You know that feeling when you walk into a Pokémon Gym and it just feels like a glorified hallway? We’ve all been there. But Paldea changed the vibe. Honestly, the Scarlet and Violet gym leaders aren't just standing around in circles waiting for a ten-year-old to wreck their day; they actually have day jobs. It’s kind of a big deal for the series. For the first time, it feels like these powerful trainers are actually members of a functioning society rather than just living roadblocks.
Katy bakes bread. Iono is a literal streamer who lives for the clout. Larry? Larry is just a tired salaryman who wants to eat his grilled rice balls in peace. This shift in character design makes the Victory Road path feel less like a checklist and more like a tour of Paldean culture. If you’re trying to climb the ranks, you aren't just mastering types; you're navigating the personalities of people who have lives outside of Pokémon battling.
Understanding the Terastal Trick
The biggest hurdle with the Scarlet and Violet gym leaders is the Terastal phenomenon. It’s a total game-changer compared to Dynamax or Mega Evolution. In previous generations, a Gym Leader stayed predictable. If you fought a Fire-type leader, they used Fire-types. Period.
In Paldea, the "ace" Pokémon usually isn't even the type the gym is known for—until they Tera.
Take Brassius, the Artazon Gym Leader. He’s obsessed with "Artazon" (pun intended, maybe?). He’s a Grass-type specialist, but his final Pokémon is a Sudowoodo. Normally, you’d bring a Water or Grass move to take down a Rock-type like Sudowoodo. But Brassius uses the Grass Tera Type, turning Sudowoodo into a "True Tree." Suddenly, your Water-type is hitting for neutral damage, and you’re staring down a Trailblaze that boosts his speed. It’s a clever bit of ludonarrative harmony; the mechanics match his artistic flair.
The Larry Phenomenon: Why Everyone Loves the Medali Normal Gym
Larry is the absolute goat. Most people agree he’s the best part of the Scarlet and Violet gym leaders roster. Why? Because he’s relatable. While Iono is screaming at her "Ionies" and Grusha is acting cold (literally) because of his failed snowboarding career, Larry is just trying to meet his KPIs for the Pokémon League.
He specializes in Normal types, which fits his "average Joe" persona perfectly. He’s the only leader who appears twice in different capacities—once as a Gym Leader and later as a member of the Elite Four. In Medali, the challenge isn't even a puzzle; it’s a secret menu item at a restaurant. You have to talk to NPCs, gather clues about lemon, extra crispy, and the "medium" serving size. It’s world-building disguised as a gym test.
People struggle with Larry because Normal types only have one weakness: Fighting. If you didn't pick Quaxly or catch a Mankey early on, Larry’s Staraptor can actually sweep your team with Facade. It’s a reality check. You realize that "Normal" doesn't mean "Easy."
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The Difficulty Curve is... Weird
Because Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is open-world, you can technically go anywhere. This is a blessing and a curse. If you head toward Glaseado Mountain too early, Grusha will absolutely annihilate you.
Grusha is the strongest of the Scarlet and Violet gym leaders by level, with his team sitting in the late 40s. His Altaria is a menace. It’s an Ice Tera type, which removes its 4x weakness to Ice but keeps the Dragon-type's coverage moves.
Here is the thing: the game doesn't scale.
If you do things out of order, you might find yourself overleveled for Katy in Cortondo. She’s the "intended" first stop. Her Bug-types are level 14-15. If you show up with a level 30 Skeledirge, it’s not a fight; it’s a tragedy. To get the best experience, you sort of have to follow the invisible path the developers laid out, even if the game tells you that you’re "free."
The Order Most Players Actually Need
- Katy (Bug) - Cortondo. Basically a tutorial.
- Brassius (Grass) - Artazon. Watch out for the Sudowoodo.
- Iono (Electric) - Levincia. Her Mismagius has Levitate. This is a huge trap. It’s an Electric Tera type, meaning it has zero weaknesses because Levitate negates Ground moves.
- Kofu (Water) - Cascarrafa. He’s a chef. Bring an Electric or Grass type, but watch out for his Crabominable.
- Larry (Normal) - Medali. Bring a Fighting type or a very fast Ghost type.
- Ryme (Ghost) - Montenevera. This is a Double Battle. It’s unique. It feels like a concert.
- Tulip (Psychic) - Alfornada. Her Florges is surprisingly tanky.
- Grusha (Ice) - Glaseado Mountain. The final boss of the gyms.
Iono and the Power of Levitate
We need to talk about Iono for a second. She is probably the most "modern" design Game Freak has ever done. Her gym test involves a "Where’s Waldo" style game with Director Clavell, which is hilarious, but the real meat is her team composition.
