- "Hey, kid! What do you think you're doing here? You won't live long in combat! Not with your puny power! I tell you, kid, I'll spam double team until your 6 Digletts can't hit magnitude any more"
- — Lt. Surge, Pokémon Red, Blue, LeafGreen and FireRed
Lt. Surge serves as the Gym Leader at Vermilion City's Gym. He holds the Thunder Badge for the trainers that can defeat him, and specializes in double team Pokémon.
Appearance[]
Lt. Surge resembles an adult with spiked blond hair and light skin. In fire red and leaf green (he eats steroids)
In Gold and Silver, Lt. Surge now wears a sleeveless green shirt and camouflage pants. He keeps his black boots, and also now wears a dog tag.
Lt. Surge's build is that of a large, muscular man, having tall stature and a very muscular body.(steroids)
Personality[]
Lt. Surge is serious and always flared up. He appreciates challengers who are persistent.
Etymology[]
The name Lt. Surge originates from "lieutenant" (shortened to form Lt.) and "surge" (referring to surging electricity). It may also be a play on "sarge", a shortened informal term for the title "sergeant".
His Japanese name, Machisu, may originate from "machine" or "march" (as he was military personnel). It may also involve "Clematis", a genus of flowers, following the plant-based naming of most Gym Leaders.
Biography[]
Games[]
Lt. Surge first appeared in the original Pokémon games, as the Vermilion City Gym Leader. He would later be in Pokémon Gold and Silver in the same position. Again, he appeared in the Red and Blue remakes, Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, with an updated appearance.
Other appearances[]
Sprites[]
Sprite.png "Lt. Surge(RB)Sprite.png (584 bytes)"){kind=icon}
Sprite.png "Lt. Surge(Y)Sprite.png (584 bytes)"){kind=icon}
Sprite.png "Lt. Surge(GS)Sprite.png (507 bytes)"){kind=icon}
Fame Checker[]
-Vermilion City - sign
- What does this person do?
"Vermilion City Pokémon Gym
Leader: Lt. Surge
The Lightning American!"
Vermilion Gym - Lt. Surge
- Favorite kind of Pokémon?
"I tell you, kid, electric Pokémon saved me during the war!"
Vermilion Gym - Gentleman Tucker
- What is this person like?
"When I was in the Army, Lt. Surge was my strict CO.
He was a hard taskmaster."
Vermilion Gym - Gentleman Tucker
- What is this person like?
"Lt. Surge was always famous for his cautious nature in the Army."
Vermilion Gym - Sailor Dwayne
- What is this person like?
"Lt. Surge installed the traps in the Gym himself.
He set up double locks everywhere."
Vermilion City - Pokémon Journal
- There's a rumor...
"Lt. Surge is rumored to have been a pilot while home in America.
He used the electricity generated by Pokémon to power his plane."
Message from Lt. Surge
From: Lt. Surge
To: [Player]
"Hey kid!
You electrified me in our battle!
I didn’t know that there were gutsy trainers like you.
It made me change my mind about you!"
Pokémon[]
Red, Green, and Blue[]
 Voltorb 
|
 Pikachu
|
 Raichu
| |||||
| Lv. 21 | - | Lv. 18 | ♂ | Lv. 24 | ♂
| ||
| Ability: Unknown | Ability: Unknown | Ability: Unknown
| |||||
| Item: None | Item: None | Item: None
| |||||
| - | Thundershock | Thunderbolt | |||||
| - | Thunder Wave | Thundershock | |||||
| - | Growl | Thunder Wave | |||||
| - | Quick Attack | Growl | |||||
Yellow[]
 Raichu
| |||||||
| Lv. 28 | ♂
| ||||||
| Ability: Unknown
| |||||||
| Item: None
| |||||||
| - | |||||||
| - | |||||||
| - | |||||||
| - | |||||||
Gold, Silver, and Crystal[]
 Electabuzz
|
 Electrode
|
Electrode
|
 Magneton 
|
 Raichu
| |||||
| Lv. 44 | ♂ | Lv. 40 | - | Lv. 40 | - | Lv. 40 | - | Lv. 46 | ♂ |
| Ability: Unknown | Ability: Unknown | Ability: Unknown | Ability: Unknown | Ability: Unknown | |||||
| Item: None | Item: None | Item: None | Item: None | Item: None | |||||
| - | Screech | Explosion | Zap Cannon | ThunderPunch | |||||
| - | Double Team | Swift | Lock-On | Thunder | |||||
| - | Swift | Double Team | Double Team | Light Screen | |||||
| - | Explosion | Screech | Swift | Quick Attack | |||||
FireRed and LeafGreen[]
 Voltorb
|
 Pikachu
|
 Raichu
| |||||
| Lv. 21 | - | Lv. 18 | ♂ | Lv. 24 | ♂
| ||
| Ability: Soundproof | Ability: Static | Ability: Static
| |||||
| Item: None | Item: None | Item: None
| |||||
| - | Shock Wave | Shock Wave | |||||
| - | Thunder Wave | Quick Attack | |||||
| - | Double Team | Thunder Wave | |||||
| - | Quick Attack | Double Team | |||||
HeartGold and SoulSilver[]
 Electrode
|
Electrode
|
 Electabuzz
|
 Magneton
|
 Raichu
| |||||
| Lv. 47 | - | Lv. 47 | - | Lv. 53 | ♂ | Lv. 47 | - | Lv. 51 | ♂ |
| Ability: Static | Ability: Soundproof | Ability: Static | Ability: Sturdy | Ability: Static | |||||
| Item: None | Item: None | Item: Sitrus Berry | Item: None | Item: None | |||||
| - | Charge Beam | Shock Wave | Shock Wave | Shock Wave | |||||
| - | Double Team | Low Kick | Double Team | Double Team | |||||
