Piers

Piers ネズ Nezu
Artwork from Sword and Shield by take
Gender	Male
Eye color	Green
Hair color	Black and white
Hometown	Spikemuth
Region	Galar
Relatives	Marnie (younger sister)
Trainer class	Gym Leader, Pokémon Trainer
Generation	VIII
Games	Sword and Shield, Masters EX
Leader of	Spikemuth Gym
Badge	Dark Badge
Specializes in	Dark types
Member of	Team Yell
Rank	Captain
Game animation debut	Assistant
English voice actor	Edward Bosco (Pokémon: Twilight Wings) Aleks Le (Masters EX)
Japanese voice actor	Kishō Taniyama (Pokémon: Twilight Wings, Masters EX)
Anime debut	Battling Turned Up to Eleven!
English voice actor	Unknown
Japanese voice actor	Hiro Shimono

Piers (Japanese: ネズ Nezu) is the Gym Leader of Spikemuth and the boss of Team Yell. He specializes in Dark-type Pokémon. He gives the Dark Badge to Trainers who defeat him. During the events of Pokémon Sword and Shield, he retires from his position as a Gym Leader and passes the title on to his little sister, Marnie.

In the core series games

Piers is the seventh Gym Leader Galarian Trainers face in their Gym Challenge. He is well known for writing songs and singing as he regularly does so in Spikemuth. More often he tends to reveal his strategy to his opponents, yet he has the strength and skills to win regardless. Spikemuth is the only Gym in Galar not built over a Power Spot; previously, Rose had asked Piers to relocate his Gym to a faraway Power Spot, but Piers refused and opted to be the only Gym Leader not to use Dynamax. As a result, the town is rarely visited by fans, so Piers blames himself for letting his home fall into obscurity and dilapidation. He has been desperately trying to support the town with his Dark-type Pokémon but often gets frustrated with the limits of his strength.

In Pokémon Sword and Shield, Piers is the only Gym Leader absent from the Gym Challenge's opening ceremony in Motostoke. He makes his first appearance once the player clears the Spikemuth Gym Challenge, where it is revealed that the Team Yell Grunts are actually Spikemuth Gym Trainers in disguise, and that their leader is Piers. After the player defeats Piers, Marnie approaches him for her turn at the Gym Challenge. Their conversation reveals that Piers had previously planned to stand down as Gym Leader after the Champion Cup ended and pass down the role to his little sister. However, Marnie refused the offer, stating that she could not be a Gym Leader if she succeeds in becoming Champion.

After the player defeats Marnie in the Champion Cup Semifinals in Wyndon, Piers rededicates Team Yell to cheering on the player instead. He and Team Yell assist the player and Hop in accessing Rose Tower by helping them find the Macro Cosmos's League staff hiding the monorail key needed to reach the tower.

Piers plays a vital role in helping to stop the Dynamax Pokémon created by Sordward and Shielbert. Having now stepped down as a Gym Leader following the Champion Cup's conclusion, he accompanies the player and Hop to all the stadiums in Galar to help their Gym Leaders defeat the Dynamax Pokémon. After the player captures Zacian^Sw/Zamazenta^Sh, Piers gives them his rare League Card and returns to Spikemuth, where he can be found giving a concert to the members of Team Yell. He can also appear as an opponent in the player's Champion tournaments and the Galarian Star Tournament, despite no longer being a Gym Leader.

League Cards

This is a transcript of the back of Piers's League Cards in Pokémon Sword and Shield.

Normal League Card

"Spikemuth lacks a Power Spot that would allow Pokémon to Dynamax, and thus not many fans come to visit the town. Piers feels responsible for allowing his town to fall into obscurity and dilapidation. Once in battle, Piers tends to get riled up and will often reveal his strategy early on, but he has the strength and skill to triumph regardless. However, his true passions are singing and song writing, and his talents in these fields are well-known. As such, he currently hopes that his younger sister will take over as Gym Leader."

