Gym Leader

A **Gym Leader** (ジムリーダー, *Jimu Rīdā*) is the highest ranking member of a Pokémon Gym. The main job of a Gym Leader is to test Trainers and their Pokémon so that they are strong and resourceful enough to compete against the Pokémon Elite or the Pokémon League. If a Trainer defeats a Gym Leader in battle, then the Trainer earns that Gym's Badge.

A Gym Leader's job is not just to test upcoming Trainers. They must oversee how their respective Gym is run and to maintain it. Great care must be taken to make sure that their Gym reflects the best environment for the Pokémon type and playing style of choice, usually an environment that suits that type of Pokémon used there (like pools in a Water-type Gym or flowers and plants in a Grass-type Gym). According to Morty, teaching young people how to battle with Pokémon can also be the job of a Gym Leader.

It has not exactly been made clear how Gym Leaders attain their position, but it appears that it varies for each Gym. Some of them founded their Gym and are self-appointed; others, such as Whitney, are chosen by the other members of the region's Pokémon League. A few appear to be passed on through families: Janine, Falkner, and Flannery all take over their respective Gyms from a close family member. However, Gyms do not necessarily belong to a particular family; Roark and his father Byron are both Gym Leaders at the same time, in different Gyms. Leaders can also choose to vacate their position; examples include Koga, Giovanni, and Wallace.

A notable occurrence is that one does not necessarily have to defeat the Gym Leader to obtain a Badge. Badges are given out on a case by case basis based on whether the Gym Leader feels that the Trainer has earned it. Examples include Ash winning his early Gym Badges, not by defeating the Gym Leader, but with other selfless acts such as rescuing Erika's Pokémon from a burning Gym.

There is also an entire league exclusive where the Gym Leaders all have special requirements in order to gain their Gym badges, the Orange League.

Since there seem to be many more Gyms, as evidenced by many badges that do not belong to Gyms shown, it follows that there would be many more Gym Leaders. Although similar in nature, Frontier Brains are not considered Gym Leaders.

## Pokémon used

Almost all Leaders rely on a single type of Pokémon. For example, Erika uses only Grass-type Pokémon in official Gym battles. Some Leaders, however, stray from this mold, albeit rarely. However, many Gym Leaders have one or two Pokémon that stray from their type theme.

Geography and climate can often be connected to the type of Pokémon the Gym Leader of that area uses. Pastoria Gym Leader, Crasher Wake, uses Water-type Pokémon, a direct allusion to the flooded marsh that surrounds the area and the constant downpour that plagues Pastoria City. Another example of this is the Cinnabar Gym Leader, Blaine, who uses Fire-type Pokémon and lives in a volcanic area.

The character archetype can also reflect the type of Pokémon a Leader uses. For example, Roark and Byron are both miners, who use the related Rock-type and Steel-type Pokémon. Tate and Liza could be based on the archetype of twins who can communicate telepathically, and thus train Psychic-type Pokémon and being twins, they also battle opposing trainers in double battles, being the only leaders to do so.

Gym Leaders seem to be forbidden from switching their Pokémon. Those that Ash encountered before Blaine did switch; however, since Ash's match against Blaine in Riddle Me This, only Lenora has switched out a Pokémon.

## Games

### Kanto Gym Leaders

* Brock | Pewter City Gym | Boulder Badge | Rock
* Misty | Cerulean City Gym | Cascade Badge | Water
* Lt. Surge | Vermilion City | Thunder Badge | Electric
* Erika | Celadon City | Rainbow Badge | Grass
* Koga / Janine | Fuchsia City | Soul Badge | Poison
* Sabrina | Saffron City | Marsh Badge | Psychic
* Blaine | Cinnabar Island | Volcano Badge | Fire
* Giovanni / Blue | Viridian City | Earth Badge | Ground / ???

### Johto Gym Leaders

* Falkner | Violet City | Zephyr Badge | Flying
* Bugsy | Azalea City | Hive Badge | Bug
* Whitney | Goldenrod City | Plain Badge | Normal
* Morty | Ecruteak City | Fog Badge | Ghost
* Chuck | Cianwood City | Storm Badge | Fighting
* Jasmine | Olivine City | Mineral Badge | Steel
* Pryce | Mahogany Town | Glacier Badge | Ice
* Clair | Blackthorn City | Rising Badge | Dragon

### Hoenn Gym Leaders

* Roxanne | Rustboro City | Stone Badge | Rock
* Brawly | Dewford Town | Knuckle Badge | Fighting
* Wattson | Mauville City | Dynamo Badge | Electric
* Flannery | Lavaridge Town | Heat Badge | Fire
* Norman | Petalburg City | Balance Badge | Normal
* Winona | Fortree City | Feather Badge | Flying
* Tate and Liza | Mossdeep City | Mind Badge | Psychic
* Wallace / Juan | Sootopolis City | Rain Badge | Water

### Sinnoh Gym Leaders

* Roark | Oreburgh City | Coal Badge | Rock
* Gardenia | Eterna City | Forest Badge | Grass
* Maylene | Veilstone City | Cobble Badge | Fighting
* Crasher Wake | Pastoria City | Fen Badge | Water
* Fantina | Hearthome City | Relic Badge | Ghost
* Byron | Canalave City | Mine Badge | Steel
* Candice | Snowpoint City | Icicle Badge | Ice
* Volkner | Sunyshore City | Beacon Badge | Electric

### Unova Gym Leaders

* Cilan / Chili / Cress | Striaton City | Trio Badge | Grass / Fire / Water
* Lenora | Nacrene City | Basic Badge | Normal
* Burgh | Castelia City | Insect Badge | Bug
* Elesa | Nimbasa City | Bolt Badge | Electric
* Clay | Driftveil City | Quake Badge | Ground
* Skyla | Mistralton City | Jet Badge | Flying
* Brycen | Icirrus City | Freeze Badge | Ice
* Drayden / Iris | Opelucid City | Legend Badge | Dragon
* Cheren | Aspertia City | Basic Badge | Normal
* Roxie | Virbank City | Toxic Badge | Poison
* Marlon | Humilau City | Wave Badge | Water

### Kalos Gym Leaders

* Viola | Santalune City | Bug Badge | Bug
* Grant | Cyllage City | Cliff Badge | Rock
* Korrina | Shalour City | Rumble Badge | Fighting
* Ramos | Coumarine City | Plant Badge | Grass
* Clemont | Lumiose City | Voltage Badge | Electric
* Valerie | Laverre City | Fairy Badge | Fairy
* Olympia | Anistar City | Psychic Badge | Psychic
* Wulfric | Snowbelle City | Iceberg Badge | Ice

### Galar Gym Leaders

* Milo | Turffield | Grass Badge | Grass
* Nessa | Hulbury | Water Badge | Water
* Kabu | Motostoke | Fire Badge | Fire
* Bea / Allister | Stow-on-Side | Fighting Badge / Ghost Badge | Fighting / Ghost
* Opal / Pede | Ballonlea | Fairy Badge | Fairy
* Gordie / Melony | Circhester | Rock Badge / Ice Badge | Rock / Ice
* Piers / Marnie | Spikemuth | Dark Badge | Dark
* Raihan | Hammerlocke | Dragon Badge | Dragon

## Anime

### Orange Islands Gym Leaders

* Cissy | Mikan Island | Coral-Eye Badge
* Danny | Navel Island | Sea-Ruby Badge
* Rudy | Trovita Island | Spike-Shell Badge
* Luana | Kumquat Island | Jade-Star Badge
* Head Leader Drake | Pummelo Island | Winner's Trophy