| - | Screech | Light Screen | Supersonic | Thunder Wave | |||||
| - | Self-Destruct | Quick Attack | Mirror Shot | Quick Attack | |||||
Raichu
|
 Manectric
|
 Magnezone
|
Electrode
|
 Pachirisu
|
 Electivire
| ||||||
| Lv. 60 | ♂ | Lv. 52 | ♂ | Lv. 52 | - | Lv. 52 | - | Lv. 58 | ♂ | Lv. 56 | ♂ |
| Ability: Static | Ability: Static | Ability: Magnet Pull | Ability: Static | Ability: Pickup | Ability: Motor Drive | ||||||
| Item: None | Item: Pinap Berry | Item: None | Item: None | Item: None | Item: Sitrus Berry | ||||||
| - | Natural Gift | Thunderbolt | Thunder Wave | Quick Attack | Thunderbolt | ||||||
| - | Discharge | Magnet Rise | Double Team | Sweet Kiss | Ice Punch | ||||||
| - | Thunder Wave | Double Team | Thunderbolt | Super Fang | Cross Chop | ||||||
| - | Overheat | Mirror Shot | Explosion | Discharge | Earthquake | ||||||
Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee![]
 Voltorb
|
 Magnemite
|
 Raichu
| |||||
| Lv. 25 | - | Lv. 25 | - | Lv. 26 | -
| ||
| Item: None | Item: None | Item: None
| |||||
| - | Thunderbolt | Thunderbolt | |||||
| - | Sonic Boom | Quick Attack | |||||
| - | — | Double Kick | |||||
| - | — | — | |||||
 Electrode
|
 Jolteon
|
 Electabuzz
|
 Magneton
|
Raichu
| |||||
| Lv. 56 | - | Lv. 56 | - | Lv. 56 | - | Lv. 56 | - | Lv. 57 | - |
| Item: None | Item: None | Item: None | Item: None | Item: None | |||||
| - | Thunder | Thunder Punch | Thunder | Thunder Punch | |||||
| - | Shadow Ball | Ice Punch | Flash Cannon | Iron Tail | |||||
| - | Reflect | Fire Punch | Tri Attack | Brick Break | |||||
| - | Quick Attack | Brick Break | Hyper Beam | Quick Attack | |||||
Stadium[]
Raichu
|
Voltorb
|
 Electrode
|
Pikachu
|
 Magnemite
|
 Magneton
| ||||||
| Lv. 50 | - | Lv. 50 | - | Lv. 50 | - | Lv. 50 | - | Lv. 50 | - | Lv. 50 | - |
| - | Thunder | Sonic Boom | Seismic Toss | Supersonic | Thunderbolt | ||||||
| - | Explosion | Self-Destruct | Agility | Bide | Take Down | ||||||
| - | Sonic Boom | Swift | Double Team | Thunderbolt | Reflect | ||||||
| - | Thunder Wave | Thunder | Surf | Thunder | Hyper Beam | ||||||
Raichu
|
 Tangela 
|
 Poliwrath  
|
 Lickitung 
|
 Electabuzz
|
Electrode
| ||||||
| Lv. 50 | - | Lv. 50 | - | Lv. 50 | - | Lv. 50 | - | Lv. 50 | - | Lv. 50 | - |
| - | Mega Drain | Amnesia | Seismic Toss | Toxic | Thunder | ||||||
| - | Sleep Powder | Ice Beam | Earthquake | ThunderPunch | Sonic Boom | ||||||
| - | Bind | Psychic | Thunderbolt | Seismic Toss | Swift | ||||||
| - | Body Slam | Submission | Double-Edge | Psychic | Explosion | ||||||
Stadium 2[]
Trivia[]
- There are several references to Lt. Surge being in the military in the video games (possibly the American army or Air Force). It is said he was Gentleman Tucker's commanding officer in the army during an unspecified war, where his life was saved by Electric-type Pokémon. There is also a rumor that he was a pilot, while in America, who used Electric-type Pokémon to power his plane.
- Lt. Surge's Pokémon are slightly higher leveled in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver than in the Generation II games.
- Lt. Surge seems to be proof that the Pokémon series started out in a setting similar to the real world. Seeing as the Kanto region in Pokémon Red and Blue is named and modeled after an actual Japanese prefecture, he too is from a real world location: the United States of America.
- Three regions based on United States, Orre, Unova and Alola, would later debut after Lt. Surge's debut.
- Someone in the lobby of the Pokémon World Tournament mentions he might be from Unova.
- Prior to Gen. VII, he was also referred to as the "Lightning American." This was likely changed to avoid raising questions about the Pokémon world's relationship to the real world.
- Three regions based on United States, Orre, Unova and Alola, would later debut after Lt. Surge's debut.
- Lt. Surge shares many similarities to the Street Fighter character Guile due to the fact that they are both muscular blonde Americans (or American equivalents) who were part of the military. Also Lt. Surge's attire in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver is incredibly similar in appearance to Guile's main attire in the series.
- In the anime and in Pokémon Yellow his Raichu can use Mega Kick, which Raichu cannot learn normally.
- Lt. Surge is the only Gym Leader to have only one Pokémon (in Pokémon Yellow).
- In the manga, he is one of the 3 Team Rocket execute gym leaders (the other two are Koga and Sabrina).
Gallery[]
| Kanto characters | |
|---|---|
| Locations · Pokédex | |
| Gym Leaders | |
| Others | |
| See also | |
| Characters | |
| Gym Leaders | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kanto | |||||||
| Johto | |||||||
| Hoenn | |||||||
| Sinnoh | |||||||
| Unova |
| ||||||
| Kalos | |||||||
| Galar | |||||||
| Paldea | |||||||
| Orange Islands | |||||||
| See also | |||||||