Art by Hazel0217

Hammer to Fall

Victor Henry MacLeod
Galarian Champion, Archaeologist, Blacksmith

Art by misumi3ja

The Bone of my Sword

The son of a blacksmith working overseas, Victor's always been interested in how things were made, and how to make them better. He has a deep fascination for equipment made for Pokémon, and the possibilities they provide. When it came time to become a trainer alongside his childhood friend Hop, he couldn't be more ready for the challenge.Victor completed the first leg of the Gym Challenge without issue, before taking a detour to the Isle of Armor to research their titular prize. After forming a friendship(?) with Klara and obtaining Kubfu, he returned to the mainland to continue his journey. After acquiring seven badges and returning to Hammerlocke City, they went back to the island to challenge the Tower of Darkness and learn the Single Strike style.With the Armor mastered, Victor completed the Gym Challenge, subdued Eternatus during the Darkest Day, and became Champion of Galar. He was reunited with Zacian during a scuffle with two haughty princes, and became the Hero of Many Battles' partner and trainer. While work was underway on the Battle Tower, Victor explored the Crown Tundra's many myths and legends, encountering the titan Regieleki, the Legendary Birds, and King Calyrex with his steed Glastrier, among others.Since his initial adventures ended, Victor has defended his title as Champion time and time again, and spends the off-season continuing his research and honing his skills as a craftsman like his father.

Art by mikripkm

Trivia

--Trivia and headcanons about Victor--• Victor takes several traits from his manga counterpart, Henry Sword. Most notably their familial history in blacksmithing, the League Number of 808, and having Henry as a middle name.
• MacLeod comes from Connor MacLeod. There will be many other Highlander jokes.
• Victor is currently 23, and has been Champion for eight years. He's gotten taller than Leon and a bit more muscular, but otherwise looks the same.
• Trained in HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) since he was a child by his father. He's most proficient with a sword and shield, and lances.
• Mustard gave him a Turtle School style training regiment during his stay on the Isle of Armor, and after becoming Champion. Swimming in the Crown Tundra, hand delivering milk to everyone on the Isle of Armor, and so on. It helped him to build muscle, discipline, and a stronger bond with all his Pokémon.
• His prize money from tournaments is mostly donated to smaller communities in Galar, primarily Spikemuth. He's hoping to help Spikemuth expand north to the coast and grow into a flourishing community.

Victor's Pokémon

• Pember is named for Arthur Pember, first president of the Football Association in England.
• Du Lac is named for Sir Lancelot Du Lac, the White Knight of King Arthur's Round Table.
• Vicious is named for Sid Vicious, second bassist of the Sex Pistols.
• Charlot is named for The Tramp, one of Charlie Chaplin's most famous characters.
• Ingvar is named for the Ingvar Runestones left behind by Vikings, which Runerigus is based on.
• Mark is named for the protagonist of Fire Emblem Heroes of Light and Shadow, whom he shares a color scheme with. I have this Shiny Bisharp caught in the same place. It's projection.

Pokémon

Victor has collected a wide array of Pokémon, completing the Galar Pokédex save for Zamazenta and other version exclusive legendaries. He keeps a core team of Pokémon on hand, but has many who can substitute when needed.

Pember
Cinderace, the Striker Pokémon

The starter Pokémon gifted to Victor by Leon on behalf of Professor Magnolia.
A constant companion and inseparable friend, Pember is Victor's first and closest Pokémon. He's remained at the trainer's side from the beginning of his journey.Pember's preferred moves are Pyro Ball, Double Edge, High Jump Kick, and Zen Headbutt. He holds an Expert Belt, has a Jolly Nature, and the ability Libero (changed with an Ability Patch).Pember gained the Gigantamax factor through a bowl of Max Soup on the Isle of Armor.

Charlot
Mr. Rime, the Comedian Pokémon

Captured as a Mime Jr. in the Rolling Fields.
Charlot stood out as very showy the moment Victor saw her as a little Mime Jr. in the Wild Area. She's always loved to put on a performance, getting more and more confident as she evolved.Charlot's preferred moves are Psychic, Ice Beam, Rapid Spin, and Metronome. She has a Sassy Nature, and the ability Screen Cleaner.

Du Lac
Sirfetch'd, the Wild Duck Pokémon

Captured on Route 5 as a Farfetch'd.
The pompous and proud Du Lac joined the team as a rowdy Farfetch'd, before slowly gaining his noble aura and sense of chivalry.Du Lac's preferred moves are Meteor Assault, Leaf Blade, Night Slash, and Steel Wing. He holds a Leek, has an Adamant Nature, and the ability Steadfast.

Vicious
Toxtricity, the Punk Pokémon

Received on Route 5 as a Toxel Egg.
Once a timid and shaky Toxel named Sid, Vicious became a nightmare upon evolution. Boisterous and loud, Vicious is the cause of most conflicts Victor finds himself embroiled in. Despite the trouble, he can't bring himself to resent the brat.Vicious' preferred moves are Overdrive, Boomburst, Snarl, and Sludge Bomb. He holds either a Choice Specs or a Throat Spray, has a Rash Nature, and the ability Punk Rock.

Ingvar
Runerigus, the Grudge Pokémon

Captured as a Yamask on Route 6.
Ingvar evolved after a tough battle in the Wild Area when Victor was training to return to the Isle of Armor with Urshifu.Ingvar's preferred moves are Earthquake, Poltergeist, Body Press, and Rock Blast. He holds an Assault Vest, has a Brave Nature, and the ability Wandering Spirit.

