Elesa
カミツレ Kamitsure
"The Shining Beauty"
Black 2 White 2 Elesa.png
Artwork from Black 2 and White 2 by Yusuke Ohmura[1]
Gender Female
Eye color Light blue
Hair color YellowBW, BlackB2W2
Hometown Nimbasa City
Region Unova
Relatives Grandmother*
Trainer class Gym LeaderBWB2W2
Pokémon TrainerB2W2
Generation V
Games Black and White, Black 2 and White 2, Masters EX
Leader of Nimbasa Gym
Badge Bolt Badge
Specializes in Electric types
Game animation debut Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 Animated Trailer
English voice actor Sarah Natochenny (B2W2AT)
Mela Lee (Generations)
Deborah Gatton[2] (Masters EX)
Japanese voice actor Miyuki Sawashiro (B2W2AT)
China Kitahara (Generations)
Yōko Hikasa[3] (Masters EX)
Anime debut Enter Elesa, Electrifying Gym Leader!
English voice actor Eileen Stevens
Japanese voice actor Yumiko Kobayashi

Elesa (Japanese: カミツレ Kamitsure) is a model who is the Gym Leader of Nimbasa City's Gym, known officially as the Nimbasa Gym. She specializes in Electric-type Pokémon. She gives the Bolt Badge to Trainers who defeat her.

In the core series games

Elesa makes her debut in Pokémon Black and White, serving as the Nimbasa City Gym Leader. This Gym is the fourth that the player may challenge. The player can challenge her to a battle after riding a series of roller coasters to her location, a process involving the flipping of multiple switches so the tracks take the player to her.

Elesa specializes in Electric-type Pokémon. She utilizes a strategy that involves using Volt Switch between her two Emolga, and later Zebstrika. Upon defeating her, she will reward the player with the Bolt Badge and TM72 (Volt Switch).

Outside of battle, Elesa is a supermodel and also listens to a lot of music.[4] She appears when Bianca attempts to convince her father to allow her to become a Pokémon Trainer. Elesa aids her, convincing Bianca's father to give his daughter the permission to follow her dream. When the player leaves Nimbasa City, it is Elesa who appears briefly on Route 5 and tells the bridge guard to lower the Driftveil Drawbridge so the player may cross it. She then appears at N's Castle, where she and the other Unova Gym Leaders hold off the Seven Sages while the player goes after N. While not strictly relevant to the plot, during summer, Elesa also visits Cynthia at Caitlin's villa in Undella Town, as do the other female Gym Leaders.

Elesa is good friends with fellow Gym Leader Skyla. In between the events of Black and White and Black 2 and White 2, she confided in Skyla about changing her image. She reveals that she is conscious about the reserved image she displays, and has a fondness for bad puns.

In Black 2 and White 2, Elesa returns as a Gym Leader. The player must return to the old Gym and, after riding the rollercoaster and battling Gym Trainers along the way, talk to one of Elesa's models (standing where Elesa used to be) to gain access to the new Gym. The new Gym, located to the right of the original Gym's building, is an actual catwalk and fashion show. The TM Elesa gives away remains the same. After gaining access to the new Gym and defeating Elesa, she walks the player back down the catwalk to the entrance. She later participates in the Pokémon World Tournament.

Pokémon

Pokémon Black and White



Pokémon Black 2 and White 2

Gym battle
Easy Mode/Normal Mode



Challenge Mode



Pokémon World Tournament

Elesa uses three of these Pokémon in Single Battles, four in Double and Rotation Battles, and all six in Triple Battles. She will always lead with her signature Pokémon, Zebstrika.

Driftveil/Mix Tournament



Unova Leaders Tournament



Type Expert/World Leaders/Mix Master Tournament



National Gymquirer

Jingle: "Woo hoo! All right! It's 'The National Gymquirer'!"
Page: "That's right! We collect the hottest gossip about Gym Leaders seen around town! Here is today's letter. From someone going by the name Shocking Supermodel... Hmmm, that sounds like a Gym Leader I know. Well, let's see... 'The Gym Leader Elesa said that Nimbasa's Pokémon can dance a nimble bossa! Nobody laughed, but I thought it was really funny! What do you think?' Hmmm... It really seems like Elesa needs to come up with a sneakier pen name. Well, whatever! 'The National Gymquirer'! We eagerly await your letters!"

