Honorable Mentions: Lt. Surge, Watson & Clemont
Gym: Vermilion City Gym, Mauville City Gym, Lumiose City Gym
Type: Electric Type
It is a small coincidence that every one of my honorable mentions goes to an Electric type Gym Leader. I do enjoy each and every one of them in a different manner. Lt. Surge is a veteran of an always speculated Pokémon war. Yes… Pokémon. War. Watson is a very charismatic Leader. He doesn't mess around when it comes to battling, but he wants to make sure you will grow as a trainer and mature as a person too. Clemont's excessive use of gadgets and other accessories makes him so memorable. He also has a Quiz based Gym in Lumiose Tower. Those are always the best ones.
10. Volkner
Gym: Sunyshore City Gym, Sinnoh
Badge: Beacon Badge
Badge: Beacon Badge
Type: Electric Type
The number 10 spot goes to the top Electric Type Gym Leader, Volkner. When you enter Sunyshore City, you learn that it's Gym Leader doesn't really care for battling anymore. Besides that fact, you still enter his Gym and make it to him. He begrudgingly accepts your challenge. If you wipe the floor with him, he pauses upon his defeat. Afterwards, he bursts out laughing with gusto. He says that your fight has inspired him and the strength and courage you showed him reminds him of the trainer he was. Volkner takes this motivation to heart and begins to enjoy his battling once again.
Most Gym Leaders we meet in Pokémon games aren't around very long. If they're not apart of the story, you battle them and that's it. One and done. Volkner is one of the former, a Gym Leader you rarely see outside of their respective Gym. But in the few moments we have with the man, we see character development. We see a drastic change. A revelation. It's this development that boosts Volkner above his Electric comrades.
The number 10 spot goes to the top Electric Type Gym Leader, Volkner. When you enter Sunyshore City, you learn that it's Gym Leader doesn't really care for battling anymore. Besides that fact, you still enter his Gym and make it to him. He begrudgingly accepts your challenge. If you wipe the floor with him, he pauses upon his defeat. Afterwards, he bursts out laughing with gusto. He says that your fight has inspired him and the strength and courage you showed him reminds him of the trainer he was. Volkner takes this motivation to heart and begins to enjoy his battling once again.
Most Gym Leaders we meet in Pokémon games aren't around very long. If they're not apart of the story, you battle them and that's it. One and done. Volkner is one of the former, a Gym Leader you rarely see outside of their respective Gym. But in the few moments we have with the man, we see character development. We see a drastic change. A revelation. It's this development that boosts Volkner above his Electric comrades.
9. Tate and Liza
Gym: Mossdeep City Gym, Hoenn
Badge: Mind Badge
Badge: Mind Badge
Type: Psychic Type
Tate and Liza are an interesting duo. They're ESP twins and (you guessed it) use Psychic Type Pokémon. The only cool thing about these two is that they're the only Gym Leader(s) who have a Double Battle format. They have a similar Gym to Kanto's Saffron City Gym, containing warp pads but adding the moveable puzzle format to it, and use Psychics as well. It also changes the pace of things very easily. All of your Pokémon fair pretty well up to this point by themselves, but a Double Battle changes up the format so much. Suddenly, two of your most powerful Pokémon are constantly hindering each other in battle and making it that much easier for Tate & Liza to get the win. Check yourself before you wreck yourself when it comes to these two.
Tate and Liza are an interesting duo. They're ESP twins and (you guessed it) use Psychic Type Pokémon. The only cool thing about these two is that they're the only Gym Leader(s) who have a Double Battle format. They have a similar Gym to Kanto's Saffron City Gym, containing warp pads but adding the moveable puzzle format to it, and use Psychics as well. It also changes the pace of things very easily. All of your Pokémon fair pretty well up to this point by themselves, but a Double Battle changes up the format so much. Suddenly, two of your most powerful Pokémon are constantly hindering each other in battle and making it that much easier for Tate & Liza to get the win. Check yourself before you wreck yourself when it comes to these two.
