Facing off against the gym leaders in Pokémon Sword and Shield? Whether you’re starting fresh or returning for another run, our guide will help you prep for each battle. Below, you’ll find each Gym Leader’s team and which Pokémon types and moves give you the best shot at victory.
Milo – Turffield Gym Leader
Milo is the leader of Turffield Gym, which specializes in Grass-type Pokemon. His Pokemon include a Level 19 Gossifleur and a Level 20 Eldegloss (Dynamax). Use Flying, Poison, Bug, Fire or Ice-type Pokemon to deal mega damage to his Grass-type creatures.
- Speciality: Grass-type Pokémon
- Team:
- Gossifleur (Level 19)
- Eldegoss (Level 20) [Dynamax]
- Counter: Use Flying, Fire, Bug, Ice, or Poison-type moves to deal massive damage to his Grass-types.
Nessa – Hulbury Gym Leader
Nessa is the leader of Hulbury Gym, who specializes in Water-type Pokemon. Her Pokemon include a Level 22 Goldeen, a Level 23 Arrokuda and a Level 24 Drednaw (Dynamax), which deals Rock damage as well as Water. Use Grass or Electric attacks to make short work of her Water creatures.
- Speciality: Water-type Pokémon
- Team:
- Goldeen (Level 22)
- Arrokuda (Level 23)
- Drednaw (Level 24) [Dynamax]
- Counter: Electric or Grass-type moves work best against Nessa’s Water-types.
Kabu – Motostoke Gym Leader
Kabu is the leader of Motostoke Gym, who specializes in Fire-type Pokemon. His Pokemon include a Level 25 Ninetales, a Level 25 Arcanine and a Level 27 Centiskorch (Gigantamax). Use Ground, Rock or Water-type moves to get rid of his Fire Pokemon quickly.
- Speciality: Fire-type Pokémon
- Team:
- Ninetales (Level 25)
- Arcanine (Level 25)
- Centiskorch (Level 27) [Gigantamax]
- Counter: Use Ground, Water, or Rock-type moves to quickly shut down Kabu’s fiery team.
Bea – Stow-on-Side Gym Leader (Pokemon Sword)
Bea is the leader of the Stow-on-Side gym who specializes in Fighting-type Pokemon. Her Pokemon include a Level 34 Hitmontop, a Level 34 Pangoro, a Level 35 Sirfetch’d and a Level 36 Machamp (Gigantamax). Use Flying, Psychic or Fairy-type moves to deal extra damage to her Fighting creatures.
- Speciality: Fighting-type Pokémon
- Team:
- Hitmontop (Level 34)
- Pangoro (Level 34)
- Sirfetch’d (Level 35)
- Machamp (Level 36) [Gigantamax]
- Counter: Fairy, Flying, or Psychic-type moves are your best bet against Bea’s Fighting types.
Allister – Stow-on-Side Gym Leader (Pokemon Shield)
Allister is the leader of the Stow-on-Side gym who specializes in Ghost-type Pokemon. His Pokemon include a Level 34 Yamask, a Level 34 Mimikyu, a Level 35 Cursola and a Level 36 Gengar (Gigantamax). Use Ghost or Dark-type moves to deal more damage to his ghostly creatures.
- Speciality: Ghost-type Pokémon
- Team:
- Yamask (Level 34)
- Mimikyu (Level 34)
- Cursola (Level 35)
- Gengar (Level 36) [Gigantamax]
- Counter: Use Ghost or Dark-type moves to deal extra damage to Allister’s spooky team.
Opal – Ballonlea Gym Leader
Opal is the leader of the Ballonlea gym who specializes in Fairy-type Pokemon. Her Pokemon include a Level 36 Weezing, a Level 36 Mawile, a Level 37 Togekiss and a Level 38 Alcremie (Gigantamax). Use Poison or Steel-type moves to make short work of her Fairy-type creatures.
- Speciality: Fairy-type Pokémon
- Team:
- Weezing (Level 36)
- Mawile (Level 36)
- Togekiss (Level 37)
- Alcremie (Level 38) [Gigantamax]
- Counter: Poison or Steel-type moves are highly effective against Opal’s Fairy-types.
Gordie – Circhester Gym Leader (Pokemon Sword)
Gordie is the leader of the Circhester gym who specializes in Rock-type Pokemon. His Pokemon include a Level 40 Barbaracle, a Level 40 Shuckle, a Level 41 Stonjourner, and a Level 42 Coalossal (Gigantamax). Use Fighting, Ground, Steel, Water or Grass-type moves to dispatch his Rock-type creatures.
- Speciality: Rock-type Pokémon
- Team:
- Barbaracle (Level 40)
- Shuckle (Level 40)
- Stonjourner (Level 41)
- Coalossal (Level 42) [Gigantamax]
- Counter: Use Water, Ground, Fighting, Steel, or Grass-type moves to break through Gordie’s tough Rock-types.
Melony – Circhester Gym Leader (Pokemon Shield)
Melony is the leader of the Circhester gym who specializes in Ice-type Pokemon. Her Pokemon include a Level 40 Frosmoth, a Level 40 Darmanitan, A Level 41 Eiscue and a Level 42 Lapras (Gigantamax). Use Fighting, Rock, Steel or Fire-type moves to make short work of her Ice-type creatures.
- Speciality: Ice-type Pokémon
- Team:
- Frosmoth (Level 40)
- Darmanitan (Level 40)
- Eiscue (Level 41)
- Lapras (Level 42) [Gigantamax]
- Counter: Fire, Rock, Fighting, or Steel-type moves will melt her Ice-types fast.
Piers – Spikemuth Gym Leader
Piers is the leader of the Spikemuth gym who specializes in Dark-type Pokemon. His Pokemon include a Level 44 Scrafty, a Level 45 Malamar, a Level 45 Skuntank and a Level 46 Obstagoon. Use Fighting, Bug or Fairy-type moves to get rid of his annoying Dark-type creatures.
- Speciality: Dark-type Pokémon
- Team:
- Scrafty (Level 44)
- Malamar (Level 45)
- Skuntank (Level 45)
- Obstagoon (Level 46)
- Counter: Fairy, Fighting, or Bug-type moves will help you overpower Piers’ Dark-types.
Raihan – Hammerlocke Gym Leader
Raihan is the leader of the Hammerlocke gym who specializes in Dragon-type Pokemon. His Pokemon include a Level 46 Gigalith, a Level 47 Flygon, a Level 46 Sandaconda and a Level 48 Duraludon (Gigantamax). Use Dragon, Fairy and Ice attacks to dispose of his Dragon-type creatures.
- Speciality: Dragon-type Pokémon
- Team:
- Gigalith (Level 46)
- Flygon (Level 47)
- Sandaconda (Level 46)
- Duraludon (Level 48) [Gigantamax]
- Counter: Use Fairy, Dragon, or Ice-type moves to take down Raihan’s Dragons.
Final Tips:
- Preparation: Always bring a balanced team that can cover a variety of types.
- Items: Stock up on healing items and status healers for tough battles.
- Strategy: Pay attention to each Gym Leader’s battle style and use moves that exploit their weaknesses.
With the right strategy and a little prep, you’ll be ready to take on each Gym Leader in Pokémon Sword and Shield and earn your badges in no time. Good luck, Trainer!