Most Electric leaders are easy: just use Earthquake.
Iono says "no."
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Her ace is Mismagius. Mismagius is naturally a Ghost type with the Levitate ability. When she Terastallizes it into an Electric type, the only weakness of Electric (Ground) is completely nullified by the ability. You’re forced to hit it with neutral damage while it spams Confuse Ray and Hex. It’s the first time in years a Pokémon Gym Leader felt like they were using a strategy you'd see in competitive online play.
Beyond the Badges: Rematches and the Academy Ace Tournament
Once you’ve beaten Geeta and become a Champion-ranked trainer, the Scarlet and Violet gym leaders don't just disappear. You actually have to go back and audit them.
Geeta asks you to check in on the gyms, leading to rematches where their teams are significantly stronger—usually around level 65. This is where the leaders really shine. Kofu starts using Dondozo. Tulip brings out a Gardevoir that actually knows how to use its movepool.
These rematches are vital for getting into the Academy Ace Tournament. It’s a great way to see how the characters have "grown" since your first encounter. It also highlights the tragedy of Grusha. If you read the dialogue closely, he’s a former pro-snowboarder who lost his career to an injury. He’s cold and distant because he lost his passion. Beating him in a rematch actually helps him find a bit of that spark again. It’s subtle, but it’s there.
Why the Gym Tests Polarize Fans
The Gym Tests replaced the traditional "puzzles" of the older games. Some people hate them. Searching for Sunflora in Artazon isn't exactly high-octane gameplay. Sliding down a mountain on a Koraidon/Miraidon for Grusha's test is... fine?
But then you have Ryme. Ryme’s gym test is literally a rap battle. Well, you don't rap, but you participate in double battles on a stage to get the crowd hyped. It’s the only Gym in the game that uses the Double Battle format, which is a shame because Double Battles are the official format for VGC (Video Game Championships). It would have been cool to see more Scarlet and Violet gym leaders embrace this, but Ryme stands alone as the "cool aunt" of the region.
Nuance in the Narrative
One thing the game doesn't scream at you is the relationship between the leaders and the Elite Four. Hassel, the Art teacher and Dragon-type E4 member, is a mentor to Brassius. You can find them talking in the school or during the post-game. It makes the world feel small in a good way. Like, they all know each other.
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Compare this to the Galar region (Sword/Shield), where the leaders felt like sports stars. In Paldea, they feel like local celebrities or public servants. It’s a different kind of fame.
Strategic Takeaways for Your Run
If you’re struggling to clear the gyms, stop focusing on level grinding and start looking at held items and Tera types.
- The Shell Bell is your friend: You can buy this at the Delibird Presents in Levincia. It heals you based on damage dealt. Perfect for the mid-game slump.
- Don't ignore the "Leaking" types: Many gym leaders have Pokémon with dual typing that covers their weaknesses.
- Tera offensively: Don't just save your Tera for your last Pokémon. Sometimes, Terastallizing your lead to get an early knockout on a threat is the better play.
Preparing for the Elite Four
Beating the eight gym leaders is just the qualifying round. The real challenge is the "Elite Four Assessment." Unlike previous games, there’s an actual interview. If you don't know who the gym leaders are or what their deal is, you can actually fail the interview and get kicked out.
Rika (the Ground-type specialist) will ask you which gym gave you the most trouble. You have to remember the leader’s name and their town. If you were just clicking through dialogue, you might get stumped. It’s the game’s way of making sure you actually paid attention to the journey.
Practical Steps for Mastering Paldea
- Check your map frequently: Hover over the gym icons to see the "intended" level range. If you see a gym icon and the description sounds intimidating, come back later.
- Catch a Paldean Wooper early: Clodsire (its evolution) is a Ground/Poison type with Water Absorb. It is a hard counter to Iono and several other leaders because of its insane special bulk.
- Visit the school: It sounds boring, but taking classes at the Academy actually unlocks new dialogue and side quests with the gym leaders. You even get rewards like rare candies and evolutionary stones.
- Farm Tera Shards: After you beat a gym, look for Tera Raids nearby. You'll need those shards later if you want to change your Pokémon’s Tera Type to match the strategies used by the pros.
The Paldea region is massive, and the gym leaders are the anchors that keep the story grounded. They aren't just obstacles; they are the flavor of the region. Whether you're laughing at Larry’s misery or trying to figure out how to hit Iono's Mismagius, these characters stick with you long after the credits roll. Get out there, find your favorite, and don't forget to pack some Burn Heals for Mela (even if she’s technically Team Star, she’s part of that same boss-fight ecosystem).
Good luck on your path to Champion rank. The Medali grilled rice balls are waiting.