Sophocles

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Sophocles
マーマネ Mamane
Sun Moon Sophocles.png
Artwork from Sun and Moon by Ken Sugimori[1]
Age Unconfirmed[2][3]
Gender Male
Eye color Brown
Hair color Orange
Hometown Unknown
Region Alola
Relatives Molayne (cousin)
Trainer class Captain
Generation VII, VIII, IX
Counterpart(s) Sophocles (Masters)
Games Sun and Moon, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Masters EX
English voice actor Jeannie Tirado[4] (Masters EX)
Japanese voice actor Michiyo Murase[5] (Masters EX)
Member of Island challenge
Rank Trial Captain
Captain of Hokulani Observatory
Z-Crystal Electrium Z
Specializes in Electric-types
Animated series Pokémon the Series
Debut Alola to New Adventure!
Counterpart(s) Sophocles (anime)
English voice actor Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld
Japanese voice actor Fumiko Takekuma
Manga series Pokémon Adventures
Debut Truth and the Mastermind Behind Team Skull

Sophocles (Japanese: マーマネ Mamane) is the Trial Captain of Ula'ula Island's Hokulani Observatory. He specializes in Electric-type Pokémon. Molayne affectionately refers to him as Soffy (Japanese: マーくん Mā-kun).

In the core series games

Sophocles is good with mechanics, having invented various machines, and shares a close bond with his cousin, Molayne. However, he is also quite shy. While Captains are typically picked by their respective island kahuna, Sophocles was picked by his cousin to succeed him.

Pokémon Sun and Moon

In the Pokémon Sun and Moon storyline, the player first meets Sophocles at the Hokulani Observatory on Ula'ula Island, where the Captain reveals he built a machine he calls the "Ping Totem Pokémon 2.0" (Japanese: ぬしポケモンこいこいマーク2 Come Here Leader Pokémon Mark 2). The invention broadcasts sounds audible only to Pokémon to lure the Totem Pokémon to him. He then tells the player that their trial will serve as a test run of his invention. Sophocles activates the Ping Totem Pokémon 2.0, only to cause a fuse to blow, and the trial proper to begin. After completing a series of audio tests and wild Pokémon battles, the player battles and defeats the Totem Vikavolt, and power is restored to the observatory. Sophocles awards the player with an Electrium Z.

During the post-game, Sophocles is one of the possible challengers the player may face at the Pokémon League while defending their Champion title.

The player can also meet Sophocles in Festival Plaza, which he owns. There, Sophocles will introduce the player to the basic mechanics of the facility, reward them when they level up the plaza, and help them install new shops.

Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon

In Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Sophocles's trial involves using a machine known as the Roller (Japanese: くるくるくん Spin Around-kun) to line up a group of nine Charjabug in order to provide electricity to a Vikavolt-shaped device that will power another machine known as the Pinger (Japanese: こいこいちゃん Come Here-chan) capable of luring out the Totem Pokémon. Though the player succeeds in lining all nine Charjabug, the device malfunctions and instead attacks the Charjabug, forcing Togemaru to step in and absorb the electricity with Lightning Rod. When the electricity is too much for Togemaru to handle, it is saved by Totem Togedemaru, who then challenges the player to a battle. After Totem Togedemaru is defeated, Sophocles awards the player with an Electrium Z.

When the player participates in Mina's trial, the player must challenge each of the Trial Captains to receive a flower petal from them. When the player meets with Sophocles, they find him expressing disappointment because Molayane is temporarily leaving. In Ultra Sun only, Sophocles will then challenge the player to a battle. Afterwards, the player will receive a Yellow Petal from him and be offered to be escorted to their next destination at the Aether House on Route 15.

