Viridian Gym

Viridian Gym トキワジム Tokiwa Gym
Location	Viridian City
Gym Leader	Giovanni (Gen I and III) Blue (Gen II and IV) Jessie, James and Meowth (temporary, anime only) Agatha (anime only)
Badge	Earth Badge
Dominant Type	Ground
Region	Kanto
Battlefield

The Viridian Gym (Japanese: トキワジム Tokiwa Gym) is the official Gym of Viridian City. During the events of Generations I and III, it is based on Ground-type Pokémon and the Gym Leader is Giovanni, the head of Team Rocket. After Team Rocket is disbanded at the end of Generations I and III, Blue takes over as the Leader, and the Gym no longer concentrates on any particular type.

Agatha of the Elite Four serves as a temporary Gym Leader in the anime.

Trainers who earn a win at the Viridian Gym receive the Earth Badge.

In the games

Viridian City Pokémon Gym
Leader: ...

Viridian City Pokémon Gym
Leader: ...
The rest of the text is illegible..

Viridian Gym appears in all games set in the Kanto region. In Generations I and III, when the player first reaches the Gym, it is locked due to the absence of the Gym Leader. With this acknowledged, the player journeys off to other Gyms to challenge them. Once the player has collected the other seven Gym Badges, the Viridian Gym reopens.

In Generations II and IV, Blue takes over the Gym. In Generation II, the Gym can be challenged as soon as Blue is spoken to on Cinnabar Island. In Generation IV, however, Blue will stay on Cinnabar Island and will not return to his Gym until the player speaks to him after obtaining the other seven Kanto Gym Badges.

Inside the Gym, the floor uses the same transporting tiles as are used in the Rocket Hideout. The player must use these tiles to navigate through the Gym to reach the Gym Leader. In Generation II, the Gym is completely remodeled and the tiles are gone; in Generation IV, the tiles are put back up.

A field based on the Gym also appears in Pokémon Stadium's Gym Leader Castle.

Appearance

Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV

Trainers

Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow

Trainer	Pokémon
Tamer Reward: $1560	Arbok Lv.39 No item
	Tauros Lv.39 No item
Black Belt Reward: $1075	Machoke Lv.43 No item
Cooltrainer Reward: $1365	Nidorino Lv.39 No item
	Nidoking Lv.39 No item
Tamer Reward: $1720	Rhyhorn Lv.43 No item
Black Belt Reward: $1000	Machop Lv.40 No item
	Machoke Lv.40 No item
Cooltrainer Reward: $1365	Sandslash Lv.39 No item
	Dugtrio Lv.39 No item
Cooltrainer Reward: $1505	Rhyhorn Lv.43 No item
Black Belt Reward: $950	Machoke Lv.38 No item
	Machop Lv.38 No item
	Machoke Lv.38 No item

Pokémon Red and Blue

Giovanni Viridian Gym Red, Green, and Blue Professor and Professor Giovanni Oak Viridian Gym Red, Green, and Blue Reward: $4950

Types: Ground Rock Rhyhorn Lv.45 Stomp Normal   --       Tail Whip Normal   --       Fury Attack Normal   --       Horn Attack Normal   --       Type: Ground Unknown Dugtrio Lv.42 Growl Normal   --       Dig Ground   --       Sand-Attack Normal   --       Slash Normal   --       Types: Poison Ground Nidoqueen Lv.44 Scratch Normal   --       Tail Whip Normal   --       Poison Sting Poison   --       Body Slam Normal   --       Types: Poison Ground Nidoking Lv.45 Tackle Normal   --       Horn Attack Normal   --       Poison Sting Poison   --       Thrash Normal   --       Types: Ground Rock Rhydon Lv.50 Stomp Normal   --       Tail Whip Normal   --       Fissure Ground   --       Horn Drill Normal   --

Pokémon Yellow

Giovanni Viridian Gym Yellow Professor and Professor Giovanni Oak Viridian Gym Yellow Reward: $5445

