Lu Chen

Biodata

Power Progression

Lu Chen’s personal growth is distinct from the strength of his Pokémon. His later physical breakthrough follows years of battlefield experience rather than an established personal cultivation practice 13 131.

Pokémon Progression

Background and History

Life Before Retirement

Lu Chen remembers watching the Pokémon anime in a previous life, allowing him to recognize Ash and recall events that would otherwise lie in the future. His recollections are incomplete: he remembers Ash’s original League defeat but not precisely which match it occurred in 4 42.

Before reaching modern Kanto, he lived through the super-ancient era and fought in its wars. He describes himself as having killed more people and Pokémon than he can count. His four original partners—Aerodactyl, Lapras, Gengar, and Gouging Fire—survived those battlefields with him, carrying scars and lingering injuries 1.

At Cameran Palace, Lu Chen served the first queen as her trusted companion and military commander. Historical records credit the First Chief Warrior with suppressing internal unrest, repelling foreign enemies, and establishing the palace’s defense system. They state that he later left in pursuit of greater strength 119.

He also trained Aaron, who became the First Aura Guardian. The combat techniques Lu Chen taught him survived through the Aura Clan into the modern era 26 45 79.

One of his major enemies was the King of Persia. Lu Chen gathered allies, including Aaron, to stop the king from using the resentment of more than ten thousand slaughtered humans and Pokémon to subdue Ho-Oh. He devastated the king’s empire but failed to kill its ruler permanently 98 102.

Arrival in Modern Kanto

Lu Chen abruptly disappears from an ancient battlefield and awakens in a forest with his four companions. After Aerodactyl captures Professor Oak, Lu Chen recognizes the professor and learns that he is near Pallet Town in year 138 of the Pokémon League calendar 1.

Oak offers him a path toward becoming Kanto’s regional Champion. Lu Chen refuses, choosing instead to retire with his Pokémon. He accepts land in Pallet Town and selects a large, remote wasteland containing a dilapidated cabin 1 2.

Despite having claimed a new home, Lu Chen initially struggles to obtain startup funds. An attempt to sell a goddess statue as an ancient artifact fails because, from his perspective, it was only recently given to him and does not appear sufficiently old to the appraiser 5.

Establishing the Farm

Lu Chen buys thirty Starf Berry seeds from Erika for seven hundred thousand. To make his barren land usable, he follows Professor Oak’s advice to seek Dugtrio capable of using Rototiller. Gabite subsequently approaches him, asking to become stronger under his guidance 10 11 13.

The farm develops into both a home and a Pokémon habitat. Fossil Pokémon occupy its river and provide an additional defensive line; their successful breeding later suggests a possible business opportunity 23 42.

His first Starf Berry harvest produces roughly one hundred berries. Brock negotiates a price of five hundred thousand per berry, and purchases by Brock and Oak bring in seven million five hundred thousand. Lu Chen sees the business as a way to finance his companions’ medical care, improve the farm, and secure his retirement 48.

Recovering His Past

The appearance of a lonely super-giant Dragonite makes Lu Chen question whether he has been too eager to forget the ancient world. He resolves to investigate what happened to the friends and enemies he left behind 23 26.

He joins an archaeological expedition hoping to find records of the ancient war. The excavation unexpectedly includes his own former home, whose ordinary furnishings are treated as major archaeological discoveries. Beneath it lies another ruin built after his departure 33 34 35.

Later, Lu Chen visits the Aura Holy Land and reads his former disciple’s diary. Its final question asks where his master has gone. After learning that the First Aura Guardian most likely died in battle, Lu Chen spends an afternoon at his tomb, leaving flowers, a goddess statue, and cola. His grief turns into anger toward the unknown force that removed him from the ancient era 81.

Kanto League Conference

Seeing the modern Aaron use techniques inherited from his former disciple inspires Lu Chen to enter the Kanto League Conference. He begins collecting Gym Badges, earning the Boulder Badge less than three minutes after entering Pewter Gym 45 46.

During the qualifiers, he has Zorua impersonate him while Garchomp battles independently. Aaron condemns this as disrespectful to other Trainers; Lu Chen regards it as an ordinary tactical arrangement by ancient standards 58 59 60 62.

Lu Chen subsequently demonstrates more of his team’s strength. His overwhelming victory and willingness to help an opponent’s Pokémon grow stronger win public admiration, pushing his support in championship predictions above ninety-nine percent 67 68.

