Pokémon Scarlet & Violet have made for some of the best games in the history of the franchise, especially in terms of story. The story is full of compelling boss battles and rivals to help push the player's character.
In a diverse, open-world story with three major quest lines, there's a much wider cast to love than in other games. Some of the best Pokémon trainers in the series can be found in Scarlet & Violet. Whether the player is going on adventures to heal Arven's Mabosstiff or trying to become the Pokémon champion so that they can have one final battle with Nemona, there's plenty to love about the characters in Scarlet & Violet.
Geeta
Geeta is the Chairwoman of the Paldean Pokémon League. However, she also holds the title of "Top Champion." Her ace Pokémon, strangely, is a supportive Pokémon in Glimmora that most competitive players would rather lead with than end with.
Geeta's title as "top champion" is called into question, as she's surpassed by the protagonist, Clavell, Penny, Arven, Nemona, and AI Turo/Sada by the end of the game. Her team is also arguably the weakest of the game's final six major battles, something that no other champion in the game's history can say. She certainly has an interesting character, but her title of "Top Champion" is her major calling card, and it hardly feels like she's earned it.
Grusha
While unlike most games in the franchise, Pokémon Scarlet & Violet have a optional gym count, Grusha is generally intended to be the final Gym Leader that players face on their journey.
Not only is Grusha one of the strongest Gym Leaders, but he's also one of the best Gym Leaders as a character. Grusha's past as a retired professional snowboarder and his unrivaled confidence make him one of the most memorable characters. It's also wholesome how the player character reminds Grusha of his past self, and the ice puns don't hurt to make the character even more endearing than his design and personality already make him.
Rika
Rika is the first of the Elite Four. She's a Ground-type specialist who uses a variety of fun and interesting Pokémon, including a fun new evolution for Wooper's regional form: Clodsire.
While Rika is considered the weakest Elite Four member in the game, she's certainly a memorable character throughout the story. Rika's preliminary test to enter the Elite Four challenge added to her uniqueness as an Elite Four member, along with her role in supporting the player through their gym challenge. She helped to kick off the Elite Four gauntlet with a fun and interesting challenge and was a memorable mentor along the way.
Larry
Larry may not be the most exciting gym leader in the game, relying on an ace Staraptor in his Normal-type gym. However, Larry's true appeal is found when he's surprisingly shown to be the Flying-type Elite Four.
The strongest of Larry's original team, Starraptor, makes a fun appearance in his Flying team and creates a fun level of continuity between the two battles. The idea of a regular working class, salaryman Pokémon trainer gives Larry a surprisingly unique feel in a franchise full of over-the-top characters with really wacky personalities.
AI Turo/Sada
Professor Sada and Turo's presence looms over the game's story, but the player never actually sees either professor. Instead, the final boss that they face is an AI version of the professor that was created using the power of the Tera Crystals.
Turo and Sada's ambitions and memories, combined with the intelligence of a super AI, would be a recipe for disaster in most games. However, in a surprising trope subversion, the AI of Turo and Sada had surprisingly good hearts. Despite their programming forcing them to battle the player, the AIs ultimately wanted peace in the Paldea region.
Hassel
Hassel is the art teacher at the Uva Academy in Pokémon Violet and the Naranja Academy in Pokémon Scarlet. Aside from his job as a teacher, Hassel is also the final challenge in the Pokémon League Elite Four.
Hassel's signature Pokémon, Baxcalibur, is one of the strongest dual-type Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. However, aside from offering a solid challenge, Hassel is a lovable character in his own right. He's passionate about his students, enough to be reduced to tears over the player character finally becoming champion.
Clavell
Director Clavell is the main guide from the player throughout most of the story, taking a bigger role than even most professors in the franchise. His largest part was in Operation Starfall, where he pretended to be a student for the majority of the route.
Clavell didn't exactly have the most overpowered Pokémon, but his battle was enjoyable and had some of the best strategies of any trainer. On top of being a fantastic boss battle, Clavell proved that he truly loves his students and tries to use his best judgment possible in every situation. He did proper research before dishing out punishment to Team Star and helped everything turn out well as a result.
Penny
The main driving force of the Team Star quest line, Penny is an Eevee lover who was bullied in the earlier days of Uva Academy. Eventually, she founded Team Star under the nickname Cassiopeia.
Fighting the bullying at her school is an admirable trait for a character, but what makes Penny so likable is her selfless leadership. She was willing to be expelled herself if it meant saving her friends at Team Star. Her team is one that fans have been long hoping for as well. Instead of using any of the new powerful Pokémon, Penny uses a full team of her favorite Eveelutions.
Nemona
Champion Nemona is both the player's main rival and the true final boss of the Victory Road arc. Watching her team grow throughout the series gives Scarlet & Violet the same feeling as Blue's progression in the first generation.
Nemona is one of the greatest rivals in the history of the franchise. While she follows the recent trend of making rivals happier and more wholesome like Hop instead of angsty like Silver or arrogant like Blue, she has one important trait: competitiveness. Nemona is always itching for a battle and has the talent to back it up, being one of the toughest battles in the game.
Arven
Arven completes the main quartet of the game, serving as the main focal point of the Titan quest line. He's also the estranged son of Professor Turo or Sada, depending on whether the player is playing Pokémon Violet or Pokémon Scarlet.
Arven initially comes across as suspicious until the player realizes that his goal is just to restore his companion Mabosstiff to full health. Along the journey, he helps the player take down powerful Titan Pokémon until their eventual battle. Arven shows that he's a fantastic trainer who will do anything for his partner and a fantastic friend who will do anything to help the player. That includes, of course, confronting his neglectful parent.