Mark
Bisharp, the Sword Blade Pokémon☆

Caught on Route 8 as a Pawniard.
When returning to Hammerlocke from Spikemuth, Victor came across an oddly colored Pawniard. He captured the strange Pokémon, who turned out to fill a gap in his team rather well after some training.Mark's preferred moves are Iron Head, Night Slash, Psycho Cut, and Shadow Claw. He holds a Scope Lens, has a Naughty Nature, and the ability Defiant.

Common

Non-Legendary species that Victor has in his collection.

Coalossal, the Coal Pokémon

Captured in Galar Mine as a Carkoal
Has the Gigantamax Factor.

Flapple, the Apple Wing Pokémon

Captured in the Dappled Grove in a Dynamax Den.
Evolved from Applin thanks to a Tart Apple given to Victor by a boy in Hammerlocke.
Has the Gigantamax Factor.

Venusaur, the Seed Pokémon

Gifted by Honey at the Master Dojo.
After completing the first of Mustard's Trials, Honey gave Victor the choice between taking a Bulbasaur or Squirtle. Evolved into Ivysaur while training on the Isle of Armor, then into Venusaur when he returned to challenge the Tower of Darkness.
Has the Gigantamax Factor.

Slowbro, the Hermit Crab Pokémon

Captured at Wedgehurst Station.
Evolved using a Galarica Cuff while Victor was training on the Isle of Armor.

Porygon, the Virtual Pokémon

Gifted by Hyde at the Master Dojo.
Has the ability Analytic.
Likely created by Hyde while experimenting with the Cram-o-matic.

Charmander, the Lizard Pokémon

Gifted by Leon in Postwick Town.
Left in a Pokéball in Leon's room with a note entrusting the Charmander to Victor.
Has the Gigantamax Factor, presumably related to Leon's Charizard.

Slowpoke, the Dopey Pokémon

Traded for while in the Kanto Region.

Legendaries

Victor has encountered and befriended or captured a surprising number of Legendary Pokémon. He does not employ them in mundane battles, but still trains each of them and tests their strength against opponents with equal footing.

Urshifu, the Wushu Pokémon
(Strong Style)

Gifted by Mustard at the Master Dojo.
After completing Mustard's Trials, he granted Victor the Dojo's sacred relic, their Armor: Kubfu. They had to bond before Kubfu's potential could be reached, and thus resumed Victor's Gym Challenge for some time. After defeating Piers, they returned to Isle of Armor to tackle the Tower of Darkness, where Kubfu evolved after learning the Single Strike Style.He gained the Gigantamax Factor after drinking Max Soup infused with Honey from a Dynamax Vespiquen.

Eternatus, the Gigantic Pokémon

Victor and Hop called on Zacian and Zamazenta for assistance in combatting Eternatus and the Darkest Day when the Galar League championship match was interrupted. Victor captured Eternatus with their help, putting a stop to the Darkest Day.

Zacian, the Warrior Pokémon

After becoming Champion, another crisis occurred courtesy of Sordward and Shielberd trying to drive the Warrior Pokémon wild and besmirch their legacy as the heroes of Galar. Victor managed to defuse the situation, and once again reaffirmed his connection with Zacian through a battle to capture them.

Type:Null, the Synthetic Pokémon

Gifted by a League Staffer at the Battle Tower.
Created by Macro Cosmos using blueprints stolen from the Aether Foundation, likely to combat Eternatus. Like the others in it's series, it could not be controlled.

Fwoofy
Cosmog, the Nebula Pokémon☆

Gifted by an elderly lady in Freezington.
After Victor quelled Glastrier's rampage, and elderly lady in the town entrusted Fwoofy to him.

Glastrier, the Wild Horse Pokémon
Calyrex, the High King Pokémon

Captured in the Crown Shrine.
After fixing the statue of the harvest king in Freezington, Calyrex regained a fraction of it's power. The King appeared before Victor and received his assistance in reuniting with his mount Glastrier, then challenged Victor to battle in the Crown Shrine. He's technically been captured by Victor, but still roams the Tundra free. They share a psychic link that allows Victor to call on his aide at any time.

Regieleki, the Electron Pokémon

Captured in the Split-Decision Ruins.
After solving the puzzles of the three titans in the Crown Tundra, Victor gained access to the Split-Decision Ruins where he discovered Regieleki.

Articuno, the Cruel Pokémon

Captured in the Crown Tundre.
After witnessing the three birds battle beneath the Dyna Tree, Victor traced their footsteps around the Tundra to track down where they had fled to. He found each Legendary in one of Galar's open expanses, and captured all three of them.

Zapdos, the Strong Legs Pokémon

Captured in the Galar Wild Area.
After witnessing the three birds battle beneath the Dyna Tree, Victor traced their footsteps around the Tundra to track down where they had fled to. He found each Legendary in one of Galar's open expanses, and captured all three of them.

Moltres, the Malevolent Pokémon

Captured on the Isle of Armor.
After witnessing the three birds battle beneath the Dyna Tree, Victor traced their footsteps around the Tundra to track down where they had fled to. He found each Legendary in one of Galar's open expanses, and captured all three of them.

Encountered

There are other Legendary Pokemon that Victor has encountered, but did not capture. They are all Legendaries that have been well documented in other regions, and thus he didn't feel a need to study them closer.

The Legendary Titans

Solving the mysteries of the Tundra required Victor to capture the trio of titans that held the keys to the Split-Decision Ruin. After bringing all the titans together, they found and defeated Regigas. Victor released the titans back to nature, but kept Regieleki for closer study, due to it's lack of documentation.

The Swords of Justice

Victor tracked down the lower trio of the Swords of Justice in the Crown Tundra, and they called upon Keldeo to battle him. After becoming acquainted with each and giving them a chance to fraternize with Calyrex, the guardians went on their way to protect the land.