In the prologue to Episode RR, he comes to the player's house to warn the player that Team Rainbow Rocket has taken over Festival Plaza and has redesigned the main plaza. Due to the Grunts messing with Festival Plaza's systems, the player is unable to use their on-hand Pokémon and must instead borrow three rental Pokémon from the Battle Agency to battle a Team Rainbow Rocket Grunt. Once the Grunt is defeated, Sophocles hacks Festival Plaza's systems and uses it to remove the Grunts. Once everything has returned to normal, Sophocles allows the player to use Team Rainbow Rocket's design of the main plaza if the player wishes to, as well as giving them an Eject Button.

Like in the original Sun and Moon games, Sophocles is also one of the possible opponents for the Title Defense battle in the Champion's room at the Pokémon League. He also initially appears as a boss at the Battle Agency, though after Episode RR has started, he replaces his own boss avatar with a battle program mimicking Giovanni's appearance.

Pokémon

Sophocles's Pokémon are kept in Ultra Balls.

Pokémon Sun and Moon



Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon

Mina's trialUS



Title Defense battle



Battle Agency



At Hokulani Observatory
Togemaru
Togemaru
Main article: Sophocles's Togedemaru

Togemaru is a Pokémon that helps around Hokulani Observatory. During Sophocles's trial, the device used to power the Pinger malfunctions and begins attacking the Charjabug. Although Togemaru uses her Lightning Rod to absorb the electricity fired by the device, she isn't able to fully absorb the attack, forcing Totem Togedemaru to appear and rescue her as well.

None of Togemaru's moves are known, and her Ability is Lightning Rod.

Charjabug (×9)
Sophocles's Charjabug (×9)
Main article: Sophocles's Charjabug

These nine Charjabug are Pokémon that help around Hokulani Observatory. Though each has its own nickname, only Onejabug, Twojabug, Threejabug, Sevenjabug, and Ninejabug are named out loud. During Sophocles's trial, the device used to power the Pinger malfunctions and begins attacking the Charjabug. Although Togemaru uses its Lightning Rod to absorb the electricity fired by the device, it isn't able to fully absorb the attack, forcing Totem Togedemaru to appear and rescue it as well.

None of the Charjabug's moves are known.

In the spin-off games

Pokémon Masters EX

Main article: Sophocles (Masters)

Sophocles forms a sync pair with Togedemaru and Alolan Golem in Pokémon Masters EX. Sophocles became a playable sync pair since the game's release.

Dex Trainer NDex Pokémon Type Weakness Role EX role Base potential Availability
#055 VSSophocles Masters.png Sophocles #0777 MastersIcon0777.png Togedemaru
Electric
ElectricIC Masters.png
Ground
GroundIC Masters.png
Masters Tech.png ★★★★☆☆EX Sync Pair Scout
#055 VSSophocles Masters.png Sophocles #0076 MastersIcon0076A.png Golem
Alola Form
Electric
ElectricIC Masters.png
Ground
GroundIC Masters.png
Masters Physical Strike.png ★★★★☆☆EX Battle Points

Gallery

Artwork

Sophocles concept art.png SM Ending Screen 6.png
Concept art from Pokémon Sun and Moon Ending screenshot with Molayne from Pokémon Sun and Moon


Sprites and models

Spr SM Sophocles.png VSSophocles.png
High-poly model from
Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon
VS sprite from
Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon
Sophocles SM OD.png
Overworld model from
Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon

Quotes

Main article: Sophocles/Quotes

In animation

Pokémon the Series

Main article: Sophocles (anime)

Sophocles debuted in Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon. He is a student at the Pokémon School of Melemele Island and one of Ash's former classmates. He also reappeared in Pokémon Journeys: The Series.

GOTCHA!

Sophocles briefly appeared in GOTCHA!.

In the manga

Sophocles in Pokémon Adventures

Pokémon Adventures

Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon arc

Sophocles debuted in Truth and the Mastermind Behind Team Skull. He and Molayne were first seen helping innocent civilians escape from the Ultra Beasts that had escaped from Po Town to wreak havoc on Ula'ula Island. They managed to evacuate the people to Hokulani Observatory, but with the beasts still on the loose, they worried that it may eventually get attacked as well. To circumvent this problem, Sophocles decided to use an invention designed to call Totem Pokémon in order to guide the beasts away from the observatory, though it never worked.