In the spin-off games

Pokémon Masters EX

Main article: Elesa (Masters)

Elesa forms sync pairs with Zebstrika, Rotom, Emolga, Joltik, and Togetic in Pokémon Masters EX. Her Emolga is capable of Dynamaxing. Elesa became a playable sync pair October 17, 2019.

Elesa has also made notable appearances in the game's Main Stories: the PML Arc, Legendary Adventures, and the Villain Arc.

Sync Dex Trainer NDex Pokémon Type Weakness Role Base Potential Availability
#069   Elesa #0523   Zebstrika
Electric
 
Ground
 
  ★★★★★☆EX Sync Pair Scout
#069   Sygna Suit
Elesa
#0479   Rotom
Electric
 
Dark
 
  ★★★★★☆EX Sync Pair Scout
#069   Classic
Elesa
#0587   Emolga  
Electric
 
Ice
 
  ★★★★★☆EX Poké Fair Sync Pair Scout
#069   Elesa #0595   Joltik
Electric
 
Fire
 
  ★★★★☆☆EX Trainer Lodge Friendship Level 100
#069   Palentine's 2023
Elesa
#0176   Togetic
Flying
 
Steel
 
  ★★★★★☆EX Seasonal Sync Pair Scout

Quotes

Main article: Elesa/Quotes

In the anime

Main series

 
Elesa in the anime

Elesa debuted in Enter Elesa, Electrifying Gym Leader!, when Ash and Bianca went to one of her modelling shows in order to request a Gym battle with her. Elesa was excited to see Ash's Pikachu and even left the runway just so she could get a closer look. Bianca later battled her to convince her father to let her continue to travel in a three-on-three match, but her Pokémon were easily defeated by Elesa's powerful Zebstrika. When Ash challenged Bianca's father to a battle, Elesa acted as the referee.

Elesa battled Ash in Dazzling the Nimbasa Gym!. Although Ash proved to be a far tougher opponent than Bianca had, she still gave the young Trainer a tough time in her Gym. However, Ash was able to pull through and earn himself a Bolt Badge.

She reappeared in a fantasy in Climbing the Tower of Success!, and in flashbacks in Piplup, Pansage, and a Meeting of the Times! and Curtain Up, Unova League!. She also made a cameo appearance in the ending credits of Genesect and the Legend Awakened.

Character

Elesa believes battling is a way to express herself. She likes to invite her fans to watch as she takes on challengers at the Nimbasa Gym, and she often calls out to them and strikes a pose for them. Elesa is aware of the Electric type disadvantages and uses speed and a range of moves to get around them.

Pokémon

This listing is of Elesa's known Pokémon in the anime:

 
Zebstrika
Elesa's Zebstrika first appeared in Enter Elesa, Electrifying Gym Leader!, where it was used in a Gym battle against Bianca's Shelmet, Minccino and Pignite. Zebstrika proved itself to be extremely powerful, knocking out all three of Bianca's Pokémon with little effort.

In Dazzling the Nimbasa Gym!, Zebstrika was used against Ash's Palpitoad during his challenge for a Badge. Due to its opponent's types, most of its moves did little to no damage; however, Elesa insisted on using Flame Charge to boost Zebstrika's speed, allowing it to dodge oncoming attacks easily. After being confused by Palpitoad's Supersonic, a combination of Mud Shot and Hydro Pump finally knocked Zebstrika out.

Zebstrika's known moves are Flame Charge, Double Kick, Wild Charge, and Quick Attack.

Debut Enter Elesa, Electrifying Gym Leader!
Voice actors
Japanese Kensuke Satō
English Marc Thompson
 
Emolga
Elesa's Emolga first appeared in Dazzling the Nimbasa Gym!, where she was used second in her Gym battle against Ash. By confusing the already tired out Palpitoad with her speed and Attract, she was able to knock out her opponent with ease. Next, she went up against Snivy. As both Pokémon were female, Attract could not work; however, after a quick battle, Emolga was able to defeat Snivy using her Flying-type moves.

Finally, Emolga was sent up against Pikachu, but since the recent battles had taken their toll, Emolga was knocked out by a Quick Attack.

She reappeared in a fantasy in Climbing the Tower of Success!.

Emolga's known moves are Acrobatics, Attract, Aerial Ace, and Electro Ball.

Debut Dazzling the Nimbasa Gym!
Voice actors
Japanese Misato Fukuen
English Misato Fukuen
 
Tynamo
Tynamo was the last Pokémon Elesa used against Ash in their Gym battle in Dazzling the Nimbasa Gym!, and is called by Elesa as her "Electric Queen". Ash was confused by the unusual Pokémon that, despite being fishlike in appearance, could float in midair.

Elesa worked around Tynamo's inability to learn more than a few moves by training her so her Tackle was extremely powerful, causing Pikachu to struggle. However, after Pikachu pulled himself together, he started to use Thunderbolt on the entire battlefield. With her view obscured, Tynamo was knocked out with just one Iron Tail. She reappeared in a flashback in Curtain Up, Unova League!.

Tynamo's only known move is Tackle.

Debut Dazzling the Nimbasa Gym!
Voice actors
Japanese Kiyotaka Furushima
English Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld

Voice actors

Language Voice actor
Japanese 小林由美子 Yumiko Kobayashi
English Eileen Stevens
Mandarin Chinese 林美秀 Lín Měixiù
Czech Nikola Votočková
Danish Marie Schjeldal
Finnish Mirjami Heikkinen
European French Marcha Van Boven
Italian Sabrina Bonfitto
Polish Aleksandra Grzelak
Brazilian Portuguese Rosa Barcellos
Spanish Latin America Analiz Sánchez
Spain Marta Gil Montijano


Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 Animated Trailer

 
Elesa in the Black 2 and White 2 Animated Trailer

In Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 Animated Trailer, Elesa appeared when Nate walked into the Nimbasa Gym with his Emboar. She was shown waiting for him onstage and then questioning whether his Pokémon or her own Pokémon will prevail. Before challenging Nate to a match, she threw off her coat as fireworks were set off around her.

Pokémon

This listing is of Elesa's known Pokémon in the Black 2 and White 2 Animated Trailer:

 
Zebstrika
Zebstrika was seen alongside its Trainer at the Nimbasa Gym.

None of Zebstrika's moves are known.

Debut Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 Animated Trailer
 
Emolga
Emolga was seen alongside its Trainer at the Nimbasa Gym.

None of Emolga's moves are known.

Debut Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 Animated Trailer

Voice actors

Language Voice actor
Japanese 沢城みゆき Miyuki Sawashiro
English Sarah Natochenny
Italian Sabrina Bonfitto
European Spanish Pilar Martín


Pokémon Generations

Elesa appeared in The Uprising, where she was seen outside N's Castle trying to stop the Seven Sages. Together with several other Unova Gym Leaders, she battled the many Team Plasma Grunts to prevent them from achieving Team Plasma's goals.

Pokémon

 
Zebstrika
Elesa's Zebstrika helped to fight off the Team Plasma Grunts.

Zebstrika's only known move is Discharge.

Debut The Uprising

Voice actors

Language Voice actor
Japanese 北原知奈 China Kitahara
English Mela Lee
European Spanish Victoria Ramos


GOTCHA!

Elesa briefly appeared in GOTCHA!.

In the manga

Pocket Monsters BW

 
Elesa in Pokémon Pocket Monsters

Elesa appeared in Pocket Monsters BW as the fourth Gym Leader that Red encountered.

Pokémon

 
Emolga
Emolga is Elesa's first known Pokémon. It is usually seen standing with Elesa.

None of Emolga's moves are known.

Debut PMBW11

Pokémon Adventures

History

Black & White arc

Elesa debuted in Battle at the Museum. She was first seen taking part in a meeting between various Nimbasa City officials trying to come up with ways to make the city more lively. Eventually, it was decided that they would create a Pokémon Musical after it was suggested by White, the president of the BW Agency.

