Nessa

Nessa ルリナ Rurina
"The raging wave!"
Artwork from Sword and Shield by take
Gender	Female
Eye color	Blue
Hair color	Blue
Hometown	Hulbury
Region	Galar
Relatives	Unnamed mother and father
Trainer class	Gym Leader
Generation	VIII
Games	Sword and Shield, Masters EX
Leader of	Hulbury Stadium
Badge	Water Badge
Specializes in	Water types
Game animation debut	Letter
English voice actor	Anairis Quinones (Twilight Wings) Tiana Camacho (Masters EX)
Japanese voice actor	Sora Amamiya (Twilight Wings, Masters EX)

Nessa (Japanese: ルリナ Rurina) is a model who is the Gym Leader of Hulbury's Gym, known officially as Hulbury Stadium. She specializes in Water-type Pokémon. She gives the Water Badge to Trainers who defeat her.

In the core series games

Nessa is the second Gym Leader Galarian Trainers face in their Gym Challenge. Like most of the other Gym Leaders, she's initially introduced during the Gym Challenge opening ceremony at the Motostoke Stadium. When the player first arrives in Hulbury, Nessa is not at her Gym. Instead, she's near the town's lighthouse, and the player must talk to her there for her to return to her Gym, where she can be battled. Once the player has defeated Kabu, he, Nessa, and Milo appear to wish the player and Hop good luck in the remainder of their Gym Challenge. Later, Nessa also faces the player in the first round of the Champion Cup.

Nessa's interest in Water-type Pokémon may have been influenced by her parents: her father is a fisher and her mother works in the marketplace. Eventually, she became the Gym Leader of Hulbury Gym and a successful model. She also became close friends with Sonia during the Gym Challenge, and often gives her fresh seafood from Hulbury whenever the two meet up. She claims to be the rival of Milo, the Turffield Gym Leader, but the latter only sees himself as his own rival. Nessa is known to be a very popular Gym Leader and model. Many people believe she acts differently depending on her role. She is known to be calm and collected, but her competitive spirit and indomitable will lurk just beneath the surface. Given her personality and modeling career, fans were concerned with how Nessa would react to her loss against the player in the first round of the Champion Cup. Though she still gave the fans a perfect smile, things were not as peaceful within the Gym.

After Nessa's initial defeat, the player is awarded with the Water Badge, TM36 (Whirlpool), and the Water Uniform.

League Cards

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

Normal League Card

"Her father is a fisher, and her mother works in the marketplace. Perhaps because of her parents, she grew up playing with Water-type Pokémon and eventually made it all the way to being a Gym Leader. She met Sonia during their Gym Challenge, and they continue to be close friends. Nessa often gives Sonia fresh seafood from Hulbury. She has declared that Milo of Turffield is her rival, but Milo responded by saying that his rival is himself."

Rare League Card

"Nessa is incredibly popular, both as a Gym Leader and as a model. Many people even think the Gym Leader Nessa and the model Nessa are two different people, since she shows a completely different attitude in each role. She had the misfortune of being defeated in the first match of the Finals, and those who knew of her indomitable nature worried that this would impact her work as a model. Despite her loss, she was still able to give her fans a perfect smile. Things were not nearly as peaceful with her Gym, however... "

Pokémon

Nessa keeps her Pokémon in Dive Balls.

Pokémon Sword and Shield

Gym battle

Nessa will Dynamax her Drednaw at the first opportunity.

Gym Leader Nessa Hulbury Stadium Sword and Shield Reward: $3,840

Type: Water Unknown Ability: Swift Swim Held item: None Goldeen♀ Lv.22 Water Pulse Water Special   --       Whirlpool Water Special   --       Horn Attack Normal Physical   --       Agility Psychic Status   --       Type: Water Unknown Ability: Swift Swim Held item: None Arrokuda♀ Lv.23 Aqua Jet Water Physical   --       Bite Dark Physical   --       Whirlpool Water Special   --       Fury Attack Normal Physical   --       Types: Water Rock Ability: Swift Swim Held item: None Drednaw♂ Lv.24 Dynamax Razor Shell Water Physical   --       Water Gun Water Special   --       Bite Dark Physical   --       Headbutt Normal Physical   --

Second battle

Nessa will Gigantamax her Drednaw at the first opportunity.