8. Whitney
Gym: Goldenrod City Gym, Johto
Badge: Plain Badge
Badge: Plain Badge
Type: Normal Type
Yes… Whitney's Miltank was here… Besides the fact that Whitney's Miltank will crush your hopes and dreams, she's actually a decent trainer. That Miltank is a very hard Pokémon to beat that early in your career and overcoming it is no easy feat. But just like Volkner, Whitney shows us some actual human development in the time we see her.
After finally triumphing over her, she breaks down and cries her eyes out. She refuses to give you a badge and you have to leave. After a few steps, one of her subordinates tells you to go and ask again. In the few steps you took, she realizes her actual defeat and is able to overcome her sadness to present you with the Plain Badge. To see Whitney go from a stingy crybaby to an actual Gym Leader is a nice moment to be witness of.
7. Koga
Gym: Fuchsia City Gym, Kanto
Badge: Soul Badge
Badge: Soul Badge
Type: Poison Type
Koga is a ninja. Ninjas are cool. That's all there is… On a serious note, Koga has an interesting type and one of the best gyms ever. Koga's Poison type Pokémon have beefy defenses and few weaknesses to exploit. Koga also had one of the single hardest Gym puzzles to date: those invisible walls. If you looked closely enough, you could see them but they were a huge pain if you didn't. That along with the fact that Koga ascended into the Elite Four from his Gym Leader position make him a force to be reckoned with.
Koga is a ninja. Ninjas are cool. That's all there is… On a serious note, Koga has an interesting type and one of the best gyms ever. Koga's Poison type Pokémon have beefy defenses and few weaknesses to exploit. Koga also had one of the single hardest Gym puzzles to date: those invisible walls. If you looked closely enough, you could see them but they were a huge pain if you didn't. That along with the fact that Koga ascended into the Elite Four from his Gym Leader position make him a force to be reckoned with.
6. Crasher Wake
Gym: Pastoria City Gym, Sinnoh
Badge: Fen Badge
Badge: Fen Badge
Type: Water Type
Crasher Wake is nothing but personality. Even in his sprite form in Diamond, Pearl and Platinum; the man reeks of spirit. This Water Type Gym Leader is a wrestler and that's where most of his strengths come from. He reminds me of Chuck from the Cianwood Gym, just so much better. With so much energy backing him up, Wake jumps high onto this list.
Crasher Wake is nothing but personality. Even in his sprite form in Diamond, Pearl and Platinum; the man reeks of spirit. This Water Type Gym Leader is a wrestler and that's where most of his strengths come from. He reminds me of Chuck from the Cianwood Gym, just so much better. With so much energy backing him up, Wake jumps high onto this list.
5. Blaine
Gym: Cinnabar Island Gym, Kanto
Badge: Volcano Badge
Badge: Volcano Badge
Type: Fire Type
The Hot-Headed Quiz Master himself, Blaine of Cinnabar Island. Blaine is another personality defined Gym Leader. His Fire Type Pokémon hit close to home in my heart. His Gym is also NOTHING BUT TRIVIA!!! Even though I know every answer, I still challenge the trainers there. I've always preached that if grinding in a game is fun, there's something seriously right going on there. In Gold and Silver, Blaine's undying and fiery spirit lives on as he relocates to the Seafoam Islands after Cinnabar is the victim of a volcanic eruption. Blaine literally sits in a small cave all day and waits for challengers. The determination is strong with this one.
The Hot-Headed Quiz Master himself, Blaine of Cinnabar Island. Blaine is another personality defined Gym Leader. His Fire Type Pokémon hit close to home in my heart. His Gym is also NOTHING BUT TRIVIA!!! Even though I know every answer, I still challenge the trainers there. I've always preached that if grinding in a game is fun, there's something seriously right going on there. In Gold and Silver, Blaine's undying and fiery spirit lives on as he relocates to the Seafoam Islands after Cinnabar is the victim of a volcanic eruption. Blaine literally sits in a small cave all day and waits for challengers. The determination is strong with this one.
