Gym Leader

A Gym Leader (Japanese: ジムリーダー Gym Leader) 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 Elite Four in the games or the Pokémon League in the anime. 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.

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. This is evidenced by the different types used by Blue during his reign as the Gym Leader of the Viridian Gym in Generation II and IV.

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- 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.

In the games

Leader Brawly challenges the player

A Leader (Japanese: ジムリーダー Gym Leader) is the Trainer class name the Pokémon games give Gym Leaders during battles. Despite Gym Leaders themselves being introduced in Generation I, the name did not appear onscreen until Generation II, and has been incorporated into every game since. Gym Leaders are integral within the Pokémon universe. In order for one to advance in the game, the player must occasionally challenge and defeat the leader of a Gym. Each game is designed in such a way that the player will not be able to move forward until they receive a Gym Badge which will, in turn, allow them to use a HM to overcome natural obstacles or visit previously explored areas. It is one of the player's main objectives to collect eight Gym Badges, allowing him or her to challenge the Elite Four.

Leaders do not seem to be required to be in their Gyms at all times. Giovanni, for example, could keep his title as a Gym Leader despite not being at the Viridian Gym during the majority of the events of Generation I, and his successor, Blue, was also absent from the Gym several times. In Generation IV, Leaders are increasingly encountered outside of their Gyms, evident in the remakes Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, where the Leaders have to be found in different locations at specific times before they can exchange phone numbers with the player for a rematch at the Fighting Dojo. Some Leaders even appear across regions, such as Jasmine appearing in Sunyshore City and Crasher Wake on Route 47. Leaders can even challenge other Gyms and the Elite Four (like Volkner wanted to do). In later games, it is made apparent that Gym Leaders know each other and are acquainted with Gym Leaders from other regions, as well as with members of the Elite Four and Champions. Examples of this are Jasmine being friends with Erika, Volkner being friends with Template:E4, Brawly training with Bruno, and most Unova Gym Leaders coming together to fight Team Plasma's Seven Sages.

Gym Trainers

In addition to Gym Leaders, there are also Gym Trainers. While not an official Trainer class, they are Trainers that are either a devotee or apprentice to the Gym Leader. It is usually necessary to defeat multiple Gym Trainers before challenging the Gym Leader. Some Gyms in the game require the player to solve a puzzle, and one must often use Gym Trainers as obstacles to reach the solution. They have no direct impact on the overall plot, other than rarely offering the player helpful advice. It is also worth noting that the type of Trainer appearing in a Gym will depend on the Gym itself. For instance, Gardenia employs Aroma Ladies and Beauties, exclusively, while Misty recruits Tubers and Swimmers; these Gym Leaders represent the types Grass and Water, respectively.

In the anime

This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.

Since there seem to be many more Gyms in the anime than in other media, it follows that there would be many more Gym Leaders.

In the anime, 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. In the games, they may switch their Pokémon as often as any other Trainer.

A notable occurrence in the anime 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.

In the manga

This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Gym Leaders have the same jobs as in the games and anime, but are also shown to throw away their role as Leader and pursue other goals. Some Gym Leaders even become evil, such as Koga, Lt. Surge, Sabrina, and Pryce. In order to become a Gym Leader in Adventures, one needs to fight a Trainer chosen by the Pokémon Association and win in front of them without letting one of their own Pokémon faint. The one exception to this rule seen so far has been by Blue when he defended the building where Red took his exam, since Red had to decline becoming a Gym Leader due to an injury, despite having passed the exam.

List of Gym Leaders

Indigo League

Indigo League
Generations I, II, III, and IV			Region: Kanto
Gym Leader Japanese		Location Japanese	Type		Badge
Brock タケシ Takeshi		Pewter City ニビシティ Nibi City	Rock		Boulder Badge
Misty カスミ Kasumi		Cerulean City ハナダシティ Hanada City	Water		Cascade Badge
Lt. Surge マチス Matis		Vermilion City クチバシティ Kuchiba City	Electric		Thunder Badge
Erika エリカ Erika		Celadon City タマムシシティ Tamamushi City	Grass		Rainbow Badge
Koga キョウ Kyō I III	Janine アンズ Anzu II IV	Fuchsia City セキチクシティ Sekichiku City	Poison		Soul Badge
Sabrina ナツメ Natsume		Saffron City ヤマブキシティ Yamabuki City	Psychic		Marsh Badge
Blaine カツラ Katsura		Cinnabar Island グレンじま Guren Island I III	Fire		Volcano Badge
		Seafoam Islands ふたごじま Twin Islands II IV
Giovanni サカキ Sakaki I III	Blue グリーン Green II IV	Viridian City トキワシティ Tokiwa City	Ground	Various	Earth Badge

