Strongest Gym Leader Pokemon, Ranked

The Gym Challenge is perhaps the most iconic element of the entire Pokemon franchise, as players travel from town to town across each game’s region and duke it out with specialized trainers in intriguing gyms that are often themed around what Pokemon type the gym leader focuses on.

As with any trainer in the Pokemon games, some gym leaders are stronger than others, and some leaders feature extremely powerful Pokemon that might give your team fits – depending on what ‘mon you have on your roster when you challenge them. Let’s take a look at the strongest Pokemon that gym leaders employ.

10

Lenora’s Watchog – Pokemon Black & White

Nacrene City’s Normal-Type Gym Leader

An unassuming Normal-type trainer, Lenora is the Nacrene City gym leader, which is the second one that players will challenge on their journey through the Unova region in Pokemon Black, White, Black 2, and White 2.

While she only boasts two ‘mon, they are both speedy, strong attackers, with the level-20 Watchog often posing quite the threat for underprepared teams. The combination of a sleep-inducing Hypnosis, a strong Dark-type Crunch attack, and Lenora’s signature TM move, Retaliate, Watchog can surprisingly sweep through low-defense teams if you’re under-leveled in the early game.

9

Iono’s Mismagius – Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

Levincia City’s Electric-Type Gym Leader

The only gym leader on this list from the Generation Nine Pokemon games, Iono’s social media savvy is equaled only by her prowess as the Electric-type gym leader of Levincia City. While some of her Pokemon can be taken out quite easily with Ground-type attacks, her “ace” Pokemon cannot.

Seeing as Terastallization was introduced in Generation Nine, each gym leader in the game employs that ability to transform their ‘mon from their standard typing to the type that matches their specialization. As such, Iono’s normally Ghost-type Mismagius transforms into an Electric type after Terastallizing while retaining its Levitate ability – meaning it lacks the Ground weakness Electric-type’s normally have and making it quite the threat.

8

Bugsy’s Scyther – Pokemon Gold & Silver

Azalea Town’s Bug-Type Gym Leader

The first of three Johto gym leaders found herein, Bugsy is not the most threatening of leaders in the expansive Pokemon Gold & Silver games, but he can serve as quite the speed bump for underprepared trainers or under-leveled ‘mon in the early game.

Azalea Town’s gym is the second that trainers will face in the game, and if they lack a ‘mon that can deal with Bugsy’s Scyther, which boasts the increasingly powerful Fury Cutter attack (which doubles in power with each successive hit), they’ll be “scurrying back” to the nearest Pokemon Center to lick their wounds and try again.

7

Clair’s Kingdra – Pokemon Gold & Silver

Blackthorn City’s Dragon-Type Gym Leader

From an early Johto gym leader to the final one, in Blackthorn City, Clair specializes in Dragon-type Pokemon and is not overly pleased when you defeat her – as she runs off to pout in the nearby Dragon’s Den before forking over the Rising Badge when you track her down.

Of course, it’s quite understandable that she’d be upset that you bested her, as her “ace” Pokemon, the dual Water- and Dragon-type Kingdra (aka Horsea’s final evolution), is quite the powerhouse, especially in Generation Two, seeing as its only weakness are Dragon move, which is rather unlikely for a trainer to have at that point.

6

Norman’s Slaking – Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire & Emerald

Petalburg City’s Normal-Type Gym Leader

The only gym leader from the Hoenn region found here, Norman also happens to be, canonically, the main character’s dad in addition to the Normal-type gym leader that inhabits and protects Petalburg gym with his supremely strong ‘mon.

Though you meet Norman right away in Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, trainers won’t be able to battle him until they have at least four badges, which is probably a good thing, as his Slaking is immensely powerful (with a staggering 670 base stat total), though that strength is countered by Slaking’s Truant ability, which only allows it to attack every other turn.

5

Burgh’s Leavanny – Pokemon Black & White

Castelia City’s Bug-Type Gym Leader

A rather “deep cut” gym leader with seemingly unassuming Pokemon, Burgh is the Castelia City gym leader who specializes in Bug-type Pokemon. Castelia City is among the coolest locations in all of Pokemon, so it’s only fitting that its gym leader features an extremely strong “ace” Pokemon.

While Burgh’s first two ‘mon (Whirlipede and Dwebble) are nothing to write home about, his Leavanny (the final evolution of Sewaddle) is an absolute beast, surprisingly so, as the Bug- and Grass-type’s Razor Leaf can casually sweep a team that is mostly offense-focused due to its speed and relatively high attack.

4

Brock’s Onix – Pokemon Red, Blue & Yellow

Pewter City’s Rock-Type Gym Leader

It is widely understood that Pokemon’s Generation One featured its strongest gym leaders as well as its hardest gameplay. That is certainly proven true on this list, as two Gen. One leader is featured back-to-back here, starting with the very first gym leader in Pokemon history: Brock of Pewter City.

A beloved figure from the original Pokemon anime, Pokemon: Indigo League, Brock is also a supremely strong gym leader – especially in Pokemon Yellow – where his Geodude and Onix can easily best your starter, Pikachu, with their Ground-type attacks and immunity to Electric types. Also, watch out for Bide!

3

Misty’s Starmie – Pokemon Red, Blue & Yellow

Cerulean City’s Water-Type Gym Leader

Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow truly started off with a bang as the first two gym leaders in Pokemon history also happen to be two of its strongest. Misty, another beloved character from the original Pokemon anime, focuses on Water-types.

In particular, Misty’s “ace” is a Starmie, which was widely regarded as one of the best competitive Pokemon for at least five generations in a row due to its impressive speed, balanced defenses, strong special attack, and expansive move pool, which includes a variety of useful offensive and support moves.

2

Blue’s Gyarados – Pokemon Gold & Silver

Viridian City’s Former Champion Gym Leader

Blue, your rival throughout Red, Blue and Yellow, makes a return appearance in Pokemon Gold and Silver as the Viridian City gym leader – and what a leader he is. Though his spot as champion was quickly taken away by Red (aka, you, the player character in Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow), he returns triumphantly in the next game with a shudderingly powerful squad headlined by Gyarados.

A fan favorite that still serves as one of the strongest and most versatile Water-type Pokemon of all time, Blue’s Gyarados features a barrage of strong attacking moves – Hydro Pump and Hyper Beam being the best – and besting this powerhouse ‘mon surely means the battle is won.

1

Whitney’s Miltank – Pokemon Gold & Silver

Goldenrod City’s Normal-Type Gym Leader

Was there ever any doubt? This surprising Pokemon is somehow the most powerful that any gym leader boasts across the Pokemon franchise’s 30-plus years of existence (or were we just bad at Pokemon?). Why is this unassuming Normal-type “milk cow Pokemon” such a beast? It’s a combination of bulk and the increasingly powerful move Rollout.

Miltank is able to dominate unsuspecting teams due to its impressive base 100 speed, its surprisingly strong attack stat, and generally good physical bulk, all combined with the Rock-type move Rollout, which doubles in power upon each successive hit (much like Bugsy’s Scyther’s Fury Cutter). These elements combine to create an absolute nightmare for many trainers to deal with – and make Whitney’s Miltank the strongest gym leader-owned Pokemon.