4. Drayden
Gym: Opelucid City Gym, Unova
Badge: Legend Badge
Badge: Legend Badge
Type: Dragon Type
Dragons are cool, therefore Drayden is cool. He's the Dragon Master of Opelucid City and an all-around badass to boot. Drayden is a strict teacher and instructor in the ways of Dragon Pokémon. His Dragons are hard to take down for a reason. Although he is usurped by his student Iris, who becomes the Unova Pokémon League Champion, we have nothing but respect for this man. Drayden is Opelucid's Mayor and an equal of the Dragon Elders as well. Plus, you can't deny that super sweet beard of his.
Dragons are cool, therefore Drayden is cool. He's the Dragon Master of Opelucid City and an all-around badass to boot. Drayden is a strict teacher and instructor in the ways of Dragon Pokémon. His Dragons are hard to take down for a reason. Although he is usurped by his student Iris, who becomes the Unova Pokémon League Champion, we have nothing but respect for this man. Drayden is Opelucid's Mayor and an equal of the Dragon Elders as well. Plus, you can't deny that super sweet beard of his.
3. Clair
Gym: Blackthorn City Gym, Johto
Badge: Rising Badge
Type: Dragon Type
Just beating out the only other Dragon Type Gym Leader is the OG Dragon Leader, Clair. Similar to Drayden, Clair is a Dragon Pokémon Trainer and the final Gym Leader of their respective regions. Clair's Gym Puzzle is a bit more memorable than Drayden's as it consists of scaling multiple levels AND reconfiguring puzzles to advance. Clair is also a childhood friend of the iconic Lance of the Pokémon League.
What makes Clair great is her supreme judge of character. After defeating her, she does not give you a Rising Badge in similar fashion to Whitney's outcry. Clair's reasoning is much more solid. You may have beaten her, but you just aren't worthy of it just it. You'd think taking down her Kingdra would be proof enough. She has you go into the Dragon's Den behind her Gym and retrieve a Dragon Fang. After that, she recognizes your abilities and gives you the badge. This is a memorable moment for fans and Clair stands out even more for this reason.
2. Giovanni
Gym: Viridian City Gym, Kanto
Badge: Earth Badge
Type: Ground Type
The Carmine Falcone of Kanto is Giovanni. When you pass through Viridian City, you lay your eyes on your first Gym. Unfortunately, the Gym is closed as the Gym Leader is away. After your destroy Giovanni and disband Team Rocket, the Viridian City Gym opens up after you obtain the Volcano Badge from Blaine. After navigating the familiar arrow pads, you come to the end and encounter Giovanni. YES, this diabolical man is the last Gym Leader you need to face before the Pokémon League. Sure enough though, you trounce him for the final time and he gives up Team Rocket for good this time. You then take your Earth Badge and look towards the Indigo Plateau.
This is THE twist back in the day. With no internet to spoil anything, this was one of the biggest revelations during games of that time. That still holds true today and makes Giovanni one of the best Leaders to date.
1. Norman
Gym: Petalburg City Gym, Hoenn
Badge: Balance Badge
Type: Normal Type
Meet Norman. He's your dad.
Most Pokémon games start off the same. You wake up. You're 10 years old (sometimes a bit older). You go downstairs and talk to your mom. She sends you on your merry way as you leave home to become a Pokémon trainer. Every. Single. Generation… All but one. In Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald, you move to Littleroot Town in Hoenn because your dad has recently become the Gym Leader of the Petalburg City Gym. After spending much time apart from him, your mom thought it'd be best to move to the Hoenn region so you'd both be with him.
That's Norman's greatest strength. Out of multiple versions of heroes, he's the only father out of them all. An increasingly huge fan theory talks about the Pokémon war hinted at in past lore. This theory uses the fact that there are few older males in the Pokémon world. Even if was to be true… It just adds even more to the fact that Norman deserves this spot even more. Norman's Gym is also one of my favorites to explore. It's a Normal-Type Gym where the trainers use stat boosting battle items like X-Attacks and X-Speed. As much as I don't utilize these items at all, it made me appreciate these items and how much they can actually affect the tide of battle. Thank you Norman. Thank you for being the father we needed.
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