One of the biggest obstacles a player will face in aPokemongame is a gym leader. These expert trainers specialize in a specific type ofPokemon, and they are a common occurrence there to test the player’s ability when they reach this part of the journey. Another common occurrence inPokemonis the remake or re-release of previous generations on newer consoles. That said, the developers cannot just copy and paste the same game or there would be no challenge to returning players.
That is why they choose to update the teams of certain gym leaders or include some of the newer features that weren’t around when that generation debuted. Either way, these changes can make taking on these gym leaders again in a new edition particularly challenging.
First Appearance: Pokemon Red & Blue
Pokemon Yellow
You’ve finally been granted your Pokemon trainer’s license, and now you’re on your way to becoming the world’s greatest Pokemon trainer! The shockingly-cute Pikachu fags along behind you as you search the enormous world for monsters to train and evolve. Face off against Blastoise’s torrential water gun. Stand strong when facing Pidgeot’s stormy Gust. Develop the ultimate Pokemon strategy to defeat the eight GYM leaders and become the greatest Pokemon Master of all time!• Battle a friend in the new Colosseum 2 for the Pika Cup, Petit Cup and Poke Cup titles (requires 2 Yellow versions and a Game Link cable - each sold separately).• Print out your Pokedex data with a Game Boy Printer and a Game Link cable (sold separately).• Trade Pokemon with your friends using a Game Link cable. You’ll need to trade with both the Red and Blue versions to catch all 150 Pokémon and complete your Pokedex!• Requires basic reading skills to fully enjoy the entertaining story.
Since Brock is the first gym leader that players come across in the first generation of Pokemon games, he isn’t seen as much of a threat. Anyone who chose Bulbasaur or Squirtle as their starter in Red or Blue could just walk through Brock without a second thought.
However, the success of the Pokemon anime led tothe release of Pokemon: Yellow, a version of Gen 1where players only had access to Pikachu as their starter. Having this electric type on hand wasn’t very helpful when faced with Brock’s rock and ground types, and the bugs players could encounter on the way weren’t much more useful. The only way around this initial brick wall was to capture a Mankey with a fighting move on Route 22. Since this route requires a detour to discover, many players would end up fainting to Brock in this version more times than was necessary.
Pokemon Heart Gold & Soul Silver
Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version return players to the scenic Johto region first introduced in the beloved original Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver games nearly a decade ago. The richly detailed adventure of Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver is now enhanced for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi systems with updated graphics and sound, as well as new touch-screen features and a host of surprises. Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version bring dozens of Pokémon characters back into the limelight for a new Pokémon generation - and longtime fans - to catch, train and battle.
Most players agree that Generation 2 offered the best post-game content in anyPokemongame so far. That is why fans were happy to see this content return in the remakesPokemon: Heart Gold/ Soul Silver.Revisiting the Kanto region and its gym leaders isn’t the hardest task, especially witha team of fully evolvedPokemon.Although, the Viridian gym is now under the control of former champion, Blue, and he has a mixed team that can give any player a headache if they are unprepared.
His team is all nearly level 60 this time around, and he has a counter for almost any type the player carries. What’s more, his Arcanine can wipe out almost anything with its super powerful Extreme Speed.
First Appearance: Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire
Pokemon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
xperience an epic journey through a world filled with Pokémon in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. Pokémon fans first enjoyed Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire when it launched in 2003 for the Game Boy Advance. A whole new generation of Pokémon fans will experience the dramatic story line that unfolds in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire.
Norman was often considered the first roadblock for players in Gen 3. His normal types were perfectly leveled to infuriate players witha teeter dance from Spinda and then a powerful Counter from Slaking.
It may not have seemed possible, but Norman gets a bit of a buff in the Gen 3 remakes for the 3DS. He only has threePokemonin this edition. However, both his Slaking and his Vigoroth now have the move to retaliate. This means that they will be instantly K.O.ing anything that finally manages to knock out anything on his team with a fighting-type move.
First Appearance: Pokemon Diamond & Pearl
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Experience the nostalgia of thePokémon DiamondandPokémon Pearlgames in an adventure reborn on Nintendo Switch™ systems. The original story has been faithfully reproduced, and these remakes include easy-to-understand, player-friendly conveniences of the modern Pokémon series, plus up-close-and-personal Pokémon battle scenes.
GhostPokemonoften pose a challenge to players. Although, it seems fairly mean to have to come up with a strategy to beat this team as part of the fifth gym. Especially when two of Fantina’sPokemonare dual types.
Fantina often leads with the bulky special attacker Drifblim. This balloon has some status-inflicting moves such as Strength Sap and Will-o-Wisp as well as the ability Aftermath. This means that a player’s team will either be severely damaged or nullified by the time they get the chance to take out the rest of their team. There are some solid counters to Fantina inBDSP,but most of these require a lot of time searching in specific parts of the underground.
ThePokemon: Let’s Go series is the second remake of generation 1. As such, most players know that they have two choices after exiting Mt Moon. They can head north and face the rival or go straight to the gym. Anyone who chooses the latter option inLet’s Go Eeveeis likely to face an uphill battle.
Misty has a level 18 Psyduck and level 19 Starmie. These are likely to be the highest-level opponents the player has faced as yet in the game. Also,without Pikachu as their starter,anyone playing with Eevee will find that their grass types go down quickly to moves like Confusion, Psywave, and Scald.
Elesa is the electric-type gym leader inPokemon: Black and White 2.As expected, her team is full of ways to paralyze or confound the player with a burn. However, her real reign of terror doesn’t begin until players enter the challenge mode.
Challenge mode is unlocked once playersdefeat the elite four in the main game. This version is the same only a lot more difficult. As such, Elesa’s team also gains the potential to confuse the player and use bug moves with Joltik.
The first time that players face Iono inPokemon: Scarlet and Violet, they have totake down her terastallized Mismagius. Unfortunately, thisPokemonhas no weaknesses, and her team doesn’t get any easier during the rematch after beating the elite four.
Her Wattrell is now a Kilowattrell with Tailwind, and she also has a very fast Electrode. Even if players manage to take these down with some quick ground moves, they still have to contend with the tricky Mismagius again. It may be a slog, but it will take everything gamers have to get rid of the ghost.
