The Elite Four

The history of Unova is filled with kings and heroes. Within the region’s Pokémon League are four “warriors” who vigilantly guard it, protecting the temple that would normally house the Champion. As Alder wanders the region on his “voyage,” the Elite Four stand guard in his place. Alder’s pupil, Marshal, the Fighting-type specialist of the Elite Four, explains as much after defeating him during your first visit: “Representing the Pokémon League in the absence of the Champion has been my duty as Alder’s student.” This explains why the Elite Four are nowhere to be seen in the region before defeating N and Ghetsis—because Alder is out and about, the Elite Four remain in their castle turrets in case anyone appears to challenge them.

This is a downright brilliant design choice. Black and White are already filled to the brim with important characters. Just as the Striaton Gym Leaders sit out the main story, the Elite Four doesn’t need to be involved, otherwise there would be an utterly overwhelming number of characters to spread across the main campaign. It’s perfectly acceptable for certain characters in a video game to serve more gameplay or mechanical roles rather than narrative ones. As such, Black and White’s Elite Four serve the gameplay role as the final gauntlet leading up to the end of the game, while Alder takes an active, narrative role.

The Elite Four are similarly absent as the League is besieged. Marshal explains before you depart that Alder has ordered them to remain “neutral,” clarifying why they all allowed N to pass as he defeated them. Parts of Team Plasma, however, have other plans. Whether commanded by Ghetsis or of their own volition, the sages stand against you in order to stop you from facing N just as you enter his castle.

Alder is honorable, wishing to face N as is customary—despite knowing he’s almost guaranteed to lose—and the Elite Four are loyal and honest, upholding his wish. The primary leaders of Team Plasma, however, do not respect N’s wishes to battle you. “It would ruin Ghetsis’s perfect plan! Our lord N will be disappointed, but the six of us shall defeat you here!” they announce, clearly favoring Ghetsis over N in that moment.

The Gym Leaders arrive, holding their own against Team Plasma. Although the Elite Four has been a series staple since Pokémon’s inception, the Gym Leaders as a concept are far more iconic. Each non-Alolan League features an Elite Four full of people you’ve never seen up until that point and do not matter in the slightest—and even then, one of Alola’s members still falls into that trope. The anime rarely features the Elite Four, either. It honestly makes sense that Sword and Shield did away with the set of characters altogether. But until we get to that point in the series, Black and White make the most of the Elite Four precisely by not using them much at all.

Through their absence, the Elite Four provide breathing room, lessening the number of major characters the player must keep up with. They also provide Alder with additional support—not through forcefully stopping N’s progression, but through respecting Alder’s wishes. Although the League’s Champion had been out on a voyage, it was undoubtedly in good hands while he was away, guarded by four honorable warriors, strong enough to earn them their Japanese title of “Four Heavenly Kings.”