Gym Leader: Difference between revisions

Gym Leaders are also responsible for overseeing how their respective Gyms are run and maintained. Great care must be taken to make sure that their Gym reflects the best environment for the [[type]] in which they [[Type expert|specialize]], such as swimming pools in a {{type|Water}} Gym, trees and flowering plants in a {{type|Grass}} or a {{type|Bug}} Gym, or ice and snow in an {{type|Ice}} Gym. According to [[Morty]], teaching young people how to battle with Pokémon of that particular type can also be the job of a Gym Leader. Unlike regular Pokémon Trainers, a Gym Leader has the right to directly challenge the {{pkmn|Champion|Pokémon League Champion}}, as revealed by [[Brock]] in [[Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!]].

A '''Gym Leader''' (Japanese: '''ジムリーダー''' ''Gym Leader''), or '''Leader''' prior to [[Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!]], is the {{DL|Pokémon Trainer|Trainer class}} name given to the Gym Leaders when they are battled in the [[Pokémon games]]. Despite Gym Leaders themselves being introduced in [[Generation I]], the Trainer class did not appear onscreen until [[Generation II]], and it has been incorporated into every game since. Gym Leaders are integral within the Pokémon universe. Occasionally, in order for one to advance in the game, the player must challenge and defeat the leader of a [[Gym]]. Each game is designed in such a way that the player will not be able to move forward until they receive a [[Badge|Gym Badge]] which will, in turn, either allow them to use an [[HM]] to overcome natural obstacles or trigger a necessary event to continue with the game. It is one of the player's main objectives to collect eight Gym Badges, allowing them to challenge the [[Elite Four]].

Leaders do not seem to be required to be in their Gyms at all times, as they may have other duties. [[Giovanni]], for example, could keep his title as a Gym Leader despite not being at the [[Viridian Gym]] during the majority of the events of [[Generation I]], and his successor, {{ga|Blue}}, was also absent from the Gym several times. Beginning in [[Generation IV]], Leaders are increasingly encountered outside of their Gyms, evident in the remakes {{game|HeartGold and SoulSilver|s}}, where the Leaders have to be found in different locations at specific times before they can {{DL|Pokégear|Gym Leader phone listing|exchange phone numbers}} with the player for a {{DL|Rematch|Gym Leader rematch schedule|rematch at the Fighting Dojo}}. Some Leaders even appear across regions, such as [[Jasmine]] appearing in [[Sunyshore City]], [[Crasher Wake]] on {{rt|47|Johto}}, and [[Maylene]] in [[Celadon City]]. Leaders can even challenge other Gyms and the [[Elite Four]] (like [[Volkner]] wanted to do). In later games, it is made apparent that Gym Leaders know each other and are acquainted with Gym Leaders from other regions, as well as with members of the [[Elite Four]] and {{pkmn|Champion}}s. Examples of this are Jasmine being friends with [[Erika]], Volkner being friends with {{EF|Flint}}, [[Brawly]] training with [[Bruno]], and most [[Unova]] Gym Leaders coming together to fight [[Team Plasma]]'s [[Seven Sages]].

Gym Leaders from various core series regions appear in [[Pokémon Masters EX]]. Some of them serve as PML Leaders for the [[Pokémon Masters League]], though this position is not exclusive to Gym Leaders, as seen with {{mas|Hapu}}.

In the "1P Stadium" mode of [[Pokémon Puzzle League]], [[Ash Ketchum]] battles the eight [[Kanto]] Gym Leaders.

In the "Challenge" mode of [[Pokémon Puzzle Challenge]], {{ga|Ethan}} battles the eight [[Johto]] Gym Leaders.

In [[Pokémon Mezastar]], the [[Star Trainer]]s have a role similar to Gym Leaders.

* Radio show "Verity" from {{game|Black and White|s 2|Pokémon Black 2 and White 2}} mentions a former {{tc|Bug Catcher}} and Gym Leader from [[Sinnoh]] that became an [[Elite Four]] member, likely referring to {{EF|Aaron}}.

* The {{type|Normal}} Gym Leader [[Larry]] is also a member of the [[Elite Four]] as a {{type|Flying}} [[Pokémon Trainer|Trainer]].