In the final, Garchomp defeats Aaron’s Togekiss, Mienshao, and Blastoise with one hit each. Aaron recognizes Lu Chen as the First Aura Guardian’s master and concedes. Lu Chen receives the championship trophy and leaves his handprint and his Pokémon’s marks in the Champions’ Corridor 78.

Hoenn and the King of Persia

In Hoenn, Lu Chen demonstrates Garchomp Z against Steven and obtains treatment for his original companions. Their recovery removes the old injuries that had limited their future growth 88 89 93.

An expedition brings him face-to-face with the surviving soul of the King of Persia, who possesses Ash. Lu Chen agrees to a Pokémon battle on the condition that the king leave Ash’s body if defeated, while secretly having Gengar summon reinforcements 96 97 98.

Lu Chen later suspects that the confrontation involved a stand-in intended to divert attention from the ruins. He finally tells his companions that he came from the super-ancient era, clarifying that he has not actually lived through the intervening tens of thousands of years. He asks them to keep his origin secret 101 102.

Celadon City and Cameran Palace

Knowing that the King of Persia remains a threat, Lu Chen seeks allies. Ho-Oh’s aura on Blue leads him to investigate her connection to the Masked Man. With Cynthia’s help, he drives the Masked Man away while deliberately limiting the battle’s destructive effect on Celadon City 112 115.

Aaron later brings news of a world-changing power associated with Cameran Palace. Lu Chen returns there with his companions, but repeatedly deflects Queen Ilene’s suspicions that he is the legendary First Chief Warrior 116 117 119.

At the Tree of Beginning, Lu Chen prioritizes finding Lapras over dwelling on recordings of his past. He later has Lapras save Lucario, accepts Lucario’s request to join him, and shares the Fruits of Life among his Pokémon and himself 126 130 131.

Before returning to Pallet Town, he offers Queen Ilene help if Cameran Palace encounters trouble and asks her to stop spreading false stories about the first queen. He dismisses the resemblance between himself and the ancient warrior as a shared name 132.

Appearance

Lu Chen is handsome and youthful-looking, appearing barely into his twenties despite his ancient origins. His lean, muscular body initially bears extensive battlefield scars; these disappear after he eats a portion of a Fruit of Life 5 17 83 131.

• Hair: Black 82.
• Original clothing: Patched animal hides and coarse hemp cloth, an animal-hide shawl, and badly worn leather boots, with old bloodstains embedded in the seams 5.
• Former scars: Burns, blade wounds, and other crisscrossing marks covering his chest, back, arms, and the rest of his body 17 54.
• After the Fruit of Life: Smooth, unscarred skin and a visibly rejuvenated appearance 131.

Personality

Lu Chen places peace and his companions’ welfare above titles. He refuses offers of regional office and League resources because he expects obligations, political interference, or dangerous battles in return. His preferred life consists of farming, drinking tea, and enjoying food with his Pokémon 1 9 11 13.

His battlefield outlook is pragmatic rather than ceremonial. He considers results more important than the appearance of a fair contest and sees no inherent problem with Zorua competing in his place. Against the King of Persia, he is willing to stall, deceive, and disregard an agreement rather than trust a known enemy 62 98.

His calm manner does not mean he is harmless. Erika senses an overwhelming blood-soaked presence around him, and Agatha recognizes the killing intent of someone accustomed to taking lives. Nevertheless, he accepts sincere apologies, restrains Gengar from attacking Aaron, and can help opponents improve during battle 7 10 64 67 88.

Lu Chen treats his Pokémon as family rather than expendable weapons. He considers Poké Balls unnecessary proof of their bond, asks the Fossil Pokémon’s consent before permitting research, and includes newly recruited partners when distributing valuable food. Peace also gives him room to feel losses he once had no time to mourn 2 82 117 131.

Abilities and Skills

Hand-to-Hand Combat

• Defeats Charmeleon through anticipation, precise counters, throws, and strikes to vulnerable areas 17.
• Overpowers Bruno physically and exploits an opening to finish their spar with a shoulder throw 54.
• Uses practical, battlefield-forged movements rather than a conventional textbook style 54.
• Gains a further physical enhancement from a Fruit of Life 131.

Pokémon Training and Battle Strategy

• Trains Gabite into an Elite Four-level Garchomp capable of using Dragon Dance and Mega Evolution 49 78 88 89.
• Identifies weaknesses in Reggie’s team coordination and proposes combinations involving Ice Punch, paralysis, and follow-up damage 109.
• Helps Cynthia’s Garchomp learn Dragon Dance after acknowledging her as a friend 115 116.
• Recognizes that his Garchomp’s special-attack-oriented Mega form would not suit Cynthia’s physically oriented Garchomp 116.