Type: Ground Unknown Dugtrio Lv.50 Sand-Attack Normal   --       Dig Ground   --       Fissure Ground   --       Earthquake Ground   --       Type: Normal Unknown Persian Lv.53 Screech Normal   --       Slash Normal   --       Fury Swipes Normal   --       Double Team Normal   --       Types: Poison Ground Nidoqueen Lv.53 Tail Whip Normal   --       Earthquake Ground   --       Double Kick Fighting   --       Thunder Electric   --       Types: Poison Ground Nidoking Lv.55 Thunder Electric   --       Leer Normal   --       Earthquake Ground   --       Double Kick Fighting   --       Types: Ground Rock Rhydon Lv.55 Rock Slide Rock   --       Fury Attack Normal   --       Earthquake Ground   --       Horn Drill Normal   --

Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal

Leader Blue Viridian Gym Gold, Silver, and Crystal Leader and Professor Blue Oak Viridian Gym Gold, Silver, and Crystal Reward: $5800

Types: Normal Flying Held item: None Pidgeot♂ Lv.56 Quick Attack Normal   --       Whirlwind Normal   --       Wing Attack Flying   --       Mirror Move Flying   --       Types: Ground Rock Held item: None Rhydon♂ Lv.56 Fury Attack Normal   --       Sandstorm Rock   --       Rock Slide Rock   --       Earthquake Ground   --       Type: Psychic Unknown Held item: None Alakazam♂ Lv.54 Disable Normal   --       Recover Normal   --       Psychic Psychic   --       Reflect Psychic   --       Types: Water Flying Held item: None Gyarados♂ Lv.58 Twister Dragon   --       Hydro Pump Water   --       Rain Dance Water   --       Hyper Beam Normal   --       Types: Grass Psychic Held item: None Exeggutor♂ Lv.58 Sunny Day Fire   --       Leech Seed Grass   --       Egg Bomb Normal   --       SolarBeam Grass   --       Type: Fire Unknown Held item: None Arcanine♂ Lv.58 Roar Normal   --       Swift Normal   --       Flamethrower Fire   --       ExtremeSpeed Normal   --

Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen

Trainer	Pokémon
Tamer Cole アキラ Akira Reward: $1560	Arbok♂ Lv.39 No item
	Tauros♂ Lv.39 No item
Black Belt Kiyo タクマ Takuma Reward: $1032	Machoke♂ Lv.43 No item
Tamer Jason ヒロ Hiro Reward: $1720	Rhyhorn♂ Lv.43 No item
Black Belt Atsushi テツヒサ Tetsuhisa Reward: $960	Machop♂ Lv.40 No item
	Machoke♂ Lv.40 No item
Cooltrainer Samuel タクヤ Takuya Reward: $1404	Sandslash♂ Lv.37 No item
	Sandslash♂ Lv.37 No item
	Rhyhorn♂ Lv.38 No item
	Nidorino♂ Lv.39 No item
	Nidoking♂ Lv.39 No item
Black Belt Takashi シロウ Shirō Reward: $912	Machoke♂ Lv.38 No item
	Machop♂ Lv.38 No item
	Machoke♂ Lv.38 No item
Cooltrainer Yuji カズシ Kazushi Reward: $1368	Sandslash♂ Lv.38 No item
	Graveler♂ Lv.38 No item
	Onix♂ Lv.38 No item
	Graveler♂ Lv.38 No item
	Marowak♂ Lv.38 No item
Cooltrainer Warren レイジ Reiji Reward: $1404	Marowak♂ Lv.37 No item
	Marowak♂ Lv.37 No item
	Rhyhorn♂ Lv.38 No item
	Nidorina♀ Lv.39 No item
	Nidoqueen♀ Lv.39 No item

Leader Giovanni Viridian Gym FireRed and LeafGreen Leader and Professor Giovanni Oak Viridian Gym FireRed and LeafGreen Reward: $5000

