Despite performance issues players have experienced, Pokémon have been a valuable addition the franchise. Players have been treated to an open-world experience as they are presented with three main paths to go down: infiltrating Team Star bases, battling Titan Pokémon, and taking on the classic Gym challenge.
RELATED: 10 Most Generic Pokémon Gym Leaders
The open-world nature of Scarlet & Violet invites players to approach the game as they see fit, meaning they can battle each Gym Leader in a number of different orders. That said, there is no level scaling, meaning logic and caution would suggest players pay attention to the general order. Every Gym Leader is unique, whether it's their gimmick, personality or design that stands out, but some are much harder than others.
8 Katy's Bug Types Pose Little Challenge In The Early Stages
Cortondo Gym: Level 14 Nymble, Level 14 Tarountula, Level 15 Teddiursa
As far as levels go, players are encouraged to view Cortondo as their first Gym stop. The Gym Leader Katy uses low-level Bug types, Nymble and Tarountula, but offer a glimpse of the Terastal phenomenon and how Gym Leaders utilize it within their tactics.
Katy uses a Teddiursa with the Bug Tera type. While this should be simple to sweep past for those who chose Fuecoco as their starter, giving Teddiursa time to find its feet in battle can be a huge mistake. Fury Cutter gains extra power with every successive hit, and Teddiursa can turn into a sweeper if not dealt with quickly.
7 Brassius' Grass Types Are Largely Underwhelming Beyond Tera Sudowoodo
Artazon Gym: Level 16 Petilil, Level 16 Smoliv, Level 17 Sudowoodo
Artazon Gym is just as viable a starter Gym as Cortondo is, as Brassius and his Grass types are well below level 20. Brassius poses little threat with his Petilil or Smoliv. Grass types have too many weaknesses to begin with, but his Terastallizing Sudowoodo can be a stumbling block.
RELATED:
A secondary typing of Grass has always made sense for Sudowoodo, but never been introduced or made possible until Gen IX's introduction of Tera forms. As a Rock type, Sudowoodo can counter with Rock Throw, dealing super-effective damage on four of Grass' five weaknesses: Flying, Bug, Fire and Ice. Its ability of Sturdy helps it get at least one hit off, which has the potential to be disastrous.
6 Kofu's Water Types Can Be Easily Swept Aside
Cascarrafa Gym: Level 29 Veluza, Level 29 Wugtrio, Level 30 Crabominable
Cascarrafa Gym's Water-type specialist Kofu shouldn't pose too much of a problem, so along as the player is battling him with a team around level 30. Wugtrio is a convergent species of Dugtrio that thrives in Paldea, but its new typing of Water leaves it vulnerable to Grass and Electric-type moves. That said, it possesses Mud-Slap to hit back at those Electric types, and its ability Gooey will slow down opponents that hit it with physical attacks.
Kofu's Veluza can hit hard with Slash and Aqua Cutter, while having Pluck ready to stop any Berry strategies or Grass types. Kofu's ace is a Water Tera Crabominable that is formidable in stature, but can be taken out quickly with Electric or Grass-type moves.
5 The Exceptional Everyman Larry Brings An Exciting Normal-Type Experience
Medali Gym: Level 35 Komala, Level 35 Dudunsparce, Level 36 Staraptor
Medali Gym Leader Larry may specialize in Normal types, but his team is anything but normal. The Drowsing Pokémon Komala gets things started, ready to punish opponents with Yawn, Slam, and Sucker Punch, but fast Fighting types should be able to press through will little problem. Dunsparce's Paldean evolution of Dudunsparce is up next, capable of paralyzing opponents and then hitting them with a critical hit.
RELATED:
Fighting types would normally be able to sweep a Normal-type Gym, but the Normal Tera Staraptor brings a deadly Aerial Ace, and Facade. Larry's battle and the general setting of the Gym are among the most exciting and entertaining in Scarlet & Violet, but the Medali Gym doesn't rank high in terms of difficulty, especially if players take Ghost and Fighting types with them.
4 Ryme's Ghost Types Are No Match For Certain Dark Types
Montenevera Gym: Level 41 Banette, Level 41 Mimkyu, Level 41 Houndstone, Level 42 Toxtricity
The Montenevera Gym promotes Double Battles, the only one in Paldea to do so. The Gym Leader Ryme specializes in Ghost types. While this can be a spooky task in most Pokémon games, a team of capable Dark types should be able to sweep with minimal fuss.
Taking a Mabosstiff and a Krookodile is the perfect no-nonsense duo to sweep Ryme's team, especially as the latter will have the Moxie ability to boost its Attack with each Pokémon defeated, as well as resisting the Electric-type move of Ryme's Ace, Toxtricity. The Ghost Tera Toxtricity comes out after Banette, Mimikyu and Houndstone. With the right planning, none of these will pose too much of a threat – other than Houndstone with its Fairy-type move, Play Rough.
3 Grusha's Ice Types Are High Level But Can Still Be Crushed With The Right Application
Glaseado Gym: Level 47 Frosmoth, Level 47 Beartic, Level 47 Cetitan, Level 48 Altaria
In terms of levels, Grusha is the hardest of all the Paldean Gym Leaders in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. That said, his Ice types can be taken out with sensible application of Ice-type counters. Fire-type Pokémon will breeze past Frosmoth, but both Cetitan and Beartic have Water-type moves to respond in kind.
Grusha's ace is a Terastallizing Altaria with Ice Beam, Dragon Pulse, Hurricane and Moonblast for a solid coverage for most potential opponents. However, it doesn't have a super-effective move for a pure Fire-type Pokémon, which means it can be easily defeated by one. Grusha can be tough, but the Ice type suffers from simply having too many weaknesses.
2 Iono's Streamer Charisma Makes Way For A Tricky Battling Strategy With Capable Electric Types
Levincia Gym: Level 23 Wattrel, Level 23 Bellibolt, Level 23 Luxio, Level 24 Mismagius
Levincia's Gym Leader Iono is the most popular streamer of the Paldea region, which plays into her gimmick. Iono specializes in Electric-type Pokémon, but has a team prepared for their well-known weakness to Ground types. The Flying-type Wattrel is immune to Ground moves and can be used against Grass-type Pokémon that resist Electric-type moves, while Bellibolt has Water Gun at its disposal.
RELATED: 10 Anime Characters Who Would Be Great Electric-Type Pokémon Gym Leaders
Luxio brings Intimidate to cut its opponent's Attack, and an Electric Tera Mismagius closes out the battle. Mismagius can be frustrating with its Levitate ability making it immune to Ground-type moves, as well as its use of Hex and Confuse Ray. Taking a fast Pokémon that can out-speed Mismagius and that isn't weak to Ghost or Electric moves should be enough. Having them hold a Persim Berry to counter the first Confuse Ray will certainly help.
1 Tulip Assembles A Tough Team Of Psychic Types
Alfornada Gym: Level 44 Farigiraf, Level 44 Gardevoir, Level 44 Espathra, Level 45 Florges
Tulip and her Psychic types are among the toughest battles of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, not just in the Gym challenge. Tulip has a team that can resist Psychic's weaknesses: Bug, Dark, and Ghost. Farigiraf starts things off and its Psychic-Normal typing means that Ghost moves have no effect. Espathra can then take out Ghost types out with Shadow Ball, while Gardevoir's Fairy coverage makes it dangerous to Dark-type Pokémon. This also applies to Tulip's ace Florges, but Ghost types should be safe to switch in and finish the job.
NEXT:
