When first entering Striaton City, the Gym is blocked off by Cilan. He disappears into the Gym once he discovers the player's starter Pokémon type. Upon entering the Gym, Clyde will give the player a Fresh Water.
The Striaton Gym is based on a butler cafe. Aside from the lobby, it consists of three different rooms that are behind three different curtains. In the first two rooms, two sets of a table and two chairs are set symmetrically to the sides of the Gym, with three circular panels situated in the middle. The first is a green panel with a leaf symbol, signifying Grass. The second is a red panel with a flame symbol, signifying Fire. The third is a blue panel with a rain droplet symbol, signifying Water. The player must step on the panel that has the type advantage of the symbol displayed on the curtain. The curtain will open if the right panel is stepped on. The third room however, is a much bigger room, containing two big round tables with four chairs around each at both sides of the Gym. It also contains a small set of stairs leading to a platform where the Gym Leaders stand.
The chosen starter Pokémon determines which Gym Leader is battled. If Oshawott is chosen, Cilan will be battled; if Tepig is chosen, Cress will be battled; if Snivy is chosen, Chili will be battled. The Gym also has a dual purpose as a restaurant.
During the two years between Black and White and Black 2 and White 2, the three brothers retired from being Gym Leaders to train.
The Striaton Gym first appeared in Triple Leaders, Team Threats; it is a very posh building with pillars on the outside and a glass topped roof. Through the front doors is a café where Chili, Cilan and Cress are waiters. The walls of the café open up to reveal a passageway to the battleground. The battleground features rocky terrain on the battlefield, as well as an area for spectators to cheer on their friends during battle.
It appeared in a flashback in A Connoisseur's Revenge! where Chili and Cress were telling Burgundy that Cilan had gone on a journey and could not battle her again. She instead battled Chili and won.
In the manga
In the Pocket Monsters BW manga
Red challenged the Striaton Gym in his travels through Unova. While there, his Clefairy attempted to try to cause the brothers to fight each other but was unsuccessful.
In the Pokémon Adventures manga
The Striaton Gym in Pokémon Adventures
Black challenged this Gym and was joined by his childhood friends Bianca and Cheren. They each fought a Triple Battle against the three Gym Leaders and managed to come out on top in the end.
Trivia
While all other Gyms, aside from Viridian Gym in Generations II and IV, specialize in a specific type, the Striaton Gym is the only one so far that specializes in several types.
The Striaton Gym is the only Gym in the games to have a different Gym Leader depending on the starter Pokémon that the player picked.
The external design of the Striaton Gym in the anime, like the Viridian Gym, is inspired by Roman architecture: the columns used are similar to those of the Doric order.
