I've seen rivals in recent mainline Pokemon games that are either overall friendly or have the development from a jerk rival to a friend which kind of gets a bit boring and predictable in every single game.
Honestly, I would like to see a development of the usual friendly rival trope in which the friendly rival turns out to be the traitor and the actual villain of the game who's goal is to get to the ultimate goal of either conquering the Pokemon League or get the Legendary Pokemon by using the player as a pawn to their schemes. And that the reason why they battle the player is that they could study and use it to their advantage against the player once the player found out the truth of their rival. They would usually shower the player with compliments but it's usually either too good or something's off.
Or a Pokemon champion who is actually corrupt and power-hungry and is the true leader of the evil team organization. Maybe, having the Pokemon League be the main antagonist of the game.
What Pokemon rival concepts you would like to see in future games?
Honestly, I would like to see a development of the usual friendly rival trope in which the friendly rival turns out to be the traitor and the actual villain of the game who's goal is to get to the ultimate goal of either conquering the Pokemon League or get the Legendary Pokemon by using the player as a pawn to their schemes. And that the reason why they battle the player is that they could study and use it to their advantage against the player once the player found out the truth of their rival. They would usually shower the player with compliments but it's usually either too good or something's off.
Or a Pokemon champion who is actually corrupt and power-hungry and is the true leader of the evil team organization. Maybe, having the Pokemon League be the main antagonist of the game.
What Pokemon rival concepts you would like to see in future games?