An organisation that works in Kanto’s shadows. Their modus operandi is to find people to experiment with, and create superpowered humans that can fight with the same efficiency as the Pokémon they share a world with. They’re also prone to kidnapping Pokémon to take samples of their genetics and see if they can be combined with those of humans. While they have a lot of regular thugs working for them, most of their top heads are anything but normal people.

Dr. Cormac Fannon/Mr. Cataclysm

Bio:

Team Vendetta’s leader. He used to be a scientist focused on studying bonds between humans and Pokémon, and the way they effected the latter’s powers. He’s credited for finding out that Masters’ Sync Moves are tied to human DNA, hence why some trainers have unique moves exclusive to them.

However, obsession with understanding that power led him to experiment on humans, especially those “abnormal” ones like psychics. This led to him being outcasted from the scientific community and to his work being criticised.

As revenge, Cormac founded an organisation that he’ll use as a personal vendetta against the world that persecuted him, and for that, he’ll need people who are everything but normal.

His biggest project is the Subjugator, an armour that allows him to channel all elemental types and use them as he pleases. It’s a way for him to acquire dominance of the same powers as all Pokémon, and therefore, it would make him work in-sync better with them.

Powers: As a consequence of experimenting with psychics, he has access to a psychic field that makes him immune to psychic interferences and protects him from most Pokémon moves. Has perfect photographic reflexes. His synchronization with his entire team is so good that he can use Sync Moves with everyone without a Sync Stone. With the Subjugator armour, he has access to every elemental type and can transfer its energy to his team so they can use every move regardless of their species’ respective limitations (eg. he can make Archaludon use Tachyon Cutter despite not having access to it).

Team: Tyranitar, Tentacruel, Sigilyph, Beartic, Annihilape, Archaludon

Inspiration: Hugo Strange (Batman)

Trivia:

He originally had silver hair, but it reminded me too much of Horizons antagonist Gibeon, so I changed it.

Outside of his work as Team Vendetta’s leader, he works as a school counsellor under the name Franco MacOnn (an anagram of his name), and as weird as it might sound, he’s very good at that job.

It can’t be seen well in the sprite, but his helmet’s face has a visual spiral effect, somewhat similar to Rorschach’s inkblot mask.

Yanman

Real Name: Phil Crowe

Bio:

A biologist who was interested in the “primal” that species like Yanma achieved when evolving. In a similar fashion to Cormac, Phil obsessed over “devolution”.

After finding out about an incident where a youngster mutated into a Muk-like monster, he infiltrated the school where that occurred, found the boy’s notes, and used them to achieve his new Yanmega form.

He works for Team Vendetta in a mutual support relationship, where he serves as Cormac’s trustworthy scientist while the latter offers him monetary and intellectual support with his research.

Powers: He has Yanmega physionomy, which grants him superhuman strength capable of breaking concrete and slashing trees with little effort, plus high-speed movement.

Team: Yanmega, Tangrowth, Mamoswine, Ursaluna

Inspiration: Man-Bat (Batman), Dark Beast (X-Men)

Trivia:

Learnt how to restore Ursaluna in modern times, but he won’t share the secrets to it.

Used to work as a school teacher, and his students had nothing but positive things to say about him.

Very classy, even when facing enemies.

Crystal

Bio:

An A.I. created by a group of scientists that wanted to research abstract planes, those beyond the terrestial one they lived in. She’d assist that group in a project that theoretically, would let them step into the astral plan through a portal.

Unfortunately, the portal machine had a stability problem and exploded, an event that killed everyone involved, except Crystal. She was now an “artificial soul”, capable of interacting with ghosts on the same plane.

She was rediscovered and adopted by Team Vendetta, which she now serves as they gave him a new purpose to exist.

Powers: Can phase through solid objects and travel to spiritual planes. Hacking expert. Knowledgeable on cyberspace travelling.

Team: Porygon2, Cursola, Spiritomb, Sawsbuck

Inspiration: The Vision

Trivia:

She could theoretically try to possess a living being like a ghost would, but doing so risks her personality being overwritten and erased from existence, so she’d rather refrain from trying that.

