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A Sabrina Pokémon Guide is something you have had a vision of if you’re anything like her. To really know Sabrina, you need to know about the versions of her from the anime, the games, and the manga. The episode when Sabrina was introduced in Pokémon: Indigo League haunts me to this day. She’s the most complex gym leader in the Kanto region – and perhaps even the entire series.
If Lavender Town freaks you out as much as it does me, then Sabrina will do the same. Although she isn’t from Lavender Town, her vibe is similar. Let’s get to know this freaky Psychic.
Who is Sabrina in Pokémon?
- Hair Color – Black or Dark Green
- Eye Color – Pink or Blue
- Favorite Pokémon – Abra/Kadabra/Alakazam
- Favorite Type – Psychic
- Hometown – Saffron City
- Profession – Saffron City Gym Leader
Sabrina, known as “The Master of Psychic Pokémon,” is a young psychic – and gym leader – in Pokémon anime and Pokémon games. She is an intense gym leader who communicates with her Pokémon via telekinesis. Sabrina has always been special to me. I once had a Sabrina deck when I was into the Pokémon Trading Card Game, and it was one of my favorite decks. She notoriously hates battling yet is incredible at it.
In the anime, we see a lot of Sabrina’s backstory and personality. Unfortunately, this is lacking in the game, though she’s still a respectable gym leader in her own right. She’s my favorite gym leader, in fact.
Sabrina in the Anime
Sabrina is one freaky kid in the Pokémon anime. While I still want a replica of her doll/younger self, I can admit that she is the Annabelle of Pokémon. Sabrina is very memorable, in my opinion, but she only appears in two episodes of the main anime.
Abra and the Psychic Showdown – Episode 22
At the beginning of this episode, a young, mysterious girl leads Ash and the gang to Saffron City in an incredibly creepy fashion. She tells Ash that Sabrina will battle him, but if he loses, he and his friends must become her friends.
Sabrina turns out to be the motherly “owner” of this small doll-like girl. Ash agrees to the terms, sending Pikachu out against Abra. Abra, the doll, and Sabrina seem to communicate telepathically. Abra evolves during the battle and defeats Ash easily.
After the defeat, they are transported to a deserted town that turns out to be a dollhouse. They were shrunk by Sabrina and are now the girl’s dolls. They are saved by a psychic they met previously, who tells them to leave because Sabrina is dangerous.
Ash convinces the man to let him battle Sabrina, but the psychic tells Ash that he will need Ghost Pokémon as they are Sabrina’s only weakness. Ash and his friends head to Lavender Town to get Ghost Pokémon.
Haunter versus Kadabra – Episode 24
The episode between “Abra and the Psychic Showdown” and “Haunter Versus Kadabra” mentions Sabrina but only shows her in a quick flashback. By this episode, Ash has now acquired a Haunter to battle Sabrina. Sabrina agrees to a rematch, but when Ash tries to send out Haunter, the Pokémon disappears. None of Ash’s Pokémon will fight. They run away – infuriating Sabrina. She turns Misty and Brock into dolls again.
Before she can get to Ash, the mysterious man appears to teleport Ash out. The man then tells Ash that Sabrina wasn’t always mean. She was once a sweet girl, honing her powers.
However, when she became too strong, she turned against her parents and split into two girls – the small doll-like girl and the trainer. At this point, viewers know that this man is Sabrina’s father, but Ash thinks he is the family photographer.
Meanwhile, Misty and Brock find out that Sabrina’s mother has also been turned into a doll. As she is telling them Sabrina is still a good girl, Sabrina and Ash both appear. Ash challenges her to a battle for the third time. She accepts. When Haunter doesn’t show, Pikachu steps in, and he holds his own until Haunter finally makes an appearance. Sabrina says it’s not fair to use two Pokémon, but her dad says that Haunter is playing, not battling.
Although Ash doesn’t “defeat” Sabrina, she and Kadabra can’t stop laughing at Haunter’s tricks. Her father declares Ash the winner, granting him the badge. While Sabrina seems to be recovering from whatever had overtaken her, her parents are brought to her side, and Haunter decides to stay with her.
Sabrina in the Manga
I haven’t read the manga, but I do know that there are two versions of Sabrina in the manga. One is a villain who is a member of Team Rocket, and the other is a much sweeter and gentler version of the anime Sabrina.
The Electric Tale of Pikachu
Although she doesn’t play a huge part in The Electric Tale of Pikachu, she is seen as a kind and motherly character. Her past is much darker, though. As a child, Sabrina’s Pokémon were killed by a huge Haunter called the Black Fog.
The Haunter used Dream Eater to consume their souls. In this manga, Sabrina hears that Black Fog has appeared again at Pokémon Tower, so she goes to defeat it. However, the Haunter uses Dream Eater on her. Sabrina nearly dies, but Ash steps in to help. They defeat the Haunter, and Ash throws an Ultra Ball out. The Pokémon uses Selfdestruct to end its life rather than be captured.
Pokémon Adventures
The extent to which Sabrina appears in Pokémon Adventures is too great for a synopsis. However, the biggest difference is that Sabrina works for Team Rocket. She kidnaps Pokémon and trainers alike. Though she doesn’t seem quite as sinister and creepy as she does at the beginning of the anime – she’s a complete villain. That is until she teams up with Red, Blue, and Green to fight the Elite Four.