Rare League Card

"Here are some words from Piers when he first became the Gym Leader of Spikemuth. "Uh... ... ... The name's Piers. It's too bad we can't Dynamax our Pokémon in Spikemuth, but you could say we have a more authentic style of Pokémon battles. And I plan on showin' that off. And well... I have a younger sister, and she's got way more talent than me. But until she's old enough to become Gym Leader, I'll keep rockin' with my crew and make sure Spikemuth stays lively!""

Pokémon

Piers keeps his Pokémon in Dusk Balls.

Pokémon Sword and Shield

Gym battle

Gym Leader Piers Spikemuth Sword and Shield Reward: $7,360

Types: Dark Fighting Ability: Intimidate Held item: None Scrafty♂ Lv.44 Fake Out Normal Physical   --       Sand Attack Ground Status   --       Brick Break Fighting Physical   --       Payback Dark Physical   --       Types: Dark Psychic Ability: Contrary Held item: None Malamar♂ Lv.45 Night Slash Dark Physical   --       Foul Play Dark Physical   --       Psycho Cut Psychic Physical   --       Payback Dark Physical   --       Types: Poison Dark Ability: Aftermath Held item: None Skuntank♂ Lv.45 Sucker Punch Dark Physical   --       Screech Normal Status   --       Toxic Poison Status   --       Snarl Dark Special   --       Types: Dark Normal Ability: Reckless Held item: None Obstagoon♂ Lv.46 Obstruct Dark Status   --       Throat Chop Dark Physical   --       Counter Fighting Physical   --       Shadow Claw Ghost Physical   --

Max Raid Battle partner

Piers uses this Pokémon in the Max Raid Battles in Turffield, Hulbury, and Motostoke Stadiums.

Pokémon Trainer Piers Galar Sword and Shield Reward: N/A
Types: Dark Normal Ability: Reckless Held item: None Obstagoon♂ Lv.62 Cross Chop Fighting Physical   --       Snarl Dark Special   --       Throat Chop Dark Physical   --       Shadow Claw Ghost Physical   --

Champion tournaments

Pokémon Trainer Piers Wyndon Stadium Sword and Shield Reward: $9,920/11,840

Types: Dark Fighting Ability: Moxie Held item: None Scrafty♂ Lv.60/72 Fake Out Normal Physical   --       Sand Attack Ground Status   --       Brick Break Fighting Physical   --       Payback Dark Physical   --       Types: Dark Psychic Ability: Contrary Held item: None Malamar♂ Lv.60/72 Night Slash Dark Physical   --       Foul Play Dark Physical   --       Psycho Cut Psychic Physical   --       Payback Dark Physical   --       Types: Poison Dark Ability: Aftermath Held item: None Skuntank♂ Lv.61/73 Sucker Punch Dark Physical   --       Screech Normal Status   --       Toxic Poison Status   --       Snarl Dark Special   --       Types: Electric Poison Ability: Punk Rock Held item: None Toxtricity♂ Lv.61/73 Overdrive Electric Special   --       Sludge Bomb Poison Special   --       Taunt Dark Status   --       Venom Drench Poison Status   --       Types: Dark Normal Ability: Reckless Held item: None Obstagoon♂ Lv.62/74 Obstruct Dark Status   --       Throat Chop Dark Physical   --       Counter Fighting Physical   --       Shadow Claw Ghost Physical   --

Galarian Star Tournament

Pokémon Trainer Piers Wyndon Stadium Sword and Shield Reward: $11,840

Types: Poison Dark Ability: Aftermath Held item: None Skuntank♂ Lv.73 Sucker Punch Dark Physical   --       Screech Normal Status   --       Toxic Poison Status   --       Snarl Dark Special   --       Types: Electric Poison Ability: Punk Rock Held item: None Toxtricity♂ Lv.73 Overdrive Electric Special   --       Sludge Bomb Poison Special   --       Taunt Dark Status   --       Venom Drench Poison Status   --       Types: Dark Normal Ability: Reckless Held item: None Obstagoon♂ Lv.74 Obstruct Dark Status   --       Throat Chop Dark Physical   --       Counter Fighting Physical   --       Shadow Claw Ghost Physical   --

Caught for someone else

Morpeko ♀

Debut	Pokémon Sword and Shield

When Marnie was five, Piers caught this Morpeko as a present to his little sister, which eventually became her starter Pokémon. According to her League Card, Marnie's Morpeko helped her become less of a crybaby and more cheerful and outgoing.