 
Elesa in the eleventh chapter

In To Make a Musical, Elesa encountered Black, White's friend and employee at the Pokémon Musical Theater. Though Black wanted to have a Gym battle with Elesa, he was told to wait until after the musical's opening ceremony had finished. Later, Elesa took part in the opening ceremony as a special guest. Once the first performance ended, Elesa explained how the musical worked to the audience.

In Battle on a Roller Coaster, Elesa faced Black in a Gym battle, but due to a malfunction, Black was forced to battle while trapped in a roller coaster car. Despite this, Black managed to successfully defeat Elesa and earn the Bolt Badge. Later, Elesa discovered that someone had messed with the controls for the roller coaster, thus causing the various glitches. The culprit was N's Zorua, though it managed to escape without Elesa discovering it.

In Up in the Air, Elesa met with the other Unova Gym Leaders and Black at the Celestial Tower to discuss how to deal with Team Plasma. The Gym Leaders later traveled to Nacrene City in order to protect the Dark Stone from the Shadow Triad. Despite their teamwork, the Gym Leaders fell to the Shadow Triad's trump card, the Forces of Nature. Elesa and the others were kidnapped and taken to Team Plasma's base of operations, N's Castle.

In Dream a Little Dream, Caitlin attempted to find the missing Gym Leaders by using her Gothitelle's Psychic abilities. Though she managed to contact them, the Gym Leaders had their memories of the kidnapping erased, preventing Caitlin from tracking them. During Black's final Gym battle with Drayden, Caitlin relayed a message from the Gym Leaders to Black, giving him the confidence to win the battle and earn his final Badge.

In Cold Hard Truth, Team Plasma launched their attack on the Pokémon League, surrounding the building with N's Castle. As a form of mockery and display of Team Plasma's power, the Gym Leaders were hoisted on cross-like fixtures and displayed in front of the masses. Later, the Gym Leaders were freed by Shoko's Patrat, allowing them to assist in the battle against Team Plasma. After Team Plasma was defeated, Elesa and the others watched as N and Zekrom flew off to parts unknown.

Black 2 & White 2 arc

In Deduction Time, Elesa was called in to help search and retrieve Cheren's missing students, Blake, Hugh, and Leo. After finding Leo and Hugh's sister at the Pokémon World Tournament construction site, she called Skyla down to take them to safety.

Pokémon

 

 
Blitzle → Zebstrika
Zebstrika is the first Pokémon that Elesa is known to own. Zebstrika was first seen as a drawing when Black was reading a book while deciding on strategies to defeat Elesa in their upcoming Gym battle. Later, it was seen in person along with Elesa's other Pokémon while it was seen being dressed up in preparation of the Pokémon Musical. Zebstrika was used against Black in the Gym battle where it defeated his Tula after exploiting its Motor Drive Ability to raise its speed. Eventually, Zebstrika was defeated by Black's Nite. In a flashback that occurred in the same chapter, it was revealed that Elesa owned Zebstrika when it was a Blitzle during her youth.

It was later seen in The Battle, where it participated in the battle against the Seven Sages.

Zebstrika's known moves are Flame Charge, Volt Switch, and Wild Charge*, and its Ability is Motor Drive.

Debut To Make a Musical
 
Emolga (×2)
Emolga are the second and third Pokémon that Elesa is known to own. One Emolga was first seen as a drawing when Black was reading a book while deciding on strategies to defeat Elesa in their upcoming Gym Battle. Later, they were both seen in person along with Elesa and her Zebstrika while she was dressing up her Zebstrika in preparation of the Pokémon Musical. One Emolga was used in the Gym battle against Black where it fought his Nite and was eventually defeated.

Emolga's known moves are Volt Switch, Aerial Ace, Acrobatics, and U-turn*.