While in the games, the Elite Four are usually just strong Pokémon trainers, in Pokémon Adventures, they are primary antagonists. Some of them even tried to destroy humanity in a less-than-Thanos sort of way. After the Elite Four battle, Sabrina lightens up a bit and even lets Red know where he could get help for his frostbite. Much later on, she is seen as an actress who has retired from her atrocious ways.
Sabrina in Pokémon Games
In the games, Sabrina is just another gym leader. Her story in the anime is complex and terrifying. But in the games, she’s typically just an intense gym leader who uses Psychic Pokémon. Her appearance and her Pokémon change slightly between games, but that’s about it. Her backstory is hardly touched up, so she seems like a normal – though slightly mysterious – gym leader.
The exception is in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen when hints are dropped throughout the city. She even says, “I have had psychic powers since I was a child. It started when a spoon I carelessly tossed, bent.” However, it is evident that she is different in the games when you get a message from her that says, “The love you have towards your Pokémon… It was a power that was never bested by my psychic power.”
Sabrina’s Pokémon
Sabrina only has one Pokémon that consistently means something to her, and that is Abra and his evolutions. She also has Pokémon like Exeggutor, Snorlax, and Typhlosion in side games. However, these are the Pokémon she has in the core games.
Note: this only includes the Pokémon she uses as a gym leader in the games, not the other encounters nor Sabrina in the side games. It also doesn’t include the manga or the TCG deck Pokémon.
Abra-Kadabra-Alakazam
- All
Abra – and his evolutions – is the only Pokémon that is consistently Sabrina’s throughout all adaptions. Her telepathic bond with Kadabra is so strong that they seem to not only communicate thoughts but feelings as well.
That is how Haunter defeated Kadabra. He made Sabrina laugh, incapacitating Kadabra, who shared the feeling.
Mr. Mime
- Pokémon Red and Blue
- Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal
- Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen
- Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
- Pokémon Black 2 and White 2
- Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!
When I think of Mr. Mime, my mind pictures Ash’s mom’s Mr. Mime. But in over a dozen games, Mr. Mime also belongs to Sabrina. Since he is one of the first Psychic Pokémon, this makes sense. However, aside from Abra, Kadabra, and Alakazam, Mr. Mime is Sabrina’s second “favorite” Pokémon as it is the one that appears most often by her side. But how could we blame her? Who doesn’t love Mr. Mime?
Venomoth
- Pokémon Red and Blue
- Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen
Venomoth isn’t a common Pokémon for Sabrina to have, but it’s actually a core Pokémon in one of the mangas as well. It’s the only Pokémon that she uses at her gym that isn’t Psychic.
Espeon
- Gold, Silver, and Crystal
- Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
- Pokémon Black 2 and White 2
Espeon had to make an appearance as it was the most exciting Psychic release in Generation II. She uses it a few times in the series, but it still isn’t a consistent pick compared to others.
Slowbro-Slowking
- Pokémon Black 2 and White 2
- Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!
Slowbro and Slowking both appear as Sabrina’s Pokémon a couple of times. I love every appearance that these Pokémon make in the anime, so it’s good to see that you get to fight them in the games.
Jynx
- Pokémon Black 2 and White 2
- Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!
Jynx is a controversial Pokémon, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t deserve a little screen time. After all, in the anime, Santa had multiple Jynx. She may not be Sabrina’s favorite, but she’s still a Psychic superstar.
Hypno
- Pokémon Black 2 and White 2
Hypno is a fascinating Pokémon who specializes in hypnosis. He makes one appearance as Sabrina’s Pokémon in Black 2 and White 2. So it’s safe to say that he’s a filler Pokémon for her gym.
If Sabrina had Hypno in the anime, I think she’d have turned out better. Hypno’s power to grant sweet dreams may have reminded Sabrina of her childhood joy long ago. But alas, he is only in these two games.
Sabrina Pokemon: FAQs
Question: Is Sabrina from Pokémon Evil?
Answer: No. Although she is overtaken by a thirst for power as a child, she is seemingly cured whenever she reconnects with the child within her. This causes the two halves of Sabrina to merge again.
Question: What is Sabrina’s Weakness in Pokémon?
Answer: In the games, Sabrina’s weakness is Bug, Ghost, and Dark-type Pokemon. But in the anime, it is Ghost. However, she is defeated by Haunter’s antics, which causes her to laugh.
Question: How Do You Get to Sabrina?
Answer: Sabrina’s gym puzzle is different for each game. If you struggle, try making a map of where each portal takes you. That’s what I did as a child, and it worked out perfectly.
Question: Will Sabrina Be in Future Pokémon Games?
Answer: Sabrina was inPokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! But before that, she wasn’t in any game since Black 2 and White 2. With this information, it’s hard to say what the future holds for Sabrina.
A World Without Sabrina From Pokémon
Sabrina from Pokémon may have freaked you out as a child. But in the games, she’s just a Psychic gym leader, so there’s nothing to fear there. In the anime, she turns over a new leaf when reintroduced to joy as an adult. The anime and the game world wouldn’t change much without Sabrina. However, the real world for Pokémon fans just might. Each and every gym leader is special, but Sabrina will always be my favorite due to her complexity.
A Pokémon world without Sabrina would mean that the only magic in the world is found in Pokémon. Sabrina breaks boundaries by connecting with Pokémon through her own form of magic. That is special to me.
