You’re standing at the gates of Mesagoza, the world of Paldea is sprawling out in front of you, and the game basically says, "Go wherever." It’s a lie. Well, it’s a half-truth. While Pokémon Scarlet and Violet gives you the "freedom" to go anywhere, the levels don’t scale. If you wander into the wrong neighborhood, you’re going to find a level 50 Grumpig that will absolutely delete your starter.
Basically, the pokemon sv gym order isn't forced, but there is a "correct" way to do it if you don't want to spend ten hours grinding against wild Lechonks.
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Most people get frustrated because they see a gym nearby and think, "Hey, why not?" Then they get hit by a Brassius who knows exactly how to punish a lack of preparation. It’s tricky. You’ve got three paths—Victory Road, Starfall Street, and Path of Legends—all intertwined. If you just focus on the gyms, you’ll miss out on the Koraidon/Miraidon upgrades that actually make traveling to those gyms possible. It's a mess, but a fun one.
The Brutal Reality of Level Scaling
The biggest shock for long-time fans was the lack of level scaling. If you head North immediately, you are done for. Honestly, the game expects you to loop around the map in a very specific, counter-clockwise-ish fashion. You start small. You get your feet wet.
Katy, the Bug-type specialist in Cortondo, is the intended first stop. She’s easy. Her Teddiursa thinks it’s a bug, which is cute, but a single Fire or Flying move ends that dream quickly. If you skip her and try to fight Iono first because you like her "influencer" vibe, you’re looking at a level 24 Bellibolt that will soak up your hits and spit them back twice as hard. It’s not just about the gyms, though; it's about how the pokemon sv gym order fits between the Titan Pokémon and the Team Star bases.
If you do Gym 1, then Gym 2, then Gym 3 without stopping to fight a Titan, you’re going to be under-leveled. The game design is less of a straight line and more of a "do two of this, one of that, and maybe go find a sandwich" kind of rhythm.
The Ideal Path Through Victory Road
Katy (Cortondo): Level 14-15. Use Fuecoco or any bird you found on the way. Seriously, don't overthink this one.
Artazon’s Artist, Brassius: He’s rocking level 16-17 Pokémon. His Sudowoodo "pretends" to be a tree by Terastallizing into a Grass-type. It’s a gimmick, but if you brought a Water-type, you’ll get smacked by Trailblaze.
After those two, the jump starts. Most people get lost here. They try to cross the desert or go up the mountains. Instead, you should probably be looking at the Stony Cliff Titan or the Open Sky Titan to unlock dash and swimming. Without swimming, getting to some of the mid-game gyms is just a chore of finding the one specific land bridge Game Freak hid behind a rock.
Iono (Levincia): Level 24-25. This is the first "real" wall. Her Mismagius has Levitate. Do not, I repeat, do not try to use Ground moves on it even though it’s an Electric-type Tera. You’ll just waste a turn. Use something fast.
Kofu (Cascarrafa): Level 29-30. You have to do a weird "deliver the wallet" quest first. It’s annoying. Kofu himself isn't too bad if you have a decent Electric or Grass type, but his Crabominable hits like a freight train.
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Why the "Any Order" Promise is Kinda Fake
If you decide to be a rebel and go for Grusha first—the Ice-type leader in Glaseado Mountain—you’re facing level 47+ Pokémon. If you have three badges, you will lose. There is no strategy that saves a level 20 Floragato from a level 48 Altaria using Hurricane.
This brings up a huge point of contention in the Pokémon community. Critics like those at Serebii or Bulbapedia have meticulously documented these level jumps because the game doesn't. You’re flying blind. The "freedom" is more of a "freedom to fail" until you realize the pokemon sv gym order is secretly a rigid ladder disguised as an open field.
It's actually better to think of the map as a circle.
Larry: The Hero We Don't Deserve
Medali’s gym leader, Larry, is a Normal-type user. Level 35-36. He’s the most relatable character in the franchise because he’s just a tired salaryman. To fight him, you have to solve a food puzzle at a restaurant. Hint: It’s Medium servings, Fire Blast style. Larry’s Staraptor is surprisingly dangerous because of Facade. If you status it, you’re basically handing him the win.