Likes to travel to cyberspace at times to spend her free time looking at trainers’ Pokémon boxes.

Her phasing powers have a wireframe effect to them, similar to what can be seen in old SNES-to-PS1 games.

Sometimes, she searches for the souls of the scientists that made her in the hopes of helping them make their way to the afterlife.

Illusionist

Real Name: Gaston Blanche

Bio:

A failed magician. He came from a poor family, which he tried to support alongside his sister working as a mage duet. However, his sister ended up surpassing him and got herself big contracts that allowed her family to gain economic stability, while he’d receive no credit and ended up being abandoned later.

Since then, he opted for a life of crime. Now, he works for Team Vendetta as a secret agent whose expertise lies in stealth missions.

Powers: None, he’s just good at deceiving people.

Team: Male Meowstic, Mismagius, Dusclops, Zoroark.

Inspiration: Mysterio (Spider-Man), Onomatopoeia (Green Arrow)

Trivia:

Has tried to understand actual arcane magic but never had the patience to learn it properly.

His sister, while successful, suffers from a gambling addiction, which he used to keep at bay.

Sai Volkoff

Bio:

Sai was born in a region north of Sinnoh, where the cold weather forces people to adapt or die.

His father was a mobster, and he discovered early on that Sai had an incredible strength, so he disciplined his own son to turn him into the perfect thug. Many years later, Sai would leave his father’s mob to become a full-time hitman.

He was hired by Team Vendetta to deal with a mission, but after being defeated by a hero, he joined the organization to get his revenge.

Powers: Has enough strength and durability to beat a Duraludon with his bare fists.

Team: Aggron, Crustle, Hippowdon

Inspiration: The Russian (Punisher)

Trivia:

Because he’s a hitman, Sai has offed people indiscriminately. He’s even gone as far as killing other people in the same business because someone else paid him to. He could legitimately betray Team Vendetta if paid enough, but no one has the cash to afford that service.

Sometimes, he steals magazines and other goodies from his victims.

Has the habit of sneaking Russian words and phrases while talking.

Killswitch

Real Name: Axle Punk

Bio:

A former musician turned into a living lightning bolt.

Tired of failing in his musical career, Axle, alongside his loyal Rotom, made one last attempt to reach stardom. Together, they powered up an amplifier through Rotom’s Charge move, and when Axle swung his guitar, the device released such a powerful shockwave that it somehow fused both human and Pokémon together, birthing Killswitch.

Powers: Can absorb and release electricity. Capable of producing static force that levitates objects. With the right objects, he’s capable of mimicking the moves of Rotom’s many forms.

Team: Rotom (fused to it)

Inspiration: Livewire (Superman), Electro (Spider-Man), Red Hot Chilli Pepper (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure), Count Zap (MegaMan Battle Network)

Trivia:

His powers have the drawback of stability. If Killswitch absorbs or releases too much energy, he risks death for both Axle and Rotom.

Of all the members of the team, Killswitch is the dumbest.

Likes to call his team “The Phenomenals”, due to them being a group of human freaks.

His singing as both Axle and Killswitch is dreadful.

Once again, all design credits go to the anonymous /tog/ artist who re-designed him. Their work is way too good to go to waste.

Earpierce

Real Name: Donatella “Donna” Boyle

Bio:

Donna was born as “the ugliest girl alive”, as not even the skin and hair colours resemble those of her parents, and let’s not talk about the ugly side of her face, which she conceals with a mask.

After being subjected to bullying and her parents’ rejection, Donna snapped in anger and revealed a unique gift: her screams were powerful enough to physically harm people. Afterwards, the rejection grew worse and with only her Pokémon friends by her side, Donna took the path of crime.

She enjoys turning her victims into ice statues, so in case of an encounter, it is actively recommended to avoid getting on her bad side.

Team: Froslass, Glalie, Flutter Mane

Inspiration: Silver Banshee (Superman), Curaré (Batman Beyond)

Trivia:

Has a really short temper. Any negative reaction can get her to act aggressively.