Johto League

Johto League
Generations II and IV		Region: Johto
Gym Leader Japanese	Location Japanese	Type	Badge
Falkner ハヤト Hayato	Violet City キキョウシティ Kikyō City	Flying	Zephyr Badge
Bugsy ツクシ Tsukushi	Azalea Town ヒワダタウン Hiwada Town	Bug	Hive Badge
Whitney アカネ Akane	Goldenrod City コガネシティ Kogane City	Normal	Plain Badge
Morty マツバ Matsuba	Ecruteak City エンジュシティ Enju City	Ghost	Fog Badge
Chuck シジマ Shijima	Cianwood City タンバシティ Tanba City	Fighting	Storm Badge
Jasmine ミカン Mikan	Olivine City アサギシティ Asagi City	Steel	Mineral Badge
Pryce ヤナギ Yanagi	Mahogany Town チョウジタウン Chōji Town	Ice	Glacier Badge
Clair イブキ Ibuki	Blackthorn City フスベシティ Fusube City	Dragon	Rising Badge

Hoenn League

Hoenn League
Generation III			Region: Hoenn
Gym Leader Japanese		Location Japanese	Type	Badge
{{{size}}} Roxanne ツツジ Tsutsuji		Rustboro City カナズミシティ Kanazumi City	Rock	Stone Badge
{{{size}}} Brawly トウキ Tōki		Dewford Town ムロタウン Muro Town	Fighting	Knuckle Badge
{{{size}}} Wattson テッセン Tessen		Mauville City キンセツシティ Kinsetsu City	Electric	Dynamo Badge
{{{size}}} Flannery アスナ Asuna		Lavaridge Town フエンタウン Fuen Town	Fire	Heat Badge
{{{size}}} Norman センリ Senri		Petalburg City トウカシティ Tōka City	Normal	Balance Badge
{{{size}}} Winona ナギ Nagi		Fortree City ヒワマキシティ Hiwamaki City	Flying	Feather Badge
{{{size}}} Tate and Liza フウとラン Fū and Lan		Mossdeep City トクサネシティ Tokusane City	Psychic	Mind Badge
File:SpriteWallace.png Wallace ミクリ MikuriWrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.	File:SpriteJuan.png Juan アダン AdanWrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.	Sootopolis City ルネシティ Rune City	Water	Rain Badge

Sinnoh League

Sinnoh League
Generation IV		Region: Sinnoh
Gym Leader Japanese	Location Japanese	Type	Badge
Roark ヒョウタ Hyouta	Oreburgh City クロガネシティ Kurogane City	Rock	Coal Badge
Gardenia ナタネ Natane	Eterna City ハクタイシティ Hakutai City	Grass	Forest Badge
Maylene スモモ Sumomo	Veilstone City トバリシティ Tobari City	Fighting	Cobble Badge
Crasher Wake マキシマム仮面 Maximum Mask	Pastoria City ノモセシティ Nomose City	Water	Fen Badge
Fantina メリッサ Melissa	Hearthome City ヨスガシティ Yosuga City	Ghost	Relic Badge
Byron トウガン Tougan	Canalave City ミオシティ Mio City	Steel	Mine Badge
Candice スズナ Suzuna	Snowpoint City キッサキシティ Kissaki City	Ice	Icicle Badge
Volkner デンジ Denzi	Sunyshore City ナギサシティ Nagisa City	Electric	Beacon Badge