Gym Leader Nessa Wyndon Stadium Sword and Shield Reward: $8,480

Types: Bug Water Ability: Emergency Exit Held item: None Golisopod♂ Lv.51 First Impression Bug Physical   --       Liquidation Water Physical   --       Swords Dance Normal Status   --       Shadow Claw Ghost Physical   --       Types: Water Flying Ability: Drizzle Held item: None Pelipper♂ Lv.51 Roost Flying Status   --       Air Slash Flying Special   --       Water Pulse Water Special   --       Tailwind Flying Status   --       Type: Water Unknown Ability: Swift Swim Held item: None Barraskewda♀ Lv.52 Liquidation Water Physical   --       Throat Chop Dark Physical   --       Ice Fang Ice Physical   --       Drill Run Ground Physical   --       Type: Water Unknown Ability: Swift Swim Held item: None Seaking♀ Lv.52 Smart Strike Steel Physical   --       Megahorn Bug Physical   --       Aqua Ring Water Status   --       Waterfall Water Physical   --       Types: Water Rock Ability: Shell Armor Held item: None Drednaw♀ Lv.53 Liquidation Water Physical   --       Jaw Lock Dark Physical   --       Rock Tomb Rock Physical   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --

Max Raid Battle partner

Nessa teams up with the player, Hop, and Piers to face a Dynamax Gyarados in a Max Raid Battle.

Gym Leader Nessa Hulbury Stadium Sword and Shield
Types: Water Rock Ability: Shell Armor Held item: None Drednaw♂ Lv.62 Liquidation Water Physical   --       Jaw Lock Dark Physical   --       Body Slam Normal Physical   --       Rock Tomb Rock Physical   --

Champion tournament

Nessa will Gigantamax her Drednaw at the first opportunity.

Gym Leader Nessa Wyndon Stadium Sword and Shield Reward: $9,920/11,840

Types: Bug Water Ability: Emergency Exit Held item: None Golisopod♂ Lv.60/72 First Impression Bug Physical   --       Liquidation Water Physical   --       Swords Dance Normal Status   --       Shadow Claw Ghost Physical   --       Types: Water Flying Ability: Drizzle Held item: None Pelipper♂ Lv.60/72 Roost Flying Status   --       Hurricane Flying Special   --       Water Pulse Water Special   --       Tailwind Flying Status   --       Types: Water Ground Ability: Damp Held item: None Quagsire♂ Lv.61/73 Earthquake Ground Physical   --       Scald Water Special   --       Ice Punch Ice Physical   --       Toxic Poison Status   --       Types: Poison Water Ability: Merciless Held item: None Toxapex♂ Lv.61/73 Baneful Bunker Poison Status   --       Recover Normal Status   --       Venoshock Poison Special   --       Liquidation Water Physical   --       Types: Water Rock Ability: Shell Armor Held item: None Drednaw♀ Lv.62/74 Liquidation Water Physical   --       Jaw Lock Dark Physical   --       Rock Tomb Rock Physical   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --

Galarian Star Tournament

Gym Leader Nessa Wyndon Stadium Sword and Shield Reward: $11,840

Types: Bug Water Ability: Emergency Exit Held item: None Golisopod♂ Lv.72 First Impression Bug Physical   --       Liquidation Water Physical   --       Swords Dance Normal Status   --       Shadow Claw Ghost Physical   --       Types: Poison Water Ability: Merciless Held item: None Toxapex♂ Lv.73 Baneful Bunker Poison Status   --       Recover Normal Status   --       Venoshock Poison Special   --       Liquidation Water Physical   --       Types: Water Rock Ability: Shell Armor Held item: None Drednaw♀ Lv.74 Liquidation Water Physical   --       Jaw Lock Dark Physical   --       Rock Tomb Rock Physical   --       Crunch Dark Physical   --

In spin-off games

Pokémon Masters EX

Main article: Nessa (Masters)

Nessa forms a sync pair with Drednaw in Pokémon Masters EX. She's also available in a holiday-themed attire, forming an additional sync pair with Eiscue.