In the spin-off games

Pokémon Masters EX

Main article: Piers (Masters)

Artwork

Concept art from Sword and Shield

Sprites

Icon from the Galarian Star Tournament menu

League Cards

Piers's League Card in Sword and Shield	Piers's rare League Card in Sword and Shield

Quotes

Main article: Piers/Quotes

In the anime

Main series

Piers in the anime

Piers appeared in Battling Turned Up to Eleven!, where he encountered Ash and Goh when they arrived in Spikemuth, having been tricked into going there by Team Yell in the hopes of making him miss his World Coronation Series battle with Marnie. Piers took Ash to Wyndon in time to attend the match and proceeded to accompany Goh in spectating the battle.

Pokémon

Obstagoon

Debut	Battling Turned Up to Eleven!

Obstagoon is Piers's only known Pokémon. It is a member of the Maximizers and accompanies Piers with his songs.

None of Obstagoon's moves are known.

Voice actors

Language Voice actor Japanese 下野紘 Hiro Shimono

Artwork

Official Artwork of Piers and Marnie from PASH! Magazine

Pokémon: Twilight Wings

Piers in Pokémon: Twilight Wings

In Assistant, Piers was walking on the streets of Wyndon.

In Sky, Piers refused to take part in an interview about Leon in Wyndon. Later, he, Marnie, and her Morpeko watched the battle between Leon and Raihan on her phone in Spikemuth.

In The Gathering of Stars, Piers was seen with the rock band Maximizers onstage. He was later seen at Wyndon Stadium, walking out onto the field for the Galarian Star Tournament's opening ceremony.

GOTCHA!

Piers briefly appeared in GOTCHA!.

In the manga

Piers in Pokémon Adventures

Pokémon Adventures

Piers debuted in PASS22. At Spikemuth, Raihan met with Piers to discuss Rose's decision to disqualify Bede from the Gym Challenge. A loud sound coming from Route 9 Tunnel interrupted their conversation, and when Piers and Raihan went to investigate, they encountered a crashed Flying Taxi and Leon, who rescued the driver and the passenger, Sonia. While Raihan and Leon took the victims to a hospital in Hammerlocke, Piers was entrusted with a camera Sonia meant for Casey Shield. Piers later found Casey and her friends being attacked by Sordward and Shielbert, who were after Sonia's camera.

Piers gave the camera up but secretly removed its memory card, tricking the brothers into leaving empty handed. When Sordward and Shielbert later returned for the card, Piers, Henry, and Casey successfully uncovered their faces. The brothers attacked Henry and Casey, but were stopped by Piers's Obstagoon. Before Piers could finish them off, Marnie arrived and told him to avoid going too far, allowing Sordward and Shielbert to flee. Later, after regrouping with Henry's group and Hop, Piers and Marnie revealed to everyone that they were siblings.

In PASS25, Piers and the other Galar Gym Leaders were informed by Leon and Sonia that Rose, Sordward, and Shielbert were working together. Hoping to discover whether or not Rose intended on bringing harm to Galar, the Gym Leaders gathered at Rose Tower, only to be stopped by Oleana. While Oleana kept the Gym Leaders busy, Marnie, Henry, Casey, Bede, and Hop headed up an elevator to meet Rose, only to learn he wasn't in the building. Appearing on a video screen, Rose announced his intention to restart the Darkest Day and ensure the safety of Galar's future. Power Spot lights began appearing all over the region, causing Pokémon to start Dynamaxing at random. Piers and the others traveled to the Hammerlocke Energy Plant, where they ran into Leon's group and found Rose ecstatic that his plan was a success.

