As in every Pokemon game, Pokemon Black and White has a total of eight gym leaders that you must defeat in order to gain a badge and have an opportunity to battle the Elite Four.
In the Unova Region, each Gym Leader uses a specific type of Pokemon. It’s always best to remember the weakness of each element in the game. For example, a normal-type Pokemon is weak against a Pokemon that can use a fighting-type attack. Learning their weaknesses will give you an advantage in every Gym Battle.
With Pokemon Black and White now available in stores, we would like to reveal our Gym Leader Strategy Guide that mentions what type of Pokemon you should bring before each gym battle.
STRIATON CITY GYM – Trio Badge
Before you face the gym leader of the Striaton City gym, you will have to do a puzzle that will test your knowledge in Pokemon type compatibility.
Depending on the type of the starter Pokemon you chose, the gym leader that you’re going to fight is the one who has an elemental advantage over you. If you pick Tepig, a fire Pokemon, then you will face a gym leader with a water Pokemon, which is Cress.
Gym Leader Chili
Pokemon used: Lilipup (Lv 12), Pansear (Lv 14)
Gym Leader Cress
Pokemon used: Lilipup (Lv 12), Panpour (Lv 14)
Gym Leader Cylan
Pokemon used: Lilipup (Lv 12), Pansage (Lv 14)
NACRENE CITY GYM – Basic Badge
Before you face Lenora, you must first solve her puzzle that involves reading books. The Pokemon that Lenora will use are all normal type Pokemon. If you have Pignite, the evolved form of Tepig, simply use any of his fighting type attacks. For other starter Pokemon, there’s a Pokemon that you can catch in Pinwheel Forest that is a fighting type Pokemon.
Gym Leader Lenora
Pokemon used: Herdier (Lv 18), Watchog (Lv 20)
CASTELIA CITY GYM – Insect Badge
Before you get to challenge Burgh in a gym battle, you must help him first in getting rid of Team Plasma in the Harbor of Castelia city.
Burgh’s Pokemon are insect type. If you have a Pidove, this gym battle will be very easy as Burgh’s Pokemon are weak to flying type attacks like Air Cutter. Tepig’s fire type attack will also work in this gym battle.
Gym Leader Burgh
Pokemon used: Whirlipede (Lv 21), Dwebble (Lv 21), Leavanny (Lv 23)
NIMBASA CITY GYM – Bolt Badge
Prepare yourself for a roller coaster ride when you reach the Nimbasa City Gym. Just before you meet Elesa, you will have to make your way to her by flipping switches while on the roller coaster.
The Nimbasa City gym leader loves using electric type Pokemon. If you have an Oshawott in your party, don’t use it! Electric type are weak against ground-type attacks. If you have Snivy, he will take less damage.
Gym Leader Elesa
Pokemon used: Emolga (Lv 25), Emolga (Lv 25), Zebstrika (Lv 25)
DRIFTVEIL CITY GYM – Quake Badge
The Driftveil City Gym is only accessible after you get rid of Team Plasma in Cold Storage.
In this gym battle, never use an electric type attack. If you picked Oshawott as your starter Pokemon, this will be the time to use his water-type attacks. Clay’s Pokemon weakness is water type, but is immune to electric type.
Gym Leader Clay
Pokemon used: Krokorok (Lv 29), Palpitode (Lv 29), Excadrill (Lv 31)
MISTRALTON CITY GYM – Jet Badge
If you have a Pokemon like Emolga, this would be the best time to use it as Mistralton’s Gym Leader uses a flying type Pokemon. When it comes to flying type Pokemon, they are weak against electric type attacks.
Gym Leader Skyla
Pokemon used: Krokorok (Lv 29), Palpitode (Lv 29), Excadrill (Lv 31)
ICIRRUS CITY GYM – Freeze Badge
The Icirrus City gym leader carries an ice type Pokemon. Any Pokemon with a fire type attack will be very effective in this battle. If you picked Tepig as your starter, now is a good time to use it.
Gym Leader Brycen
Pokemon used: Vanillish (Lv 37), Cryogonal (Lv 37), Beartic (Lv 39)
OPELUCID CITY GYM – Legend Badge
Depending on the version of the game you have, you will fight a certain gym leader. If you have the Black version, you will fight Drayen. For White, you will fight Iris. Both gym leaders use a dragon type Pokemon.
Gym Leader Drayden (Pokemon Black Only)
Pokemon used: Fraxure (Lv 41), Druddigon (Lv 41), Hexarus (Lv 43)
Gym Leader Iris (Pokemon White Only)
Pokemon used: Fraxure (Lv 41), Druddigon (Lv 41), Hexarus (Lv 43)