Kabu

Kabu in the anime: Pokémon Horizons

Kabu was the first Gym Leader from before Generation IX to appear in Pokémon Horizons: The Series. He shows up at the end of The Bittersweet Truth eating at the Motostoke Battle Café, and in the next episode Liko and Roy find him at Motostoke Stadium to ask about the Black Rayquaza. He puts them through a training session that uses basic attacks to light and douse the flames of a group of Litwick, then pairs with his apprentice Wakaba for a Tag Battle in which his Centiskorch overwhelms Sprigatito and Fuecoco. He returns in Fiery Galarian Moltres, investigating a collapse at the Galar Mine.

Kabu on cards: from Darkness Ablaze to the Lost Origin Trainer Gallery

His card run opens in Darkness Ablaze (August 14, 2020) with an Uncommon Supporter (#163) illustrated by take, who also designed the character, and an Ultra Rare full art version (#186) illustrated by Hitoshi Ariga. Champion's Path reprinted the Uncommon that September (#55, by take) and added a Secret Rare (#77, also credited to Ariga). Two years later, on September 9, 2022, the Lost Origin Trainer Gallery closed his run with an Ultra Rare (#TG26) illustrated by Hideki Ishikawa.

All five cards are the same Supporter in different rarities, so his run is small and easy to map: two Uncommons by take, two higher rarity versions credited to Ariga, and one Trainer Gallery card by Ishikawa. The same Trainer Gallery also printed Centiskorch V and Centiskorch VMAX (TG14 and TG15), which Bulbapedia files as cards of Kabu's Pokémon, even though neither carries his name.

Cards to know

• Kabu (Darkness Ablaze #163)

  His first English card, an Uncommon Supporter illustrated by take.

• Kabu (Darkness Ablaze #186)

  The Ultra Rare full art version of the same Supporter, illustrated by Hitoshi Ariga.

• Kabu (Champion's Path #55)

  The Uncommon reprint from Champion's Path, again illustrated by take.

• Kabu (Champion's Path #77)

  A Secret Rare from the same set, credited to Hitoshi Ariga.

• Kabu (Lost Origin Trainer Gallery #TG26)

  An Ultra Rare closing his card run in 2022, illustrated by Hideki Ishikawa.