Rose explained he meant no harm to Galar and sent Sordward and Shielbert to defeat Eternatus and prevent the Darkest Day from spiraling out of control. Despite their claims of being descendants of the heroes that once stopped the Darkest Day, Sordward and Shielbert were unable to win, forcing Rose to take their place. Oleana explained that Rose's actions were for the benefit of Galar and requested that everyone help stop Eternatus. The group agreed and made their way to the summit, where they found Rose had already been defeated. By teaming up, Piers, Marnie, Leon, Hop, Nessa, Melony, and Raihan managed to take Eternatus down, only for it to get back up and unleash its Eternamax form.

Eternatus easily overwhelmed everyone, but they were saved by Zacian and Zamazenta. The two Pokémon attempted to use the Rusted Sword and Shield, only for Eternatus to snatch the items and Henry out of the air. Zacian and Zamazenta struck Eternatus with a double Giga Impact, causing a massive explosion of energy and light. Once the light cleared, Henry, Zacian, Zamazenta, Eternatus had all vanished. Piers and everyone injured from the explosion were all taken to recover from the effects of Eternatus's poison.

Pokémon

On hand

Obstagoon

Debut	PASS22

Obstagoon is Piers's first known Pokémon. It was first seen guiding Raihan to the secret entrance to Spikemuth. It later defeated Sordward's Doublade in Spikemuth, but was stopped from finishing the brothers off by Marnie.

None of Obstagoon's moves are known.

Malamar

Debut	PASS25

Malamar is Piers's second known Pokémon. It was first seen protecting Piers from Oleana's Garbodor. It later fought against Eternatus on the Tower Summit.

None of Malamar's moves are known.

Traveling with

Rotom Phone

In the TCG

The following is a list of cards mentioning or featuring Piers or his Pokémon in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Piers' Pokémon 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	#
Galarian Obstagoon		Astral Radiance		TG10/TG30	VMAX Climax		207/184
Other related cards
Card	Type	English Expansion	Rarity	#	Japanese Expansion	Rarity	#
Piers	Su	Darkness Ablaze		165/189	Infinity Zone		095/100
		Darkness Ablaze		187/189	Infinity Zone		109/100
		Champion's Path		058/073
		Champion's Path		078/073	Infinity Zone		115/100
					Shiny Star V		173/190
		Shining Fates		069/072	Shiny Star V		194/190
		Astral Radiance		TG28/TG30	VMAX Climax		264/184

Trivia

• In September 2022, it was confirmed that take designed every one of the original Galar Gym Leaders, including Piers.
• Piers's uniform number is "061", which can be read in Japanese as goroawase for 悪い warui, meaning "bad".
• Piers and Marnie are the first Gym Leaders who specialize in Dark-type Pokémon.
• Piers's battle music contains remixed parts from N's final battle theme from Pokémon Black and White and the Team Rocket Hideout theme.
• Piers's Obstagoon has maximum EVs invested in both Defense and Special Defense.

Names

Language	Name	Origin
Japanese	ネズ Nezu	From 杜松 nezu (temple juniper) and possibly from 鼠色 nezumiiro (dark gray)
English	Piers	From the genus Juniperus and possibly pierce
German	Nezz	Similar to his Japanese name
Spanish	Nerio	From enebro (juniper) and possibly negro (black)
French	Peterson	From peteron (common juniper)
Italian	Ginepro	From ginepro (juniper) and possibly nero (black)
Korean	두송 Dusong	From 두송 (杜松) dusong (temple juniper)
Chinese (Mandarin)	聶梓 / 聂梓 Nièzǐ	From the transcription of his Japanese name and possibly 梓 zǐ (catalpa)
Chinese (Cantonese)	聶梓 Nihpjí
Brazilian Portuguese	Pietro	From junípero (juniper) and possibly preto (black)

Related articles

• Images on the Bulbagarden Archives

References

Team Yell
Spikemuth
Captain	Related
Piers (Masters)	Marnie (Masters)
Lower members
Team Yell Grunts • Spikemuth Gym Trainers

Gym Leaders of the Galar region
Turffield Stadium Milo	Hulbury Stadium Nessa	Motostoke Stadium Kabu	Stow-on-Side Stadium Bea Allister
Ballonlea Stadium Opal Bede	Circhester Stadium Gordie Melony	Spikemuth Gym Piers Marnie	Hammerlocke Stadium Raihan

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