Tamer

A Tamer (テイマー) is the generic term for people partnered to Digimon in the Digimon media franchise, contrasting with DigiDestined, a term for people who are chosen for a special mission.

Tamers can be created any number of ways. Some Tamers are chosen by DigiGnomes due to a strong wish, as do the Tamers in Digimon Tamers, while others simply connect with a Digimon and form a strong bond, as with Marcus Damon in Digimon Data Squad. Still others defeat Digimon and befriend them that way, as the Guard Tamers in Digimon World 2 or the Tamers in Digimon World Dawn and Dusk, or simply raise them as a game, as in Digimon Adventure V-Tamer 01 and Digimon Next.

Functionally, many Tamers are similar to their DigiDestined counterparts, with Digivices to call their own and, in most cases, a bond with their partner. The difference is that some Tamers can have multiple Digimon, while the same can rarely be said of DigiDestined.

Digimon Adventure / Digimon Adventure 02
The term "Tamer" actually originates in the Adventure universe, where it is the title for Ryo Akiyama in the Tamers series of games, beginning with Digimon Adventure: Anode/Cathode Tamer. Because Ryo doesn't have his own partner, he uses the partners of others, include Agumon and Veemon. Because he isn't a DigiDestined he does not have a Digivice of his own but borrows others; this allows him to purify opposing Digimon and bring them to his side.

Digimon Tamers
Tamers in this series are chosen essentially by the will of DigiGnomes, who either transform Digimon cards into Blue Cards which turn card-reading devices into D-Powers or simply outright gifting Tamers with D-Powers. There is initially some conflict over the roles of Tamers; Takato Matsuki, for example, enjoys simply raising his partner, while Rika Nonaka actively seeks battle to be the strongest.

The humans in this series are Tamers. Despite this, in the English dub of Digimon Tamers: Battle of Adventurers, the first Tamers movie, Omnimon mistakenly calls the Tamers DigiDestined.

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Primary Tamers

 * Takato Matsuki and Guilmon
 * Henry Wong and Terriermon
 * Rika Nonaka and Renamon
 * Ryo Akiyama and Cyberdramon


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Secondary Tamers

 * Jeri Katou and Leomon
 * Suzie Wong and Lopmon
 * Kazu Shioda and Guardromon
 * Kenta Kitagawa and MarineAngemon
 * Ai, Mako, and Impmon
 * }

Digimon Data Squad
The main human characters of this series possess Digivices, and are partnered with Digimon that came to the Real World as eggs, unlike other Digimon. Tamers are generally under the command of DATS, who seek to return rampaging Digimon back to the Digital World and have the populace as a whole remain unaware of Digimon. Some Tamers are actually gifted with partners send by the reigning god King Drasil to watch and observe humans.

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Main Tamers

 * Marcus Damon and Agumon
 * Thomas H. Norstein and Gaomon
 * Yoshino "Yoshi" Fujieda and Lalamon
 * Keenan Crier and Falcomon


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Secondary Tamers

 * Commander-General Homer Yushima and Kamemon
 * Commander Richard Sampson and Kudamon
 * Miki Kurosaki and PawnChessmon (Black)
 * Megumi Shirokawa and PawnChessmon (White)
 * Spencer Damon and BanchoLeomon
 * Kristy Damon and Biyomon
 * }

Digimon Adventure V-Tamer 01
The main human characters of this series possess Digimon that they initially raised with the virtual pet but gained Digivices after entering the Digital World. As these Digimon were raised with virtual pets, some Tamers have more than one partner and, similarly, more than one Digivice, allowing a Tamer to DNA digivolve two or more of his own Digimon.

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Main Tamers

 * Taichi Yagami and Zeromaru, a Veedramon


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Enemy Tamers

 * Sigma and Piedmon
 * Mari Goutokuji and Rosemon
 * Hideto Fujimoto and Omnimon, who is a DNA Digivolution between Warg, a WarGreymon, and Melga, a MetalGarurumon
 * Neo Saiba, Arkadimon, SkullSatamon (who is a DNA Digivolution between a Devimon and Ogremon), Megadramon (who is a DNA Digivolution between a Kokatorimon and Kuwagamon), and MetalGreymon
 * }

Digimon Chronicle
The main human characters of this series possess a Digimon Pendulum, which they use to empower their Digimon. The series is a set of mini-manga accompanying the Pendulum toy, and instead of a full story, they only depict isolated events which leave much unexplained.

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Main Tamers

 * Kouta and Dorumon
 * Yuuji and Ryudamon


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Enemy Tamers

 * Shinji and Omnimon X
 * }

Digimon D-Cyber
Instead of being chosen by benevolent beings, the children in D-Cyber are lured to the Digital World so that the villain can steal the "Dragon Spirit" of Hikaru Ryuuji's Dorumon, though they fight back in the end.

Main Tamers

 * Hikaru Ryuuji and DORUmon
 * Masuken Kana and Ryuudamon
 * Teru Raku and Agumon X

Digimon Next
The children in Digimon Next are partnered with Digimon they raised with the Digimon Mini. However, after registering on the Battle Terminal, their Digimon are revealed to be of the rare "Illegal" type, and they are drawn into the Digital World to prevent both worlds from being erased.

Main Tamers

 * Tsurugi Tatsuno and Agumon
 * Yuu Inui and Gaomon
 * Ami Kitajima and Pichimon
 * Shou Kahara and Peckmon