Types: Ground Rock Ability: Unknown Held item: None Rhyhorn♂ Lv.45 Take Down Normal   --       Rock Blast Rock   --       Scary Face Normal   --       Earthquake Ground   --       Type: Ground Unknown Ability: Sand Veil Held item: None Dugtrio♂ Lv.42 Slash Normal   --       Sand Tomb Ground   --       Mud-Slap Ground   --       Earthquake Ground   --       Types: Poison Ground Ability: Poison Point Held item: None Nidoqueen♀ Lv.44 Double Kick Fighting   --       Earthquake Ground   --       Poison Sting Poison   --       Body Slam Normal   --       Types: Poison Ground Ability: Poison Point Held item: None Nidoking♂ Lv.45 Double Kick Fighting   --       Earthquake Ground   --       Poison Sting Poison   --       Thrash Normal   --       Types: Ground Rock Ability: Lightningrod Held item: None Rhyhorn♂ Lv.50 Take Down Normal   --       Rock Blast Rock   --       Scary Face Normal   --       Earthquake Ground   --

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

Trainer	Pokémon
Ace Trainer Arabella ヤスタカ Yasutaka Reward: $3120	Stantler♂ Lv.53 No item
	Tauros♂ Lv.52 No item
Ace Trainer Salma アキエ Akie Reward: $3180	Slowking♀ Lv.50 Oran Berry
	Lickilicky♀ Lv.53 No item
Ace Trainer Bonita ヨシノリ Yoshinori Reward: $3120	Spinda♂ Lv.50 No item
	Sudowoodo♂ Lv.52 No item
Double Team Elan & Ida テン & サヨ Ten & Sayo Reward: $12000	Porygon2 Lv.52 No item
	Azumarill♂ Lv.50 No item

Leader Blue Viridian Gym HeartGold and SoulSilver Leader and Professor Blue Oak Viridian Gym HeartGold and SoulSilver Reward: $9600

Types: Grass Psychic Ability: Chlorophyll Held item: None Exeggutor♂ Lv.55 Psychic Psychic Special   --       Hypnosis Psychic Status   --       Leaf Storm Grass Special   --       Trick Room Psychic Status   --       Types: Ground Rock Ability: Rock Head Held item: None Rhydon♂ Lv.58 Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Stone Edge Rock Physical   --       Megahorn Bug Physical   --       Thunder Fang Electric Physical   --       Type: Fighting Unknown Ability: No Guard Held item: None Machamp♂ Lv.56 ThunderPunch Electric Physical   --       DynamicPunch Fighting Physical   --       Stone Edge Rock Physical   --       Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Types: Water Flying Ability: Intimidate Held item: None Gyarados♂ Lv.52 Waterfall Water Physical   --       Ice Fang Ice Physical   --       Dragon Dance Dragon Status   --       Return Normal Physical   --       Type: Fire Unknown Ability: Intimidate Held item: None Arcanine♂ Lv.58 ExtremeSpeed Normal Physical   --       Flare Blitz Fire Physical   --       Dragon Pulse Dragon Special   --       Roar Normal Status   --       Types: Normal Flying Ability: Tangled Feet Held item: Sitrus Berry Pidgeot♂ Lv.60 Whirlwind Normal Status   --       Mirror Move Flying Status   --       Return Normal Physical   --       Air Slash Flying Special   --

Items

Item		Location	Games

In the anime

File:Viridian Gym.png

The Viridian Gym in its first appearance

The inside of the Gym in its first appearance

The Viridian Gym was led by Giovanni, as it was in Generation I. The Gym features Roman architecture, stately pillars, and an old mural depicting the proud tradition of this most prestigious Gym. The predominant brownish color suggests the Gym's affiliation with the Ground-type.

The Viridian Gym first made an appearance in The Battle of the Badge. Before Ash could challenge him however, Gary Oak appeared, taunting him with ten Badges, and insisting on challenging the Viridian Gym for fun. Gary faced Giovanni, though his confidence was quickly eroded after Giovanni brought out Mewtwo, who defeated each of Gary's Pokémon, even when Giovanni allowed him to use more than one Pokémon at a time against Mewtwo.