The Back Half: Where Things Get Serious
Once you clear Larry, you’re likely heading toward Montenevera or Alfornada.
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Ryme is the Ghost leader. Level 41-42. It’s a double battle. This is the only gym that actually tests your ability to synergize two Pokémon at once. Most players just power through with a single over-leveled starter, but Ryme will punish that with Frightful Songs that buff her team while you're just trying to land a Shadow Ball.
Then there’s Tulip in Alfornada. Level 44-45. Psychic types. Her Farigiraf is a tank. If you haven’t been keeping up with the Team Star bases, your Pokémon might start disobeying you here if they were traded, or you might just find your items aren't strong enough.
The Final Stretch with Grusha
Grusha is the "final" gym for most. Level 47-48. Ice types are glass cannons. They hit hard but die to a light breeze—specifically a Fire or Steel breeze. If you’ve made it this far, his Cetitan shouldn’t be a problem, but don't underestimate the speed of his Weavile.
The Integrated Route: More Than Just Badges
You can't just talk about the pokemon sv gym order without mentioning the Titans. If you ignore the Titans, you can't climb. You can't glide. You're basically playing the game on "hard mode" because you have to walk around every single hill.
- Early Game: Katy -> Artazon Gym -> Stony Cliff Titan -> Sky Titan -> Team Star Fire Crew.
- Mid Game: Iono -> Kofu -> Lurking Steel Titan -> Larry -> Team Star Poison Crew.
- Late Game: Ryme -> Tulip -> Quaking Earth Titan -> Grusha -> False Dragon Titan -> Fairy/Fighting Star Crews.
This sequence keeps the level curve smooth. If you deviate too much, you’ll end up in a situation where you’re level 50 fighting a level 20 leader, which is just boring. One-shotting a gym leader’s entire team because you went the wrong way ruins the tension.
Key Strategy: The Terastal Trap
A lot of people forget that the gym leaders always Terastallize their last Pokémon. Usually, it’s a Pokémon that isn't originally the type of the gym.
Take Iono’s Mismagius. It’s a Ghost-type normally. She Teras it into Electric. But because it has the Levitate ability, its only weakness (Ground) is negated. You have to use neutral damage or status effects. This is where the game gets actually "smart." It forces you to think about abilities, not just type charts.
Expert Tips for Paldean Progression
Don't sleep on the "Check Map" feature. If you hover over a gym icon, the game gives you a vague hint, but checking the nearby Pokémon levels is the real pro move. If the wild Pokémon are ten levels higher than you, turn around.
Also, the Raid Dens are your best friend. If you feel the pokemon sv gym order is getting too tough, grind some 3-star or 4-star raids. The Exp. Candies you get will level your team faster than any trainer battle ever could. Honestly, it feels like cheating sometimes, but in a game where the bosses don't scale, you use what you’ve got.
Another thing: get a Pokémon with "False Swipe" early. You’re going to be catching a lot of specific counters for these gyms. A Breloom or a Gallade is perfect for this. You need a deep bench in Paldea. You can't just rely on your starter like it's 1998.
Actionable Next Steps
- Audit your team levels: Check your highest-level Pokémon and compare it to the next gym in the suggested sequence. If you're more than 5 levels under, go find a Titan.
- Prioritize the Open Sky Titan: Unlocking the ability to dash and swim makes reaching the mid-tier gyms (like Cascarrafa) significantly less frustrating.
- Don't skip the school: Go back to the Academy and take the classes. Not only does it flesh out the lore, but the rewards and the relationship with the teachers (who are mostly retired experts or related to the league) provide massive boosts to your item inventory.
- Prepare for the Elite Four: Remember that once you finish the pokemon sv gym order, the level cap jumps to the high 50s and 60s. Save your rare candies for that final push after Grusha.
- Handle the "Walled" Gyms first: If you’re struggling with Tulip or Ryme, go finish the Team Star bases. The XP and the TM rewards you get from Penny are often the exact coverage moves you need to sweep the remaining gyms.
The journey through Paldea is about the loop. If you follow the natural counter-clockwise curve starting from the South Province and heading East, then North, then West, you’ll have the best experience. Going out of order is possible, but unless you’re looking for a self-imposed challenge, stick to the levels the game secretly expects from you.