Debut To Make a Musical

In the TCG

Elesa's Pokémon
Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format.
Cards listed with a silver background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.
Card Type English
Expansion
Rarity # Japanese
Expansion
Rarity #
Flaaffy   Silver Tempest   TG03/TG30 VMAX Climax   194/184
Other related cards
Card Type English
Expansion
Rarity # Japanese
Expansion
Rarity #
Elesa Su Legendary Treasures   RC20/RC25 Shiny Collection   020/020
Elesa's Sparkle Su Fusion Strike   233/264 Fusion Arts   096/100
Fusion Strike   260/264 Fusion Arts   113/100
Fusion Strike   275/264 Fusion Arts   122/100
      VSTAR Universe   150/172
Crown Zenith   147/159 VSTAR Universe   246/172
 


Gallery

Artwork

       
Official artwork from
Black and White by Yusuke Ohmura[5]
Official artwork from
Pokémon the Series: Black & White
Concept art from
Black 2 and White 2 by Yusuke Ohmura
Artwork with Emolga for White Day 2019 by Megumi Mizutani

Sprites and models

       
 
Sprite from
Black and White
Sprite from
Black 2 and White 2
VS sprite from
Black and White
       
Overworld sprite from
Black and White
Overworld sprite from
Black 2 and White 2
VS sprite from
Black 2 and White 2
Badge showcase sprite from
Black 2 and White 2
Nimbasa Gym screen sprites
from Black 2 and White 2

Trivia

  • Elesa's Japanese Leader title is シャイニング ビューティ.
  • Elesa is the only returning Gym Leader from Black and White to receive a redesign in Black 2 and White 2.
  • In the English version of the Memory Link event Taking it to The Next Level, Elesa says the line, "And don't call me Shirley!", a reference to the 1980 satirical disaster film Airplane!.

Names

Language Name Origin
Japanese カミツレ Kamitsure From 加密列 kamitsure (chamomile) and 雷 kaminari (thunder)
English Elesa From Electric and possible Tesla
German Kamilla From kamille (chamomile)
Spanish Camila From camomila (chamomile)
French Inezia From the flower genus Inezia
Italian Camelia From camomilla (chamomile)
Korean 카밀레 Kamille From 카밀레 kamille (chamomile)
Chinese (Mandarin) 小菊兒 / 小菊儿 Xiǎo Jú'ér From 洋甘菊 yánggānjú / yèuhnggāmgūk (chamomile)
Chinese (Cantonese) 小菊兒 Síu Gūkyìh
Vietnamese Kamitsure Transcription of her Japanese name


Related articles


References

Gym Leaders of the Unova region
Striaton Gym  
     
Cilan Chili Cress
Nacrene Gym  
 
Lenora
Castelia Gym  
 
Burgh
Nimbasa Gym  
 
Elesa
Driftveil Gym  
 
Clay
Mistralton Gym  
 
Skyla
Icirrus Gym  
 
Brycen
Opelucid Gym  
   
Drayden Iris
Aspertia Gym  
 
Cheren
Virbank Gym  
 
Roxie
Humilau Gym  
 
Marlon


RedClefairyPikachuTogepiTyrogueConkeldurrDedenneChespinFroakie
PM GreenBlueYellowGoldSilver
Professor OakBillBill's wife
BrockMistyLt. SurgeErikaSabrinaKogaBlaineGiovanniLoreleiBrunoAgathaLance
Professor ElmEarlClefairy RangersKurtDJ MaryChairmanKiyo
FalknerBugsyWhitneyMortyJasmineChuckPryceClairWillKaren
PMRS RubySapphireRedBlue
Professor BirchMr. StoneMr. BrineyMaxieTetsuyaRydelRydel's rival
Dr. TakedaScott
NormanRoxanneBrawlyWattson
PMDP DiaKazuki
Professor RowanMarsLookerCharon
Dai FugōOkane Daisukī
RoarkAaron
PMBW BlackBiancaCheren
Professor JuniperNCedric JuniperGhetsis
CilanChiliCressLenoraBurghElesaClaySkylaShauntalMarshalGrimsleyCaitlinAlder
PMXY ShaunaProfessor SycamoreSerena
PMSM HalaLillie


  This game character article is part of Project CharacterDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each character found in the Pokémon games.