Ash Ketchum soon after challenged the Gym, after Gary and his Pokémon had recovered; however, as the Team Rocket boss had unmentioned business to attend to, he left the Gym in the care of none other than Jessie, James, and Meowth. Giovanni also left them with several Pokémon that they could use against any challengers. Ash had a hard time beating them initially, and as the new Gym Leaders rigged the Gym to shock anyone whose Pokémon took damage. Eventually, Ash overcame the borrowed Pokémon's power and defeated all of them, causing Team Rocket to rely on their usual duo of Arbok and Weezing. Ash quickly dispatched the two, shocking the trio due to the Gym's rigging. They blasted off, dropping an Earth Badge in their daze. Ash caught it, but he, Gary, Gary's cheerleaders, Brock, and Misty had to escape the Gym quickly, as it was collapsing.

The Gym appeared again (presumably rebuilt) when Ash returned to Kanto from Hoenn in The Scheme Team, where Agatha was now the temporary Gym Leader. Ash challenged her to an exhibition match, but lost.

Giovanni abdicating his position as Gym Leader is similar to the case in the Generation I games; however, in the anime, he is still in charge of Team Rocket, while in the games he disbands the team.

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

The Viridian Gym is first visited in Bulbasaur, Come Home! in the Red, Green & Blue arc where Red and Professor Oak enters following a Bulbasaur. In this occasion the Gym is abandoned with only a Machoke and a Giovanni statue present.

The Viridian Gym made a brief appearance in at the end of A Hollow Victreebel and at the beginning of Make Way For Magmar in the Red, Green & Blue chapter where citizens were asking about Giovanni.

The Gym is visited again after Red's incident with Mewtwo. During this time, Giovanni is present and ready to fight. However, as the battle progresses, the Gym collapses due to Nidoking's Earthquake.

Even later, Red's Gym Leader test is held in the Gym. Even though he wins, Red declines the position as he was struggling throughout the battle. Currently, Blue is the Viridian Gym's Leader.

In the FireRed & LeafGreen arc, Yellow and Silver go to the Viridian Gym to seek Silver's past. At the same time, Giovanni and the Three Beasts are on their way to the Gym also, trying to reunite Silver with Giovanni. This succeeds when Sird lets Yellow use her power, thus exhausting her.

Pokémon

These Pokémon had escaped from Professor Oak's Laboratory and were found in the Gym:

Bulbasaur ♂

Meowth

In the TCG

The Viridian Gym was featured in the TCG. The following is a list of cards named Viridian City Gym.

Related cards Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format. Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.
Card	Type	English Expansion	Rarity	#	Japanese Expansion	Rarity	#
Viridian City Gym	T [St]	Gym Challenge		123/132	Challenge from the Darkness

Trivia

• Agatha's temporary position as Leader of the Viridian Gym when Ash returns to Kanto may be an anime reference to the fact that Giovanni quit Team Rocket and his status as Gym Leader after being defeated by Red. What this possibly means for Gary Oak, whose game counterpart Blue eventually assumed the title of leader in Generation II, is disputed.
• In all generations where this Gym is accessible, at least one Trainer inside the building owns a Rhydon.
  • In fact, both of this Gym's Leaders have always had a member of the Rhyhorn evolutionary line in all of their Gym parties; the only time the Gym Leader does not own a Rhydon is in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, in which Giovanni owns two Rhyhorn.
• In Generation II, it is possible to challenge Blue before beating any previous Gym Leader by talking to him on Cinnabar Island. In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, Blue can only be challenged when the player has seven Badges from Kanto.
• In HeartGold and SoulSilver, the exterior coloring of each Gym is based on the colors most associated with the type that the Gym specializes in. Viridian Gym, however, is both green and blue, likely referring to its Gym Leader's name.
• In HeartGold and SoulSilver, two male Ace Trainers in this Gym are named Arabella and Bonita, both being typically feminine names.

Gym Leaders of the Kanto region
Pewter Gym Brock	Cerulean Gym Misty	Vermilion Gym Lt. Surge	Celadon Gym Erika
Fuchsia Gym Koga Janine	Saffron Gym Sabrina	Cinnabar Gym Blaine	Viridian Gym Giovanni Blue

This article is part of Project Locations, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on every location in the Pokémon world.