Unova League

Unova League
Generation V						Region: Unova
Gym Leader Japanese						Location Japanese	Type	Badge
Cilan デント Dent	Chili ポッド Pod			Cress コーン Corn		Striaton City サンヨウシティ Sanyou City	Grass, Fire and Water	Trio Badge
Lenora アロエ Aloe						Nacrene City シッポウシティ Shippou City	Normal	Basic Badge
{{{size}}} Arti アーティ Arti						Castelia City ヒウンシティ Hiun City	Bug	File:Beetle Badge.png Beetle Badge
{{{size}}} Kamitsure カミツレ Kamitsure						Nimbasa City ライモンシティ Raimon City	Electric	Bolt Badge
{{{size}}} Yacon ヤーコン Yacon						Hodomoe City ホドモエシティ Hodomoe City	Ground	Quake Badge
{{{size}}} Fuuro フウロ Fuuro						Fukiyose City フキヨセシティ Fukiyose City	Flying	Jet Badge
{{{size}}} Hachiku ハチク Hachiku						Icirrus City セッカシティ Sekka City	Ice	Icicle Badge
File:VSShaga.png Shaga シャガ ShagaWrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.			Iris アイリス IrisWrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.			Souryuu City ソウリュウシティ Souryuu City	Dragon	Legend Badge

Orange League

Orange League
Anime-exclusive		Region: Orange Archipelago
Crew Member Japanese	Location Japanese	Challenge	Prize
Cissy アツミ Atsumi	Mikan Island ナツカン島 Natsukan Island	Water Gun target test Surfing race	File:Coraleyebadge.png Coral-Eye Badge
Danny ダン Dan	Navel Island ネーブル島 Navel Island	Climb mountain (to qualify) Freeze a geyser race Build a Toboggan Toboggan race	File:Searubybadge.png Sea Ruby Badge
Rudy ジギー Ziggy	Trovita Island ユズ島 Yuzu Island	Target test Same-type Pokémon battle	File:Spikeshellbadge.png Spike Shell Badge
Luana ルリコ Ruriko	Kumquat Island リュウチン島 Ryūchin Island	Double battle	File:Jadestarbadge.png Jade Star Badge
Drake ユウジ Yūji	Pummelo Island カンキツ島 Kankitsu Island	Full battle	File:WinnersTrophy.png Winner's Trophy Honor at the Palace of Victory

Trivia

• Every Gym Leader that specializes in Rock-type, Ghost-type, and Steel-type Pokémon uses Geodude, Gengar, and Steelix respectively in battle.
• Even though there are forty known gyms in the games, there has not yet been a gym specializing in Dark-type Pokémon, although there have been three Elite Four members, Karen, Sidney and Giima. Only Poison-type Gyms are not located in multiple regions. Each of the fifteen other types has been repeated at least once, and Water and Electric-type Gyms appear in four of the five regions.
• The only Gym Leaders so far whose parents have been seen in the anime are Brock, Sabrina, Tate and Liza, and Roark. They all train either Rock-type or Psychic-type Pokémon.
  • Janine, Roark and Maylene are the only ones who have a parent the player can encounter in the games. The player also encounters Blue's grandfather.
• For Setting the World on its Buneary, Professor Oak's lecture is about Gym Leaders. He writes this Pokémon senryū about them: ジムリーダー　いのちをかけて　かかってこい Jimu Rīdā / Inochi o kakete / Kakatte koi "Gym Leader, put your life on the line and challenge me".
• In the Johto saga of the anime, none of the Gym Leaders had the exact same lineups as they do in the games.
• Three of the five first gyms are Rock-type Gyms.
• Three of the five seventh gyms are Ice-type gyms; in addition, they all are located in the northern part of their respective regions.
  • In Generation II and IV, Cinnabar Gym, the seventh Gym of Kanto, is located in an icy location, the Seafoam Islands.
• The Hoenn Gym Leaders are the only ones not to have VS sprites, since these sprites were not introduced until Generation IV.
• In the games, every Gym Leader has at least one Pokémon in his or her party that knows the TM move he or she gives out upon defeat.

In other languages

Language Title Mandarin Chinese 道館訓練家／道馆训练家 Dàoguǎn Xùnliànjiā (anime) 練功場首領 Liàngōngcháng Shǒulǐng (manga) Danish Styrkecenter Ledere / Sal Ledere Dutch Gym Leider Finnish Salipäällikkö / Salijohtaja European French Champion German Arenaleiter Greek Αρχηγός Σταδίου Hebrew מנהיג מכון Manhig MaHon Italian Capopalestra Korean 체육관 관장 Cheyukgwan Gwanjang Polish Lider Sali Brazilian Portuguese Líder de Ginásio European Spanish Líder de gimnasio

Template:Gen I trainers

This Trainer Class article is part of Project CharacterDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each character found in the Pokémon games.