Despite her cursed power, she’s a good singer. Not that anyone would want to listen to her.

Has a soft spot for romance manga.

Sunburst

Real Name: Orphos Apolaki

Bio:

Used to be a humble cook who simply wanted to make people happy with his cooking, Orphos turned into a monster after a freak accident, where his wife Yuri didn’t properly pour Scovillain extracts into the dish, so it blew up on Orphos’ face, which left him hospitalized.

When he woke up, there was nothing left of his self, just a mindless beast. He doesn’t care about what others do; all it takes is minimal incitement to incur his wrath.

Powers: Produces vines from his wrists, which he can use as whips and as a means to drain life energy from others. Can breathe fire from his mouth. His touch has an inflammatory effect that causes skin to burn on contact. Creates energy bombs shaped like seeds.

Team: Scovillain

Inspiration: Mr. Freeze (Batman), Nemesis (Resident Evil)

Trivia:

Despite being mostly instinctive, Sunburst is capable of pulling off clever strategies should they allow him to attack or defend himself.

Can’t pronounce words or names. At most, he can say his wife’s name.

Other members have to constantly keep an eye on him, and he can get angry at any point and therefore, disobedient.

Emi Dazzle

Real Name: φΔ♫¶ (unpronounceable)/Emi Hirano (Earth Name)

Bio:

An alien from a race of humanoid-looking creatures whose only purpose is to spread happiness and eternal peace in the universe. Unlike the rest of her kin, Emi had developed tyrannical beliefs that nearly got her to take over her society, but she was stopped before things could get worse, then, her people wiped her memories, de-aged her to a baby, and sent her to Earth in the hopes she’d come to understand love and peace by witnessing bonds between humans and Pokémon.

Once she crashed on the planet, she was adopted and raised by the owner of an idol agency, who took advantage of her appearance to create his next big star. From there, Emi once again began re-developing her manipulative attitudes, and once she learnt how to hypnotise, she took over the agency and turned into a successful artist.

After some heroes found out the secret to Emi’s success and prevented her attempt to dominate all of Kanto, she was captured by Team Vendetta and now works for them as a means to get revenge on those who ruined her plans.

Powers: Techno-organic in nature. Her tail hits as hard as a Hitmonchan’s punch. She can hypnotise people into doing as she pleases.

Team: Beheeyem, Chimecho, Sylveon, Mawile

Inspiration: Xemnu (Hulk)

Trivia:

I admittedly had a creative crisis with her. I wanted her to have a pink attire, but considering how common it is in other series, I preferred to use a colour similar to Elgyem. That, however, made me realise how dominant blue is with this team, but I ended up accepting it, as no other good ideas came to mind.

You can’t see this detail due to it being a static sprite, but Emi’s eyes are like LCD screens, which can create basic shapes like hearts, an ability that helped make her popular as an idol.

Credit to BigPimp for his Dr. Octopus char for Mugen. He created the tentacles I used to make Emi’s tail.

Crimson Gargoyle

Real Name: Rosario de Medina

Bio:

Nobody knows much of his past, other than the fact that he was raised by a swarm of Noivern, until one day, a group of explorers found him, granted him his new name, and forced him to work as a circus freak, alongside two Pokémon, which became his friends.

After years of abuse, during a spectacle night in Kanto, Rosario got his chance at revenge. He managed to escape the circus and killed those who hurt him.

Since then, he has haunted nights to feed on others’ blood.

Powers: High-level acrobat. After draining blood from his victims, he can convert it to “ammo” for different Pokémon moves he mimics from Noivern; those range from Air Cutter, to Boomburst, to his personal favourite: Dragon Pulse.

Team: Noivern, Ariados

Inspiration: Metamorpher, aka Spider-Man and Batman (Revenge of Shinobi), Koko (Secrets of the Jungle)

Trivia:

The wings on the Gargoyle’s back aren’t real. They’re a means for him to manoeuvre across the air.

Just like an actual Noivern, he’s stronger during the nighttime and has a weakness for fruits, particularly peaches.