Gallery

Artwork

Concept art from Sword and Shield	Artwork of Nessa from Pokémon: Twilight Wings

Sprites

Icon from the Galarian Star Tournament menu

League Cards

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

Quotes

Main article: Nessa/Quotes

In the anime

Nessa in Pokémon: Twilight Wings

Young Nessa in Pokémon: Twilight Wings

Pokémon: Twilight Wings

Nessa made a cameo appearance in Letter. She reappeared in another cameo in Buddy, where she was seen in the water alongside a Qwilfish.

Nessa appeared more prominently in Early-Evening Waves, where she suffered a defeat in the Champion Cup at the hands of Milo. Afterwards, she was approached by Rose, who implied the loss happened because she was distracted by her simultaneous modeling career. This agitated her, and she vented her frustrations to Sonia. Later, during a photo shoot, Nessa was reunited with a Feebas she had met as a child, which was now a Milotic. Afterwards, she decided to disregard Rose's words and continue being both a Gym Leader and a model.

In Sky, she gave her thoughts about Leon in an interview.

In The Gathering of Stars, she was seen resting at a modeling photoshoot studio when she received an invitation letter for the Galarian Star Tournament. She was later seen at Wyndon Stadium, walking out onto the field for the tournament's opening ceremony.

Character

During the time she was defeated in battle, Nessa felt very concerned about juggling between her dual careers as a Gym Leader and a model. This conflict was amplified by Rose's implication that her modeling career was distracting her from her Gym Leader duties. She also has a great friendship with Sonia.

Pokémon

This listing is of Nessa's known Pokémon in Pokémon: Twilight Wings:

On hand

Drednaw

Debut	Early-Evening Waves

Drednaw was seen being defeated by Milo's Dynamax Eldegoss during Nessa's Champion Cup battle against him.

Drednaw's only known move is Crunch*.

Befriended

Feebas → Milotic

Milotic

Debut	Early-Evening Waves

As a child, Nessa encountered a Feebas, and encouraged it to grow bigger. She also requested if she could ride on it once it evolved. Years later, Feebas returned as a Milotic, who fulfilled the request from earlier and let Nessa ride on it. This encounter prompted her to move forward with her goal to be both a Gym Leader and a model at the same time.

None of Milotic's moves are known.

GOTCHA!

Nessa briefly appeared in GOTCHA!.

In the manga

Nessa in Pokémon Adventures

Pokémon Adventures

Nessa debuted in Chomp!! Defeat Drednaw. She, along with various other Gym Leaders, was first seen reacting to the news that Leon had endorsed two Trainers for the Gym Challenge.

In Toasty!! Battle Against Toxapex, Nessa faced Henry in a Gym battle at Hulbury Stadium and lost. She later battled Casey as well, but the injuries her Pokémon sustained in the battle with Henry led to Nessa losing a second time, much to her frustration. After Casey and Hop completed the first three Galar Gyms, Nessa, Milo, and Kabu personally congratulated the two for their accomplishment.

In PASS25, the Gym Leaders gathered at Rose Tower to find out if Rose intended on bringing harm to Galar. Nessa went to Hammerlocke to meet with Sonia, Leon, and Raihan. They planned to join the others in Wyndon, only for Rose to unleash Eternatus and restart the Darkest Day. Power Spot lights began appearing all over the region, causing Pokémon to start Dynamaxing at random. Nessa's group and Henry's group later reunited at the Energy Plant, where they found Rose ecstatic that his plan was a success.

In PASS27, 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. Nessa, Leon, Piers, Hop, Marnie, Raihan, and Melony managed to take Eternatus down, only for it to get back up and unleash its Eternamax form.