Mega Evolution Research

• Studied how ancient Pokémon could access Mega Evolution without modern Mega Stones or Key Stones 89.
• Uses mutual understanding between Trainer and Pokémon, supplemented by technique, to reproduce the process 89.
• Demonstrates Garchomp Z using a Mega Stone but no Key Stone 89.

Ancient Knowledge

• Reads ancient inscriptions and explains the limitations of artificial Pokémon gigantification 40.
• Recognizes the Ten Thousand Beasts Empire’s approach to creating genuinely gigantic Pokémon 24 40.
• Identifies Lucario Z and explains its connection to repeated Aura training and resonance with an Aura Guardian 75.
• Has limits to his knowledge: he does not recognize the name Pokémopolis and concludes that it likely arose after his departure 34.

Perception and Communication

• Detects a concealed presence through a battlefield-honed sixth sense, without identifying it as Aura 110.
• Demonstrates a basic understanding of Gabite’s intentions, but still relies on interpreters for fuller Pokémon speech 13 21 41.
• Uses Zorua’s Telepathy and translation to communicate more effectively with Pokémon 59 130.

Pokémon

Equipment and Items

• Poké Balls — Receives six empty balls from Professor Oak; initially leaves his original companions uncaught because their trust does not depend on them 2.
• Goddess statue — A gift from the ancient queen; used to awaken Ash’s Aura 5 29.
• Garchomp Mega Stone — Used to demonstrate Garchomp Z without a Key Stone 88 89.
• Ancient containment objects — Brings a black dumbbell, golden spoon, and gray bell back from the Pokémopolis Ruins 40 41.
• Kanto League Conference trophy — A Ho-Oh-shaped trophy awarded for his tournament victory 78.
• Fruits of Life — Distributes eight fruits among his partners and himself; his own third-fruit portion removes his scars and improves his physique 131.

Relationships

• Professor Oak — Helps him settle in Pallet Town, supplies Poké Balls and farming advice, and recognizes the significance of his ancient companions. Lu Chen later entrusts him with the farm during his absence 2 11 117.
• Delia Ketchum — A welcoming neighbor whose meals and apple pies become a favorite part of his retirement. She thanks him for helping Ash awaken Aura 11 23 43 102.
• Ash Ketchum — A younger Trainer he assists, battles, and helps awaken as an Aura Guardian. Lu Chen admires Ash’s sincere love for Pokémon, while Ash trusts him despite Aaron’s accusations 29 43 73.
• Aaron, First Aura Guardian — His ancient disciple and the inheritor of his combat teachings. Learning of Aaron’s death deeply affects him 45 79 81.
• Aaron, modern Aura Guardian — Initially clashes with Lu Chen over Trainer honor. After recognizing his identity, addresses him as Grandmaster and helps investigate ancient records 62 78 116.
• The first queen of Cameran Palace — His trusted companion and the giver of the goddess statue. Their bond was unusually close, but official histories record that they never became a couple and that she never married 5 119 120.
• Cynthia — Initially refused his help, then earns his friendship through farming, cooking, and fighting beside him. He subsequently teaches her Garchomp Dragon Dance 104 115 116.
• Steven — A wealthy Starf Berry buyer and battle partner. Lu Chen accepts his apology for investigating his classified identity 83 88 93.
• Lorelei — Attempts to recruit him on the League’s behalf and shows personal interest in him; Lu Chen initially resists the obligations attached to her offers 9 52 54.
• Blue — First encounters him after stealing his wallet. Her connection to Ho-Oh and the Masked Man draws him into her past; he later takes her to Professor Oak 110 112 115 117.
• Ho-Oh — An ancient acquaintance with whom he had a fairly good relationship. Lu Chen hopes to secure its help against the surviving King of Persia 98 112.
• King of Persia — An ancient enemy whose attempt to enslave Ho-Oh Lu Chen thwarted. His continued survival remains a reason for Lu Chen to seek stronger allies 98 102 112.
• Queen Ilene — Recognizes his resemblance to Cameran Palace’s legendary warrior. He avoids confirming her suspicions but promises help if the palace needs it 119 132.

Notable Quotes

“This time, I just want to retire, start a farm, and enjoy the rest of my life with my old friends.” 1

“Even though the ancient world was rotten to the core, it was still our past.” 26

“What matters most now is finding Lapras. We can't let any more of our family disappear.” 126

“Everyone gets a share.” 131