Candela: The Valor Leader Chasing Pokémon's True Strength

She only approaches the player at level 5, once the lesson on Gyms is over. Candela is one of Professor Willow's three assistants in Pokémon GO, and the leader of Team Valor: red, under the emblem of Moltres. Her stance comes down to a conviction she states bluntly — Pokémon are more powerful than we are, and she wants to find out just how far that goes.

Contents

• Red, Moltres, and an entrance at level 5
• Pokémon are stronger than us — and warmer
• Training partner to every player
• A face drawn by Kozaki, then a trading card
• Candela at a glance
• Frequently Asked Questions

Red, Moltres, and an entrance at level 5

Pokémon GO doesn't introduce its team leaders the moment you install it. Candela only appears once you reach level 5, after Professor Willow has explained how Gyms work: the game waits until the player knows what the teams are for before asking them to join one.

She then introduces herself as the leader of Team Valor and sets out her two markers: the color red, and the fire bird Moltres as its symbol. Two signs that are then enough to identify her team at a glance, on a Gym as on a player's profile.

She doesn't hold this post alone. Spark and Blanche lead the other two teams, and all three report to the same researcher. The whole setup comes down to this triangle: three leaders, three teams, and a player invited to choose between them.

🔥 The fire bird that serves as Valor's emblem has its own section: check out the Legendary Pokémon.

Pokémon are stronger than us — and warmer

Her core stance comes down to two propositions she never separates: Pokémon are stronger than humans, but they are also warmer. The phrasing is less martial than you'd expect from a leader associated with red and strength.

This isn't just a statement of intent, it's a program. She conducts research aimed at enhancing Pokémon's natural power, with the goal of uncovering what their true strength is — the specific focus that sets Valor apart from the other two teams.

Her in-game title confirms it: she is listed as Professor Willow's assistant, not as a star Trainer. Like her two counterparts, she holds a research post as much as a leadership role. Our feature on what changes compared with the main series games explains the game's general mechanics.

Training partner to every player

On December 13, 2018, the game gave her a second role: any player can now practice battling against her. Her pre-battle line sets the tone — she was looking for a challenge, and she asks you not to hold back.

Her battle rules are deliberately easy to read. She never switches Pokémon mid-battle, just like the other two leaders, and her Pokémon's moves are picked at random from the ones available to them: the opponent stays consistent in form, unpredictable in the details.

The challenge got tougher on July 19, 2019, when she gained the ability to use her shields. Victories earned against her also count toward the Ace Trainer medal, which gives these battles a purpose beyond mere repetition.

A face drawn by Kozaki, then a trading card

The four figures who embody the game come from the same pencil: Yusuke Kozaki designed Candela, just as he designed Professor Willow, Blanche and Spark. Their family resemblance is no coincidence, then: it comes down to a single signature.

The character eventually stepped out of the app. Candela made her debut in the Trading Card Game with the Pokémon GO expansion, released in France on July 1, 2022 — the moment a figure born on a phone made the jump to printed cardboard.

Candela at a glance

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who is Candela in Pokémon GO?
  She's the leader of Team Valor and one of Professor Willow's three assistants, along with Spark and Blanche. She introduces herself to the player upon reaching level 5, after Gyms have been explained.
• What are Team Valor's color and symbol?
  Red for the color, and Moltres for the symbol. Candela sets out these two markers as soon as she introduces herself to the player.
• What is Candela looking for with her research?
  She works to enhance Pokémon's natural power, in order to discover what their true strength is. She believes Pokémon are stronger than humans, but also warmer.
• Can you battle Candela in Pokémon GO?
  Yes. Since December 13, 2018, every player can practice battling against her, and the wins count toward the Ace Trainer medal.
• How does Candela battle?
  Like the other team leaders, she never switches Pokémon mid-battle, and her Pokémon's moves are chosen at random from those available. Since July 19, 2019, she can use her shields.

In short

Candela comes down to a contrast: a leader associated with red and strength, who talks about warmth as much as power. Her team is recognized by a color and a fire bird, but her program is a research one — finding out how far a Pokémon's natural power can go. The game eventually made her everyone's training opponent, which is a fairly apt way to sum up the character.