In PASS29, Eternatus quickly overwhelmed Raihan and the others, only for Zacian and Zamazenta to appear and assist in the battle against the Gigantic Pokémon. They attempted to wield the Rusted Sword and Shield, but the items and Henry were snatched out of the air by Eternatus. Zacian and Zamazenta struck Eternatus at the same time, creating a massive blast of light. By the time the light cleared, Henry, Zacian, Zamazenta, Eternatus had vanished. Nessa and everyone injured during the battle were taken to a hospital to recover from the effects of Eternatus's poison.

In PASS35, after taking special medicine, Nessa and the others began to recover from the effects of the poison.

Pokémon

Toxapex

Debut	Toasty!! Battle Against Toxapex

Toxapex is Nessa's first known Pokémon. It was first seen participating in a photo shoot with Nessa. Later, it was used in a battle against Henry's Twiggy. Though it poisoned its opponent with Baneful Bunker, Toxapex was defeated when its body was heated up by Twiggy's Sunny Day, leaving it wide open for Twiggy's next attack.

Toxapex's only known move is Baneful Bunker.

Drednaw ↔ Gigantamax Drednaw

Debut	Toasty!! Battle Against Toxapex

Drednaw is Nessa's second known Pokémon. It was first used in Nessa's Gym battle against Henry, but it was defeated by Henry's Twiggy. It is housed in a Dive Ball.

None of Drednaw's moves are known*.
As a Gigantamax Drednaw, it can use Max Strike and G-Max Stonesurge.

Quagsire

Debut	PASS28

Quagsire is Nessa's third known Pokémon. It was first seen being used to battle Eternatus on the Tower Summit.

None of Quagsire's moves are known.

Barraskewda

Debut	PASS29

Barraskewda is Nessa's fourth known Pokémon. It was first seen being used to battle Eternamax Eternatus on the Tower Summit.

None of Barraskewda's moves are known.

In the TCG

This listing is of cards mentioning or featuring Nessa or her Pokémon in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Nessa's 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	#
Drednaw		Vivid Voltage		039/185	Amazing Volt Tackle		026/100
Other related cards
Card	Type	English Expansion	Rarity	#	Japanese Expansion	Rarity	#
Nessa	Su	Vivid Voltage		157/185	Amazing Volt Tackle		096/100
		Vivid Voltage		183/185	Amazing Volt Tackle		111/100
		Vivid Voltage		196/185	Amazing Volt Tackle		118/100
					VMAX Climax		164/184
		Lost Origin		TG27/TG30	VMAX Climax		277/184
		Crown Zenith		136/159	S-P Promotional cards		231/S-P

Trivia

• Nessa was designed by take.
• Nessa's uniform number is "049", which can be read in Japanese as goroawase for 泳ぐ oyogu, meaning "to swim".
• In Nessa's Gym battle and as a partner in a Max Raid Battle, she uses a male Drednaw. However, in her tournament battle and all future rematches, she uses a female Drednaw.
• Nessa's rivalry with Milo, especially with Hulbury and Turffield's real world inspirations, could be based on the rivalry between Lancashire and Yorkshire since the Wars of the Roses.

Names

Language	Name	Origin
Japanese	ルリナ Rurina	From 瑠璃苦菜 ruri-nigana (cupid's dart)
English	Nessa	Possibly from ness or Loch Ness, Greek Nerissa, meaning "from the sea", or Cornish nessa, meaning second.
German	Kate	From Catananche caerulea (cupid's dart)
Spanish	Cathy	From Catananche caerulea (cupid's dart)
French	Donna	From cupidone bleue (cupid's dart)
Italian	Azzurra	From cupidone azzurro (cupid's dart)
Korean	야청 Yacheong	From 야청 yacheong (dark blue)
Chinese (Mandarin)	露璃娜 Lùlínà	Transcription of her Japanese name. Contains 露 lù / louh (dew) and 璃 lí / lèih from 玻璃菊 bōlijú / bōlēigūk (cupid's dart).
Chinese (Cantonese)	露璃娜 Louhlèihnàh
Brazilian Portuguese	Vanessa	From her English name
Russian	Несса Nessa	Transcription of her English name
Thai	รูรินะ Rurina	Transcription of her Japanese name

Related articles

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.