Gym Leaders
Overview
A Gym Leader (Japanese: ジムリーダー Gym Leader) is the highest-ranking member and owner of an official Pokémon Gym. They serve as the primary challenge that a Pokémon Trainer must overcome to progress in the Pokémon video game series. Gym Leaders specialize in a particular type of Pokémon and are considered the strongest Trainers within their respective cities or towns.
Role
Gym Leaders play a crucial role in the Pokémon universe. They test the skills of Trainers, awarding those who defeat them with a Gym Badge, a token of their defeat. These badges are not merely symbols of victory; they also enable Trainers to control Pokémon caught or received up to a certain level and are a requirement for entry into the Pokémon League.
Characteristics
Gym Leaders are often characterized by their mastery of a specific type of Pokémon, such as Water, Fire, Electric, etc. This specialization is reflected in the Pokémon they use in battles and often in their Gym's design and puzzles. However, there are exceptions where Gym Leaders do not adhere strictly to a single type.
List of Gym Leaders
In the main series of Pokémon games, there are eight Gym Leaders that a Trainer must defeat in each region to qualify for the Pokémon League. Below is a list of Gym Leaders from each region:
Kanto
The Kanto region has eight Gym Leaders: Brock, Misty, Lt. Surge, Erika, Koga, Sabrina, Blaine, and Giovanni. Each specializes in Rock, Water, Electric, Grass, Poison, Psychic, Fire, and Ground-type Pokémon, respectively.
Johto
In Johto, the Gym Leaders are Falkner, Bugsy, Whitney, Morty, Chuck, Jasmine, Pryce, and Clair. They specialize in Flying, Bug, Normal, Ghost, Fighting, Steel, Ice, and Dragon-type Pokémon, respectively.
Hoenn
The Hoenn region's Gym Leaders are Roxanne, Brawly, Wattson, Flannery, Norman, Winona, Tate and Liza, and Wallace. They specialize in Rock, Fighting, Electric, Fire, Normal, Flying, Psychic, and Water-type Pokémon, respectively.
Sinnoh
In Sinnoh, the Gym Leaders are Roark, Gardenia, Maylene, Crasher Wake, Fantina, Byron, Candice, and Volkner. They specialize in Rock, Grass, Fighting, Water, Ghost, Steel, Ice, and Electric-type Pokémon, respectively.
Unova
The Unova region's Gym Leaders vary between games. In Pokémon Black and White, the Gym Leaders are Cilan, Chili, Cress, Lenora, Burgh, Elesa, Clay, Skyla, Brycen, and Drayden. In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, Cheren and Roxie replace Lenora and Brycen.
Kalos
In Kalos, the Gym Leaders are Viola, Grant, Korrina, Ramos, Clemont, Valerie, Olympia, and Wulfric. They specialize in Bug, Rock, Fighting, Grass, Electric, Fairy, Psychic, and Ice-type Pokémon, respectively.
Alola
The Alola region does not have traditional Gym Leaders. Instead, it has Captains and Kahunas who serve similar roles.
Galar
In Galar, the Gym Leaders are Milo, Nessa, Kabu, Bea, Allister, Opal, Gordie, Melony, Piers, and Raihan. They specialize in Grass, Water, Fire, Fighting, Ghost, Fairy, Rock, Ice, Dark, and Dragon-type Pokémon, respectively.