The Pokemon series has a lot of trainers infamous among the community for their frightening power level, and none are more threatening than Sinnoh's Champion Cynthia. While she was first introduced in Gen 4 as the final boss of the Sinnoh Region, she makes an appearance in the Gen 5 games Pokemon Black and White and Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 as a bonus boss in Undella Town. However, the unexpected nature of this Pokemon Black and White battle can catch players off guard, sparking debate among fans whether to classify this encounter as a jump scare.
Jump scares are a common horror game trope, activating the player's fight-or-flight response with an unexpected jolt during a lull in the action. While this can often come off as a cheap scare tactic in horror games, jump scares are still commonly used to keep players on the edge of their seat. It's unlikely that a non-horror RPG like Pokemon would intend this encounter to be a jump scare, but there is room for debate given how unexpected Cynthia's appearance is and how difficult of an opponent she is to beat.
Cynthia's Infamous Difficulty Makes Many Players Fear Her
Players exploring the Unova Region in Pokemon Black and White or Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 will eventually make their way to eastern part of the map and come across the coastal haven of Undella Town. While this seaside village may seem unassuming upon arrival, players should be careful about which houses they enter while exploring. Upon entering one particular house, players will be greeted by Cynthia who will ask for their name before promptly challenging them to a battle right then and there.
This is a tough battle for unprepared players, as her team of monsters have levels in the mid to upper 70s in both Pokemon Black and White and their sequels. Cynthia's Pokemon team consists of Spiritomb, Eelektross, Milotic, Braviary, Lucario, and her ace Garchomp in Pokemon Black and White, swapping out Eelektross and Braviary for Togekiss and Glaceon in Pokemon Black 2 and White 2. While she can only be found there in the Spring in Black and White or Spring/Summer during Black 2 and White 2, players who unknowingly stumble upon this battle are in for quite the surprise.
It's due to both the surprising nature and difficulty of the battle that many consider it to be a jump scare. Players are typically rewarded for exploring new towns in Pokemon games, often receiving useful items for talking to residents in their houses. Players popping into a particular house in Undella Town expecting a nice NPC to give them some Poke Balls or a held item end up getting quite the fright the first time they realize they've happened upon one of the most difficult fights in the franchise. While the player can technically decline to battle, those who aren't familiar with Cynthia might end up agreeing to the match without realizing what they've just done, leaving them scarred with the memory of a crushing defeat.
The option to turn down Cynthia's challenge may make this moment's status as a jumpscare debatable, but it remains a shock to unexpectedly find the Sinnoh champion ready for battle. Players who know of Cynthia's power are more likely to get that immediate fight-or-flight response activated when they enter the house and realize they are locked into conversation with her and unable to move. Regardless of its status as a jump scare, the first time a player comes across this battle is sure to leave a lasting impression on them, which is likely the reason it's still discussed among the community today as one of the most frightening moments in Pokemon.
Pokemon Black and White are available on the Nintendo DS.