In The Truth and Island Kahuna Hapu, Sophocles, Molayne, Acerola, Professor Kukui, and Gladion fought off a Celesteela and Guzzlord at Route 10 to prevent them from reaching Hokulani Observatory. Gladion easily defeated Celesteela and later defeated Guzzlord to prevent it from hurting Lillie.

In Adventure in the Dark Dimension, the Trial Captains and island kahunas were revealed to have spent six months on Exeggutor Island training to prepare for another clash with the Ultra Beasts. After their training was finished, Sophocles and Molayne used a Vikavolt-shaped airship to transport the others to Mount Lanakila, where a wormhole had opened up earlier. Shortly after they arrived, their ship was attacked by a group of Aether Foundation Employees and their Ultra Beasts. With the Z-Moves they had acquired, Sophocles and the others managed to defeat the Ultra Beasts.

Pokémon

Sophocles Togedemaru Adventures.png
Togedemaru

In the TCG

Full Art print of Sophocles
Main article: Sophocles (Burning Shadows 123)

Sophocles was introduced as a Supporter card in the Pokémon Trading Card Game during the English Sun & Moon Series (the Japanese SM Era). It was first released in the Japanese Tapu Bulu-GX Enhanced Starter Set before debuting in English in the Burning Shadows expansion, with an illustration based on the Ken Sugimori artwork of the character. It was later released as both a regular and Full Art cards in Facing a New Trial and Burning Shadows, with an illustration by Sanosuke Sakuma. It allows the player to discard 2 cards from their hand and draw 4 cards.

Trivia

  • In Pokémon Sun and Moon, Sophocles is the only Trial Captain not to give the player a set of Poké Balls after clearing their trial.
  • Sophocles's shirt has a symbol very similar to the one that is seen next to a Pokémon if the Pokémon was transferred via Poké Transporter.
  • Sophocles is the only notable Electric-type expert who is not a Gym Leader.
  • Sophocles's English name and type speciality might allude to the Ancient Greek tragedian, Sophocles and his tragedy, Electra.

Names

Language Name Origin
Japanese マーマネ Māmane From māmane (Hawaiian for Sophora chrysophylla)
English Sophocles From Sophora chrysophylla and possibly Sophocles (author of Electra; possibly referring to Sophocles specializing in the Electric type)
German, French, Italian Chrys From Sophora chrysophylla
Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese Chris From Sophora chrysophylla
Korean 마마네 Mamane Transcription of his Japanese name
Chinese (Mandarin) 馬瑪內 / 马玛内 Mǎmǎnèi Transcription of his Japanese name
Chinese (Cantonese) 馬瑪內 Máhmáhnoih
Finnish Sofocles Similar to his English name
Indonesian Sofokles Similar to his English name
European Portuguese Sófocles Similar to his English name
Russian Софоклис Sofoklis Transcription of his English name
Thai มามาเนะ Mamane Transcription of his Japanese name
Vietnamese Mamane Transcription of his Japanese name

Soffy

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 小馬 Síu Máh
Mandarin 小馬 / 小马 Xiǎo Mǎ
France Flag.png French Chry-chry
Poland Flag.png Polish Soffy
Brazil Flag.png Brazilian Portuguese Chrico

References

  1. Sophocles (Burning Shadows 123)
  2. Hala: "The island challenge Kukui spoke of... [...] It is the great adventure that children in the Alola region embark upon, along with their Pokémon, once they reach 11 years of age!" (Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon)
  3. Mallow: "I mean, we have to move on from being captains when we turn 20 anyway." (Pokémon Moon)
  4. Jeannie Tirado on Twitter
  5. Michiyo Murase on Twitter

Related articles

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.