Cervantis's place and started using it to create and sell a device made of Laquium called Strong Sphere. The Treasure of Eternity

Technology

Gadgets

Watches Tracker Transceiver

Vehicles

Submarine Van Helicopter

Other

  • In The Ancient Poké Ball and several subsequent episodes, the Explorers leadership are shown using a virtual reality space to meet with each other and give reports to Hamber and Gibeon. The individual members use hologram technology to project themselves into this space, which appears and disappears upon their entering and leaving it. While Hamber and the five Explorers admins move around and interact with each other in this space as if it is real, Gibeon speaks through a holographic monolith that stands at the center of the space.
  • In The Plan to Capture Rayquaza, the Explorers used a resonance generator that could transmit energy at long distances. After observing Terapagos using his equipment, Spinel was able to recreate Terapagos's energy signature on the resonance generator to attract the Black Rayquaza. It was later deactivated by Dot and then destroyed by Rayquaza.
  • In The Truth Revealed!, while looking through Spinel's computer at Exceed, Amethio uncovered documents for a prototype of device called Laquium Sphere. In Where the Adventure Leads, using the Laquium Sphere, Spinel infected all but one of the Six Heroes with Laquium mist, making them go completly berserk.
  • In Guided by the Black Rayquaza!, Gibeon was revealed to have a strange device on his suit that can turn Laquium crystals into mist that is injected into his body through a tube connected to the back of his head. This allows Gibeon to use Laquium to heal his poor health, even allowing him to walk. The device disappeared as Gibeon faded away due to the destruction of Laquium.
  • In Guided by the Black Rayquaza!, the Explorers used three machines capable of producing miniature earthquakes in order to stimulate the ground and force the Laquium core to grow and expand out of the ground so they can obtain it. They were powered by Spinel's Magnezone's electricity. They were all later destroyed by the rampaging Six Heroes.
  • In HZ091, it is revealed that the Explorers captured and placed the Six Heroes, except Rayquaza, as prisoners in pink, energy barriers, which keeps them dormant.
  • In HZ095, Sidian and Coral used Strong Spheres, smaller versions of Laquium Sphere, during a battle against Liko and Roy.
Resonance generator Earthquake machine Suit device
Laqurium Sphere Restraining barriers Strong Sphere

Pokémon

The Explorers, except Gibeon and Hamber, have at least two Pokémon partners on their teams. Also, each member of the Explorers, except Gibeon, has a Rotom Phone. In addition, Hamber, Amethio, Sidian, and Coral can use Terastallization.

This listing is of the Explorers's known Pokémon in Pokémon Horizons: The Series:

Belonging to the Boss

Spinel


Magneton → Magnezone

Umbreon

Beheeyem

Belonging to the Admins

Hamber


Dusknoir Ghost Tera Type

Coral


Glalie

Screamypuff Fairy Tera Type

Sidian


Garganacl Rock Tera Type

Aerodactyl

Chalce


Medicham

Xatu

Belonging to the Agents

Zirc


Rhydon

Skarmory

Onia


Skarmory

Golduck

Indy


Tauros

Darmanitan

Rubella


Tauros

Darmanitan

Traveling with


Rotom Phone (×7)

Held captive


Arboliva

Moltres

Lapras

Kleavor

Gouging Fire

Other


Rabsca (×4)

Belonging to former members

Lucius

In Dragon's Den

Rayquaza Shiny

Rystal

With Liko

Pagogo Stellar Tera Type

Gibeon

Fled

Zygarde Shiny

Amethio


CeruledgeGhost Tera Type

Corviknight

Artwork

Concept art of Amethio [1] Concept art of Zirc and Onia [2] Concept art of Spinel, Sidian, Chalce, and Coral Concept art of Gibeon, Lucius, and Rystal
from 100 years ago
Concept art of Sidian and Coral in Naranja Academy uniforms Concept art of Spinel and Chalce from the Mega Voltage arc
Concept art of Sidian and Coral from the Mega Voltage arc Concept art of Indy and Rubella [3]

Trivia

  • The Explorers is the first villainous organization created specifically for the animated series.
  • The names of the current members of the organization refer to gemstones and rocks used in the creation of jewelry.

Names

Language Title
Arabic المستكشفين
Chinese Cantonese 探夢隊 Tāammuhng Déui
Mandarin 探夢隊 Tànmèng Duì *
探索者队 Tànsuǒzhě Duì *
Czech Průzkumníci
Danish Explorers
Dutch Ontdekkers
Finnish Etsijät
French Explorateurs
German Entdecker
Italian Esploratori
Korean 익스플로러즈 Explorers
Norwegian Oppdagerne
Polish Pionierzy
Portuguese Brazil Desbravadores
Portugal Exploradores
Spanish Exploradores
Swedish Utforskarna
Turkish Kaşifler

References

Related articles

  • Episodes focusing on the Explorers
Team RocketTeam MagmaTeam AquaTeam GalacticTeam Plasma
Team FlareTeam SkullTeam Rainbow RocketTeam YellTeam Star
Similar groups
Core series Aether FoundationMacro CosmosMiss Fortunes
Side series Team SnagemCipher
Spin-offs Team Great RocketPhobos BattalionGo-Rock SquadTeam Dim SunTeam Debonairs
Pokémon PinchersDark LegionThe RogersTeam GO RocketTeam BreakUnitas
Animation Exceed
Manga Elite FourNeo Team RocketNeo Team MagmaNeo Team AquaTeam Kings
Pokémon Horizons characters
Protagonists Liko (MeowscaradaPagogo) • Roy (Crocalor)
Rising Volt Tacklers Friede (Captain Pikachu) • MollieOrlaLudlowMurdockDot (Quaxwell) • Uruto
OniaZircHamberSpinelCoralSidianChalceGibeon (Zygarde) • IndyRubella
Relatives Lucius (RayquazaSix Heroes) • RystalLaylaDianaAlexLuccaRoy's grandfatherRoy's parentsFrankaCervantisMariaMollie's motherUruto's father
Supporting cast Nurse JoyRotom PhonesAnnLiko's homeroom teacherAmethioNemonaIonoKarnaClavellGeetaDendraJacqPennyNikoRobDashRaifortPerrinBriarGym LeadersElite FourMany temporary characters
See also: Pokémon the Series characters
This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation.