Viridian Gym appears in all games set in the Kanto region. In Generations I and III when the player makes their first encounter with the gym, it is locked because of the absence of the Gym Leader. With this acknowledged, the player journeys off onto other Gyms to challenge them. Once this has been accomplished and when the player has collected the remaining seven Gym Badges, the Viridian Gym reopens.
Inside the Gym, the floor uses the same transporting tiles as in the Rocket Hideout. The player must use these tiles to navigate through the Gym to reach Giovanni. In Generation II and IV, when Blue takes the place of the Gym Leader, the Gym is completely remodeled, and the tiles are now gone.
In the anime, 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 Template:Type2.
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 Gym was rigged to shock anyone whose Pokémon took damage, it was a hard fight at first. 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.
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.
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 and LeafGreen chapter, 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.
In the TCG
The Viridian Gym was featured in the TCG. The following is a list of cards named Viridian City Gym.
The Viridian Gym is the first Official Gym in the anime to be shown challenged both by Ash and another main character, Gary. This next happened unofficially in Johto, but officially against the Oreburgh Gym in the Diamond & Pearl series, when Paul and Ash both challenged Roark. Also again when both Dawn and Ash challenged Maylene of Veilstone City.
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.
