Opal was one of the gym leaders in Pokémon Sword and Shield and she was one of the most memorable ones because of her prominence throughout the game and her distinct style of battling. She is one of the first Fairy-Type gym leaders in any game and her partner Pokémon is extremely powerful. She also has a unique look that helps her stand out in crowds.
Opal has a Bunch of secrets and backstory that many fans don’t know about and this list will shed some light on it. From her mother’s past to her Manga appearance, here are 10 things that fans didn’t know about the gym leader Opal!
10 She Can See Potential In Even The Worst People
Opal is shown in the game as a mentor to the annoying character Bede and this kind act proves that she has a gift for seeing the best in people. Bede is an extremely rude child and Opal seems to know how to make him behave.
Even players couldn’t see the best in Bede so Opal must really know what she’s doing in terms of mentoring. Unfortunately, she never got the chance to help train the player at all but maybe in the DLC, she will.
9 Unlike The Other Gym Leaders, She Can’t Be Rematched
Most of the gym leaders in Sword and Shield actually can be rematched in the Champion Cup after beating the game. However, this trainer isn’t able to be rematched and this is a surprise for fans that wanted to fight her again after the game.
Opal may not have the ability to be fought again but at least the player’s initial fight with her is a memorable one. Most players don’t end up rematching the gym leaders so this is something that many fans didn’t know about her.
8 She Appeared Early In The Manga
So far many of the gym leaders from the Galar region still haven’t been seen much in the Manga. However, she did have a brief appearance when she learned that Leon had endorsed trainers for the gym challenge towards the beginning of the new series.
It may have been short but fans that enjoyed her in the games loved seeing her even for just a brief second in the Manga. Hopefully, she’ll make another appearance to battle the main characters soon so players can see her fight once again.
7 She Failed Leon For The Gym Challenge
Opal thought that Leon was an extraordinary trainer however she didn’t think that he was cut out to be a gym leader. She thought that he was somewhat peculiar and not a great fit for the role which is why he didn’t become one.
If Leon had become a gym leader perhaps the plot of the games would be much different and not as exciting. In the end, Opal probably made the right decision and even though it was sad for Leon at the time it all worked out in the end when he became the champion.
6 She Can Dynamax Her Alcremie
Opal actually has her own Pokémon that she is capable of Dynamaxing. Its an extremely strong Pokémon and in its new form it takes the appearance of a giant cake that’s ready to battle enemies.
Although a lot of players don’t like food-based Pokémon they realized that this was one that was definitely better than the rest. Fans will remember fighting this Pokémon for years to come because it was just such a sweet battle but it was easy to not even realize that this cake had a special form because Alcremie was still new to players of Sword and Shield!
5 She’s One Of The Oldest Gym Leaders Ever
Opal is old and that’s not a secret but what fans don’t know is that there are few other gym leaders that come close to her age. Opal is a whopping 88 years old and her age is a testament to the fact that even old trainers can still be great battlers.
Opal may be old but anyone that messes with her is asking for a world of pain for their Pokémon. It’s worth noting this fact because most players don’t realize just how few senior trainers there are in the series and the fact that Opal is one of the oldest is a testament to her abilities.
4 She Likes Dual-Type Pokémon
A lot of gym leaders have creatures that are just one type and it is the type that they mainly use in their gym. Opal raises Fairy-Type Pokémon however most of her creatures are actually dual types.
Few gym leaders have dual types for the majority of their team but this trainer likes some variety. Her Pokémon are a breath of fresh air and the extra types also add a unique challenge for players to face in her gym.
3 Her Mother Was Also A Gym Leader
Most gym leaders are passionate but their passion doesn’t usually stem from their family. However, Opal’s mother ran the gym 70 years prior to her becoming the leader and this was a fact that many fans never learned.
It’s great to see characters learning about Pokémon from their parents and this situation is a heartwarming one. Opal is a great gym leader and her mother definitely had something to do with that because it is clear that she must have been very skilled as well!
2 Her Name is Based Around A Gemstone
Many players find the name Opal to be a beautiful one and they may not realize that it actually comes from a gem. It’s easy for fans, especially younger ones to not know about the gemstone opal but that’s where this gym leader’s name actually comes from.
Most Pokémon character’s names are based on plants so her name helped add some variety to the mix of similarly themed names. Maybe more trainers will get gemstone names in the series moving forward and that would be great to see because they’re always very pretty!
1 Her Favorite Color Is Purple
It is revealed in the series that Opal actually has a favorite color and it just so happens to be purple. Fans that learn this fact are shocked because she prefers pink in terms of attire and this is evident throughout the games.
This is a tidbit about Opal that most fans don’t know because a favorite color isn’t something that a character will easily reveal. It seems fitting that a color like purple would be her favorite because she seems to like feminine clothing of beautiful colors. It is still surprising though because she always talks about pink throughout the games!
NEXT: Pokémon: 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Water-Types
