Pokémon's many Gym Leaders have been renowned for different things through the various mediums Pokémon presents itself. For example, Brock and Misty are remembered so well because of the cartoon. Others we remember because they had such great Pokémon pair-ups, like Sabrina and Alakazam or Lt. Surge and Raichu. The latter of those two is wꦆho we're here to celebrate today!

Lt. Surge first appeared on our Game Boy screens in Pokémon Red and Blue. Going head to head against Surge and coming out with the Thunder Badge and increased Speed felt great, almost halfway to beating the whole of Kanto's Gym Leaders! Before you know it you're on your way to the next destination without 🎶ever looking ⛄back. But maybe you should have? That arrogant and obnoxious guy you just beat who kept referring to you as "baby" until you beat him, he's seen some things.

Some of these will completely change your view on the "lightning lieutenant" and prepare you for Pokémon Let's Go. We'll be looking at Lt. Surge from all mediums (Lore, Game, Anime, TCG, Manga) to find some of the craziest things Lt. Surge has hidden in his closet. And hopefully, we can find some answers of our own? It's time to get your ground types ready, Lt. Surge has challenged you to a battle! Let's take a look at some of the most surprising💛 facts on our electrified Lieutenant!

22 France 𒁃And Germany Know Him As Major Bob?

Speaking of names and changes. In the French and German versions of the games and anime, Lt. Surge is actually called Major Bob. It's crazy to think that that's the name other people associate him with. Some people even use his real name, from all of my digging up, I can conclude that Lt. Surge's real name is actuall💜y Matiღs. I didn't think much of this until I said Matis Surge as a sentence, now, it feels so right. I think Matis Surge is a better name than Lt. Surge or Major Bob.

21 Electric Pokémon Saved Him During The Pokémon War 💙

Deep in Pokémon's lore and history, there was a Pokémon war. Though the details of the war are sketchy at best, it's known that Lt. Surge played a role in the conflict. When you ask Lt. Surge his favorite Pokémon he replies: "I tell you, kid, electric Pokémon saved me during the war!" When you ask Gentleman Tucker from the Vermillion Gym about Surge he answers: "Lt. Surge was always famous for his cautious nature in the Army." In the original Blue & Red versions, he says before battle "You won't live long in combat! That's for sure!... ...electric Pokémon saved me during the war! They zapped my enemies into paralysis!" This confirms the Pokémon war was a thing, right from the start! 

20 He Will Trade You A FꦦRENCH Pikachu Fo♔r Some Reason

Lt. Surge is a generous guy in the games. In Heart Gold & Soul Silver, after the player catches Zapdos at the Power Plant and gets his Pokégear number, they'll find him at the Magnet Train Station in Saffron City. Here he'll offer to trade the player a Pikachu for a Pikachu. But wait, it's not complete madness, Surge trades the Player a Female, French Pikachu, nicknamed Volty. She'll be at the same level as the Pikachu you traded, she'll kn✨ow the moves appropriate for that level and she'll be holding a Yellowꩵ Shard.

19 Surge Was A CO In the Pokémon A🧔rmy

According to Gentleman Tucker in the Vermillion Gym, "When I was in the Army, Lt. Surge was my strict CO. He was a hard taskmaster." This confirms that Lt. Surge was a large part in the war, as 🐠a CO he would have been in charge of hundreds of troops. It also confirms most of the adults were in the war, with Tucker been one of them. I know some oܫf the films go into details about the war, but I'd love a game about it. Maybe with Surge as your strict CO? 

18 ✅ He Has Powerful Pokémon Weapons 🌞

He wasn't just a one-time villain in the Pokémon Adventures manga. He actually goes on to capture Zapdos in the , following Giovanni's instruction. Red comes across Lt. Surge in Silph Co. where he uses some fancy - yet questionably cruel - Poképowered Equipment.

He uses an Electrode Bazooka and a Magneton-powered shield.

All of this been powered by the Zapdos he caught. On top of this, cautious-natured Surge had a special suit🏅 on that would stop him been electrocuted by Zapdos's power. Talk about super-charged! Them poor Electrode...

17 ꩵ He Was An♕ Epic Pilot Before He Was A Gym Leader

Lt. Surge wasn't just in the Pokémon War, he was also rumored to be a pilot!

The idea Pokémon can be used to power machines is somewhat cool but also kind of cruel.

This rumor helps paint a more vivid image of Surge's capabilities in the war. Although the original games state he's from the West, it's now widely accepted that the Pokémon Nation is not set in our world. 

16 ཧ He Created A Creepy Hybrid Legendary Pokémon

Surge's control over Zapdos in the Pokémon Adventures manga escalates into the creation of a style Pokémon. Thu-Fi-Zer was the result of a failed Team Rocket experiment - you know, the guys behind Mewtwo. This was an experiment to merge the three :, , and . What's interesting is that Red actually played a role in its creation, been tricked into using his gym badge's energy through an amplifier to create Thu-Fi-Zer. The near-perfect Pokémon, i꧟t could use moves like Blizzard, Fi♚re Spin, and Thunder.

15 🔜 The Tallest Character In The Anime...

Lt. Surge is actually the tallest character in the original Anime (most likely the whole Anime). The size comparison between Ash and Surge is crazy. Lt. Surge must've eaten his greens when he was younger! This was probably also to reinforce and install emphasis on the fact he was a soldier in the war.  Surge's height is said to rival a Tyranitar! It should be mentioned that his height in the Anime show could be completely out of whack with the newest versions of Lt. Surge. Most notably among newer versions is the upcoming LT Surge from  Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu! / Let's Go Eevee!

14 ཧ He Uses A Bunch Of Grass Pokémon In Stadium For Some Reas🦩on

In the primary games, Surge's parties contain strictly electric type Pokémon. However, in the Pokémon Stadium games, Surge is more open-minded to mixing it up. In round 2 of Pokémon Stadium, Surge has a and in his party. Round 1 of Pokémon Stadium II features a in Surge's party that knows no thunder moves. Round 2 of Pokémon Stadium II is without a doubt THE most diverse party Surge has ever had. A female consisting of grass and poison moves; looks like someone evolved from the last round, as is in Surge's party; an excellent water/ground-based counter to even his party's type balance comes in the form of a female ; finally, a female appears in Surge's party. This also happens to Surge's parties in Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga.

13 He Didn't Ge🐭t His Shades Well Gen IV!

Despite the common image players have of Lt. Surge now, a lot of them might be surprised to know he didn't get his shades until HeartGold & SoulSilver. This one is also aimed at younger Pokémon fans who've not played any of the older games. It's crazy how much a character can change, he also grew between HeartGold & SoulSilver and Black & White 2. Although, that's probably down to the improvements in the game's en꧅gine as time's passed.